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EA benches Wii NCAA Football

Publisher does not plan to release a 2009 edition of popular collegiate pigskin franchise, says it is "currently evaluating our approach."

Yesterday, EA announced that NCAA Football 10 would make its annual collegiate gridiron trek on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and PSP on July 16. One notable omission from the announcement was a Wii edition of the academic sports title, which last year eschewed the typical soon-to-be-pro cover athlete for Michigan State's mascot, Sparty.

As it turns out, there was a reason that EA didn't mention the title, as the publisher has confirmed for GameSpot that NCAA Football 10 will not see release on the Wii this year. "In the interest of providing our consumers with the best possible college football experience, we are currently evaluating our approach to the NCAA Football franchise on the Wii," the publisher told GameSpot. "As such, we will not be releasing an NCAA Football title in 2009 for the Wii."

EA's decision appears to be at odds with statements made by CEO John Riccitiello, who said as part of the publisher's third-quarter earnings report in February that his company must "increase focus on the Nintendo Wii platform." In June 2008, EA said that the Wii edition of NCAA Football--along with Madden NFL, Tiger Woods, NBA Live, and FIFA--had been rebranded under its All-Play label, which focuses on accessible, family-friendly gaming.

115 Comments

  • spunk_mouth_69

    Posted Mar 25, 2009 7:51 pm GMT

    hey JackHoleFace00 i may not be a wii fan but Golden Eye for the N64 kicked ass.

  • Jrdnation

    Posted Mar 25, 2009 1:36 pm GMT

    Ha Ha this is why wii is a terrible system this is hilarious get a 360 guys

  • PSgamer99

    Posted Mar 25, 2009 10:53 am GMT

    fanboy? i promoted the damn 360, & if you really think the wii is helping the gaming community as a whole, you're sadly mistaken

  • JackHoleFace00

    Posted Mar 24, 2009 11:45 am GMT

    @ryano23277

    Sorry bud, but your history is way off, as you clearly have no idea what you're talking about. The interesting thing, though, is that you mark a tremendous example of why the Wii is selling well. You've bought into the Wii image/hype, you have kids, you think somehow Nintendo the greatest brand despite the undeniable lack of quality games recently, etc.

    To correct some of your statements: The PS came out an entire GENERATION before the Xbox (6+ years), and in fact the PS2 game out a whole year before the Xbox, too, so no, the Xbox is not responsible for the original PS! And no, the Gamecube analog controller didn't come out before the PS's analog controller. The Dual Shock came out about 4 YEARS ahead of the GameCube even launching.
    And as for Goldeneye, that just built off games that came out before it, such as Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, and Quake.

    Sorry dude, not trying to pick on you, but it'd be wise to get your facts straight otherwise you just end up looking silly.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 23, 2009 8:12 pm GMT

    Welp a PC is still most definitely worth how much it costs to get the utmost in gaming excellence.

  • alosborne

    Posted Mar 23, 2009 2:25 pm GMT

    I am not a big fan of the wii but if you are going to make a game for the wii make it well and take advantage of the motion sensing technology. I think that this may pay off for EA cuz if they make a better game, even if it involves more time, people would rather buy a better game than a crappy game right away.

  • AngelCage-2

    Posted Mar 23, 2009 1:39 pm GMT

    good: one less crappy game on the wii horizon... now kill all the crap that are planned for the system and let a couple of big stars shine without all that dumbed down games around them.

  • Spuzzy77

    Posted Mar 23, 2009 1:07 pm GMT

    PSgamer...your comments are to be expected from a PS fanboy.

  • badman11226

    Posted Mar 23, 2009 12:44 pm GMT

    Its doesnt matter if its on the Wii,xbox360,ps3 except for the ps2. NCAA football sucks in general anyways.

  • m30w_cP

    Posted Mar 23, 2009 7:20 am GMT

    darn .. i bet it would be interesting to play that on the wii... too bad they cancelled it tho.

  • OmegaGear

    Posted Mar 23, 2009 7:20 am GMT

    Ryan, I believe you're talking abut the N64, not the gamecube. Also, Atari tried analog with the 5200 waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when.

    Bloodmist, HDTVs do not cost 1000+ anymore. You can get a decent one for 400 bucks that's more than large enough to enjoy "HD" gaming. Also, Serpico was talking about upgrading a PC, compared to purchasing a 360, so some liberties were obviously taken, like assuming the audience possessed certain items already.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 23, 2009 6:39 am GMT

    Amen.

  • ryano23277

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 11:30 pm GMT

    Nintendo revolutionise gaming, the NES and SNES did by being better than the competition. As the PS took off, out came the gamecube. Now time line may alude me here, but was the Gamecube out before the first anolog PS control?
    All the games that most of us love have all copied 1 of Nintendo's greatest game and definately a game in the top 10 of all time.....Goldeneye.
    The PS wouldn't exist without Nintendo and XBOX wouldn't exist without both of them. How do you expect non-gamers to get into games these days, when before the Wii was available we were hearing reports about how games were making young kids lazy. What games do you expect my 5 & 3 year old sons to play, or worse my 1 year old daughter. My son loves his Halo Wars and GTA4 and MGS4, but I teach them that it is just a game. Yet many parents wouldn't know what to buy, so a Wii sounds more fun, etc, etc

  • gameking5000

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 10:13 pm GMT

    PSgamer99:

    The Wii is revoutionising the gaming community with it's motion sensor devices not hurting it! And I would be very angry if they stopped coverage of Nintendo, VERY.

  • 07pops07

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 9:19 pm GMT

    PSgamer99 said: "i think gamespot should just stop coverage of the wii altogether. real gamers are on PS3 and 360, the wii is a poor excuse for a game system that, due to its reputation and good marketing, has sold to non-gamers everywhere. I myself actually bought one of these horrid machines back in 06, and i havent touched it since. The wii is hurting the gaming community with its horrible 3rd party support and lame excuses for games, and it needs to be forgotten"


    @PSgamer99 wow normaly i would ignore your dumb fanboy comment but god man you really took the cake. its pretty sad if you really believe that.


    @maverick 76 i agree that roster updates every year is a good idea 3-5 years is pretty long mabe closer too 2 years would fit about right.

  • kiramasaki

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 8:34 pm GMT

    well to be fair, since the initial batch most of the nintendo games are MIA; and the wii is often ignored by third party developers , i think thats generally one of the reasons the wii is not considered hardcore; plus its hard to say a system is hardcore that is trying to put out such a family oriented image, look you cannot have your cake and eat it too, the wii can either be the family console or a gamer console but not both.

  • MrQuest77

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 7:06 pm GMT

    well said maverick

  • maverick_76

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 7:00 pm GMT

    Man the Wii irritates me.....I think the developers are having a hard time finding more ways to incorporate the motion controls for the Wii versions of these games. Plus I have long advocated that sports games only release every 3-5 years, with roster updates in between for a modest price. I don't buy the newest game every year, but I would purchase a roster update for a good price. Of course these knuckleheads out there that like to shell out $60 every year for little more than a roster update are what keep this current state of business model well....in business.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 6:37 pm GMT

    The Wii has Nintendo games.Games that are are easily some of the best games out there.The hardcore gamers enjoy them.So, how can you tell me, the Wii isn't a system for the hardcore gamer?

  • OmegaGear

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 5:46 pm GMT

    A better video card and some ram fr 20 bucks? Where is this rumored video card and ram for 20 dollars, because last time I checked you needed to shell out 150+ for a good card to run the games you listed.Add to that the possible need to purchase a controller, and you have yourself something amazingly close to your 200 dollar 360 with all of its "attachments". Honestly... to say a console has attachments compared to a PC? WTF!? lol

  • ryano23277

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 5:20 pm GMT

    Where did you start your gaming though........
    Mine was with the Comm 64, the NES, SNES, PS, PS2...now PS3, XBOX 360 & Wii.
    I would say that I wasn't hardcore until PS2 days and I only played heaps of games back then because of the chip.
    What I am trying to say is that we all have to start somewhere and maybe a PS3 & 360 are to hardcore for the crowd that don't play games for more than 2 hours a day. The Wii isn't any where near the quality of the 2 main consoles but it also wouldn't be the lead seller if it was.
    Where are all the wii owners defending the wii, most probably wouldn't even know or care about sites like this because they just play a game and thats it.

  • mike2640

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 5:15 pm GMT

    And by the way, I own a 360, too, so I know that they are two different kinds of games.

  • zyxomma100

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 5:14 pm GMT

    Maybe if EA made a good game, people would buy it.

  • mike2640

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 5:10 pm GMT

    Honestly, I'm a college football fan and a Wii owner, but I don't mind the delay. It's about time EA stopped and took some time to realize that making games for the Wii is different than making games for the other consoles. Hopefully they get it right and release a quality football game!

  • Zehydra

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 4:52 pm GMT

    I find it kind of funny that EA changes already Casual Games, for the Casual Player for the wii. They changed Sports games, which already generally have a pretty broad range of players and Rock Band which was pretty casual to begin with. Rock Band made me pretty mad when they eliminated modes for the casual player. If you're trying to hook non-players into gaming, you DON'T take away the more complicated settings, you just ADD less complicated settings.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 4:04 pm GMT

    One truly fantastic game that has come out recently:Madworld.Hah.

  • rwallacefan

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 3:08 pm GMT

    I agree with you bgres077

    Football games on the wii IMO arent really that good,

  • alosborne posted Mar 22, 2009 1:49 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    alosborne

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 1:49 pm GMT (hide)

    All I have to say is... XBOX 360

  • bgres077

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 1:47 pm GMT

    No wonder, they were lazy with the previous versions so nobody bought them.

  • alosborne

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 1:42 pm GMT

    That really sucks if you don't have anything but a Wii

  • mjharper34

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 1:40 pm GMT

    EA not releasing a game on the current best-selling console - that's just not smart business. Maybe it is because NCAA '09 for Wii didn't sell all that well. Well, maybe if EA took the time to create a high-quality game for the system, it would sell a little better. You have the only college football game on the market for the largest installed home base in the United States - put some time and effort into developing this thing and it'll perform well. Wii footballers will thank you for it.

  • Serpico89 posted Mar 22, 2009 11:52 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Serpico89

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 11:52 am GMT (hide)

    Just so if anybody didn't realize by now, u can basically get all games that come out on the xbox 360 and ps3 - GTAIV, Burnout Paridise, Dead Space, Bioshock, Left 4 Dead, Street Fighter IV, RE5 (to be released in june), etc, etc, for the PC. The only exception is football games but do you really hav to by a new NCAA/Madden game each year just for an updated roster? My cousin is a huge NCAA football fanatic and the only NCAA football game he has for 360 is NCAA 07. I don't really care about graphics, as long as the game plays well, that's why I still play NCAA 05 for Gamecube. Why spend $200 plus, for a 360 and all its attachments when you could get a better video card and more ram for your PC for about $20? A real NCAA fan is someone who watches the game live or on TV, not just play the video game.

  • Shadow_Fax87 posted Mar 22, 2009 11:11 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Shadow_Fax87

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 11:11 am GMT (hide)

    Oh, and metalgeekguy, you can't possibly tell me that real gamers are on the wii when the biggest consumer group that bought the wii was over 65!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Shadow_Fax87 posted Mar 22, 2009 11:07 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Shadow_Fax87

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 11:07 am GMT (hide)

    Thank you JackHoleFace, I own a wii and I haven't bought a new game since SSBB and I haven't played that for months..... and he's right, my wii is collecting dust... On the other hand, My xbox is getting a real workout from all those great titles....

  • JackHoleFace00

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 9:58 am GMT

    @metalgeekguy
    Regarding real gamers, let's change that a little bit: people who actually enjoy QUALITY games.

    Name 1 great game that has come out for the Wii in the past 6 months. And I'm not talking MEDIOCRE games that somehow Wii defenders pretend are blockbusters like Deadly Creatures or House of the Dead. Meanwhile PS3 and 360 have received awesome games like LBP, Gears 2, KZ2, Fallout 3, SFIV, and more (with many more coming). SSSB was the last good game for Wii, and that was a year ago, not to mention it was a lot like Melee on Cube!
    Speaking of HotD, that's a light gun game. DUCK HUNT on the original Nintendo was a light gun game. Yeah that's real a real "next gen" control scheme. As is wigging it. Wow. And now Wii is LITERALLY getting rehashes of old GameCube games with the "New Play Control!!" line. Are you kidding me? Could Nintendo get any lazier?

    Call me crazy, but slowly but surely people are starting to realize that system is nothing more than a repackaged GameCube fad. It's always been about the games, and almost all Wii's games are terrible (and the ones that aren't are old). These message boards are filled with people who had a Wii and either got rid of it or it's in their closet collecting dust (as did some people I know). Give me a thumbs down all you want, but it's time to realize this system is an overpriced joke.

  • x_madsin_x

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 9:30 am GMT

    metalgekguy just said it to himself

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 9:28 am GMT

    LFMAO...metalgeekguy,, have you ever played Half-Life 2, or NOLF 1 and 2, or Thief 1-3, or Goldeneye, or Wolf ET, or Team Fortress 2?You asshoholes who think you know a damned thing about what an FPS is are PATHETIC....which was my point.

  • metalgeekguy posted Mar 22, 2009 9:17 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    metalgeekguy

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 9:17 am GMT (hide)

    Yeah. Real gamers are on the PS3 and 360. That's why your glued to outdated control schemes and play mechanics so you can look at prettier lights and shapes. Yes, real gamers, of course.

  • x_madsin_x

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 8:59 am GMT

    Even my friends dont play WII anymore.One of them is lending me his WII and I took it and pretended playing it because I dont wanna hurt his feelings.
    WII and its cheap games or rip off games should actually start giving us real games like Halo Grand theft Auto 4 Gears of War Killzone Street fighter Tekken

  • smurf5200

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 7:30 am GMT

    It's true what EA is referring to, the wii is more for family and kids system, and if they want to make sports game that looks and play with more realism, then the PS3 & 360 are the systems that are capable of handling and delivering it, so I'll back EA on this decision.

  • King_Jeremy_77

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 6:59 am GMT

    Wii is awesome, EA's loss.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 6:44 am GMT

    Indeed that's true, EA are dicks...also untrustworthy.

  • romaka

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 6:37 am GMT

    Do not believe a word. Ea said the same thing for Madden 2 years ago for PC. Said they were taking a year off PC to make improvements to it and 2 years have passed and Madden is not going to be on PC for another year if ever anymore.

  • mesc420

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 6:08 am GMT

    If they're taking a year off to make better games, thats a good thing! I really dont see what all the fuss is about. At least they realize that they need to improve. Its really a bold/unusual move for EA. In the past they would have just repackaged last year's game, added some "new" features that do nothing to enhance the game, slapped a 2010 sticker on it and called it a new game. Like they ALWAYS do. Im so tired of EA sports games anyway. p.s. Madden has sucked on ALL systems for about 8 years now.

  • zombey1333

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 5:46 am GMT

    whoo! one less blight on humanity from ea! now if they'd just go away completely.....

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