Record numbers already signed up for FIFA Interactive World Cup
2009Barcelona confirmed as venue for 2009 competition grand final in
May
ZURICH, Switzerland, Jan 13, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
FIFA, the world's governing body of soccer, Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ:
ERTS) and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that
Alfonso Ramos, the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2008 Champion, has
received his official winner's trophy at the FIFA World Player Gala in
Zurich. Ramos was joined by some of the world's greatest soccer players,
including Cristiano Ronaldo, crowned the 2008 FIFA World Player of the
Year, and Fernando Torres at the star-studded event.
The FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) 2009 has received a record number
of entrants with around 320,000 competitors already signed up to compete
in this year's competition. The FIWC has become one of the largest and
fastest growing sports gaming competitions in the world with players
from around the globe battling it out on EA SPORTS(TM) FIFA 09 for
PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) in a bid to be crowned the best virtual soccer
player in the world and receive the $20,000 1st place prize.
For anyone who thinks they've got what it takes, there is still time
ahead of March 31 to enter and show the world what you're made of, so
get registered and start laying your claim to the crown.
FIFA, EA and SCEE have also announced that the FIWC 09 grand final in
May will take place in Barcelona, one of the world's greatest soccer
cities. The glamorous grand final marks the culmination of months of
qualifying rounds currently taking place both online via the
PlayStation(R)Network and at FIWC 09 Live Qualifier Events around the
globe, in countries including Australia, Brazil, UK, Germany, France,
Italy, South Africa and the United States.
"We got involved in the FIFA Interactive World Cup with the intention of
creating an iconic gaming competition, but to achieve the huge increase
in competitors that we have seen this year is something that exceeds
even our most optimistic predictions," said Darren Carter, Vice
President for Brand and Consumer Marketing, SCEE. "Everything about the
FIWC this year is bigger and better and to see so many competing online
on PlayStation Network really highlights how PlayStation(R) has grown
along with the tournament. We can't wait to welcome the best virtual
soccer players to Barcelona, Spain."
"We are extremely proud to once again be supporting the FIWC alongside
FIFA and Sony Computer Entertainment," said Matt Bilbey, Vice President
International Marketing, EA SPORTS. "We believe that FIFA 09 is
our best ever soccer title and we are delighted to see so many gamers
battling it out in the game both online and at physical qualifying
events around the world. The FIWC has grown over the years to become a
truly global gaming competition which captures the heart and spirit of
soccer and gaming and we look forward to crowning this year's victor at
the grand final in May."
Details about the live qualifier events near you will be made available
over the coming weeks at www.FIFA.com/FIWC,
so check in regularly to keep your fingers on the pulse of the FIFA
Interactive World Cup 2009.
Footage and photography of the FIWC 08 is accessible on the FIFA Media
Channel** now: http://mediachannel.extranets.fifa.com/regproc.aspx
* Feature not active in FIWC tournament settings
** Requires registration at http://mediachannel.extranets.fifa.com/RegProc.aspx
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. All other trademarks are
the property of their respective owners.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is
responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PLAYSTATION(R)3,
PlayStation(R)2,PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) and PlayStation(R)Network
software and hardware in 99 territories across Europe, the Middle East,
Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and
distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the
third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories.
Since the launch of PLAYSTATION 3 in November 2006, over 14.4 million
units have been sold globally and continue to be sold at a record level.
Maintaining its position as one of the most successful consumer
electronic products in history, PlayStation 2 has sold over 131.3
million systems worldwide. Since its launch at the end of 2004, over
41.3 million PSPs have been sold globally, highlighting the importance
of the portable entertainment market. With the huge increase in interest
and accessibility of network applications and network gaming, over 10
million people have registered to the PlayStation Network, the
free-to-access interactive environment, and 200 million items have been
downloaded.
More information about PlayStation products can be found at www.playstation.com
or visit the Virtual Press Office at www.scee.presscentre.com.
PlayStation, PLAYSTATION, PSP and the PlayStation logo are registered
trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
About FIFA
For more than 100 years, the Federation Internationale de Football
Association, founded on 21 May 1904 in Paris and better known as FIFA,
has continued to provide the essential leadership role to the
international football family. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the
eighth FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter guides the organisation today
with a commitment to the evolution of FIFA as a modern and dynamic
association. The basis of the world's football family is formed by
FIFA's members. From the founding seven, the family has today grown to
208 affiliated football associations, also organised into six
confederations spanning the globe.
FIFA's worldwide activities go well beyond its various competitions,
such as the world's biggest single-sport event, the FIFA World Cup(TM). In
football development projects such as the FIFA GOAL Programme as well as
in corporate social responsibility activities (including the Football
for Hope movement to support through football social and human
development) FIFA makes material, financial and promotional
contributions to develop the game and make the world a better place. For
the Game. For the World. To find out more about FIFA and its initiatives
please check out www.FIFA.com.
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc
Electronic Arts
Maik Matischak, +41 22 316 1317
mmatischak@ea.com
SCEE
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd
Nick Caplin, + 44 207 859 5301(5349)
Fax: + 44 207 859 5036
nick_caplin@scee.net
FIFA
FIFA Media Department
Tel.: +41-43/222 7272
Fax: +41-43/222 7373
E-mail: media@fifa.org
Copyright Business Wire 2009
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