All-New Dynamic Post Play and More Than 70 Classic Teams Create a New College Basketball Experience
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 12, 2007--Electronic
Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today revealed the tremendous depth of
gameplay features in EA SPORTS™ NCAA® March Madness® 08 for
Xbox 360™ and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system which
will create a college basketball experience that captures the emotion,
intensity and atmosphere of a real college basketball game. Featuring
former University of Texas star Kevin Durant, the first college
freshman to receive the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy as the NCAA
men's basketball player of the year, in game and on its cover, NCAA
March Madness 08 creates new ways to play by challenging you to master
the strategy and skills required to dominate down low, and by
replicating classic teams in college basketball history that make
dream match-ups a reality.
Shipping to stores in North America December 18, NCAA March
Madness 08 has created a strategic new gameplay experience called
Dynamic Post Play that enables you to take complete control over
running your offense through the post, and defending your opponent in
the paint. Experience the intensity of a strategic match-up on each
possession, outwit your opponent by creating a favorable mismatch, and
then make a move that scores the bucket to lift your team and your
fans to victory. For the first time, you have complete control over
dozens of new offensive post moves, including finesse ones like an
up-and-under, drop step, hook spin, jump hook, and pump fake, and the
ability to combine moves together. Animations can be interrupted at
any time to transition into a new move, enabling you to read and
respond to the defense, just like real life. Take command of the post
on defense with strategic positioning to dominate down low -- guard
your opponent man-to-man, front him to deny the entry pass or read the
offense and go for the steal!
NCAA March Madness 08 finally makes dream match-ups a reality,
enabling you to replay classic games in college basketball history.
Featuring more than 70 classic teams, take the court as the 1972 UCLA
Bruins against any of the great North Carolina Tar Heels teams of the
1980s, the Duke Blue Devils of the 1990s or the two-time defending
national champion University of Florida Gators. In addition, the
ultimate teams for dozens of Division I programs have been created
enabling you to go head-to-head to determine the best team in the
history of college basketball.
Experience the electricity of game night with the band playing
fight songs, the student section leading the cheers and popular ESPN
college basketball broadcasters Dick Vitale and Brad Nessler providing
the play by play commentary courtside. ESPN sideline reporter Erin
Andrews makes her videogame debut in NCAA March Madness 08, joining
the broadcast team to provide real-time injury updates, insight and
strategic observations throughout the course of each game.
NCAA March Madness 08 captures the intensity and atmosphere found
in authentic college basketball arenas and your players will rise to
the occasion or wilt under the pressure. The crowd atmosphere impacts
the composure ratings of the players on the floor -- seniors and
freshmen will handle the pressure differently - enabling you to fill
up your Intensity Control Meter and change the momentum of the game.
NCAA March Madness 08 has added a plethora of rich new details
that brings the college game to life, including new authentic arenas,
new player models with form-fitting uniforms, breakaway basketball
hoop rims, and the ability of players to slap the backboard on layups.
The game also features custom playbooks for each team through the
Floor General Playcalling system, the EA SPORTS Lockdown Stick that
enables your players to pressure the ball, force turnovers and harass
opponents on the court, a deeper Dynasty Mode™ that lets you build
your school into a national powerhouse, the Pre and Post season NIT
and the McDonald's High School All American game and an online feature
set that includes customized leagues and ESPN on Demand.
Developed at EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C., NCAA March Madness 08
will be available for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2.
It will ship to stores December 18. The game is not yet rated by the
ESRB.
To learn more about the game visit www.marchmadness08.com. Box art
of NCAA March Madness 08 and images of Kevin Durant participating in
motion capture at EA Canada earlier this year can be downloaded at
http://info.ea.com.
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 video game systems,
personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic
Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™,
EA™, EA SPORTS BIG™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2007, EA posted
revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24 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 the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and
universities committed to supporting academic and athletic
opportunities for more than 380,000 student-athletes at more than
1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 49,000
student-athletes compete in NCAA Championships in Division I, II and
III sports. For more information, go to www.ncaa.org.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, POGO and Dynasty Mode are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S and/or
other countries. All rights reserved. All names, logos, team icons,
and mascots associated with the NCAA, universities, and conferences
are the exclusive property of the respective institutions. NCAA and
March Madness are trademarks or registered trademark of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association. The "Officially Licensed Collegiate
Products" label is the exclusive property of The Collegiate Licensing
Company. "PlayStation" and "PLAYSTATION" are registered trademarks of
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, and Xbox 360 are
trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks
are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: EA SPORTS
Steve Frost, 604-456-5067
sfrost@ea.com
David Tinson, 604-456-5167
dtinson@ea.com
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.