The online features of Madden NFL Football 2003 for the PlayStation 2 console will debut at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles next week. A special demonstration of the game will be presented at a press conference sponsored by Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) Tuesday, May 21 at 8:00 a.m. PST.
"We are very excited to be partnering with Sony Computer Entertainment of America to bring Madden NFL Football and other popular EA franchises online through the PlayStation 2," said EA Chairman and CEO Larry Probst. "We believe that console-based online play is in its infancy but will grow in the next several years. Early applications on the PlayStation 2 offer a great experience for consumers and a chance for developers to find out what gamers like about online play. We feel confident about the business model presented by SCEA and their choice of an open technology infrastructure for providers and consumers."
"We are thrilled to have Electronic Arts announce online support for PlayStation 2 as we firmly believe that well-known franchises are key to bringing the console gamer online," said Andrew House, senior vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Our goal is to help lead the PlayStation 2 customer base online with an experience that is consumer friendly and content driven, requiring little or no additional investment. In keeping with the open environment of the Internet, our approach to PlayStation 2 connectivity will encourage the creative community to drive and determine content offerings, as well manage its own customer relationships and distribution models. With EA on board we are one step closer to making this a reality."
Madden NFL 2003 for the PlayStation 2 console will allow gamers to find and challenge opponents anywhere on the Internet, chat with friends and other football fans and download rosters throughout the year reflecting player injuries and position changes.
About John Madden Football™
Entering its 13th year, the John Madden Football franchise is the industry's top-selling interactive football series with more than 19 million units sold to date across all platforms in North America. Madden NFL 2002 was the No. 1 sports game on the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube™ and PC as well as the No. 1 overall console game across all genres in 2002.