Second Installment of Top-Selling Wii Game Bundle to Include NERF
Blaster and Decoder Lens
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jul 08, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Play Label of Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced
that NERF 2: "N-Strike"(TM) Elite is in development
exclusively for the Wii(TM) video game system. Heralding the 40th
anniversary year of Hasbro Inc.'s NERF brand, NERF 2: "N-Strike" Elite
will deploy this fall, bundled with a newly designed blue NERF
SWITCH SHOT EX-3 blaster and attachable decoder lens that will deliver a
blend of covert operation elements with over-the-top blasting missions. NERF
2: "N-Strike" Elite is the second game in EA's blaster arsenal
following the holiday '08 hit, NERF "N-Strike" in North America,
which was EA's second best-selling Wii game and a Top 20 Wii title in
2008 by revenue, according to NPD.
"In the world of NERF, more is always better - so that is exactly what
we're going to deliver with NERF 2: "N-Strike" Elite,"
said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA's Hasbro Division. "We're
building on the enormous success of the first video game that rocked the
market last holiday season as a 'must have' gift for Wii gamers. With NERF
2: "N-Strike" Elite we're essentially cranking up every
element of the experience starting with a new 3-in-1 blaster that will
have kids' jaws dropping as hidden gameplay elements come into focus
through a NERF decoder scope. That, together with more in-game blasters
and millions of upgrade combinations, a new army of robots to defeat,
and enhanced co-op play, is sure to put NERF 2: "N-Strike" Elite
on top again this year."
NERF 2: "N-Strike" Elite will feature a classic rail
shooter style of gameplay and equip players with a cache of fresh
features. With the Wii-remote snapped into the NERF SWITCH SHOT EX-3
blaster and the red reveal lens engaged, players will be able to detect
enemy weak spots, solve puzzles and decode secret messages as they blast
their way to victory. Boys in the target age range of 8 to 12 will jump
into battle as one of four playable characters, each with their own
unique customizeable blasters and abilities. For those players who find
themselves in a melee that requires back-up, NERF 2: "N-Strike" Elite
will include two-player co-op, allowing buddies to immediately jump in
and join the crusade. Players will also interact with a veritable army
of robots including B.O.B., the same recruiting robot from the first NERF
"N-Strike" game.
"As Hasbro gears up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the
NERF brand, the top boys property in the toy industry, EA is poised to
arrive at the party with the most innovative NERF digital gameplay
experience to date," said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and
General Manager of Digital Gaming and Media at Hasbro. "NERF 2:
"N-Strike" Elite will deliver an incredibly innovative and
fun NERF-inspired experience that will resonate with tween boys and also
get the nod of approval from Mom."
The NERF 2: "N-Strike" Elite 3-in-1 video game and SWITCH
SHOT EX-3 with scope toy bundle is being developed by EA Salt Lake and
will launch this fall. For more information, please visit Nerf.ea.com.
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 through licensing agreements with Electronic Arts
and PDP, respectively.
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: EATM, EA SPORTSTM, EA Mobile
TM 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, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family
leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and
entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and
most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a
brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a
range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to
high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS,
PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS
OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com.
© 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.
HASBRO, NERF and N-STRIKE are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with
permission. Wii is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6002364&lang=en
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
EA Hasbro
Alexis Mervin, 650-628-7703
amervin@ea.com
or
Foghorn PR (For EA)
Shelly Eckenroth, 717-852-7060
seckenroth@foghornpr.com
or
Hasbro Corporate Communications
Julie Duffy, 401-727-5931
jduffy@hasbro.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009