NFL GameDay (video game series)

NFL GameDay
Box art for NFL GameDay 99.
Genres	Football Simulation
Developers	989 Sports (formerly Sony Interactive Studios America)
Publishers	989 Sports (formerly Sony Interactive Studios America)
First release	NFL GameDay November 21, 1995
Latest release	NFL GameDay 2005 August 1, 2004

NFL GameDay was a football video game series for both the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 video game consoles. NFL GameDay directly competed with EA Sports' Madden NFL Football and Sega's NFL 2K franchises. The NFL GameDay series began with NFL GameDay released for the 1995-96 NFL season and ended with NFL GameDay 2005 following EA's acquisition of exclusive NFL licensing. The games were designed by 989 Sports throughout their ten-year duration.

NFL GameDay

NFL GameDay was the first video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released November 21, 1995^[1] on the PlayStation by Sony Interactive Studios America as a competitor to the Madden football game series. On the cover is William Floyd.^{[citation needed]}

Reception

The game was a success for Sony, selling over 300,000 copies.^[2]

NFL GameDay 97

NFL GameDay 97 was the second video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released December 5, 1996^[3] on the PlayStation by Sony Interactive Studios America. On the cover is Daryl Johnston.

Reception

The game was another success for Sony, selling over 350,000 copies.^[4]

NFL GameDay 98

NFL GameDay 98 was the third video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 26, 1997^[5] on the PlayStation by Sony Interactive Studios America. On the cover is Jerome Bettis.

NFL GameDay 99

NFL GameDay 99 was the fourth game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 26, 1998 on the PlayStation, and August 31, 1998 on the PC, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is Terrell Davis.

Reception

It was originally criticized for people feeling "like (they) were in an arcade with extreme difficulty."^{[citation needed]} Nonetheless, GameDay quickly became a best-selling series.

NFL GameDay 2000

NFL GameDay 2000 was the fifth video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 11, 1999^[6] on the PlayStation by 989 Sports. On the cover is Terrell Davis.^[6]

NFL GameDay 2001

NFL GameDay 2001 was the sixth video game in the NFL GameDay series, and the first to be released on the PlayStation 2. It was released August 15, 2000^[7] on the PlayStation, and November 16, 2000^[8] on the PlayStation 2, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is Marshall Faulk.^[7]

NFL GameDay 2002

NFL GameDay 2002 was the seventh video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 7, 2001^[9] on the PlayStation, and December 4, 2001^[10] on the PlayStation 2, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is Donovan McNabb.^[9][10]

NFL GameDay 2003

NFL GameDay 2003 was the eighth video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 13, 2002^[11] on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is Tom Brady.^[12]

NFL GameDay 2004

NFL GameDay 2004 was the ninth video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 26, 2003^[13] on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is LaDainian Tomlinson.^[13]

NFL GameDay 2005

NFL GameDay 2005 was the tenth and final game in the NFL GameDay series, and unlike the last few GameDay video games, it was only available on the PlayStation console, and not on the PlayStation 2. It was released on August 1, 2004. On the cover is Derrick Brooks.

Competition

The GameDay series had been on a decline since GameDay 2000. It was formerly the highest ranked football game, ahead of Madden, the 2K Sports series, and NFL Blitz, but it was now behind not only its main competitor, Madden, but also the NFL 2K series. Due to sales being low, NFL GameDay made what seemed to be a last ditch effort to get back on top by going back to the PlayStation exclusively, possibly trying to give it back the "original gameplay feel" it originally had. In any case, it was still not a big enough hit to put it through, and it, along with all other NFL licensed games, were discontinued due to the NFL signing exclusively with Electronic Arts.

Reception

Mostly critics agreed that this looked like a "Hail Mary", to save the series, and it was "Incomplete".^{[citation needed]} The game had enhanced graphics, and put in a new configuration that would make you feel like you are "the quarterback yourself." Critics said that they felt like they were "getting the same game they got years ago, just out of style." Other complaints included that sound was off, and that it was too easy, which is a strange complaint considering the first game was criticized as being too hard.

Declining popularity

In response to the criticism that the game felt "too arcadey", the series took on a more Madden-inspired style of play starting with NFL GameDay 99. Some people felt that the change of play-style made the game less fun and, combined with Madden switching to polygon technology, the GameDay series lost the crown as the best selling football game the following year.

The end of the GameDay series

The NFL GameDay series did not transition well to the PlayStation 2 platform and lost a great deal of market share. In the end, the GameDay series, along with all other non-EA football games, were doomed to extinction when Electronic Arts acquired exclusive rights to the NFL license.

External Links

• NFL at us.playstation.com

References

1. ^ "NFL GameDay brings next-generation realism to the electronic gridiron". Business Wire. December 4, 1995. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1995_Dec_4/ai_17809970/. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
2. ^ "NFL GameDay" at the top of the charts". Business Wire. April 8, 1996. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_April_8/ai_18164441/. Retrieved 2011-05-02. 
3. ^ "NFL GameDay '97 to Hit Retail Shelves on December 5". Business Wire. November 18, 1996. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_Nov_18/ai_18861890/. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
4. ^ "NFL GameDay '97 Sacks the Competition". Business Wire. February 11, 1997. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1997_Feb_11/ai_19105306/. Retrieved 2011-05-08. 
5. ^ "NFL Gameday '98 Hits Retail Shelves Today". Business Wire. August 26, 1997. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1997_August_26/ai_19696968/. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "NFL GameDay 2000 Redefines Football Videogame Category". Business Wire. August 9, 1999. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_August_9/ai_55388704/. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "NFL GameDay(TM) 2001 for the PlayStation(R) Game Console Hits the Line At Full Speed on August 15.". PR Newswire. August 14, 2000. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NFL+GameDay%28TM%29+2001+for+the+PlayStation%28R%29+Game+Console+Hits+the...-a064145374. Retrieved 2011-05-08. 
8. ^ "NFL GameDay(TM) 2001 Kicks Off for the Playstation(R) 2 Computer Entertainment System.". PR Newswire. November 16, 2000. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/989+Sports%27%28TM%29+NFL+GameDay%28TM%29+2001+Kicks+Off+for+the+Playstation%28R%29...-a067454484. Retrieved 2011-05-08. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "NFL GameDay(TM) 2002 Takes to the Gridiron for Another PlayStation(R) Season.". PR Newswire. August 7, 2001. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NFL+GameDay%28TM%29+2002+Takes+to+the+Gridiron+for+Another+PlayStation%28R%29...-a077022314. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "NFL GameDay(TM) 2002 Now Available for Gridiron Action On the PlayStation(R)2 Computer Entertainment System". PR Newswire. December 4, 2001. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/All+New+and+Redesigned+NFL+GameDay%28TM%29+2002+Now+Available+for...-a080595728. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
11. ^ "989 Sports(R) Kicks Off the Football Season with NFL GameDay(TM) 2003 for Both PlayStation(R) and PlayStation(R)2 Platforms". PR Newswire. August 13, 2002. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/989+Sports%28R%29+Kicks+Off+the+Football+Season+with+NFL+GameDay%28TM%29+2003...-a090831828. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
12. ^ "Tom Brady Signs on as Cover Athlete for 989 Sports(R)' NFL GameDay(TM) 2003". PR Newswire. May 16, 2002. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Super+Bowl+XXXVI+MVP+Tom+Brady+Signs+on+as+Cover+Athlete+for+989...-a086011605. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
13. ^ ^{a b} "989 Sports(R) Kicks Off the Football Season with the Release of NFL GameDay(TM) 2004 for PlayStation(R)2". PR Newswire. August 26, 2003. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/989+Sports%28R%29+Kicks+Off+the+Football+Season+with+the+Release+of+NFL...-a0106896838. Retrieved 2011-05-17.