Round-Up: NFL Head Coach, New Firaxis Hire, Paramount Goes Mobile

Today's round-up includes news of a fresh Electronic Arts sports management title, an important new hire at Firaxis Games, and Zingy's deal to bring Paramount content to mobile phones, as well as today's product news and Gamasutra job postings. - Electronic Arts has announced another football series to come out of its multi-year exclusivity deal with the NFL: NFL Head Coach will be a pure simulation title, rather than a traditional sports game. The game will be developed by EA Tiburon, creators of the Madden NFL and NFL Street series, as well as EA's upcoming Superman title. "NFL Head Coach is an entirely new football experience that every level of football gamer can play," said EA Tiburon executive producer Dale Jackson. "It provides the strategy that the hardcore fan will demand, but with very easy-to-use controls and assistance for more casual fans. Football will no longer be intimidating for the casual user." - Firaxis Games, developers of the Civilization series, has hired Bretton Wade as its new Director of Technology. Wade will be responsible for upgrades to the team's technology, such as game and graphics engines. Prior to joining Firaxis, Wade was Graphics Program Manager for Microsoft's Xbox team, where he worked on both the original system and the upcoming 360. "I'm excited to be joining Firaxis at such a critical juncture in the company's strategic growth," said Wade. "It's a privilege to have the opportunity to lead such an energetic, talented, and successful group of engineers. - Zingy, a mobile phone media company, has partnered with Paramount to release mobile content related to upcoming Paramount films. The first movie to be represented in the deal is Get Rich or Die Trying, from In America director Jim Sheridan. Zingy will develop a mobile game based on the title, the details of which have yet to be released. Other movies that may not necessarily see related games but are covered under the content production deal are The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. - Also updated today: product news including Silicon Knights' signing of the Anark Gameface UI tool, Firefly Studios' licensing of facial animation package Lifestudio:Head, and today's Gamasutra jobs, including positions from Airtight Games, Blue Fang Games, CNet Networks, DC Studios, Donnerwood Media, High Moon Studios, Networking People, Nihilistic Software, Point Of View, Stormfront Studios, and Vivendi Universal Games. [Job seekers can now also sign up to a Career newsletter as part of Gamasutra's new suite of free newsletters, which include a daily digest and specific newsletters for mobile game, casual/indie game, and 'serious game' professionals.]