The Sims accessories
Sims-branded PC and console controllers coming soon.
San Diego, March 1. 2011
Mad Catz ® Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz” or “the Company”) (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), a leading global interactive entertainment software company, announced today an agreement to produce branded PC and console videogame accessories based on ‘ The Sims™’ franchise. The agreement grants Mad Catz non-exclusive rights to produce and market a wide range of videogame accessories for PC, Microsoft® Xbox 360 ® video game and entertainment system, Sony® PlayStation ® 3 computer entertainment system, Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo 3DS™ systems.
Commenting on the agreement, Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz, “We are excited to work with EA and one of the most popular gaming franchises of all time. The Sims is a new and exciting opportunity for Mad Catz to reach a wider audience that includes both casual and enthusiast gamers. Our agreement with EA is part of our long-term strategy of working with the premium gaming brands and deliver innovative consumer focused accessories.”
“We are delighted to be working with Mad Catz to further broaden the appeal of The Sims franchise through the introduction of specialty PC and console accessories,” said Patrick O’Brien, Vice Presidentof Electronic Arts. “Mad Catz has a long history of working with game publishers to deliver unique products, and we believe that together we can introduce a range of accessories that appeal to players of The Sims series.”
About Mad Catz Interactive, Inc.
Mad Catz is a leading global provider of innovative products for the interactive entertainment industry. Mad Catz develops and markets accessories for videogame systems and PCs under its Mad Catz (casual gaming), Saitek (simulation), Cyborg (pro gaming), Eclipse (home and office) and Tritton (gaming audio) brands. Mad Catz also operates e-commerce and content websites for videogame and PC products under its GameShark brand, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary earphones under its AirDrives brand, and publishes and distributes video/PC games. Mad Catz distributes its products through most of the leading retailers offering interactive entertainment products and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For additional information please go to www.madcatz.com, as well as www.store.gameshark.com, www.saitek.com, www.cyborggaming.com, www.eclipsetouch.com, www.trittontechnologies.com, www.gameshark.com and www.airdrives.com.
Track Mad Catz via the following social media:
Facebook® Page: http://www.facebook.com/MadCatzInc
Twitter® Page: http://twitter.com/MadCatzInc
YouTube® Channel: http://www.youtube.com/MadCatzCompany
About The Sims
The Sims™ franchise, the groundbreaking game series that allows players to create and live a virtual, simulated life on a computer, celebrates its ten year anniversary in 2010 with an impressive more than 125 million units sold since its launch in February 2000. Now translated into 22 different languages and available in 60 different countries, The Sims series has quickly become a universal gaming and cultural phenomenon. Since its June 2009 launch, The Sims 3 has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide to date and was the #1 best-selling PC title for 2009 in North America and Europe. Fan intensity is evidenced through nearly 250 million downloads of player created content including: The Sims characters, houses, stories and more. The Sims 3 community site, www.thesims3.com, welcomes up to seven million unique visitors monthly, handles more than 240 content downloads every minute and more than 3.5 million uploads have been made to date, including 11 movies each hour. The Sims 3 YouTube Channel is within the top 10 most viewed sponsored channels of all time with more than 45 million video views. Visit The Sims 3 official website to see what the players are creating at www.TheSims3.com or the official YouTube Channel for The Sims at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSims. The Sims 3 is currently available for PC, Mac, iPhone®, iPod touch® and mobile devices. The Sims 3 is also available on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, and Wii™ and in March 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS.
Follow The Sims social media:
Facebook® Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheSims3
Twitter® Page: http://twitter.com/TheSims3
YouTube® Channel: http://www.youtube.com/TheSims
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. 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, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, POGO and The Sims are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS are trademarks of Nintendo. iPhone and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Mad Catz Safe Harbor for Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company's business prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information or future events or developments. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "should," "plan," "goal," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the ability to maintain or renew the Company's licenses; competitive developments affecting the Company's current products; first party price reductions; the ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; or a downturn in the market or industry. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators.
For further information please contact:
Media
Alex Verrey: Global PR & Communications Manager
t. +44 (0) 1908 336 538
e. averrey@madcatz.com
Michael Greco: Vice President of Marketing
t. + 1-619-321-3564
e. mgreco@madcatz.com
Investors
Allyson Vanderford : Interim Chief Financial Officer
t. +1-619-321 3545
e. avanderford@madcatz.com
Joseph Jaffoni, Norberto Aja and Jim Leahy
Jaffoni and Collins Incorporated
t. 212/835-8500
e. mcz@jcir.com
# # #
ALEX VERREY
Global PR & Communications Manager