Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), the world´s leading
interactive entertainment software company, and IAHGames, a major
provider of online entertainment software and services in Southeast
Asia based in Singapore, announced today on their joint agreement to
launch and operate EA SPORTS(TM)FIFA Online 2 in Asia Pacific. The
game is targeted for release by the third quarter of 2008 in
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam; with seven additional countries in
Asia Pacific to follow. The announcement was made today during a press
conference for Pan Asian media at EA´s new Asia headquarters in
Singapore.
The deal is set to replicate the remarkable success of EA SPORTS
FIFA Online in Korea and to solidify EA´s position as a pan Asian key
player in the gaming industry, as it continues its foray into the
online games arena. EA has earlier announced online partnerships with
other major operators in Asia such as Neowiz in South Korea, GigaMedia
in Taiwan, and The9 in China.
EA SPORTS FIFA Online 2 is the latest online version of the
blockbuster FIFA football game franchise. The original debut EA SPORTS
FIFA ONLINE version had a record of over 5 million users and became
the No.1 mid-session sports game in Korea. EA SPORTS FIFA ONLINE 2
will deliver an innovative and seamless game experience through
authentic game play, complete customization, and a groundbreaking
manager mode. The game will mirror the sophistication and finesse
required of real world players on the pitch; online players will
challenge their odds, perfect their skills, and bring glory to their
favorite teams.
Working closely with EA development and publishing teams, game
operator IAH will provide valuable support services such as marketing,
community management, customer and technical support.
"We are proud to be in this long term regional partnership with
sports games powerhouse Electronic Arts," said Roland Ong, CEO of
IAHGames. "We are confident and committed in delivering FIFA Online to
a market of more than 20 million online gamers in Southeast Asia. We
take pride in thrilling real world soccer fans who can now take part
in the amazing football action in FIFA Online 2."
"We are very thrilled to be partnering with IAH to bring FIFA
Online to avid gamers in this region," said Jon Niermann, President of
EA Asia. "Football is a hugely popular sport in Asia and the FIFA game
franchise has already garnered an unmatched appeal for football fans
around the world. We are confident that FIFA Online will continue its
wave of success across Asia."
EA SPORTS FIFA Online is developed by EA Canada and Neowiz Games
Corporation.
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. EA markets its
products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS
BIG(TM) and POGO(TM). In the fiscal year of 2007, EA posted a total
revenue of USD 3.09 billion and had 24 titles that sold more than one
million copies each. EA´s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com.
For more information about EA´s products and full text of press
releases, visit http://info.ea.com.
About Infocomm Asia Holdings
Founded in Singapore in November 2004, Infocomm Asia Holdings Pte
Ltd (IAH) is a leading operator and distributor of online games in
South East Asia. IAH offers game publishers and developers a single
point of access to bring the best Massively Multiplayer Online Games
(MMOGs) from all over the world to gamers in the region. IAH is funded
by prestigious institutional investors, including Infocomm Investment
Pte Ltd (IIPL), an investment arm of the Infocomm Development
Authority of Singapore (IDA), GigaMedia and SoftBank´s Bodhi
Investments. IAH has also acquired exclusive region-wide license to
the top MMORPG Hellgate: London, developed by the team responsible for
the best-selling Diablo(R) series.
For more information please visit www.iahgames.com.
About Neowiz Games
Neowiz Games Co. Ltd, is based in Seoul, South Korea and is the
nation´s leading online game company. Neowiz Games is expected to post
revenues of USD 160 million for the fiscal year of 2007. The company
develops and publishes online games; to date, it has over 50 online
game titles in service, including the most popular online game in
Korea, EA SPORTS FIFA Online. Neowiz markets its production its online
game portal, www.pmang.com.
For more information about the company, visit www.neowiz.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.
Official FIFA licensed product. Manufactured under license by
Electronic Arts All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
