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Video Game Consoles
The latest generation of video game consoles was initiated by the launch of Microsoft's Xbox 360 in Ñscal
2006 and will continue with the launches of the upcoming Sony and Nintendo consoles. The following
table details select information on some of the console platforms for which we have published titles:
Year Introduced
Manufacturer Video Game Console/Platform Name in North America Medium/Product Base
Sega ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Genesis 1989 Cartridge
Nintendo ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Super NES
TM
1991 Cartridge
MatsushitaÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ 3DO
TM
Interactive Multiplayer
TM
1993 Compact Disk
Sega ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Saturn 1995 Compact Disk
SonyÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ PlayStation 1995 Compact Disk
Nintendo ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Nintendo 64 1996 Cartridge
SonyÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ PlayStation 2 2000 Digital Versatile Disk
Nintendo ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Nintendo GameCube 2001 Proprietary Optical Format
Microsoft ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Xbox 2001 Digital Versatile Disk
Microsoft ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Xbox 360 2005 Digital Versatile Disk
PlayStation 2. Sony released the PlayStation 2 console in Japan in March 2000, in North America in
October 2000, and in Europe in November 2000. The PlayStation 2 console is a DVD-based system that,
with a network adaptor, is Internet ready, as well as backward compatible with games published for its
predecessor, the PlayStation. We have published and are currently developing numerous products for the
Sony PlayStation 2.
Nintendo GameCube. Nintendo launched the Nintendo GameCube console in Japan in September 2001,
in North America in November 2001, and in Europe in May 2002. The Nintendo GameCube plays games
that are manufactured on a proprietary optical disk. We have published and are currently developing
several products for the Nintendo GameCube.
Xbox. Microsoft launched the Xbox console in North America in November 2001, in Japan in February
2002, and in Europe in March 2002. The Microsoft Xbox is DVD-based system that is Internet ready. In
May 2004, we began to support the Xbox Live service with features including Quickmatch, Optimatch,
gamertags, Xbox Live friends list, voice communication and EA messenger service. We have published
and are currently developing numerous products for the Microsoft Xbox.
Annual Report
Xbox 360. Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 console in North America in November 2005, and in
Europe and Japan in December 2005. The Xbox 360 is a DVD-based system that is Internet and high
deÑnition ready. We have published several titles and are currently developing numerous products for the
Xbox 360, all of which also support the Xbox Live service. In addition, we are developing digital content
for sale via microtransactions on the Xbox Live service.
Next-Generation Consoles
Our industry is cyclical and is in the transition stage to the next cycle. Microsoft launched the Xbox 360
at the end of calendar year 2005. In the coming months, we expect Sony and Nintendo to introduce new
video game consoles as well. These next-generation consoles have and are expected to introduce new
complexities. Both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 have a complex multi-processor architecture and
High-DeÑnition video outputs. The Nintendo Wii will introduce a unique controller.
7