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Walmart doing midnight launches for Madden NFL 11
Just eight more days until Madden NFL 11 hits store shelves. Those of you itching to get a copy as soon as possible will be happy to learn that Walmart's holding midnight launch events for the game, even giving $5 discounts to midnight purchases.
Madden 11 PSP bundle touches down August 10 for $170
With two different PSP hardware bundles for upcoming games, today might randomly be the biggest day of the year for PSP news. In addition to the God of War: Ghost of Sparta Entertainment Pack, Sony has announced a bundle that includes Madden 11. If you still need a PSP before you're ready for some football, this is for you! The Madden bundle doesn't come with a PSP in a unique color scheme -- it simply includes the Piano Black PSP-3000. But what it does come with is an effectively free copy of Madden. The whole bundle sells for $170, the same price as the PSP alone. (You don't have to be one of football's best coaches to recognize the appeal of that strategy.) The bundle will be available alongside standalone versions of Madden 11 next Tuesday, August 10.
Madden 11 demo leads rush of Xbox Marketplace content
The Xbox 360 forecast is absolutely droughtful this week at retail, with the Clash of the Titans theater DVD release tie-in drying up store shelves. Thankfully, the Xbox Live Marketplace is overflowing with new content this week, including today's release of the new Madden demo. Additionally, DLC for a pool of recent releases -- Alan Wake, Lost Planet 2 and Transformers, to name a few -- flowed out today, and the "Summer of Arcade" shines on tomorrow with Hydro Thunder Hurricane. (Did you read our review yet?) Finally, Borderands' trio of add-ons is on sale through Sunday. Check out complete details of the week's XBLM content after the break.
Madden NFL 11 demo kicking off July 27; tackle some new media now
On July 27, Xbox Live and PSN will play host to a demo for Madden NFL 11, featuring the playoff game between the Jets and Colts, as chosen by the fans. The demo will feature five-minute quarters and four selectable difficulties: Rookie, Pro, All-Pro and All-Madden. Players will also be able to sample the new Gameflow system and unlock the "Master Strategist" Achievement/Trophy for the full retail game. On top of the demo details, EA also sent along a plethora of new screenshots and some new division highlight videos, akin to what you've already seen in the AFC East and West videos previously posted. These cover the rest of the NFL divisions and are available on our video hub. Madden NFL 11 hits the retail field on August 10. %Gallery-97636%
Madden NFL 11 videos preview AFC East and AFC West
Sales of Madden NFL 11 are set to kick off on August 10, and leading up to the title's launch, EA plans to release a series of videos highlighting the different divisions of the NFL. This week, we've got preview videos for the AFC East and AFC West, which you can find huddled up past the break. The team to beat in the AFC East is undoubtedly The Jets, who fell just shy of the AFC Championship game last year -- but don't discount The Patriots, who've still got plenty of weapons at their disposal. In the AFC West, it's going to be a tough year. The Broncos, The Chiefs, The Raiders and The Chargers all have a shot at winning the division this year. But, hey, don't take our word for it! Spin past the break and run down each team's skill set for yourself. Hut-hut-hike!
Madden NFL 11 dev diary puts Online Team Play on the Jumbotron
EA Sports has handed off another developer diary, this time highlighting the new 3-on-3 online play in Madden NFL 11 -- a feature exclusive to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. It's definitely interesting, allowing players to mix and match positions or simply stick to whatever works best for them. The video (available past the break) even shows off some of the in-game accomplishments one can strive for by playing different positions online. These aren't simply badges of honor, but practical goals that boost your performance in-game. For example, the "Air Show" accomplishment is earned when a QB has five touchdown passes in a single game, which then boosts his awareness and passing accuracy. It's neat stuff, so head past the break and check it out for yourself.
Preview: Madden NFL 11
I went into our Madden NFL 11 play session expecting nothing really new, except for the announced online co-op multiplayer and Game Flow features. While the latter is something I'll definitely touch on later, the former was sadly out of our reach -- the E3 space for the game was limited, so EA couldn't network six stations to let any attendees get at it. Still, my session wasn't entirely a letdown. The feel of the game was very familiar. The controller layout was largely the same and nothing much has changed from a presentation standpoint, save for some minor control updates -- like the new locomotion system. %Gallery-91909%
Madden NFL 11 to support 3-v-3 online, Game Flow play-calling system
EA's Peter Moore detailed some changes coming in the latest iteration of its football series, Madden NFL 11. Now your friends can get off the couch and get into the game through 3-vs-3 support for online play. Aside from the new online functionality, Peter Moore also promised game length would be cut in half for online games. Then there's Game Flow, a system that not only suggests plays but will also help make play-calling simpler. But have no fear, diehard fans: Game Flow is simply an option for a more guided experience. At any time, players can choose to go with the full playbook should they not wish to take advantage of the game's assistance. Madden NFL 11 blitzes retail on August 10.
Madden NFL 11 dev diary is all about gameplay
In its ongoing developer diary series for Madden NFL 11, EA clues us in to the gameplay tweaks in this year's iteration. This latest video (past the break) focuses on the gameplay, from the stick-only gameplay available to beginners, to the more expert-focused locomotion system -- a system with "branching animations" dependent on the player's momentum. Then there's the Real Assignment AI, which will allow gamers to delegate duties to players on the field in real-time. Need a guard to pull off and cut to the outside line on a pitch play? Done. It's not an entirely new feature to the series, yet the devs promise it will work with more consistency this year. Madden NFL 11 kicks off the football season August 10.
EA taps Gus Johnson for Madden 11 commentary
Gus Johnson is no ho-hum, run-of-the-mill announcer. He really gets into it. EA has taken notice and tapped Johnson for play-by-play announcer duties in Madden 11. Johnson will join Cris Collinsworth, who returns this year to provide the color commentary. Johnson replaces Tom Hammond, whose commentary tracks last year were criticized by Madden players as being wooden and lifeless. While it's difficult to program engaging game commentary with pre-recorded audio, EA Tiburon remains committed to improving this facet of its football mega-franchise. With 90,000 lines of dialogue going into Madden 11, players will hear more dynamic play-calling than in past iterations, whether it's when a receiver drops a catch or a running back breaks into the open field. Above, watch a video of some of the developers discussing the new audio approach in Madden 11. For a preview of Johnson doing some lines for the game, hit up ESPN.
Madden 11 videos chant new 'Simpler, Quicker, Deeper' design mantra
"Simpler, Quicker, Deeper." That's the tag line for Madden 11, as EA appears to be angling for the attention of the unsophisticated, no-time-to-waste "casual" demographic without dissuading its hardcore player base. The new Madden will be made both "simpler" and "quicker" through GameFlow, the buzzword for an optional auto–play calling mode, which puts players in the role of a quarterback that receives his plays from an AI coach. "Not everyone has an hour to dedicate," says senior producer Phil Frazier, alluding to the average length of a typical Maddden match. GameFlow is said to shave down match times to 30 minutes. But fear not, bro, Madden also goes "deeper" this year with the option to create custom game plans before each match. Plus, there's another buzzword to memorize: Locomotion. That's the name for the game's "all new" animation system. While still short of the highs achieved by the Euphoria-powered animations of Backbreaker, there is a gameplay component to Madden's Locomotion system: Players can now lean and dodge during runs with the analog sticks. According to the trailer, Madden 11 "will make every football game before it obsolete." (At least, GameStop's trade-in value will certainly reflect this sentiment.) Check out the dev diaries after the break, if you're not yet sufficiently pumped up for game day: August 10. %Gallery-91909%
Drew Brees discusses 'Madden Curse,' fan voting for Madden NFL 11 cover
Even people who avoid sports like the plague know that there is a certain "curse" associated with being on the cover of a Madden game. This year's cover boy, New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, ain't sweatin' it though -- "it is what it is, but I look at it as a challenge," he told ESPN. Heck of a "challenge," Mr. Brees. The majority of your predecessors didn't fare so well. On a more positive note, Brees also offered some of his opinions on the voting that led to his appearance on the Madden NFL 11 cover. "This game is driven by the fans, so it means so much more to me and to all the Saints players because we understand the bond we've had with our fans and with our city. Certainly when the fans have spoken, that means so much." The ESPN interview is pretty insightful, including brief talk on the new Hit Stick controls, as well as GameFlow and GamePlan, the pair of managerial game types available in Madden NFL 11. Hit up the source link and give it a read. [Thanks, Zoot Suit Jedi]
Madden 11 demo is Jets vs. Colts, will release in 'late July'
Hot on the heels of the Madden NFL 11 announcement revealing Drew Brees for the cover, the votes have been tallied for the teams featured in the requisite pre-release demo: it'll be the Jets vs. Colts. The news comes via the official Madden NFL site, where voting was opened in late March to decide whether the demo would recreate the AFC Championship game, the NFC Championship game or the Super Bowl. There must've been a lot of disgruntled Jets fans voting in that poll. Anxious to know when to expect the demo, Joystiq contacted EA Sports. A spokesperson was kind enough to reveal that the developer was aiming to hit the virtual gridiron sometime in "late July."
Drew Brees singled out for Madden 11 cover
Boy, how quickly it all can change: One moment you're leading America's darling Saints to a Super Bowl victory and the next you're cursed by the very same fans that cheered you on. Such is the fate of New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who has almost certainly been afflicted with the "Madden Curse" following his selection as Madden NFL 11 cover guy. Perhaps unwittingly, fans hexed Brees through an online poll -- each click like a pin prick in a voodoo doll -- and now the Saints ownership must be scrambling to land a backup QB in the NFL draft tonight. The first shot at Brees' knees will be televised nationally -- always a good betting opportunity -- when the NFL kicks off its regular season with the Saints hosting the Vikings on Thursday, September 9 on NBC. (That is, if Brees even manages to survive the preseason.) Something tells us he's gonna need more than a good luck kiss on the cheek. Madden 11 will be released on August 10 for Xbox 360, PS3 (and PS2), Wii and PSP. Mobile versions, including an iPhone and iPod Touch release, will also be available.
