Electronic Arts inks key license with NASCAR; fastest growing sport in North America and industry powerhouse EA SPORTS team to create exciting new racing game called NASCAR 98

Business Wire, July 14, 1997

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 1997--Electronic Arts(TM) (NASDAQ:ERTS), a leading global interactive entertainment software company, today announced at the Electronic Expo (E3) trade show that it had acquired the interactive rights to NASCAR(R) (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc.)

The license grants Electronic Arts (EA) the rights to develop a series of interactive racing games, based on NASCAR racing. The first game to be developed using this key license in NASCAR 98 and is due to ship in the fall of 1997 on the PlayStation(TM) and Sega Saturn(TM).

"I was thrilled to hear that NASCAR and EA SPORTS(TM) have teamed up to produce a racing video game," said 1997 Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon. "A lot of guys on the circuit are big video game players. We are a highly competitive bunch of guys on and off the track, and we will all use this game to see who really is the best at NASCAR video game racing."

NASCAR 98 will feature 17 tracks, including numerous licensed races/tracks from NASCAR's premier division. Included in the 17 tracks are nine road- and eight oval-courses. Users can choose to race as any one of 24 drivers and cars. A split screen feature allows for competitive head-to-head racing, along with six computer cars to round out the field.

In single player mode there are 23 other computer cars in the race. Adding to NASCAR 98's realism, in-game play-by-play is provided by the voice of Bob Jenkins, and real engine, pit and crowd sounds were recorded at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway.

The artificial intelligence of the game, or how the computer cars react to different racing situations, is so advanced that the different drivers and cars in the game actually take on the characteristics of their real life counterparts. Drivers on the circuit who race better on oval tracks than on road courses will race with the same characteristics in NASCAR 98.

Aggressive drivers on the real NASCAR circuit will drive that way in the game and teammates on the circuit will help each other with drafting in the game.

NASCAR 98 features an optional weather setting so users can race in fog, which is the only type of climate aberration that races can run under on the real circuit.

Users have the ability to change the car setup in numerous ways, including tire pressure, wedge and downforce. Skid marks for all four tires, with different looks on grass and on pavement, add to the realism of the game. Roof flaps even pop up on the cars when 180 to 360 degree spin outs occur so that the cars stay on the track.

"The people who follow NASCAR are among the most enthusiastic fans in the world," said Michael Pole, executive producer of NASCAR 98.

"The development team that built this game are all huge racing fans, and we really immersed ourselves in the world of NASCAR to capture the sights and sounds, and feel of the sport. Everything from the music in the game, to the sponsors on cars, to the exact specifications of the various tracks have been meticulously reproduced to give game players as authentic of a NASCAR experience as possible."

EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world. Its top-selling titles include FIFA Soccer, John Madden Football(TM), NHL(R) Hockey, NBA Live Basketball, PGA TOUR(R) Golf, Triple Play Baseball, and Andretti Racing.

Electronic Arts, headquartered in San Mateo, California, is a leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, EA posted revenues of $625 million for fiscal 1997. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for personal computers and advanced entertainment systems such as the PlayStation, Nintendo(R) 64 and Sega Saturn.

Electronic Arts markets its products worldwide under five brand names: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, Origin Systems(TM) Inc., Bullfrog(TM) Productions Ltd., and Jane's(R) Combat Simulations.

EA has international subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, France Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and North American development operations in San Mateo, Calif.; Baltimore; Austin, Texas; Seattle; and Vancouver, British Columbia. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.com . -0-

Electronic Arts, Origin Systems, Bullfrog, EA SPORTS, John Madden Football, and Triple Play Baseball are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts or its wholly-owned subsidiaries. FIFA Soccer 96 is an official FIFA licensed product. NBA, NHL, FIFA and PGA TOUR, NASCAR and Mad Catz are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and are used under license.

Jane's is a registered trademark of Jane's Information Group Ltd. Nintendo and Nintendo 64 are trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc. PlayStation is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sega Saturn is a trademark of Sega Enterprises Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.