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EA produces college baseball game, atleast Take2 didn't take ALL the baseball licenses

by: John -
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Since Take2 has the exclusive on the MLB license, EA has decided to produce an NCAA college baseball game. MVP 06 NCAA Baseball is due out next spring and will have online play for both the Xbox and PS2. No word in this announcement on an Xbox 360 version.
Baseball's Back With EA'S MVP 06 NCAA Baseball; The Highest-Rated and Top-Selling Baseball Franchise Goes Back to School Next Spring

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2005--Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS) announced today that MVP(TM) 06 NCAA(R) Baseball is in development and scheduled for release in spring 2006 under the EA SPORTS(TM) brand. This new version of the best-selling and critically acclaimed MVP Baseball(TM) franchise is being produced by Electronic Arts Canada in Vancouver, B.C., and will celebrate everything that makes NCAA(R) baseball unique -- aluminum bats, intense action, and stadiums filled with school spirit and packed with passionate fans.

From the same developers of the franchise that IGN earlier this year called the "best baseball experience on the market," MVP 06 NCAA Baseball will debut new batting and throwing systems, the nation's top universities and conferences, and a deep college-specific Dynasty Mode(TM) that takes you on the "Road to Omaha(R)" with baseball's brightest young stars.

"We're excited to be able to work with our partners at the NCAA to deliver the first-ever college baseball video game and our most innovative baseball product to date," says Brent Nielsen, senior producer for the project. "Baseball purists and casual fans alike have flocked to the MVP Baseball franchise in record numbers year after year. We know MVP 06 NCAA Baseball will only grow that passion for the best baseball experience on the market."

Complete with an engaging visual presentation and ESPN's Mike Patrick and former Stanford All-American Kyle Peterson calling the action, MVP 06 NCAA Baseball features an all-new Custom Ballpark feature and a robust Create a Player option. The game also includes exclusive new online(1) features for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and Xbox Live(R).

"The excitement surrounding the College World Series and college baseball as a whole continues to rise with fan attendance and public interest increasing each year," said Dennie Poppe, NCAA Managing Director for Baseball and Football. "MVP 06 NCAA Baseball will allow fans an opportunity to experience college baseball through high tech video that has thrilling game action, along with the exciting team spirit and atmosphere that you see during an actual game. We're pleased to work with EA on this project that will bring fans even closer to NCAA college baseball."

"Electronic Arts has gone to great lengths to capture the unique features of college baseball," said Pat Battle, Chief Executive Officer of The Collegiate Licensing Company. "We have heard tremendous positive feedback from the university athletic directors, conference commissioners and the baseball coaches. There is a great deal of momentum surrounding college baseball, and this project is another significant step forward."

The game, which joins NCAA(R) Football and NCAA(R) March Madness(R) in the EA SPORTS(TM) family of popular NCAA-licensed properties, is slated to ship on the PlayStation 2 console and Xbox(R) video game system from Microsoft. Screenshots of the game can be found at http://info.ea.com.