Electronic Arts Inks Licensing Deal for "Gen13"; Interactive Game to be Based on Hit Comic Book Series

Business Wire, Feb 1, 1996

Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), a leading global interactive entertainment software company, today announced it has signed an agreement with WildStorm Productions for the exclusive worldwide interactive software rights to the stories and characters in the wildly-popular "Gen13" comic book series.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The license grants Electronic Arts (EA) exclusive rights to develop a series of 2-D and 3-D action-adventure interactive entertainment software products based on the Gen13 comic book series for personal computers, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and other advanced entertainment platforms.

EA's games will feature the comic book's seemingly average teenagers -- the Gen13 -- who are actually missing subjects from a top-secret government experiment to create super-humans. Escaping from their keepers, the youths are labeled fugitives who pose a national security threat to the United States. Their only hope for survival is to use their newly-found powers to battle their enemies and to learn the secrets of their past. The Gen13 are kids on their own just trying to have fun -- when they're not running from spies or saving the world.

Gen13 comics, developed by the creative team of Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell and Brandon Choi, have been at the top of best-seller charts since their introduction in February 1994. The first editions are now valuable collectibles.

"Partnering with the very best content providers has always been a hallmark of Electronic Arts," said EA's chairman and CEO Larry Probst. "We're pleased to be teaming up with Jim Lee and WildStorm Productions with their proven success in the youth market. Together, we think we can create a whole new interactive entertainment experience for teens and young adults."

In commenting on the agreement, Gen13 creator Jim Lee said, "It's exciting to be working with a company like Electronic Arts. They've got a great track record for developing awesome games. Having met with the producers before signing the deal, both J. Scott Campbell and I have every confidence that they can deliver a fast-action game that captures the look and feel of the Gen13 comic book series, as well as the humor and playfulness of the characters."

Electronic Arts, headquartered in San Mateo, California, is a leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, EA posted revenues of over $490 million for fiscal 1995. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for advanced entertainment systems such as the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, as well as IBM-compatible PCs, Macintosh computers, and major cartridge video game systems.

Electronic Arts markets its products worldwide under five brand names: EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts Studio, Origin Systems Inc., Bullfrog Productions Ltd. and Jane's Combat Simulations. EA has subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Austin, Texas. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.com.

Based in La Jolla, California, WildStorm publishes under the Image Comics banner. Image Comics is a creator-owned company that was founded in 1992 by some of the industry's top talent. Among the best-selling comic lines for the company are WildC.A.T.S.: Covert Action Teams and Gen13, both top ten in the Diamond Comics rankings.

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Note to Editors: Electronic Arts is a registered trademark of and EA SPORTS and Electronic Arts Studios are trademarks of Electronic Arts. Gen13 and WildStorm are registered trademarks of Aegis Entertainment, Inc., dba WildStorm Productions. PlayStation is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sega Saturn is trademark of Sega Enterprise, Ltd. Jane's is a registered trademark of Jane's Information Group, Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Electronic Arts

Pat Becker, 415/513-7523 (media)

Caroline Hughes, 415/513-7860 (investor)