Sometimes, just playing football isn’t enough. The die-hards who crave the ability to micromanage every aspect of the game, just like a real NFL head coach would, need something more than a mere Madden game. So EA, as the owners of the NFL exclusivity license, tried to put gamers in the shoes of head coaches with 2006’s NFL Head Coach, but by most accounts, the game was something of a failure. Not only did it feature many inaccuracies — deadly when you’re trying to create a football sim — it just ended up being boring as well.
In the interim, EA Sports has decided to give it another go. On February 26, they announced the upcoming release of NFL Head Coach 09 (so one would assume that, pending its success, EA will turn it into a full-on franchise with annual installments). The game will provide “a unique NFL experience that gives gamers the power to make decisions that define their career and ultimately the fate of their franchise as a head coach in the NFL”. Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, will grace the cover of the game.
Check out the first six screens of the game below, as well as the cover artwork. Frankly, I don’t think they make the game look very fun or interesting, but you might have a different opinion. The full press release from EA can be found after the jump, and more details on the game are available at its official Web site. NFL Head Coach 09 will be out this year for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
EA ANNOUNCES THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF NFL HEAD COACH
Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy Will Grace the Cover of NFL Licensed Strategy Game
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., – February 26, 2008 – Put on your headset, grab your clipboard and see if you have what it takes to be a head coach in the National Football League. Today, Electronic Arts Inc, (NASDAQ: ERTS) announces NFL Head Coach 09, featuring Indianapolis Colts’ head coach Tony Dungy on the game’s cover. Released under the EA SPORTS™ brand, NFL Head Coach 09 is a unique NFL experience that gives gamers the power to make decisions that define their career and ultimately the fate of their franchise as a head coach in the NFL.
“In NFL Head Coach 09, the gamer has complete control of their franchise?s destiny,” says NFL Head Coach 09 Executive Producer Jeremy Strauser. “From draft day to game day, the gamers’ decisions impact their team’s success and make or break a team’s road to the Super Bowl.”
In 2007, Dungy became the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl when the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI. Since Dungy’s arrival to Indianapolis in 2001, the Colts have earned six playoff berths and have won more than 70 regular-season games. Dungy has an impressive .661 winning percentage as a head coach over the past 12 seasons.
NFL Head Coach 09 provides a complete NFL experience, offering a variety of different ways to control an NFL franchise, on and off the field, in-season and off-season. With strategic game planning features, NFL Head Coach 09 places gamers in the coach’s seat by allowing gamers to comprehensively scout the opponent, build playbooks, and develop a team that will adapt to the philosophy and system of an NFL franchise.
The sideline is your playing field in NFL Head Coach 09 – gamers can make adjustments to plays and game strategies in an instant. The outcome of every game depends on game-time decisions made on the sideline. Success depends on proper preparation and knowledge of the opposing teams’ strategies, as well as expert and timely play calling.
Developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon, NFL Head Coach 09 will be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft.
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 hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAAFootball, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR and NASCAR racing.
