LADYDRAGON.COM - Madden NFL 2002 from Electronic Arts Launches on Four Platforms

Tuesday August 21, 2001

Madden NFL 2002 from Electronic Arts Launches on Four Platforms; EA SPORTS' Top-selling NFL Videogame Returns with All New Face and Body Technology

For the hardcore football fans, today is the official kickoff of the NFL(TM) season, as Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS) ships Madden NFL 2002 for the PlayStation(R) 2 computer entertainment system and PC. Last week it became available for the PlayStation(R) console and will be available for the N64(R) on September 11.

In its 12th year, this legendary franchise is looking to continue its dominance on all existing platforms and will be a launch title for the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft and the Nintendo GameCube(TM) shipping later this fall. Madden NFL 2002 was developed by one of the leading sports game studios in the country, Electronic Arts' Tiburon Entertainment, and will be available on eight platforms by the end of the year. Each platform boasts new features such as faster gameplay, new modes, new graphics and deeper emotions.

Last year when Madden NFL 2001 debuted on the PlayStation 2 console, the game looked so realistic that many people confused the videogame gameplay presentation with a television broadcast. This year Madden NFL 2002 is even more life like with all new player face and body technologies. Player faces and body shapes look even more like the NFL counterpart, with over 200 player faces and body models uniquely created for the game.

The animations of all the coaches also feature new face and body technology, as each coach was personally laser scanned and photographed to ensure that they are portrayed on the sideline as realistically as possible. Madden NFL is still the only game where actual coaches can roam the sideline. The Madden producers worked with the NFL coaches such as the Kansas City Chiefs' Dick Vermeil, Oakland Raiders' Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tony Dungy and John Madden himself to incorporate unique strategies for each team.

"We're bringing the gamer on to the field this year in Madden NFL 2002 with all new camera angles going inside the huddle with a helmet cam and featuring extremely deep emotion," said executive producer Steven Chiang. "Last year was a benchmark for us in terms of what we could do with graphics and technology on the next generation systems. We have learned the extent of the capabilities and now, with all new face and body technology, you're not just playing the game, you are `in the game.'"
Madden NFL 2002 for the PlayStation 2 console also features several new modes including Two-Minute Drill, where points can be earned in a quick-hitting fast-paced game within the game; Create-a Team, featuring customized logos, uniforms, helmets and stadiums; and Training Mode, where the X's and O's of football can be learned from John Madden while perfecting in-game skills. Madden NFL 2002 has a new focus on player and high drama has been added with cool replays featuring camera angles that a TV broadcast can't capture.

Gamers can also play and draft with the newest NFL franchise, the Houston Texans, and can even take them to the Super Bowl(TM) in Franchise Mode. Madden Cards are back with new players, new designs and now cheerleaders. These cards are earned by performing certain tasks and they can unlock legendary teams, players, stadiums, and can also boost player ratings. Madden NFL 2002 lets gamers choose to play from hundreds of the greatest NFL players from the past with the inclusion of the All-Madden teams picked since 1984, All-Madden Super Bowl and All-Madden Millennium teams.

With Madden NFL 2002 for the PlayStation and N64, gamers can play in Madden Classic Mode, where the golden days of 16-bit Madden can be relived by playing the gameplay style that brought Madden its fame. Among the enhancements to the current game engine, a new kick meter challenges the user with skill based kicking, you can get a "do-over" with the new mulligan feature and a defensive mode and head-to-head play have been added to the Two-Minute Drill. Training Mode, featuring instructions in the X's and O's of football from John Madden and cheerleader Madden Cards round out the features for PlayStation and N64.

With an all-new graphics engine that was added to achieve a faster framerate, Madden NFL 2002 for the PC now has real-time lighting effects, time of day changes during the game and 3D sideline players and the chain gang. The new game engine also delivers new physics, smooth animation, multiple collision zones and many other gameplay enhancements to the PC. With the new and improved online play, gamers will now experience more stable and faster gameplay.

Madden NFL 2002 is rated "E" (Everyone) by the ESRB and is available on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation, PC and will be available for N64 in September. Consumers may purchase the game directly at the EA Store(SM) (http://eastore.ea.com) or by calling EA Direct Sales at 877/324-2637, for a suggested retail price of $49.95 on the PlayStation 2.

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), NBA LIVE Basketball, Triple Play Baseball(TM) and NASCAR(R).

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS), headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., 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.