

For

Immediate Release

Barenaked

Ladies To Debut “It’s Only Me” In EA SPORTS NHL 2002



Band members also featured “In The Game”



REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – October 4, 2001 —

Electronic Arts announced today that the company has reached an agreement with

Barenaked Ladies (BNL), the multi-platinum Reprise recording artists. The band

will debut their previously unreleased track “It’s Only Me (The Wizard Of

Magicland)” in an introductory sequence for the latest release of the top

selling EA SPORTS™ hockey franchise, NHL®. Terms

of the deal were not disclosed.







“In order to stimulate the

emotion of an actual NHL game, it’s important to create the realistic

gameplay, camaraderie and excitement of the in-arena atmosphere,” said NHL

producer Dave Warfield. “Barenaked Ladies’ song

‘It’s Only Me’ in NHL 2002 epitomizes the band’s, high-energy style heard

at hockey games throughout North America and offers enjoyment to hockey fans and

music fans alike.”







In addition to hearing

Barenaked Ladies previously unreleased track, BNL fans will be able to play as

band members through the Create Player feature. By entering band members’

names, players can save the musicians to the team of their choice.







“I’ve always wanted to play in the NHL, and now I can– at

least in digital form!” said BNL drummer Tyler Stewart. “Whether it’s going

one-on one with Cujo in net at Air Canada Centre, or fighting for the puck with

(Steven) Page and (Ed) Robertson on my side, NHL 2002 has made living my

childhood dreams possible.”







NHL 2002 for the PlayStation®2

computer entertainment system, Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft and PCCD

features 45 additional tracks including two songs from chart-topping punk band

Sum 41 such as their hit song “Fat Lip,” and recently released single “Makes No

Difference.” Other bands featured in-game include The Tea Party, Treble

Charger, and Jet Set Satellite.







EA SPORTS NHL series has established itself as not

only the all-time best selling interactive hockey franchise in the world, but

also as a vehicle for top artists to bring their music to a cutting edge medium.

Past artists who have provided lead tracks in NHL games are Collective

Soul and their hit single “Heavy” in NHL 2001, Garbage’s “Push It”

in NHL 2000 and David Bowie’s “Heroes” in NHL ‘99





ABOUT BARENAKED LADIES



Barenaked

Ladies are Toronto, Canada based multi-platinum recording artists on the Reprise

Records label in the U.S. and the WEA label in Canada. Since the release of

Gordon, the band’s now classic 1992 debut, Barenaked Ladies have been on a

steady creative and commercial rise to stardom highlighted by the massive

success of the Stunt album. Released in the summer of ’98, Stunt

featured the phenomenally successful #1 single “One Week.” Maroon, BNL’s

follow-up to Stunt was released in October 2000 and has spawned the radio

hits “Pinch Me,” “Too Little Too Late” and the current chart topper, “Falling

For The First Time.” The band is currently gearing up for the November 13, 2001

release of





Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits 1991-2001,



a best-of collection featuring such BNL classics like



“If I Had $1,000,000,” “Old Apartment,” “Brian Wilson,” “One

Week,” “Jane,” and more. Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits / 1991-2001

will also contain two new tracks recorded especially for the compilation

including “It’s Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland).”





ABOUT NHL

2002



The world’s number one selling interactive hockey franchise

returns this fall with Mario Lemieux, music by Barenaked Ladies, and a host of

outstanding new features. In

NHL 2002 by EA SPORTS, the gamer IS the action. New features such

as Breakaway Camera, EA GameStory, and NHL

Cards reward the gamer for outstanding play in exciting new ways. With greater

control than ever before, the “hero” will be feel the excitement as he is

rewarded with cool

camerawork, overlays, insightful broadcasting, trading cards for cheats, boosts

and more. Whether a power forward in pursuit of the game-winning goal, a

goaltender attempting a shutout, or a chippy defenseman protecting his zone,

gamers will experience pure adrenaline on the ice on their own personal journey

to Lord Stanley’s Cup. NHL 2002 for PC-CD and for the PlayStation®2

computer entertainment system are currently available in stores. NHL 2002

for Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft will ship in December. Screenshots

are available on an informational press site at



http://info.ea.com.









ABOUT ELECTRONIC ARTS

Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS),

headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive

entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues

of more than $1.3 billion for fiscal 2001. The company develops, publishes and

distributes software worldwide for the Internet, personal computers and video

game systems. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA

SPORTSTM, EA GAMESTM, EA SPORTS BIG™ and EA.COMSM.

More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be

found on the Internet at



http://www.info.ea.com.





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