Feature By

Dale Weir

Having a killer football title like NFL2K at launch did wonders for Sega and its Dreamcast console. It succeeded in showcasing the power of the Dreamcast, created a hot new sports franchise and made Sega of America tons of money. Obviously, game publishers noticed and are trying to reap similar success for themselves as they move to next-generation platforms—PlayStation 2, in particular. But there could be a problem. As excellent as NFL2K was, it was released with little to no competition from any other publishers on the Dreamcast. This won't be the case with the PlayStation 2 as there are as many as three announced football titles due out near or at the launch of Sony's überconsole. There will of course be familiar franchises from the gaming giants, Electronic Arts and 989 Sports, but now newcomer Konami has decided to jump into the fray with a football title of its own.

Konami's entry is titled ESPN NFL Primetime, and while some could surmise that it will be overshadowed by the other more established entries, ESPN NFL Primetime does have a lot going for it. The most obvious advantage is the potent ESPN brand name and all the things that come with it. To start with, the on-screen action is complemented with the colorful analysis of ESPN analysts Chris Berman and Tom Jackson. Having the ESPN license also means players will be treated to the graphic-heavy presentation so familiar with ESPN broadcasts—right down to the sports ticker at the bottom of the screen. When it comes to gameplay, ESPN NFL Primetime will come with five unique gameplay modes: a practice mode to hone your skills, a tournament mode, a create-a-player mode, a full season mode and a General Manager (GM) mode. The GM mode is probably the most welcome feature as it allows players to create and manage a team from scratch, take them through a season—making the blockbuster trades and acquiring talent along the way to create a football dynasty. ESPN NFL Primetime is part of Konami's ESPN The Game series and is set to land on both the PlayStation 2 and PC on November 14th.

Details about the gameplay and other features will be presented in multiple screenshots with accompanying captions in the following pages.