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Home Sports updates

'Coverboy' unveiled for NCAA Football 09 Wii
5:31 PM on 03.18.2008, Samit Sarkar 24 comments

'Coverboy' unveiled for NCAA Football 09 Wii photo
     Sports

In case you aren’t up-to-date, EA Sports is doing their video game covers a bit differently this year. The 360, Wii, and PS3 versions of NCAA Football 09 will each have their own covers, while the PS2 and PSP versions will feature the same athlete. EA is staggering the announcements; the first cover to be revealed was that of the 360 version of the game — so Darren McFadden’s fans are already satisfied.

The Wii version’s cover was put up to a vote, and after 700,000 votes were tallied, the winner was announced today. The man who will grace the cover is ... (pause for effect) ... Sparty the Spartan!

If you’re scratching your head as to who (or what) “Sparty” is, he’s the mascot for the Michigan State Spartans. EA has included an in-game rendering of Sparty (check the gallery) along with the official press release (check the jump) for your viewing pleasure.

In addition to a brief bio, the press spiel includes some Wii-specific details: the game “will focus on a more stylized gameplay” and “will feature EA SPORTS Family Play controls”. I can’t wait. All five versions of NCAA Football 09 are set for release this July. You can head over to the official website for the Wii version to see the actual Wii box art.

SPARTY THE SPARTAN FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SELECTED AS NCAA FOOTBALL 09 COVER MASCOT FOR THE WII

March 18, 2008 – The people have spoken! EA SPORTS asked college football fans to vote and determine which college mascot would have the honor of being on the cover of NCAA Football 09 for the Nintendo Wii. Although it was a tightly contested race, Sparty the Spartan from Michigan State University came out victorious.

Sparty the Spartan is Michigan State University's fearless and loveable mascot and a figure known throughout the state of Michigan across the nation. Sparty, the heart of Michigan State, is a National Mascot Champion and has participated in the Universal Cheer Association's National Championships.

Through the NCAA Football 09 Wii Cover Mascot Challenge, fans went online and cast more than 700,000 votes for their favorite mascots. Mascots from Central Florida, Washington State, Auburn, LSU, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa State, Alabama and Penn State rounded out the top ten.

NCAA Football 09 for the Nintendo Wii will focus on a more stylized gameplay that is quick and easy for fans to jump in and out of great head-to-head action, or manage their favorite college team through the "Dynasty Mode". New to the Nintendo Wii platform, NCAA Football 09 will feature EA SPORTS Family Play controls, a multiplayer social experience that allows novice users to compete against advanced players and still enjoy success. The Easy Play controls are designed for the more novice fans, but also feature a traditional default setting for the more seasoned veterans. NCAA Football 09 will feature close to 200 schools from both the FBS and FCS divisions, making it the most authentic college sports gaming experience available for the Nintendo Wii.

For more information, please visit www.ncaafootball09.com.


LAUNCH GALLERY (1 IMAGES)
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EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar
EternalDeathSlayer at 03/18/2008 17:41
Offtopic @ Samit:

I told my little brother what you said about Nick Chester possibly going to Video Games Live NYC and he almost creamed himself, he's so excited he might catch a glimpse of an editor! Then I told him about you. He actually knew who you were and all and was even more excited.

Looks like you've got a groupie. (He's 14 and thinks Dtoid is incredible.)

If you don't make it home alive that night from the Beacon, my apologies in advance. He's a bit strange.

Lol. Just saying.
Endstiem's Avatar
Endstiem at 03/18/2008 17:45
Looks like a piece of shit rolled into man-form.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 03/18/2008 17:48
@EDS: Do I have my first fanboy? :)
mikeyed's Avatar
mikeyed at 03/18/2008 17:49
Wow, then it's pretty convenient that I happen to be attending that school.

I'd be happier if it was the stunning bronze statue and NOT the Mickey Mouse-like character, but who am I kidding? I don't really care about most (College) football games, it's either Tecmo Bowl or Blitz (the classic N64 version) for me.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar
EternalDeathSlayer at 03/18/2008 17:53
I believe you do. What nationality are you, if you don't mind me asking? He's got a lot of friends from India and Pakistan and shit that he games with. Apparently it's a big demographic.
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 03/18/2008 17:55
THIS IS SPARTY!!!
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 03/18/2008 17:57
@EDS: I’m Indian.

@king3vbo: I was debating whether or not to use that joke, but I thought it was too obvious. In fact, I’m surprised it took this many comments for someone to make it. Well played, sir.
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 03/18/2008 17:59
...



lol.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 03/18/2008 18:03
GO GREEN, GO WHITE, GO STATE!

The Spartans fan in me is pleased.
crunks's Avatar
crunks at 03/18/2008 18:23
For 2010, we will vote Jack Thompson on to the cover.
Polish Hill's Avatar
Polish Hill at 03/18/2008 19:07
As a PSU fan I have to see MSU every year but I never noticed how strange Sparty's muscles looked. Test him for HGH please k thx.
NightDehumidifier's Avatar
NightDehumidifier at 03/18/2008 20:12
Wii gets kiddie mascot. Inferior version confirmed.
Rucksack's Avatar
Rucksack at 03/18/2008 20:20
My girlfriend and 44,000 other undergrads go to MSU.

That's a huge fucking campus let me tell you...
jdub28's Avatar
jdub28 at 03/18/2008 20:26
every year gamestop usuallyprints out the cover mascot that you want or you can print it out from ea.com or another custom covers site. if they were gonna go with a mascot they should have picked someone more recognizable like the buckeye or the oregon duck
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 03/18/2008 20:42
it all sounded pretty good until I read this:

NCAA Football 09 for the Nintendo Wii will focus on a more stylized gameplay that is quick and easy for fans to jump in and out of great head-to-head action

somehow I lost my faith...
mikeyed's Avatar
mikeyed at 03/18/2008 21:11
@mistic

MSU has been accused of being anti-intellectual. We're not not UoM Ann Arbor for nothing. Complicated controls bad. MSU mad. MSU SMASH WiiMote!
MPHtails's Avatar
MPHtails at 03/18/2008 21:30
jdub28 says:
if they were gonna go with a mascot they should have picked someone more recognizable like the buckeye or the oregon


Yeah, lets put the mascot of the 2 time defending BCS losers on the cover of our game.

LOLhio state aside, FUCK YEAH MICH. STATE. Yeah, maybe not the best choice for a foosball game, but the FUCK YEAH stands.
jdub28's Avatar
jdub28 at 03/18/2008 23:57
at mphtails

lets see, Zabransky, Harrington, Weinke, Wuerffel, and Tommie Frazier were all cover boys. Not exactly winners. I hate the buckeyes but just like the yankees everyone either hates them with a passion or loves them but EVERYBODY KNOWS THERE MASCOT
brad drac's Avatar
brad drac at 03/19/2008 07:52
Egads, that render is hideous. I mean, fucking awful. Not that I'd buy the game anyway, but they really think that thing is going to attract purchases?
Sueng's Avatar
Sueng at 03/19/2008 09:23
Wait, he's wearing green? WTF? King Leonidas is confused.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 03/19/2008 12:46
@Sueng

Are Spartans supposed to wear red?
marko72's Avatar
marko72 at 03/24/2008 22:39
[sarcasm]I think that Nintendo is taking a step in the right direction here. Most of the college kids I know around here say that Sparty is the most recognizable face of college football.[/sarcasm]

Someone bomb their marketing department now.
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