Westwood to offer MadOnion.com computer Performance Analyzer
LAS VEGAS, NV - January 7, 2001 - Westwood Studios™ announced today it has teamed with MadOnion.com™, a leading provider of PC performance analysis software and Internet-based services, and NVIDIA®, the global leader in advanced graphics and multimedia processing technology. Westwood is offering a unique application of MadOnion.com's Performance Analyzer, a service that allows users to automatically measure their computer's performance and determine if it meets the minimum system requirements needed to play Command & Conquer Renegade™. Westwood is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Electronic Arts™ (NASDAQ: ERTS).
MadOnion.com's Performance Analyzer is found on the official website for Renegade, Westwood's first 3D action game set in the Command & Conquer universe. Users simply click on the "Analyze My Computer" button and the software will automatically scan the user's computer to determine if it meets the minimum system requirements to play Command & Conquer Renegade. The service then tells the user which compatible NVIDIA-based upgrades or new computers are the optimal solutions for an enjoyable gaming experience.
The Performance Analyzer scans more than 300 attributes of the user's computer, including its graphic processor, memory size and CPU type and speed and then, if needed, offers recommendations to the user on how to improve the overall gaming performance of his or her computer.
"We want to ensure that everyone who wants to play Command & Conquer Renegade is able to," said Dan Cermak, executive producer of Renegade. "MadOnion's Performance Analyzer is a great tool for immediately learning if your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the game and, if not, what you can do to bring it up to speed."
"We are excited to help Westwood's customers by ensuring that they get the most out of the game they purchase," said Tero Sarkkinen, executive vice president of sales at MadOnion. "If more game performance is needed, we take the pain out of making the right purchasing decision by showing which NVIDIA cards are compatible with the user's PC, and to what extent gaming performance would improve with any of the cards. The Performance Analyzer enables the user to purchase the game with the peace of mind that it will provide a thrilling gaming experience on his or her PC."
In addition to offering computer upgrade recommendations, Westwood and MadOnion.com will also provide the user with basic tutorials on how to install new video cards and RAM. These tutorials and links are available on the
official Renegade website.
For more information about Command & Conquer Renegade and to use Westwood's performance analyzer powered by MadOnion.com, visit www.westwood.com. For more information about MadOnion.com, visit their official website at
www.madonion.com.
About Westwood Studios
Westwood StudiosTM is a prominent publisher of best-selling PC and next-generation console games. Formed in 1985, Westwood is the creator of the 15-million + selling Command & ConquerTM franchise that includes Command & ConquerTM, Tiberian SunTM, and Red AlertTM 1 and 2. Westwood has also released award-winning titles such as Blade RunnerTM, Monopoly®, and the Lands of LoreTM series. Looking forward, Westwood is expanding to new franchises and genres with upcoming titles such as Command & Conquer RenegadeTM and Earth and BeyondTM Online.
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 BIGTM, and EA.comSM. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at
www.info.ea.com.
Electronic Arts, Westwood Studios, Command & Conquer, Tiberian Sun, Red Alert, Blade Runner, Monopoly, Lands of Lore, Command & Conquer Renegade, Earth and Beyond, Westwood Online, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and EA GAMES are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. EA.COM is a service mark of EA.com Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About MadOnion.com™
MadOnion.com™ is the leading provider of PC benchmark software and performance information services. MadOnion.com™ is known around the world for its benchmark products, including the 3DMark® Series and Video2000 (with more than 26 million copies distributed, worldwide). MadOnion.com™ has offices in Saratoga, California and Helsinki, Finland. For more information, please visit
www.madonion.com
About NVidia
NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq - NVDA), located in Santa Clara, CA, is the global leader in advanced graphics and multimedia processing technology for the consumer and professional computing markets. Its 2D, 3D, video and multimedia capabilities make NVIDIA one of the premier semiconductor companies in the world. NVIDIA offers a wide range of products and services, delivering superior performance and crisp visual quality for PC-based applications such as manufacturing, science, e-business, entertainment and education.
