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

# 21 SageInfinite @ 03/07/08 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VWarrior


	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.

Co-Sign

# 22 J-Unit40 @ 03/07/08 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Soldier


	I feel you on that. It's like, I know the game won't be overly improved, and even if it is, they'll still manage to mess something else up. Plus, after the individualization of the APF players, it felt silly in NCAA when the only real thing you had to do on offense was flick the right stick up and the players would magically make whatever move was needed. That said, I know that on the second or third Tuesday in July, I'll have the game in hand.

Co-sign. NCAA owns me every July. I'm just a sucker because I love college football. The Impact/Highlight Stick is something that I have always hated. Let me, the user, decide if I want to stutter step and go right or spin. Don't sucker me into some animation that fits with a tackle or mis-tackle.

See you in the middle of July (again).

# 23 noplace @ 03/07/08 09:55 AM

EA is Lazy...No excuse to make a College Football game & not include the pageantry that makes the game what it is today. They must just be developers & not fans of the game. Presentation is one of the main reason's I cant play this shyt! There is gameplay issues but I can over look some if the presentation was up to par. Without that I seem to see so much more BS because I'm bored to death....Come on EA!!!

# 24 fistofrage @ 03/07/08 11:58 AM

McFadden was on Xplay talking about being the cover athlete. They also showed clips from the game. I hope they were showing him running in the 2008 game, because if that is what NCAA 09 will look like, its just more of the same old EA.

# 25 Blazelore @ 03/07/08 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fistofrage


	McFadden was on Xplay talking about being the cover athlete. They also showed clips from the game. I hope they were showing him running in the 2008 game, because if that is what NCAA 09 will look like, its just more of the same old EA.

That was definitely 08. Its too early to show live in game footage.

# 26 Kevin26385 @ 03/09/08 02:50 PM

Looks like the Xbox and PS2 cover are running backs, and the PS3 cover is a QB.

# 27 whittleboy615 @ 03/09/08 07:25 PM

I think they messed up McFadden's fingers when they were photoshopping the cover shot. They look too skinny and too bony.

I found the original picture. It's definitely been edited it a lot.

# 28 davin @ 03/09/08 07:40 PM

I don't really like the cover picture. Something just seems wrong to me, it seems to be too white. Like the background is white, mcfadden's arms are really shiny, I just think there is way too much white on that design. Maybe they just quickly threw something together or it looks different in person. I realize this is so damn nitpicky, but it has annoyed me.

# 29 countryboy @ 03/09/08 08:11 PM

What I wouldn't give to have Brian Brohm as the cover athlete for the PS3 version.

Anyhow, I'll be purchasing this game again. Yes it has its flaws, but I don't know how I could not play college football game during college football season. And just like last year, if the PS3 version blows chunks, then I'll purchase the PS2 version again and play last gen football.

# 30 Kevin26385 @ 03/09/08 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboy


	What I wouldn't give to have Brian Brohm as the cover athlete for the PS3 version. Anyhow, I'll be purchasing this game again. Yes it has its flaws, but I don't know how I could not play college football game during college football season. And just like last year, if the PS3 version blows chunks, then I'll purchase the PS2 version again and play last gen football.

On Ea's website they have a QB shaded on the PS3 cover, I was thinking it might be Dennis Dixon

# 31 cubsfan203 @ 03/09/08 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whittleboy615


	I think they messed up McFadden's fingers when they were photoshopping the cover shot. They look too skinny and too bony. [/img]

I noticed that when I looked at it as well.

# 32 countryboy @ 03/09/08 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dipstick


	What exactly is the problem with the PS3 version. I have the PS3 version and I don't see the problem with it.

30FPS, turnover glitch, snow that "whites" out the field, lackluster crowd, not formation subs, and a few other subtle but annoying things.

# 33 eDotd @ 03/09/08 11:36 PM

It's gonna be weird seeing the same game with different covers.

# 34 LBzrule @ 03/10/08 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomentousCeltic


	It's gonna be weird seeing the same game with different covers.

They will market it so well and make you think you have to collect them all Pokemon style.

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