Press Release: EA SPORTS Announces 2002 FIFA World Cup

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2002--Before over 37 billion people worldwide come to a standstill to follow the 2002 FIFA World Cup(TM) competition this spring, EA SPORTS(TM) offers soccer enthusiasts the opportunity to determine for themselves who will win the world's most coveted trophy with 2002 FIFA World Cup. Announcing today that it will release exclusively the official interactive FIFA World Cup game, Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS) gives consumers globally the opportunity to kick-off the FIFA World Cup frenzy by playing in the tournament before it begins. The game promises to capture every moment of glory, every emotion, every sound and every aspect of a truly global event, giving consumers the opportunity to kick-off the FIFA World Cup frenzy by playing in the tournament before it begins. Gamers will find a whole new world of showboating and high-tempo, high-impact action, obvious from the first touch of the ball.

2002 FIFA World Cup will ship in April for PC-CD, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and PlayStation console, the Xbox(TM) video game system by Microsoft and the Nintendo GameCube(TM). "We've gone to great lengths to set out to develop the most realistic, enjoyable FIFA World Cup experience," said Executive Producer Marc Aubanel. "In order to do so we've signed an unprecedented number of licenses in so we can deliver soccer fans their favorite players and teams in FIFA World Cup uniforms, competing in sanctioned World Cup Stadiums, replicated with lifelike detail."

2002 FIFA World Cup will include the following licensed content:

• Official and exclusive 2002 FIFA World Cup game -- As the official game of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, EA offers the only interactive soccer game officially licensed to use the FIFA World Cup, insignia, new World Cup stadiums, banners, and mascots.
• Licensed national teams -- Users can take the pitch with the U.S. National Team as they compete head-to-head in their first game at the Suwon World Cup stadium or in subsequent games versus Korea at Daegu, and Poland at Daejeon or as one of the other teams in the tournament.
• Licensed players -- Featuring all players participating in World Cup competition this summer, including U.S. forward Landon Donovan and the members of the U.S. National Team. Star players competing in the 2002 FIFA World Cup including Donovan and others will display their physical likeness in the game along with their individual talents that identify their style of play.