EA AND DEF JAM ENTERPRISES EXTEND STRATEGIC GAME PARTNERSHIP
Powerhouse Pop Culture Brands Team Up to Deliver Next-Generation Videogames
CHERTSEY UK-- August 17, 2005 - Extending one of the most successful strategic partnerships in entertainment, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Def Jam Enterprises, a subsidiary of Rush Communications' fashion and entertainment empire, today announced a multi-year exclusive agreement that will deliver next-generation videogames across multiple genres. The first game to be released under the agreement is Def Jam® 3 (working title), an action-packed fighting game that builds on the multi-platinum success of its predecessors, Def Jam VENDETTATM and Def Jam® Fight for NYTM. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Currently in development at EA Chicago under the EATM brand, Def Jam 3 will seamlessly infuse the urban lifestyle and hip hop culture into the series' popular fighting mechanic to deliver a truly revolutionary next-generation street fighting game. Def Jam 3 will look, feel and sound like a cutting edge video with the intensity and drama of a big budget action film.
"EA and Def Jam are two of the most recognized brands in entertainment and we are thrilled to extend this partnership into the next generation of console technology," said Larry Probst, Chairman and CEO at EA.
"This partnership continues to solidify the Def Jam Enterprises and EA brands as catalysts of cultural product innovation in all facets of entertainment. The next generation platform opens unlimited possibilities in gaming and we are confident that along with EA, we will guarantee ground-breaking titles," said Kevin Liles, President & CEO, Def Jam Enterprises/EVP Warner Music Group.
This game has not yet been rated by the PEGI.
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 and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS BIGTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2005, EA posted revenues of $3.1 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.electronicarts.co.uk. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://electronicarts.co.uk/press
About Def Jam Enterprises
Def Jam Enterprises, a subsidiary of Rush Communications' fashion and entertainment empire, offers consumers a wide range of popular products and services in a variety of industries including fashion, film, gaming, and mobile. By leveraging the power of the Def Jam brand, Def Jam Enterprises has co-produced two multi-platinum video games with Electronic Arts: Def Jam Vendetta and Def Jam Fight For NY. Since its launch last year, Def Jam University has already established itself as a premier urban fashion brand. Def Jam Mobile, in partnership with AG Interactive, is the premier provider of hip hop content for wireless consumers. For more than 20 years, the executive team behind Def Jam have helped guide the most successful careers in entertainment:, such as Jay Z, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, T.I., Kanye West, Bon Jovi, The Killers, Ja Rule, DMX, Missy Elliott, and many more, For more information, please visit defjamenterprises.com