EA launches downloader with Carbon

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 11/3/2006 10:17:00 PM

EA Link, the company's apparent answer to downloadable content, went online earlier this week.  Need for Speed Carbon is the first game to use this new service, but for now it's limited to PC gamers.  Maybe we'll see something similar for Xbox Live, I just hope it has a smoother start than Steam's troubled birth.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) earlier this week launched EA Link™ – a free downloadable software application that delivers exclusive content and secure downloads of EA’s PC games.  Launching with Need for Speed™ Carbon, players worldwide can now preview and purchase their favorite EA™, EA SPORTS™ and EA SPORTS BIG™ PC games without ever leaving their home. EA Link enables players to demo, pre-order and purchase their favorite EA PC game with the touch of a button. EA Link also provides exclusive access to game “extras” such as playable demos, trailers, wallpapers, and bonus in-game content. In addition to Need for Speed Carbon, EA Link features downloadable versions of The Sims™ 2, Madden NFL 07, FIFA Soccer 07, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 07, NHL® 07, Battlefield 2142™ and Lord of the Rings™, The Battle for Middle-earth™, Rise of the Witch-king™. The fresh look of EA Link and easy navigation delivers an easy and secure experience for PC game fans.

 

EA Link can be downloaded at http://www.ea.com/ealink

 

Chip Lange, VP of EA Online commented, “EA Link opens up a world of possibilities to PC gamers by offering them more choices for sampling, purchasing and enriching their game experience. We are thrilled to deliver these fantastic PC titles to game fans in a safe, secure and high-speed environment.”

Starting this week, the full PC version of Need for Speed Carbon is available for download at EA Link. The battle for the city is won in the canyon as Need for Speed Carbon immerses players in the world's most dangerous and adrenaline-filled form of street racing. For the first time in a Need for Speed game, build a crew and race in an all-out war against rival crews and opposing car classes. Risk everything to take over rival neighborhoods one street at a time. With EA Link, racing fans will also find exclusive bonus Need for Speed Carbon content available with pre-orders including the 1971 Dodge Challenger and 2006 Pagani Zonda F.

The small downloadable application offers a robust set of features making it easy to use. Its multiple payment options including PayPal and Click&Buy, new content notifications, real-time message alerts and support for over a dozen languages enable players around the world to pre-order, pre-load and get into a game sooner. Players can rest assured that EA Link delivers trustworthy and safe content via EA’s secure network. In addition, it gives gamers flexibility to install their downloadable games on multiple machines for access whenever or wherever they want it without requiring a disc.  Gamers can also manage all of their game content in the “My Stuff” section and initiate simultaneous downloads with collapse-able view of status.

 

Developed at EA in Redwood Shores, EA Link is available for download at: http://www.ea.com/ealink.

 

* An earlier version of EA Link was known as EA Downloader.