EA's 2005 EA SPORTS Madden Challenge Kicks Off August 27 to Find America's Madden NFL 06 Superstar Player; 4th Annual Tournament Visits 32 Cities, Will Award Finals Winner $100,000 Prize

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. Aug. 17, 2005. The countdown to the most coveted prize in sports video games begins today, as Electronic Arts announced the dates and locations for the 2005 EA SPORTS Madden Challenge Tournament, the only official nationwide EA SPORTS sanctioned tournament to crown the best player of America's top-selling football video game franchise with players competing for the first time using the Xbox(R) videogame system from Microsoft. Tournament play begins with Regional Tournaments hosted in various U.S. cities. The individual winners from each city will advance to the Finals in Honolulu, Hawaii on Feb. 10, 2006 and the ultimate 2005 EA SPORTS Madden Challenge Finals winner will collect $100,000. Last year, more than 16,800 competitors battled across the nation to determine the best Madden NFL Football player. Eugene "Big Gene" Williams from Washington, D.C., took home the $50,000 grand prize at the Las Vegas finals.

The 2005 EA SPORTS Madden Challenge, sponsored by Best Buy and Xbox, will test the football skills of thousands of gamers on the critically acclaimed Madden NFL 06, celebrating its 16th year as the most authentic gridiron game -- now with an exclusive NFL and PLAYERS INC license. There are two Madden Challenge divisions this year: Rookie Division for the casual Madden player, and the Professional Division for experienced players. The Rookie Division will feature the inaugural Rookie Challenge with a 64-person bracket in each city.

The 2005 EA SPORTS Madden Challenge visits all cities with NFL teams plus Las Vegas and Los Angeles:

Saturday, Aug. 27, Las Vegas, ESPN Zone

Sunday, Aug. 28, Phoenix, Arrowhead Town Center

Friday, Sept. 2, Denver, INVESCO Field at Mile High

Sunday, Sept. 4, Kansas City, Westport District

Saturday, Sept. 10, Buffalo, Walden Galleria

Sunday, Sept. 11, Boston, Prudential Center

Friday, Sept. 16, New York, Chelsea Piers

Saturday, Sept. 17, New York, Chelsea Piers

Sunday, Sept. 18, Philadelphia, King of Prussia Mall

Saturday, Sept. 24, Washington, D.C., Union Station

Sunday, Sept. 25, Baltimore, McKeldin Square

Saturday, Oct. 1, Pittsburgh, Heinz Field

Sunday, Oct. 2, Cleveland, Tower City Center

Saturday, Oct. 8, Detroit, Great Lakes Crossing

Sunday, Oct. 9, Chicago, Navy Pier

Saturday, Oct. 15, Green Bay, Lambeau Field Atrium

Sunday, Oct. 16, Minneapolis, Mall of America

Saturday, Oct. 22, Indianapolis, Castleton Square

Sunday, Oct. 23, Cincinnati, Newport on the Levee

Saturday, Oct. 29, St. Louis, St. Louis Mills

Sunday, Oct. 30, Nashville, Opry Mills

Saturday, Nov. 5, Charlotte, Concord Mills

Sunday, Nov. 6, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Landing

Saturday, Nov. 12, Tampa, Raymond James Stadium

Sunday, Nov. 13, Miami, Shops at Sunset Place

Saturday, Nov. 19, Atlanta, Discover Mills

Sunday, Nov. 20, New Orleans, The Esplanade

Saturday, Nov. 26, Houston, Houston Galleria

Sunday, Nov. 27, Dallas, Valley View Center

Saturday, Dec. 3, San Diego, Mission Valley

Sunday, Dec. 4, Los Angeles, Hollywood & Highland

Friday, Dec. 9, San Francisco, Metreon

Sunday, Dec. 11, Seattle, Qwest Field

Friday, February 10th, 2006, (Finals), Honolulu, Hawaii

For 2005 EA SPORTS Madden Challenge Tournament information, including Tournament Official Rules and online registration, players can go to the official EA SPORTS Madden Challenge website at www.maddenchallenge.com. General online registration for each city is now open. Registration is $10 per person. Void where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. Competitors will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-in, on-site tournament registration will be accepted on the day of each city's competition as space permits. This year's Madden Challenge will be played exclusively on the Xbox.

Madden NFL 06, available in stores now, revolutionizes the passing game this year with QB Vision Control and QB Precision Placement for true quarterback control and the most authentic passing experience. All-new features for real NFL gameplay include smart routes, formation-specific audibles, defensive keys and blocking assignments. In the franchise's 15 year history, Madden NFL has sold more than 43 million copies. Madden NFL 06 is rated "E" (Everyone) by the ESRB.