OWNERSHIP: Public (Nasdaq: ERTS)
HEADQUARTERS: Redwood City, California
REVENUES: $2.95 billion for fiscal 2006
EMPLOYEES: 7,200 worldwide
BACKGROUND:
Electronic Arts (EA) is the world's leading independent developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for advanced entertainment systems such as the PlayStation® 3, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP (PlayStation® Portable) system, Xbox 360, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy® Advance and the Nintendo DS as well as PC and games for mobile phone devices.
EA has been a leader in its field since the company was founded in 1982. Since its inception, EA has been a creative leader, and today, the company continues to innovate and improve interactive gaming. By combining diverse media such as computer animation, video, photographic images, motion capture, 3D face and body rendering technologies, computer graphics, and stereo sound with contributions from storywriters, film directors and musicians, EA uses technology and creativity to develop mainstream entertainment through an interactive medium.
EA's broad portfolio of franchises includes global sports blockbusters from its EA SPORTS brand including Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, and NBA Live. The diverse offering from its EA brand features wholly-owned intellectual properties such as Need For Speed, The Sims, and Burnout franchises, as well, as key Hollywood licenses for games based on The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, and The Godfather properties. EA SPORTS BIG franchises include: NFL STREET, NBA STREET and FIFA STREET.
EA's five hub studios are in Redwood Shores (US), Los Angeles (US), Orlando (US), Vancouver (Canada) and Surrey (UK), along with development studios in Chicago (US), Montreal (Canada), Warrington (UK) and Tokyo (Japan) and boasts a development team that is more than 5,200 people strong. The company's European corporate headquarters are