Minds Behind Sports Games

Patrick Hickey, Jr., is the founder and editor-in-chief of ReviewFix.com and a lecturer of English and journalism at Kingsborough Community College, in Brooklyn, New York. Over the past decade, his video game coverage has been featured in national ad campaigns by Nintendo, Disney and EA Sports. Series editor Matthew Wilhelm Kapell teaches American studies, anthropology, and writing at Pace University in New York.

“An absolute BODY SLAM! You MUST read these stories. Patrick has done it again, and somehow...keeps getting better”—Stephen Fontana, Duel Screens

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsForeword by Michael BrookPrefaceIntroductionAaron Cammarata, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3: Simply the Best, Better Than All the RestJohn Salwitz, Rob Rowe and Don Traeger, 720: Build It and They Will ComeDon Goddard, Transworld Surf: Third Time’s a CharmPascal Sahuc and Nick Doran, Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer: Making WavesMartin Edmondson, Destruction Derby: Have Your Cake and Break Stuff, Too
Jon Spencer, SSX: Big Delays, Big ThrillsMark McArthur, Links 2004: Xbox’s Hole in OneStephen Chaplin, Virtual Pool: Calling All the ShotsAlan O’Brien, Ten Pin Alley: A Turkey for Its TimeBenjamin Johnson, Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis: The Little Experimental Project That CouldSanders Keel, Pride FC: Fighting Championships: A Sleeper ­Tap-OutLoren Lemcke, Super Blood Hockey: An Indie ­Hip-CheckCraig Broadbooks, NHL FaceOff ’98: You’re Beautiful, It’s TrueMichael Mendheim and Sam Nelson, Mutant League Hockey: When Glenda Shaved the IceClint Forward, NHL 2K: Sega’s Black Box SpecialMark Flitman, WWF Royal Rumble: The Original ­Six-Pack Wrestling ChallengeMark Flitman, WWE RAW: From Royal to MegaJustin W. Withers, Showdown: Legends of Wrestling: A ­Semi-Charmed Kind of LifeSanders Keel, WCW/nWo Revenge: Just Too Sweet, ­4-LifeMichael Rubinelli, Toughman Contest: Butterbean’s Brawling BonanzaDan Kitchen, Boxing Fever: A Forgotten ­First-Person KnockoutChris Razmovski, Boxing Champs: An Uppercut from Mobile Phones to Mobile ConsolesKevin Sheller, NBA Inside Drive 2000: Codename RockJules Burt and Perry Rodgers, NBA ShootOut: A “Total” NBA Experience
Michael Brook, NBA Action ’95: Air ­Brook-Ziomkowski Ready for TakeoffDon Traeger and Carl Mey, Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs: Exchangeable Heads and the Birth of EA SportsMark Flitman, MLB Slugfest ­20-03: No Arcade? No ProblemEddie Dombrower, Earl Weaver Baseball: EA’s First Triple PlayPeter Lipson, RBI Baseball: The Silicon Valley SurvivorsJules Burt, FIFA International Soccer: From the Beach to the PitchJohn Salwitz, Cyberball: The Lost Summer and Atari’s Explosive Gridiron ExperienceMark Flitman, NFL Blitz ­20-02: It’s Too Late Baby, But Still Damn GoodMichael Brook, NFL ’95: Jay’s Fridge Strikes BackCam Weber, NCAA Football 2014: Goodnight EA’s Football PrinceMichael Brook and Don Traeger, John Madden Football: How EA Got in the GameConclusionAfterword by Sanders KeelIndex