FIFA, the world's governing body of football, Electronic Arts Inc
(NASDAQ: ERTS) and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today
announced the new season of the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC), the
world's only officially FIFA sanctioned global football gaming
competition. Sony joins EA as new presenting partner for the
tournament, in which participants from around the world compete with
EA SPORTS FIFA 08 on the PlayStation(R)3 (PS3(TM)). The FIWC launches
with a new format, designed as a season-long experience mirroring the
real world of football. The announcement was made today at the Leipzig
Games Convention.
The fourth edition of the FIWC kicks off in October 2007 and will
culminate in the Grand Final in Berlin's Sony Centre in May 2008. This
year, players can compete at one of more than 20 physical FIWC 08
Qualifier Events across the globe or online via the
PLAYSTATION(R)Network in over 25 countries. In May 2008, 32 finalists
will compete to be crowned FIFA Interactive World Player, rewarded
with an invitation to the FIFA World Player Gala along with a USD
20,000 cash prize. Registration opens today at www.FIFA.com/FIWC
"To be associated with the world's leading games publisher, EA,
and one of the most respected organizations in the world, FIFA, is
very exciting for us," said Simon Rutter, VP Sales & Marketing for
SCEE. "With the added realism that PS3 brings to FIFA 08, we have
every belief that now is the time to truly make an impact with the
FIFA Interactive World Cup. We're looking forward to PS3 fans helping
to make the tournament every bit as iconic for gamers as the real FIFA
World Cup is for football fans."
Matt Bilbey, Senior Director, Sports Marketing, EA said "The FIFA
Interactive World Cup has become a firm fixture in the diaries of many
football fans and gamers around the world and we'll be there to bring
them a season full of great competition with FIFA 08 on the
PlayStation 3. With FIFA 08, EA Sports is delivering the sensations of
being on the real FIFA World Cup football pitch, so football gamers in
every geography better start practicing!"
"The FIFA Interactive World Cup is a great way to bring together
football gamers and the wider football community. With the
introduction of the new format, we have taken yet another big step
towards establishing the FIFA Interactive World Cup as the world's
leading football gaming competition, just like the FIFA World Cup is
for football on the field of play", says FIFA Executive-Member Chuck
Blazer.
EA SPORTS(TM) FIFA 08 for the PLAYSTATION3 offers a football
experience that matches the complexity, finesse and beauty of the
real-world game. FIFA 08 features a new, organic building-block system
that enables players to combine tricks and skill moves together to
recreate signature moves from the real-world superstars or define
their own style of play.
In addition, FIFA 08 features a true next-generation ball-striking
engine that re-creates the drama and unpredictable nature of shooting,
the award-winning Interactive Leagues online gameplay and the
inclusion of 620 licensed teams, 30 leagues, and more than 15,000
players.
For the complete event schedule and to keep the finger on the
pulse of the FIFA Interactive World Cup please go to:
www.FIFA.com/FIWC.
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 and PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable)
software and hardware in 102 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 Europe on 23 March 2007 and
the end of March 2007 over 1.6 million units have been shipped across
the SCEE territories, over 5.5 million globally. Between its European
debut on 24th November 2000 and the end of March 2007, over 44 million
PlayStation 2 consoles have been shipped across the SCEE territories,
over 117 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful
consumer electronic products in history. Between its European debut on
1st September 2005 and the end of March 2007, over 8 million PSP
systems have been shipped across the SCEE territories, with over 25
million shipped worldwide since its Japanese launch in December 2004.
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 and the PlayStation logo are registered
trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PSP is a trademark of
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of
their respective owners.
About EA
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 SPORTS(TM),
EA(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2007, EA posted
revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24 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 BIG, and POGO are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other
countries.
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.
