Electronic Arts Inc

The real world is intruding on the fantasy of video game play -- and that's exactly what Electronic Arts Inc. intended. EA said Tuesday that the latest version of its "NCAA Football 08" game, scheduled for release July 17, would incorporate real-time weather conditions into the action.

Electronic Arts Inc., maker of computer games such as "The Sims," is investing $167 million for a 15% stake in China's The9 Ltd., sending The9's shares as much as 18% higher. Redwood City, Calif.-based Electronic Arts also licensed its "FIFA Online" soccer game to Shanghai-based The9 for distribution in China, the companies said. Electronic Arts is expanding in Asia by partnering with regional game companies.

Electronic Arts Inc. has a need for speed -- because its current pace is disappointing investors. Slowing down as the rest of the industry gains momentum, the world's biggest video game publisher Tuesday posted a wider quarterly loss and declining sales. It is making a bumpy transition to the next generation of consoles, which includes Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360, Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Co.'s Wii.

Electronic Arts Inc. formed a record label that will promote new artists by putting their music in games. Artwerk will be based in Los Angeles and owned jointly with music company Nettwerk One Music, Redwood City, Calif.-based Electronic Arts said. Video game makers pay royalties to labels, publishers and artists for use of music in games or hire musicians to create soundtracks. Signing artists will reduce royalty costs and provide new revenue from the sale of CDs and digital music products.

Electronic Arts Inc. on Monday named former President John Riccitiello to succeed Chief Executive Larry Probst. EA said Riccitiello would take over April 2. The world's largest video game publisher, EA is known for such series as the "Madden" football franchise and "The Sims." Probst -- widely criticized for allowing EA to rely largely on sequels to hits instead of encouraging innovative new games -- has been seeking to step down for some time.

Electronic Arts Inc. bought privately held SingShot Media, creator and operator of an online karaoke site, in a bid to bolster music-focused, user-generated content in its games. The Redwood City, Calif.-based video game publisher didn't disclose financial terms of the deal, which closed last week. SingShot users can post renditions of their favorite songs, share them with friends, customize their recordings with photos and videos and have their work rated by peers.

Electronic Arts Inc. posted a 38% drop in quarterly profit but beat Wall Street targets, overcoming fears that holiday shortages of new video game consoles had damped software sales. Shares rose 3% after the Redwood City, Calif.-based video game company, known for its blockbuster franchises such as "Madden NFL," "Need for Speed" and "The Sims," posted fiscal third-quarter net income of $160 million, or 50 cents a share, compared with $259 million, or 83 cents, a year earlier.

Electronic Arts Inc. said Thursday that its fiscal second-quarter profit fell 57%, but the company's shares jumped in extended trading after sales of sports titles boosted revenue. Profit excluding some costs was 21 cents a share, beating the 1-cent estimate of BMO Capital Markets analyst Edward Williams. Games made for Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox console generated $166 million in revenue, as customers flocked to sports titles such as "Madden NFL 07," the top-selling computer game in the U.S.

Electronic Arts Inc., the world's biggest video-game publisher, said the Securities and Exchange Commission requested documents related to the company's practices in awarding stock options. The request covers grants dating to Jan. 1, 1997, Electronic Arts said Wednesday in a regulatory filing. The Redwood City, Calif.-based company said it intended to cooperate with the inquiry.