EA to Develop Next-Gen Simpsons Titles

November 2, 2005, 10:17 am EST
Total comments: 5

Best. Press Release. Ever.

'Aye Carumba!' EA, Twentieth Century Fox Television and Gracie Films Bring THE SIMPSONS to Next Generation Videogame Consoles

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 2005--Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS), Twentieth Century Fox Television and Gracie Films today 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 studio's Licensing and Merchandising division, Gracie Films and THE SIMPSONS writers, EA will create original 'Simpsons' game content for next generation videogame systems. This groundbreaking 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, Vice President and General Manager, EA Redwood Shores Studio. "This is something EA's 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' Executive 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 EA's Redwood Shores Studio, the studio currently responsible for From Russia With Love(TM), Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) 06, The Lord of The Rings: Tactics(TM), The Godfather(TM) and The Sims(TM) games.

Talkback

couchmonkeyNovember 02, 2005

I know a lot of people would totally disagree with me on this, but I think EA has handled the franchise pretty well on Gamecube. Horrific loading times aside, Road Rage was a really fun if shallow Crazy Taxi clone and Hit and Run is good as well. Critics seemed to like Hit and Run a lot better, and while it has a much deeper single player mode and fewer bugs, I think Road Rage still packs more fun into short play session, and its two-player mode was awesome. Hit and Run is still better, I just think Road Rage was underrated.

FamicomNovember 02, 2005

I too enjoyed Hit and Run, and will be looking forward to more Simpsons games. Hopefully not around the theme of driving again though; I've had my fill of that.