EA EXTENDS INTERACTIVE VIDEOGAME AGREEMENTS WITH NFL AND NFL PLAYERS
Exclusive Agreements Renewed Through 2012 Season
EA and Madden's stranglehold on NFL football games continues - Matt
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> REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - February 12, 2008 - Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:
> ERTS) today announced an extension of its exclusive licensing
> relationships with the National Football League and NFL PLAYERS to
> develop, publish and distribute interactive football video games. These
> agreements - which were negotiated separately and are extensions of
> contracts originally signed in December 2004 - provide EA continued
> rights to NFL teams, stadiums and players for its critically-acclaimed
> and best-selling football videogames through the end of the 2012 season,
> which culminates in February 2013.
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> Both agreements include all aspects of the interactive experience,
> including console and handheld games as well as console-based online
> features. The agreements also provide EA access to both NFL Films and
> the NFL Network to enrich its game experiences. Financial terms of the
> agreements were not disclosed.
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> "This is all about bringing authenticity and realism to NFL videogames,"
> said Eric Grubman, President of NFL Ventures. "EA SPORTS continually
> works to maintain the cutting edge for NFL products across a variety of
> gaming platforms. We like the fact that they never rest."
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> "This is great news and it means we can continue to produce the best
> interactive experience possible. It also allows NFL PLAYERS, the NFL
> and EA to continue to build our brands," said Gene Upshaw, Chairman of
> NFL PLAYERS and Executive Director of the National Football League
> Players Association. "We offer a very unique experience. "
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> "We are excited about the opportunity to extend and expand our
> relationships with the NFL and NFL PLAYERS," said Peter Moore, President
> of EA SPORTS(tm). "For nearly two decades, EA SPORTS has been bringing
> sports fans closer to the great game of football through the
> breakthrough interactive experiences of our videogames. Game quality is
> our top priority, and we're committed to pushing our gameplay
> innovation, connecting football fans via rich online experiences and
> delivering the most visually stunning sports games on the market."
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> Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2008, EA's Madden NFL franchise has
> consistently been one of the videogame industry's best-selling and
> top-rated products, generating more than $2 billion in retail sales.
> Madden NFL 08 earned awards from the 2007 Game Critics Awards at the E3
> Media and Business Summit, The SpikeTV Video Game Awards, and the
> GameSpot Readers Choice Awards last year. The game is available on the
> PLAYSTATION(r)3 and PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment systems, Xbox
> 360(tm) and Xbox(r) videogame and entertainment systems from Microsoft,
> Nintendo DS(tm), Wii(tm), PC, PSP(r) (PlayStation(r)Portable) handheld
> entertainment system, mobile handsets and Mac. EA also produces the
> arcade-football game NFL Tour which hit stores in January 2008, and NFL
> Head Coach, which was released in 2006. EA SPORTS recently hosted
> Madden Bowl XIV in Scottsdale, Ariz., as part of Super Bowl XLII
> festivities.
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> Both agreements grant exclusive rights for action simulation,
> arcade-style and manager games on the PC, handheld game devices and
> consoles.
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