Buy Low and Sell High in The Sims Online; Secure Trading is the Newest Addition to This Burgeoning Simoleon Economy.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 2003

Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS) today announced that capitalism is alive and well on the Net. The Sims Online has added secure trading to its budding economic system. To date, the economy boasts over 4.7 billion Simoleons amassed by Sims through building skills and assets, utilizing job objects, devising business ventures, and having other Sims visit their properties. The addition of secure trading gives Sims a protected system to buy, sell and exchange goods with other Sims in the online world. Virtual transactions have reached a whole new level of reliability in The Sims Online.

"For quite some time, secure trading has been part of my overall economic vision for The Sims Online," said Will Wright, Game Designer of The Sims Online at EA's Maxis(TM) Studio. "It is the cornerstone of a fully functioning online economy."

The addition of secure trading to The Sims Online economy allows players to transfer ownership of objects and items to other Sims. It also enables players to sell used objects to other bargain hunting Sims for discounted prices. In addition, players now can mutually agree on a fair trade price for a specific object and make a transaction without one player being left holding the bag. Online wheeling and dealing has never been so dependable and easy!

Here's how it works:

Sim Pixie Dust is currently creating a coffee shop on her lot in The Sims Online. She finds herself in need of some comfy couches but short on funds. Enterprising in nature, she goes window shopping in her online city seeking a sweet deal on three sofas. A quick in-game search brings her to Bill's Bargain Basement Emporium. Sim Bargain Bill makes her an offer: Three couches for 1500 Simoleons and her Poseidon Adventure Aquarium. Pixie counters with an offer of 1275 Simoleons and her Duke Tubula Memorial Surf Board. They strike the deal using the new in-game secure trading technology. Another satisfied customer in The Sims Online!

This is just one of the thousands of examples of what is already happening in the emerging economic environment of The Sims Online. As Sims continue to accumulate Simoleons through skill development, visitor bonuses and entrepreneurial ventures in their online world, look for new and exciting advancements in this virtual market place.

The Sims Online is a massive virtual world created from the imaginations of thousands of players. You can join your friends around the world in this never-ending alternate reality where players can be themselves or "Be Somebody. Else.(TM)"

The Sims Online carries a monthly subscription fee of $9.99 with the first 30-days being free. A credit card is required to register and play. An Internet connection is also required. The Sims Online carries an ESRB rating of "T" for Teen. It is available in stores now for a suggested retail price of US $39.99 or by direct order from the EA Store(SM) at http://www.ea.com or by calling 877-EA GAMES (1-877-324-2637).

Important information on The Sims Online including Terms of Service and game availability can be found at http://www.thesimsonline.com.

The Sims(TM) franchise celebrated its third anniversary this month. The game skyrocketed to the top of the charts when it began shipping to stores and quickly became a universal gaming and cultural phenomenon. The Sims base product was the #1 seller in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Translated into 17 different languages, The Sims has inspired six expansion packs that include The Sims(TM) Livin' Large, The Sims(TM) House Party, The Sims(TM) Hot Date, The Sims(TM) Vacation, The Sims(TM) Unleashed and the upcoming The Sims(TM) Superstar. Combined sales for the franchise have topped 24 million units life-to-date. For more information on The Sims franchise titles, visit http://www.thesims.com.

Electronic Arts (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.7 billion for fiscal 2002. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA GAMES(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and EA.COM(SM). More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.info.ea.com.

Note to Editors: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES, EA SPORTS BIG, Maxis, The Sims, The Sims Online, "Be Somebody. Else." and EA STORE are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA.COM is a service mark of EA.com Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.