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Blitz: The League

 
Games: Blitz: The League
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Blitz: The League
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Game Description

Free from any license limitations or other third-party restrictions, Blitz: The League is designed to present a mature, entertaining look at the rivalry, pride, and pain of professional football. The game revolves around a fictional league, allowing it to explore the darker side of professional sports without offending any real-life celebrities or betraying any image-conscious NFL affiliations. This unflinching spirit is represented by former NFL star and enduring legend of toughness Lawrence Taylor, who lends his voice and likeness to the production.

Like contemporary, licensed NFL games, Blitz is designed to offer realistic player models, lively stadiums, competent commentary, and smooth gameplay with plenty of accessible options. On the field, gamers can expect an intensified version of the over-the-top violence and comical extremes in Midway's popular NFL Blitz titles. However The League plays off the field, as well, allowing gamers access to behind-the-scenes board meetings and private pro player parties.

In Blitz's story mode, gamers create a custom team of athletes that enters the fictional league in last place. The short-term goal is to win each game at any costs, even if that means bending (or ignoring) the rules when possible. Athletes can bulk up with performance enhancing supplements, for example, if they are willing to risk future health problems and drug tests, and devastating hits on the field earn bonus points, even when they are made outside the realm of "good sportsmanship."
~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

After Midway's successful runs on the 128-bit platforms with NFL Blitz 20-02 and NFL Blitz 20-03, the National Football League passed on licensing the game publisher to create additional Blitz titles based on the league, complaining that the games' exaggerated action made the NFL seem too violent and unsportsmanlike. Shortly after the December 2004 announcement that the NFL had sold exclusive video game rights to Electronic Arts for the five-year period from 2005 though 2010, Midway revealed its development of Blitz: Playmakers: a title designed to offer all the action and controversy that the "No Fun League" would not allow.
~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Production Credits

Company 1: Midway Home Entertainment; Executive Producer: Mike Bilder; Producer: Adam Boyes; Lead Designer: Kraig Kujawa; Programming Lead: Dave Lang; Art Director: Matthew Gilmore; Audio Lead: Rich Carle; Programmer: Jeff Campen, Vinh Chu, Dan Coleman, Drew Dormann, James Freeman-Harqis, Ken Lam, Prashant Patel, Josh Williams, Darryl Wisner; Additional Programming: Todd Allen, Alexander Barrentine, Jon Greenberg, Eitan Levy, Adisak Pochanayon, Jim Terdina, Alan Villani; Advanced Technology Group: Steve Anichini, Erdem Erdenen, Jason Fugate, Ed Keenan, Shawn Liptak, Michael O'Connor, Otto Schnurr, Graham West; Environment Artist: David Mueller, Rhett Torgoley; Character Artist: Travis Gosnell, Chuck Jones, Justin Muir, Cari Oberstar; Additional Character Artist: Steve Beran, Jennifer Hedrick, Pav Kovacic, Luis Magubat, Herman Sanchez; Designer: David Friedland, Steve Jones, Jon Walsh; Additional Designer: Vinh Chu, Dan Coleman; Animation and Motion Capture Manager: James Gentile; Animation Lead: Jeff Baker; Animator: Brian Wright, Darrel Christian, Eli Figueroa; Additional Animator: Rick Chase, Kirk Degrasse, Chuck Ghislandi, Jin-Jang, Carlos Pesina, John Vogel, Tony Zeffiro; Motion Capture Specialist: Fredy Palma; Talent Manager: Jon Nielsen; Talent: Kenny Bell, Chris Robbins, Trevor Baber; Additional Motion Talent: Etu Molden, Ronnie Gordon, Jovon Corbin, Ken Bouie, Morgan Lyons, Rasche Hill, Siaka Massaquio, Steven Clancy, Johanna Anonuevo, Jessica Swiggum, Bethann Smukowski; Cinematics Manager: Jon McClenehan; Cinematics Team Lead: Todd Keller; Cinematics Creative Director: Ty Primosch; Cinematics Artist: Andrew Currie, Doug Smith; Additional Cinematics Artist: Spiro Anagnostakos, Paul Chamnankit, Chuck Ernst, Shannah O'Meara, Josh Slingerland, Matt Taylor, Matt Skonicki; User Interface Manager: William Fox; User Interface Lead: Ernie Perez; User Interface Artist: Stewart Fritz, Brian Rouleau, Martin Ryan, Matt Secrist, Chad Bailey, Kevin Hurley, Robbie Klapka, Brian Wing, Michelle Lin, Martin Ryan; Lead Writer: Peter Egan; Additional Writer: Rich Carle, Brian Chard, David Friedland, Tom Gottlieb, Steve Heinrich, Joel Husenits, Steve Jones, Matt Kelly, Kriag Kujawa, Edmund O'Brien, Phil Ridarelli, Jamie Vann, Jon Walsh; Additional Audio Lead: Brian Chard; Additional Audio Support: Chase Ashbaker, Jim Bonney, Dan Forden, Alex Nied, Vince Pontarell; Voice of Quentin Sands: Lawrence Taylor; Voice of Lyman Strang: Ron Ferraro; Voice of Mayor Sheila Andrews: Lynne Magnavite; Voice of the Vet: Max Crawford; Voice of the Rookie: Kevin Douglas; Voice of Jacqui: Paula Garcia; Voice of Bruno Battaglia: John Gawlik; Voice of Coach: Dan Bakadahl; Voice of Spoils: Johanna Añonuevo; Voice of Bookie: Rom Barkhordar; Voice of Waitress: Jill Kogut; Voice of Centerfold: Bethann Smukowski; Voice of Radio Show Host: Bill Hainsworth; Voice of Reporter: Rich Calre; Voice of Doctor: Dan Forden; Voice of Loan Shark: Mike Higgins; Voice of Publicist: Justin Krogh; Voice of Home Boy: Ronnie Gordon; Voice of Cellections Agent: Beth Melewski; Voice of Tawny: Michele Williams; Voice of Escort: Johanna Añonuevo; Voice of Commentator: Bill Davis; Voice of Offensive Coordinator: Jamie Vann; Voice of Jacob Williams: Len St. James; Voice of Kwazi Mbutabe: Marz Timms; Voice of Ezekiel Freeman: Dan Bakadahl; Voice of Chad Longstreet: Rom Barkhordar; Voice of Vonnie Treonday: John Barnett; Voice of Julius Williams: Qudell Davis; Voice of Shane Spain: Phil Ridarelli; Voice of Kelvin Diggs: Vance Evans; Voice of Tyrell Price: Corey Ruff; Voice of Cookie Wallace: Keenan Powell; Voice of Grant Tanner: Jon Walsh; Voice of Tito Maas: Eli Figueroa; Voice of Tony Forbes: Chase Ashbaker; Voice of On-Field Player Voice 1: Ronnie Gordon; Voice of On-Field Player Voice 2: Freddie Grayer; Voice of On-Field Player Voice 3: Marcus Neris; Voice of On-Field Player Voice 4: Simeon Norfleet; Voice of On-Field Player Voice 5: Mike Higgins; Voice of On-Field Player Voice 6: Justin Krogh; Voice of On-Field Player Voice 7: Rob Janas; Voice of On-Field Player Voice 8: Pete Lawson; Voice of Coach 2: Marz Timms; Voice of Trainer1: Vince Pontarelli; Voice of Trainer 2: Rich Carle; Voice of Stadium Announcer: Brian Chard; Cover Athlete: Lawrence Taylor; Quentin Sands: Lawrence Taylor; Creative Media: Michael Crawford, Rigo Cortes, Jack O'Neall, Bill O'Neil, Chris Skrundz, BethAnn Smukowski, Dimitrios Tianis, James Vogel, Christa Woss, Larry Wotman; QA Supervisor: Jacob Beucler; Lead QA Analyst: Ki Wolf-Smith; QA Product Analyst: Reggie Banks, John Bell, Dave Bulvan, Adam Coriglione, John Cruz, Andy Hernandez, James Holland, Robert Lathan, Chris Mcfadden, Greg Ranz, Dion Solano, David Turkiewicz, Richard Vrtis, Timothy Waller, Warren Wikes; QA Director: Paul Sterngold; QA Manager: Malcolm Scott; QA Supervisor: Curtis Barnes; QA Lead: Leroy Butler, Jomel Fontanilla; QA Assistant Lead: John Tajuna, Travis Zander; QA Product Analyst: Shane Cruz, Beck Dubois, Richie Edquid, Paul Fekas, Mike Garcia, Desmond Gregory, Jason Grimes, Robbin Hutchison, Daryl Jackson, Ed Jimenez, Mark Joya, Jared Lazaro, Sam Lui, Eddie Muraira, Ryan Musgrove, Brandon Platt, John Platt, Jon Ritchie, JB Sarao, Samantha Smith, Mike Yob; Technical Standard Analyst: Rommel Abalos, Cailab Bourell, Jennifer Johnson, Josh Palmer, Rich Phim, Andy Suftin, Jimmy Storey; Chief Marketing Officer: Steve Allison; VP Marketing: Mona Hamilton; Marketing Director: Tom McClure; Product Manager: Jack Van Leer; Director of Public Relations: Reilly Brennan; Sports PR Manager: Tim DaRosa; Studio Art Director: Chip Sineni; Studio Technology Director: Michael Weilbacher; Director of Central Groups: Joel Seider; Director of Studio Operations: Samuel Peterson; Director of Art Technology: Martin Murphy; Development Director: Mark Smith; VP Product Development Chicago: Scot Bayless; Senior VP Worldwide Studios: Matt Booty; VP, Secretary & General Counsel: Debbie Fulton; Licensing Counsel: Rob Gustafson; Associate General Counsel: Cory Halpern, Michael Burke; Director of Licensing: Mark T. Morrison; Licensing Coordinator: Chari Ong; Music Supervisor: Adam Boyes; Music Clearance: Steve Rosen; External Music Licensing: Sessing Music Services; "Felonious Funk A Track Remix" By: A-Track; "Felonious Funk A Track Remix" Featuring: Q Bert, Babu, Melo D; "All My Life" By: B Real, DJ Lethal; "All My Life" Performed By: Killing Zone; "All My Life" Music By: Killing Zone; "All My Life" Lyrics By: B Real; "Play At Your Own Risk" Music Written By: DJ Lethal; "Play At Your Own Risk" Lyrics Written and Performed By: B Real; "No Escapin' This" By: The Beatnuts; "No Escapin' This" Performed By: The Beatnuts; "The Streets" By: Buck; "The Streets" Written By: Shaun Damore, Shawn McCullough; "The Streets" Performed By: Buck; "My Team" Written By: Shaun Damore, Shawn McCullough; "My Team" Performed By: Buck; "Blitz My Team Remix" Written By: Shawn Damore, Shawn McCullough; "Blitz My Team Remix" Performed By: Buck; "Suburb Thuggin" By: El Pus; "Suburb Thuggin" Performed By: El Pus; "Today's Your Day (Watchagonedu?)" By: Fat Lip; "Today's Your Day (Watchagonedu?)" Written By: Allen Tossaint, Derrick Stewart, Sam Spiegel; "Today's Your Day (Watchagonedu?)" Performed By: Fatlip; "Radio" Written and Performed By: Heavy Mojo; "So You Say" Written and Performed By: Heavy Mojo; "Represent" Performed and Written By: HED P.E.; "Rock Stars" By: W. Braunstein, J. Fuentes, M. Manzanilla, C. Martin, Non Phixion; "2004" By: Obscure Disorder; "2004" Featuring: Ill Bill, Gortex; "Let 'Em Hate" By: Ray Whitty, Julius LaRosa, Jefeth Frankson, Phifty-50; "Hit Em Up" Produced By: DJ Kemo; "Hit Em Up" By: Rascalz; "Jungle" Produced By: Red-1, DJ Kemo; "Jungle" By: Rascalz; "Cross the Line" Written and Performed By: Raskal; "Play Dirty" Written By: S. Norfleet; "Play Dirty" By: Shadow; "Play Dirty" For: R. J. Neomis; "Bruises" Performed By: Skindred; "Pressure" Performed By: Skindred; "U Wit That" Performed By: Son Doobie; "U Wit That" Produced By: Kemo; "Full Moon" Performed By: Son Doobie; "Full Moon" Produced By: Flipout; "Too Hot" Performed By: Swollen Members; "Too Hot" Produced By: Rob The Viking; "Pangaea" Performed By: Visionaries; "Pangaea" Lyrics: KeyKool, LMNO, Zen, 2Mex, Dannu; "Pangaea" Music: Life Rexall; "Pangaea" Scratches: DJ Rheffmatic; "If You Can't Say Love" Performed By: Visionaries; "If You Can't Say Love" Lyrics: KeyKool, LMNO, Zen, 2Mex, Dannu; "If You Can't Say Love" Music: J Rocc; "If You Can't Say Love" Scratches: DJ Rhettmatic; "Felonius Funk A Trak Remix" Featuring: Q Bert, Babu, Melo D; "Felonius Funk A Trak Remix" By: Felonius Funk
~ Keith Adams, All Game Guide
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Wikipedia: Blitz: The League
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
 This article's tone or style may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (December 2007)
Blitz: The League
Blitz The League Xbox.png
Developer(s) Midway Games
Publisher(s) Midway Games
Designer(s) jakey monmo
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, Wii
Release date(s) October 17, 2005 (PS2, Xbox)
October 30, 2006 (Xbox 360)
December 12, 2006 (PSP)
TBA (Wii)
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: M
OFLC: RC
Media DVD, Universal Media Disc
Input methods Gamepad

Blitz: The League is an American football game by Midway as an unlicensed extension of their NFL Blitz series. Released after the NFL signed an exclusive licensing deal with Electronic Arts, it was released in October 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Lawrence Taylor, who provides voice acting for the game, serves as its official spokesman. In 2006, a second version of the game was released on the Xbox 360 in October. In December 2006, a portable version was released on the PlayStation Portable (under the title Blitz: Overtime). These versions included the voicework and likeness of former pro linebacker Bill Romanowski. The game is also set to come to the Wii[1] in 2008. It was originally intended to be a Wii launch title, but has since been delayed.[2]

On 22 January 2007, the game was refused classification[1] by the Office of Film and Literature Classification in Australia, effectively banning the game there. The game was banned as the use of drugs was related to incentives and rewards.

Contents

Changes

Since Midway Games no longer has an NFL license, Blitz: The League focuses on a fictional league consisting of 18 teams known simply as "The League"[3], whose history is written as a tongue-in-cheek parallel of the NFL's. (The League consists of 3 divisions, using a system of promotion and relegation.) The game also brings back the hard-hitting and violent gameplay of earlier Blitz games in a ramped-up manner. Former NFL star Lawrence Taylor is in the game as Quentin Sands, captain of the New York Nightmare. In the next iteration released in 2006, former NFL star Bill Romanowski joined the roster as Bruno Battaglia, the captain of the Baltimore Bearcats.

Gameplay

Blitz: The League is very similar to previous installments in the Blitz series, as it depicts a gangsta version of gridiron football. Like previous games in the series, first downs are awarded at 30 yards, not 10; there are eight men to a side (similar to arena football, not 11, à la American football); penalties and referees do not exist (although players are somehow prohibited from going offsides); and overly vicious tackles and blocking are the norm. On gaining yards, making tackles for a loss, scoring, or forcing turnovers, players are rewarded with an increased "Clash" meter. When the "Clash" meter is charged up, players may perform "dirty" stiff-arms, dodges, rush avoidance (for quarterbacks), or, most importantly, "dirty hits" on defense. Performing a "dirty" hit or stiff-arm causes opposing players to lose stamina (in essence, reducing their effectiveness) and occasionally become injured (An image of an x-ray would zoom into a specific bone and snap or a ligament tearing). After successfully performing a number of "Clash" moves (or forcing turnovers and scoring touchdowns), players can perform "Unleash" moves which are nearly unstoppable.

When an injury occurs, the player may choose to "treat" the injury normally, or "juice" the injury (inject an athlete with steroids). "Juicing" causes an injury to be ignored, but increases the risk of more severe injuries. However some injuries are so serious (kneecap fracture, torn ACL, wrist fracture, ruptured Achilles), that juicing is not a possible option.

"Campaign Mode"

In single-player "Campaign" mode, the player is challenged to win championships in all three divisions of the fictitious League. The player begins by creating a new team, designing its uniforms and choosing a team name, then picks one of three defensive veterans and one of three offensive rookies as team captains.

The player must win seven of ten regular-season games in each division, followed by a division championship. Players need to decide on a training program for each athlete, which gradually increases the athlete's skills. Players also earn money for each game based on performance, "dirty hits" performed, etc., and can also earn additional money for "gambling" on the results of a game. With this money, players may purchase superior equipment, training facilities, and drugs (some legal, some not) that can be used to augment performance. Occasionally, players may be asked if they would like to spend money to send prostitutes to the opposing team's room before a game (an option based on the supposed real-life exploits of game spokesman Lawrence Taylor), which greatly reduces their strength on game day.

In "Campaign" mode, the player is also periodically shown cutscenes illustrating a variety of subplots involving the team. The game begins at the end of the previous season, when Quentin Sands of the New York Nightmare lands a devastating, career-ending hit on your team's star quarterback (like Taylor's infamous sack of Washington Redskins QB Joe Theismann), as the team is demoted to Division 3. As the game progresses, the player learns that the veteran captain returned to the game as a result of financial troubles, while the rookie is portrayed as a naive yet talented individual whom Sands has targeted as the next player whose career he'll end on the field.

The story of the "Campaign" mode was partially written by former writers of Playmakers, a controversial show on the ESPN network that was canceled due to the NFL's objections to its portrayal of professional football players. Like in the series, the pro circuit chronicled in the game is simply referred to as "The League".

Reception and criticism

Critical reception for Blitz: The League was mostly positive. Gamerankings.com gives the PlayStation 2 release a score of 75% and the Xbox release a score of 77%.

The most common critical complaints with Blitz revolved around allegations of "rubberband AI"; that is, in single-player mode, the computer opponent becomes nearly unbeatable late in games with the human player leading. However, many critics also pointed out that "rubberband AI" is also an undocumented feature of more "legitimate" football titles such as the Madden NFL series.

Blitz: The League's Lead Designer, Kraig Kujawa, said on website operationsports.com that there was actually no "rubberband AI" and that it was just people's perception based on past Blitz games that had it.

The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable releases of Blitz have also been criticized for their very long delays and load times. This does not apply to the PlayStation 2 Slim.

As reported by Game Politics, the government of Australia has officially banned the game due to steroid use. The game is region free so the NTSC version of the game can be played on Australian PAL Xbox 360 consoles. [4]

Differences

  • PS2/Xbox: These two games are exactly the same as they are the initial iteration of Blitz: The League.
  • PSP: The PSP version is dubbed Blitz: Overtime and features extra unique helmet logos, new cities, & unique coordinators to choose from in team creation mode. It also features 3 exclusive All Division teams for the 3 divisions.
  • Xbox 360: Still called Blitz: The League, this version features Bill Romanowski as Bruno "Brutal" Battaglia, as well as unique helmet logos and extra cities. Unlike the PSP version it features the same offensive & defensive coordinators as the original PS2 & Xbox versions. However the 360 does feature its own 3 exclusive teams representing All-West, All-East, & All-American.

See also

References

  1. ^ Office of Film and Literature Classification, 22 January 2007, http://www.oflc.gov.au/resource.html?resource=944&filename=944.pdf

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

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