Ultima Online Reaches 150,000 Paying Subscribers; Pioneering Virtual World Hits New Record; Electronic Arts and ORIGIN to Ship New Ultima Online Release in April

Business Wire, Feb 24, 2000

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2000

Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS), the world's largest interactive entertainment software company, announces that its best-selling Internet-only world, Ultima(tm) Online, has reached yet another major milestone.

The virtual fantasy world now has more than 150,000 paying customers. Ultima Online ("UO") was launched in September of 1997 and pioneered what is now referred to as the massively multiplayer genre. Ultima Online is developed and supported at Electronic Arts' ORIGIN(tm) studio located in Austin, Texas.

Ultima Online is a thriving, persistent, virtual world where thousands of people live and play simultaneously on the Internet. Players can enjoy true social interaction with other participants in real time--form adventuring parties, engage in battles, take on perilous quests or chat in a tavern over a goblet of virtual wine.

"Ultima Online is growing at its most rapid rate ever," said Jack Heistand, senior vice president and general manager at ORIGIN Systems. "UO is now two-and-a-half years old and each week it's hitting new peak levels. At a population of 150,000 people, it's currently equal in size to a large city. What's even more exciting is that the population of UO will grow in the coming months as our development and support teams continue creating the features and exciting events that make UO unique in the business of online entertainment."

In April, ORIGIN will be releasing the latest retail update to UO, Ultima Online: Renaissance(tm). Renaissance will add new features to Ultima Online including the doubling of landmass in the fictional world of Britannia(tm). This will allow for safe zones where only consensual player vs. player combat will be allowed.

The upgraded features will also allow new opportunities for housing and include a comprehensive party system that will further facilitate group adventuring. Current Ultima Online subscribers won't be required to purchase a CD to enjoy the updated features of Ultima Online: Renaissance, as all of these features will be automatically downloaded to existing accounts in the coming weeks.

Ultima Online is supported by the largest network of servers in the online gaming industry. Currently there are 21 server sets located on four continents. The servers are located in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Australia.

There are Ultima Online players in every one of the world's time zones. The players represent 115 countries including such remote locations as Kazakhstan and Antarctica. The average player logs on to Ultima Online more than 21 hours a week and more than 50 percent of UO players log on every day.

Ultima Online is currently available at local computer software retailers. After the first 30 days of free game time, players are charged US$9.95 per month. An Internet connection (not included) is required to play. The game is available from the EA Store, http://www.eastore.ea.com and EA Direct Sales at 800/245-4525. More information on Ultima Online can be found at http://www.uo.com.

ORIGIN Systems(tm) develops and publishes state-of-the-art entertainment software. To date, the company has released more than 60 titles, including the award winning Ultima, Wing Commander(tm), Privateer(tm) and Crusader series of games. ORIGIN is based in Austin, Texas and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Electronic Arts. More information on ORIGIN products can be found on the Internet at http://www.origin.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.2 billion for fiscal 1999. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for personal computers and video game systems. Electronic Arts markets its products under eight brand names: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS(tm), Maxis(tm), ORIGIN, Bullfrog(tm) Productions, Westwood Studios(tm), Gonzo Games(tm) and Jane's(R) Combat Simulations. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, ORIGIN Systems, ORIGIN, Ultima, Britannia, Ultima Online Renaissance, Wing Commander, Privateer, EA SPORTS, Maxis, Bullfrog, Westwood Studios and Gonzo Games are trademarks of Electronic Arts in the United States and/or other countries.

Jane's is a registered trademark of Jane's Information Group Ltd.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.