| NFL GameDay | |
|---|---|
Box art for NFL GameDay 99. |
|
| Genres | Football Simulation |
| Developers | 989 Sports (formerly Sony Interactive Studios America) |
| Publishers | 989 Sports (formerly Sony Interactive Studios America) |
| First release | NFL GameDay December 4, 1995 |
| Latest release | NFL GameDay 2005 August 1, 2004 |
NFL GameDay was a football video game series for both the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 video game consoles. NFL GameDay directly competed with EA Sports' Madden NFL Football and Sega's NFL 2K franchises. The NFL GameDay series began with NFL GameDay released for the 1995-96 NFL season and ended with NFL GameDay 2005 following EA's acquisition of exclusive NFL licensing. The games were designed by 989 Sports throughout their ten-year duration.
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NFL GameDay was the first video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released December 4, 1995[1] on the PlayStation by Sony Interactive Studios America as a competitor to the Madden football game series. On the cover is William Floyd.
The game was a success for Sony, selling over 300,000 copies.[2]
NFL GameDay 97 was the second video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released December 5, 1996[3] on the PlayStation by Sony Interactive Studios America. On the cover is Daryl Johnston.
The game was another success for Sony, selling over 350,000 copies.[4]
NFL GameDay 98 was the third video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 26, 1997[5] on the PlayStation by Sony Interactive Studios America. On the cover is Jerome Bettis.
NFL GameDay 99 was the fourth game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 26, 1998 on the PlayStation, and August 31, 1998 on the PC, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is Terrell Davis.
It was originally criticized for people feeling "like (they) were in an arcade with extreme difficulty." Nonetheless, GameDay quickly became a best-selling series.
NFL GameDay 2000 was the fifth video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 11, 1999[6] on the PlayStation by 989 Sports. On the cover is Terrell Davis.[6]
NFL GameDay 2001 was the sixth video game in the NFL GameDay series, and the first to be released on the PlayStation 2. It was released August 15, 2000[7] on the PlayStation, and November 16, 2000[8] on the PlayStation 2, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is Marshall Faulk.[7]
NFL GameDay 2002 was the seventh video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 7, 2001[9] on the PlayStation, and December 4, 2001[10] on the PlayStation 2, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is Donovan McNabb.[9][10]
NFL GameDay 2003 was the eighth video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 13, 2002[11] on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is Tom Brady.[12]
NFL GameDay 2004 was the ninth video game in the NFL GameDay series. It was released August 26, 2003[13] on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2, both by 989 Sports. On the cover is LaDainian Tomlinson.[13]
NFL GameDay 2005 was the tenth and final game in the NFL GameDay series, and unlike the last few GameDay video games, it was only available on the PlayStation console, and not on the PlayStation 2. It was released on August 1, 2004. On the cover is Derrick Brooks.
The GameDay series had been on a decline since GameDay 2000. It was formerly the highest ranked football game, ahead of Madden, the 2K Sports series, and NFL Blitz, but it was now behind not only its main competitor, Madden, but also the NFL 2K series. Due to sales being low, NFL GameDay made what seemed to be a last ditch effort to get back on top by going back to the PlayStation exclusively, possibly trying to give it back the "original gameplay feel" it originally had. In any case, it was still not a big enough hit to put it through, and it, along with all other NFL licensed games, were discontinued due to the NFL signing exclusively with Electronic Arts.
Mostly critics agreed that this looked like a "Hail Mary", to save the series, and it was "Incomplete". The game had enhanced graphics, and put in a new configuration that would make you feel like you are "the quarterback yourself." Critics said that they felt like they were "getting the same game they got years ago, just out of style." Other complaints included that sound was off, and that it was too easy, which is a strange complaint considering the first game was criticized as being too hard.
In response to the criticism that the game felt "too arcadey", the series took on a more Madden-inspired style of play starting with NFL GameDay 99. Some people felt that the change of play-style made the game less fun and, combined with Madden switching to polygon technology, the GameDay series lost the crown as the best selling football game the following year.
The NFL GameDay series did not transition well to the PlayStation 2 platform and lost a great deal of market share. In the end, the GameDay series, along with all other non-EA football games, were doomed to extinction when Electronic Arts acquired exclusive rights to the NFL license.