Orlando Florida Guide

EA SPORTS Signs Pro Bowl NFL Quarterback to be Madden NFL 2002 Spokesman as Well as 2000 Heisman Memorial Trophy Winner to be On NCAA Football 2002 Cover

Electronic Arts(TM) (Nasdaq:ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, confirmed today that the company has reached agreements with Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl quarterback Daunte Culpepper to be EA SPORTS'(TM) spokesman for Madden NFL(TM) 2002 and former Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke, the 2000 Heisman Memorial Trophy(TM) winner, to be on the cover for NCAA(R) Football 2002.

"Madden Football has always been one of my favorite games and I am excited to be part of the EA SPORTS family now," said Daunte Culpepper. "This is the game we all play at training camp and in the locker room during the season. It is really an honor to be on the cover of this title and I look forward to working with this talented team on the legendary franchise of sports videogames." Culpepper's image will appear on all Madden NFL Football 2002 packaging and merchandising and he will lend his football knowledge to the game developers, for the ultimate in game realism and authenticity.

Culpepper was a first round draft pick by the Vikings in the 1999 draft and brings size and strength (6'4", 260 pounds) to the quarterback position that few NFL quarterbacks possess. He completed 297 of 474 attempts during the 2000 season and had 33 touchdowns, capping the Vikings winning season to the NFC Championship Game with a trip to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Culpepper was tied with Peyton Manning for the league lead in touchdown passes.

Weinke, a recent draft pick for the Carolina Panthers, not only won the Heisman Trophy last season, but also was the ACC player of the year at Florida State University. He was part of the National Championship Semioles team in 2000 and helped his team return to the National Championship against the Oklahoma Sooners in 2001.

"Both Culpepper and Weinke are the perfect match for Madden NFL and NCAA Football," said executive producer Steven Chiang. "They are strong quarterbacks who have both grown up playing videogames and have great personalities for the respective EA SPORTS titles. We are thrilled that they can bring their experiences from a winning season and Pro-Bowl trip (Culpepper) and a National Championship (Weinke) to EA SPORTS and deliver input in developing the most realistic football games on the market."
In its twelfth year, the Madden NFL Football franchise will be available on the PC, the PlayStation(R), the PlayStation(R) 2 computer entertainment system and N64(R) late this summer and is slated as a launch title for the Xbox (TM) game system from Microsoft and the Nintendo GameCube(TM). The game still boasts the NFL Coaches Club license with new face and body technology for the coach animations. New additions include: Two-Minute Drill, where points can be earned on offense in a quick-hitting fast-paced game within the game; Create-a-Team, featuring customized uniforms, helmets and stadiums; Training Mode, where players can learn about the X's and O's of football from John Madden while perfecting in-game skills; and new Madden Cards with new players, designs and cheerleaders.

NCAA Football 2002, the leading college football game, debuts on the PlayStation 2 console. One of the best new features is the incredible graphics, showcasing high-resolution polygonal football players in a level of detail never seen before in college football on the PlayStation 2 console. Division 1-A stadiums have been replicated to include lighting, scoreboards and band and visitor sections in the crowd. The true college feel has come to life through the introduction of 3D mascots and incredible player detail like jersey patches and helmet stickers. NCAA Football 2002 is scheduled for release in late July.

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