EA Announces publishing agreement with Criterion Games for Burnout 3

ELECTRONIC ARTS ANNOUNCES PUBLISHING AGREEMENT WITH CRITERION GAMES FOR BURNOUT 3

TOP SELLING BURNOUT FRANCHISE RETURNS IN 2004 

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., – February 9, 2004 – Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company and UK-based developer Criterion Games, today announced a development and publishing partnership for the upcoming title, Burnout™3. The latest title in the critically acclaimed Burnout series is slated for worldwide release in September 2004 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Xbox® video game system from Microsoft®. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

 “Burnout is already a hit arcade racing franchise and we are delighted to be working closely with Criterion to take the series to the next level in order to achieve the level of success that the series has always deserved,” said Bruce McMillan, Executive Vice President, EA Worldwide Studios. “With its action-oriented game design and remarkable production values, we believe that Burnout is a perfect fit for our racing game portfolio.”

Originally released in 2001, Burnout introduced thrill-seeking game players to an adrenaline-filled arcade-style racing experience. The original title was followed with the release of Burnout2: Point of Impact in 2002. Featuring racing action unlike any other title in the category, the two releases earned widespread critical acclaim and sold over 2 million units worldwide.  

Burnout 3 takes the series even further, now featuring a unique ‘crash and burn’ racing concept and a one-of-a-kind special effects engine that delivers spectacular visuals. The intensity heats up as players race, and often crash, their way through oncoming traffic in an attempt to claim the top spot. Boasting multiple single-player, multiplayer and online* crash and race modes, Burnout 3 offers players the opportunity to race through busy city streets and be rewarded for taking risks that result in heart-pounding action and electrifying crashes.

*PlayStation®2 only

“Working closely with EA’s European Studio on the development of Burnout 3 is exciting for Criterion and the Burnout series. We are thrilled that the game will benefit from EA’s development and publishing expertise that ensures a worldwide audience will be able to enjoy this phenomenal game,” said Fiona Sperry, Studio Head, Criterion Games. “We are confident that through this partnership, this fantastic game will be made even better.”

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About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of $2.5 billion for fiscal 2003. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. 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.

About Criterion Games
Criterion Games, headquartered in Guildford, UK, specialises in developing world class video games for PlayStation 2, X-Box and next-generation consoles. It is the creator of the award-winning driving games, Burnout and Burnout 2, published on the PlayStation 2 console, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and the Nintendo GameCube™ systems. Criterion Games is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canon UK, and sister company to Criterion Software Ltd, world-leading provider of middleware solutions for the game development industry.

Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, and EA GAMES are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries  Burnout is a trademark of Criterion Software Limited. All rights reserved.  PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  Xbox is either a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries and used under license from Microsoft.  Nintendo GameCube is a trademark of Nintendo.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.