Publisher EA today announced a third entry in its successful Skate franchise, aptly titled Skate 3. While keeping in line with the competitive nature of previous installments, this time around an emphasis on community integration is at the forefront, as players are given the ticket to build their ultimate dream team with friends or computer controller characters in the virtual city of Port Carverton.

To further importance of this beefed-up community aspect, also featured is an an all-new co-op mode in which teammates can work together to complete challenges. Rounding out the package is a content creation suite dubbed skate.Create, an easy-to-use creativity toolset that allows for endless possibilities of user created content with support for crafting custom graphics, videos, and skate parks.

Skate 3 is scheduled to hit PS3 and Xbox 360 in May 2010. Those who place a pre-order at participating retailers will receive a free unlock code to access the Black Box Distribution Skate Park.

Full release is after the break.

EA ANNOUNCES SKATE 3

Skateboarding Just Became the Ultimate Team Experience

Vancouver, British Columbia – September 15, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today revealed the next title in the company’s landmark skateboarding franchise: SKATETM 3, and confirmed that it will ship in May 2010. SKATE 3 breaks new ground by taking all of the camaraderie and competitive excitement of real-life skateboarding and brings it to the hands of gamers. Whether online or offline, players can now team up to build the ultimate skate crew in the definitive skateboarding co-op experience. In SKATE 3, players take part in team-based challenges, compete against rival crews and leave their mark on the all-new skater’s paradise, Port Carverton.

“The social and community aspects of the SKATE franchise are something we’ve always embraced, but we’ve never done anything to the scale you’re going to see in SKATE 3,” said Senior Producer, Jason DeLong. “We’re giving gamers a very unique experience by providing them with the tools they need to build their ultimate team or to create a team comprised entirely of their online friends. From there, it’s all about proving yourself – teaming up, and throwing down.”

Players who pre-order SKATE 3 get an unlock code that gives them exclusive access to the iconic Black Box Distribution Skate Park, home turf of Zero, Mystery, and Fallen skate teams. Black Box Distribution was founded in 2000 by Jamie Thomas, and houses and distributes some of skateboarding’s biggest selling brands .Pre-orders are available now at http://skate.ea.com or at participating retailers nationwide.

SKATE 3 features an all-new co-op mode where teammates can complete challenges together while advancing each other’s careers. From rewarding epic bails and fails with a beefed up Hall of Meat mode to honing your craft with the all-new skate.School, players of all skill levels have multiple ways to “kill it” in the game. The franchise also continues to raise the bar for user created content with the skate.Create feature suite, an innovative toolset that empowers gamers to truly express their skate style by creating their own graphics, videos, and skate parks.

SKATE 3 is being developed by Black Box, an Electronic Arts studio. SKATE 3 will be released on PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system in May 2010.

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