Image via Complex Original
Robert Griffin III (RGIII) has already accomplished a lot on the real gridiron, but this year will mark two huge virtual achievements for the Heisman Trophy winner. He’s going to enter Madden NFL 13 along with the rest of the 2012 NFL Draft class this August. But before then, RGIII will hold the distinction of gracing the cover of EA Sports’ NCAA Football 13. In addition to being gifted on the field, he also can hold his own with a controller. RGIII talks about his skills with the sticks in this exclusive interview.
Interview: RGIII Talks Gaming And Being EA's Cover Athlete For NCAA Football 13
Robert Griffin III (RGIII) has already accomplished a lot on the real gridiron, but this year will mark two huge virtual achievements for the Heisman Trophy winner. He’s going to enter Madden NFL 13 along with the rest of the 2012 NFL Draft class this August. But before then, RGIII will hold the distinction of gracing the cover of EA Sports’ NCAA Football 13. In addition to being gifted on the field, he also can hold his own with a controller. RGIII talks about his skills with the sticks in this exclusive interview.
How big of a gamer are you?
When it comes to videogames, I don’t play 24/7 but I am a gamer. I like all types of games…sports, adventure games, RPG type games. EA’s got a bunch of those like Mass Effect and Dragon Age and I like them.
Why do you think videogames often get such a bad rap?
It’s just with some of these games parents say that they’re too violent and sometimes games can be violent. But they also can teach kids how to solve problems because you have to go through and live your life through that gaming character. You have to learn how to solve problems within the game. So I think games have merit. I think there is something to them being violent, but if you know the difference between real and fake, you know how to turn it off and turn it on.
What are your thoughts on how far football games have come today
Well, all you got to do is go hook up the Sega Genesis or the PlayStation one or the first Xbox, throw in Madden 2000, and then throw in Madden 2012 and you’ll see the difference. The graphics are a lot better. You can even see sweat on the players. The movements are a lot more realistic. I think games have come a really long way and I’m excited to see what the future holds because soon nobody will be holding controllers. We’ll all be playing videogames with 3D images in front of us.
Where does this accomplishment of being on the cover of NCAA Football 13 fit into everything that you’ve done so far?
As far as playing, it hits another aspect. It’s an off-the-field success. Being on the cover is huge, not everybody gets that chance and just like Coach Briles told me about the Heisman, there’s only one guy that gets that opportunity. Now, of course there will be two this year because of the way EA’s doing it (with fan voting), but there’s only one guy that gets a chance to be on that cover every year and there’s only one guy that gets a chance to win the Heisman Trophy every year, so I’m blessed to be that one guy.
Given the Andrew Luck versus RGIII hoopla, who’d win in a videogame showdown on NCAA Football 13?
If it’s Baylor versus Stanford, I’m choosing Baylor all day long. I’m not much sure how much of a gamer he is, but I’ll tell you what, I’d put up a bunch of points.
Have you discussed your "Madden NFL 13" player ratings with EA Tiburon yet?
Actually I did. Back in Indianapolis I talked to them about it, but hopefully we can just max it out and I can be the only player to ever be maxed out. That’d be awesome, 102 speed. I’m just throwing that out there. No one else can touch that speed, but that’s not up to me thought. I’d love to work with them on it, but I’m just happy to be on the cover of the game.
