Origin Systems to Host Online Worlds Fanfest 2001; Fans Offered Access to Latest Developments in Ultima Online and Opportunity to Interact with Industry's Top Creative Talent

Business Wire, Sept 18, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2001

Origin Systems, an Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) development studio, today announced that it will host Online Worlds FanFest 2001 on October 26 and 27 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. Origin Systems expects more than a thousand die-hard computer game fans to gather at the two-day event to meet and interact with some of the industry's top game producers, get a glimpse into the future of Ultima Online(TM) (UO) and socialize within the enormous UO community.

"The Online Worlds FanFest is an event that showcases one of the most popular and longest- running online games available, Ultima Online, and pays homage to the continuously growing community that has flourished through participation in the game," said Ben Noel, vice president and chief operating officer of Origin Systems. "We are excited to show UO fans what the future of Britannia holds for them as well as provide a sneak peak into other immersive online worlds that are in development at EA."

Industry Luminaries Share Their Views

A stellar lineup of speakers will ratchet up the excitement with presentations of their visions on the future of online gaming. Event keynote speakers will be Maxis Co-Founder and Chief Designer of The Sims(TM) Will Wright and Gordon "Tyrant" Walton, vice president of Maxis and executive producer of The Sims Online(TM). Other presenters will include Grammy and Emmy-winning Producer and Director Todd McFarlane, the creator of Spawn and founder of McFarlane Toys and Spawn.com, as well as Brett Sperry, chief creative officer at Westwood Studios and executive producer of Earth and Beyond(TM).

Online Worlds FanFest 2001 is also an exciting opportunity for the UO community to gather and meet each other in-person to celebrate their virtual-world relationships. In some cases these virtual teammates, called guildmates, have been playing together for several years.

How to Register

Registration for Online Worlds FanFest 2001 is open now at www.onlineworldsfanfest.com. Early registration runs through September 30 and carries a discounted fee of $129.00 per person. Beginning October 1 through October 25, the cost is $159.00 per person. Registration at the event on October 26-27 will be $200.00 per person. The registration fee includes a two-day event pass, lunch on both days and a t-shirt.

During the show, attendees can also participate in a silent auction offering exclusive UO collectibles. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to the UO-designated charity, Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

About Electronic Arts

Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.3 billion for fiscal 2001. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for the Internet, personal computers and video game systems. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA GAMES(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and EA.COM. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.info.ea.com.

Note to Editors: Electronic Arts, Origin Systems, Ultima, Ultima Online, The Sims Online, Earth and Beyond, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES and EA SPORTS BIG are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA.COM is a service mark of EA.com Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.