Simpsons game set for unveiling

Electronic Arts sets up countdown site for debut of its latest license-based effort later this week.

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When Rockstar Games wanted to hype the first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated fourth installment in its Grand Theft Auto franchise, the publisher set up a simple Web site with nothing more than the Roman numeral "IV" and a countdown clock. Electronic Arts apparently took notice, because it has set up a countdown Web site for one of its own upcoming releases.

The site consists of the Roman numeral "XXII" displayed above a countdown clock set to expire Wednesday at noon. Although the site doesn't explicitly state which game it's promoting, the familiar yellow of the background and the cartoon-style font used for the countdown clock suggest it will be EA's first new game based on The Simpsons. Also, depending on whether or not one counts things like the Simpsons pinball game or the PC interactive tour product Virtual Springfield, EA's offering will be the 22nd game based on the franchise.

EA landed the rights to make games based on the long-running TV show in November of 2005. The series is currently in its 18th season and has been renewed for a 19th season. Last year, the publisher revealed that its game will be based on the Simpsons movie, which will be released in North American theaters on July 27.

[UPDATE] There may not be anything revealed on Wednesday after all, as the countdown site is no longer active on Electronic Arts' Web site. A representative with the publisher had yet to return GameSpot's request for comment as of Monday afternoon.

236 Comments

  • theKSMM

    Posted May 14, 2007 8:30 am GMT

    The SImpsons is an icon of American sitcom humor. Only that show could pull off a countdown spoof to generate even more hype and frenzy around their unannounced game.

  • vikingbrad

    Posted May 10, 2007 4:54 am GMT

    The teaser link now sends to the EA The Simpsons Game home page. Nothing but a place holder with news and extra piccies from the event

  • sieg6529

    Posted May 9, 2007 9:13 am GMT

    as much as I love the series, I have never been a fan of the games.

  • jgon_9

    Posted May 9, 2007 6:53 am GMT

    lol this is hilarious. A countdown to nothing.

  • stonerose

    Posted May 9, 2007 5:43 am GMT

    the link worked before the countdown ended. Well done EA, what a pointless thing

  • dubvisions

    Posted May 9, 2007 5:00 am GMT

    Nice link to the website that doesn;t work. Good job.

  • Lanowar

    Posted May 9, 2007 3:18 am GMT

    Put the arcade game on 360 arcade!

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted May 9, 2007 2:11 am GMT

    jeffhopper Futurama is coming back. adult swim's contract runs out soon, and the series (at least the new ones anyways) are moving to comedy central starting in the beginning of 2008. The new episodes are being made as 4 movies which will then be chopped up and aired as 12-13 episodes.

    Posted May 8, 2007 12:47 am CT

    I don't know why but I never really liked Futurama. It just seemed so weird to me. That's odd right I mean it came from the same guy who made The Simpsons.

    Maybe its David X. Cohen and not Matt Groenig...

  • TRH4469

    Posted May 8, 2007 11:36 pm GMT

    hopefully this game is so well done and has every character in it

  • thekey

    Posted May 8, 2007 9:56 pm GMT

    Kravyn81 The Simpsons is a franchise that has well worn out its welcome or novelty. It's an old hat. Take it behind the barn and put it out of its misery already." I disagree

  • skoolboy748

    Posted May 8, 2007 9:27 pm GMT

    asome

  • PerfectDark0Fan

    Posted May 8, 2007 7:05 pm GMT

    Acctually Radical developed Road Rage and EA published it. Since Vivindi brought Radical and EA had the rights, EA Redwood I hear is deveoping it.

  • Pete5506

    Posted May 8, 2007 6:59 pm GMT

    This is going to suck

  • Kravyn81

    Posted May 8, 2007 5:36 pm GMT

    The Simpsons is a franchise that has well worn out its welcome or novelty. It's an old hat. Take it behind the barn and put it out of its misery already.

  • kave-man007

    Posted May 8, 2007 4:29 pm GMT

    hope its more like hit & run not road rage

  • hex_ten

    Posted May 8, 2007 3:04 pm GMT

    No **** read the update.

  • fartys

    Posted May 8, 2007 1:57 pm GMT

    ever since around the12th/13th series, the simpsons went TERRIBLE! i dont know what happened because nearly all episodes before then were a LEGEND! what happened?

  • Oni

    Posted May 8, 2007 12:43 pm GMT

    There's hope yet for another fun Simpsons game1

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted May 8, 2007 11:37 am GMT

    There's a darn error messege where the counter spous to be.

  • DreFullCircle

    Posted May 8, 2007 11:21 am GMT

    EA made the craptastic Simpsons Road Rage. VU Games handled the license way better with Hit and Run. i'm not really diggin the change of hands.

  • lithus

    Posted May 8, 2007 11:21 am GMT

    Honestly, after all these years...is it even possible to get excited about the Simpsons anymore? I submit you cannot. *yawn*

  • noblekeltic

    Posted May 8, 2007 11:20 am GMT

    Alright. cool I guess.

  • ShadyNinjaMan1

    Posted May 8, 2007 11:08 am GMT

    Well, does anybody know what type of game it was supposed to be?

  • DelayStation

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:47 am GMT

    website is down?

  • blacktorn

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:46 am GMT

    Awww i thought this might be related too teh simpsosn arcade game coming to 360,oh well.

  • lamplan

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:45 am GMT

    Great, now if someone can make a serious effort with Family Guy we'll get somewhere!

  • elusionm

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:44 am GMT

    Aso long as it is Adventure type(solve puzzles, freeroam, walk/run) like GTA, it'll gbe the best. Hit and Run sucked.

  • Javaguychronox

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:42 am GMT

    I quite liked hit an run. Nothing special but a fun game none the less. I liked the more wieghty feel to the cars.

  • Gadeos

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:37 am GMT

    paul265 I agree with you, and I think that idea has been on every GTA fan or occasional player, and should've been capitalized by developers a long time ago (setting The Simpsons Hit and Run aside, which was a sort of attempt in that direction but an utterly disaster).

  • KaotixGTX

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:36 am GMT

    As long as it's not another Simpsons skating game. That thing was freakin horrible and useless.

  • dandoc2

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:30 am GMT

    Hit n run was excellent if a bit samey -- but who cares its the simpsons -- just hope it isnt as terrible as the family guy game

  • Supabul

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:28 am GMT

    They should make a simpson's game like GTA, with a huge springfield to explore. Play as Homer as you take on mission's based on episode's of the serie's.

  • CarlosY2Jericho

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:15 am GMT

    The Simps hit and run was an awesome game. Hope this one turns out good and I can't wait for the movie!

  • Dilan120

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:02 am GMT

    its gonna suck plain and simple

  • Autolycus

    Posted May 8, 2007 9:45 am GMT

    futurama for the win. Family guy wouldnt be existent without the all mighty simpsons.

  • SemiMaster

    Posted May 8, 2007 9:45 am GMT

    So, is this series even relevant anymore? Does anyone care about the Simpsons movie for that fact?

    In my opinion, only the Simpsons arcade game was any good, but then that was just a simpsons version of the X-Men and TMNT game...

    P.S. frostybubbler, you're not the only one.

  • bgres077

    Posted May 8, 2007 9:40 am GMT

    Love the show, own all the box sets. The games? Not so much.

  • cobrax80

    Posted May 8, 2007 9:21 am GMT

    i'm not sure, will it be good?

  • frostybubbler

    Posted May 8, 2007 9:01 am GMT

    Am I alone in thinking that the SImpson's are a little played out?

  • Riorio99

    Posted May 8, 2007 8:30 am GMT

    Why did no one latch on as soon as EA got the license and The movie was announced? it seemed obvious to me.

  • Bronson2k3

    Posted May 8, 2007 8:18 am GMT

    Man its gonna suck A## if EA is making it Other note am very dissapointed in Activision for not making a good spidy 3 game

  • atomicrooster1

    Posted May 8, 2007 7:50 am GMT

    Simpsons just isn't funny anymore since matt jumped ship to futurama.

    (he still 'owns' simpsons, but doesn't really contribute anymore.)

  • PerfectDark0Fan

    Posted May 8, 2007 7:44 am GMT

    I want to see it now.

  • Happ1ness

    Posted May 8, 2007 7:26 am GMT

    lol..the site doesn´t work

  • Doolum

    Posted May 8, 2007 7:07 am GMT

    hope the game is as interesting as the show

  • FDV8

    Posted May 8, 2007 7:04 am GMT

    I understand historically that movies/tv shows made into games have been horrible. But at some point they have to change the tides, no? I think there has been some games that turned out pretty good; Matrix: The Path of Neo was pretty good. But does anybody know why they would take the site down after being up so shortly?

  • Trizz2004

    Posted May 8, 2007 6:33 am GMT

    I wish they would release The Simpsons Arcade Game on xbox live arcade

  • tarey_g

    Posted May 8, 2007 5:03 am GMT

    http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:rqvxyd2iRVUJ:www.ea.com/xxii/+http://www.ea.com/xxii/&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=in

  • Dups79

    Posted May 8, 2007 4:41 am GMT

    I think the only Simpsons game that was truely great was Simpsons Hit and Run. They had so many characters and jokes from the series. It was perfect. Hmmmm I think I will go and play some of that right now.

  • quickhhh

    Posted May 8, 2007 4:38 am GMT

    i don't care

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