EA Sports

Background
EA Sports is Electronic Arts' sports video games division. It was originally founded in 1991 as the "EA Sports Network" (EASN), but it was changed in late 1992 to avoid getting sued by ESPN. It is best known for developing and publishing video games based on major Sports licenses such as FIFA, NHL, NBA Live and Madden NFL.

1st Logo (September 1992-January 26, 1996)
Logo: On a black background, we see the "EA" letters from the EASN logo, and below it is the word "SPORTS" (in Bank Gothic Condensed). "ELECTRONIC ARTS" appear below the logo in the same font as "SPORTS".

Variants:
 * On the Genesis versions of PGA Tour Golf II and PGA European Tour and the Game Gear version of PGA Tour '96, the "ELECTRONIC ARTS" text is in a Times New Roman font.
 * On the Game Boy versions of PGA Tour '96 and PGA European Tour, the above variant is entirely in white.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None. On Zico Soccer, the audio from the 5th logo is heard.

Availability: The normal version is seen on the Genesis version of Tony La Russa Baseball. It also appears on reprint copies of John Madden Football '93 and NHLPA Hockey '93 for Genesis, replacing the EASN logo. It's also seen on Zico Soccer for SNES.

2nd Logo (1993)
Logo: On a black background, we see a white box with a border, and a shiny version of the EA Sports logo flips in.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on later copies of the SNES version of John Madden Football '93, replacing the EASN logo.

3rd Logo (June 1993-October 31, 1997)
Logo: On a white background, the "EA" letters from the last logo type in one by one. The word "SPORTS" in the same font as the last logo appears. Then the text "ELECTRONIC ARTS" in the same font as the last logo types in below the logo.

Variant: A still version exists.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: On the Genesis version of Bill Walsh College Football, we hear a sound of tackling and a crowd cheering when the bottom text types in. On the Sega CD version of the game, and NHL Hockey '94, the audio from the 5th logo is heard. The still version is silent.

Availability: The animated version is seen on Bill Walsh College Football for Genesis and the Sega CD, as well as NHL Hockey '94 for Genesis. The still version is seen on almost every NHL game EA produced for the Genesis.

4th Logo (1993)
Logo: On a gradient background, we see a metallic version of the EA Sports logo in one line. Below it is the text "ELECTRONIC ARTS" with a shadow behind it, and the text "presents" is shown in a similar style. The 3D version of the normal EA logo is shown on the bottom right. The border closes.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Can be seen on Michael Jordan in Flight for DOS.

5th Logo (November 19, 1993-June 1, 1997)
Logo: On a white background, we see the letters of "E" and "A" zooming in one by one. The word "SPORTS" and "ELECTRONIC ARTS" appear below via a zoom-in.

Variant: On the Super Game Boy versions of Madden '95 and Madden '96, the "ELECTRONIC ARTS" text is.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: A voiceover (Andrew Anthony) says "EA Sports - It's in the game."

Music/Sounds Trivia: Andrew Anthony got his voice-over role through EA asking one of his friends to advertise their sports game business. After he offered to record the now-iconic line, he didn't realize until much later (his son's friend came over with a new video game and he overheard his voice) that EA actually accepted his recording. Anthony was later hired as a voice-over for many EA Sports commercials throughout the 90's and early 2000s.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * On the Game Boy version, the logo is silent.
 * On IMG International Tour Tennis, the sound of a tennis match plays over instead.

Availability:
 * The normal logo first appeared on the Genesis version of Madden NFL '94 and can be virtually seen on every college football game from the time period, as well as NBA Showdown, IMG International Tour Tennis and Madden NFL '95 for the Genesis.
 * The variant is only seen on Madden '95 and Madden '96 for the Super Game Boy.
 * The logo also makes an appearance on the SNES version of College Football USA '97.

6th Logo (December 15, 1993-November 30, 1995)
Logo: On a black background, we see the 3D letters of "E" and "A" zoom out one by one. The word "SPORTS" zooms out, and the text "ELECTRONIC ARTS" zooms out below the logo.

Variants:
 * An enhanced version of the logo appears on the SNES version of the game. In this case, the logo is more 3D and has sparkles in it.
 * On FIFA Soccer '95 for Genesis, the logo is similar to the above, except it is a still picture.
 * On the Genesis version of FIFA Soccer '96, the logo is on a black background, with the bottom text boxed.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo.

Availability: The normal version is seen on the SNES, Amiga and Genesis versions of FIFA International Soccer. The variations are seen on the aforementioned games.

7th Logo (November 19, 1993-August 12, 2003)
Logo: On a white background, we see the "EA" letters zoom out over a gradient and then flash after each letter is said. The text "SPORTS" zooms out, and then flashes. The text "ELECTRONIC ARTS" zooms out below the logo.

Variants:
 * On the SNES versions of Madden NFL '95 and NHL '95-'98, the letters zoom in instead, and the slogan "It's in the game." appears below the logo.
 * On the SNES versions of Madden NFL '96-'98, the letters slide instead, and the slogan appears below the logo.
 * A modernized version of the above variant appears on the Game Boy Advance versions of Madden NFL 2002-2004 and NHL 2002, where the wordmark is updated and 2D, and the URL appears below the logo instead of "ELECTRONIC ARTS". The byline is shown below the logo.
 * On the Genesis version of Madden NFL '97-'98 and a prototype of Slam: Shaq vs. the Legends, the logo is still.
 * On the Genesis version of Toughman Contest, it is similar to the first variant, but it lacks the slogan, and is shifted.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: The normal logo appears on the SNES versions of Madden NFL '94, MLBPA Baseball and Bill Walsh College Football. The variant appears on the aforementioned games.

8th Logo (October 1993-December 2, 1997)
Logo: On a black background, we see the "EA" letters zoom out and then flash, like with the last logo. Then the text "SPORTS" zooms out and then flashes. A white box with "ELECTRONIC ARTS" appears underneath the logo.

Variants:
 * On Genesis games, the text is in 3D.
 * On the DOS version of NHL Hockey, the whole thing is on a white background.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: First seen on the SNES version of NBA Showdown, then went on to appear on the SNES and Genesis versions of NBA Live '95-'98, Coach K College Basketball, and the Genesis version of PGA Tour '96.

9th Logo (1994-1995)
Logo: On a white background, we see the letters of "E" and "A" sliding piece by piece. The word "SPORTS" fades in, and the text "ELECTRONIC ARTS" appears in a shadow effect.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Only seen on Rugby World Cup 1995 and Australian Rugby League, both for the Sega Genesis.

10th Logo (1994-May 8, 2000)
Logo: On a white background, we see the letters of "E" and "A" zooming out one by one. The word "SPORTS" zooms out from the top screen, then "ELECTRONIC ARTS" appears via a wipe-in.

Variants:
 * On early games, the logo is still on a white or a black background.
 * An earlier version exists where the logo has different animation, having two segmented halves of a "EA" pass over and leave behind the letters . The text then fades in below.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Only seen on NHL 2000 and Madden 2000 for the Game Boy Color. The still variant is seen on the Super Game Boy versions of NBA Live 96, Madden 97, FIFA 97 and FIFA 98: Road to the World Cup, and the Game Boy Color game of Triple Play 2000. The early version is seen on the Game Gear versions of FIFA International Soccer, Madden NFL '95 and Madden '96.

11th Logo (1994-1995)
Logo: On a white background, we see a beveled version of the EA Sports logo, only this time, the logo has a drop shadow behind.

Variant: A simplified version of the logo exists without the byline as seen on Game Boy games.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None, or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: The normal version is seen on the Genesis versions of Mario Andretti Racing, La Russa Baseball '95, MLBPA Baseball, PGA Tour Golf III and NHL '95. The simple version is seen on the Game Boy versions of FIFA International Soccer, NHL Hockey '95, FIFA Soccer '96 and NHL '96 and the Game Gear version of FIFA '96.

12th Logo (1994)
Logo: Continuing where the 6th Electronic Arts logo left off, as one game clip continues over the logo, we see the 3D version of the EA Sports logo from the period zoom out, sans the company byline shown on a black background.

Variant: A short version exists.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: An ascending synth hit when the letters appear.

Music/Sounds Variant: The short version uses the same audio from the 5th logo.

Availability: The normal logo appears on John Madden Football (1994) for the 3DO, and the PC game PGA Tour 486. The short version is seen on the DOS version of FIFA International Soccer.

13th Logo (1994-April 1997)
Logo: On a stone wall with a cubby carved for it, we see the EA Sports logo zoom out one by one, and the "ELECTRONIC ARTS" text wipes in below. Then the wall cracks open with light and the logo flies off, leaving a cut out for the camera to rotate and fly into a white screen.

Variants:
 * On FIFA '97 and Triple Play '97, the logo is on a waving flag background, and the camera pans over instead of zooming.
 * On FIFA Soccer 64, the logo was recreated, and the stone pans over to the game's title screen.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Synth clangs are heard, along a typewriter sound, then a whoosh sound is heard when the logo zooms in.

Availability: The normal version is seen on the 3DO versions of FIFA International Soccer, Foes for Ali, Pro Yakyuu Virtual Stadium and J.League Virtual Stadium, and the PlayStation and Saturn versions of FIFA Soccer '96. The variants can be seen on the aforementioned games.

14th Logo (1994-November 30, 1995)
Logo: On a white background, we see a 3D version of the EA Sports logo shown at an angle, complete with the "ELECTRONIC ARTS" text.

Variants:
 * On the 32X version of Toughman Contest, the logo animates like a version of the 7th logo, except it was in a 3D form.
 * On the Genesis version of Madden NFL '96, the logo is stretched.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 5th logo.

Availability: Seen on the DOS version of NHL Hockey '95, the Genesis version of Madden NFL '96, and the 32X version of Toughman Contest.

15th Logo (1995)
Logo: On a black background, the letters from the last logo spin around, and then the text "SPORTS" zooms out, and then the text "ELECTRONIC ARTS" fades in below the logo.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 5th logo.

Availability: Seen on Tactical Soccer for the Super Famicom.

16th Logo (1995-September 30, 1996)
Logo: On a black background, a light appears, forming a silhouette of the EA Sports logo. Then the light flashes, and then the logo brightens up.

Technique: Computer animation.

Music/Sounds: A choir theme with a whoosh behind it.

Availability: Seen on the PC version of NBA Live '95 and PGA European Tour, and PGA Tour '96 for the 3DO, PC, PlayStation and the Sega Saturn.

17th Logo (1996-2000)
Logo: On a white background, we see the letters "E" and "A" fly in, in sync to the voiceover. The text "SPORTS" in the same font as the previous logo zooms out. The text "ELECTRONIC ARTS" wipes in under the logo.

Trivia: The logo was based on the end of EA Sports' commercials used from 1993 to 2000.

Variants:
 * On Madden NFL Football: Limited Edition, the text "PRESENTS" is shown below the logo.
 * Starting in 1997, the URL "www.easports.com" is shown below the logo instead of "ELECTRONIC ARTS".
 * Starting in 1999, the byline "EA SPORTS is an Electronic Arts brand" fades in below the logo.
 * On Nintendo 64 games, the logo is in beveled 3D.
 * A still version exists.
 * On the GBC version of NASCAR 2000, the name appears horizontally.
 * On the PC game Andretti Racing, the logo takes up the whole screen.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 5th logo.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * Sometimes, it's silent or the opening theme of the game or the game's title theme are heard.
 * In 1997, the voiceover was re-recorded, and a dramatic three-note cymbal and bell tune with a choir was added; this version is higher-pitched in some games.
 * In 1999, the voiceover was re-recorded again, and the background music was removed. Not only would this audio clip be retained for the next logo, but it is still used on EA Sports titles to this day.

Availability: Seen on many PlayStation, PC, Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn titles from the period. The animated logo debuted on games in the 1998 range. The still version also appears on the Game Boy Color versions of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2000 and NASCAR 2000.

18th Logo (September 6-October 1996)
Logo: At a stadium with an EA Sports zeppelin in the air, it zooms out to see it broadcasting to an EA Sports truck. The camera pans to it and above, revealing a satellite transferring data to an EA Sports satellite, where the camera transitions to next. The satellite sends a beam of info to the surface, and we pan down to a suburban home's TV. The TV switches on to reveal the logo forming, complete with the slogan, before it shuts off.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A triumphant synth fanfare, ending in the voiceover from the last logo, ending in a rock theme.

Availability: Seen on Madden NFL '97 and Andretti Racing, both for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, as well as the PC version of the former game.

19th Logo (November 11-December 4, 1996)
Logo: We pass over the moon to reveal the Earth spinning. The planet burns into a soccer ball, followed by a baseball, a basketball, and then a hockey puck, all while it gets closer to the screen. The hockey puck has the EA Sports logo on its backside, which gains its colors after a second, and then a bright light shines behind it, eventually engulfing the background.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Hollow ambient sounds, followed by some whooshes.

Availability: Seen on the PlayStation and Saturn versions of NHL '97.

20th Logo (September 27, 1996)
Logo: A metal place with flames is seen, with the transparent version of the EA Sports logo zooming in. The screen flashes, revealing the logo in its full colors and without flames on the plate.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A whoosh, followed by a rock theme.

Availability: Seen only on the PC game of NHL '97.

21st Logo (August 5, 1997-July 29, 1999)
Logo: On a white background, we see a 3D bumpy version of the EA Sports logo zoomed out in a football-like texture. The text "ELECTRONIC ARTS" wipes in below the logo.

Variants:
 * On Madden Football 64, the logo is in flat 3D.
 * Starting in 1997, the text "www.easports.com" is shown below the logo.
 * On NCAA Football 2000, the byline "EA SPORTS is an Electronic Arts brand" wipes in below the logo.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A whoosh sound, followed by the same voiceover as on the previous logos.

Availability: Can be seen on NCAA Football 98, NCAA Football 99, NCAA Football 2000, Madden NFL 98 and 'Madden NFL 99'' for the PlayStation.

22nd Logo (March 14, 2000-March 26, 2013)
Logo: On a white background, the letters "E", "A" and "SPORTS" (with a slight alteration, as the "A" no longer has the jut and now has an incomplete middle line) fly in, accompanied by a three-part ring that surrounds the letters and spins slightly. The company URL and a byline in appear below, in Bank Gothic.

Variants:
 * On Fight Night 2004 and the '05 EA Sports titles, the letters and circle in the original version are shinier.
 * A widescreen variant of the original version is seen on Tiger Woods PGA Tour for the PSP.
 * Starting in 2005, the logo was slightly updated. The ring spins a bit faster, is shinier, and is slightly shifted. Also, "SPORTS", the URL and byline are in a different font (EA Sans Bold).
 * On the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of UEFA Euro 2008, motion blur is added to the logo, and the URL and byline are absent.
 * Another update was made in 2009. The logo is updated with a solid outline, and only the URL is shown below.
 * A bylineless version was seen on Madden NFL 2001 for Game Boy Color.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: The 1999 recording of the "It's in the game" voiceover.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * On the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of FIFA 08 and UEFA Euro 2008, the logo is silent.
 * Sometimes, only the name is announced.
 * On some games using the second updated version, quick whooshes are heard instead of the voiceover.

Availability:
 * The original variant was first seen on '01 EA Sports titles and was last shown on the Macintosh version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005.
 * The first updated version was first seen on NCAA Football 06. The second updated version first appeared on '09 EA Sports titles.
 * After 2011, this logo was retired, as EA Sports titles from that point onward use custom variants until 2019. However, it still appeared on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12-14.

23rd Logo (July 18, 2006-July 10, 2012)
Logo: We see the EA HD logo shine. Then it morphs to the EA Sports logo via a shining effect, and then the logo moves up, and the screen flashes.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A whoosh sound, followed by buzzing.

Availability: Seen on several Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games, starting with the '07 EA Sports titles.

24th Logo (August 28-September 25, 2012)
Logo: On a stadium, the EA Sports logo rotates into the center. Then it flashes, segueing into the game's title.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: The 1999 recording of "It's in the game" voiceover.

Availability: Seen on FIFA 13, NHL 13 and Madden NFL 13 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

25th Logo (July 9, 2013-March 15, 2016)
Logo: On a cloudy sky background, we see a CGI version of the EA Sports logo pan up, and the ring spins over.

Variant: The background changes depending on the game.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A whoosh sound, accompanied by the 1999 recording of "It's in the game" voiceover.

Availability: Seen on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and early PS4 and Xbox One titles, like NHL 14, Madden NFL 25 and FIFA 15.

26th Logo (August 23, 2016-September 28, 2018)
Logo: We see the EA Sports logo draw in over a white background, as parallelograms move. The full EA Sports logo appears, and then it transitions to the game's intro.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: The 1999 recording of "It's in the game" voiceover, along with whooshing sounds.

Availability: Seen on many EA Sports games from the period, like FIFA 17 and NHL 17.

27th Logo (August 2-September 27, 2019)
Logo: On a colored background, we see parallelograms zoom out that reveal the EA Sports logo on a spotlight background. Then it transitions to the game's intro.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Seen on FIFA 20, Madden NFL 20 and NHL 20.

28th Logo (August 14, 2020-)
Logo: As we fly away from a, white, , and black tunnel background, we see various sport-related objects (a soccer ball, a football helmet, a basketball, a soccer cleat, boxing gloves, a golf ball, a hockey mask, a checkered flag, a racing tire, a football, and a hockey club), before the camera pans out to reveal that it's inside a white EA Sports logo against a white background. After a few seconds, the stripes zoom back in, transitioning to the game's intro.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A zooming sound, followed by the 1999 recording of the "It's in the game" voiceover, with drums beating in time to the words.

Availability: Current. Seen on EA Sports titles since 2020.