All-Pro Football 2K8

More complete Article Scans of an interview re: All-Pro Football 2k8. This is the same article alluded to in a previous post, but it's easier to access here (i.e., with no registration to view the full scans, or at least those with no screen shots).

Bill Harris rants about what info we've been given so far.

Sadly, I don't think an unlicensed game puts any pressure on the Madden team whatsoever. The sales just won't be there.

Sadly, I don't think an unlicensed game puts any pressure on the Madden team whatsoever. The sales just won't be there.

I think there was a market for a solid football simulation - something like Front Page Sports was for the PC. It sounds like what we're getting isn't that, though.

I'd love a player/team editor or randomizer to generate interesting fantasy leagues, but can live without that.

What I can't, however, do without is a franchise mode. That's the only mode I really play on sports games aside from multiplayer. Without a franchise mode, I'm out.

No franchise mode, no purchase for me. This might be the biggest disappointment of the year for my expected gaming purchases.

Fyedaddy wrote:

No franchise mode, no purchase for me. This might be the biggest disappointment of the year for my expected gaming purchases.

No Franchise Mode, that's a really dissapointing

I had alot of hope for this game but it looks like it's falling through

Franchise mode is no biggie for me. I've yet to find a single player franchise made that is worth the time and effort. CPU owners don't draft, trade, or sign free agents worth a damn. What I loved about FPS Football Pro was the online multiplayer franchise modes. But I don't see a console ever getting that deep, especially since we used all kinds of third party software to edit our players, track our stats, run our drafts, keep track of free agency, and even allow others to view our games online.

In the console world, if we get a group to finish a season, that's impressive. One of my favorite Football Pro leagues is still going strong.

If we the quality play that we got from the last 2k games, and the ability to have online leagues, I'm gonna be happy. The one issue will be how dedicated will people be to fictional teams, especially if the team they are using is pretty bad. this coming season, the Chiefs are going to be awful, but I would still enjoy trying to guide them through a season (if SwampYankee let me have the team!). But the Rhinos? Maybe not.

So, while the franchise mode is not a deal breaker for me, there are some issues I can see having with this game.

I never use franchise mode, by the time I'm done a season I rarely feel like playing another. I'm fine with them focusing on the gameplay and making sure multiplayer is good, if that's how it plays out.

If I had to prioritize, I'd say League play > Franchise; Gameplay > Real Teams; Pie > Cake.

...and Beer > Pie.

Now how would the teams be differentiated from each other - who has the better QB or RB or O-Line etc... or do we get generic team X that all play the same. Not sure i undertsand the team dynamic without some significant customization options which then takes time. Is the a point system to a league - ie does each member get X amount of points to customize their team and each person prioritizes them to their particular scheme. Kind of like buying an army in a RTS game?

From the 2k8 homepage:

All-Pro Football 2K8

Imagine Rice, Unitas, Butkus, and Singletary.
In their prime. On the same field.
Maybe even the same team.
Imagine preparing a precision squad of mercenaries"”even building your own players.
Imagine football action the way football is really played.
Now imagine the best gridiron game coming back for more.
Imagine Football Resurrected.
This is All Pro Football 2K8.
This summer"…the legend returns.

Features

* Draft your dream team from football's legendary players--over 240 of them.
* Choose your arena and pump up the fan base to create stadium energy you can feel.
* Next Gen Graphics feature thousands of new player animations"”games come alive with sweat and steam, rabid fans in the stands and dynamic weather challenges.
* 2K Broadcasting – A new style combining TV broadcast with on-field commentary to put you closer to the action than ever before.
* 2K Beats – Kick it off with original soundtracks, mashups and remixes by an all-pro producer with legendary artists (TBA).

Don't miss the release date! Be sure to get on our mailing list.

Johnny Unitas appears by permission of Unitas Management Corporation, Baldwin, Maryland 21013, www.johnnyunitas.com.

Ooooh...Johnny Unitas??

They have a nifty image you can scroll over to see some of the players. The ones in white show their polygonal heads when you mouse over them.

Seems like almost the whole '85 Bears squad is on there, except I couldn't find Jim McMahon!!! BASTARDS!

Legends players announced!

Although clearly the word "legends" is used loosely here. Not to speak ill of the Yancey Thigpens and Clyde Simmonses of the NFL.

Bill Curry C
Dermontti Dawson C
Dwight Stephenson C
Jim Otto C
Mick Tingelhoff C
Albert Lewis CB
Lem Barney CB
Lester Hayes CB
Mel Renfro CB
Mike Haynes CB
NightTrain Lane CB
Roger Wehrli CB
Terry McDaniel CB
Tom Brookshier CB
Willie Brown CB
Chris Doleman DE
Clyde Simmons DE
Deacon Jones DE
Dexter Manley DE
Elvin Bethea DE
Gino Marchetti DE
Harvey Martin DE
Jim Marshall DE
Lee Roy Selmon DE
Leonard Marshall DE
Leslie O'Neal DE
Reggie White DE
Rulon Jones DE
Tony Tolbert DE
TooTall Jones DE
Art Donovan DT
Bob Lilly DT
Dan Hampton DT
Dan Saleaumua DT
Dave Butz DT
Greg Kragen DT
Jerome Brown DT
Keith Millard DT
Leon Lett DT
Marty Lyons DT
Mike Golic DT
Randy White DT
William Perry DT
Daryl Johnston FB
Ickey Woods FB
Merril Hoge FB
Tom Rathman FB
Cliff Harris FS
Deron Cherry FS
Eric Turner FS
Eugene Robinson FS
Leroy Butler FS
Nolan Cromwell FS
Ronnie Lott FS
Solomon Wilcots FS
Bill Fralic G
Guy Mcintyre G
Jesse Sapolu G
Jim Langer G
Larry Little G
Randall Mcdaniel G
Randy Cross G
Russ Grimm G
Stan Jones G
Steve Wisniewski G
Tom Mack G
Abner Haynes HB
Barry Foster HB
Barry Sanders HB
Billy Sims HB
Charley Trippi HB
Chris Warren HB
Christian Okoye HB
Chuck Foreman HB
Chuck Muncie HB
Curt Warner HB
Dalton Hilliard HB
Dave Meggett HB
Earl Campbell HB
Emmitt Smith HB
Eric Bieniemy HB
Floyd Little HB
Freeman McNeil HB
Gale Sayers HB
Greg Bell HB
Hugh McElhenny HB
Joe Perry HB
Lenny Moore HB
Leroy Kelly HB
Marcus Allen HB
Matt Snell HB
Mike Rozier HB
Natrone Means HB
O.J. Simpson HB
Ottis Anderson HB
Paul Hornung HB
Reggie Cobb HB
Ricky Watters HB
Roger Craig HB
Ronnie Bull HB
Thurman Thomas HB
Tony Canadeo HB
Tony Nathan HB
Walter Payton HB
Brad Van Pelt ILB
Brian Jones ILB
Chris Spielman ILB
Chuck Noll ILB
D|ck Butkus ILB
Gary Plummer ILB
Harry Carson ILB
Joe Schmidt ILB
John Offerdahl ILB
Mike Singletary ILB
Nick Buoniconti ILB
Pepper Johnson ILB
Scott Studwell ILB
AlDEl Greco K
Eddie Murray K
Jan Stenerud K
Jeff Jaeger K
Jim Bakken K
Lou Groza K
Brian Bosworth OLB
Bryce Paup OLB
Carl Banks OLB
Chuck Bednarik OLB
Dave Wilcox OLB
Derrick Thomas OLB
Greg Lloyd OLB
Jessie Tuggle OLB
John Anderson OLB
Karl Mecklenburg OLB
Ken Norton Jr OLB
Lamar Lathon OLB
Otis Wilson OLB
Robert Brazile OLB
Ray Guy P
Andre Ware QB
Archie Manning QB
Bart Starr QB
Bernie Kosar QB
Bill Wade QB
Bobby Hebert QB
Bubby Brister QB
Dan Marino QB
Dave Krieg QB
Greg Landry QB
Jeff Hostetler QB
Jim Hart QB
Joe Montana QB
Joe Theismann QB
John Brodie QB
John Elway QB
Johnny Unitas QB
Ken O'Brien QB
Ken Stabler QB
Len Dawson QB
Lynn D|ckey QB
Mark Rypien QB
Neil O'Donnell QB
Otto Graham QB
Roger Staubach QB
Sammy Baugh QB
Steve Bartkowski QB
Steve Grogan QB
Tommy Kramer QB
Troy Aikman QB
Warrren Moon QB
Charlie Waters SS
D|ck Anderson SS
Fred Marion SS
George Mcafee SS
Jack Tatum SS
Joey Browner SS
Willie Wood SS
Anthony Munoz T
Bob Brown T
Bob St. Clair T
Bubba Paris T
Jim Lachey T
Jim Parker T
Joe Jacoby T
JoeDElamielleure T
Korey Stringer T
Lou Creekmur T
Mike Munchak T
Rayfield Wright T
Richmond Webb T
Ron Mix T
Ron Yary T
Roosevelt Brown T
Tony Boselli T
Ben Coates TE
Billy Joe Dupree TE
Brent Jones TE
Dave Casper TE
Eric Green TE
Jackie Smith TE
Jay Novacek TE
John Mackey TE
Keith Jackson TE
Mike Ditka TE
Pete Metzelaars TE
Todd Christensen TE
Troy Drayton TE
Alvin Harper WR
Andre Reed WR
Anthony Carter WR
Bobby Mitchell WR
Charley Taylor WR
Cliff Branch WR
Dante Lavelli WR
Don Maynard WR
Drew Pearson WR
Dwight Clark WR
Eric Martin WR
Ernest Givins WR
Fred Biletnikoff WR
Gary Clark WR
Henry Ellard WR
Herman Moore WR
Irving Fryar WR
James Lofton WR
Jerry Rice WR
John Jefferson WR
John Taylor WR
Mark Carrier WR
Pete Pihos WR
Raghib Ismail WR
Raymond Berry WR
Rick Upchurch WR
Ricky Sanders WR
Rob Moore WR
Steve Tasker WR
Tony Martin WR
Wesley Walker WR
Willie Gault WR
Yancey Thigpen WR

*Legion*'s Top 25 "Missing" list (at least off the top of my head at midnight):
1. Bo Jackson, HB
2. Joe Greene, DT
3. Merlin Olsen, DT
4. Ray Nitschke, ILB
5. Jim Brown, HB
6. Jack Lambert, ILB
7. Bruce Matthews, G
8. Gene Upshaw, G
9. Paul Krause, FS
10. Lawrence Taylor, OLB
11. Alan Page, DT
12. Cris Carter, WR
13. Larry Wilson, SS
14. John Hannah, G
15. Art Monk, WR
16. Art Shell, T
17. Kellen Winslow, TE
18. Lance Alworth, WR
19. Franco Harris, HB
20. Mike Webster, C
21. Jackie Slater, T
22. Mike Munchak, G
23. Larry Centers, FB
24. Sean Landeta, P (you can't have only one punter!)
25. Jerrel Wilson, P (ditto)

The selection of guards and tackles is a bit light (38 halfbacks but only 11 guards??). I didn't list any QBs despite some obvious ones (Joe Namath, Fran Tarkenton) because I think they covered that position pretty well. I like the brass balls of including O.J. Simpson. But, c'mon, only one punter? Of course, I'm sure Sammy Baugh and a couple other old timers will punt too.

But the inclusion of Brian Bosworth? Massive damage. Something worthy of Kaz Hirai. BRIIIIIIIAAAN BOSWORTH!

.... boy, it sure would be nice to have a Bo Jackson to run him over with....

Certis wrote:

I never use franchise mode, by the time I'm done a season I rarely feel like playing another. I'm fine with them focusing on the gameplay and making sure multiplayer is good, if that's how it plays out.

I agree completely. The most fun I ever had playing any sports game was playing Tecmo Super Bowl with my buddies. So one giant online football season with my friends would be golden. Even if everything started over the next season. It would be a blast. I'm still trying to figure out, though, who we are actually going to be playing with. It will be weird, to say the least, if we're all using like RB #21 and stuff like that. It's fun to have actual names fill ALL positions, even if they're classic players, so that that way you can put a name to stats.

I'm not sure how they're handling this, but in my dream world they'd approach every retired player possible and a team like the Chiefs, for example, would have Christian Okoyo at running back, JJ Birden at receiver, Derrick Thomas at LB, etc. So anyone that isn't currently playing in the NFL gets signed to some extent. That would be beautiful.

EDIT: Oops, apparently (minus some ommisions I'd like to see on that list) it appears that's exactly what they are doing. Frickin' sweet. I was going to buy this already just to put a thumb in EA's eye. But to run over a fellow Goodger with Christian Okoye will be pure bliss. My new "can't wait for it" game.

DSGamer wrote:

JJ Birden

Wow.

Stephone Paige and Otis Taylor would like to have some words with you.

I don't really understand the list... maybe there are legal issues involved, but shouldn't every member of the hall of fame be on it? Not to diss Yancy Thigpen, but what about Steve Largent?

*Legion* wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

JJ Birden

Wow.

Stephone Paige and Otis Taylor would like to have some words with you. :D

My point is that I want to play as the guys I remember and love. Not necessarily the best players ever. But the ones I know and love. Stephone Paige is another beloved player by me. So definitely.

This is actually what I really dig about that roster list and this game as it's seemingly being constructed. I would be bored by a game where I played as the classic Steelers vs. the classic Bears or something of that nature. A game like that would likely not have names and would be just like the classic mode in Madden or 2k and would bore me.

But a game where I can actually play as some of my favorites of yesteryear? Like Okoye, Deron Cherry, are you kidding me?

I could add to that list. Rod Woodsen, Donnell Woolford. On and on.

Still, this is pretty cool. Unless they really screw it up, this game will be mine.

Lots of great names, though. I can't believe they have Jim Hart and failed to get Conrad Dobler and Dan Dierdorf to protect him. This does seem like it would be a blast for online league play, anyway.

This is a great idea, but I sure wish they were getting more than 240 players. Like Legion mentioned, only one punter? So one team gets Ray Guy?

Oh, and another HB missing. Earl Campbell!!! That's horrible!

Minase wrote:

I don't really understand the list... maybe there are legal issues involved, but shouldn't every member of the hall of fame be on it? Not to diss Yancy Thigpen, but what about Steve Largent?

There's no "Hall of Fame" license that they could acquire and get the rights to all these people (it's not a union like the NFLPA). Most likely, they've had to go get the rights to each player individually. Not everyone is going to agree to it. I don't doubt for a second that they tried to get Steve Largent and every other HOF player that's not on the list.

Jayhawker wrote:

Oh, and another HB missing. Earl Campbell!!! That's horrible!

Look between "Dave Meggett" and "Emmitt Smith" on the list.

(Don't feel bad, the list is in alphabetical order by FIRST name, for some crazy reason)

*Legion* wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

Oh, and another HB missing. Earl Campbell!!! That's horrible!

Look between "Dave Meggett" and "Emmitt Smith" on the list.

(Don't feel bad, the list is in alphabetical order by FIRST name, for some crazy reason)

Doh! Man this game is going to be fun! I'm a huge Chiefs fan (had season tickets for six seasons). One of my favorite games of all time was when the Chiefs beat the heavily favored Buffalo Bills, 33-6, on Monday night by ramming Christian Okoye down there thoats all game. I couldn't talk for days after that game. But in my lifetime, I think Earl Campbell was my favorite RB. He may not have been the best (walter Payton, I would assume), but he was a legend like no other.

I sure hope the game models Jim Brown's refusal to block.

*Legion* wrote:

I sure hope the game models Jim Brown's refusal to block.

I don't know anything about football players before about four years ago, and that's still funny.

Okay, we've been missing something here:

William Perry DT

It will be a travesty if they do not allow you to play him on offense!!!

Bear down, Chicago Bears!

firesloth wrote:

Okay, we've been missing something here:

William Perry DT

It will be a travesty if they do not allow you to play him on offense!!!

Bear down, Chicago Bears!

That's good. This game has the makings of a Goodger favorite if they do it right. Knocks on wood.