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Posts with tag madden

Madden 09 Marks 20 Years of Digital Football

by Tim Stevens, posted Aug 12th 2008 at 5:40PM

Madden 09 Marks 20 Years of Digital FootballIt's Madden day, the most anticipated day of the year for many gaming sports fans, when the latest installment of the hugely popular NFL game is released for just about every gaming platform out there -- even the aged PlayStation 2. With publisher EA's lock on the NFL license, it's basically the only game in town, and with no competition, it gets only incrementally better and better every year.

This year's edition, 'Madden 09,' follows that trend by delivering a little more polish here (improved graphics) and a few extra features there (the ability to retry plays), but hardly anything groundbreaking. Here's a roundup of the reviews we've seen posted thus-far.
  • Gamespot loves the improved graphics and the backtrack feature that lets you rewind a play and try it again, but laments the disappointing online league play.
  • IGN echoes most of those comments, indicating there isn't all that much new here.
  • 1UP is rather more positive, gushing that the game is "so visually impressive that it's likely to stick in your system all season long."
Beyond the game, this year's cover has become a bit of a story in itself. Every year there's the so-called "Madden Curse," which casts doom and gloom for whichever unlucky soul happens to appear on the cover. This year, though, it was the athlete that cursed the cover, with the game shipping to retailers featuring Brett Favre in a Packers uniform. Brett, of course, is a Jet now, and while EA won't be re-releasing the game for obvious reasons, it has released a downloadable cover that you can print out on your own if you like.

For more on Madden 09, check out the coverage at Joystiq.
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Madden NFL 08 Hits Store Shelves Tonight

by Tim Stevens, posted Aug 14th 2007 at 12:02PM

Madden 08 Hits Store ShelvesIt's Madden Day -- the most eagerly anticipated day of the year for millions of gamers. No, this isn't the day John Madden comes rolling out of the hills in his custom van to give presents to all the good little boys and girls. Today is the day that his game hits store shelves.

'Madden 08' drops tonight at midnight, with a version for nearly every gaming platform under the sun, old and new. The complete list includes all the current gaming platforms from Nintendo (GameCube, DS, and Wii), Sony (PS2, PS3, and PSP), and Microsoft (Xbox, 360, and PC). Even Mac gamers are supposed to be getting a version, but we haven't heard a peep about that since EA made their big announcement at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference.

Last years' release sold two million copies in a week despite some less-than perfect reviews. '08' on the other hand is reviewing quite well, so expect it to sell even better.

From Gearlog

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NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

by Dan Reilly, posted May 1st 2007 at 5:17PM

EA recently gathered a group of NFL stars past and present in New York City to celebrate the christening of Vince Young as the 'Madden 08' cover athlete. Switched caught up with a bunch of the guys, who taught us two important lessons:
  1. NFL players love playing 'Madden.'
  2. NFL players don't love their 'Madden' player ratings.
But, don't take our word for it.


NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

Reggie Bush

Reggie, what are your thoughts on Vince Young for the cover of 'Madden 08'?
I think it's great. It kind of opens up the doors for other rookies coming into the NFL and what they can look forward to if they play well in their first year.

It seems like your name was in contention for a while. Do you think you might be on the cover at some point?
I think so. I think I've got a good chance of being on the cover. A lot of people in the Saints organization didn't want me to do it because of the 'Madden' jinx. We'll see. If Vince survives this year without getting hurt, then I'll consider it. If he gets hurt, I'm not gonna do it.

So, you believe in the 'Madden' curse?
I don't know. I think it's all superstition, but then it continues to happen and you're kind of like, "Okay, maybe there is something here."

What do you think of your in-game ratings?
This is really bothering me. I've got a 97 player speed, 98 agility, 98 acceleration, 85 toughness and 99 juke move. Now, how does that average out to an 87? Four high 90's and one 85 averages out to an 87 overall. It just doesn't add up. I'm not a mathematician, but something ain't adding up right. Somebody miscounted.
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NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

by Dan Reilly, posted May 1st 2007 at 4:35PM

NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

Steven Jackson

When are you going to be on the cover of 'Madden'?
You know what? Whenever they ask me I definitely accept the honor. Until then, I'll just keep putting up big years and eventually it'll happen.

Do you play the game a lot?
I do. I've been a collector since 1992, so I've seen it evolve from Super Nintendo to where we're at now with the systems.

Do you pay attention to your player ratings?
The overall rating has me at 89, so I do keep up with it. But I think they need to bump me up a little bit more.

A few more carries this year and maybe you'll get bumped up.
Well, after the season we put together -- after a Pro Bowl season -- I'm expecting to be in the 90's area or we're gonna have to make a phone call.

Do you think any of your ratings are too high? Your jumping ability is a 74.
Oh, that's definitely got to go up.

Tackling is 35.
That might be a little high. I don't get paid to tackle. What's my toughness?

87.
That ain't tough. In the Seattle game I dragged four people into the end zone on my back.

If you were on the cover, would you worry about the 'Madden' curse?
I'd definitely be nervous about the curse. And the only way I can think to prevent it would be to wear a lot of pads. I'd wear shin pads. I'd wear elbow pads. I'd wear knuckle pads.

And how do you feel about Mel Kiper's hair?
It's Mel. It's something he could definitely trademark. It's a silhouette. I think we should work with him on some marketing. You know how Jordan has the jumpman? Mel could have the little swoosh.

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NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

by Dan Reilly, posted May 1st 2007 at 4:30PM

NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

Mario Williams

What do you think of the chances of a lineman ever making the cover of 'Madden'?
I don't know. Everybody's so hard on them, so in order to make it you'd have to do something phenomenal. Something outrageous. But, there's a possibility for anything.

You were in 'Madden' for the first time last year. What did you think about your player ratings?
They were pretty modest as far as it being my first year and everything. Who knows what it'll be this year with everything that happened? It is what it is. It's just a video game. But I've seen some things where players had ratings that were obviously not fair.

Were you real tough in the game?
No. That's the problem. Every time I came off the line using myself I was getting knocked down and pancaked. I had just never seen that before. Everybody falls down now and then -- but this was like every other play. So I don't know. We need to correct that.
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NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

by Dan Reilly, posted May 1st 2007 at 4:27PM

NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

Marshall Faulk

As a former 'Madden' cover star, tell us what it was like to be chosen by EA.
I was a gamer. I played the game, so I relished the opportunity to be on the cover. It was something that I looked at like, "Man, this the game that I played as a kid and enjoyed all through college and now I get to be a cover guy."

Did you pay a lot of attention to your in-game stats?
Only when they started to go down.

Do you think the game is realistic?
Obviously we know the ratings aren't as realistic as [they are for the real-life] players. But the graphics... I mean, now you can pause a play, freeze-frame it, turn around and look at a player's face. It's detailed from the eye black to the tape on the fingers to what kind of facemask he wears.
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NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

by Dan Reilly, posted May 1st 2007 at 4:19PM

NFL Pros Tackle 'Madden'

Michael Strahan

What do you think of your 'Madden' numbers?
You know? EA -- they're not fair. Not fair at all. My rookie year, I was the worst player on the team. I was worse than guys on the practice squad and I'm the draft pick, a second rounder. What happened is that when you're a rookie, your numbers are going to be a little bit lower because you've got to establish yourself in the league.

And I'll be honest with you, this whole toughness thing has me hot. How are you going to give Mario [Williams] a 75 for toughness? The man made it through camp and a whole season on a bad foot. Everybody should be 99. They should have an insanity rating because we are all 100 percent certifiably crazy for being out here playing this game.

Do you play 'Madden'?
I do. I have every gaming system, man.

You any good?
Um, no.
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Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games

by Dan Reilly, posted Apr 30th 2007 at 6:26PM

Video game giant EA was in New York during the NFL Draft to celebrate the not-so-coincidentally-timed announcements of its 'Madden 08' and 'NCAA Football 08' cover athletes. Titans chucker Vince Young will ham it up on the 'Madden' cover when it's released in August, but college honors went to Boise State QB, Jared Zabransky. We caught up with Zabransky, as well as some his fellow NCAA cohorts, to ask them about the upcoming video game.

Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games

Jared Zabransky (QB, Boise State -- signed with Houston)

What was it like when you found out you were going to be on the cover of 'NCAA Football'?
I was in Hawaii at the time. I got a call telling me that I'm the front runner and I was totally ecstatic. It was something you never really think about when you're a kid because you see all these people on the cover, but when it happens it's like a dream come true. It's like a dream you never dreamt of.

When you play this game, how many times are you going to run the Statue of Liberty play?
Every play, if it works.

What's the whole experience been like for you?
It's been a whirlwind. Ever since the Fiesta Bowl it's been a total 180 for me. I was under the radar the whole time and then that happens, you know, and Boise State and myself blow up and I'm just kind of soaking it all in. I'm totally humbled by the entire experience.

What's it going to be like for Boise State next season?
I think they're going do well. Every year we get doubted because they say we lose too many players to be able to regroup. But, we're getting more and more like a top five program to where we can rebuild and reload. So, I think they're going to be good.
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Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games

by Dan Reilly, posted Apr 30th 2007 at 5:44PM

Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games

Dwayne Jarrett (WR, USC – drafted by Carolina)

Are you a player of 'NCAA' and 'Madden'?
Oh yeah, that's what I play all day. 'NCAA' and 'Madden' -- those are the games that I played growing up and I'm still playing to this day.

How do you feel about your ratings in the game?
I don't even know my ratings to tell you the truth. They weren't that bad from what I can recall, so I'm happy with it. I don't take that stuff to heart at all.

What's your go-to play?
Deep ball, throw it long.

Do you throw to yourself every time?
No, I don't play with USC when I play.

Who do you play with?
Florida State, Miami. You know, South schools.

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Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games

by Dan Reilly, posted Apr 30th 2007 at 5:41PM

Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games

Amobi Okoye (DT, Louisville -- drafted by Houston)

Do you play 'NCAA' and 'Madden'?
Oh yeah.

What's your go-to play?
Probably send the X receiver across and roll out.

Which opponent do you like beating on most?
I don't have a specific team that I like beating on, but in 'Madden 07' I play with the Panthers. You gotta play the game and find the team that doesn't have the greatest rating -- somewhere in the B average -- and work with them; know their strength.
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Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games

by Dan Reilly, posted Apr 30th 2007 at 5:37PM

Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games

Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma -- drafted by Minnesota)

How often do you play 'NCAA' or 'Madden'?
I play the college game a lot. My roommate, he's a big gamer and he's always calling me out for the challenge.

Who wins?
You know, he's pretty good, man. We've had tournaments that he's come out on top of a majority of times -- but I'm able to squeeze in a couple wins.

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Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games

by Dan Reilly, posted Apr 30th 2007 at 5:33PM

Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games
Gaines Adams (DE, Clemson -- drafted by Tampa Bay)

What's your go-to play in 'NCAA Football'?
With my running backs I'm going to run the ISO or something like that because I've got speed in the backfield. JaMarcus, he might want to throw the deep ball or something because he's got a cannon. But my quarterback can't do that. You gotta use your talent.

What's your favorite team to beat?
Carolina, the rivalry game.
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