Electronic Arts announces wider first quarter losses than for the same period last year based on lower revenue that was not offset by their cost-cutting measures, but they say results are nonetheless better than expected after strong launches for The Sims 3 and EA Sports Active. Word is:

Redwood City, Calif.-based Electronic Arts Inc. said Tuesday it lost $234 million, or 72 cents per share, in the April-June period. That compares with a loss of $95 million, or 30 cents per share, in the same quarter a year earlier.

Revenue fell 20 percent to $644 million.

Excluding items, EA lost 2 cents per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected a loss of 13 cents a share.

Adjusted revenue, was $816 million, up 34 percent from last year. This is above the $729.5 million that analysts were expecting.