Sequel to Last Year's Top-Selling NERF Video Game Delivers
Over-the-Top Action in Celebration of Brand's 40th
Anniversary
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct 27, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Play Label ofElectronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today
announced shipment of NERF "N-Strike" (TM) Elite for the
Wii(TM), the next installment in the top-selling video game franchise. The
3-in-1 NERF "N-Strike" Elite experience includes the game, which
is loaded with new in-game NERF blasters, missions, levels and expanded
customization features as well as a bundled NERF SWITCH SHOT EX-3
blaster and attachable Red Reveal decoder lens.
"There were high expectations for NERF "N-Strike" Elite from
consumers and retailers based on last year's game success so we upped
the ante across every facet of the experience," said Chip Lange, General
Manager and Vice President of EA's Hasbro Division. "NERF "N-Strike"
Elite delivers even deeper gameplay and customization elements,
unlocks a new arsenal of blasters, and serves up high adrenaline
missions for action seekers of all ages. In addition to the blaster, we
added another accessory to the bundle - a decoder lens which adds a new
layer of immersive and interactive NERF game play."
Players kick-off the NERF "N-Strike" Elite action by choosing
from four characters, each with unique blasters and special abilities.
As part of a four-person team, they are tasked with completing a series
of increasingly challenging missions with the ultimate end-goal of
destroying an army of robots led by B.O.B., who has been rebuilt and is
much tougher than in the first NERF "N-Strike" game. Players can
arm themselves with more than a dozen real and never-before-seen NERF
blasters that are unlocked as they progress through the game. Each
blaster, including Hasbro's new NERF N-STRIKE RAIDER RAPID FIRE CS 35
which makes its first game debut, offers individual strengths and
weaknesses adding tactical strategy to NERF "N-Strike" Elite.
As players progress through several indoor and outdoor levels, they
encounter glowing canisters that they can blast to collect points to use
toward customization, such as increasing the firing speed and changing
the color of the blasters. Players can also use their points to
"purchase" in-game upgrades like scopes, lasers, and dart with custom
colored trails or whistles.
Players have the option of going solo through the levels or teaming up
with a friend in two-player co-operative play for the entire campaign.
In this mode, teamwork is rewarded as players encounter areas of the
game that they can only enter as a team of two. In these environments,
cooperation is required to unlock special Elite Moments, where action
intensifies and unique unlockable items and hidden codes can be found.
NERF "N-Strike" Elite comes bundled with a NERF SWITCH SHOT EX-3
blaster that offers two ways to play. Players can snap the Wii Remote
into the chamber of the blaster and use it for in-game play or
alternatively, swap in the dart cartridge to transform the blaster for
classic NERF play. The second accessory component is a brand new Red
Reveal lens that attaches to the blaster and is used to uncover hidden
messages within the game that allows players to find hidden unlock codes
and expose enemy weak spots.
"The launch of NERF "N-Strike" Elite is the perfect way to round
out the 40th anniversary of the powerhouse NERF brand," said
Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital
Gaming and Media at Hasbro. "EA and Hasbro continue to push the
boundaries in terms of re-imagining the NERF experience for the digital
consumer and together, we've integrated accessories inspired by the NERF
toy line to deliver an amazing 3-in-1 bundle that will be a big hit with
boys this holiday season."
NERF "N-Strike" Elite is available at retail and priced at MSRP
$59.99. The game is rated E10+. For more information, visit http://nerf.ea.com.
For assets, visit http://info.ea.com/product.asp?s=2643.
About the NERF Brand
The number one toy brand for boys in the 9 to 12 age range, NERF was
first introduced in 1969 with a polyurethane
foam ball that was marketed as the first official indoor ball. Based on
the popularity of that ball came a follow up larger version called the
Super NERF Ball. Next a basketball game was introduced and then the
football, which became the most popular NERF ball. Celebrating its 40th
anniversary this year, the NERF line has continued to expand to include
a variety of sports balls, blasters to more recently video games and
video game accessories.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, a
leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in
1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless
devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
four brand names: EATM, EA SPORTS(TM) EA MobileTM and
POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2
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 Hasbro
Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure
time entertainment products and services, including the design,
manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to
high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA,
MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST
brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable
play experiences in the world. ©2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, and Pogo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
NERF and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used
with permission. Nintendo Wii is a trademark of Nintendo. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
EA Hasbro
Alexis Mervin, 650-628-7703
amervin@ea.com
or
Foghorn PR (For EA)
Mary Leddy, 508-872-3369
mleddy@foghornpr.com
or
Hasbro Corporate Communications
Julie Duffy, 401-727-5931
jduffy@hasbro.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009