EA and Def Jam Announce the Highly Anticipated Release of Def Jam VENDETTA

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 2003--Enter the world of underground fight clubs through the release of Def Jam VENDETTA™ for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Nintendo GameCube™. Electronic Arts, the world's leading independent video game publisher, along with Def Jam, the undisputed powerhouse of urban music and lifestyle, are delivering players a unique interactive entertainment experience that features a roster of over 40 characters including 12 playable Def Jam artists: DMX, Method Man, Redman, Ludacris, Capone, N.O.R.E., Scarface, Ghostface Killah, Joe Budden, Keith Murray, WC and DJ Funkmaster Flex. Additionally, the game introduces Def Jam songstress Christina Milian as the temptress Angel.

Def Jam VENDETTA brings the exciting and intense world of urban street fighting to life while staying true to the EA SPORTS BIG™ brand reputation with a variety of more than 1,500 hyper-realistic moves - including dozens of signature specials and taunts - that are dynamic with realistic finesse and style. Set in a fictional NY-themed underground circuit, the game features 12 stunning 3-D urban venues each filled with animated crowds, hot beats and original music. Many of the venues are themed after a Def Jam artist boss such as DMXs venue, "The Junkyard" which is filled with the resonance of his signature barking pit bulls while Ludacris' venue, "Club Luda" stays true to Luda's southern hospitality in his exclusive gentlemen's club.

Players must take on a series of opponents, including the Def Jam bosses, in order to unlock new characters and advance to the next venue. Helping to support the intense action is an original storyline scripted exclusively for the game. In addition to the main "Story" mode, there are additional key features including: "Survival", "Battle" and "Tutorial" modes as well as an array of upgradeable character options and "Girlfriend Galleries" where players can unlock real-life pictorials of the CG females found in the game. More over, music fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the game's 18 tracks from the featured artists as well as from the Def Jam library -- both new/exclusive and archived favorites.