FIFA 09 Ultimate Team Enables Gamers to Create and Collect
Their Fantasy Soccer Team to Compete Online
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb 10, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced the development
of a unique, downloadable game mode called FIFA 09 Ultimate Team
that will deliver a strategic new online experience to the award-winning
EA SPORTS(TM) FIFA Soccer 09 on the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer
entertainment system and Xbox 360(R)video game and
entertainment system. FIFA 09 Ultimate Team challenges gamers to
collect or create the most talented soccer players in the world, develop
them into a fantasy team and then compete online against a legion of
challengers to be crowned the ultimate team.
Winner of 25 international game quality awards, FIFA Soccer 09
is the most popular EA SPORTS game played online*. Over 141 million
games of FIFA Soccer 09 have been played on the PLAYSTATION 3 and
Xbox 360 by gamers connected online since the game's European launch on
Sept. 25, 2008. An average of 1.25 million games are played online
daily, which is a 321 percent increase over FIFA Soccer 08.FIFA 09 Ultimate Team expands the FIFA Soccer 09
online experience by delivering the ultimate fantasy in club soccer to
the record number of individuals playing while connected online.
"Online is the next great frontier in sports gaming. We are seeing
a record number of individuals globally playing FIFA Soccer 09
online so we are focused on developing games that maximize the online
experience," said Andrew Wilson, Vice President & Executive Producer for
the franchise. "A dedicated team developed FIFA 09 Ultimate Team
and they have created a game within the game, delivering a strategic new
way to play FIFA Soccer 09 that will create hundreds of
additional hours of playing time."
FIFA 09 Ultimate Team challenges gamers to collect 30
different types of bronze, silver and gold virtual cards, including
Player, Staff, Contract, Formations, and Tactics, to create their
fantasy team. Strategically collect and manage players and different
types of cards, and then set the match strategy to win. Carefully select
or trade for the right Manager, then choose the best Tactics and
Formations that forge the team chemistry necessary to take your club to
the top. Plus, deal Gameplay cards on your opponent at key moments of
any match for a tactical advantage.
Live the ultimate dream in FIFA 09 Ultimate Team. Create
yourself in game, line up alongside your heroes and captain your squad
to glory. Customize everything from players and stadiums to the kits and
badges, creating the world's next great soccer club. Compete offline and
online to earn more valuable cards or trawl the market for the ones
needed to complete a winning team. Climb the league table or compete in
knockout tournaments for the most coveted trophies, where the opposition
becomes more difficult after each victory.
Feel the exhilaration as you take your carefully assembled squad
into matches and tournaments online against the most formidably talented
teams ever assembled--and out play them. Here is the ultimate test of
your skills as a player and manger. Write your own legend with FIFA
09 Ultimate Team.
FIFA 09 Ultimate Team will be available as a download to FIFA
Soccer 09 beginning March 19, 2009. Fans will be able to experience
the new game mode by creating a team with a starter package of players
and virtual cards and play a five game trial before deciding to purchase
the FIFA 09 Ultimate Team mode. FIFA Soccer 09 is required.
For more information about FIFA 09 Ultimate Team visit http://www.fifa09.ea.com.
Screenshots and product fact sheet can be downloaded at http://info.ea.com.FIFA 09 Ultimate Team, scheduled for worldwide release on
March 19, is developed by EA Canada in Vancouver, B.C. It is rated "E"
for everyone by the ESRB and 3+ by PEGI.
* based on average daily online users between Sept. 25, 2008 and
January 26, 2009.
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(TM), EA
SPORTS(TM), EA SPORTS Freestyle(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP
net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 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.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FREESTYLE, and POGO are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other
countries.Official FIFA licensed product ' (C) The FIFA
brand OLP logo is a copyright and trademark of FIFA. All rights
reserved.' Manufactured under licenese by Electronic Arts Inc. Player
names and likenesses used under license from FIFA, International
Federation of ProfessionalFootballers "(FIFPro)" and
national teams.Microsoft, Xbox, and Xbox 360 are registered
trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. "PlayStation",
"PLAYSTATION" and PSP are registered trademarks of Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick Duo(TM) may be required (sold separately).
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
EA SPORTS
Steve Frost, 604-456-5067 (Senior Publicist)
sfrost@ea.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009