While we may have had a first look at EA's upcoming Wii survival horror celebrity sports title last week, the company has just officially announced Celebrity Sports Challenge for the Nintendo Wii, along with a bevy of truly terrifying screenshots featuring big-headed versions - well, bigger-headed versions of the game's stars. The game features 10 "celebrities", including Avril Lavigne, LeAnn Rimes, Nelly Furtado, and...Sugar Ray Leonard? Said stars compete in sports such as beach volleyball, smash badminton, and curling. It's like the old Battle of the Network program from back in the 80's, only I actively despise most of these people. Hit the jump for the full listing of participants and events, and keep an eye out for Celebrity Sports Showdown this winter.

REACH FOR THE STARS WITH EA'S CELEBRITY SPORTS SHOWDOWN
Ultimate Party Game from EA SPORTS Freestyle Featuring 12 Outdoor Sports Activities and 10 Celebrities
Guildford, UK ? Wednesday, August 13, 2008 ? Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Celebrity Sports Showdown, an all-new intellectual property, is currently in development at EA Canada and will be the first Wii title to launch under the new EA SPORTS Freestyle brand. From the makers of EA Playground, Celebrity Sports Showdown features 12 outdoor sports games and is the ultimate party game to play with people of all ages. Play as your favourite celebrities, with featured stars including singers Fergie and Avril Lavigne, and athletes like Paul Pierce and Mia Hamm, to determine who will be the ultimate celebrity athlete. Get off the couch and get into the action with fun and easy-to-play controls designed specifically for the Wii.

?We feel that this game is the EA SPORTS Freestyle answer to a great Wii party game. It explores the lighter side of sports and pulls inspiration from the entertainment spectacles that are so prevalent in pop culture today,? said Dave McCarthy, Executive Producer. ?Celebrity Sports Showdown will bring people to the party with a collection of games and celebrities that appeal to everyone.?

Hit the great outdoors as you paddle through rapids in Wild Water Canoeing and hold on tight as you fly behind a speed boat for some wild Inner-Tubing! Get out of the water and onto the court as you hit away in Beach Volleyball and Smash Badminton, or take aim at your opponents in Arena Dodgeball. Cool down while you hit the slopes in Slalom Showdown, or sweep past your opponents in Curling. Get a bird?s eye view scaling a wall in Cliff Hangers or flying through the sky in Air Racers. Perfect your aim and nail the targets in Rapid Fire Archery, then gauge your strength in the gladiator-style Joust Duel, and hold on to the reigns of a champion thoroughbred all the way to the finish line in Hurdle Derby. With such a variety of sports to choose from, Celebrity Sports Challenge is the ultimate party game experience.

Celebrities featured listed below:

? Fergie
? Avril Lavigne
? LeAnn Rimes
? Keith Urban
? Nelly Furtado
? Paul Pierce
? Mia Hamm
? Kristi Yamaguchi
? Reggie Bush
? Sugar Ray Leonard

Games featured listed below:

? Beach Volleyball
? Inner-Tubing
? Wild Water Canoeing
? Hurdle Derby
? Slalom Showdown
? Cliff Hangers
? Smash Badminton
? Rapid Fire Archery
? Joust Duel
? Curling
? Arena Dodgeball
? Air Racers

Celebrity Sports Showdown will be launching for the Wii? in winter 2008. The game has not yet been rated by PEGI. Media can find screenshots of the game at www.electronicarts.co.uk/press. For more information, please visit www.easports.com/celebrity.

EA SPORTS? is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

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