EA Secures Exclusive Rights to NASCAR Game Development Through 2009
Electronic Arts has announced an exclusive relationship with NASCAR® for worldwide
rights to develop, publish and distribute NASCAR-branded interactive racing games
through 2009. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. This agreement allows EA
to create interactive games on a number of gaming platforms, including consoles
and PCs, using NASCAR properties. EA’s NASCAR Thunder 2004 video game features
over 65 drivers including Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Jeff Gordon,
as well as 23 official tracks and 175 cars of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and
NASCAR Busch Series.
“Enduring relationships with standout sports organizations like NASCAR
allow EA to deliver the authenticity, simulation, and competition that fans
of the EA SPORTS brand have come to expect,” said Chip Lange, vice president
of marketing for EA SPORTS. “Partnering with NASCAR the past seven years
has been a great experience and we’re excited about continuing this relationship
and extending the reach of our NASCAR Thunder franchise to both NASCAR and video
game fans.” . . .
“While it is rare for NASCAR to enter into an exclusive licensing arrangement,
Electronic Arts has truly stood out in the longstanding efforts to support the
entire NASCAR industry,” said Blake Davidson, managing director, licensed
products for NASCAR. “Additionally, EA is a sophisticated marketer, and
their creative advertising and promotional efforts will help NASCAR continue
to attract young fans, which is an important part of our overall growth strategy.”
NASCAR Thunder 2004 shipped last week for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment
system, the PlayStation® console, the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft,
and PC CD-ROM. NASCAR Thunder 2004 is developed by EA Tiburon. Packaging and
merchandising will feature the reigning NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion,
Tony Stewart.
EA is the sponsor of the EA SPORTS 500 race, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series
race at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway®, Sept. 28, 2003. Tickets are still
available for the race weekend at 1-800-PITSHOP or 256-362-RACE or visit the
track’s official website at talladegasuperspeedway.com.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., is the world’s
leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic
Arts posted revenues of $2.5 billion for fiscal 2003. The company develops,
publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems,
personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
three brand names: EA SPORTSâ„¢, EA GAMESâ„¢, and EA SPORTS BIGâ„¢.
EA’s homepage and online game site is http://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 NASCAR® Licensing
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR, is the sanctioning
body for one of America’s premier sports. With 75 million fans spread throughout
the U.S. and ranking second among sports on television and third in licensed
product sales, NASCAR has catapulted into the American mainstream. The Passion
and brand loyalty of NASCAR fans have attracted many of the best known brands
in America: more Fortune 500 companies are involved in NASCAR than any other
sport. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in Charlotte, New York and
Los Angeles, NASCAR sanctions 1,800 races at 120 tracks in 38 states.
Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES and EA SPORTS BIG are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
NASCAR is a registered trademark and NASCAR Thunder is a trademark of the National
Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. “Tony Stewart®” licensed
under authority of Joe Gibbs Racing, Huntersville, N.C. Talladega Superspeedway®.
PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft
and Xbox are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
in the U.S. and/or other countries and are used under license from Microsoft.
All other car, team, track names, trademarks, and other intellectual property
are used under license and are the property of their respective owners.
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