Best known for Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, Tecmo tried to become a major player in the lucrative sports market during the '90s. Licensed players, simple controls, catchy music, spirited action, and goofy cut-scenes transformed Tecmo Bowl and its sequel into household names on the 8-bit NES. Yet the publisher struggled to find the same success on more advanced systems. Attempts at baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer never caught on with fans. Tecmo even tried to modernize its football game on PlayStation, but the shift to a "serious" play style betrayed the relentlessly upbeat, over-the-top original. Those yearning for a return to pigskin-pitching basics were granted their wish on May 1, 2008, when Tecmo announced its classic football franchise was coming to DS.