FIFA, XBOX AND EA ANNOUNCE NEW FIFA INTERACTIVE WORLD CUP DETAILS
Register at WWW.FIFAINTERACTIVEWORLDCUP.COM For The Chance To Be Crowned FIFA Interactive World Player 2004
BERLIN, 8th September 2004 - FIFA, Xbox®, the video game system from Microsoft®, and Electronic Arts, the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, today announced the planned tournament details and schedule for the recently announced FIFA Interactive World Cup, the world's first ever, FIFA sanctioned, video game tournament.
The FIFA Interactive World Cup is a new video game tournament combining on- and off-line football gaming action featuring EA's FIFA Football 2005 on Xbox and Xbox® LiveTM. The FIFA Interactive World Cup will travel to six continents from October to December 2004, offering football fans a chance to win the ultimate video game bragging rights - being named FIFA Interactive World Player 2004 - as well as sharpening up football skills with the pros, enjoying music from big-name DJs, and lots of surprises.
There are four ways to enter the FIFA Interactive World Cup, which will see more than 8,000 players (plus contestants from the Xbox Live community of more than one million gamers) competing all over the world :
Register at http://www.FIFAinteractiveworldcup.com
Register on site at regional tournament venues
Earn a place by playing FIFA Football 2005 on Xbox Live
Win a local qualifying tournament, which will lead to the regional tournaments and ultimately to the finals in Zurich - information on local tournaments is available on the registration site
Players who have what it takes to win their region's finals will travel to the worldwide finals in Zurich in December - and the winner will be named FIFA Interactive World Player 2004. That prestigious achievement will be recognized with a trophy presented to the winner by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter at the FIFA World Player Gala.
Kicking off in October, the FIFA Interactive World Cup will travel to nine cities in six continents:
Johannesburg - 23rd October
New York - 30th October
Rio de Janeiro - 6th November
Sydney - 13th November
London - 20th November
Seoul - 30th November
Paris - 4th December
Berlin - 11th December
Zurich (FINALS) - 19th December
As players compete to be the best player of FIFA Football 2005 at each regional final, they will also be able to sharpen their real-world football skills through various separate side activities. Contestants waiting for their turn on the tournament pods will be able to practice their moves with the help of professional football players.
The events will also feature big-name DJs performing for the crowds, as well as a host of other fun activities and some surprises too. Specific details on each event will be available at http://www.FIFAinteractiveworldcup.com.
"The FIFA Interactive World Cup unites the passion for sports competitions with the world of interactive entertainment - we're looking forward to this new officially endorsed FIFA tournament and to awarding the FIFA Interactive World Player 2004," said FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi. "This is an official FIFA honour that places interactive football in the same bracket as its offline parent."
"The FIFA Interactive World Cup tournaments will be a great day out for football fans everywhere," said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Publishing, Xbox. "As well as experiencing the excitement of FIFA Football 2005 from EA and Xbox Live, contestants and their friends will find no shortage of other interactive and 'real-life' activities. Being named FIFA Interactive World Player 2004 is the ultimate in bragging rights and we know the competition will be fierce."
"We know FIFA Football fans are serious about their football," said Jens Uwe Intat, Vice President and Managing Director of EA's Central European Region. "The FIFA Interactive World Cup brings that passion for sports competition to the world of interactive entertainment - we're looking forward to the tournament kick off and to seeing who will be the ultimate FIFA Football champion. And in the process, a lot of people are going to have a lot of fun."
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To request a copy of the FIFA Interactive World Cup emblem, visit:
http://www.fifadigitalarchive.com/welcome/login/login.pt
About FIFA
For the past 100 years, the Fédération 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 (Switzerland), 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 member associations. From the founding seven in 1904, the family has today grown to 205 affiliated 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 CupTM. In projects such as SOS Children's Villages and the FIFA Goal Programme, FIFA gives material, financial and promotional support to develop the game and bring joy to underprivileged children worldwide.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, 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 SPORTSTM, EA GAMESTM and EA SPORTS BIGTM. 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 Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com <<a target="_new" class="releaselink" href="http://www.xbox.com/>">http://www.xbox.com/> ) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in Europe for an estimated street price of 149.99/£99.99.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.
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. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox Live, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.