Madden NFL 09 Tackles Top Movie Releases in August

Electronic Arts announced today that Madden NFL 09, which launched on August 12, registered approximately $133.5 million in retail sales for the month of August, generating more retail dollars than the country’s top blockbuster movies for the month of August, such as Tropic Thunder, Mamma Mia!, and Pineapple Express.
EA’s Madden NFL 09 Tackles Top Movie Releases in August

Highest Critical Average on Current Generation Consoles Predicting 100 Million Online Games Will Be Played

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced estimated retail sales figures for Madden NFL 09. Madden NFL, the best-selling sports franchise in videogame history, launched on August 12 and registered approximately $133.5 million in retail sales for the month of August -- a roughly 6 percent increase over last year’s game1.

Madden NFL 09 has achieved the highest critical rating the franchise has received for three years – the highest on the current generation of consoles. The game was also named the“Best Sports Game of E3” in the official Game Critics Best of Show Awards in July and celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

The retail dollars generated from Madden NFL 09 beat dollars generated by the country’s top blockbuster movies, for the month of August, such as Tropic Thunder ($83.9 million), Mamma Mia! ($56.4 million), and Pineapple Express ($79.9 million)2.

"Expectations were very high, and Madden NFL 09 is the most innovative game in the 20 year history of the franchise,” said Peter Moore, President of EA SPORTS. “We’re seeing strong consumer momentum both at retail and online, where fans are connecting in record numbers to play Madden NFL 09. We expect more than 100 million games of Madden NFL 09 will be played online in the next year.”

Madden NFL 09 features more than 85 new features and enhancements that deliver a complete NFL package called “the pinnacle of modern Madden era” by Official Xbox Magazine.Designed with adaptable gameplay for longtime fans of the series and newcomers alike, Madden NFL 09 continuously assesses skill level and adjusts the gameplay to keep the experience both fun and challenging, all while training gamers to become better Madden players. Madden NFL 09 also includes a brand-new broadcast presentation package featuring Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond, online leagues, and graphics 1up.com called “so visually impressive that it's likely to stick in your system all season long.”

Madden NFL 09 was developed in Orlando, Florida by the award-winning EA Tiburon studio, which also produces NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

Madden NFL 09 is available for the Xbox 360® video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment systems, Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and is rated E by the ESRB. Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition shipped on the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3.

EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing. For more information about Madden NFL 09, check out www.madden09.com.


1 Based on internal sales data
2 Based on motion picture box office data from BoxOfficeMojo.com


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