Shippin' Out July 16-20: All-Pro 2K8, NCAA 08
By
Tom Magrino
It's a football free-for-all as Visual Concepts returns to the gridiron alongside EA's collegiate huddle, Paper Mario, Bomberman, and more.
It's been nearly three years to the day since ESPN NFL 2K5 took the field. Despite putting up huge numbers, the Sega-published football sim was sidelined when both its NFL contract and ESPN sponsorship were abruptly swiped away by Electronic Arts. In the aftermath of EA's move, Sega sold developer Visual Concepts to Take-Two Interactive, which redubbed it 2K Sports and continued to churn out NBA, MLB, and NHL games.
This January, Take-Two announced the 2K series' return to the gridiron. But since present-day superstars all fall under EA's exclusive license with the NFL, Visual Concepts signed more than 240 legendary ex-pro footballers to fill out the game's roster. This week, players will be able to reacquaint themselves with Visual Concept's brand of pigskin play with All-Pro Football 2K8. Rated E for Everyone, the game is available on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and retails for $59.99.
Those looking for some more-youthful pigskin action can tackle EA's NCAA Football 08, which also goes on sale this week. This year's freshman class features a new branching animation system and 115 modeled college football stadiums, up from last year's 40. NCAA Football 08 is available on the PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, and Xbox. Xbox 360 owners looking for a peek at EA's playbook can check out a demo on Xbox Live.
Paper Mario and Bomberman Live lead this week's downloadable offerings. On the Wii, Nintendo will be porting over its Nintendo 64 classic Paper Mario to the Virtual Console. Mario's first wafer-thin role-playing adventure is available for 1,000 Wii points ($10). Hudson's cute-yet-maniacal unibombers will make their way to the Xbox Live Marketplace in Bomberman Live. Unlike last year's tragic rendition of Hudson's iconic mascot, this conversion will return Bomberman to its roots and feature eight-player online play. Rated E for Everyone, it will run for 800 Microsoft points ($10).
This week's new releases are listed below (list taken from retailer information--actual dates may vary).
JULY 16, 2007
All-Pro Football 2K8 (PS3, Xbox 360)
Paper Mario (Wii)
JULY 17, 2007
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (PC)
NCAA Football 08 (PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Xbox)
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Gold Edition (PC)
PaRappa the Rapper (PSP)
Hot Shots Tennis (PS2)
Spelling Challenges and More! (DS)
Battleground Europe: World War II Online (MAC)
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology (PSP)
Ride! Carnival Tycoon (PC)
JULY 18, 2007
Bomberman Live (Xbox 360)
Yie Ar Kung Fu (Xbox 360)
Deal or No Deal (GBA)
By
Tom Magrino
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
47 comments
ghoffbad83...of course they gonna provide you with the "OL'Xbox" version for 08. It's probably the same code for 07, but they gonna get $60 more bucks from your sorry no XBox 360 arse. Why don't you give in and go current gen? It's very nice.
I can't believe they got NCAA 08 copy fo DE OL'Xbox i thought all game companies (including Microsoft) had all abandoned that old thing i ought to get it out of my closet and give it a little spin again.
Why are there NO reviews for this game? Not just on gamespot, but anywhere. I've been looking forward to the release and review of this game since last year's release, hoping for great improvement. Would someone please review this game intelligently and soon.
Any chance of a review of these games sometime this year????? I know it is because of E3 but dayumn!
I'm pretty excited for 2K8 now, I want to review to come out already. I've been trying to plan my team.
@Statictrance "i just bought NCAA 08 - it literally does run 60FPS and is that much an improvement over last year's... here's hoping madden is the same and doesn't blow like the last two years (speaking in terms of 360 of course)" That's great news! NCAA is the only game I buy year to year, and I'm buying it later today. I hope it runs as smoothly on the PS3.
i just bought NCAA 08 - it literally does run 60FPS and is that much an improvement over last year's... here's hoping madden is the same and doesn't blow like the last two years (speaking in terms of 360 of course)
I need some reviews for APF 2K8 and NCAA 08 because I don't really want to buy two football games unless their both really good.
All-Pro Football 2:8, Smash Court Tennis 3, Paper Mario, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, NCAA Football 08, Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Gold Edition, PaRappa the Rapper, Hot Shots Tennis, Spelling Challenges and More!, Battleground Europe: World War II Online, Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology, Ride! Carnival Tycoon, Bomberman Live, Yie Ar Kung Fu, Deal or No Deal, July 16 2007, July Sixteenth 2007, July 16th 2007, July 17 2007, July Seventeenth 2007, July 17th 2007, July 18 2007, July 18th 2007, July Eighteenth 2007, July 16 Two thousand Seven, July Sixteenth Two Thousand Sevem, July 16th Two Thousand Seven, July Seventeenth Two Thousand Seven, July 17th Two Thousand Sevem, July 17 2007, July Eighteenth Two Thousand Seven, July 18 Two Thousand Seven, July 18th Two Thousand Seven
yie ar kung fu?? is that for japan or the U.S. but im bout to go get 2K8 right..... now!!!
I'm still on the fence about All Pro 2k8 and the $60 price tag doesn't help. I think I'll stick with a proven winner and wait until August when Madden 08 comes out.
Dont forget Stranglehold beginning of August Sascha23. Bomberman Live is the only one on that list I will buy.
It looks pretty bland until August when we see Lair and BioShock. Can't wait for those two.
Finally, I have been waiting for Bomberman since it was announced! ::crossing fingers:: lag free matches over live... lag free matches over live...
I've already downloaded Paper Mario and I'm playing through it! SWEET! There's two more on the VC this week too - Balloon Fight and some obscure Turbografx game.
I'll probably download Paper Mario and Bomberman which will be great. I might get GRAW2 if the reviews are good.
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