EA's The Sims Online Was The Hottest Place to Be New Year's Eve; Over a Half Million Kisses At Over 5000 Online Parties Occurred in This Exciting Virtual World

Business Wire, Jan 3, 2003

Entertainment Editors/Video Game Writers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 3, 2003

Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS) today announced that over a half million kisses occurred between Sims on New Year's Eve in the exciting Internet world of The Sims Online(TM). As frigid temperatures still plagued parts of the United States, things were really heating up on Dec. 31 in The Sims Online. Acquaintances, roommates, friends and loved ones got into the festivities as they puckered up at over 5000 online New Year's parties throughout the day. The Sims Online was the hottest place to be to ring in 2003.

"As our virtual party goers across the country can attest, The Sims Online was one of the most happening places to socialize and celebrate this New Year's Eve," said Luc Barthelet, General Manager of EA's Maxis Studio, "This online celebration marks the first of many fantastic events in this unique and dynamic Internet world."

The Sims Online is a massive virtual world created and populated by thousands of players from around the world. In this never-ending alternative reality players can be themselves or "Be Somebody. Else(TM)."

In The Sims Online, players create and control the actions of a character known as a Sim. Players enter the world with a small amount of money to spend as they wish. They can purchase their own piece of land to do with as they please or they can join with other players to create shared homes and businesses or host wild events.

Players can explore the neighborhoods around them and meet scores of other Sims along the way. Players get to know other Sims through live text chat and secret instant messages. As players type, their messages appear in speech bubbles above their Sims' heads. Sims can also express themselves through hundreds of animations. A polka, pile drive, or a passionate kiss are just a few of the gestures available for Sims to use to convey exactly what's on their mind.

The Sims Online carries a monthly subscription fee of $9.99 with the first month being free. A credit card is required to register and play. An Internet connection is also required. The Sims Online carries an ESRB rating of "T" for teen. It is available in stores now for a suggested retail price of US $49.99 or by direct order from the EA Store(SM) at http://www.ea.com or by calling 877-EA-GAMES (1-877-324-2637).

Important information on The Sims Online including terms of service and game availability can be found at http://www.thesimsonline.com.

The Sims(TM) skyrocketed to the top of the charts when it began shipping to stores in February 2000 and quickly became a universal gaming and cultural phenomenon. The Sims was the best selling PC game of both 2000 and 2001 and is now the best selling PC game of all time. Translated into 16 different languages, The Sims has inspired five expansion packs; The Sims Livin' Large, The Sims House Party, The Sims Hot Date, The Sims Vacation and The Sims Unleashed. Combined sales for the franchise have topped 20 million units life-to-date. For more information on The Sims franchise titles, visit http://www.thesims.com.

Electronic Arts, headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.7 billion for fiscal 2002. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA GAMES(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and EA.COM(SM). More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.info.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES, EA SPORTS BIG, The Sims, The Sims Online, "Be Somebody. Else." and EA STORE are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks 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.