Sports related video games have consistently been among the highest selling and most successful among video game players. Much like the real sports they are modeled after, the video games offer life-like simulations and are very similar to everything that goes on in the actual sport. EA Sports is the award winning developer of the world’s most popular sports video games. Each video game sports franchise is unique in its own way and has its own fan base. Often times, fans of the video game are also fans of the sport in real life. Here is a list of the top five video game sports franchises.
FIFA
FIFA is popular among football (or soccer) fans around the world. The video game sports franchise was the first to have an official license from FIFA, the world governing body of football, in order to use the real football leagues and teams in its games. The games incorporate leagues and teams from around the world include the popular English Premier League, American Major League Soccer, Italian Serie A, and Spanish La Liga. In addition to its main FIFA games, the franchise has also created video games based off of soccer tournaments including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Football Championship, and UEFA Champions League. Wayne Rooney was the face of the franchise for six years gracing the over of the game from 2006 to 2012. Beginning in 2013, Lionel Messi became the face of the franchise. The latest release of the game is FIFA 14, which was released in North America on September 24, 2013 and subsequently in Europe on September 27, 2013. The game is available for a variety of platforms and gaming systems including Xbox 360 and PS3.
Madden NFL
Named after NFL Hall of Famer John Madden, Madden NFL is one of the most popular video game sports franchises and is the best selling EA Sports video game series in the United States. The game is most notable for the players’ life like movements and agility, as well as player statistics and commentary similar to the commentary you would hear while watching a real life game. Madden NFL 25 is the most recent installment of the series. It was released on August 27, 2013. Rather than to name it Madden NFL 14, seeing as it was the 14th installment in the series, the game was called Madden NFL 25 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the series with Adrian Peterson on the cover. Madden NFL 25 is available for different gaming systems including Xbox One and PS4.
NBA Live
NBA Live is most popular among basketball fans. Many players have graced the covers throughout the years with Kyle Irving being the latest athlete on the NBA Live 14 cover, released on November 19, 2013. Prior to NBA Live, EA Sports previously had created NBA Playoffs and NBA Showdown. NBA Playoffs was a series that featured NBA playoff matchups including the Lakers versus the Celtics, as well as the Bulls versus the Lakers. NBA Showdown was the final game in the NBA Playoffs series before the origin of NBA Live.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour
Featuring one of the most successful golfers in the world, Tiger Woods PGA Tour was a series of golf video games. It was announced in October of 2013 that the game would no longer be named after Tiger Woods. The first game in the franchise, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 99, was released in 1998, and its most recent release, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14, was released in 2013. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 allows players to play in all four Majors- the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. The game is available for a variety of gaming consoles including Xbox 360 and PS3.
NCAA Football
NCAA Football is another football video game series that allows players to compete against Division 1 college football teams. Unlike the Madden NFL games that use real player names and likenesses, meaning player specific details, NCAA Football does not use real player names or likenesses, nor does it feature current college players on the covers of the games. In 2013, the NCAA announced that it would not renew its licensing deal with EA Sports because of legal disputes regarding the use of college athletes’ likenesses. The final installment in the series, NCAA Football 14, was released in 2013.
