Need for Speed World Online
Early testing to take place in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Taipei, Taiwan – Feb 5, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that EA Asia will publish Need for Speed World Online in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Jointly created by EA Black Box, the developer of the Need for Speed™ franchise, and EA’s online studio in Singapore, EA’s blockbuster racing franchise comes to Asia with a free to play, multiplayer PC-only online game The first phase of technical testing is scheduled to start in March 2009.
The game offers numerous race tracks and game modes where players are able to form teams to take on the competition and the police. Players can collect and customize racing characters alongside authentic real-world licensed cars and will be able to track their progress via online leaderboards, all in the largest free roaming environment in Need for Speed history. Need for Speed World Online is a new entertainment experience that delivers excellent gameplay, stunning graphics and sophisticated online matchmaking features that emphasize social interaction between players.
“Need for Speed is one of the world’s best-selling franchises, and is especially popular among gamers in Taiwan and Hong Kong. We’re thrilled to bring this EA-owned property to Asia and to begin our self publishing model in Taiwan and Hong Kong. We look forward to the results of this testing phase for continued improvement in providing the best service to online gamers across Asia,” said Jon Niermann, President of EA Asia.
Need For Speed World Online is a multi-player PC game jointly developed by Black Box, the developer of the Need for Speed franchise, and EA’s online studio in Singapore. Need for Speed World Online joins EA’s roster of online games in Asia including the successful launches of EA SPORTSTM FIFA Online 2 in Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, and Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning® across Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
For further information about Need for Speed World Online, please contact the local office.
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. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS Freestyle™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. 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.
EA, the EA logo, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle, Pogo, Need for Speed are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. The FIFA Brand is a copyright and trademark of FIFA. Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. Warhammer, Warhammer Online, Age of Reckoning, and all associated marks, names, races, race insignia, characters, vehicles, locations, units, illustrations and images from the Warhammer world are either ®, ™ and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2008.All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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CONTACT:
Claire Wu
EA Taiwan
+886 2- 2795-8972
Claire@ea.com
Dulcie Ho
EA Regional
+65 6349 8026
dho@ea.com