EA Sports Games Prices Get Chop Blocked

In case you didn't get the football reference, EA Sports has announced price cuts for its entire sports line-up. "Madden NFL 2005," "NBA Live 2005," and "NHL 2005," are now at priced at $29.95. "NCAA Football 2005," is now $39.95. You have to wonder if the success of ESPN's "NFL 2K5" which launched at $19.95 has had any impact on EA's decision to make sports games cheaper. After all, they are basically the same game year after year. Why not give the dedicated gamer a break?

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PRESS RELEASE

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EA SPORTS reaches out to new players with late-season PRICING

Madden NFL 2005 and NBA LIVE 2005 Now $29.95

Season’s Biggest Promotional Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Redwood City, Calif – November 8, 2004 -- Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced new holiday promotional prices on top EA SPORTS™ titles. Starting tomorrow, Madden NFL 2005 and NBA LIVE 2005 will have a suggested retail price of $29.95. The suggested retail price for NHL 2005 will be $29.95 and the best-selling college football game, NCAA® Football 2005 will be $39.95.

“This is great news for mainstream sports fans,” said Frank Gibeau, EA’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “People who buy sports games late in the season tend to be more casual players. Our pricing strategy will be a big draw during the holidays and will attract new players to EA SPORTS.”

Individually and as a group, EA SPORTS titles are breaking franchise records for revenue and copies sold. According to internal data, Madden NFL 2005 has sold more than four million copies, NBA LIVE 2005 has sold more than two million copies and NCAA Football 2005 has sold close to two million copies.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, EA posted revenues of $2.96 billion for fiscal 2004. The company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. In 2003, EA had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. Electronic Arts markets its products under three brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA GAMES™ and EA SPORTS BIG™. 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.

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Electronic Arts, John Madden Football, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES and EA SPORTS BIG are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. NCAA, NFL, NBA and NHL are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.