Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Cover Mascot For The Wii

[Steve_OS]

SPARTY THE SPARTAN FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
SELECTED AS NCAA FOOTBALL 09 COVER MASCOT FOR THE WII

March 18, 2008 – The people have spoken! EA SPORTS asked college football fans to vote and determine which college mascot would have the honor of being on the cover of NCAA Football 09 for the Nintendo Wii. Although it was a tightly contested race, Sparty the Spartan from Michigan State University came out victorious.

Sparty the Spartan is Michigan State University’s fearless and loveable mascot and a figure known throughout the state of Michigan across the nation. Sparty, the heart of Michigan State, is a National Mascot Champion and has participated in the Universal Cheer Association’s National Championships.

Through the NCAA Football 09 Wii Cover Mascot Challenge, fans went online and cast more than 700,000 votes for their favorite mascots. Mascots from Central Florida, Washington State, Auburn, LSU, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa State, Alabama and Penn State rounded out the top ten.

NCAA Football 09 for the Nintendo Wii will focus on a more stylized gameplay that is quick and easy for fans to jump in and out of great head-to-head action, or manage their favorite college team through the “Dynasty Mode”. New to the Nintendo Wii platform, NCAA Football 09 will feature EA SPORTS Family Play controls, a multiplayer social experience that allows novice users to compete against advanced players and still enjoy success. The Easy Play controls are designed for the more novice fans, but also feature a traditional default setting for the more seasoned veterans. NCAA Football 09 will feature close to 200 schools from both the FBS and FCS divisions, making it the most authentic college sports gaming experience available for the Nintendo Wii.

For more information, please visit www.ncaafootball09.com.

[Gamecocks625]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Definitely looking forward to it, but the cover art itself is horrible. You would think the artists at EA would come up with something better. It looks like someone threw it together at the last minute.

[D.Winn]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Glad i dont own a wii. I got to THE University of Alabama and i dont want to see that dumb looking mascot on the cover of my game. Why cant they get real athletes? Yes im a ***** hahahh BIG AL FOR LIFE

[fistofrage]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Fight, Fight, Fight Team Fight.....Victory for MSU.

If the Alabama Elephant got chosen, would Bama count that as a National Title?

[ChicagoSparty]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Fight, Fight, Fight Team Fight.....Victory for MSU.

If the Alabama Elephant got chosen, would Bama count that as a National Title?

The Elephant was first choice, until EA discovered it was ineligible due to illegal recruiting benefits.

[Vadiplomat04]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Its important to note that their will be 1-A and 1-AA teams in the Wii version. I'll bet that 1-AA teams will be in the PS3 and Xbox 360 verison as well.....so to all you people who were saying "Im not buying the game if 1-AA teams aren't in it" it's looking like your going to have to pull out your wallet's this year.

[Husker_OS]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Michigan State? That's surprising. I figured one of the big schools like Texas or Ohio State would get it.

[TrevJo]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Its important to note that their will be 1-A and 1-AA teams in the Wii version. I'll bet that 1-AA teams will be in the PS3 and Xbox 360 verison as well.....so to all you people who were saying "Im not buying the game if 1-AA teams aren't in it" it's looking like your going to have to pull out your wallet's this year.

I will buy it whether it has I-AA or not, but I am certainly in the camp of hoping I-AA is in the game for Xbox 360! But, even though they are doing it for the Wii, I will not believe it for the 360 until I see it.

[WazzuRC]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

I don't understand. The polls closed last Friday and the updated standings showed Washington State the winner with Michigan St. 4th overall behind UCF and another school.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Its important to note that their will be 1-A and 1-AA teams in the Wii version. I'll bet that 1-AA teams will be in the PS3 and Xbox 360 verison as well.....so to all you people who were saying "Im not buying the game if 1-AA teams aren't in it" it's looking like your going to have to pull out your wallet's this year.

The Wii is going to use the previous gen's engine. That's why it'll have 1-AA, while 360 and PS3 probably will not.

[cdj]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Definitely looking forward to it, but the cover art itself is horrible. You would think the artists at EA would come up with something better. It looks like someone threw it together at the last minute.

That cover art is not the final version. It's just something the online staff put together for the Mascot Challenge.

I don't understand. The polls closed last Friday and the updated standings showed Washington State the winner with Michigan St. 4th overall behind UCF and another school.

Those results were from Monday. Despite stating they were 'Current Standings', they were not.

[Sausage]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

I hope the Wii version is really important to the NCAA team and have top notch development. They need to talk to the team that worked on Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Wii and get some tips and ideas. Peace.

[Gibbz]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

That cover looks horrendous...

[Gamecocks625]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

That cover art is not the final version. It's just something the online staff put together for the Mascot Challenge.

Are you sure? I really hope you are right, as I was expecting more from EA in that area.

Anyways, can't wait to give the ol' Wii version a spin!

[RACZILLA]

Re: Sparty The Spartan From Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Co

Are you sure? I really hope you are right, as I was expecting more from EA in that area.

Anyways, can't wait to give the ol' Wii version a spin!

I can confirm that this isn't the final cover. Because voting ended Friday and we announced just a few days later, we devised an interim cover while the final pack art is being created. When we have the final art, we'll post it on the web site and send it through to the community sites as well.