Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS) and Viacom Consumer Products today announced a videogame
based on The Godfather fiction is under development and will put gamers at the
center of the action in one of history’s most revered masterpieces. The book by
Mario Puzo and classic film by Paramount Pictures serve as inspiration for the
game as gamers will join the Corleone family and earn respect through loyalty
and fear as they rise through the ranks to become Don in a living 1945-1955 New
York. The game is scheduled for release in fall 2005 under the EA GAMES brand
for the Xbox(R) videogame system from Microsoft, PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment
system, Sony PSP(TM) handheld entertainment system and PC.

Gamers will create their own mob character in the game, putting themselves
into the action while reliving classic moments from the fiction and experiencing
original missions alongside memorable characters from the film. After a life
of small-time jobs and petty thefts the player will be accepted into the Corleone
family, America’s most famous criminal organization. It will be up to the player
to carry out orders, earn respect and make New York City their own.

“We are incredibly excited and honored to have the opportunity to bring
the fiction of The Godfather to life in a videogame,” said David DeMartini,
EA’s Executive Producer of the game. “The Godfather movies raised the standard
for cinematic achievement with their high level of drama and intense storytelling
and in fall 2005 gamers will be able to experience that dangerous and living
world of The Godfather for themselves.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Electronic Arts to bring this exceptional
content into the interactive world,” said Sandi Isaacs, Vice President
of Interactive from Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products. “The Godfather
is a crown jewel of Paramount Pictures. We are confident this game will deliver
the depth of the experience expected by The Godfather movie fans around the
world.”

Featuring non-linear action-adventure gameplay, The Godfather will offer gamers
countless choices for solving the family’s problems with brutal violence, skillful
diplomacy, or a cunning mixture of both. From mob hits and bank heists to drive-bys
and extortion, step deep inside the world of The Godfather where intimidation
and negotiation are your tickets to the top. Players will use their powers of
loyalty and fear to earn respect through interactions with characters in the
world. Decisions made by the player in the game will have lasting consequences,
just as it was in the mob underworld featured in The Godfather fiction.

The Godfather film featured some of Hollywood’s finest actors and several are
lending their likenesses and contributing to the game’s development, including
James Caan as Sonny Corleone and Robert Duvall as consigliore Tom Hagen. Before
his death, Marlon Brando granted his likeness rights to EA and conducted a voiceover
session with the developers. His character, Don Vito Corleone, the Godfather,
will be featured in the game.

The Godfather is being developed by EA Redwood Shores where such hit franchises
as Lord of the Rings, James Bond, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR games are made. The
game has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

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 SPORTS(TM), EA GAMES(TM) and EA SPORTS BIG(TM). 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 Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products is a part of Nickelodeon Enterprises,
the ancillary business unit of Nickelodeon Networks. It is responsible for licensing
Nickelodeon brands and characters as well as the properties of Paramount Pictures,
Comedy Central, Spike TV and MTV International, as well as some non-Viacom properties.
Nickelodeon Enterprises is active in all ancillary markets, including merchandise
licensing, home video, interactive software, electronic media, online, wireless,
book and magazine publishing, music, live tour and stage shows, theme parks
and themed hotel venues. Nickelodeon Enterprises manages the largest TV-based
licensing business in the world with $4 billion in retail sales. Nickelodeon,
Comedy Central, Paramount Pictures and Spike TV are trademarks of Viacom International,
Inc.

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.
The Godfather(TM) & (C) 2005 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved. The
Lord of the Rings is a trademark of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises
under license to New Line Productions, Inc. James Bond is a trademark of Danjaq,
LLC. Tiger Woods and PGA TOUR are trademarks of their respective owners and
used with permission. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc. Xbox is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft
Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries and used under license. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Filed under: Games

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