Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) released a new online game named Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11, providing an enhanced golf video game experience via a web browser to on-the-go golf enthusiasts. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online has high resolution 3D graphics capabilities, but requires no game installation, disc and additional peripherals.
The company said that the monthly or yearly membership fees range from $9.99 to $59.99 for North America. Consumers who purchase the annual membership will receive unlimited rounds on all available courses, and will be provided with a package of points that can be spent on Pro Shop items.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online will also utilize a points-based transaction system, allowing players to purchase packages of points at $9.99, $19.99 and $39.99, respectively, that can be used on in-game transactions, such as rounds of golf and Pro Shop items.
Under the EA Sports label, the company provides a collection of sports-based video games, such as simulated sports based on real-world sports leagues, players, events and venues as well as casual games with arcade-style gameplay and graphics. The EA SPORTS portfolio includes titles such as FIFA Soccer, Madden NFL Football, Fight Night, NBA Live, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR and NHL Hockey.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online was first launched in May 2009. EA’s President Peter Moore said that players from nearly 200 countries have played more than two million rounds since the beta version game became available in January, and 800,000 unique visitors have played in the last month alone. This indicates that the game is gaining a lot of interest among users.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 video game is expected to be available on Microsoft’s (MSFT) Xbox 360, Sony’s (SNE) PlayStation 3, Nintendo’s (NTDOY) Wii consoles and Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone on June 8 in North America. Thus the Tiger Woods game should drive sales at Electronic Arts.
Electronic Arts has an impressive new game lineup scheduled for the next fiscal year, which should allow it to generate strong growth through fiscal year 2011. The new game pipeline includes Mass Effect 2, Army of Two and Dante’s Inferno. Electronic Arts recently released new gaming titles such as the Dragon Age: Origins Awakening and Battlefield Bad Company 2, which are well accepted and should further drive sales.
Product initiatives for the company include continued investment in new platform development, product quality enhancements, wireless product launches and next-generation Internet games. These efforts should also help the company expand internationally.
However, competition is high in the video game industry. The company faces substantial competition from console and personal computer game publishers. Key competitors include Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Activision Blizzard (ATVI) and Take-Two Interactive (TTWO).
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