Monday June 18, 2001

EA.com To Recreate Pearl Harbor Battle Through Popular Online Combat Sim, Air Warrior III

Air Warrior III: Pearl Harbor "What If" Event Attracts Both New and Seasoned Online Fighter Pilots
    EA.com(sm) today announced that it will host a recreation of the attack on Pearl Harbor on June 23 at 4:00 p.m. PST, via its Air Warrior(TM) III online combat simulation game. The "What If" event will add a new twist by providing a scenario in which the U.S. forces heed an advance warning of the impending attack on Pearl Harbor. Commanders have been chosen for both the American and Japanese forces from Air Warrior's long-standing fan base and actual combat results during the online event will determine the outcome of this recreation. Cyber pilots can scope out event details at: http://eagames.ea.com/games/airwarrior/.
    Air Warrior III is a popular WWII online combat simulation game that has an installed fan base of thousands of players. The game, which allows cyber pilots to push the limits of historically accurate aircraft, gives players a chance to jump into their 3D cockpits for instant white-knuckled dog-fighting action against an onslaught of enemy fighters. Air Warrior III scenarios and gameplay simulates some of the most intriguing historic events, such as Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Britain.
    The Air Warrior III: Pearl Harbor "What If" event is geared to both novice and seasoned online pilots. Players choose their side, position and aircraft and take to the skies in one of seven meticulously recreated planes that took part in the actual Pearl Harbor attack. Some of those planes include the P40E, the B17 and the A6M2 Zero. New players can prepare for the June 23 event by visiting the Pearl Harbor special events area to practice in an online recreation of the actual historical site. The special practice arena allows players to become airborne and practice maneuvering without the threat of attack. Players can also get additional guidance from a "how to play" section as well as detailed articles on advanced tactics at the Air Warrior III game site located at: http://www.ea.com/worlds/games/pl_airwar00/mainpage.jsp.
    Players will also have an opportunity to pick up tips from Air Warrior vets through in-game chat lobbies and message boards. In addition, seasoned Air Warrior cyber pilots will take on the role of high level commanders for each side to coordinate the attack or defense. EA.com has encouraged all players to engage in practice sessions in the weeks leading up to the event to take their turn in flying reconnaissance missions over the Pearl Harbor arena in an effort to understand the map layout, invent maneuvers and tactics against opposing aircraft. These pre-event flights allow players to practice dive-bombing and work on team strategies and communication.
    The Air Warrior III: Pearl Harbor "What If" event depicts all of Oahu Island, including the inner harbor and Ford Island, battleship row, anti-aircraft guns and airbases. The Japanese striking fleet of six carriers and many other warships will also be featured. Lastly, the event includes an American carrier within striking distance of Pearl Harbor.
    In order to participate, players must sign up for EA.com's PLATINUM subscription service for an introductory price of $9.99 per month at http://www.ea.com/subscription/platwhysubscribe.jsp. The service entitles players to unlimited access to Air Warrior III Millennium Version, as well as Silent Death(TM) Online, Need For Speed(TM) Web Racing, NASCAR(R) Web Racing, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) Web Golf, and Knockout Kings(TM) Web Boxing. Other games to be added to the PLATINUM Service in coming months include Multiplayer Battle Tech(R): 3025 and Majestic(TM).

    About EA.com

    EA.com, which went live in October of 2000, is headquartered in Redwood City, Calif. and is a business division of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Under an agreement with America Online, Inc. (AOL), the world's leading interactive services company, EA.com provides exclusive games programming for the AOL(R) Games channel, AOL.COM, Netscape.com, ICQ, CompuServe, in addition to the EA.com home site. The relationship between EA.com and AOL has created a leading online gaming community and provides several services, including the ability to download and play games, find online opponents, obtain game related information and join chat rooms to discuss games.