Electronic Arts

Background
Electronic Arts Inc. is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. It was founded by Trip Hawkins in 1982. It is the second-largest gaming company in the Americas and Europe by revenue and market capitalization after Activision Blizzard and ahead of Take-Two Interactive and Ubisoft as of March 2018.

1st Logo (May 20, 1983-1999)
Logo: On a black background, we see a picture of segmented lines of geometric shapes that represent a square, a circle and a triangle. Underneath it is the text "Goudy Old Style" in a Goudy Old Style font.

Variants:
 * On several games, the logo is shown within the game's title screen.
 * On early Amiga and Atari ST games, the logo was used as a loading screen.
 * Most games just feature the logo still, with the entire logo in and the text in white.
 * On Grand Slam Bridge 2, the logo is and featureless with golden text.
 * For the variant on the PlayStation version of Viewpoint, the background is a space background. Then the 3D circle zooms through as we pan through the space. Then the light rays swipe through the circle to make the lines appear on the circle. Then it zooms out and the 3D Square and the 3D Triangle shapes (with lines intact), appear from left and right respectively forming the logo. Then "ELECTRONIC ARTS" appear in the game's font appears through the burning effect. Then the text dissolves. Then we move through as the 3D Square leaves the screen while the Circle moves onto the Triangle while the text zooms out through the burning effect this time reading "HIGH SCORE ENTERTAINMENT" (see here), appears while the Circle turns and glows yellow. Then the circle explodes as the text dissolves causing a hole in the triangle to appear. Then it slowly turns upside down and turns gray, becoming the Visual Concepts logo while "VISUAL CONCEPTS" (see here), appears through the burning effect forming the logo. Then the text rotates up and dissolves through fire. Then the VC logo zooms out as the games title zooms out turning with the light ray effect, making its position into the center as the light rays dim out. Then it fades into the opening intro of the game.
 * On Extreme Pinball, Fire Flight and the PlayStation game of Overblood, the logo is shown on top along with the High Score Productions logo (see here), on the bottom.
 * On Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf for the Super NES, the logo in zooms out and rests in the middle. It stays there for a moment before fading to black.
 * On Soviet Strike, the logo is purple.
 * On Shaq Fu, the shapes were colored.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game. Sometimes, on some games, like Fire Flight, we can hear an announcer saying the company name.

Availability: Uncommon. Seen on many games from the period, such as Soviet Strike, as well as many Amiga, MS-DOS, Atari ST, SNES, PlayStation and Saturn and several PC games from the era. In its logo's early years, it was used as a copyright screen.

2nd Logo (May 20, 1983-1988)
Logo: On a white background, we see a pixelated version of the EA Shapes logo in wipes in. It then changes colors at once.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on any 8-bit computer game for the Commodore 64, Apple II, Atari 8-bit and IBM PC when it was loading, such as the C64 game of Archon: The Light and the Dark, and The Seven Cities of Gold.

3rd Logo (1990-1995)
Logo: Against a black background, we see a segmented square flip in, followed by a segmented  circle and a segmented  triangle. At the same time, the words "Times New Roman" are formed below by two sets of lines coming in from the sides of the screen and merging together.

Variant: A still version exists on the Sega Genesis game of Blades of Vengeance, the Game Gear game of Jungle Strike and the Game Boy game of Shaq Fu. On the latter, it is in black and white, although colored on the Super Game Boy.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Music/Sounds Variant: The Sega Genesis version of B.O.B had a series of ominous futuristic sounds which changed their pitch as the geometric forms flipped in. At the end, a "clunk" noise was heard.

Availability: Seen on many Sega Genesis titles produced by the studio, such as the Road Rash trilogy, Desert Strike, Jungle Strike and the American version of Marble Madness.

4th Logo (1994-1995)
Logo: On a black background, we see a 3D version of the shapes logo from the previous logos. Below it is the same company name in a flatter font.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. It can be seen on a few games, like the Sega CD game of Road Rash, the Genesis game of Urban Strike and as a custom variant on the SNES game of Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City.

5th Logo (1994-1995)
5gcSG5XOJRE Logo: We see the segmented shapes from the previous logo, all in, float in from the sides of the screen and spin and place together in the middle. The name "Times New Roman" then zooms down with a white outline and places below the shapes. The name then glows in white.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: An ominous synth crescendo that then ends with an orchestral hit.

Music/Sounds Variant: US Navy Fighters used a whoosh at first, ending with a very loud explosion sound.

Availability: Rare. This was Electronic Arts' first 3D-animated logo, so it only appears on DOS and 3DO games. Can be seen on Space Hulk (including the PS1/Saturn versions, the only titles on those systems to use this logo), US Navy Fighters, the Japanese version of Lemmings and the Japanese exclusive Perfect World.

6th Logo (1994-1995)
Logo: On a black background, we see a steel-colored version of the Electronic Arts logo from the previous logos. Then the camera pans over to the square, as a game clip plays over the logo. It then segues into the EA Sports logo from the period.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A rock theme that continues into the EA Sports logo.

Availability: Seen on the 3DO game of John Madden Football and the PC game PGA Tour 486.

7th Logo (1994-1996)
Logo: On a space background, we see a cube, a  triangle, and a  sphere that flies around, and settle, forming the usual blue segmented lines as it spins. As the logo stops, the text "Times New Roman" fades in.

Variants:
 * On Mutant League, the logo is still.
 * On Wing Commander Academy, a animated series based off the Wing Commander series by Origin Systems, the logo is on a space background in and in 3D with the name below in Times New Roman. Above it is "Based on the story and characters created by Chris Roberts for the series of games produced by Origin Systems, Inc. and published by" in very small text.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 5th logo.

Availability: Seen on several Japanese 3DO, PlayStation and Sega Saturn games from the period, like the Japanese-only Senryaku Shogi and Hi-Octane: The Track Fights Back!. The still version appears on animated cartoons from the period.

8th Logo (1996-1997)
Logo: On a black background, we see a 3D sphere zooms out, followed by two other spheres moving over on a spotlight. The spheres bounce, and two others form a triangle and a cube, which rotates, and the logo lands to the usual position. The background turns black, and it morphs to the Electronic Arts logo from the period.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: An ascending synth, followed by a hit, and then a whoosh, ending in a chime.

Availability: Seen on a handful of Japanese PlayStation and Saturn games from the period, like the Japanese version of Krazy Ivan and Nissan Over Drivin' Skyline Memorial.

9th Logo (1997-2001)
Logo: We see many mixed-up flying letters, which quickly zooms to their usual places, forming "Copperplate Gothic". There's a glow around the words, and the domain name www.ea.com fades in below.

Variants:
 * There also exists a variant without the URL; this was seen on Auto Destruct.
 * On Sled Storm, the logo is slowed down.
 * A still version exists on Nintendo 64 games.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: An explosion, followed by a male announcer (in a synthesized voice) saying the company's name.

Music/Sounds Variants:


 * On Need for Speed: High Stakes, WCW Mayhem and WCW Backstage Assault, a different sound is heard and a female announcer replaces the male one.
 * On Future Corp: L.A.P.D., different sounds are heard, with a different Electronic Arts voice heard.
 * On Auto Destruct, the sound is in a lower pitch.
 * On Need for Speed III: Hot Persuit andReBoot: Countdown to Chaos, a different sounder consisting of a descending series of computer blips followed by a synth stab is heard.
 * On Diablo, a distorted computerized synth screech is heard.
 * On Need for Speed: Porche Unleashed, racing car sounds are heard.

Availability: Common.
 * It can be seen on almost every Electronic Arts branded title released during this time for the PlayStation and some PC and Nintendo 64 titles, like Freedom Force, Sled Storm, Hot Wheels: Turbo Racing, Future Cop: L.A.P.D, Need for Speed titles until Porche Unleashed, WCW Mayhem, WCW Backstage Assault, Beetle Adventure Racing, ReBoot: Countdown to Chaos and Medal of Honor.
 * Also used on titles by EA's third-party publishing division Electronic Arts Distribution.
 * Also appears on trailers for games. It appears as late as the trailer for The Sims: House Party, from Early-2001.
 * The still version was seen on N64 games from the period, as well as the US versions of the first two V-Rally games for the PlayStation.

10th Logo (EA Games 1st Logo) (2000-2002)
Logo: On a white background, we see the then-current EA logo (an altered version of the "EA" part of the 1992-2001 EA Sports logo) in dark blue stacked on top of the word GAMES in light blue capital Bank Gothic Condensed letters, encased in a circle. The circle rotates for a few seconds before placing itself into place. EAGAMES.COM fades in below along with the byline reading "EA GAMES is an Electronic Arts brand."

Variants:
 * Game Boy games have the logo in monochrome.
 * On Quake 3 Revolution for PlayStation 2, the URL and byline are aligned more to the left.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: 'Whirling' effects for the rotation and when the circle stops there is a mild ding sound along with a thud sound.

Music/Sounds Variant:
 * On Medal of Honor: Underground, Allied Assault and Frontline, an explosion is heard in place of the ding.
 * On Quake 3 Revolution, shotgun sounds are heard.
 * On The Sims, the sounds vary depending on the expansion pack installed:
 * On House Party and Unleashed, the sound of a crowd cheering is heard, which continues into the Maxis logo.
 * On Hot Date and Deluxe Edition, a more jazzy version of the standard tune plays.
 * on Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, the logo has different sounds.
 * A version with the sounds at half-speed exists. It can be seen on the "EALogo.HoQ" file under the video folder of the files of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault.

Availability: Common. Appears on a majority of titles released under the EA Games banner.
 * The animated variant first appeared on Medal of Honor: Underground and went onto appear on several titles, such as the PlayStation version of 007: The World is Not Enough, 007 Racing, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, Cel Damage, Allied Assault and Frontline (with exception of the PS3 version, since it uses a custom variant of the 2006 logo), 007: Agent Under Fire, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, and on The Sims from the House Party to the Unleashed expansion packs.
 * The still version appears on the North American/European version of the Japanese PlayStation 2 launch title X-Squad (the Japanese version uses the variant without the circle) and the PlayStation 2 port of Theme Park World, and also appears on Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color/Advance titles. Also appeared on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for GBA.

11th Logo (EA Games 2nd Logo) (2002-2005)
Logo: An updated version of the early 2000s EA Games logo with a slicker circle and "GAMES" in a more futuristic font, zooms out from the bottom of the screen, and presses itself causing it to flash and the slogan "Challenge Everything" appears through the light ray effect below the logo along with the byline "EA GAMES is an ELECTRONIC ARTS brand". The text remains there for a few seconds before the logo flashes and disappears as the bylines cut away.

Variants:
 * A still version of this logo, used on GBA, had the byline in different font with the blue aura still in place.
 * A still version on a black background and more accurate print was used on NDS even a year later, on GoldenEye: Rogue Agent. The reason for this is because this game was released on all other platforms in 2004.
 * Another version with a white background was used on 007: Nightfire for GBA.
 * An early variant of this logo (seen on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for PSX) had the logo moving much slower and more choppily. The "Challenge Everything" voiceover is omitted, and the "EA Games" voiceover is not reverberated.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Multiple voices say "EA Games" simultaneously, then a boy whispers "Challenge Everything". In the background a synth note plays (complete with a thud) as the logo presses itself, ending in a shut-off sound.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * On TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, the music and voiceovers are higher pitched.
 * On Def Jam: Fight for New York, D-Mob, a character from the game, says "Challenge Everything" in place of the whisper.

Availability: Very common. Seen on games of the era, such as Freedom Fighters, Batman Begins, Catwoman, Need for Speed: Underground and its sequel, SimCity 4, Burnout 3: Takedown, The Urbz: Sims In The City, most 007 games of the era (such as Everything or Nothing) and most Harry Potter games of the era (such as the GameCube, Xbox, and PlayStation 2 versions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as well as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). It also appears on The Sims from the Superstar expansion onward (except on The Complete Collection, where the next logo appears instead), as well as the console versions and The Sims: Bustin' Out, and on The Sims 2 from the base game to the University expansion pack.

12th Logo (October 2005-2006)
Logo: On a black background, two white lines whoosh in. They later descend and turn right, forming the EA logo. The logo then makes a sudden boom, and it zooms out. The byline "EA IS AN ELECTRONIC ARTS BRAND" appears under the logo.

Variants:
 * Depending on what language you selected on the console, game boot-up or if you purchased a alternate language version of the game, the byline would be displayed in its specific language. So far, versions in English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish are known to exist.
 * On the GBA game of Need for Speed - Most Wanted, the logo is still.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A synthesised pounding sound, and then a sword drawing sound.

Availability: Despite only being used for a year, it's still common. Seen on games from the era, including Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, Burnout Revenge, Black & White 2, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and 007: From Russia With Love. It appears on The Sims 2 from the Nightlife expansion pack (although the last logo appeared on the packaging) to the Open for Business expansion pack as well as the console versions and on The Sims Complete Collection. Surprisingly, this also appears on the trailer for the 2009 game Need for Speed: Nitro.

13th Logo (2006-)
Logo: On a black background, a black coin with the current EA logo on it rapidly zooms back and emits a red circle around it, then continues to zoom out slowly until fading out. Until 2007, the byline "EA IS AN ELECTRONIC ARTS BRAND" appears under the logo.

Variants: Due to EA's vast catalog, there are a large number of variants.
 * For example, on games from The Sims series until 2013, the logo is green with a blue outline, and at the end the famous "Plumbob" from The Sims appears at the top of the logo.
 * Sometimes, the logo doesn't zoom out when it's finished.
 * On the Game Boy Advance version of Need for Speed Carbon - Own the City, the logo is still.
 * On the Nintendo DS version of The Simpsons Game, the logo doesn't fade out.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: The same synth pound heard on the last logo.

Availability: The original variant is uncommon, and was only used on The Simpsons Game, Def Jam Icon, Darkspore and Lord of the Rings: Conquest. The still version was only used on two games, Need for Speed: Carbon and the Nintendo DS version of G.I. Joe. Also seen on some earlier trailers (before the new ones with a custom logo).

14th Logo (2021-)
Logo: Just the text reading "Electronic Arts" in a new font called Electronic Arts Display.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: This might appear on trailers, as well as games.