EA SPORTS PARTNERS WITH Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook to provide team SCOUTING REPORTS in NCAA Basketball 09

University of North Carolina Tar Heels Top Rated Team In NCAA Basketball 09

 
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - October 15, 2008 - Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) today unveiled a partnership with Blue RibbonTM College Basketball Yearbook to provide team ratings and team scouting reports for the EA SPORTSTM college basketball videogame NCAA® Basketball 09, scheduled for release December 2 for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems.

 

Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook has been the leader in compiling accurate scouting reports of college basketball teams for 28 years and EA SPORTS will utilize its scouting reports and data to drive its college basketball videogame.

 

"We are always looking at new ways to create a more authentic gameplay experience for our fans and this new partnership with a recognized industry leader is significant," said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. "This partnership enables us to replicate with precision the playing style of every Division I school in NCAA Basketball 09 this year."

 

NCAA Basketball 09 introduces a new, strategic gameplay feature that challenges gamers to replicate their school's style of play and set the game tempo to enhance their chances of winning. Whether your school pushes the ball in transition, runs a half-court offense that utilizes the clock and limits possessions or features a balanced attack that combines transition offense with set plays, NCAA Basketball 09 rewards the strategic gamer by emphasizing team specific styles of play. In addition, NCAA Basketball 09 will feature Division I coaches in-game for the first time, providing real time instruction and feedback, helping players control the tempo by executing their team's offense and defense to perfection. 

 

"The partnership between EA Sports and Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook will bring a level of realism never before experienced while playing NCAA Basketball 09," said Chris Dortch, Editor, Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. "Because for the last 28 years, when college coaches begin the process of scouting their opponents, the first resource they turn to is Blue Ribbon. To have that sort of resource-- which coaches all around the country have come to rely upon--available in NCAA Basketball 09 is unprecedented."

 

In partnership with Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, EA SPORTS today revealed that the University of North Carolina, an NCAA Tournament Final Four finisher a year ago, is the top rated team in NCAA Basketball 09.  EA SPORTS named the Tar Heels No. 1 followed by Pittsburgh (2), Notre Dame (3), UCLA (4) and Connecticut (5).

 

EA SPORTS PRESEASON TOP 25

1. North Carolina 2. Pittsburgh 3. Notre Dame 4. UCLA 5. Connecticut 6. Oklahoma 7. Louisville 8. Duke 9. Tennessee 10. Texas 11. Memphis 12. Purdue 13. Michigan State 14. Miami 15. Arizona State 16. Baylor 17. Kansas 18. Marquette 19. St. Mary's 20. Syracuse 21. Gonzaga 22. Villanova 23. USC 24. Wisconsin 25. Washington  

NCAA Basketball 09 is in development at EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C. The game is rated "E" for everyone by the ESRB and will ship to stores on December 2. To learn more about the game visit www.ncaabasketball09.com. Box art, screen shots and fact sheet of NCAA Basketball 09 can be downloaded at http://info.ea.com.



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: EATM, EA SPORTSTM, EA SPORTS FreestyleTM and POGOTM. 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.

 

About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA Championships in Division I, II and III sports. For more information, go to www.ncaa.org.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved. All names, logos, team icons, and mascots associated with the NCAA, universities, and conferences are the exclusive property of the respective institutions. NCAA and March Madness are trademarks or registered trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. "PlayStation" and "PLAYSTATION" are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  Microsoft, Xbox, and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.  NCAA Basketball 09 is intented for recreational purposes only and should not be used for sports wagering activities.