NFL GameDay 98

NFL GameDay 98 is an American football game featuring polygonal players and a 3D game engine.

Jerome Bettis and Tim Brown served as the motion capture actors for the game.{{cite magazine |author=Air Hendrix |title=Sports Insider Previews: NFL GameDay '98 |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_107_Volume_09_Number_08_1997-08_IDG_Publishing_US |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=107 |date=August 1997 |page=[https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_107_Volume_09_Number_08_1997-08_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n81/mode/2up 80] |accessdate=October 27, 2021}}

Sony Computer Entertainment heavily marketed the game in printed and on television, with a campaign which characterized it as the choice of real NFL players.{{cite magazine |title=Where to Play? The Dust Settles (Marketing Muscle) |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_36 |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=36 |date=December 1997 |page=[https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_36/page/n51/mode/2up 50] |accessdate=October 27, 2021}} SCE held two pre-Super Bowl XXXII events with the game, one pitting Super Bowl participants Robert Brooks and Terrell Davis against each other, and one at the PlayStation NFL players party in which sixteen NFL players participated.{{cite magazine |title=Tale of Three Tournaments |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=105|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=April 1998|page=23}}

{{Video game reviews

| Allgame = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Romero |first=Joshua |title=NFL GameDay 98 - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2206&tab=review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114205121/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2206&tab=review |archivedate=November 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=October 28, 2021}}

| CNG = 9/10{{cite web |last=Jones |first=George |date=October 10, 1997 |title=NFL GameDay 98 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Gameday/ |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815075402/http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Gameday/ |archivedate=August 15, 2000 |url-status=dead |accessdate=October 27, 2021}}

| EGM = 9.25/10{{cite magazine |last1=Kujawa |first1=Kraig |last2=Hager |first2=Dean |title=Team EGM Sports: NFL GameDay 98 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=99 |date=October 1997 |page=192}}

| GI = 8.75/10{{cite magazine |last1=Anderson |first1=Paul |last2=Reiner |first2=Andrew |last3=Storm |first3=Jon |url=https://archive.org/details/Game_Informer_Issue_054r_October_1997/page/n13/mode/2up |title=Madden NFL 98 and NFL GameDay '98 [sic] |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=54 |date=October 1997 |pages=24–25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990921040413/http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=oct97&doc=mad-gday |archivedate=September 21, 1999 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 28, 2021}}

| GameFan = 96%{{cite magazine |author1=Joe Kidd |author2=The Rookie |title=[NFL] GameDay '98 [sic] |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_10 |magazine=GameFan |publisher=Metropolis Media |volume=5 |issue=10 |date=October 1997 |page=[https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_10/page/n129/mode/2up 124] |accessdate=October 27, 2021}}{{efn|In GameFan{{'}}s viewpoint of the game, one critic gave it a score of 96, and the other 95.}}

| GameRev = B{{cite web |author=Tony V. |date=August 1997 |title=NFL Gameday '98 [sic] |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33886-gameday98-review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980613222757/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/sony/gameday98.htm |archivedate=June 13, 1998 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 27, 2021}}

| GSpot = 7.8/10{{cite web |last=Lerhman |first=Darren |date=September 25, 1997 |title=NFL GameDay 98 Review [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"] |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nfl-gameday-98-review/1900-2547653/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050127164341/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/sports/nflgameday98/review.html |archivedate=January 27, 2005 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 27, 2021}}

| IGN = 8.8/10{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=August 26, 1997 |title=NFL GameDay 98 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/08/27/nfl-gameday-98 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=October 31, 2019}}

| NGen = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Pay dirt (NFL GameDay '98 Review) |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_35 |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=35 |date=November 1997 |page=[https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_35/page/n191/mode/2up 190] |accessdate=October 27, 2021}}

| OPM = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Perez |first=Dindo |title=NFL GameDay 98 |url=https://archive.org/details/Official_US_PlayStation_Magazine_Volume_1_Issue_1_1997-10_Ziff_Davis_US |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |volume=1 |issue=1 |date=October 1997 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/Official_US_PlayStation_Magazine_Volume_1_Issue_1_1997-10_Ziff_Davis_US/page/n79/mode/2up 80-81] |accessdate=October 27, 2021}}

}}

Like its two predecessors, NFL GameDay 98 was met with critical acclaim. Reviewers universally applauded its pioneering use of polygonal players in a football game, and in particular, the fact that it manages to do so without noticeable slowdown.{{cite magazine |author=Scary Larry |title=Having a Good Day |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_109_Volume_09_Number_10_1997-10_IDG_Publishing_US |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IGN |issue=109 |date=October 1997 |page=[https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_109_Volume_09_Number_10_1997-10_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n151/mode/2up 151] |accessdate=October 27, 2021}} GameSpot, for example, remarked that "After two years of sprite-based 32-bit football games, many believed it wasn't possible to create a fully 3D PlayStation football game without making tremendous sacrifices in gameplay or aesthetics. NFL GameDay '98 is proof that the PlayStation is capable of accomplishing such feats." Next Generation stated that "While Madden is still trying to get old school done right in the 32-bit age, Sony has, for the third year in a row, successfully reinvented the wheel and made it spin." Some critics also noted that the use of polygons for the players enabled new moves that would not be possible with sprites.

Reviews also widely praised the game's accessibility, player animations, and sound effects. However, some still concluded that it fell second to its chief competitor, Madden NFL 98. GameSpot found the selection of moves excessive and the A.I. more vulnerable to "money plays" than that of Madden NFL 98. Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s Kraig Kujawa likewise found it too susceptible to "money plays" to consider it as outstanding as Madden, though his co-reviewer Dean Hager held NFL GameDay 98 to be the better of the two games. GamePro, while giving it a 4.5 out of 5 in sound and a perfect 5.0 in every other category (graphics, control, and fun factor), found it to be less realistic than Madden, likening it to stepping outside during the Super Bowl to play street football. Next Generation, however, asserted that if Madden NFL 98 were to outsell NFL GameDay 98, "then there is a serious problem with the game-buying public."

In 1997 Electronic Gaming Monthly named it the 31st best console video game of all time (while ranking Madden NFL 98 as 19th best), citing its revolutionary 3D graphics and solid gameplay,{{cite magazine |title=100 Best Games of All Time |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=100 |date=November 1997|pages=140, 147}} Note: Contrary to the title, the intro to the article (on page 100) explicitly states that the list covers console video games only, meaning PC games and arcade games were not eligible. and named it a runner-up for "Sports Game of the Year" (behind International Superstar Soccer 64).{{cite magazine |title=Editors' Choice Awards |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=104 |date=March 1998 |page=88}}

The game was nominated for the "Best PlayStation Game" award at the CNET Gamecenter Awards for 1997, which went to Final Fantasy VII.{{cite web |author=Gamecenter staff |date=January 28, 1998 |url=http://gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards97/Off/ss04ba.html |title=The Gamecenter Awards for 1997! (PlayStation, Part 2) |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001001214159/http://gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards97/Off/ss04ba.html |archivedate=October 1, 2000 |url-status=dead |accessdate=October 27, 2021}} It was also a finalist for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' "Console Sports Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Software Engineering" at the 1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards,{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm |title=The Award - Updates |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090128/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm |archivedate=June 15, 1998 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 3, 2021}} which went to International Superstar Soccer 64 and GoldenEye 007, respectively.{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm |title=The Award - Winners |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090115/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm |archivedate=June 15, 1998 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 3, 2021}}

The game sold more than 1.4 million copies by September 1998.{{cite web |last=Wertz |first=Langstone |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85757718/the-charlotte-observer/ |title=Head to Head |newspaper=The Charlotte Observer |publisher=Chatham Asset Management |date=September 17, 1998 |page=49 |accessdate=October 27, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

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• {{moby game|id=/playstation/nfl-gameday-98}}

{{NFL GameDay}}

Category:1997 video games

Category:989 Studios games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:NFL GameDay video games

Category:North America-exclusive video games

Category:PlayStation (console) games

Category:PlayStation (console)-only games

Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games

Category:Video games developed in the United States