[其他] SCEI老大平井给员工的mail, New Year's Message to Sony Group Employees

[To]　All Sony Employees　　　　　

New Year's Message to Sony Group Employees from Kazuo Hirai, President & Group CEO, SCEI　　　　　


A happy New Year to everyone throughout the Sony Group.　　　　　

As we greet the New Year, we find ourselves in a world beset by economic　　　　　
uncertainties originating in the latter half of last year which have expanded　　　　　
far beyond what anyone could have imagined. Last December, Sony announced　　　　　
a series of measures to strengthen its corporate structure and bolster　　　　　
profitability across the Sony Group. In addressing the challenges of 2009,　　　　　
we must all maintain an awareness of the increasingly severe and uncertain　　　　　
operating environment we face and collectively rise to overcome these　　　　　
challenges. All of us at SCE, myself included, are fully committed to　　　　　
overcoming these difficulties by uniting our strengths with everyone　　　　　
throughout the Sony Group.　　　　　

While the current climate is unlike anything we've experienced before,　　　　　
by pursuing one of PlayStation's most important missions, that is to　　　　　
entertain our fans by offering exciting interactive content, as well as by　　　　　
further strengthening and enhancing our current business, I believe we can　　　　　
fulfill our role and contribute to the entire Sony Group.　　　　　

Looking at the future of the world of interactive entertainment that　　　　　
PlayStation offers, one of the major challenges we face is how best to　　　　　
navigate through and take advantage of the ever-growing network-based world.　　　　　
In 2008, we undertook new initiatives for both "PLAYSTATION 3" ("PS3") and　　　　　
"PSP" (PlayStation Portable) in preparing for the future network era.　　　　　
Since the launch of "PS3," we've continued to increase the number of games,　　　　　
video content and game-related items downloadable from the network, and　　　　　
the number of registered accounts on "PlayStation Network" now exceeds　　　　　
15 million and is still growing. Last July, we launched Video Store　　　　　
as part of the "PlayStation Network" service in the United States.　　　　　
Users are able to download video content including feature films and　　　　　
TV programs directly from Video Store, which currently has a library of　　　　　
1,080 movie titles and 2,500 TV episodes. As for "PSP," last October,　　　　　
we launched a new service enabling customers to directly access　　　　　
PlayStation Store on "PlayStation Network" via the internet to　　　　　
download games onto their "PSP" without having to go through "PS3."　　　　　
Users are now able to access "PlayStation Network" whether they're　　　　　
inside homes or on the go ---making it possible to seamlessly enjoy　　　　　
the world of PlayStation, literally anytime, anywhere.　　　　　

In addition to continuing to offer a diverse range of traditional video game　　　　　
titles, we are at the same time undertaking new initiatives to expand　　　　　
the world of PlayStation to encompass a broader range of interactive　　　　　
entertainment content and services, whether they be games or non-games.　　　　　
As part of the new interactive entertainment experience, that combines both　　　　　
"network" and "non-game," we launched "Life With PlayStation" and　　　　　
"PlayStation Home" in last September and December respectively. These services　　　　　
enable customers to obtain information, communicate and interact with　　　　　
individuals from around the world in real time via the network. Such services　　　　　
open up endless possibilities to connect other Sony products, enhancing　　　　　
the world that only Sony can provide. 　　　　　

This year, I am aiming to expand non-gaming network services now available　　　　　
on PlayStation formats to other Sony network-enabled devices, with the first　　　　　
step being the video delivery service. Success largely depends on how closely　　　　　
all of us throughout the Sony Group can work together and likewise,　　　　　
expanding the installed base of "PS3" and "PSP" is also key in bringing success　　　　　
to Sony's network strategy. I am committed to providing our consumers　　　　　
with new and exciting experiences that are uniquely Sony, and I hope you　　　　　
all join me in making this a truly Sony United effort.　　　　　

Kazuo Hirai　　　　　
President & Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.