Electronic Arts, Twentieth Century Fox Television and Gracie Films announced a long-term deal that grants EA development rights to multiple videogame titles based on the FOX hit series THE SIMPSONS. Working closely with the television studios Licensing and Merchandising division, show producers Gracie Films and THE SIMPSONS writers, EA will create original SIMPSONS game content for next generation videogame systems. This deal between Fox and EA is the first development deal between these two entities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The first game of the multi-game deal will be launched on next-generation systems; no launch date has been announced.
This is a great opportunity for our talented development team to collaborate with the brilliant minds of THE SIMPSONS to bring original SIMPSONS material to videogame fans, said Nick Earl, vp/gm, EA Redwood Shores Studio. This is something EAs been interested in for years and now game development and technology is at a place where THE SIMPSONS characters and world will really come alive in these games.
THE SIMPSONS is our crown jewel and with every additional episode is creating a legacy of creativity and success unmatched in this industry, commented Twentieth Century Fox president Gary Newman. Its huge appeal among teens and young adults coupled with its seemingly limitless universe of memorable characters makes it a natural fit for videogaming, and we believe Electronic Arts is exactly the right creative partner to bring Springfield to life in this medium.
SIMPSONS exec producer James L. Brooks, speaking on behalf of Gracie Films, stated, "I think this is a great opportunity for us, primarily because it brings with it the possibility of free EA games."
Game development will be done at EAs Redwood Shores Studio, which is responsible for such games as FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 06, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: TACTICS, THE GODFATHER and THE SIMS.
Electronic Arts (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 videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS, EA, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO. In fiscal 2005, EA posted revenues of $3.1 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. More information can be found at info.ea.com.
Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising is a unit of Twentieth Century Fox Television, a News Corp. company. Twentieth Century Fox Television is a leading supplier of entertainment programming domestically and around the world.
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