Sony's Deering Enters ELSPA Hall Of Fame

Chris Deering, president of Sony Europe, has been honored for his services to the UK computer and video games industry by being inducted into the ELSPA Hall of Fame at the InDin game industry dinner in central London. The Hall of Fame, created by ELSPA, the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, celebrates the achievement of the UK games industry's pioneers, and honors those who have helped put the UK games industry on the global map. Previous winners have included Tomb Raider creator Toby Gard, Codemasters' Jim, Richard and David Darling and Ocean Software founders David Ward and Jon Woods. Deering recently announced that he is retiring as SCEE's President, and this is a fitting accolade as he steps down to pursue other activities in the U.S., where his family lives. He was founding President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in 1995, overseeing both the successful launch of the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 in European markets, and was promoted to overall President of Sony Europe in April 2004. "Few people can claim to have achieved the commercial success of this man," said ELSPA Director General Roger Bennett. "Even fewer can claim to have done it with such humility and openness. He has led the game industry for over 10 years, making PlayStation one of the major entertainment brands for literally millions of consumers - there are now some 77 million PlayStations and PS2s in homes all across Europe."