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CNN Live Today

Look at Video Game Football

Aired August 23, 2002 - 12:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Armchair quarterback and football fans have a new outlet for their frenzied enthusiasm.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And it comes in the form of a video game, actually several new video games.

And CNN technology correspondent Dan Sieberg joins us with a look at the hot new games on the market there.

DAN SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Hi, Fredricka.

Let's call it football Friday, if you will. We're going to be looking at some of the new football games that are out there on the video console market. Last week marked the first time that all of the game makers put out their football games to coincide with the upcoming football season. We're talking about a $9 billion industry with the video game market, so certainly a lot at stake with all these manufactures trying to compete for the different eyeballs of gamers.

We have a sample here today that's hooked up with every gamer's dream, a screen that's bigger than I am. We've got Sega's NFL NK3. That's one of the titles that I'm going to be playing here. We happen to have it on a Playstation 2.

I'll just give you a quick rundown of what some of the options are here. I'm playing the New England Patriots against the Atlanta Falcons. And we're going to start off. I'm the quarterback here, if you see with the blue circle around me, Tom Brady looking for the ball down the field. I am going to try and throw the pass long, and it looks like it's been intercepted.

So, you know, obviously I need a little bit of practice before we go too far.

As I mentioned, Sega NFL 2K3 is one of the titles that are out there. Also out there, a name that many people will be familiar with, and that's Madden. Madden 2003 is another title from Electronic Arts that's out there for people. It's been around for about 13 years, and certainly a name that people are familiar with. John Madden joining Al Michaels Monday nights to talk about football as an announcer. This is certainly going to be a title, the one to beat. Gaming analysts are looking at madden 2003 as the one to beat. And Sega's NFL 2K3 will certainly have to try and come in there get some of that competition.

I mentioned that we were playing Sega NFL 2K3 on a Playstation 2. Both of those are actually out for all of the different platforms. But on the horizon is online gaming, and whether gamers will be able to or want to play these games online with their friends wherever they are, those services are going to coming out soon.

We talked to John Madden himself, and got his take on whether online gaming is going to appeal to gamers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MADDEN, NFL COMMENTATOR: If a kid starting like eight, or nine or 10 playing with buddies, and then he goes away to college, and he has been playing it for five or six years. He goes away to college, his buddy goes away to college, and they can play while they are away, or they go to work in different cities, and they played, you know, when they were younger, or they just move, and they're still friends. And I think that's going to be a big thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIEBERG: Certainly we've been talking about online gaming the past couple of months. Whether that's going to catch on with gamers in the console market, been around a long time with PCs. I mentioned that Sega NFL 2K3 is for all platforms. Madden 2003 is as well.

There are other competitors that are out there, trying to come off the sidelines as it were, and get into some of this football market for games. We've got a list here of some of the ones who are trying to compete, along with Madden and Sega NFL 2K3. NFL Blitz 2003 from Midway. We've got NFL Fever from Microsoft Studios, and Gameday from 989 Studios and Sony.

A lot of competition going out there for football gamers out there. We are going to have to wait and see whether or not there is going to be enough interest in these games from all the gamers that are out there.

But certainly, a lot to choose from, which is good for consumers. Sega for its part saying, if online gaming offers something for consumers, some sort of enhancement, then that's where they are going to turn -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Dan, I guess for those parents, particularly moms that are cringing when their kids are out there playing, they kind of like this idea, because maybe it means they will stay indoors more and play these electronic games of football, as opposed to getting outside and getting beaten up.

SIEBERG: Yes, well, there is certainly that. I also wanted to point out for anybody who has a console, like a Playstation 2, or an Xbox or a Gamecube for Nintendo, they will be offering the online service coming up. Sony is expected to announce its online service. You need an adapter for about $40, next week. November 15 is date for Xbox live. That service is about $50 for the year. And Nintendo isn't sure where they're going to go. They're thinking of leaving it up to the gamemakers. So online gaming for consoles certainly the buzz. WHITFIELD: Oh my God, these kids are so spoiled. These toys are out of control.

SIEBERG: And the graphics are pretty amazing, the commentary. I wanted to mention, Sega as well ties in with ESPN and of course Madden has his name on it. People might be familiar with these from TV. That may be why they go with them.

WHITFIELD: Well, I think it's going to work, I guess.

All right, thanks a lot, Dan. Appreciate it.

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