What are you doing for the Maddenoliday?
Aug 21, 2006
Okay, I'll be right up front here: sports games are not my forte. I can appreciate the siren call of "Madden NFL" from an intellectual perspective - it's a fantastically well-produced game, with slick graphics, a strong premise and the kind of play that tugs at the heartstrings of football fans everywhere.
But while I always enjoyed watching football as a kid, I've never really gotten into "Madden" with the emotional fervor that so many players seem to have. At our event in downtown Detroit recently, we gave players the chance to experience "Madden NFL 07" before you could actually buy it in stores, and the response was amazing. We ran one tiny little blurb on our Game On page (back of the Sunday Entertainment section every weekend) asking for volunteers and were completely overrun.
The verdict? Well, what would you expect from a room full of rabid "Madden" fans? It could be chopped liver and they'd still have to buy it to keep playing with their friends.
Fortunately for them, EA turned on the charm this year with the newest version of the franchise favorite. While the jury's still definitely out on the kick meter, the lead blocker control was a huge hit, and people were jonesing to buy themselves a copy as they walked out the door.
What do you think of the new Madden? Did you run out to buy it, or are you waiting - for next year, the new consoles, or just the cash to plunk down on yet another installment? Are you taking any time off to play? I'd love to hear what you're up to this Maddenoliday.
Cheers,
Gbits
Comment by tylerdurden | Aug 22, 2006 5:59:34 PM
Eating Taco Bell and drinking Mountain Dew / Red Bull / Monster no doubt...
Comment by Michael Thomas | Aug 22, 2006 6:48:55 PM
Eh- I can't believe people are craving for this product still. Madden's been pretty much the same since 04 and yet they've figured out how to make you guys buy the same game for 50 bucks over and over again, even when another publisher show'd you you can make a better game for less than half the price and stay innovative.
I continue to support my boycott of EA and madden games until someone deems this 15 year/NFL license an illegal monopoly. EA couldnt beat the competitors so they bought the market.
Comment by chris | Aug 22, 2006 10:10:11 PM
i learned long ago not to trust the hype surrounding madden and anything by ea sports...
i rent before i buy and after renting madden 07 for the 360 i won't be spending anymore money on it.
it's just more of the same. it's o.k. but, not worth a purchase. i truly wonder if the designers at ea actually watch or played football.
flame away!!!
Comment by chris | Aug 23, 2006 2:12:53 PM
Sitting here in Ireland reading these comments. It's not released until Friday here!!! Maddenoliday is two days away for me, and the updated rosters and a new season with a new Lions quarterback is enough for me to take the day off work. I hope Charles Rogers and Mike Williams can be cut and deleted from the game?
Comment by brian, web editor | Aug 23, 2006 3:33:59 PM
Wow. A Lions' fan all the way in Ireland. Hurting abroad I see. Well I can tell you right now, the Lions still suck. You'll have to build them up in the preseason if you're in Franchise mode. I wouldn't advise them for online play. But if you're so inclined, look for me.
Comment by Steve Markey | Aug 24, 2006 1:25:49 PM
I bought Madden on the 360, and while it is a good game, it is not great. From what I heard about the PS2 version, very little has changed.
Now the gameplay is fine, I mean they claim they have been working on it for 17 years, but how about they up the presentation!
Where are the ESPN guys? No sideline reporters, no Sportscenter, oh and buy the way ESPN 2K5 had that. How about this one, two different broadcast teams, Micheals and Madden can do Sunday Night games and Playoffs and the other team kind do the rest.
In NCAA football when you go to the National Championship game they dont even have the school names in the end zone.
EA should focus on some presentation now, they have had 17 years to perfect gameplay, so lets get everything else up to date
Madden07 7/10
Comment by PC | Oct 2, 2006 1:31:48 PM
I couldn't of said it better if I tried. This previous post says it all.
Comment by Michael Thomas | Aug 22, 2006 6:48:55 PM
Eh- I can't believe people are craving for this product still. Madden's been pretty much the same since 04 and yet they've figured out how to make you guys buy the same game for 50 bucks over and over again, even when another publisher show'd you you can make a better game for less than half the price and stay innovative.
I continue to support my boycott of EA and madden games until someone deems this 15 year/NFL license an illegal monopoly. EA couldnt beat the competitors so they bought the market.
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