EA Vancouver (formerly known as EA Burnaby, then EA Canada) is a Canadian video game developer located in Burnaby, British Columbia. The development studio opened as Distinctive Software in January 1983, and is also Electronic Arts's largest and oldest studio. EA Vancouver employs approximately 1,300 people, and houses the world's largest video game test operation.
It is best known for developing a lot of EA Sports and EA Sports BIG titles, including EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), NHL, SSX, NBA Street, NFL Street, EA Sports UFC, and FIFA Street titles, as well as a number of NBA Live and NCAA Basketball titles between 1994 and 2009.
Premises The campus consists of a motion-capture studio, twenty-two rooms for composing, fourteen video editing suites, three production studios, a wing for audio compositions, and a quality assurance department. There are also facilities such as fitness rooms, two theatres, a cafeteria, coffee bars, a soccer field, and several arcades.
History Electronic Arts (EA), based in Redwood City, California, acquired Distinctive Software in 1991 for $11 million and renamed Distinctive Software to "EA Canada". At the time of the business acquisition, Distinctive Software was noted for developing a number of racing and sporting games published under the Accolade brand.
Distinctive Software
Distinctive Software, Inc. was a Canadian video game developer established in Burnaby, British Columbia, by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sember after their success with the game Evolution. Mattrick (age 17) and Jeff Sember approached Sydney Development Corporation, who agreed to publish Evolution in 1982. Distinctive Software was known in the late 1980s and early 1990s for their racing and sports video games, including the Test Drive series, Stunts, 4D Boxing, and Hardball II. In 1991, Distinctive was acquired by Electronic Arts in a deal worth million and became EA Canada, which is where the most EA Sports branded games are developed.
Unlimited Software and lawsuit In 1989, programmers Pete Gardner and Amory Wong of Distinctive, under the pseudonym USI (Unlimited Software, Inc.), converted Sega's arcade game Out Run for MS-DOS. They used several software libraries they had developed for Test Drive II. Consequently, Accolade charged that Distinctive violated a working agreement, and sued. Accolade sought a preliminary injunction against the distribution and sale of Out Run. Distinctive Software argued that it had only used source code that did routine functions, such as clearing the video screen and that Accolade did not own a copyright on those functions. Accolade argued that their contract for Test Drive II gave them the ownership and copyright of the final product—the game—and the source code used to create it. Distinctive Software won; the court ruled that "the licensing agreement transfers to Accolade the copyright to the concept and design of the video game but not the underlying source code." The court also found that Accolade had failed to demonstrate that the balance of hardships was in its favour.
EA Canada Since becoming EA Canada, EA Canada has developed many EA Games, EA Sports, and EA Sports BIG games.
EA Seattle, formerly Manley & Associates, was closed in 2002. Half the jobs were moved to EA Vancouver.
EA acquired Black Box Games in 2002 and Black Box Games became part of EA Canada under the name of EA Black Box. EA Black Box later became an independent EA studio in 2005. After its acquisition, EA Black Box became the home of several franchises, such as Need for Speed and Skate. The studio was later shut down in 2013, after a series of restructurings and layoffs within EA.
In 2011, EA Canada acquired Bight Games, a maker of freemium games.
Games developed
By Distinctive Software GamePublishedPublisherPlatform4D Sports Boxing1991Mindscape/Electronic ArtsAmiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Mac4D Sports Tennis1990MindscapeMS-DOSAccolade Comics1987AccoladeApple II, C64Ace of Aces1987AccoladeAtari 8-bit, C64, MS-DOSAfter Burner 1988SegaAmiga, C64, MS-DOSAltered Beast1990SegaAmiga, C64, MS-DOSBill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge1990KonamiAmiga, handheld, Mac, NES, MS-DOSCastlevania1990KonamiC64, MS-DOSChampions Forever Boxing1992NECTG-16Dick Tracy: The Crime-Solving Adventure1991Walt Disney Computer SoftwareAmiga, MS-DOSGrand Prix Circuit1988AccoladeAmiga, Apple IIGS, C64, MS-DOSFight Night1985AccoladeApple II, Atari 8-bit, C64Hardball!1985AccoladeApple IIGS, C64Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge1991Electronic ArtsMS-DOSMetal Gear1990Ultra GamesC64Mission: Impossible1991KonamiMS-DOSOut Run1989SegaC64, MS-DOSPipe Dream1990Bullet-Proof SoftwareAmiga, C64, MS-DOS, NESStunts (4D Sports Driving)1990Broderbund/MindscapeAmiga, MS-DOSSuper C1990KonamiAmiga, MS-DOSTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles1990Ultra Games/KonamiAmiga, C64, MS-DOSTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Manhattan Missions1991KonamiMS-DOSTest Drive1987AccoladeAmiga, C64, MS-DOSThe Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing1989AccoladeC64, MS-DOSThe Duel: Test Drive II1989AccoladeAmiga, Apple IIGS, C64, MS-DOSThe Simpsons: Bart's House of Weirdness1992KonamiMS-DOSTop Gun: Guts and Glory1993KonamiGame BoyWhere in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?1991KonamiNES
By EA Canada +YearTitlePlatform(s) 1994Skitchin'Sega Genesis 1998ReBootPlayStation2011FIFA 12Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Fight Night ChampionPlayStation 3, Xbox 360NBA Jam: On Fire EditionNHL 122012FIFA 13Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360FIFA StreetPlayStation 3, Xbox 360Grand Slam Tennis 2NHL 13SSXUEFA Euro 2012Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 3602013FIFA 14Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox OneNHL 14PlayStation 3, Xbox 36020142014 FIFA World Cup BrazilEA Sports UFCPlayStation 4, Xbox OneFIFA 15Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox OneNHL 15PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One2015EA Sports UFCAndroid, iOSFIFA 16Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox OneNHL 16PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One2016EA Sports UFC 2PlayStation 4, Xbox OneFIFA 17Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox OneFIFA MobileAndroid, iOS, Windows Apps, Windows PhoneNHL 17PlayStation 4, Xbox One2017FIFA 18Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox OneNHL 18PlayStation 4, Xbox One2018EA Sports UFC 3FIFA 19Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox OneNHL 19PlayStation 4, Xbox One2019FIFA 20Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneNHL 20PlayStation 4, Xbox One2020EA Sports UFC 4FIFA 21Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, StadiaNHL 21PlayStation 4, Xbox One2021FIFA 22Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, StadiaNHL 22PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S2022FIFA 23Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series SNHL 23PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S2023EA FC 24Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series SNHL 24PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series SEA Sports UFC 5PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S2024EA Sports FC 25Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series SNHL 25PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S2025EA Sports FC 26Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series SNHL 26PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S2026EA Sports FC 27Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series SNHL 27PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S
EA Sports Games developed for publishing by EA Sports:
3 on 3 NHL Arcade 2002 FIFA World Cup 2006 FIFA World Cup 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil EA Sports UFC EA Sports UFC 2 EA Sports UFC 3 EA Sports UFC 4 EA Sports UFC 5 FIFA International Soccer FIFA Soccer 95 FIFA Soccer 96 FIFA 97 FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 FIFA 99 FIFA 2000 FIFA 2001 FIFA Football 2002 FIFA Football 2003 FIFA Football 2004 FIFA Football 2005 FIFA 06 FIFA 07 FIFA 08 FIFA 09 FIFA 10 FIFA 11 FIFA 12 FIFA 13 FIFA 14 FIFA 15 FIFA 16 FIFA 17 FIFA 18 FIFA 19 FIFA 20 FIFA 21 FIFA 22 FIFA 23 EA Sports FC 24 EA Sports FC 25 EA Sports FC 26 EA Sports FC 27 FIFA Street (2012) FIFA Manager 06 FIFA Online FaceBreaker Fight Night Round 4 Fight Night Champion Grand Slam Tennis Celebrity Sports Showdown Cricket 07 John Madden Football '93 (Super NES) Knockout Kings Madden NFL 07 (Wii) MVP 06 NCAA Baseball NBA Live 95 NBA Live 96 NBA Live 97 NBA Live 98 NBA Live 99 NBA Live 2000 NBA Live 2001 NBA Live 2002 NBA Live 2003 NBA Live 2004 NBA Live 2005 NBA Live 06 NBA Live 07 NBA Live 08 NBA Live 09 NBA Live 10 NCAA March Madness 98 NCAA March Madness 99 NCAA March Madness 2000 NCAA March Madness 2001 NCAA March Madness 2002 NCAA March Madness 2003 NCAA March Madness 2004 NCAA March Madness 2005 NCAA March Madness 06 NCAA March Madness 07 NCAA March Madness 08 NCAA Basketball 09 NCAA Basketball 10 NHL '94 NHL 95 NHL 96 NHL 97 NHL 98 NHL 99 NHL 2000 NHL 2001 NHL 2002 NHL 2003 NHL 2004 NHL 2005 NHL 06 NHL 07 NHL 08 NHL 09 NHL 10 NHL 11 NHL 12 NHL 13 NHL 14 NHL 15 NHL 16 NHL 17 NHL 18 NHL 19 NHL 20 NHL 21 NHL 22 NHL 23 NHL 24 NHL 25 NHL 26 NHL 27 Rugby 2005 Rugby 06 SSX (2012) Total Club Manager 2005 Triple Play 96 Triple Play 2000 UEFA Champions League 2006–2007 UEFA Euro 2004 UEFA Euro 2008 UEFA Euro 2012 World Cup 98
EA Sports BIG Games developed for publishing by EA Sports BIG:
Def Jam Vendetta FaceBreaker FIFA Street (2005) FIFA Street 2 FIFA Street 3 Freekstyle NBA Street NBA Street Vol. 2 NBA Street V3 NFL Street NFL Street 2 NFL Street 3 NFL Tour Sled Storm SSX (2000) SSX Tricky SSX 3 SSX on Tour SSX Blur
See also Project Ragtag, assisted in development
References
External links Welcome to EA Vancouver on ea.com