Nov 30
2011

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov 24, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
–Messi To First Appear On Cover Of FIFA Street In March 2012

Electronic Arts Inc.

/quotes/zigman/71356/quotes/nls/erts ERTS
-1.81%



today announced that EA SPORTS(TM) has
signed the world’s top soccer player, Barcelona and Argentina superstar
Lionel Messi, to a multi-year endorsement contract that will see him
become the global face of the EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer franchise. The
biggest transfer deal this season sees the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010 winner
transfer to EA SPORTS and make his debut in March, 2012 on the cover of FIFA
Street.

“Our FIFA franchise is the number one selling sports videogame franchise
in the world, and Lionel Messi is the number one player in the world, so
this agreement is a true partnership of superstars,” said Matt Bilbey,
Vice President and GM of Soccer, EA SPORTS. “With Messi on our team we
have the world’s best and most exciting player to help EA SPORTS
maintain its global leadership in the years ahead.”

“I want to be part of the team behind the best sports game in the world
and be associated with the great EA SPORTS name,” said Messi. “EA SPORTS
is a brand that shares my values of creativity, excellence and social
responsibility.”

Playing for FC Barcelona, Messi received the prestigious FIFA Ballon
d’Or 2010 award as the top soccer player in the world, was UEFA
Champions League Top Goal Scorer the past three years, is the three-time
La Liga Player of the Year, and has made the shortlist for the 2011 FIFA
Ballon d’Or. At just 24, Messi has scored over 200 goals in all
competitions and currently sits second in the rankings of Barcelona’s
all-time leading goal scorers. He has scored 27 goals and 14 assists in
29 games this season in all competitions.

The multi-faceted partnership will see Messi become an EA SPORTS
Ambassador. He will become the cornerstone of marketing and advertising
campaigns, featured on packaging, and utilized in social media
activities around the world for the critically acclaimed FIFA Soccer
franchise. EA SPORTS will also team up with the Leo Messi Foundation to
support social, educational and health care related initiatives for
children around the world.

The EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer series, now in its 19th year, sold
a record-breaking 3.2 million copies of FIFA Soccer 12 in the
first five days after launching to become the biggest launch in the
history of sports videogames.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the
world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive
technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital
experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports
through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden
NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL(R) hockey, NBA JAM
basketball, NCAA(R) Football, Fight Night boxing, EA
SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) golf, and EA
SPORTS Active. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news,
video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit
www.easports.com
to connect, share and compete.

*Based on units sold world-wide as of July 25, 2011 (via NPD,
Chart-track, GFK & Famitsu Marketing Data Service)

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts

/quotes/zigman/71356/quotes/nls/erts ERTS
-1.81%



is a global leader in digital interactive
entertainment. The Company’s game franchises are offered as both
packaged goods products and online services delivered through
Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and
tablets. EA has more than 100 million registered players and operates in
75 countries.

In fiscal 2011, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion.
Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for
critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster franchises such as The
Sims(TM), Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed(TM), Battlefield, and Mass
Effect(TM). More information about EA is available at
http://info.ea.com .

EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Active, The Sims and Need for Speed are trademarks
of Electronic Arts Inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International
(Studio and Publishing) Ltd. John Madden, NFL, NCAA, Tiger Woods, PGA
TOUR and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with
permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50083994&lang=en

SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.

Electronic Arts Inc.
Steve Frost, 604-456-5067
Manager, Communications
sfrost@ea.com
Colin Macrae, 604-456-3685
Sr. Director, Communications
cmacrae@ea.com
David Tinson, 650-628-5189
VP, Communications
dtinson@ea.com

Copyright Business Wire 2011

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ERTS

Electronic Arts Inc.


$
21.69

-0.40
-1.81%

Volume: 5.00M
Nov. 29, 2011 4:00p

/quotes/zigman/71356/quotes/nls/erts

Add ERTS to portfolio

ERTS

Electronic Arts Inc.


$
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-1.81%

Volume: 5.00M
Nov. 29, 2011 4:00p

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Nov 29
2011

bull; Video: Watch the trailer for Arthur Christmas

* * *

From the Oscar-winning makers of the Wallace and Gromit claymation short films, the new 3-D animated feature Arthur Christmas is a fun outing for parents and grandparents of kids about 10 and under.

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Nov 29
2011

(Forsyth, MO) — The first lawsuit is now filed against the company and developer who want to build the Branson Sports Entertainment Complex.

Paul Vozar of Ozarks Extreme Sports Complex, Incorporated filed the complaint in Taney County Circuit Court. Hes claiming breach of contract.

In the complaint, Vozar says he wanted to buy the land that Russell Cook now owns near Highway 65.
He says he proposed a track and sports complex for the area, but the project never got off the ground.

Vozar is asking for an injunction to stop Cooks development of a NASCAR-style track.

Vozar was one of the people who appeared before the countys Board of Adjustments last week.
He presented an appeal to the board that was denied.

Read Vozars full complaint attached below as a pdf

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Nov 28
2011

SAN ANTONIO – Do you ever get stuck between a rock and a hard place when youre accommodating your guests over the holidays? San Antonio Living etiquette expert Diane Gottsman has explains how to tactfully handle those situations. Click here to watch…

Here are a few suggestions..

Can I discipline family members children?

Absolutely! If they are playing rough with the dog you still have to protect your animals!

How do I tell my parents no on certain gifts?

Again, you just have to tell them. If you still get those gifts, you can donate them to charity.

How do I claim dibs at my parents house?

We need to take our parents into consideration. If they invited guest, then we need to step back and maybe get a room or take the couch.

Diane Gottsman
Protocol School of Texas
2438 Freedom Dr.
psotx.com
dianegottsman.com
(210) 826-7400

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Nov 27
2011

TRUCKEE, calif. The following are births for the month of October 2011 at Tahoe Forest Hospital.

James Michael, a boy, was born to Christopher and Mary Beth Collins of Truckee, on October 4.

Makenna Sky, a girl, was born to Jason and Jaime LaChance of Truckee on October 5.

Aria Marrett, a girl, was born to Mike and Merrily Rocco of Tahoe City on October 7.

Lillian Marie, a girl, was born to Cory and Anne- Marie Giese of Truckee on October 7.

Lillyana Nicole, a girl, was born to Marvin Javier and Bethany Piche of Carnelian Bay on October 11.

Benjamin Byrd, a boy, was born to Zac and Kerstin Harrison of Sierra Valley on October 11.

Stella Maurelle, a girl, was born to David and Victoria Mercer of Olympic Valley on October 12.

Van Chiari, a boy, was born to Pat Wenkel and Aurelie Martin-Chiari of Truckee on October 12.

Shelbie Marie, a girl, was born to Scott Kreth and Sara Moore of Truckee on October 19.

Benji Allan, a boy, was born to Rick Nay and Jennifer Moore of Truckee on October 19.

Joplin Simone, a girl, was born to Jake West and Jessica Candler of Truckee on October 20.

Crispin Peter Jospeh, a boy, was born to Peter and Kari Lemmon of Nevada City, on October 21.

Jackson Hunter, a boy, was born to Daniel and Sarah Cramer of Incline Village on October 22.

Ryan Madsen, a boy, was born to Gregory and Maggie Schumacher of Truckee on October 26.

Juniper Grace, a girl, was born to Josh and Korin Cameron of Olympic Valley on October 26.

Broden Scott, a boy, was born to Jeremy and Allison Krohn of Truckee on October 27.

Athena Saige, a girl, was born to Jake and Allison Rogge of Chilcoot on October 28.

Robert Hughes, a boy, was born to Robert Oestreich and Courtney Hughes of Tahoe Vista on October 28.

Sierra Jacklynn, a girl, was born to Jeremy Key and Leigh Pfennig of Reno on October 31.

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Nov 27
2011

NEW YORK – Samsungs new advertisement is causing an online storm as it takes a deliberate dig at fans of Apples iPhone 4S.

The advert shows people in queues around what looks like a launch of a new Apple mobile phone.

As the ad begins, a man in the line says, Blogs are saying the battery looks sketchy. A clear reference to the well-documented iOS 5 battery-draining bug.

They then see other trendy people with Samsungs Galaxy SII smartphone.

Once they realise it is a Samsung, however, they recoil from the model.

A man in the queue says I can never get a Samsung. Im creative.

Dude, youre a barista, says the man next to him.

Mr Todd Pendleton, Samsungs chief marketing officer, and Mr Brian Wallace, Samsungs VP of Strategic Marketing, told business news site Business Insider that the company wasnt targeting iPhone owners in the ad.

Were not targeting fanboys. Were not going to convert them. Were using them as a foil to target current Android users upgrading to a new phone and people entering the smartphone market for the first time, said Mr Wallace.

The pair did not think they were alienating iPhone owners too. I think this is done with a wink and a smile. Just from initial reactions, even Apple owners and lovers are talking about this in a positive way. Were seeing positive quotes from people out there who may not be willing to buy our product, said Mr Pendleton.

However, online reactions to the ad show the clear divide between phone owners as Samsung and iPhone owners clashed.

Mac vs PC ads targeted the device, not the users. Samsung, being the classless tools that they are, will never attract the customers that they are trying to target because they mock them, wrote a viewer on Youtube.

9 hours down and my iPhone is about to die. Haha, wrote another, paraphrasing a line from an Apple customer in the queue.

The new campaign launches in America this week. AGENCIES

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Nov 26
2011


I’M a big shuttle guy, usually traveling from Boston to New York City, Washington, Palm Beach or Miami. So I don’t have those long flights where I can really unwind after producing an event. Plus, in the busy season, I usually have to get to Cape Cod about three times a week from Boston. That’s a puddle jumper flight, so there’s not much time to do anything.

Related

  • On the Road: For the Chosen Fliers, Security Check Is a Breeze
    (November 8, 2011)

I recently asked my 17-year-old godson what he thought he might want to do when he grew up. He replied that he definitely wanted to do something that involved lots of travel, implying that he thought all the travel I do is pretty cool. It is, but it’s also work.

I like to say I get married 10 times a year, and I really have the good fortune to run into a lot of former wedding clients, or their families or friends. It’s also great when they give you a shoutout at the airport or on a plane and tell you how much they enjoyed that special day.

My entire team of workers will really try and accommodate people. I get a lot of last-minute calls from people who may be slightly freaking out before their weddings, which makes for some strange carry-ons.

One time I had to transport 300 pairs of flip-flops to a wedding in Jamaica. Who knew they packed so neatly? Another time I had to take the top of a wedding cake from a Palm Beach wedding back to New York for the happy couple. It sat on my lap the entire flight. Another time a bride forgot her wedding dress, and asked that I bring it to her.

I never really had any security issues with any of the stuff that I carry for weddings. I did have issues with one of my belt buckles.

I collect belt buckles and someone gave me one shaped like a fish hook. It’s about four inches wide. When I was traveling from Washington to Paris, I was wearing it and had no problem. However, I had some problems with it in Boston, which I found weird, since I had no issues traveling overseas wearing it. The agent did tell me he really liked the buckle. But it was, nonetheless, a potential risk, and I had to check it.

The most precious package I ever carried with me was a ketubah, a document that’s an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage. I insisted it shouldn’t be shipped because it was too important to the couple. Plus, I thought I was going to drive from Boston to New York City for the wedding, so I could easily carry it.

But because of some other obligations, I wound up flying from Boston to Miami, and then to Washington and finally, New York. The document was in a cardboard tube, and I figured, how hard would it be to carry a cardboard tube?

I placed it under my seat, but during the trip it rolled back to coach. I didn’t know that until I went to grab it. I should have learned my lesson.

On the second leg of the trip, I put it in the overhead bin. When we landed I opened the bin to grab the tube. Again, it wasn’t there.

This time, I started sweating and my heart was slamming out of my chest. I was opening other bins, looking under the seats. I was like a crazy man.

After three hours, I finally found it at the airline’s lost and found. I didn’t realize it, but one of the attendants took it from my compartment, put it in a compartment in the back of the plane, then took it from there and put it in the first-class closet. When no one claimed it, it was taken to lost and found.

Since then, I have never let anything out of my sight. My heart wouldn’t be able to take it.

By Bryan Rafanelli, as told to Joan Raymond. E-mail: joan.raymond@nytimes.com.

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Nov 26
2011

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) – A Virginia State Police spokeswoman says troopers worked two fatal accidents this holiday weekend.

Sgt. Michelle Anaya said both accidents happened on October 9, one in Newport News and the other in Accomack County.

At 1:20 am 29-year-old Adam Joseph Coster was traveling eastbound on I-64 at mile marker 247 when his 2000 Acura Inspire veered off the road.

According to a release, Coster, of the 1500 block of Grove Street in Hampton, overcorrected and struck the guard rail. He died at the scene.

Over 12 hours later at 1:31 pm troopers were called to a two vehicle accident on Southbound Route 13, east of route 691.

A police investigation revealed that a 2001 Infinity G20 was traveling southbound on Route 13 when a 2010 Dodge Caravan traveling northbound on the same road failed to stop at a red light.

The Dodge tried to make a left turn onto Route 691 causing the Infinity to crash into the caravans passenger side.

Anaya said the driver of the Infinity, 72-year-old Harry Lionel Killmon, Jr., of Jamesville, Virginia, was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center where he later died.

The driver of the Dodge was charged with failure to obey a traffic signal. Anaya added that more charges were pending against the driver.

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Nov 26
2011

ESPN has a new skipper.

Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger on Tuesday announced he was elevating John Skipper to lead the companys sports programming juggernaut. For the last six years, the former Rolling Stone and Spin magazine executive has been in charge of programming and production across ESPNs phalanx of media platforms, including its TV channels, radio network and the Internet.

Skipper, 55, will become ESPN president and co-chairman of the Disney Media Networks, replacing George Bodenheimer, who has been running Disneys most profitable division for 13 years. Disney said Bodenheimer, 53, who has worked at ESPN since 1981, wanted to step back from day-to-day management but will remain with ESPN in the newly created role of executive chairman. His contract would have expired at the end of 2011.

The executive shuffle, effective Jan. 1, is significant because its the first change in more than a decade at the top of a remarkably stable division. Bodenheimer will continue to report to Iger. Skipper, who has been with Disney for 22 years, will report to Iger and Bodenheimer.

We have been focused on succession at all levels of Disney for some time now, and consistent with that approach, George initiated conversations last spring that led to [this] announcement, Iger said in a statement.

Nearly two months ago, Iger himself signed a new five-year agreement that will keep him at the helm of the media colossus through 2015.

ESPNs US television channels generated more than $8.2 billion in revenue and $2.4 billion in operating income last year, according to consulting firm SNL Kagan. ESPN, based in Bristol, Conn., boasts eight US television networks, five high-definition services, 48 international networks, a 3-D TV channel and 750 radio affiliates. Burbank-based Disney owns 80% of ESPN, and the Hearst Corp. holds the remainder.

There are 13 international editions of the networks sports news program SportsCenter, which observers say has changed the face and quickened the pace of TV sports newscasts. Its Monday Night Football franchise consistently ranks as cables most popular program. On Monday, more than 12.3 million viewers tuned in.

They have become this generations MTV in terms of their influence, said David Carter, executive director of the Sports Business Institute at USC. ESPN has done an extraordinary job of distributing their content throughout ESPNs various platforms.

As executive chairman of ESPN, Bodenheimer will provide strategic direction and support a seamless transition to Skipper, Disney said in its statement. He also will continue to oversee the ESPN board of directors.

Both Bodenheimer and Skipper declined interview requests. But the former head of programming for ESPN acknowledged Bodenheimers desire to turn over the day-to-day reins.

Nobody can understand how big and demanding that job is, said Mark Shapiro, currently CEO of Dick Clark Productions. Its grueling. He has tried very hard to balance work and life, and that had a lot to do with his decision to step aside. He felt now is the time, and he had to be convinced to stay on as chairman.

The shift was also significant because Skipper came up through the content production side, unlike Bodenheimer or Sean Bratches, another well-respected ESPN executive, who has been in charge of ESPN distribution for more than a decade.

For anyone who has been watching ESPN closely, you will have seen John Skippers influence and fingerprints all over ESPNs big decisions and programming direction for a number of years now, Carter said. This should be a smooth move.

A native of North Carolina, Skipper earned bachelors and masters degrees in English literature. He worked for 10 years at Straight Arrow Publishing, owner of Rolling Stone, including eight years at the magazine. He also served as publisher of Straight Arrows US Weekly magazine and publishing director of Rolling Stones rival, Spin magazine. Skipper joined Disneys magazine publishing group in 1990. In 1997, he moved to ESPN as general manager of ESPN the Magazine, overseeing its successful launch.

Since 2005, Skipper has been responsible for the creation, programming and production of all ESPN content. A key member of Bodenheimers team, he helped negotiate major rights agreements with the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball, and this summer he served an ace by winning the rights to the Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis broadcasts, a franchise that NBC had owned for decades.

I am humbled and excited to be given the opportunity by Bob and George to lead this terrific company, Skipper said in a statement. I will dedicate all of my energy to follow Georges lead in both empowering and supporting my 7,000 ESPN colleagues who do such great work every day.

Skipper will share the role of co-chairman of the Disney Media Networks with Anne Sweeney, who runs Disneys entertainment channels, including the ABC broadcast network, the Disney Channel and ABC Family from Burbank.

For sports business executives, it will be difficult to envision ESPN led by someone other than Bodenheimer, a Connecticut native who began his career in ESPNs mailroom before taking a job driving a rental car around Texas trying to persuade small cable TV operators to carry the fledging network, then known as Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.

I often use George as an example of an executive who doesnt fit the mold, said Neal Pilson, former head of CBS Sports who teaches a graduate level leadership class at Columbia University. He doesnt yell or jump around or dominate a conversation. But if you spend more than a few minutes with him, you will realize that hes very knowledgeable and understands the process of sports entertainment.

meg.james@latimes.com

Times staff writer Joe Flint contributed to this report.

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Nov 25
2011

The first batch of launch titles for the PlayStation Vita outside of Japan have been announced, and a full list of PAL-formatted games has been released.

For the people that are eagerly anticipating the PlayStation Vita, unless you live in Japan (in which case, konnichiwa!), you have a few more months until you can get your hands on the PSP’s successor. The Vita launches in Japan on December 17, followed by Hong Kong and Taiwan later that month, but then there will be a gap until the Vita is released in North America on February 22.

On that same day in February, the Vita will be released in the PAL regions, including Europe and Australia (although the actual Australian release is February 23). And while we still haven’t seen an official list of launch titles for the US, Sony has released a list of the launch titles for the PAL format, many of which will certainly be available here in the States on the same day. The list of confirmed PAL launch titles are:

o Uncharted: Golden Abyss

o WipEout 2048

o Reality Fighters

o Little Deviants

o ModNation Racers: Road Trip

o Everybodys Golf

o Escape Plan

o Gravity Rush

o Hustle Kings

o MotorStorm RC

o Top Darts

o Super StarDust Delta

Other titles may still be added to the launch for both the PAL and US release, including a recently announced new shooter from Zipper Interactive, the makers of the SOCOM series. According to 1up, the new game will be called Unit 13, and while no official release date has been given for the new shooter, it is expected as either a launch title or shortly there after.

The official list of US launch titles will be released in the next few weeks, but here is a list of the Vita games that are currently listed as in development with no official release date yet (courtesy of 1up):

o Army Corps of Hell Square Enix

o Asphalt: Injection Ubisoft

o Disgaea 3 Return NIS America

o Dungeon Hunter: Alliance Ubisoft

o Dynasty Warriors Next Tecmo Koei

o EA Sports FIFA Football EA

o F1 2011 Codemasters

o Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 WB Games

o Lumines Electronic Symphony Ubisoft

o Michael Jackson: The Experience HD Ubisoft

o Ninja Gaiden (working title) Tecmo Koei

o OddWorld: Strangers Wrath OddWorld Inhabitants

o Puddle Neko Entertainment

o Pure Chess RebelPlay

o Putty Squad Vita System 3

o Rayman Origins Ubisoft

o Ridge Racer Bandai Namco

o Shinobido 2 Bandai Namco

o Silent Hill: Book of Memories Konami

o Stardrone Extreme BeatShapers

o Super Monkey Ball Banana Splitz SEGA

o Supremacy MMA 505 Games

o Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack Drinkbox Studios

o The Treasures of Montezuma Blitz Alawar Entertainment

o Touch My Katamari Bandai Namco

o Troopies Bloober Team

o Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom Capcom

o Urban Trials Tate Multimedia

o Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition SEGA

o Orc Attack Casual Brothers

o Ben 10 Galactic Racing Bandai Entertainment

o Dragons Racing Ignition Entertainment

o Robot Rescue Revolution Teyon

o Mortal Kombat WB Games

o Assassins Creed Ubisoft

o Bioshock Take Two

o Street Fighter X Tekken Capcom

o Call of Duty Activision Blizzard

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