I did a little searching online to see if there was any interest for a CFL game and came away feeling underwhelmed in a way that only paying for a bad boxing PPV can make me feel. There is one software group out there that looks like they've been trying to build a game for the past year and a half but seem to be stuck seeking more investment. I also found two online petitions seeking signatures as an attempt to prove to the league that there is interest in a CFL video game; one is signed by 150 people, the other by 7 - the stated goal is 10,000 signatures. Finding positives in Retief Goosen's 11 over 81 in the 4th round at the U.S. Open is easier than believing those petition numbers are going to reach their goal. Regardless of the lack of perceived support for this video game let's suspend belief for a moment and imagine if EA Sports created a CFL game.

	A video game would help expose the talent of the league's stars.  (Source: CP)

First, in choosing a title I think you'd have to go generic and call it 'CFL 2006' or something like that because there's hardly a standout CFL announcer that could carry the name of game like John Madden does. As good at announcing as they are I just find it hard to believe that a game titled Randorf or Cuthbert (unless we're talking about Elisha) would be able to sell.

The game would need to have all the elements of Canadian ball - the wider field, bigger balls, homely cheerleaders and of course the CFL rulebook, which includes the ridiculous 'rouge' that gives the kicking team a point for missing a field goal. What the hell is up with this scoring rule? It's the equivalent of a participation medal/ribbon for kids that don't win anything at sports.

To make up for the lame number of only nine teams in the league there would need to be a reward franchise mode that allows you to unlock cherished franchises like the Las Vegas Posse (complete with anthem signer), Shreveport Pirates, Baltimore Stallions and of course the old school Ottawa Rough Riders. It's been said many times but how stupid was the league to allow two franchises to carry the Rough Rider moniker for as long as it did? At the very least they should have made one of the teams go thug a la DMX and spell it Ruff Ryders.

As for the rest of the game it should have all the little nuances that make the CFL so unique and distinct:

• Off-season hiring mode allows teams like the Alouettes to seek out talented spies
• Non-existent salary caps are simply stated in quotations as suggested figures to aim for. Of course if you exceed these figures nothing happens.
• Season simulation mode randomly generates bankruptcy warnings.
• Built-in link-up with Madden games to allow your CFL team to shop for NFL free agents that have been cut or placed on practice squads.
• Don Matthews' 1990's Oakley glasses are perfectly depicted as well as his lovable demeanor.
• Training Camp mode is preset to begin when players are released from their part time jobs at Home Depot.
• Casey Printers is given Mike Vick-like attributes just to create that Pantheon video game character that each sports franchise needs.