If it’s in the game, it’s in the game.This Electronic Arts slogan has been repeated by sports gamers for years.Throughout the development of technology, EA has proven itself a dominant force in the video game industry. With titles like “Tiger Woods PGA Tour,” “NBA Live” and “FIFA” soccer credited to their name, EA Sports is among the ranks of the gaming gods.Michael Kline, a game tester at the EA testing facility in Baton Rouge, said EA has been a part of his life since his early gaming career.”EA has been around for a while, and they have a high reputation to gamers,” Kline said.Kline also said that as a hardcore gamer, working with video games satisfies his gaming needs while at work.”It’s the perfect job for a gamer,” he said. “It’s an awesome atmosphere where you’re around people with similar interests.”EA has produced hundreds of titles since its founding in 1982, but year in and year out, two of the highest selling titles are football games – “Madden” and “NCAA Football.”Monday night, video game stores across the country opened their doors well after store hours so football fanatics could purchase their copies of “NCAA Football 2011″ at the midnight release.”I look forward to the midnight release every year,” said Saul Abarca, BRCC student and avid gamer. “It’s all about the experience. It’s popping in the disc at 12:30 and playing it until 4 or 5 a.m. so you can try to get ranked in the nation.”BRCC engineering technology major Chad Leblanc agreed, saying the earlier start, the better.”It’s just that important … you want to play it as soon as you can,” Leblanc said. “I’ve been coming to the midnight release since about ’05 or ’06.”This seemed to be the norm of most gamers at the midnight release. The majority have been coming to these releases for years.”‘Gameday’ ’98 is where it started, back when I used to come with my brother when I was really little,” Abarca said. “Then EA got me with NCAA and from there I’ve been stuck on it.”Along with their commitment to the midnight release of the game, many gamers also said they have a commitment strictly to NCAA.”I don’t go to any other midnight releases,” Abarca said. “I’m loyal to NCAA.”Leblanc also stated his loyalty to the college football game.”I think I’ve come to one midnight release for ‘Call of Duty’ but it’s pretty much all ‘NCAA,'” Leblanc said. “That’s about the only thing I’ll get out here for.”Kenny Williams, a Best Buy store manager, said they do a midnight issuing of all the bigger game series.”We’ve been doing the midnight release here for about three or four years,” Williams said. “We do it for all the big releases – ‘Call of Duty,’ ‘Halo’ and ‘Madden.'”When the talks begin about football video games, there seems to be a never–ending debate over which of the two games is better – “Madden” or “NCAA.”Leblanc said he prefers “NCAA” to “Madden” because the game seems more realistic in terms of player ratings.”I’m impressed by ‘NCAA’ more so than ‘Madden’, especially down to where the ratings are,” Leblanc said. “‘Madden’ is kind of superficial with their ratings and with ‘NCAA’ it seems more earned.”While naturally the “NCAA” fan buying the game at midnight prefers it over “Madden,” Williams said he expects the turnout for the “Madden 2011″ midnight release to be greater.”This one is kind of light … there’s not a lot of people here,” Williams said. “But when we have this year’s ‘Madden’ release, we expect a lot of people to come out for that one … especially with Drew Brees on the cover.”Regardless of which game one might prefer, there are always new upgrades and additions to get gamers excited over the new year’s release.”This is the most excited I’ve been about ‘NCAA’ … The demo was amazing,” Abarca said. “The overall presentation and game play changed, and it’s actually the biggest change I’ve seen from year to year.”Along with the added excitement of in–game changes, many football fans say the game gets them ready for college football season.”Seeing all the ratings for the different players and the different teams gets me excited,” said Ethan Greenblatt, LSU chemistry major. “It kind of holds me off until football season in two months.”Leblanc agreed and said the game gives people a jump start on the upcoming football season.”It kind of allows football season to start two months early,” he said. “It definitely fires people up for what’s soon to come.”Being Tiger fans, most people said they naturally look forward to playing with LSU in the new games, but also enjoyed spreading it out and trying different offensive looks.”Besides LSU, I like to play with West Virginia and Cal,” Greenblatt said. “I really enjoy running the pro–style offense. I used to be a scrambler because it used to be easier in the earlier games, but I like sitting back in the pocket now.”Leblanc also said the pass–heavy offense fit his style of play.”Naturally I like to play with LSU, but other than that I like    Oregon and Florida … any pass oriented offense.”LSU is ranked No. 17 in the nation in NCAA 2011 and received an A– as an overall grade.–Contact Mark Clements at [email protected]