EA TO DEPLOY NERF 2: “N-STRIKE” ELITE IN CELEBRATION OF
40th ANNIVERSARY OF HASBRO’S NERF BRAND
Second Installment of Top-Selling Wii Game Bundle to Include NERF
Blaster and Decoder Lens
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 8, 2009 – The Play Label of Electronic
Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that NERF 2: “N-Strike”™
Elite is in development exclusively for the Wii™ video game system.
Heralding the 40th anniversary year of Hasbro Inc.’s NERF brand, NERF
2: “N-Strike” Elite will deploy this fall, bundled with a newly
designed blue NERF SWITCH SHOT EX-3 blaster and attachable decoder
lens that will deliver a blend of covert operation elements with
over-the-top blasting missions. NERF 2: “N-Strike” Elite is the
second game in EA’s blaster arsenal following the holiday ’08 hit,
NERF “N-Strike” in North America, which was EA’s second best-selling
Wii game and a Top 20 Wii title in 2008 by revenue, according to NPD.
“In the world of NERF, more is always better – so that is exactly what
we’re going to deliver with NERF 2: “N-Strike” Elite,” said Chip
Lange, General Manager of EA’s Hasbro Division. “We’re building on
the enormous success of the first video game that rocked the market
last holiday season as a ‘must have’ gift for Wii gamers. With NERF
2: “N-Strike” Elite we’re essentially cranking up every element of the
experience starting with a new 3-in-1 blaster that will have kids’
jaws dropping as hidden gameplay elements come into focus through a
NERF decoder scope. That, together with more in-game blasters and
millions of upgrade combinations, a new army of robots to defeat, and
enhanced co-op play, is sure to put NERF 2: “N-Strike” Elite on top
again this year.”
NERF 2: “N-Strike” Elite will feature a classic rail shooter style of
gameplay and equip players with a cache of fresh features. With the
Wii-remote snapped into the NERF SWITCH SHOT EX-3 blaster and the red
reveal lens engaged, players will be able to detect enemy weak spots,
solve puzzles and decode secret messages as they blast their way to
victory. Boys in the target age range of 8 to 12 will jump into
battle as one of four playable characters, each with their own unique
customizeable blasters and abilities. For those players who find
themselves in a melee that requires back-up, NERF 2: “N-Strike” Elite
will include two-player co-op, allowing buddies to immediately jump in
and join the crusade. Players will also interact with a veritable
army of robots including B.O.B., the same recruiting robot from the
first NERF “N-Strike” game.
“As Hasbro gears up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the NERF
brand, the top boys property in the toy industry, EA is poised to
arrive at the party with the most innovative NERF digital gameplay
experience to date,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and
General Manager of Digital Gaming and Media at Hasbro. “NERF 2:
“N-Strike” Elite will deliver an incredibly innovative and fun
NERF-inspired experience that will resonate with tween boys and also
get the nod of approval from Mom.”
The NERF 2: “N-Strike” Elite 3-in-1 video game and SWITCH SHOT EX-3
with scope toy bundle is being developed by EA Salt Lake and will
launch this fall. For more information, please visit
Nerf.ea.com.
About the NERF Brand
The number one toy brand for boys in the 9 to 12 age range, NERF was
first introduced in 1969 with a polyurethane foam ball that was
marketed as the first official indoor ball. Based on the popularity of
that ball came a follow up larger version called the Super NERF Ball.
Next a basketball game was introduced and then the football, which
became the most popular NERF ball. Celebrating its 40th anniversary
this year, the NERF line has continued to expand to include a variety
of sports balls, blasters to more recently video games and video game
accessories through licensing agreements with Electronic Arts and PDP,
respectively.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California,
is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company.
Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes
interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal
computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets
its products under four brand names: EATM, EA SPORTSTM, EA Mobile TM
and POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion
and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's
homepage and online game site is
www.ea.com. More information about
EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the
Internet at
http://info.ea.com.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family
leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and
entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and
most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a
brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market
a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to
high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as
TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS,
CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through
our brands at
http://www.hasbro.com. © 2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights
Reserved.
