NFL Head Coach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| NFL Head Coach | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | EA Tiburon |
| Publisher(s) | EA Sports |
| Engine | Madden 2006 Engine |
| Release date(s) | June 20, 2006 (PS2, Windows, Xbox) TBA (Wii)[citation needed] |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone (E) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows |
| Input | PC: Keyboard, Mouse, Game Controller (Optional) |
NFL Head Coach is an American football video game which was first sold on June 20, 2006. Touted by publisher EA Sports as the first true 3D sports strategy game, it features former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher on the cover.
The concept behind the game puts the player in the position of a head coach for an NFL franchise. The player will make roster moves, create playbooks, and hire and fire assistant coaches. Success is measured by wins, playoff success, how well the player does in the NFL draft and the careers of assistants.
The game begins the week after Super Bowl XL. The coach that the player is about to take control of was formerly the offensive/defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers and is now ready to move up to take the reins of an entire team. First, the player selects a team and then proceeds to the job interview. Depending on how well the interview goes, the player will get up to 5 offers from 5 teams. The player selects a team and then signs a contract with them. In addition to being the head coach, the player is also the general manager of the team. On the first day, the player will meet the team owner. Aside from meeting the team owner, the player also meets the other coaches with whom he will work.
[edit] Criticism
- Shortly after NFL Head Coach hit the shelves, gamers noticed many faults to the gameplay. Much of it resides in the AI, as it is very similar, if not exactly the same as, the AI used in the Madden games. The classic punt return problem (the user is not provided with any blocking from his own team against the punting team's players, which leads to having to signal a fair catch or risking a fumble) is still present among these issues. The quarterback does not seem to understand screen passes and often takes a sack, throws deep to one of the other options, or scrambles, but rarely throws to the receiver he is supposed to. Other prevalent glitches that upset fans are the freeze ups that occur in practices. However, the freeze-ups can be solved by unplugging and plugging back in the controller, although you are still forced to revert to your office and your players get no credit for the practice. Also, quarterbacks are by far the most suspectible to loss of attribute points after mistakes. A quarterback can be at full points all week in practice, but an interception or fumble will automatically put him back at the lowest of points.
- Another issue is the names on the jerseys. If a player is standing close to the head coach on the sidelines, the name on the back of his jersey will be blank.
- When interviewing a coach, you are not able to gear the questions to that coaching opening.
- The long load time and repetitive animations make the game compare unfavorably to games of similar concept on personal computers, which are largely text-based and therefore have very low processing overhead.
- Players's progression and regression are often extremely fast and unexpected. Many times a player will gain or lose an overall atribute every week. This leads to having rookie players becoming all stars in their first year. Also, an all-pro player will take a sudden and steep drop with their atributes the second they are "over the hill".
- The initial player draft was faulty and unbelievable; A.J. Hawk was usually the first pick, with Reggie Bush and Vince Young as mid-first round picks.
- On all platforms except PC, the quarter length was locked at 5 minutes, and on PC, you could only change it externally.
[edit] Trivia
- Trey Wingo adds his voice to the game, and Steve Sabol of NFL Films narrates the player's coaching career.
- Coaches Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick are replaced by the names "Dallas Coach" and "New England Coach" due to Bill Parcells having a contract with ESPN and Bill Belichick is not a member of the NFLHCA(NFL Head Coach's Association).
- All of the agents of the NFL players are fictitious in the game.
- Jerome Bettis is on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the game, despite the fact that Bettis retired after Super Bowl XL, the time which the game takes place. Other, then-retired players such as Wayne Chrebet are also in the game.
- The game's Hall Of Fame depicts Don Shula as the greatest NFL coach of all time.
- One bug in this game is that QB Kellen Clemens is of African-American descent with dreadlocks. Some believe this could be Philadelphia Eagles practice squad QB Omar Jacobs.[citation needed]
- The Arizona Cardinals are playing in their new stadium in this game, University of Phoenix Stadium.
- The game also features the Minnesota Vikings new uniforms.
