EA and Def Jam Announce the Highly Anticipated Release of Def Jam VENDETTA

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - April 1, 2003 - Enter the world of underground fight clubs through the release of Def Jam VENDETTA™ for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Nintendo GameCube™.  Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS), the world's leading independent video game publisher, along with Def Jam, the undisputed powerhouse of urban music and lifestyle, are delivering players a unique interactive entertainment experience that features a roster of over 40 characters including 12 playable Def Jam artists: DMX, Method Man, Redman, Ludacris, Capone, N.O.R.E., Scarface, Ghostface Killah, Joe Budden, Keith Murray, WC and DJ Funkmaster Flex. Additionally, the game introduces Def Jam songstress Christina Milian as the temptress Angel.

Def Jam VENDETTA brings the exciting and intense world of urban street fighting to life while staying true to the EA SPORTS BIG™ brand reputation with a variety of more than 1,500 hyper-realistic moves - including dozens of signature specials and taunts - that are dynamic with realistic finesse and style. Set in a fictional NY-themed underground circuit, the game features 12 stunning 3-D urban venues each filled with animated crowds, hot beats and original music.  Many of the venues are themed after a Def Jam artist boss such as DMXs venue, "The Junkyard" which is filled with the resonance of his signature barking pit bulls while Ludacris' venue, "Club Luda" stays true to Luda's southern hospitality in his exclusive gentlemen's club.

Players must take on a series of opponents, including the Def Jam bosses, in order to unlock new characters and advance to the next venue.  Helping to support the intense action is an original storyline scripted exclusively for the game. In addition to the main "Story" mode, there are additional key features including: "Survival", "Battle" and "Tutorial" modes as well as an array of upgradeable character options and "Girlfriend Galleries" where players can unlock real-life pictorials of the CG females found in the game.  More over, music fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the game's 18 tracks from the featured artists as well as from the Def Jam library -- both new/exclusive and archived favorites.

Def Jam VENDETTA is published and distributed by EA under the EA SPORTS BIG brand.  The development force is comprised of pedigree talent from AKI Corporation, seasoned Japan-based game developer, with creative production credits from EA Canada and Def Jam. The game is rated "T" (Teen) by the ESRB and carries a MSRP of $49.95. More information is available on the product website at www.defjamvendetta.com .

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (EA), 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. EA markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA GAMES™, EA SPORTS BIG™ and EA.COMSM.  More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

About The Island Def Jam Music Group
The Island Def Jam Music Group is home to a multi-cultural and diverse family of artists and has fast become one of the most successful labels in the industry. It is comprised of Island Records, Def Jam Recordings and Def Soul, and is in partnerships with American Recordings, Lost Highway Records, Roc-A-Fella Records, Murder Inc, Bloodline Records, Java Records, Roadrunner Records and MonarC Music.  The roster boasts an array of talented artists including Jay-Z, Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, Ashanti, Ryan Adams, Nickelback, Musiq, Slipknot, American Hi Fi, Method Man, Hoobastank, Ja Rule, Sum 41, Slayer, Kelly Price, Saliva and DMX.

Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and EA GAMES 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. Def Jam and Def Jam VENDETTA and all associated logos and marks are used under license from DJR Holdings, LLC and The Island Def Jam Music Group, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.  Def Jam Artists appear courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Nintendo GameCube is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners

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