Legendary Commentator and Houston Rockets Rookie Join EA Sports’ March Madness 2000 Production Team To Develop Innovative College Hoops Experience
Electronic Arts announces that it reached an agreement with Dick Vitale to participate in the marketing of NCAA® March Madness™ 2000.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -October 26, 1999-Electronic Arts™ (Nasdaq:ERTS), the world's largest interactive entertainment software company, announced today that the company has reached an agreement with Dick Vitale and Steve Francis to participate in the development and marketing of EA SPORTS’ video game NCAA® March Madness™ 2000.
Vitale, former NCAA basketball coach and current ESPN commentator, teams up with Francis, last year’s Maryland All-American, to work closely with the EA SPORTS’ NCAA March Madness 2000 production team on game development and as spokespeople for the March Madness franchise.
“It’s just ‘awesome baby’ to join the EA SPORTS™ March Madness team,” said Dick Vitale, ESPN college basketball host. “We share a love and passion for college hoops and together we can bring this message home to video game consumers nationwide.”
Dick Vitale has signed with Electronic Arts for the next three years, exclusively for the year 2000 and 2001. Vitale will utilize his college coaching background and in-depth knowledge of college basketball in his role as head coach for the March Madness franchise. Vitale will work with the development team on achieving the complete college hoops experience. He is also the featured color commentator for NCAA March Madness 2000, working with Ron Franklin, play-by-play announcer in the game.
Also joining EA SPORTS is the number two overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, Steve Francis. Francis, recognized for his athleticism, exemplary ball handling skills and moves on the court, will work with the team on implementing his style of play into NCAA March Madness 2000 and perfecting the games latest feature, Dynamic Ball Control™.
Dynamic Ball Control:
Dynamic Ball Control is a ball-handling model that will allow the gamers to make in game moves like cross-overs, stutter-steps and between-the-leg moves once only reserved for elite NCAA All-Americans. Steve Francis will also be featured in the related marketing and advertising associated with the NCAA March Madness 2000.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the EA SPORTS March Madness team,” said Steve Francis University of Maryland All-American. “Being a big gamer and fan of the EA SPORTS games for years, I couldn’t be more thrilled to work with them to make a college hoops games where gamers can make Steve Francis moves.”
“Electronic Arts has a long history of bringing star athletes in to work on video games with production and marketing, enabling them to capture the subtle nuances of sport and translate those subtleties into EA SPORTS games,” said Chip Lange, senior vice president of marketing for Electronic Arts. “The March Madness team is the latest to benefit from this long tradition and we feel confident that the combination of Dick Vitale and Steve Francis will help us put out the best and most innovative college hoops video game, NCAA March Madness 2000.”
Vitale and Francis join an elite group of sports icons that work with EA SPORTS including: Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Tiger Woods, John Madden, Sammy Sosa, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Williams.
NCAA March Madness 2000 ships in December for the PlayStation®. The suggested retail price is (U.S.) $39.95. Consumers may purchase the game directly at the EA StoreSM (http://eastore.ea.com) or by calling EA Direct Sales at 1.800.245.4525. The game carries an ESRB rating of "E" (Everyone).
EA SPORTS (www.easports.com) is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world. Its top-selling titles and franchises include FIFA Soccer, John Madden Football™, NHL® Hockey, Knockout Kings™, NBA LIVE Basketball, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® Golf, Triple Play Baseball™ and NASCAR®.
Vitale, former NCAA basketball coach and current ESPN commentator, teams up with Francis, last year’s Maryland All-American, to work closely with the EA SPORTS’ NCAA March Madness 2000 production team on game development and as spokespeople for the March Madness franchise.
“It’s just ‘awesome baby’ to join the EA SPORTS™ March Madness team,” said Dick Vitale, ESPN college basketball host. “We share a love and passion for college hoops and together we can bring this message home to video game consumers nationwide.”
Dick Vitale has signed with Electronic Arts for the next three years, exclusively for the year 2000 and 2001. Vitale will utilize his college coaching background and in-depth knowledge of college basketball in his role as head coach for the March Madness franchise. Vitale will work with the development team on achieving the complete college hoops experience. He is also the featured color commentator for NCAA March Madness 2000, working with Ron Franklin, play-by-play announcer in the game.
Also joining EA SPORTS is the number two overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, Steve Francis. Francis, recognized for his athleticism, exemplary ball handling skills and moves on the court, will work with the team on implementing his style of play into NCAA March Madness 2000 and perfecting the games latest feature, Dynamic Ball Control™.
Dynamic Ball Control:
Dynamic Ball Control is a ball-handling model that will allow the gamers to make in game moves like cross-overs, stutter-steps and between-the-leg moves once only reserved for elite NCAA All-Americans. Steve Francis will also be featured in the related marketing and advertising associated with the NCAA March Madness 2000.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the EA SPORTS March Madness team,” said Steve Francis University of Maryland All-American. “Being a big gamer and fan of the EA SPORTS games for years, I couldn’t be more thrilled to work with them to make a college hoops games where gamers can make Steve Francis moves.”
“Electronic Arts has a long history of bringing star athletes in to work on video games with production and marketing, enabling them to capture the subtle nuances of sport and translate those subtleties into EA SPORTS games,” said Chip Lange, senior vice president of marketing for Electronic Arts. “The March Madness team is the latest to benefit from this long tradition and we feel confident that the combination of Dick Vitale and Steve Francis will help us put out the best and most innovative college hoops video game, NCAA March Madness 2000.”
Vitale and Francis join an elite group of sports icons that work with EA SPORTS including: Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Tiger Woods, John Madden, Sammy Sosa, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Williams.
NCAA March Madness 2000 ships in December for the PlayStation®. The suggested retail price is (U.S.) $39.95. Consumers may purchase the game directly at the EA StoreSM (http://eastore.ea.com) or by calling EA Direct Sales at 1.800.245.4525. The game carries an ESRB rating of "E" (Everyone).
EA SPORTS (www.easports.com) is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world. Its top-selling titles and franchises include FIFA Soccer, John Madden Football™, NHL® Hockey, Knockout Kings™, NBA LIVE Basketball, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® Golf, Triple Play Baseball™ and NASCAR®.
Companies:
Electronic Arts