NCAA Football '98

NCAA Football '98
Developer(s)EA Tiburon
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
SeriesNCAA Football
Platform(s)PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation
Windows
Genre(s)Sports, American football
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

NCAA Football '98 is a video game of the sports genre released in 1997 by Electronic Arts. The game featured University of Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel on the cover.

Gameplay

This was the first game in the series to feature a multi-season Dynasty Mode, allowing players to take control of a team for four seasons and recruit players to fill out roster vacancies at the completion of each season.[3] EA Sports obtained a formal licensing agreement for the first time with NCAA in the year of 1998. Additionally, it was EA's first college football game to carry the name and logo of the NCAA. Its ability to use the NCAA's brands in the game were the result of a licensing deal intended primarily for EA's NCAA March Madness basketball games (first released in February 1998) and its incorporation of the Men's Division I Basketball Championship.[4]

Development

The game uses an enhanced version of the Madden NFL 97 engine.[3] Play-by-play commentary was done by Chuck White and NCAA referee Bill McCall.[3]

Reception

The game received above-average reviews on both platforms. Though critics said the PlayStation version was somewhat outdated due to its use of the Madden NFL 97 engine, noting in particular the grainy, sprite-based graphics[9][12][13][16] and easily overcome opponent A.I.,[9][12] most found that it offered overall fun and authentic college football.[12][13][16] They especially praised the new Dynasty Mode[12][13][16] and the playbooks custom-designed for each team.[9][12][16] GamePro called it "the best 32-bit college football game to date, easily defeating last season's NCAA GameBreaker."[16][a] GameSpot concluded that "With its awesome features, authenticity, and fun gameplay, NCAA 98 is the perfect game for college football fanatics, despite its mediocre graphics and computer AI", though they added that Madden NFL 98 is a better choice for a general football audience.[12] Electronic Gaming Monthly's Dean Hager wrote that "College football is an acquired taste for most, but for those of you who love Madden football, NCAA is a must."[9]

Notes

  1. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4/5 scores for graphics and sound, 5/5 for control, and 4.5/5 for overall fun factor.

References

  1. ^ Johnston, Chris (August 5, 1997). "EA Kicks Off NCAA '98". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 2, 1999. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  2. ^ Jebens, Harley (October 21, 1997). "Release Party [date mislabeled as "April 26, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on April 24, 1999. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c EGM staff (August 1997). "NCAA Football 98: EA Is Betting that their All-New Collegiate Football Game Is a Gamebreaker". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 97. Ziff Davis. p. 113.
  4. ^ Good, Owen (July 21, 2013). "EA Sports Didn't Need the NCAA's Logo, and Maybe It Didn't Want It". Kotaku. G/O Media. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  5. ^ Romero, Joshua. "NCAA Football 98 (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Falk, Hugh (November 13, 1997). "NCAA Football 98 (PC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Marrin, John (December 19, 1997). "Quick Hits: NCAA Football [98] (PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Bauman, Steve (1997). "NCAA Football 98". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 23, 2003. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean (October 1997). "NCAA Football 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 99. p. 192.
  10. ^ "NCAA Football 98 (PS)". Game Informer. No. 53. FuncoLand. September 1997. Archived from the original on September 30, 1999. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  11. ^ Kaiafas, Tasos (November 26, 1997). "NCAA Football 98 Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on January 4, 2005. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Lerhman, Darren (August 22, 1997). "NCAA Football 98 Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on November 10, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d Boor, Jason "Jay" (August 5, 1997). "NCAA Football '98 (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  14. ^ Perez, Dindo (November 1997). "NCAA Football 98". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 1, no. 2. Ziff Davis. p. 94. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  15. ^ Smolka, Rob (February 1998). "NCAA Football 98". PC Gamer. Vol. 5, no. 2. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on March 3, 2000. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d e Johnny Ballgame (October 1997). "NCAA Football Captures the College Championship". GamePro. No. 109. IDG. p. 154. Retrieved August 7, 2021.


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