No Bo in New Tecmo Bowl

Hear that? That's the sound of hearts breaking.

Yesterday I posted more of a plea than a story, asking Tecmo not to F-up their return to the beloved football franchise Tecmo Bowl and it seems that most of you were with me. Heck, I even received a private email with assurances that things would remain F-up free. And for the most part, it seems that that is the case.

But Stephen Totilo IMed me this morning to point out what he's found out about the upcoming game, most of which sounds great, some of which... OK one of which, is not so much.

First of all, I’m told that this game isn’t a new 3D re-invention. It’s a classic 2D game.

I’ve also learned that the game won’t include any NFL teams or players, due to EA having the licenses locked up. It won’t include retired players either, and that includes “Tecmo Super Bowl” icon Bo Jackson.

No Bo? Say it ain't so!

Hit up the link to read Tecmo's take on what you should think of Tecmo Bowl Kickoff.

Tecmo: No Bo Jackson, No NFL For New ‘Tecmo Bowl’ — But Still Faithfully Old-School [MTV Multiplayer]

Tony Dungy The Face Of NFL Head Coach 09

EA Sports has confirmed that Indianapolis Colts' head coach Tony Dungy will be gracing the cover of NFL Head Coach 09. The game was officially announced today, scheduled for release this fall, for both the PS3 and Xbox 360. This second edition of Head Coach will feature all the micro-managing fun that comes along with being a high-powered, highly-stressed NFL coach. According to IGN's first look at the game, Head Coach 09 has removed all of the tedium of the previous incarnation, although as someone who has never seen the appeal of fantasy sports, I can't imagine that all of the tedium is gone, otherwise, there'd be no trading and haggling over salaries!

Dungy was the first African-American coach to ever win a Super Bowl when the Colts saw victory in 2007. He's been with the Colts since 2001, and has won 70 regular season games since his arrival. In a Game Daily interview, Dungy said that he hopes the game will help prepare young people who are looking for a career in coaching football.

Hey, it makes more sense than training to become a football player by playing Madden!

EA's "We Still OWN the NFL" Press Release

Electronic Arts sent out the official release this afternoon confirming that they have extended their exclusive license with the NFL and NFL Players Association through the 2012 season, which ends in Feb. 2013. Not a whole lot new here from my interview with Peter Moore about the deal.

There are these two lovely quotes from the two organizations:

"This is all about bringing authenticity and realism to NFL videogames," said Eric Grubman, President of NFL Ventures. "EA SPORTS continually works to maintain the cutting edge for NFL products across a variety of gaming platforms. We like the fact that they never rest."

"This is great news and it means we can continue to produce the best interactive experience possible. It also allows NFL PLAYERS, the NFL and EA to continue to build our brands," said Gene Upshaw, Chairman of NFL PLAYERS and Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association. "We offer a very unique experience. "

No mention of the cost to EA for the deal, something Moore also declined to tell me in our talk last night. I'm still confused about why the NFL would seek an exclusive deal instead of selling the rights to a number of publishers. Maybe they want to keep a better handle on how their license is used? Full release on the jump with more Mooreisms.

EA Extends NFL License Into Futurama-esque 2013

The Forgotten Awesomeness Of Road To Sunday

So, there's this mysterious personage called 'Surfer Girl', who purports to be a gaming insider - Kotaku has previously run her tips on Prince Of Persia 4 and other games, and if she's not privy to inside information, she's certainly great at piecing together info.

In any case, she has two blogs, and the second, 'Such Things That Never Was', deals with games that never came out. Her latest post discusses the somewhat forgotten 'Road To Sunday' non-licensed football games planned by Sony back in 2005, and boy, this was crazier than I recalled - sadly, both games were cancelled:

Road to Sunday was the football/fighting cross where a football owner, his partner, and his team have to the owner's father's debt to a Jamaican kingpin, and that debt is now his because the father was killed in a mysterious explosion. You brawled in the Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory, a game show set, tunnels under the White House, outside the Mann's Grauman Chinese Theatre, Sepulveda Dam, the Alamo, Los Angeles River, The Encounter Restaurant, subway tunnels, yacht floors, and a surf shop.

EA Makes Madden 08 Cover Athlete Official

Chargers Fans Win, Vince Young To Grace Madden 08 Box, Suffer Horrible Injury

Fans Want Madden Coverboy Dropped, Fear The Curse

EA's Palatial Super Bowl Digs: A Tour

Visual Concepts Bringing Pro Football Back

2K Sports Bringing Football Back In '07?

EA Giving Away Something FREE On Xbox Live?

Madden Curse Strikes Again!

Romanowski, Taylor Named to Cover of Blitz 360

Madden 07 In The (Ware)House!

EA's Vicegrip on NFL License Loosening?