EA and Endemol Announce Creative Partnership for Virtual Me
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), the world's leading interactive
entertainment software company, and the Endemol group, a global leader
in television and other audiovisual entertainment, today announced a
creative partnership for the development of Virtual Me, a new digital
entertainment concept that bridges the divide between traditional TV
and videogames. The all-new online offering is being prepared to debut
in Endemol's top-rated Big Brother.
Virtual Me combines cutting edge avatar creation technology from
EA with popular TV formats from Endemol to give consumers a
breakthrough way to meet, compete and socialize in online digital
worlds. Avatar creation takes a leap forward with a high performing,
easy-to-use tool that creates astonishingly life-like cyber-clones,
with uniquely customized appearances and identities.
Want to be a pop star? A movie star? An action star? Virtual Me
offers players the chance to participate in virtual versions of TV
talent shows like Fame Academy and Operacion Triunfo, game shows like
Deal Or No Deal and 1 vs 100 and to form real relationships with other
virtual avatars on the web. VirtualMe.com, the home of the Virtual Me
avatar creation system, will launch in the coming months.
Peter Bazalgette, Chief Creative Officer, Endemol comments: "We're
told that people are starting to spend more time online than they are
watching TV. Both markets are now important and this has huge
implications for content creators. Our opportunity with Electronic
Arts is to develop ideas that fully embrace the way people are
consuming entertainment today."
Gerhard Florin, Executive Vice President and General Manager, EA
International said, "With Virtual Me we are at the forefront of a new,
hybrid form of entertainment that takes gaming beyond the console.
Endemol is a great partner to help us bring together the best of TV
and video games for an offering that can appeal to mass market
audiences and change the face of entertainment."
The two companies will create an integrated team to share
expertise in their respective fields and develop entertainment formats
and experiences for a wide range of platforms, including TV and
online.
Electronic Arts is the creator of some of the world's most
successful video game franchises including FIFA Football, Need for
Speed(TM), Harry Potter(TM) and The Sims(TM). Endemol's catalogue of
TV formats includes international blockbusters such as Big Brother,
Fear Factor and Deal or No Deal.
Press release and Virtual Me illustrations can be found at
http://info.ea.com.
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 videogame systems,
personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic
Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM),
EA(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2006, EA posted
revenue of $2.95 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.
Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, POGO, The Sims and
Need for Speed are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic
Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. HARRY POTTER characters,
names and related indicia are trademarks of and (C) Warner Bros.
Entertainment Inc.
About Endemol
Endemol (Euronext:EML) is a global leader in television and other
audiovisual entertainment. The company creates premium entertainment
ideas and sells them to the world's leading broadcasters. Endemol
produces these shows to the highest standards creating hits with
strong brand value. Subsequently the company exploits the value of its
brands across other media and communications platforms including
mobile phones and the Internet.
Endemol, with its head office in Hilversum, the Netherlands now
has subsidiaries and joint ventures in 25 countries including The UK,
the US, Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as
in Latin America, India, South Africa and Australia. Endemol is a
publicly traded company on Eurolist by Euronext Amsterdam. For more
information please visit www.endemol.com.