Games Available
on EA.COM, AOL Games Channel, AOL.COM, Netscape,
CompuServe, and ICQ
Initial
Site Delivers 30 Online Games Ranging from Sports
to Card Games to Immersive Worlds
EA.com(SM),
an online interactive entertainment destination
and a new business division of Electronic Arts
(Nasdaq:ERTS), today announced that its new
online game site, and the new AOL Games Channel,
are open to the public.
Located at www.EA.com,
America Online's Games Channel, at Keyword
"EA", and on AOL.COM, Netscape,
CompuServe and ICQ, the first phase of the site
is jam-packed with more than 30 online games
offering a fun interactive experience for
everyone.
EA.com
was formed as a result of a strategic agreement
struck between Electronic Arts and America Online
in November 1999. The strategic relationship was
designed to bring the world's best interactive
entertainment content to the Internet through
AOL's family of interactive brands. Today's
launch of EA.com and this relationship positions
EA.com as one of the leading online gaming sites.
The new site is the first
iteration of a continually expanding games
experience, with new games to be introduced over
time. All of the games will initially be free of
charge, with new pricing plans for selected
premium content introduced at a later date.
"EA.com
and the AOL interactive games destinations will
change the way people view and engage in online
interactive entertainment," said Mark
Blecher, vice president of marketing and sales at
EA.com. "Our goal is to make the Internet
fun with great, unique, accessible games. We're
creating an assortment of games that will appeal
to a wide variety of tastes -- teens, adults,
males, females and casual and experienced
gamers."
"We
couldn't be more pleased to work with EA.com to
launch our new Games Channels," said Barry
Schuler, president of AOL Interactive Services.
"From board and card games to massively
multi-player game experiences, our new Games
destinations, programmed by EA.com, offer
something for everyone -- great games at every
skill level."
Whether
consumers want to sharpen their hoops game, see
how well they handle a motorcycle, test their
skill against a roomful of card sharks, or
immerse themselves in a virtual world of magic
and adventure, EA.com will deliver. The site also
offers added value to EA's portfolio of packaged
goods games through downloadable content,
editorial coverage, hints and tips, community
activity and multi-player matchmaking on an
expanding range of CD-based titles.
EA.com
has organized the many games on the site into
four content channels, including: 1) EA
SPORTS(TM) Arena giving sports fanatics and
newbies a "quick fix" to demonstrate
their cyber sports prowess; 2) EA Lounge where
players can test their wit or mental muscle with
an assortment of game shows and brain teasing
entertainment; 3) EA Clubroom, offering an
abundance of card, board and puzzle games; and 4)
EA Worlds, where players discover a world of
action, role playing and high speed adventures.
EA.com and AOL's Games destinations are ESRB
compliant and on AOL the site is compatible with
AOL's Parental Controls.
"EA.com
is well positioned to become a leader in the
emerging online interactive entertainment
arena," said David Cole, president of DFC
Intelligence, a California-based market research
firm. "As a game publisher, Electronic Arts
has the world's deepest library of interactive
entertainment content. In addition, by forming a
strategic relationship with AOL, EA.com is
guaranteed access to millions of consumers.
Together this looks like a winning
combination."
EA.com
and the new AOL interactive games destinations
are easily navigable with the channels of
entertainment clearly displayed along with
descriptions of each game. The opening page also
provides the EA Game Finder, a scrolling list
that users can click through to display a
snapshot of any game on the site. The snapshot
includes an image of the game screen and brief
description of gameplay. Click on "GO"
to move straight to the selected game page. From
there, you can access everything you need to play
including instructions, system requirements,
message boards and the "Play" button to
begin the game. Leader Boards are displayed
throughout the site enabling users to see who has
the high scores on selected games.
Players
can also tap into a variety of other links that
provide hints and tips, new player help or a
general discussion with other players.
About
EA.com
EA.com,
headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a
new business division of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:
ERTS), the world's largest interactive
entertainment software company. Under an
agreement with America Online, Inc. (AOL), the
world's leading interactive services company,
EA.com will provide exclusive games programming
for the AOL Games channel, AOL.COM, Netscape.com,
ICQ.com, 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. Electronic Arts
created a new Electronic Arts Class B Common
Stock that tracks the performance of EA.com.
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