EA Debuts Blockbuster
Lineup At the Electronic Entertainment Expo; World's
Leading Video Game Publisher Set to Unveil 31 Titles on
Multiple Platforms
May
14, 2002--Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS), the world's
leading interactive entertainment software company, today
announced its Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) lineup
of 31 titles, the biggest ever presented by the company
at the annual expo. EA is debuting a show-stopping mix of
games from those based on key EA SPORTS(TM) franchises
such as Madden NFL(TM) Football and FIFA Soccer to EA
GAMES(TM)-branded smash hits with Hollywood film ties
such as Harry Potter(TM), James Bond(TM) and Lord of the
Rings(TM). New versions of multi-million unit sellers,
such as SimCity(TM) 4 and The Sims(TM) will also be on
display. EA's lineup will span next generation console,
PC, online and hand-held platforms.
"This
year EA has a truly incredible line up of blockbuster
titles," said John Riccitiello, EA's president and
chief operating officer. "We have new editions for
the world's leading EA SPORTS line up, including Madden
Football, NBA Live, FIFA Soccer, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR
Golf and NASCAR Thunder. We'll have games launching with
the year's best movies including Harry Potter, James Bond
and Lord of the Rings. We also have powerful PC games
like SimCity 4 and The Sims Online."
"EA's
powerhouse global development studios have created
amazing games for the 2002 holiday season," said Don
Mattrick, president of worldwide studios at EA.
"This year's E3 lineup underscores our dominance of
the PlayStation 2 software market with more than 20 games
on that platform. Additionally, we will release 15 games
for the PC, 15 for the GameCube, 11 for the Xbox and five
Game Boy Advance titles. EA's cross-platform support
sends a strong message to consumers that EA is bringing
great content to market for the platform of their
choice."
EA SPORTS IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN
EA SPORTS will unveil ten titles
at E3, including:
Madden NFL(TM) 2003 -- Show off
those football skills with Madden NFL(TM) Football. In
its 13th year, the series is the undisputed leader in
authentic NFL football simulation. Its combination of
jaw-dropping graphics and animations, realistic player
AI, in-depth play modes, and the most innovative features
is beyond comparison. New features include Mini Camp,
with John Madden's Cruising Tour Bus traveling to all NFL
cities to complete skilled tasks, Create-A-Playbook and
new commentary from John Madden and Al Michaels. Madden
NFL 2003 is scheduled for release in summer 2002 on the
PlayStation(R) 2 computer entertainment system, the
PlayStation(R), Nintendo GameCube(TM), Game Boy(R)
Advance, Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft, and
PC.
NBA LIVE 2003 -- Packed with
action, NBA LIVE 2003 includes totally enhanced gameplay
bringing the physical, fast-paced world of the NBA to
life. The game includes all-new animations and audio that
delivers awesome drama and emotion. In NBA LIVE 2003,
players feel, hear and see the action like never before
and make their hoop dreams come true. NBA LIVE 2003 will
be released on the PlayStation 2 console, Xbox, Nintendo
GameCube, PlayStation and PC in fall 2002.
NASCAR Thunder(TM) 2003 -- Jump
into the emotion, sound, fury, and risks of the
high-speed, high-drama career of a NASCAR(R) star with
NASCAR Thunder 2003. The game lets players feel the
adrenaline rush, intensity and passion of being a NASCAR
driver on a quest to become a NASCAR Winston Cup Series
champion. NASCAR Thunder 2003 delivers a variety of
real-life scenarios, complete with dramatic pileups,
walls of smoke, and constant door-to-door, three-wide
racing all to test players nerves and improve their
racing skills. In addition, NASCAR Thunder 2003 lets
players build a racing legacy over the course of 20
drama-filled seasons. The title is slated to ship in fall
2002 on the PlayStation 2 console, Xbox, Nintendo
GameCube and PC.
2002 FIFA World Cup(TM) -- Win
the world's most coveted trophy in 2002 FIFA World
Cup(TM). This title promises to capture every moment of
glory, every emotion, every sound and every aspect of a
truly global event, giving consumers the opportunity to
kick off the FIFA World Cup frenzy by playing in the
tournament before it begins. Soccer fans will find a
whole new world of showboating and quick-tempo,
high-impact action, obvious from the first touch of the
ball. 2002 FIFA World Cup shipped in April for the
PlayStation 2 console, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo
GameCube, and PC.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) 2003
(Console Versions) -- Combine the competitive pressure of
the PGA TOUR with the fun of Sunday golf with your
friends and the result is the console versions of Tiger
Woods PGA TOUR(R) 2003. The game is a fast and furious
golf experience that blurs the lines between fantasy and
reality. The game features new, originally designed
courses, PGA TOUR and original golfers and all-new street
golf that lets you play on city streets and adds
challenges that will keep even the lowest handicapped
golfer challenged for months. Another new feature,
SkillZone, allows players to buy a bucket of balls and
compete in a series of mini-games to earn points. Tiger
Woods PGA TOUR 2003 is scheduled for release on the
PlayStation 2 console, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube in
winter 2002.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) 2003 (PC
Version) -- Brings golf to life on the PC and snaps it
into 3-D, allowing the player to feel the pressure of
taking on Tiger Woods as well as some of the top courses
in the world. A new course lineup allows play at nine
different PGA TOUR courses. The game also includes new
effects, so the grass actually grows around your feet as
you play, making the rough rougher and the weather
effects let you "feel" the sun, rain and chill
as the fog rolls in. In addition, there are a few new
golfers in the game such as, Ty Tryon and Charles Howell
III. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) 2003 is scheduled for
release on the PC in winter 2002.
Knockout(TM) Kings 2003 -- Lace
up the gloves and experience first-hand the thrills of
boxing's biggest moments, most devastating combinations,
improved mobility, dazzling footwork, crushing blows and
the best looking boxers ever. Knockout Kings 2003 is
scheduled to ship in fall 2002 on the Nintendo GameCube.
NHL(R) 2003 -- Drop the puck and
the excitement begins with NHL(R) 2003 delivering on
addictive speed that hockey fans crave. This No.
1-selling NHL(R) interactive video game franchise
continues a tradition of excellence in its tenth year.
NHL 2003 is the most user-friendly, accessible,
entertaining, authentic hockey experience to date. New
users can select 'Beginner' mode to get an audio tutorial
with cues for a fun NHL 2003 experience. The title also
features Game Breaker, 'On the Ice' sound and Dynamic
Deke Control that give both new and veteran players the
total control, speed, and hard-hitting competition that
every sports fan loves. NHL 2003 is scheduled for release
in fall 2002 for the PlayStation 2 console, Xbox,
Nintendo GameCube, and PC.
F1 2002 -- Blast onto the track
with F1 2002, the first Formula One game to feature the
new 2002 season when it launches. Officially licensed
from the Formula One Administration Limited, it features
all of the real drivers, teams, cars and tracks from the
2002 FIA Formula One World Championship. Available at the
start of the new season, it allows the true Formula One
aficionado the opportunity to play along as the real life
drama unfolds. F1 2002 is slated to ship in spring 2002
on the PC, PlayStation 2 console, and Nintendo GameCube.
NCAA(R) Football 2003 -- Live the
intensity, pageantry and the spirit of college football
in NCAA Football 2003. The game celebrates the loyalty
and tradition of college football's storied football
programs. No other interactive college football game
creates the experience of the intense rivalries of
college football Saturday's at all 117 Division I-A and
27 I-AA schools across the country. NCAA Football
delivers the schools, the unique formations and plays,
the band music, the cheerleaders, the mascots -- creating
a unique gaming experience that is different from
professional football. NCAA Football 2003 is scheduled to
ship on the PlayStation 2 console, Nintendo GameCube and
Xbox in summer 2002.
EA SPORTS BIG(TM) CONTINUES TO
PUMP OUT FRESH, EXTREME TITLES
The latest title being presented
under the EA SPORTS BIG(TM) brand is:
Freekstyle(TM) -- Feel the danger
in Freekstyle, a new motocross game that dares players to
harness the power of their bikes while pulling off sick
tricks in insane, over the top worlds. Freekstyle
includes a unique cast of characters from the freestyle
motocross world such as Mad Mike Jones, Metz and Deegan.
Even the former Miss Supercross and TV host Leeann
Tweeden saddles up and turns into a throttle junkie.
Freekstyle is scheduled to ship in summer of 2002 on the
PlayStation 2 console and Nintendo GameCube.
EA GAMES(TM) TURNS HOLLYWOOD
LICENSES INTO 'MUST HAVE' GAMES
EA will be showing the following
13 titles under the EA GAMES brand:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets(TM) -- Take the wheel of a flying car and don't
be late for a second term at Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry(TM) in Harry Potter and the
Chamber of Secrets(TM). Based on J.K. Rowling's second
book in the worldwide best-selling series, players face a
slew of new challenges and mysteries as the famous
"Boy Who Lived." EA will be publishing games
based on Chamber of Secrets this fall under the EA GAMES
brand for the PlayStation 2 console, Nintendo GameCube,
Xbox, PC, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation and Game Boy(R)
Color. Each game will take advantage of the individual
platform's hardware capabilities to deliver the ultimate
Harry Potter experience, transporting gamers away from
the non-magical world into an interactive adventure of
wizards and wonder!
James Bond 007 NightFire(TM) --
Get deep into the excitement and intrigue of the most
complete James Bond game yet. In James Bond 007
NightFire, all-new scenarios and gameplay complement a
completely original storyline that delivers all-out
Bond-style intensity. The game will feature a large
variety of missions filled with furious action and
stealth, gorgeous women, exotic locales and sophisticated
spy-craft gadgetry that Bond Fans expect. Moreover, the
game will primarily be seen through a fast-paced, first
person perspective, however it will switch to a dynamic
third person perspective to show off dramatic interactive
moments. Closely timed for release with the 20th
theatrical release, 'Die Another Day' from MGM/Danjaq,
James Bond 007 NightFire is targeted for release in late
2002 on the PlayStation 2 console, Xbox, Nintendo
GameCube and PC.
Battlefield 1942(TM) -- Jump into
this multiplayer World War II PC game and find out what
action is all about. Battlefield 1942 players are given
the ability to control 35 authentic Axis and Allied
vehicles from a first person perspective and select from
five player classes. Players can choose to heroically
storm or defend the beaches of Normandy, direct artillery
or command a tank at Kursk, pilot a fighter or operate
shore battery at Midway -- all while experiencing some of
the most dramatic moments of WWII. Battlefield 1942 for
the PC will support up to 64 players. The game is slated
for release on the PC in summer 2002. The Xbox version
will be available in winter 2002.
The Sims(TM) -- Brace yourselves!
The No. 1 PC game of all-time is making its console
debut. Players can create and control Sims on the
PlayStation 2 console with new level-based game play and
3D graphics. Customize your Sim's personality and
appearance and move into the neighborhood. Get a job,
make friends and advance through your career and life's
big moments. Unlock new objects and bigger houses along
the way. Meet, flirt and fight with a neighborhood full
of wild characters. You can also load your Sims into a
friend's game and play two-player games, all new for the
PlayStation 2 console. The Sims is scheduled for release
in fall 2002.
SimCity(TM) 4 -- Build and
breathe life into your city with SimCity 4. With god-like
powers, players can sculpt mountains, gouge riverbeds,
and seed forests to lay the groundwork for their
creation. Cities come alive with the hustle and bustle of
construction crews, the snarl of traffic and the activity
of the Sims. Cap an erupting volcano to save your city,
but don't be surprised if lava explodes from another
source. If your citizens burst into a panic, throw down
barricades and dispatch the police or send the Mayor's
limo to quell the mob. With every decision players make,
their city and Sims will respond for better or worse.
SimCity 4 is slated for release in fall 2002 on the PC.
The Sims(TM) Online(TM) -- Enter
a virtual world built from the imaginations of thousands
of players in The Sims Online. It is an unpredictable,
alternate reality where players can be themselves or
whomever they want to be. Players have their own piece of
land to do with as they please. Create a house, coffee
bar, dance club, theatre or anything imaginable. The Sims
Online players can be both spectators and participants.
Build a network of friends to enhance their power,
wealth, reputation and social standing. Create crazy
locations or hold wild events to entertain others.
Explore the neighborhoods around you and meet scores of
Sims along the way. In this massive and never-ending
online world, players become Sims, choose their roles and
find their destinies. The Sims Online is slated for
release in the second half of 2002.
Need For Speed(TM) Hot Pursuit 2
-- Engage in the next generation thrill of arcade racing
with more than 20 exclusive and exotic cars from the
world's most coveted licensors including Ferrari(TM),
Porsche(R) and Lamborghini(TM). Need For Speed is back
and better than ever with Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2.
The latest version features over 20 courses, some more
than 15 miles long, providing the widest variety of
driving challenges. A mixture of gameplay modes will
challenge every driver, including the all new "Top
Cop" and "Be The Cop" modes that let
players actually get behind the wheel of a police car and
attempt to bust those pesky law-breakers. Need For Speed
Hot Pursuit 2 will arrive on the PlayStation 2 console,
Nintendo GameCube, Xbox and PC in late summer 2002.
The Lord of the Rings(TM), The
Two Towers(TM) -- Based on New Line Cinema's epic motion
picture trilogy, EA's first The Lord of the Rings(TM)
action adventure game will allow players to take control
of the main action heroes from the films, with other
members of the Fellowship taking on an active AI role
during gameplay. The PlayStation 2 version features
dramatic camera views of the action within fully 3D
interactive environments taken straight from the big
screen. A visceral, tactical combat system will encourage
players to be strategic with their selection of
characters, weaponry and moves. The first The Lord of the
Rings title will be released in conjunction with the
second movie in fall 2002.
Medal of Honor Frontline(TM) --
Head back behind enemy lines with Lt. Jimmy Patterson in
Medal of Honor Frontline. Lt. Patterson returns and must
use the confusion of the real-world offensive Operation
Market Garden to infiltrate the German frontline and
steal the HO-IX flying wing, an experimental Nazi weapon
so powerful that it could turn the tide of World War II.
To help him succeed, Lt. Patterson will have an arsenal
of new weapons, ranging from the Springfield Sniper Rifle
and Panzerschreck rocket launcher, to the return of the
ever-popular Browning Automatic Rifle. Patterson's
friends and foes will all have much improved AIs, making
for tense and heated large-scale battles, with friends,
foes, and even civilians all on screen at any given
moment. Medal of Honor Frontline is scheduled for release
in summer 2002 for the PlayStation 2 console.
Command & Conquer(TM)
Generals -- Become a powerful general and control massive
armies of bleeding-edge military weaponry across a globe
teetering on the brink of Armageddon. Prepare your
forces, Commander, it's time to engage in the next
generation of real-time strategy in Command & Conquer
Generals. The game is scheduled to ship in winter 2002 on
the PC.
Earth & Beyond(TM) -- Take
command of a starship and enter an enormous persistent
galaxy. This massively multiplayer online role-playing
game allows players to live star-spanning adventures as
they explore, trade and fight with thousands of other
players. Earth & Beyond is slated to debut in summer
2002.
1503 A.D. - The New World(TM) --
Return to the dawn of a new world in an epic saga of
adventure and discovery. Players will explore stunningly
detailed sixteenth century environments to establish
colonies as they seek wealth and power. They'll watch
those colonies grow while they create trade and
diplomatic ties with neighboring cultures. They'll also
engage in combat on land and at sea as they protect their
colonies. The depth and pace of this real-time strategy
masterpiece will keep players challenged and at the
center of the action. 1503 A.D. - The New World is
scheduled for release in winter 2002 on the PC.
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger(TM) --
Sharpen your boomerang and get ready to explore the many
regions of the land down under with Ty the Tasmanian
Tiger. In the role of Ty, players believe they are the
lone remaining Tasmanian Tiger until a chance meeting
with a mystical elder who informs Ty that he has living
relatives trapped in another world called the Dreamtime
portal. This information sends players on an adventurous
quest to collect magical talismans that are spread across
the game's many environments: the snowy mountains, the
Outback or the Great Barrier Reef. Players collect the
Talismans and unlock the Dreamtime portal, releasing
their fellow Tasmanian Tigers. But traversing across
Australian isn't so easy, along the way Ty encounters a
large cast of characters, both friend and foe. Ty must
outsmart them all, armed with only an array of signature
boomerangs and a nasty chomp. Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
provides fun for all ages. The game is slated for release
in fall 2002 on the PlayStation 2 console and winter 2002
on the Nintendo GameCube.
EA DISTRIBUTION CO-PUBLISHING AN
ARRAY OF MARQUIS TITLES
EA Distribution (EAD) is also
co-publishing a multitude of titles that are under
development, including:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer(TM) --
Balance the adolescent growing pains of a 17-year-old
high school student with the responsibility of being the
"Chosen One" in this third-person
action/adventure game based on the international hit
television series. Players take on the role of Buffy
Summers, a typical student by day and a fierce destroyer
of the undead by night. Buffy the Vampire Slayer combines
fighting, action, drama, humor, exploration and puzzle
solving in a complex interactive 3D environment. Gamers
must defeat vampires and other demonic creatures that
threaten the world's existence. It's up to Buffy to save
the world from vampires and demons. Buffy the Vampire
Slayer is due to ship in summer 2002 on the Xbox. The
game is being co-published by EA and Fox Interactive.
Disney Golf -- Tee up with
Mickey, Goofy and friends where players of all ages and
abilities can step onto the magical links of Disney Golf,
a place where the fun never ends. Disney Golf features
six colorful and entertaining courses such as the
picturesque landscape of the American West, a plush
island paradise and an airy course in the clouds. This
game also has many magical hidden secrets such as
power-ups to boost characters' duffer skills as well as
fun moves like hitting a miracle drive that turns the
golf ball into a football. Disney Golf is scheduled to
ship in summer 2002 on the PlayStation 2 console. The
game is being co-published by EA and Disney Interactive.
GALIDOR(TM): Defenders of the
Outer Dimension -- Based on the hit FOX Kids TV series,
GALIDOR: Defenders of the Outer Dimension puts players
into the shoes of Nick Bluetooth who is faced with the
daunting task of freeing friends who have fallen into the
clutches of the evil tyrant named Gorm. Nick's friends
are being held in four realms of the Outer Dimension,
each packed with multiple levels of arcade-style gameplay
action. Nick is armed with a glinching power allowing him
to absorb defeated enemies' attributes. He'll need those
attributes as he takes on powerful bosses and other foes
throughout the game. GALIDOR: Defenders of the Outer
Dimension for the Game Boy Advance will be available in
fall 2002. The PlayStation 2 console, Nintendo GameCube
and PC games are due for release in spring 2003. The game
is being co-published by EA and LEGO(R).
Drome Racers -- Get behind the
wheel as Max Axel, lead driver of the Nitro team and
newest rising star vying for the Championship throne. The
Drome is an unfathomably huge race world where
competitors charge across three realistic city, mountain
and canyon environments. The game's most unique feature
is the Multi-Challenge Races. From start to finish the
race is a seamless set of different stages, each
requiring a skilled pit stop change to have the right car
for the next terrain. Racers can choose from 18 dragster,
on- and off-road cars, all based on the wildly popular
2002 LEGO Racers Construction Toy Range. Drome Racers
will be released in winter 2002 on the PC and PlayStation
2 console. The title is being co-published by EA and
LEGO.
BIONICLE(TM): Matoran Adventures
-- Set around the elementally themed regions of the
island of Mata Nui, a tropical paradise, players of this
fun hand-held platform game will guide Matoran and Turaga
characters on an incredible adventure. Players will face
many obstacles and enemies and finally defeat the Bahrag,
the great enemy of Mata Nui, and its inhabitants.
Bionicle: Matoran Adventures for the Game Boy Advance is
scheduled to ship in fall 2002. The game is being
co-published by EA and LEGO.
Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter(TM) --
Speed, agility, stamina and accuracy are all key elements
in the bounty missions players undertake in Mace Griffin
Bounty Hunter. The player will assume the role of Mace
Griffin, a futuristic Special Ops officer, while
seamlessly transitioning between first person combat and
space flight action. Against a backdrop of corporate,
political and religious intrigue, Mace Griffin is framed
for being involved in his comrades' deaths. After
spending time in prison, he becomes a Bounty Hunter, a
vocation that gives him access to classified information
and a means to aggressively pursue his search for the
people who framed him. Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter for the
PC is slated to hit store shelves in fall 2002. The PC
game is being co-published by EA and Crave Entertainment.
The Simpsons(TM) Skateboarding --
Grab your board and jump into the action with everyone
else in Springfield who is vying for the top spot and
colossal $99 prize in the Annual Skate Tour. The entire
town has gone skate crazy on the half-pipes, ramps and
rails. The game features nine recognizable characters
such as Bart, Homer and Krusty. Each character has
his/her own tricks, personality and dialogue. Players can
go for broke in five, fast and furious modes played out
all over Springfield in this arcade skateboarding title.
The Simpsons Skateboarding is scheduled for release in
summer 2002 on the PlayStation 2 console. The game is
being co-published by EA and Fox Interactive.
ABOUT ELECTRONIC ARTS
Electronic Arts, headquartered in
Redwood City, California, is the world's leading
interactive entertainment software company. Founded in
1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.7
billion for fiscal 2002. The company develops, publishes
and distributes software worldwide for video game
systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic
Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA
SPORTS(TM), EA GAMES(TM), EA SPORTS BIG and EA.COM(SM).
http://e3.ea.com
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