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EA Orlando

From Alfawiki
EA Orlando
FormerlyTiburon Entertainment (1994–1998)
EA Tiburon (1998–2023)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1994; 32 years ago (1994)
Headquarters
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
ProductsMadden NFL
NCAA/College Football series
Tiger Woods PGA Tour
Number of employees
500 (2015)
ParentElectronic Arts (1998–present)
Websitewww.ea.com/ea-studios/ea-orlando

EA Orlando is a video game development company located in Orlando, Florida, established in 1994. Initially operating under the name Tiburon Entertainment, it was acquired by Electronic Arts in 1998 and subsequently rebranded as EA Tiburon. Prior to the acquisition, EA had secured a minority ownership stake in Tiburon in 1996, granting exclusive rights to develop titles for EA.

The studio is widely recognized for its work on the Madden NFL franchise along with other sports games including NCAA Football, NFL Street, NASCAR, and NFL Head Coach. In 2006, the company ventured into licensed properties with the release of Superman Returns. Since 2008, EA Tiburon has overseen the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series after assuming development duties from EA Salt Lake.

Tiburon Entertainment

Founded in 1994 by former Visual Concepts engineers John Schappert, Jason Andersen, and Steve Chiang, Tiburon Entertainment began operations after Schappert and Andersen relocated to Florida and established the company with Chiang as a financial backer. Starting with a modest team and limited office facilities, Tiburon quickly established itself by creating software for prominent publishers such as Electronic Arts.

The studio developed both original titles and projects commissioned by EA. Their significant breakthrough occurred when tasked with producing Madden NFL '96 for the Super NES and Genesis platforms, introducing pioneering 3D player models and stadium environments on those consoles before moving development to newer systems like Sony’s PlayStation. Following this success, Tiburon became the lead developer for the Madden franchise and launched the NCAA Football line.

Additional notable releases from this period include College Football USA 97, Madden NFL 97, Soviet Strike, and Slam: Shaq vs. the Legends, which were made available on platforms such as Genesis, Super NES, Sega Saturn, and PlayStation.

Tiburon Entertainment and Electronic Arts

The collaboration between Electronic Arts and Tiburon dates back to the studio’s inception. With strong connections stemming from Schappert, Andersen, and Chiang’s prior experience at Visual Concepts, Tiburon developed software for major gaming companies including EA.

In April 1996, EA acquired a minority stake of approximately 19.9% in Tiburon. By May 7 of that year, EA expanded its ownership share, designating Tiburon as an exclusive developer for titles on platforms such as PlayStation and Sega Saturn. That same year saw Tiburon enter into a contract with EA to create NCAA Football 98, which prompted an expansion of their office space from 4,000 to 8,600 square feet within the Maitland Center.

EA Acquisition and Development (1998–Present)

Following a fruitful partnership, Electronic Arts finalized the acquisition of Tiburon on April 2, 1998, renaming it EA Tiburon and establishing it as a fully owned subsidiary. This studio assumed responsibility for the Madden NFL series, continuing to secure its dominance in the sports video game market. In 2005, EA merged Hypnotix into Tiburon and inaugurated a new 25,000-square-foot creative facility designed to accommodate the growing number of designers, programmers, and artists.

Initially operating as a division within EA Sports, EA Tiburon evolved into an autonomous subsidiary after corporate restructuring efforts. It stands as one of the largest game development studios in Florida, employing more than 500 professionals. The Maitland-based headquarters has been consistently updated to enhance teamwork and infrastructure, incorporating video game-inspired artwork and adaptable work environments.

Towards the end of 2019, EA Tiburon revealed plans to move from its Maitland location to the Creative Village district in Downtown Orlando. The new office space officially opened in March 2022, supporting close to 1,000 staff members and demonstrating the company’s dedication to expansion and innovation within the gaming sector.

Games developed by Tiburon

Current franchises
Past franchises
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