NFL FEVER 2000

Client: Microsoft | Artsource
Software: SoftImage, Photoshop
Circa: 1998|1999

Details
When first brought onto the NFL Fever team as their solo environment artist, I was asked to model 5 generic stadium types (rectangular, round, oval, domed, horseshoe) and customize the textures according to the team and the type of stadium they played in. Being a big fan of Madden, I was aware that this was something that they were currently doing and proposed to my manager that we one up them by modeling all 30 unique stadiums, one for each team (31 if you consider Giant Stadium (Jets/Giants)).

I worked closely with the studio art director and the texture artist extraordinaire, Andy McCulloch, at the time to make schedules for stadium milestones and deliverables. I also worked closely with the lead graphic developer, David Hodgson, to problem solve a vast array of technical issues and insure the geometry, appropriate formatting and textures was clean enough for engine integration.

Using a variety of source information that I had gathered from the internet, I was able to model in incredible detail and apply placement textures to all 30 stadiums, coming under budget and ahead of schedule on all deliverables.

Awards
Editor’s Choice: The Games of E3 1999
-Gamespot

Critic Reviews
…At least in terms of graphics, NFL Fever 2000 blows Madden off the field.
-Gamespot

…The graphics are outstanding. As you can see by the screenshots, these graphics easily fall into the same category as those in Madden 99 and even Madden 2000. The players look real, the stadiums are wonderful and the crowd is great too.
-Operation Sports

…All the stadiums in the NFL are rendered authentically. I noticed that the Oakland Coliseum (where the Raiders play) in NFL Fever even features the East Bay hills in the background behind the stadium! Now that’s attention to detail.
-Thresh’s FiringSquad (80%)

…The stadium models are also quite well done and realistic looking, as are the on-field logos.
-IGN.com (8.0)

This game has got to have the best graphics I have ever seen on a football game…period…The stadiums are also as close as they can get to their real life counterparts.
-AGN3D.com

The best graphics in a football game we’ve ever seen.
-GamePrix.com

…Graphically, however, the game has no equal. Microsoft has arguably released the best-looking football game to date. It’s flat out pretty. The animation, frame rate, team jerseys, stadiums, weather effects—everything looks fantastic. To but it bluntly, if games were judged solely on graphical prowess, NFL Fever 2000 would be a 5-star product.
-CDMag.com

…Overall, I would have to say that NFL Fever 2000 provides the most impressive visuals seen in a football game to date…The graphics are truly outstanding…
-PC Sports Daily

…Simply amazing. I’ve never seen a football game that has come anywhere near NFL Fever’s graphic prowess…Does it advance the genre?   In some ways (especially graphically), absolutely…Does it offer anything new?   A new level of visual quality,…
-GA Sports

Rankings and Statistics
GameRankings (78.52%)