E3: Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Announcements from E3 for you…

Visceral Games™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio and makers of the critically-acclaimedDead Space series, today unveiled Battlefield™ Hardline, taking the award-winning Battlefield franchise to a new world filled with new ways to play. Coming October 21 in North America, Battlefield Hardline puts players right in the middle of the war on crime in the gritty and glamorous streets of Los Angeles and Miami, allowing gamers to live out their fantasy of being a cop or a criminal. The fantasy begins today in a bold move – Visceral Games is making Battlefield Hardline playable now for the public in a closed multiplayer beta on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and on Origin™ for PC. Players can sign up for a chance to play at www.battlefield.com/beta.

Delivering an all-new canvas for the best-in-class first person action gameplay the Battlefield franchise is known for,Battlefield Hardline sees Visceral Games bring its critically-acclaimed single player storytelling pedigree to provide an engaging story in a setting reminiscent of modern TV crime dramas. In multiplayer, fans will feel the thrill of the heist or the satisfaction of the ultimate bust with new twists including new modes, weapons, vehicles and gadgets.

"This is an awesome opportunity to take one of gaming’s most exciting franchises in a new direction," said Steve Papoutsis, Vice President and General Manager of Visceral Games. "The cops and criminals fantasy is a great new backdrop for Battlefield and allows us to introduce an impactful story, while still maintaining that intense multiplayer action that fans expect. Best of all, the beta allows lots of fans to jump in and play immediately."

Karl Magnus Troedsson, Vice President and Group General Manager of DICE and Visceral, added, "We’re always looking for new, exciting directions to take the Battlefield franchise, but it has to be a great experience that’s driven by passion and stays true to the heritage of Battlefield.Visceral has a great track record of creating emotionally charged stories with unforgettable atmosphere and we’re excited to see them bring this approach to single player and to see how they add to Battlefield’s best in class multiplayer action. Hardline is fun, fresh and yet still very much aBattlefield game."

Powered by DICE’s award-winning Frostbite 3 game engine, Battlefield Hardline lets players trigger jaw-dropping Levolution events as they shoot out subterranean grow-labs, blow open bank vaults, or tear apart the streets of Los Angeles. Introducing a new arsenal of guns and gadgets, including stun guns, zip lines, and grappling hooks, players take on a bold new level of strategy as both cops and criminals on every map. Maintaining the epic vehicular combat fans have come to expect from Battlefield, Battlefield Hardline ushers in a fast and fresh urban approach to vehicles with loot-laden getaway motorcycles and nimble police choppers to navigate sprawling skyscrapers.

Coming October 21 of this year in North America, Battlefield Hardline will be available for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PC via Origin™, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft. Battlefield Hardline will be available in Europe beginning October 23 and in the United Kingdom on October 24.

Players looking to head into this new playground with some extra gear can pre-order the Battlefield Hardline Deluxe Edition. With three in-game content packs as well as an additional 10 Battlepacks*, the Battlefield Hardline Deluxe Edition ensures players will hit the streets ready for whatever comes at them. For more information on the Battlefield Hardline Deluxe Edition as well as all pre-order offers please visitwww.battlefield.com/preorder.

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Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that EA SPORTS^TM NHL^® 15 will kick off a new generation of hockey videogames, skating into retailers on September 9, 2014 in North America and September 12, 2014 in Europe. From the ice, to the fans, to the presentation, NHL 15 brings to life the sights, sounds and feel of the fastest team sport on the planet like no other game before.Watch the NHL 15 Official E3 gameplay trailer now. Fans who pre-order the game will receive a minimum $15 value of Hockey Ultimate Team content. In addition, gamers can also kickstart their hockey experience with the NHL 15 Ultimate Edition that comes with over $40 added value of exclusive content for Hockey Ultimate Team. Learn more on the NHL 15 website.

“This is the start of a new era for the award-winning NHL videogame franchise,” said Dean Richards, General Manager, EA SPORTS NHL. “New technology gives us the freedom and horsepower to change almost every part of the game. From the way players look and move on the ice, to the unrivaled electricity of the in-arena experience, to the sights and sounds of an all new broadcast team, NHL 15 brings the game we love to life in ways that were never possible before.”

In NHL 15, fans will see the most realistic looking and skating hockey players ever in a videogame, along with the most detailed and authentic representation of the game of hockey itself. 12 Player NHL Collision Physics and Real Puck Physics capture the hard hitting chaos and unpredictability of the sport. Gamers can look, move, play and think like a real hockey player with all new authentic player modelling and an evolved arsenal of tools, including the Superstar Skill Stick and Vision AI that allow for an unprecedented level of control and elevated player intelligence.

Witness the sights and sounds of authentic arenas across the National Hockey League, as 9,000 individual crowd models, the most ever in a sports videogame, hang on every play called by an all-new commentary team of Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick and Eddie Olczyk from NBC Sports. TSN analyst Ray Ferraro will provide insights at ice level. In addition, a new partnership with NBC Sports brings a world class broadcast package to the game.

Visit the EA SPORTS NHL 15 website for more details.

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A return to the virtual links is near as today Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR®. The new title will feature gorgeously detailed real-world courses, as well as epic fantasy courses that offer not only new settings, but their own unique challenges. EA SPORTS PGA TOUR will launch on Xbox One, the all-in-one entertainment system from Microsoft, and the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, in Spring 2015. The first video of EA SPORTS PGA TOUR can be seen here.

The game will be the first EA SPORTS title to utilize the power of the Frostbite 3 engine to render stunning courses and open up the golf experience like never before. With the ability to stream full environments, players will truly be able to play the ball as it lies no matter where it lands.

“Frostbite 3 is really the perfect piece of technology for us to use as we create EA SPORTS PGA TOUR,” said Executive Producer Brent Nielsen. “There is no better engine out there for creating complex, lifelike environments, and it has allowed us to recreate some of the world’s most beautiful courses, as well as create some new ideas of our own. Also, for the first time ever we’re offering a game that’s completely free of load times after you start your round, allowing you to move seamlessly from one green to the next tee without breaking immersion.”

“The technology driving EA SPORTS PGA TOUR opens up so many new opportunities,” said Denise Humphreys, PGA TOUR Senior Director of Partnerships. “Two of our favorite new features are the ability to play from hole to hole with no load time, plus having views of the entire course, allowing the gamer a more real-world experience.”

This newfound freedom will come in handy not just for PGA TOUR courses fans know and love, but also in the new fantasy courses that will make their debut in EA SPORTS PGA TOUR. Why take two shots to get a ball around a beached battleship in the Battlefield Paracel Storm course when you can fire a ball right at the bow, bounce it off the deck and land on the green in one?

“One of my favorite things about the game is discovering new shortcuts and alternate routes to the hole on fantasy courses,” stated Nielsen. “Players are encouraged to wander off the beaten path and find new roads to success. Now that the entire course is open at all times you are as free to be as creative and imaginative as you want in your pursuit of a low score.”

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR is developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon and will be available in Spring 2015 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports videogames, including Madden NFL football, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, PGA TOUR® golf, SSX™ and EA SPORTS UFC®.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

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Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that EA SPORTS™ FIFA 15 is bringing football to life in stunning visual detail so fans can experience the emotion and intensity of football like never before, on Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4, and new this year, PC, now fuelled by EA SPORTS™ IGNITE*. Fans who pre-order FIFA 15Ultimate Team Edition** will receive approximately $40 USD value of FIFA Ultimate Team content including new EA SPORTS Football Club items and game celebrations.

With Emotional Intelligence, FIFA 15 models the emotional state of all 22 players on the pitch, giving fans a chance to experience first-hand the attitudes and personalities of the world’s best football players during a match. FIFA 15players now have a range of emotions that evolve contextually throughout the game based on interactions with opponents and teammates. Each player has an attitude or feeling towards everyone else on the pitch and will react accordingly during the game’s events – frustration after missed passes, anger with hard tackles, and excitement when chances are taken are just some of the over 600 reaction animations that could tell the story of the game.

“We want our fans to feel the highs and lows of the drama that is football, and experience the emotional rollercoaster that plays out during a match,” said David Rutter, Executive Producer, EA SPORTS FIFA. “We’re now able to immerse you in the game and let the story of the match unfold based on new commentary, crowd activity, and the natural reactions of the players, which make every game unique.”

In FIFA 15, Authentic Player Visuals come to life on a Living Pitch where everything is alive and the turf evolves at every step, plant, or slide. For the first time ever, the FIFA development team utilized physically based rendering to bring atmospheres and players to life, further blurring the line between the virtual and real world of football. The new rendering works in combination with a new player model and rigging system to make every athlete look and feel athletic, lean, and true to their natural form. FIFA 15 is played on a Living Pitch where boots and hard slide tackles will leave their mark as each match progresses; players will get mud and dirt on their kits. Other visual details including animated LED ad boards, corner flag and goal frame movement, and realistic atmosphere conditions will keep fans immersed in the game.

“Visually, this is the biggest step the FIFA franchise has ever taken,” said David Rutter. “We set out with the goal of creating atmosphere, players, crowds, and pitches that not only look like they do on match day, but also feel like they do when you play or watch football – it’s a level of immersion we’ve never been able to bring to the game before.”

Agility & Control builds on step-based locomotion and delivers an all new level of responsiveness and control to FIFA 15. Tuned player biomechanics cause players to react and move with balance and closer control when in possession of the ball. Precise steps and turns at low speed, and closer control at high speeds will give FIFA 15 fans more control and increased mobility when commanding players on the pitch. New stutters and strides let you cut, sprint, and explode out of turns, and run touch dribbling gives players’ personality that reflects their real self. A new ball physics system models ball movement depending on the spin and the precise contact with the ball. The accurate movement of the ball, combined with the control of the player brings a new level of realism to dribbles, touches, passes, and deflections in FIFA 15.

Off the ball, Man to Man Battles transforms defending in FIFA 15. Players now use full-body defending to separate their man from the ball, while possession tackles will reward great defending, helping defenders keep the ball close to their feet when a challenge is made. New shoulder barges, shirt pulling, and big fall physics allow fans to feel the battle making dispossessing opponents more rewarding than ever.

Opponents and Teammates in FIFA 15 now make decisions just like real athletes. New to FIFA 15, players now have short, medium, and long term objectives that they decide upon as a team and execute using Team Tactics. If a team is up by a goal, they might park the bus, or if they are down a goal, they might try to get it in the mixer to be more direct in attack and secure a last gasp winner. This, along with other Team Tactics and mentality choices, creates emergent and realistic gameplay moments that become part of every game.

A trailer showcasing FIFA 15 can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/TnTYVT6lwBc.

FIFA 15, developed at EA Canada, will release worldwide in September on PC, Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, and is available for pre-order** now at http://www.origin.com and other retailers. A version of FIFA 15 will also release on the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™, Nintendo 3DS™, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system this Fall. Not all game features are available on all gaming platforms.

For more information about EA SPORTS FIFA 15 visit www.easports.com/fifa or join the EA SPORTS community athttp://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa. Follow us on Twitter @easportsfifa and use the hashtag #FIFA15. For information about FIFA 15 visitwww.easports.com/fifa. The games have not yet been rated. Assets are available at http://info.ea.com.

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It’s time to save up those vacation days, life gets better in 85 days. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that The Sims™ 4 is arriving on PC starting September 2 in North America. The Sims 4 is the only game where the new generation of smarter Sims with big personalities gives players the power to play with life and create meaningful, and sometimes weirder, stories. A new trailer showing these compelling new gameplay experiences is available to view HERE.

“On September 2 our fans will be able to experience why we believe The Sims 4 is the best life simulation game ever,” said Rachel Franklin, VP and Executive Producer for The Sims 4. “These are brand new Sims whose traits, emotions and aspirations combine to define more meaningful personalities than you’ve ever played with before. You decide not only what they look like, but more importantly, who they are. The combination of these new Sims, our powerful new creative tools, and the all-new Gallery add up to the best game we’ve ever made.”

The Sims 4 takes this best-selling franchise to an entirely new generation. Our new Sims have been reinvented into smarter, emotionally rich characters who come to life through a combination of their free will and player direction. Players control the mind, body, and now the heart of these new Sims and bring their stories to life with richness and texture that has never before been possible in the franchise. Pair these revolutionary new Sims with brand new creative tools that are powerful, tactile, and easy to use, and the all-new Gallery, which allows players to access other players’ The Sims 4 user generated content directly from the game, and the result is a stimulating new gameplay experience that powers a new era for The Sims.

Pre-orders are available at www.TheSims.com/TheSims4. Those who pre-order now will receive the Limited Edition which comes with the Life of the Party Digital Content. The Sims 4 is not yet rated by the ESRB.

About The Sims

For more than a decade, The Sims™ has entertained millions of people across the globe and has made an indelible footprint on the interactive world. A world-renowned interactive entertainment phenomenon, The Sims has sold 175 million units to date and continues to enhance its rich multi-platform portfolio with offerings that inspire creativity and reach one of the broadest audiences in gaming. The Sims evolves its magnetic appeal by delivering gameplay experiences that are current, compelling and above all, entertaining. A microcosm of society, The Sims gives players the ability to play with life by creating and controlling virtual lives and telling meaningful stories. For more information about The Sims, visit www.TheSims.com.