EA Signs John Madden To Multi-Year Agreement

[CheapyD]

EA SIGNS JOHN MADDEN TO MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT

July 13, 2005 - Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS)
today announced that John Madden, football icon and television analyst
of ABC's Monday Night Football, has signed a multi-year agreement to
continue to license his name and appear in and consult on the
development of future iterations of the blockbuster game that bears his
name. Madden NFL 06, the newest iteration of the EA SPORTS(tm)
best-selling football franchise with the official videogame license of
the NFL and its players, will feature the name, voice, likeness and
expertise of the celebrated sports personality. EA SPORTS Madden NFL 06
is scheduled for release on August 9, 2005. Financial terms of the
agreement were not disclosed.

"John Madden personifies authentic football in any medium -- television
or interactive," said Electronic Arts Chairman and CEO Larry Probst. "We
look forward to a great future with John in EA SPORTS Madden NFL."

"I am proud that we started to develop Madden Football twenty years
ago," said Madden. "Each year our goal is to improve the game, and with
EA, we have been able to do that."

With the official videogame license of the NFL and its players, and in
its 16th year of the franchise, Madden NFL Football offers game changing
innovation and complete NFL authenticity. With more than 43 million
copies sold, Madden NFL Football continues to be the #1 football
franchise and the all-time best selling sports franchise in North
America. Since its inception in 1989 the game has become a cultural
phenomenon and is the game the players all play. Madden NFL 06 is rated
"E" (Everyone) by the ESRB and will be available on August 9, 2005 for
six platforms and the PSP(tm) (PlayStation(r)Portable) entertainment
system version will launch in September. For the first time in 10 years,
the Madden NFL Football franchise has revolutionized its passing game
with the new quarterback vision and precision placement. For more
information check out www.madden06.com.

 

[Javery]

Good for him I guess. I would think by now though that the EA name is bigger than Madden and they could sell just as many copies with or without him.

 

[neudog]

I'm pretty sure the main reason for this decision is to keep the name "Madden". As a commentator Madden is ok, but he states too much of the obvious and is repetetive. With all the talent coming to EA with the ESPN deal, why else would they need madden?

 

[supadupacheap]

Ugh. If EA keeps throwing useless money around, pretty soon Madden is going to be the "Big Rigs" of sports gaming.

 

[enlightenedgamer]

I'm sure that the name alone is reason enough in EA's book. Whether it actually is the only significant reason is anyone's guess.

Speaking of John Madden, I was eating at a Chinese restaurant during my lunch break last week when he walked in. The man can eat anywhere he chooses, but he visits the home of the $4.25 lunch special during a power outage. The food is excellent, though, so I can't question his taste. I'm going to have to go get orange chicken in about 20 minutes... mmmmmmmmm...

 

[evanft]

Madden is an absolutely atrocious commentator. I hope they bring in the ESPN guys to the majority of the work. BERMAN!