EA SIGNS
NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH KOEI CORPORATION FOR UPCOMING
TACTICAL ACTION GAME SAMURAI WARRIORS
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.,
February 24, 2004 –
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world’s leading interactive entertainment
software company today announced that it has signed a
North American distribution agreement with KOEI Corporation for the upcoming
tactical action game, Samurai Warriors™. Samurai Warriors
is developed by Koei’s internal development team
Omega Force, the studio behind the award-winning Dynasty Warriors series, and
is slated for release on the PlayStation®2
computer entertainment system in May 2004.
“We are
delighted to be partnering with Electronic Arts for the distribution of
Samurai Warriors,” said Amos Ip, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for
KOEI Corporation. “Backed by EA’s unparalleled distribution reach and
first-rate marketing, this exceptional game has the opportunity to reach and
move millions of people.”
“With its fervent action,
storied narrative and top quality production values, Samurai Warriors
is an outstanding addition to the EA Partners distribution catalogue,” said
John Riccitiello, President and Chief Operating Officer of Electronic Arts.
“We are thrilled to be working with KOEI to deliver this masterful game to a
mass audience.”
Set in Feudal Japan, the
adventure begins in 1467 after the political power of the Ashikaga Shogunate
collapsed and the islands of Japan erupted into a series of civil wars. This
era in Japanese history became known as the Sengoku or "warring states"
period. Players control Yukimura Sanada, who leads an elite band of samurai
and ninja through the hallowed Japanese battlefields of Okehazama,
Kawanakajima and inside the embattled walls of Osaka Castle. The epic tale
unfolds as players come face to face with gun-toting troops, echelons of
ninja, and deadly kunoichi (female ninja) in both historic and fictional
battles. With an Active Mission System that triggers distinct missions during
every battle, hundreds of different mini-missions within the larger epic
battles, randomly changing castle layouts as well as multiplayer support,
Samurai Warriors promises to be an unforgettable action adventure.
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ABOUT ELECTRONIC ARTS
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, 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 SPORTS™, EA GAMES™, and EA SPORTS BIG™.
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 EA PARTNERS
EA Partners complements the
company’s extensive portfolio of licensed and wholly-owned game franchises. EA
currently has relationships with more than 12 developers and publishers
including Digital Illusions, C.E., Buena Vista Games (Disney Interactive),
Krome Studios, LEGO Interactive, IO Interactive, Warner Brothers Interactive,
Lionhead Studios and regional publishing relationships with companies
including NovaLogic, Capcom, NAMCO and Square Enix. In 2002, EA and Digital
Illusions, C.E. of Gothenburg Sweden published Battlefield 1942 – an award
winning PC multi-player game that achieved worldwide commercial success.
About KOEI Corporation
KOEI Corporation, the North
American subsidiary of KOEI Co., Ltd. of Japan, established operations in
1988. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company is now in its sixteenth
year and is recognized as a leader in the highly competitive video game
industry.
KOEI is respected worldwide as
the premier brand for Strategy and Simulation games, and is recognized as the
innovator of the Tactical Action genre. The company’s Dynasty Warriors® series
has generated nearly 6 million units in sales worldwide, since releasing for
the PlayStation game consoles in 1997.
KOEI maintains operations in
Japan, the U.S., the U.K., Canada, China, Korea and Taiwan. KOEI employs over
six hundred people worldwide, with sales exceeding $200 million. The company
constantly seeks the fine balance between entertainment, technology, art and
education, and provides games that will mesmerize gamers across the globe.
More information about KOEI and its products can be found on the company’s
websites, located at www.koei.com,
www.koei.co.uk, and
www.koei.co.jp.
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.
Samurai Warriors, Sengoku
Musou, Dynasty Warriors, and the KOEI logo are registered trademarks or
trademarks of KOEI Co., Ltd. in Japan and/or other countries. 2004 KOEI Co.,
Ltd. All rights reserved. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
