Press release: 1995-11-29: Electronic Arts Announces FIFA Soccer 96 to Ship on Five Platforms for Holiday Season

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English third-party Original source: The Free Library

Electronic Arts Announces FIFA Soccer 96 to Ship on Five Platforms for Holiday Season; Best-Selling Soccer Videogame Available for PC CD-ROM, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 1995--Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), a leading global interactive entertainment software company, EA SPORTS division today announced that FIFA Soccer 96, the No. 1 selling sports game worldwide, will ship on five hardware platforms in time for the 1995 holiday season.

The award-winning international soccer game will be available on PC CD-ROM, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

FIFA Soccer 96 exploits EA SPORTS' exclusive interactive rights to the FIFA license with 12 International Leagues from 60 countries. As a result there are 237 teams and 3,800 real world-class players in the game. Authentic soccer moves such as flying headers, bicycle kicks, one-timers and slide tackles, as well as special signature moves and team celebrations make FIFA Soccer 96 the most realistic soccer simulation on the market. Each FIFA Soccer 96 team is like the real team -- from the acrobatic and colorful Brazilian offense to the stalwart and formidable German defense.

Before a match begins, game players are introduced to FIFA Soccer 96 through a dynamic 3D-rendered opening sequence called Virtual Stadium technology. This sequence takes players on a journey from the perimeter of the stadium, through the surrounding corridors then breaks out into the heart stadium for an aerial view of the field followed by a sweep through the chanting stands then ultimately to center field for the start of the match. Throughout gameplay, Virtual Stadium allows players to get even further immersed into the realism of the game through FIFA Soccer 96's multiple camera angles.

This exclusive technology combined with Dolby Surround Sound, a CD-quality soundtrack, video footage from the 1994 World Cup, and worldwide authentic team chants makes FIFA 96 an absolutely outrageous soccer experience.

The PC CD-ROM and 32-bit versions also include play-by-play announcing by world-renowned European soccer commentator John Motson. Through the use of computer intelligence, more than 18,000 commentary phrases were recorded and captured in a database to deliver real-time announcing in FIFA Soccer 96.

"There has been an enormous demand for the new version of this top-selling international title and we believe that it is a real coup for our customers and the company to be able to deliver FIFA Soccer 96 on five platforms in time for the holiday season," said Bruce McMillan, executive producer of the FIFA Soccer product line at Electronic Arts.

"Our ability to leverage the FIFA license combined with thrilling gameplay and the use of Virtual Stadium technology truly transports game players into the most authentic soccer experience in the world."

FIFA Soccer 96 for PC CD-ROM, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, and Super NES are currently shipping. The Sega Saturn version will be available in December. The suggested retail price ranges from $49.95 to $59,95, depending on the platform. The PC CD-ROM version offers full modem support and complete peripheral support including mouse, joystick, joypad and keyboard. It requires a 486 CPU or higher and a minimum of eight megabytes of RAM.

EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world. Its top-selling titles include FIFA Soccer, John Madden Football, NHL Hockey, NBA Live Basketball, and PGA TOUR Golf.

Electronic Arts, headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., is leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, EA posted revenues of over $490 million for fiscal 1995. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for advanced entertainment systems such as the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, as as IBM-compatible PCs, Macintosh computers, and major dedicated video game systems.

Electronic Arts markets its products worldwide under five brand names: EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts Studio, Origin Systems Inc., Bullfrog Productions Ltd., and Jane's Combat Simulations. EA has subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Austin, Texas. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.com. -0-

Note to Editors: Electronic Arts, Origin, Bullfrog, EA SPORTS, Virtual Stadium, John Madden Football and Electronic Arts Studio are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts or its wholly-owned subsidiaries. FIFA Soccer 96 is an official FIFA licensed product. Sega, Genesis, and Sega Saturn are trademarks of Sega Enterprises Ltd. Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a registered trademark of Nintendo of America, Inc. NBA, NHL, and PGA TOUR are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and are used under license. PlayStation is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. Jane's is a registered trademark of Jane's Information Group Ltd. Dolby is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

CONTACT: EA SPORTS

Dave Dempsey, 415/513-7481 (PR)

Caroline Hughes, 415/513-7860 (IR)
COPYRIGHT 1995 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1995, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.