Electronic Arts (EA) reported revenue of US$2.96 billion for its fiscal year 2004, which ended March 31. "The Sims" was one of six of the company's product groups to sell more than 5 million units. Other products that did well were "Need for Speed," "Medal of Honor," "FIFA Soccer," "Lord of the Rings" and "Madden NFL."

-- "The Sims" is a key product for EA. It is wholly owned by the Redwood City, California-based company while many of the other games, including "FIFA Soccer" and "Madden NFL," are licensed. A license means that fees have to be paid to organizations such as world soccer organization FIFA and the National Football League in the U.S.

-- Retail sales for "The Sims" have topped US$500 million over the past four years. More than 10 million copies of "The Sims 1" have been sold since 2000, plus about 23 million expansion packs such as "Hot Date," "Vacation" and "Superstar," and 6 million copies of "The Sims" for game consoles.

-- In the first week after "The Sims 2" launch in September, EA said it sold about 650,000 copies of the game in Europe and about 350,000 North America. The Asian PC games market, for now, is not a key target for EA because of widespread piracy. Most of the buyers were "The Sims 1" users eager to get their hands on the new game, according to EA.

-- "The Sims 1" and "The Sims 2" have been translated into 17 different languages. The first "Sims," released in early 2000, initially was popular among men and boys, but later in its life charmed women and girls, who ended up being the majority of the buyers and players, according to EA.

IDG News Service

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