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How many of you play in fantasy football leagues every fall? Well, probably not that many, since this is Destructoid, after all. But think of the thousands -- nay, millions -- of people across the nation who participate in office pools and “roto” leagues every year. Now think of how many of those people own a PlayStation 3 or an Xbox 360. That’s a pretty sizable area of convergence there on your mental Venn diagram, isn’t it?
It was only a matter of time before someone attempted to capitalize on that, and EA has put together an impressive-sounding package to do so. They’ve launched a new Web site, fantasy.EASPORTS.com, where you can play fantasy football. It sounds like your average, standard-fare Internet fantasy football league -- there are endless other sites where you can do the same thing.
But EA’s one-upped all their competitors by developing two applications specifically for the PS3 and 360, EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker and EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Live Score Tracker. They’re meant to work in conjunction with EA SPORTS Fantasy Football on the Web site and take your experience “to the next level.” Fantasy football is free on the Web site, but the applications will be available on the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace for “a fee.”
Each of the apps offers some very cool features to help manage your league more easily -- see the press release after the jump and the attached screenshots for more details -- but what really impressed me is EA SPORTS Fantasy Football’s integration with Madden NFL 09. Have you ever wanted to actually play with your stacked fantasy team in a videogame? Well, you’ll be able to do that this year. The team will serve as a fully-functional created team, so it’ll be playable in all areas that normal created teams have access to (yes, that includes online multiplayer!).
So how many of you are now chomping at the bit for Madden 09 and these apps?
EA SPORTS™ FANTASY FOOTBALL DELIVERS INNOVATIVE CONSOLE-BASED TOOLS AND IN-GAME INTEGRATION WITH MADDEN NFL 09
EA SPORTS™ Fantasy Football is the Complete Fantasy Football Experience
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., - June 16, 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that EA SPORTS™ Fantasy Football will be launching a new website, fantasy.EASPORTS.com and will have fantasy football applications specific to the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system later this summer. The web-based service of EA SPORTS Fantasy Football is free, while members of Xbox LIVE or PLAYSTATION 3 Network will have the opportunity to download the innovative fantasy football applications for a fee. In addition, for the first time ever, gamers will have the ability to play their fantasy football squad in Madden NFL 09. EA Experts, a team of internal fantasy football gurus, returns and serves as a go-to source for all fantasy football information.
"EA SPORTS Fantasy Football this year takes fantasy football leagues to the next level," said EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Executive Producer Jeremy Strauser. "Through our draft day and live scoring applications we have made fantasy football a truly interactive and innovative experience. In addition, we have created integration between our EA SPORTS Fantasy Football product and Madden NFL 09 which gives the football gamer the complete football gaming experience."
Exclusive to EA SPORTS Fantasy Football customers, gamers will have the ability to download the EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker application and experience a fantasy draft that includes all of the fanfare and presentation of an authentic professional football draft on their Xbox 360 or PLAYSTATION 3. The days of paper draft boards are over and gamers can view video clips and hear the EA Experts team provide commentary on top players. Moreover, gamers will be able to track their EA SPORTS Fantasy Football teams and leagues through the EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Live Score Tracker application, which is also available via download from Xbox LIVE or PLAYSTATION 3 Network. The fantasy scores can be viewed in two ways: full screen mode with complete rosters and details or picture-in-picture mode which allows gamers to keep an eye on scoring updates while watching live football action.
If you've ever wanted to test your fantasy team against others in the Madden NFL franchise, EA SPORTS Fantasy Football now gives you the opportunity. Through the website, players designate which fantasy team will be imported into Madden NFL 09. This fantasy team is a fully-functional created team and can be played in all areas available to created teams, including online head-to-head games, providing the ultimate football gaming experience.
EA SPORTS Fantasy Football is an officially licensed product of NFL PLAYERS, the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association.
EA SPORTS Fantasy Football is developed in Orlando, Florida by the award-winning EA Tiburon studio, which also produces Madden NFL 09, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.
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.
Not something I'd personally be into, but that's pretty damn cool for sports fans. I would hope the app would be around $5 though, especially if it's free through the web.
@Mxyzptlk: No, you misunderstood. Playing fantasy football on the website is free, but the apps — which provide functionality that you can’t get any other way — are what EA is charging for. But I agree with you on the price.
hey samit, this sounds awesome for hardcore football fans, people who buy madden regardless and who play fantasy football. This is only a good thing, but isnt the main draw behind fantasy football the opportunity to win real money? If they could get that worked out we would really be onto something.
@big filth: Well, you could always just place the bets or set up the winnings structure yourself. For example: everybody puts in $5, and the winner gets the whole thing. You don’t need the site to do that.
I really like the concept, but I am not surprised that EA has figured out a way to make it free, but for a fee....If this was a special feature in the Madden 09 CE that would be great....And integrate the fantasy teams with the new online leagues would be sweet.
I thought that it would have been more along the lines of the FF done all through the console itself. I think it is tough to really pound out the feature and maximize its use by doing it partly through the web. They should do it all through the console, but allow you to manipulate your teams and view stats via the PC.
I guess I can't see expect that EA wouldn't keep themselves reserved and not try to milk folks for all they can. (I will admit I'm getting the Madden 09 CE though since it will have the revamped NFL Head Coach 09 included...)
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Not something I'd personally be into, but that's pretty damn cool for sports fans. I would hope the app would be around $5 though, especially if it's free through the web.
comin up next, gambling with your consoles!
@Mxyzptlk: No, you misunderstood. Playing fantasy football on the website is free, but the apps — which provide functionality that you can’t get any other way — are what EA is charging for. But I agree with you on the price.
Fantasy football?!
I made Payton Manning a bard but I should re-roll him as a paladin.
hey samit, this sounds awesome for hardcore football fans, people who buy madden regardless and who play fantasy football. This is only a good thing, but isnt the main draw behind fantasy football the opportunity to win real money? If they could get that worked out we would really be onto something.
@big filth: Well, you could always just place the bets or set up the winnings structure yourself. For example: everybody puts in $5, and the winner gets the whole thing. You don’t need the site to do that.
What is fantasy football? I've read about it several times years ago but I just can't wrap my head around the concept.
Gay?
It's like...Dungeons and Dragons for jocks or something.
@The-Excel, Brahms: See here. Fantasy leagues exist for most sports (I used to be really into fantasy baseball).
Fantasy Fest > Fantasy Football
I'm giving the point to Some Jerk on this one. No need for any more fantasy jokes, he's got it covered.
Just follow the wiki, man.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_football_(American)
You kids need to get on board. This is friggin sweet. Though I give credit to Workmeng for sharing that this game was being made a couple months ago.
/salute Samit
I really like the concept, but I am not surprised that EA has figured out a way to make it free, but for a fee....If this was a special feature in the Madden 09 CE that would be great....And integrate the fantasy teams with the new online leagues would be sweet.
I thought that it would have been more along the lines of the FF done all through the console itself. I think it is tough to really pound out the feature and maximize its use by doing it partly through the web. They should do it all through the console, but allow you to manipulate your teams and view stats via the PC.
I guess I can't see expect that EA wouldn't keep themselves reserved and not try to milk folks for all they can. (I will admit I'm getting the Madden 09 CE though since it will have the revamped NFL Head Coach 09 included...)
Nice find Samit.
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