Midway Announces Blitz: Playmakers
The arcade-style football series ditches the NFL brand for a mature-themed concept.
Published: December 18, 2004
Electronic Arts may have dibs on the NFL license for the next five years, but the companies who've consistently delivered competition to Madden have been sure not to be counted out. Such is the case with Midway Games, who announced the currently development of Blitz: Playmakers, an unlicensed title that plans to take the series in a much more mature-themed direction.
Blitz: Playmakers has been in development for the past year (clearly, EA's negotiations weren't a secret) with the help of a writer of ESPN's Playmakers TV series. The game puts players in control of a fictional football team currently in the rut, and through the harsh behind-the-scenes realism of the sport, from violence on the field to off-field fallouts and favoring politics at the office, players will have to retool coaches and players and guide them on a quest for the league championship. In addition to its intense story, Playmakers will deliver multiplayer action, head-to-head online play and extensive player, team and stadium customization.
"Midway's Chicago studio has laid the foundation over the past year for what is the ultimate alternative to watered down NFL sanctioned football games," said a bold Steve Allison, chief marketing officer of Midway. "No longer bound to the NFL license, there will be no league restrictions on content and gamers will finally experience what makes playing a football videogame really fun: off-field controversies, dirty hits, excessive celebrations and much more. Blitz: Playmakers buyers will be assured of one thing - our game will include all the gameplay and fun the NFL won’t allow."
Strong words, indeed. We'll find out if the lack of NFL restrictions can enable Blitz: Playmakers gaming glory when the game tackles retails in Q4 2005.
Blitz: Playmakers has been in development for the past year (clearly, EA's negotiations weren't a secret) with the help of a writer of ESPN's Playmakers TV series. The game puts players in control of a fictional football team currently in the rut, and through the harsh behind-the-scenes realism of the sport, from violence on the field to off-field fallouts and favoring politics at the office, players will have to retool coaches and players and guide them on a quest for the league championship. In addition to its intense story, Playmakers will deliver multiplayer action, head-to-head online play and extensive player, team and stadium customization.
"Midway's Chicago studio has laid the foundation over the past year for what is the ultimate alternative to watered down NFL sanctioned football games," said a bold Steve Allison, chief marketing officer of Midway. "No longer bound to the NFL license, there will be no league restrictions on content and gamers will finally experience what makes playing a football videogame really fun: off-field controversies, dirty hits, excessive celebrations and much more. Blitz: Playmakers buyers will be assured of one thing - our game will include all the gameplay and fun the NFL won’t allow."
Strong words, indeed. We'll find out if the lack of NFL restrictions can enable Blitz: Playmakers gaming glory when the game tackles retails in Q4 2005.
