From/De: EA Tiburon
EA Tiburon Transforms Game Lounge at Give Kids The World Village
Popular Game Developer Provides Entertaining Escape for Families with Wishes
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 21, 2010) – Yesterday, EA Tiburon unveiled the results of channeling the creative talent of its staff in a different direction through the renovation of a game lounge at the Kissimmee nonprofit Give Kids The World Village (GKTW). The popular Orlando game developer worked with GKTW to transition the village’s existing Amberville Game Rooms into a cool, comfortable entertainment lounge featuring arcade games, a theater and bar style seating and service areas with a backdrop of high-energy graphics.
GKTW, a nonprofit resort in Kissimmee that provides week-long vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, held a ribbon-cutting yesterday for the revamped lounge, where EA Tiburon COO Daryl Holt presented an unexpected additional check for $500 to Give Kids The World to keep the room stocked with the latest games, books and DVDs.
“Providing a place for families to enjoy interactive games together in a comfortable environment is a natural tie-in for EA Tiburon’s commitment to the local community,” said Holt. “Our team enjoyed working with Give Kids The World to create this entertaining escape for families, and we were proud to contribute our time and resources in support of the Village’s mission.”
The two-room lounge was outfitted with four stand-up arcade games and a wheelchair-accessible arcade game to go along with the existing pool table. A dual screen entertainment center and comfortable leather furniture was added for X360 and Wii gaming. A “Rockband” theater, which also doubles as a DVD movie theater, was created and the walls were given a fresh coat of paint and adorned with large-format EA original artwork, highlighted by new lighting throughout.
“Give Kids The World is thrilled to have this exciting new experience for our Wish families to enjoy,” said Pamela Landwirth, president of Give Kids The World. “We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to EA Tiburon for creating an area where family members of all ages can come together to play the world’s most popular games. Our families will cherish the memories they make in this beautiful game room for many years to come.”
Looking to get involved with the worthwhile efforts of GKTW, EA Tiburon did more than just donate funds. A group of team members redesigned, renovated and equipped the two room space that is used by GKTW Wish Children and their siblings, transforming it into a high-energy, Tiburon-esque game lounge.
EA Tiburon committed $5,000 for the renovation of the room, and utilized surplus millwork and furniture from studio renovations at its office to come in under that budget, leaving money for the donation presented by Holt. And EA Tiburon employees also donated age-appropriate books, movies and games for the room.
High-resolution images available upon request.
About Electronic Arts Tiburon
Electronic Arts Tiburon is the second-largest among Electronic Arts’ Worldwide Studio facilities and produces some of the top titles in the world. Tiburon is a key EA Studio for the development and production of interactive entertainment for the Xbox 360® video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, Nintendo DS and Wii™, iPhone, Mac and PC platforms. For more information about EA Tiburon, visit www.Tiburon.com.
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA Mobile™ and POGOTM.
About Give Kids The World
Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is a 70-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a week-long, cost-free fantasy vacation. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 101,000 families from all 50 states and 72 countries.