February 12^th, 2004 (12:00am) - Major League Gaming (MLG), the preeminent worldwide console gaming league for professional video game players, today announced that the #1 ranked gamer in the 2004 version of ESPN NFL Football at the end of MLG’s 2004 season will be featured as a free agent, with name and likeness to appear in the 2005 release of ESPN Videogames’ ESPN NFL Football. The champion will also be offered an MLG pro gaming management contract, joining the ranks of the world’s elite professional gamers.

MLG, which has selected ESPN Videogames’ ESPN NFL Football as its premier sports title for its 2004 season, will feature it for the first time at the “MLG Philly Regional” in downtown Philadelphia, PA on Feb 21-22, 2004 (see www.mlgpro.com for more details). Top finishers in each of MLG’s competition titles earn MLG rankings points, which are up for grabs at all 10 stops of the 2004 season. Top gamers of each title will be determined by tallying final points at the end of the season, with the top ranked gamers receiving an invite to the season ending championship in Las Vegas, NV. Here, these players will battle it out to become the undisputed #1 ranked Major League Gamer along with the chance to win an MLG management contract. And, in the case of ESPN NFL Football, the winner will be featured in the 2005 version of ESPN NFL Football.

“This is another step toward getting pro gamers the celebrity status they deserve,” said Michael Sepso, CEO, MLG. “ESPN Videogames is exhibiting its support of the competitive gaming community in a unique and powerful way, which will resonate with elite gamers everywhere.”