Photos: Games and mingling at EA

Jeff Brown, Electronic Arts' vice president of corporate communications, talks about "NCAA Football 07" at the company's Studio Showcase event in Redwood City, Calif., on Thursday.

In the cafeteria of its main campus, Electronic Arts has large banners celebrating its recent video game titles. Here, a Lamborghini brought to the Studio Showcase event to promote "Need for Speed: Carbon" sits in front of a giant "The Godfather" banner.

A large "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" banner hangs on a wall in Electronic Arts' main cafeteria under a gargoyle.

Working hard or hardly working? These EA employees take some time out of their day on July 13 to hit swiffle balls and soak up the sun. The EA campus is located in Redwood City, Calif., south of San Francisco and has plenty of grass in the center quad to lounge or play ball on.

Glowing strikingly in the dark demo room of EA's Studio Showcase 2006 is "Need for Speed: Carbon." The game was reconceptualized for the Sony PlayStation Portable with the mobile gamer in mind. With the mini-version, gamers can play a faster game, but not miss out on the customization that made the "Need for Speed" anthology so popular.

At the center of the demo room at EA Studio Showcase 2006 was the mobile/handheld booth. Featured titles included "Orcs and Elves." Video game demos including "Superman Returns," "Madden 2007" and "The Godfather" played on big screens lining the walls, while big, comfy couches were placed in the prime position--a throne for any video game king.

Off camera, CNET News.com's Neha Tiwari takes a moment to check out mobile games firsthand. EA Mobile keeps in mind that the cell phone gamer may be distracted at any time because of an incoming call, or the need to call out. For this reason, mobile video games are equipped with quick-save technology.

University of Southern California's Trojan Marching Band kicked off the EA Studio Showcase 2006 entertainment and cocktail event that followed the game demonstrations. There was also a performance by a colorful band in which an EA employee is the drummer. Music was accompanied by hors d'oeuvres, drinks dinner and dessert.