Rugby 08
| Rugby 08 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | HB Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Platform(s) | PC and PlayStation 2 |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Singleplayer, Multiplayer |
Rugby 08 is the 2007 release in the Rugby series by EA Sports. The game allows players to play as many Rugby nations, both major and minor, and includes many tournaments, such as the Rugby World Cup, Tri Nations, Six Nations, Guinness Premiership and Super 14.
Rugby 08 was released prior to the 2007 World Cup in France. New modes include the Rugby World Cup and the World Cup Challenge mode. Other new gameplay features include simplified lineouts and defensive formations.
In-game screenshot for Rugby 08 on PC.
The international cover, pictured at right, features current All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. Other players are featured in specific markets:[2]
- Australia and Asia — Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock
- France — McCaw and France flanker Yannick Nyanga
- Ireland — former Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara
- Italy — Current Azzurri Mauro and Mirco
- South Africa — Current Springboks Schalk Burger, Bryan Habana, and André Pretorius
- United Kingdom — McCaw and England wing Mark Cueto
- New Zealand — Richie McCaw
The commentary is provided by Ian Robertson and former All Blacks great Grant Fox.
Features
- The Rugby World Cup • A campaign through 6 weeks of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France • A central hub keeping the user aware of all World Cup progress • Team management, injuries, squad rotation for greater depth • IRB World Cup Presentation • Extensive use of camera angles. However, you can only play the official schedule for that tournament.
- World Cup Challenge Mode • Takes key moments from World Cup History and allows the user to replay them. • Uses historical facts and scenarios (with current rosters) and throws the player into the game to try to recreate history. • Rewards are unlocked after completing each scenario (photos, players, etc.).
- Truck and Zoom Camera • Introduce new camera angles that allow the user to see more of the action on the field. • Zoom in on breakdowns to better see the action at these key moments. • Allow the user to see the result of conversion and penalty kicks. • Allow user to see where they are aiming when kicking from a stoppage
- New Set Pieces • Line-outs that simplify throw in controls and Provide greater functionality and authenticity for advanced users • Scrums with more control over push and rotation also utilising accessible control systems
- Defensive Formations on the Fly • Allows the user to quickly select defensive formations • Can react to attacking style/field position of opponent • Reflects authentic Defensive formations seen in modern rugby
- All new AI attacking system • Built in smarter AI on offense, will test a user's defensive capabilities
Impact Players
Rugby 08 Impact player Brian O'Driscoll.
- Australia: Lote Tuqiri (93), Chris Latham (95), George Smith (93), Stephen Larkham (99), George Gregan (99), Matt Giteau (93)
- New Zealand: Joe Rokocoko (89), Dan Carter (98), Richie McCaw (98), Jerry Collins (96), Carlos Spencer (99), Tana Umaga (99)
- England: Lawrence Dallaglio (96), Jonny Wilkinson (99), Josh Lewsey (91), Jason Robinson (95),
- France: Christophe Dominici (84), Yannick Jauzion (91), Yannick Nyanga (95)
- South Africa: Schalk Burger (98), Percy Montgomery (97), Bryan Habana (96)
- Ireland: Ronan O'Gara (93), Brian O'Driscoll (99)
- Wales: Gavin Henson (98), Shane Williams (99)
- Argentina: Agustín Pichot (94)
Home advantage is the new feature available with Rugby 08, the home advantage is not related to the home teams stadium but the controller on the left hand side of the controller menu screen . Home advantage can lead to an increase of possession of up to 35% including increased turnovers, a perk which most players consider irritating in two-player multiplayer mode.
Teams
National teams
England
Tonga (no license)
Samoa (no license)
United States
Australia
Canada
Japan (no license)
Wales
Fiji (no license)
New Zealand
Portugal (no license)
Romania (a few players not licensed)
Scotland
Italy
France
Argentina
Ireland
Georgia (no license)
Namibia (no license)
Uruguay (no license)
Spain (no license)
Russia (no license)
South Africa
Super 14
- Bulls
- Sharks
- Stormers
- Lions
- Cheetahs
- Waratahs
- Reds
- Brumbies
- Western Force
- Crusaders
- Blues
- Chiefs
- Hurricanes
- Highlanders
European clubs
England
- Saracens
- London Wasps
- London Irish
- Northampton Saints
- Sale Sharks
- Worcester Warriors
- Bath Rugby
- Harlequins
- Gloucester
- Newcastle Falcons
- Bristol Rugby
- Leicester Tigers
Wales, Ireland & Scotland
(none are licensed)
- Cardiff
- Newport
- Llanelli
- Neath, Swansea
Ulster
Munster- Connacht
- Leinster
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
France
- Biarritz
- Stade Français (known as Paris in-game, players not licensed)
- Perpignan
- Castres
- Marseille
- Toulouse
- Clermont Auvergne
- Bourgoin
Italy
Other representative teams
- Junior All Blacks
- Australia "A"
- Barbarians (no license)
- Pacific Islanders (no license)
Stadiums
New Zealand
Waikato Stadium, home of the Chiefs appears in the game under the name 'Hamilton'.
- Carisbrook (known in-game as Dunedin)
- Waikato Stadium (known in-game as Hamilton)
- Westpac Stadium (Known in-game as Wellington)
- Eden Park (known in-game as Auckland)
- AMI Stadium (known in-game as Christchurch)
Australia
- ANZ Stadium (known ingame as Australia Stadium)
- Suncorp Stadium (known ingame as Brisbane)
- Canberra Stadium (known ingame as Canberra)
- Subiaco Oval (known ingame as Perth)
- Sydney Football Stadium (known ingame as Sydney)
South Africa
- Vodacom Park (known ingame as Bloemfontein)
- Newlands Stadium (known ingame as Cape Town)
- ABSA Stadium (known ingame as Durban)
- Ellis Park Stadium (known ingame as Johannesburg)
- Loftus Versfeld Stadium (known ingame as Pretoria)
Asia
- Suva (not licenced)
Italy
Scotland
- Murrayfield
- Firhill Stadium (known in the game as Northern Park)
Wales
- Cardiff
- Llanelli
- Millennium Stadium
- Newport
- Neath (known in game as West Glamorgan)
England
The Madejski Stadium, home to London Irish appears in the game.
- Adams Park
- Edgeley Park
- Franklin's Gardens
- Kingsholm Park
- Kingston Park
- Madejski Stadium
- Memorial Stadium
- Old Trafford
- Recreation Ground
- Stamford Bridge
- The Stoop
- Twickenham
- Vicarage Road
- Welford Road
- Worcester Sixways
France
Parc des Sports Aguiléra, home of Biarritz Olympique appears in Rugby 08 under the name 'Le Park'.
- Bourgoin
- Castres
- Clermont
- Le Park
- Lens
- Lyon
- Marseille
- Nantes
- Parc de Paris
- Perpignan
- Stade de France
- Stade de Paris
- Toulouse
Ireland
Leinster Rugby's Donnybrook Stadium appears in the game under the name 'Leinster'
- Irish Park (Thomond Park)
- Lansdowne Road
- Leinster
- Ulster
Georgia
- Tbilisi
Americas
- Buenos Aires
- San Francisco
- Vancouver
Soundtrack
- Expatriate - "The Spaces Between"
- HushPuppies - "Pale Blue Eyes"
- Malajube - "Fille à Plume"
- Quit Your Dayjob - "Freaks Are Out"
- Snowden - "Anti-Anti"
- The Bang - "Benny Butler"
- The Temper Trap - "Sirens"
- Tokyo Police Club - "Nature of the Experiment"
- We Are Wolves - "T.R.O.U.B.L.E"
- Howling Bells - "Low Happening"
- Deep Insight - "Rhythm of the Beat"
- Moke - "This Plan"
Community
Although Rugby 08 has no online gameplay modes, a strong community and modding community has evolved following its cult status. This includes organised competitions and a regular modding and updates.[3]
References
- ↑ "Updated Australian release list, 16/07/07". Retrieved 18 July 2007.
- ↑ "EA Celebrates 2007 RUGBY WORLD CUP With Exclusive Release of Officially Licensed videogame" (Press release). EA Sports. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
- ↑ HB STUDIOS RUGBY SERIES <http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?33-HB-Studios-Rugby-Series> Retrieved 04 March 2011
External links
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