LADYDRAGON.COM - Tiger Woods Re-signs Long-term Deal With Electronic Arts

Tuesday September 11, 2001

Tiger Woods Re-signs Long-term Deal With Electronic Arts; World's Most Recognizable Sports Figure Will Be "In the Game" with EA SPORTS For the Next Five Years

Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, announced today that the company has reached a multi-year agreement with Tiger Woods, the world's top golfer, to continue their successful partnership on the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Golf(R) franchise for the next five years. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Woods has been with Electronic Arts since 1998, when the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR franchise debuted. Since the addition of Woods to the PGA TOUR game, sales of the EA SPORTS(TM) golf franchise has nearly doubled. The EA SPORTS golf franchise not only has the world's leading golfer but also boasts the exclusive license of the PGA TOUR and the Pebble Beach Golf Links(R), making it the number one golf game across all gaming platforms.

"I am thrilled to continue my relationship and involvement with EA SPORTS, the definitive sports brand in the video game industry. It is always important that I align myself with the best brands in each product category," said Tiger Woods. "Just as I'm always pushing myself to improve my golf game, Electronic Arts continues to push the envelope in the video game space and produce the best titles. For me, I grew up playing video games and there's nothing better than partnering with EA SPORTS."

Woods appears in all versions of the game and was motion-captured in April to ensure the latest representation of his swing in the video game. He also lends his golf knowledge to the game developers, for the ultimate in game realism and authenticity. Last month, Woods was back in the studio with the EA SPORTS production team, finalizing his voice-over work for the game.

"Tiger Woods and EA SPORTS is the perfect marriage, with both of us being at the top of our game," said Chip Lange, vice president of marketing for North America, EA SPORTS. "Tiger has a vested interest in our game and wants it not only to be the best golf video game out there on all platforms, but also the best sports game available. He is able to lend his golf expertise for the game as well as his knowledge of video games, since he has been playing his whole life."

Woods also sees Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Golf as an opportunity for kids of all ages and backgrounds to be exposed to the sport of golf. "It is great to know there are kids playing this game who are learning about the game of golf for the first time and seeing how fun and energized the sport truly is," said Woods.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Golf 2001 debuted on the PlayStation(R) 2 computer entertainment system this past spring and also is available on the PlayStation(R) and the PC. Early next year, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2002 will launch on the PlayStation(R)2 console and the PC. These games feature a deep lineup of PGA TOUR members as well as championship courses such as the Pebble Beach Golf Links(R) and Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass. The 3-D game engine used delivers full screen, real-time dynamic cameras that follow the ball in flight. Complementing the courses, players and gameplay modes are the technical aspects of the game that combine with the features to deliver a well-rounded and smooth-playing game.

    EA SPORTS (www.easports.com) is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world. Its top-selling franchises and games include FIFA soccer, John Madden Football(TM), Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) Golf, NHL(R) hockey, Knockout Kings(TM) boxing, NBA LIVE basketball, Triple Play Baseball(TM) and NASCAR(R) racing.

    About Electronic Arts

    Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.3 billion for fiscal 2001. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for the Internet, personal computers and video game systems. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA GAMES(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and EA.COM(SM). More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.info.ea.com.

    Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES, John Madden Football, Knockout Kings, and Triple Play Baseball are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA.COM is a service mark of EA.com Inc. The name, likeness and other attributes of Tiger Woods reproduced on this product are the trademarks and copyrighted designs, and/or other forms of intellectual property, that are the exclusive property of those licensers and may not be used, in whole or in part, without their respective written consents. PGA TOUR and TPC at Sawgrass are trademarks of PGA TOUR, INC. and used by permission. Pebble Beach Golf Links is a trademark of Pebble Beach Company. FIFA, NHL, NBA and NASCAR are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.