Company Overview

Electronic Arts bills itself as a “cool place to hang out” while doing what you love—if what you love is creating top-selling computer games developed for the Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, and PC gaming platforms. Founded in 1982, the company has published games such as The Sims, Need for Speed, Command & Conquer, Madden NFL, and NBA Live. It produces games under four brands: EA, its catchall moniker for nonsports games sold in stores; EA Sports, realistic sports games; EA Sports Big, “extreme” sports games; and Pogo.com, Internet-based games.

In the early part of 2008, Electronic Arts made a move to further dominate the sports gaming market by buying out Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., the company best known for its controversial and super successful “Grand Theft Auto” games. EA made an offer of $2 billion (euro 1.35 billion) to add the games to its collection, but Take-Two turned down the offer and said it might continue negotiations with EA after releasing its newest version of GTA at the end of April.  If it happens, the deal would add to the $680 million in acquisitions CEO John Riccitiello finalized after returning to the top position at EA in early 2007. Riccitiello initiated the first deal with the company he started after leaving EA, Elevation Partners, to add VG Holding’s BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios to EA’s capital.