Sydney, Australia, 14th January 2009: FIFA, the world\u2019s governing body of football, Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that Alfonso Ramos, the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2008 Champion, has received his official winner\u2019s trophy at the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich. Ramos was joined by some of the world\u2019s greatest footballers, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres at the star-studded event which also saw Cristiano Ronaldo crowned the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) 2009 has received a record number of entrants with around 320,000 competitors already signed up to compete in this year\u2019s competition. The FIWC has become one of the largest and fastest growing sports gaming competitions in the world with players from around the globe battling it out on EA SPORTS\u2122 FIFA 09 for PLAYSTATION\u00ae3 (PS3\u2122) in a bid to be crowned the best virtual footballer in the world and receive the $20,000 1st place prize.\u00a0 For anyone who thinks they\u2019ve got what it takes, there is still time ahead of 31st March to enter and show the world what you\u2019re made of, so get registered and start laying your claim to the crown.<\/p>\n
FIFA, EA and SCEE have also announced that the FIWC 09 grand final in May will take place in Barcelona, one of the world\u2019s greatest football cities. The glamorous grand final marks the culmination of months of qualifying rounds currently taking place both online via the PlayStation\u00aeNetwork and at FIWC 09 Live Qualifier Events around the globe, in countries including Australia, Brazil, UK, Germany, France, Italy, South Africa and the US.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got involved in the FIFA Interactive World Cup with the intention of creating an iconic gaming competition, but to achieve the huge increase in competitors that we have seen this year is something that exceeds even our most optimistic predictions\u201d, said Darren Carter, Vice President for Brand and Consumer Marketing, SCEE.\u00a0 \u201cEverything about the FIWC this year is bigger and better and to see so many competing online on PlayStation Network really highlights how PlayStation\u00ae has grown along with the tournament.\u00a0 We can\u2019t wait to welcome the best virtual footballers to Barcelona, Spain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are extremely proud to once again be supporting the FIWC alongside FIFA and Sony Computer Entertainment\u201d, said Matt Bilbey, Vice President International Marketing, EA SPORTS. \u201cWe believe that FIFA 09 is our best ever football title and we are delighted to see so many gamers battling it out in the game both online and at physical qualifying events around the world. The FIWC has grown over the years to become a truly global gaming competition which captures the heart and spirit of football and gaming and we look forward to crowning this year\u2019s victor at the grand final in May.\u201d<\/p>\n
Details about the live qualifier events near you will be made available over the coming weeks at www.FIFA.com\/FIWC<\/a>, so check in regularly to keep your fingers on the pulse of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2009.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Footage and photography of the FIWC 08 is accessible on the FIFA Media Channel** now:\u00a0 http:\/\/mediachannel.extranets.fifa.com\/regproc.aspx<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n * Feature not active in FIWC tournament settings<\/p>\n