Seven Years of Next-Gen NCAA Football - NCAA Football 08
This is the second part series looking at the NCAA Football franchise as we enter the seventh year of NCAA Football on the next-gen consoles.
NCAA Football 08 stepped on the stage in July of 2007 and was the first real look at next-gen college football for many as it was available on both the PlayStation 3 and X-Box 360. As a result, it had high expectations among the NCAA Football community faithful.
The game featured a Skill Performance (motivation) feature which seemed to be a logical tie-in after cover athlete QB Jared Zabransky helped lead Boise State to a 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. That classic battle also saw two of its signature plays added to the game: The Statue of Liberty and the Hook and Ladder.
However, despite many improvements the gameplay still felt very slow and sluggish and was met by a lukewarm reaction from the community. Though, some in the community felt the game provided a respectable balance between the offense and defense. The game was released at a point where the 360 version ran at 60 frames per second (FPS) and the PS3 version 30 FPS, an issue that existed in many early cross-platform titles.
Next-gen capabilities were on display in NCAA Football 08 with the new video and photo highlights features that could be shared online, as well as the new The Weather Channel real-time feed.
“Back of the Box” Features:
- All-New Skill Performance: Increase your player ratings with user-controlled sacks, interceptions, touchdowns, and more as you elevate your team’s motivation levels on the field.
- A Revolutionized Dynasty Mode: Use the all-new prospect search engine to hone in on recruits with specific skills, but be sure to keep your promises or players could transfer, damaging your coaching integrity.
- All-New Campus Legend Mode: Dominate the high school playoffs to determine your abilities. Lure recruiters from your dream colleges for a chance to play at a big-time program.
- Share Your Greatest Moments: Save your best video and photo highlights and share them with friends online, or showcase them in the all-new My Shrine.
- Real College Authenticity: Capitalize on offense with new trick plays, including the Statue of Liberty and Hook and Ladder, and experience real-time weather conditions and updates provided by The Weather Channel.
The game would go on to sell approximately 730,000 copies for the X-Box 360, 350,000 on the PlayStation 3 and have metacritic scores of 81 (360) and 77 (PS3). (Sales numbers courtesy vgchartz.com.)
The top rated players in the game included:
99 OVR: USC LT #79, Penn State MLB #40, Michigan LE #55, Arkansas HB #5
98 OVR: LSU DT #72, Louisville QB #12
Some of the top teams in the game were:
A+: Michigan, USC
A: Florida State, Louisville, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, West Virginia
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