News Post

EA Selects Darren McFadden as the First of Four Cover Athletes for NCAA Football 09

01:28 PM - March 6, 2008 by Steve_OS

EA Selects Darren McFadden as the First of
Four Cover Athletes for NCAA Football 09

McFadden Will Grace the XBOX 360 Cover in
Platform Exclusive NCAA Football 09 Packaging

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) --Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ:ERTS - News) today announced that former University of Arkansas running back and two time All-American recipient, Darren McFadden, will appear on the front cover of NCAA� Football 09 for the Xbox 360� video game entertainment system, scheduled for release on July 15, 2008. This year, the packaging for each of the NCAA Football 09 console platforms will feature an exclusive cover athlete. Following McFadden on the Xbox 360 package front will be three other cover athletes from different regions throughout the county to appear on the box art for NCAA Football 09 on the PlayStation� 2 and PLAYSTATION�3 computer entertainment systems, and the PSP� (PlayStation�Portable) system.

During McFadden�s three year career at the University of Arkansas, the two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up earned three First Team All-SEC selections, was named the SEC coaches and Associated Press �Offensive Player of the Year�, received the 2007 Walter Camp Award, and was the first Sophomore to receive the Doak Walker Award for the best college Running Back two years in row. McFadden holds multiple University of Arkansas records, the most notable being the Razorback�s all-time leading rusher with 4,485 yards in only 37 career games.

NCAA Football 09 will unveil the all-new Break Away Animation Engine which allows gamers to break in and out of moves giving the user more direct control as well as instant influence and responsiveness on the field. At its core, NCAA Football 09 will focus on wide-open collegiate style gameplay featuring unique animations that you will only find on college football Saturdays. This style of gameplay will allow agile backs like McFadden to show off their break out speed and maneuverability in-game.

"These four athletes represent the best and brightest of college football, but our selections aren't just about Heisman candidates and All Americans,� says Sr. director of marketing Tom Goedde. �They represent the spirit and passion of the sport in the same way EA SPORTS video games do."

In anticipation for the NFL Draft, EA will announce the exclusive cover athlete for the PLAYSTATION 3 system on April 24, while the exclusive cover athletes for the PlayStation 2 and the PSP systems will be unveiled the beginning of May. The Wii� cover will feature the winner from the NCAA Football 09 Cover Mascot Challenge, and will be announced on the NCAA Football 09 website on March 18.

Developed in Orlando, Fla., by EA Tiburon, NCAA Football 09 will be available for the PlayStation 2 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems, the PSP system, the Wii and the Xbox 360 system. For more information about NCAA Football 09 please visit www.ncaafootball09.com.

EA SPORTS� is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL�, NBA LIVE, NCAA� football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR� and NASCAR� racing.

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 95 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 Pared @ 03/06/08 01:36 PM

Interesting. Thanks for the info, Steve.

I wonder who the other 3 will be.

The information about the Break Away system intrigues me more. Seems like they're working on gameplay but let's get some better atmosphere. No excuses; It can be done!

# 2 Rocky @ 03/06/08 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pared


	Interesting. Thanks for the info, Steve. I wonder who the other 3 will be. The information about the Break Away system intrigues me more. Seems like they're working on gameplay but let's get some better atmosphere. No excuses; It can be done!

Co-sign on the atmosphere. Full sidelines, interactive crowds, media, bands would make it so much better.

The Break Away feature sounds scary though.

# 3 Cdenz @ 03/06/08 02:03 PM

Quote:


	Seems like they're working on gameplay but let's get some better atmosphere. No excuses; It can be done!

if the game does not have this it will be DULL AND BORING AGAIN!!

very doubtful this game will be anything more than NCAA08.2.

NG football by EA/TIB is been a major letdown in my Opinion.

# 4 JBucc @ 03/06/08 02:03 PM

Wasn't breaking out of animations the same thing they hyped up last year?

# 5 Altimus @ 03/06/08 02:05 PM

Wow they don't announce the other cover athlete for the other three consoles for a while. McFadden was a good choice and should have been on all the covers.

# 6 LBzrule @ 03/06/08 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBucc


	Wasn't breaking out of animations the same thing they hyped up last year?

nahhh that was "Branching Animations" which basically was described similarly but there are some distinctions.

But like I said in the other thread it does say they are working on animations where players collision, which to me this has been a several weak part of their games for the past 9 to 10 years. But that's the problem to so I'm not expecting anything world beating.

# 7 Pared @ 03/06/08 02:31 PM

My only concern is they touted this with Madden last year.. and it wasn't all that spectacular, IMO.

If this game is just a slightly improved version of Madden 2008 on next gen, I will be severely disappointed. It's about time that these football games starting getting the treatment as if they were the best selling sports titles on the market.

Honestly, if you compared the quality of some sports games vs. their sales... numbers just don't add up, IMO.

Upsets me to think about it.

# 8 Blazelore @ 03/06/08 02:47 PM

I agree. This better be the year they go all out. They touted last year that Madden was the first real next gen Madden and it was eventhough it was glitch littered. I played NCAA way more. But I want atmosphere, I want more accurate ratings, I want an immersive college experience. What happened to the uniforms? EA use to pay attention to detail now I feel like they've gotten a little too cocky. With the sales of both franchises going down I think that was a wake up call to them. These both are their cash cows and EA sports games makes up 40% of the revenue that's EA generates. If they plan on buying people out and expanding they have to keep the quality of their product top notch. I think its going to get very interesting. I'm sure their CFO almost had a heart attack when he looked at the numbers and I'm sure that the pressure from execs is trickling down to the developers. You never know, David Ortiz may have quit because he couldn't take the pressure.

# 9 SageInfinite @ 03/06/08 03:04 PM

Unless the atmosphere and immersion is improved I can't purchase this or Madden. I'm tired of the dull presentation in EA's football games. I want to be excited and look forward to playing games in my franchise and seeing new things. NBA 2k8 and MLB The Show have spoiled it for all other games. Its time for football to make that leap.

# 10 Blazelore @ 03/06/08 03:07 PM

Cosigns

# 11 callmetaternuts @ 03/06/08 03:08 PM

I know its EA and we have all been dissapointed, but lets wait and see what they have. IMO, it does sound like Branching animations from last year, but im not a programmer either. Just bring us the atmosphere, tighten up the AI and im good to go

# 12 mvb34 @ 03/06/08 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBucc


	Wasn't breaking out of animations the same thing they hyped up last year?

# 13 jmood88 @ 03/06/08 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageTheInfinite


	Unless the atmosphere and immersion is improved I can't purchase this or Madden. I'm tired of the dull presentation in EA's football games. I want to be excited and look forward to playing games in my franchise and seeing new things. NBA 2k8 and MLB The Show have spoiled it for all other games. Its time for football to make that leap.

I feel the same way. During college football season I would get all excited and want to play a game but when I put the game in I play for 5 minutes and just turn it off cause it's boring as hell.

# 14 Cardot @ 03/06/08 05:05 PM

I hate to be a negative pr1ck, but I have to say that "wide-open collegiate style gameplay" and "all-new Break Away Animation" makes me a bit nervous. I don't want to see every other play go for 80 yards with scores commonly in the 60's.

'08 was probalby tilted a little too far towards the defense. But EA typically likes the offensive game....sounds like we are headed back there this year.

# 15 jfsolo @ 03/06/08 06:33 PM

Since I'm this game's bitch, It will be the same as always for me. Hope for the best, expect the worst, buy the game on release day for sure, see how bad the worse gameplay and A.I. flaws are, see what slider adjustments can be made to minimize these flaws, play Dynasty mode until I can't take the flaws any more, wait again for 2010.

# 16 jrod1981 @ 03/06/08 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfsolo


	Since I'm this game's bitch, It will be the same as always for me. Hope for the best, expect the worst, buy the game on release day for sure, see how bad the worse gameplay and A.I. flaws are, see what slider adjustments can be made to minimize these flaws, play Dynasty mode until I can't take the flaws any more, wait again for 2010.

LOL, i'll be right there with you brotha!

# 17 Scott @ 03/06/08 07:13 PM

I skipped NCAA the past few years, so hopefully it'll be a big improvement over 2006.

# 18 superjames1992 @ 03/06/08 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmood88


	I feel the same way. During college football season I would get all excited and want to play a game but when I put the game in I play for 5 minutes and just turn it off cause it's boring as hell.

Amen! Yes, the game was SO boring last year. It was not even really the turnovers that drove me away from the game, but the fact it was SO boring. If they don't improve on that and get better presentation and maybe some referees on the field for crying out loud, I will be disappointed. Unfortunately, I think I am falling into the trap of buying this game again...

# 19 VWarrior @ 03/06/08 10:39 PM

I'm mostly concerned about the gameplay issues of 08 and I hope they've seriously fixed those FIRST before they began putting a lot of effort into the new content. The last thing I want is a couple pretty new features slapped on already broken.

That being said, the big #2 is the presentation! I know i'm not the only one here who is sick of garbage presentation in EA's sports games. Its sad when NFL 2K5's presentation still outclasses EA football games today. I'm a fan of NCAA Football because I love NCAA Football. I play this game for the virtual immersion of NCAA Football and its darn hard to get that feeling when the game doesn't even play out like like a college football, EA!!

Noisy/Rowdy stadiums, pre game field rushes by the teams, bands, crowd pans, shots of the sidelines (especially the coaches as its done on TV all the time), chants, these are subset of the essence of college football so put them in the darn game!!! And you know what? How about a post-game field rush by fans following a huge upset or big victory over your archrival or something?

And addition to that, how about the freakin' standard presentation of elements of football, period such as on-field referees, actual visuals of referees calling penalties, close measurements by the chain gang, and how about an injured player actually being tended to and helped off the field instead of everybody looking the other way while he just lays there in the middle of field.

Solid presentation can tremendously affect my enjoyment of the game EA is LONG overdue to put some actual effort into it.

# 20 Blazelore @ 03/07/08 12:33 AM

One good thing is since all pro came out after a long hiatus it was still innovative. I'm hoping EA gets that innovative spirit back like they did for 05. I know I'm not the only one when they first showed 2k5 who was like "how the hell is Madden gonna top this?" This is a make or break year for EA. The college game better get right. The hell with the ESPN radio updates I want stat overlay, presentation,the works!. I remember in 04 when you would break loose a long run the crowd would go crazy if you were the home team. Even the home field advantage is past tense. I don't know about you guys but don't you think the game should play faster? Not that half speed sprint that they have...

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EA Selects Darren McFadden as the First of Four Cover Athletes for NCAA Football 09