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Blitz: The League
Developer	Midway Games
Publisher	Midway Games
Released	October 17, 2005 (NA) October 30, 2006 (Xbox 360) December 12, 2006 (PSP) September 4, 2007 (Wii)
Genre	Sports
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Ratings	ESRB: M OFLC: RC
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Xbox, Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable
Media	DVD, Universal Media Disc

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 2007. 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 1 Changes 2 Gameplay 2.1 "Campaign Mode" 3 Reception and criticism 4 Team listing & team captains 4.1 Division 1 4.2 Division 2 4.3 Division 3 5 Music soundtrack listing 6 Trivia 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

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 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.

Blitz: The League is very similar to previous installments in the Blitz series, as it depicts a hyperviolent 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 (not 11, à la arena 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. 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 painkillers). "Juicing" causes an injury to be ignored, but increases the risk of more severe injuries.

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 (not unlike 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 "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.

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 (however, this feature can be easily disabled in Madden with the CPU AI's ability completely drained).

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 PSP releases of Blitz have also been criticized for their very long delays and load times.

As reported by Game Politics, the government of Australia has officially banned the game due to steroid use.[4]

• New York Nightmare: Quentin Sands LB #56,voiced by Lawrence Taylor. Despite some obvious personality defects, he is considered "the Face of the League."
• Dallas Aztecs: Julius Williams QB #7, brother of Washington DE Jacob Williams and one of The League's best and most heavily marketed players. The reigning League MVP and the only QB in League history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
• Denver Grizzlies: Kevin Donaldson DE #91, a 25-year-old former soldier who boasts of outstanding conditioning.
• Detroit Devils: Cookie "Game Breaker" Wallace WR #80, an outstanding kick returner who has the ability to score every time he touches the ball. Makes excuses when things don't go his way.
• New England Regulars: Vonnie Treonday CB #24, a trash talker who has a knack for getting into opponents' heads, which makes it even worse. Led the League in interceptions last year, so he backs it up on the field.
• Seattle Reign: Chad Longstreet DE #92, a talented veteran who's lost some strength as he's aged. Tough to outrun, and can even pick off a pass or two. Inflated ego makes him think he's better than he really is.

• Carolina Copperheads: Grant Tanner QB #12, the Draft's #1 pick and thus, the League's premier Rookie of the Year candidate after a brilliant college career. Known to get happy feet under heavy defensive pressure.
• Kansas City Crossfire: Tyrell Price DE #90, He

is based on Baltimore Ravens Left End Trevor Price

• Las Vegas Aces: Kelvin Diggs HB #34, a bombastic running back who expects 25 carries per game and goes insane if he doesn't get them.

• Chicago Marauders: Shane Spain QB #9, a two-time League MVP. A little older now, but he still finds ways to win and is tough as nails.
• Baltimore Bearcats: "Brutal" Bruno Battaglia LB #53, a highly intense, dirty, and widely hated player who loves a good party. Bruno joins the player-created team before the Division 2 season, and thus takes his rightful place as team captain of the player-created team. Voiced by Bill Romanowski in the Wii, Xbox 360, & PlayStation Portable versions.
• Arizona Outlaws: Tito "Mighty" Maas WR #80, a short speedster who is easy to underestimate. He joins the player-created team before the Division 1 season in the Wii, Xbox 360, & PlayStation Portable versions.
• Cincinnati Crusaders: Kwazi Mbutabe HB #30, a Nigerian-American who approaches the game as a "warrior."
• Washington Redhawks: Jacob Williams DE #94, brother of Dallas QB Julius Williams and a relentless force to be reckoned with.
• Player Created Team: When creating team, the player chooses a veteran for the defense. That veteran will become the captain.

It is implied that The League promotes and demotes teams between divisions, similar to the English football league system. The three divisions play their seasons consecutively, not simultaneously. At the end of Division 3's season, the champion moves up to Division 2, taking the place of the last year's last-place team, then playing another full season in Division 2. At the end of Division 2's season, its champion replaces the last-place team in Division 1.

It is revealed in the first week of gameplay that the previous season's Division 1, 2, and 3 champs are the Dallas Aztecs, New York Nightmare, and the Carolina Copperheads, respectively. The last-place teams that are bumped down are the San Diego Cyclones from Division 1 and the player-created team from Division 2

• B-Real and DJ Lethal - Play At Your Own Risk
• B-Real and DJ Lethal - Play At Your Own Risk [Remix]
• B-Real and Killing Zone - All My Life [Remix]
• B-Real and No Tomorrow - All My Life
• The Beatnuts - No Escapin' This
• Buck - My Team
• Buck - Blitz My Team [Remix]
• Buck - The Streets
• A-Trak - Felonious Funk [A-Trak Remix]
• El Pus - Suburb Thuggin'
• Fat Lip and Chali 2na - Today's Your Day
• Heavy Mojo - Radio
• Heavy Mojo - So You Say
• HED P.E. - Represent
• Korn - Coming Undone
• Non Phixion - Rock Stars
• Obscure Disorder and Non Phixion - 2004
• Rascalz - Hit 'Em Up
• Rascalz - Jungle
• Raskal - Cross The Line
• Shadow - Play Dirty
• SonDooble - Full Moon
• SonDooble - U Wit Dat
• Skindred - Bruises
• Skindred - Pressure
• Swollen Members - Too Hot
• The Visionaries - If You Can't Say Love
• The Visionaries - Pangaea

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• There is a quarterback called "Mike Mexico" on the Washington Redhawks, a reference to Michael Vick, who allegedly went under the alias "Ron Mexico" to hide his identity while receiving medical treatment for genital herpes. The quarterback is also left handed, wears #7, and is known for his scrambling ability, all traits shared with Vick. His team also refers to Vick's (Atlanta Falcons).
• The League's Divisional relegation system is similar to that of Japan's X-League.
• The Arizona Outlaws' logo is not the same as the original USFL team, but it is similar to the one used by the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL.
• Vonnie Treonday is named after Vonnie Holliday, a defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins.
• Quentin Sands is named after San Quentin State Prison, and he is modeled after Lawrence Taylor, wearing the same number (#56) as the former New York Giants linebacker.
• The Washington Redhawks name is similar to the name of the city's NFL team, the Washington Redskins.
• The New York Nightmare name stems from a fictional plane crash that killed all but three members of the New York Shamrocks team in 1967. The crash was described in the news as a "New York Nightmare", and New York's replacement franchise chose its current name to honor the Shamrocks. The crash is a likely reference to the real-life Southern Airways Flight 932, a deadly crash that killed the entire Marshall University football team.
• The Carolina Copperheads cheerleading squad is infamous for being involved in a scandal, an incident that closely parallels that involving the Carolina Panthers' own squad.

• Blitz: The League Timeline

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

• Blitz: The League Homepage
• A list of Xbox 360 Achievements for Blitz: The League