EA Sports Presents NASCAR Thunder 2002

EA Sports Presents NASCAR Thunder
2002; Producers of the Award Winning Madden Football Re-Launch the NASCAR
Franchise

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS
WIRE)–July 10, 2001–Electronic Arts (EA) today announced the re-launch of its
NASCAR(R) franchise, NASCAR Thunder(TM) 2002, with its relocation to one of the
best sports games developers in the country, EA’s Tiburon Studio.

Tiburon Studio, known for its
development of EA’s Madden NFL(R) franchise, has added depth, innovation and
deeper gameplay modes for the most complete NASCAR experience. NASCAR Thunder
2002 is scheduled to ship on the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system
and the PlayStation(R) this fall and for the Xbox(TM) video game system during
the first wave of Xbox titles.

"We feel that we have made a
strategic move with our NASCAR franchise," said Chip Lange, vice president
of marketing, Electronic Arts. "We are committed to capturing the complete
NASCAR package with its larger than life action, superstars, strategy and
excitement. With over 60 drivers to choose from, all 23 Cup Series tracks and
one of the largest pack of cars available on console, we are confident that we
have assembled a team that can deliver just that at EA’s Tiburon studio."

The NASCAR development team is
comprised of veteran NASCAR video game developers from the industry, members of
the Madden Football graphics team and NASCAR fanatics. Working with the
revolutionary graphic engine from the acclaimed Madden NFL franchise, NASCAR
Thunder 2002 will feature a huge pack of stunning looking cars in the richest EA
SPORTS(TM) NASCAR environments. The graphic engine’s horsepower allows the team
to incorporate an accurate damage model, with cars that dent and crumple and
lose auto parts as they collide with other cars and track barriers. When car
damage is repaired the cars morph back to there original state. Other damage
effects will include tire donuts on body panels, tire smoke, particle effects
and contained oil fires.

NASCAR Thunder 2002 features every
track found in the Cup Series including the new, Chicagoland and Kansas
Speedways as well as more than 60 of the top drivers and cars with all four
manufacturers’ cars represented in game. Take the wheel as any of your favorite
drivers including, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace, Tony
Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Bill Elliot, Michael Waltrip and Steve
Park, or develop your own team.

"EA SPORTS really has captured
the NASCAR experience," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Cup Series star.
"The game is so real, I can use it to practice before I get to the race
track. I can get a sense of where I can get on the gas, and how much patience
I’ll need. Just watch that you don’t get out of the draft or you’ll get freight
trained!"

"I came on board at EA SPORTS
to do one thing," said Ed Martin, director of NASCAR production. "To
produce the deepest, most compelling and entertaining NASCAR game ever developed
and we are on track to deliver that this fall. The entire NASCAR team at EA has
committed to making NASCAR Thunder 2002 the most exciting and fun experience for
all racing fans."

The new career mode allows gamers to
race for the championship over multiple seasons. Choose a manufacturer, paint
your car, and then earn offers and decals from new sponsors based on your
performance. Use your race winnings to equip your crew and vehicle, increasing
horsepower, handling and pit crew performance. You can even earn the right to
race for an existing NASCAR team.

Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS),
headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading independent
interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts
posted revenues of more than $1.3 billion for fiscal 2001. The company develops,
publishes and distributes software worldwide for the Internet, personal
computers and video game systems. 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://info.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES
and EA SPORTS BIG are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts
Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. EA.com is a service mark of
EA.com Inc. NASCAR is a registered trademark and NASCAR Thunder is a trademark
of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. All other car, team,
track names, trademarks, and other intellectual property are used under license
from their respective owners. PlayStation is a registered trademark Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

NASCAR provides support for its
licensed products through a dedicated office in Charlotte, N.C., that researches
new categories, licenses qualified companies, manages accounts, handles quality
control and develops retail partnerships to drive sales of NASCAR-licensed
product for the benefit of drivers, teams and tracks. NASCAR supports its
licensees through annual trade advertising, a comprehensive retail guide, trade
show exhibits, a quarterly newsletter and a dedicated web presence on NASCAR.com.