Gov. Rick Scott and EA SPORTS Unveil Innovation Lab
spomeroy
2012-06-26
EA SPORTS, with the help of Florida Governor Rick Scott, recently unveiled the new EA SPORTS Innovation Lab and their new partnership with the University of Central Florida’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy.
The new lab at the UFC Center for Emerging Media in Downtown Orlando will create a direct path for
graduates into the video game industry through additional EA SPORTS internships.
FIEA students will get to work alongside industry-leading EA SPORTS game development professionals
with hands on experience working on the latest products for the latest platforms, using the latest tools
and technologies.
"Florida is fortunate to have high-tech companies like EA SPORTS that infuse millions of dollars into
our state's economy every year and provide jobs for hundreds of Floridians. The partnership between
UCF and EA SPORTS will foster Florida's homegrown talent and train Floridians for those jobs,"
Governor Scott said, seen here chatting with the current FIEA students Gabriel Gonzalez (left) and
Blake Battle (right)
"Preparing Florida students for high-tech jobs, along with our state's competitive economic incentives,
gives Florida an advantage over other states and ensures high-value businesses open their doors in
our state, instead of somewhere else."
"UCF prides itself in being America's leading partnership university and the success of the Florida
Interactive Entertainment Academy attests to the power of partnerships," said UCF President
John C. Hitt, seen here shaking hands with Gov. Scott at the unveiling.
Daryl Holt, vice president and chief operating officer of EA SPORTS, was also on hand at the unveiling.
"Our collective goal for the Center and our EA SPORTS Innovation Lab is to create even more job
opportunities for Florida graduates, right here in Central Florida. By establishing pipelines directly
into existing Orlando-based digital media businesses, including our local EA SPORTS studio,
EA-Tiburon, we can keep creating jobs in the state of Florida," said Holt.
Nearly 250 students have graduated from FIEA since its creation and many of them have moved on
to successful careers in the game industry, including careers at EA SPORTS' studio in Orlando and
other Electronic Arts labels and studios.
The EA SPORTS Innovation Lab, with originally concept art seen here, was designed to enhance the
University of Central Florida, which offered its first classes in 1968, is the second largest research
university in the nation with more than 58,000 students. The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy,
an industry-based graduate gaming education center, offers a Master’s degree in Interactive Entertainment.
