Electronic Arts, the world's largest interactive entertainment software company, has announced that it has been awarded the worldwide rights to develop, publish and distribute games based on the wildly popular Harry Potter book series. Financial terms of the deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products were not disclosed.

"We are extremely excited to become part of the Harry Potter phenomenon by bringing our own brand of interactive magic to this fantastic series," said Don Mattrick, president of Elecronics Arts (EA).

Under the agreement, EA will publish games based on all four current Harry Potter books and an upcoming feature film from Warner Bros. Pictures and any subsequent Harry Potter films distributed during the terms of the agreement.

The license grants EA the exclusive right to develop and publish products for all current and next generation video game consoles and handheld platforms. In addition, EA has been granted rights to publish and distribute games designed to be played on-line over the internet. EA's on-line division, EA.com, has the exclusive programming rights for the AOL Games Channel and game areas of the AOL brands.

The J.K. Rowling Harry Potter book series has been published in 115 countries and in 28 languages with sales of more 30 million copies of the first three books alone. The fourth book in the series was published recently.

EA, based in Red Wood, California, will produce the Harry Potter games at its new studio in Chertsey.

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