REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2006--Electronic
Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS) has delivered the first game with ESPN integrated
content. EA SPORTS™ branded MVP™ 06 NCAA® Baseball, which is
in stores now, marks the first title of this long-term relationship
between the two sports leaders. EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 3,
shipping this Spring, will be the next EA SPORTS branded game to be
released featuring ESPN content integration.
"EA and ESPN are creating one place, inside our EA SPORTS games,
where anyone who is passionate about real sports and sports videogames
can come for their ultimate sports fix," said Todd Sitrin, vice
president of marketing for EA. "The first implementation can be found
in EA SPORTS' MVP 06 NCAA Baseball where gamers can receive ESPN
SportsCenter radio highlights, real-time scores, and top stories from
the world of sports that update seamlessly while they play; it's the
first step in bringing together the worlds of interactive gaming and
actual sports," Sitrin added.
"MVP 06 NCAA Baseball is the first title that will showcase ESPN
content and integration within EA games," said Jim McGee, vice
president of interactive gaming for ESPN. "The implementation in this
and future products will vary and evolve over time. We believe that
through games like this one, ESPN and EA will redefine how sports fans
consume their sports information and experience sports entertainment."
MVP 06 NCAA Baseball, the latest offering from the makers of the
critically acclaimed MVP Baseball™ franchise, is the first-ever
college videogame to hit the market and the first game in the EA
SPORTS portfolio to integrate ESPN in a way that will completely
redefine the gaming experience. Featuring a live ESPN ticker
recognizable from TV telecasts, ESPN Radio SportsCenter updates every
20 minutes and news from ESPN.com, online connected users stay
completely up to date in the world of sports while they play. Powering
this ESPN Integration is Online Everywhere, an all-new feature that
allows users to be online all the time regardless of where they are in
the game. This new EA technology offers instant access to features
such as ESPN content, EA™ Messenger and more.
In January 2005 EA and ESPN announced a long-term agreement for
the development and integrated marketing of EA SPORTS games containing
ESPN content. The agreement gives EA access to ESPN programming,
personalities and integrated marketing opportunities on ESPN
television programming and other ESPN properties.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City,
California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software
company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and
distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems,
personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its
products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS
BIG™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2005, EA posted revenues of $3.1
billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's
homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about
EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the
Internet at http://info.ea.com.
About ESPN
ESPN, Inc., The Worldwide Leader in Sports, is the leading
multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring the
broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets with over 50 business
entities. The company, which celebrated its 26th anniversary on
September 7, 2005, is comprised of seven domestic television networks
(ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, ESPN
Today), ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD (high-definition simulcast services of
ESPN and ESPN2, respectively), ESPN Regional Television, ESPN
International (29 international networks and syndication), ESPN Radio,
ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, SportsTicker, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN
Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses
including ESPN360 (Broadband), Mobile ESPN (wireless), ESPN On Demand,
ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80
percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The
Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent
interest in ESPN.
Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, POGO, MVP and MVP
Baseball are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts
Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. NCAA is a registered
trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Electronic Arts Inc.
Trudy Muller, 650-628-7323 (Corporate)
tmuller@ea.com
Jennifer Riley, 604-456-5081 (for MVP 06 NCAA Baseball)
jriley@ea.com
or
ESPN
Sandra John, 212-515-1207
sandra.c.john@espn.com
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.