Madden
Latest
Madden 08 not using Friend Codes?
We already heard about how big online gaming would be for the Wii in 2008, but we didn't expect that EA, of all studios, would be fighting for us to have a better online experience on the Wii. Either that, or they're just too lazy and don't want to retool an interface and online package for their Wii version of Madden 08. Regardless of what it is, they've got the right idea: no friend codes. We don't want them, you don't want them, so why use them?Hopefully, Nintendo won't fight them to change this.[Via Cubed3; Thanks, Zero!]
Online sports to be big for the Wii in 2008?
Rumorreporter is reporting on a pair of EA's biggest sports franchises coming to the Wii in 2008 and, more importantly, going online. Joining the ranks of Mario Strikers: Charged and Pokemon Battle Revolution, EA's Madden and FIFA franchises are both going to claim their stake in the fertal lands of the Wii's Wi-Fi functionality.This news, which supposedly comes from a variety of sources including the latest issue of Nintendo Power (July, 2007), points toward the already set structures of online play for each franchise living on through the Wii (leaderboards, roster updates and ESPN ticker updates). The piece does say that friend codes will be implemented, however won't affect the overall grand scheme of things as gamers will still be able to challenge and play complete strangers. Also, no voice chat will be supported, but EA's instant-messaging feature will survive.[Thanks, Taylor!]
John Facenda pitching Madden today, condoms tomorrow?
Seeking "damages" when using someone's voice in an honorable way which doesn't hurt their image seems a bit off -- but it's a great way to make some easy money. The family of John "Voice of God" Facenda is doing just that by seeking damages for the use of his voice in the Making of Madden 2006, a promotional video created by the National Football League for the video game. EA is not included in the suit. Facenda gave the NFL unlimited use of his recorded voice in everything except product endoresment. The Facenda family claims that the 22-minute promotional video, which uses Facenda's voice for 13 seconds, is a violation of that agreement. A judge agrees and the issue is going in front of a jury.Today, Facenda is endorsing Madden, what's next? Facenda family attorney Paul Lauricella has an idea, saying, "[Facenda's son] does not want to wake up one day hearing his father's voice advertising condoms... The Madden game's a great game. We just think if it's going to be advertised [with his voice], it deserves to be compensated."NFL brand condoms pitched by a man who died in 1984, that's ridiculous. That's almost as ludicrous as thinking screen legend Fred Astaire would be used to sell Dirt Devils -- oh, wait. Proceed Facenda family, carry on.
2K Sports announces classic All-Pro Football roster
Licenses? Who needs licenses? Not 2K Sports, who today announced a massive lineup of classic football stars would grace All-Pro Football 2K8. While EA holds the exclusive rights to use NFL trademarks and current player likenesses, 2K has lined up practically every retired player you've ever heard of, and probably a few you haven't, for the roster of their re-entry into the football simulation market.The list of players is presented on the game page is in a super-annoying Flash format, but intrepid Joystiq tipster Mugginns has compiled them all in an easy to scan text list, organized by position and alphabetical order. Check it out after the jump.
Chargers' Tomlinson turned down Madden cover; not curse, but cash
It turns out Vince Young might not have been the first choice for the Madden 2008 cover. According to CNBC Sports Business reporter Darren Rovell, multiple industry sources have told him that Electronic Arts asked San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson of his interest and presented him an offer. Tomlinson turned it down.The reason purportedly has nothing to do with the oft-cited "Madden curse," but that Tomlinson was not happy with EA's financial offer. Electronic Arts, according to Rovell, understands their cover to be what he calls the "Wheaties box endorsement," which means that EA will offer the cover athlete less than his market value. Tomlinson opted against it.Young, afraid of no curse, is now the cover athlete. But as Rovell justly observes, Madden titles sell well regardless of who graces the cover.
Vince Young talks Madden curse on Jimmy Kimmel Live
It wasn't exactly a surprise, but last night's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live did mark the official announcement of Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young as the cover star for Madden 08. Kimmel harped a bit on the Madden curse, joking that last year's cover star Shawn Alexander was "attacked by a shark" on field. Shark attack jokes? What is this, the summer of 2001?Young for his part, brushed off concerns that the cover shot will lead to disaster. "I done prayed about it and we're gonna go home and try to get to the playoffs and try to get to the Super Bowl. We'll see what happens," he said. We're not big gamblers here at Joystiq, but if we were we'd put some money against Young's confidence in his health this season.
Vince Young tapped for Madden '08 cover?
The Nashville City Paper is citing an unnamed "source with knowledge of the situation" as confirming that Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young will be the cover star of Madden '08. Young is expected to officially announce the placement during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight. Young is also one of three players tapped to star in a series of commercials for the game, along with New Orleans running back Reggie Bush and Chicago's perfectly fast Devin Hester. The ads will premiere during the NFL draft.Young would be a somewhat unorthodox choice for the cover -- a recent ESPN listing put him as the sixth most likely candidate. Apparently winning the Super Bowl is not as impressive as being a rookie QB "with a flair for the dramatic," as ESPN put it.[Via GameDaily]
Madden 08 gives a perfect 100
Extremely obsessed and knowledgeable Madden fans know that the game has never given out a perfect 100 in any skill for any player, until now. Madden 08 will give Chicago Bears' crazy fast return man Devin Hester a perfect 100 ranking for speed. Hester's perfect 100 beats out previous high ranking players like Deion Sanders, Randy Moss, and Charles Woodson who all received 99s at their peak. So, is anyone pumped about Madden 08 or are you expecting just more of the same?[Thanks, Chris]
Football simplified and awesomefied
As a manga-based sports game, Eyeshield 21: Field Saikyou no Senshi Tachi has more in common with Mutant League Football than any release of Madden. The different teams have special attacks corresponding to their bizarre mascots (e.g. Devil Bats and guitar-playing Spiders), and players celebrate touchdowns by firing automatic weapons into the air. What's not to love? As Siliconera's import preview explains, Eyeshield 21 cuts the American sport down to its very basics. The abridged playbook offers only four options, you don't actually control your character when running, and almost every gameplay aspect is handled through timed mini-games with the Wii remote. This streamlined approach might sound like all the fun has been taken out of the game, but Eyeshield 21 keeps players entertained with continuous action and a high-octane soundtrack. If you're still not convinced, head past the post break for some gameplay footage.
For Madden speed, it don't get bester than Hester
Milestones in human speed: May 6, 1954: Roger Bannister runs a mile in under four minutes. June 14, 2005: Asafa Powell runs 100 meters in 9.77 seconds. April 5, 2007: ESPN reveals Devin Hester will have a speed rating of 100 in Madden NFL '08. Not only does EA think Hester is faster than any other football player in history, the noted kick returner is set to become the first player to get a perfect rating in any stat category in the perennial football franchise. Hester said he was honored by the, er, honor, but not exactly surprised -- according to ESPN, "Hester has been known to have been lobbying members of the Madden NFL 08 development team for the top speed rating." NFL players exerting undue influence on developers? We smell a scandal. Maddengate! Our main question now is what will happen if someone faster than Hester comes along? Will EA create a 101 rating? Or will the 100 rating eventually become like a "perfect ten" game review -- good, but not perfect? [Update: Fixed the date above. Thanks Products] [Thanks tevetorbes]
DS Daily: Guilty pleasures
You know what we're talking about. Everyone has that game that they just absolutely love that their friends don't quite understand. Maybe you're surrounded by Madden fans, but you just can't get enough of Super Princess Peach. Maybe you love Pokemon, even though everyone you know thinks it's silly. Sometimes, you love something so much that you just don't care what anyone thinks. What is it for you?
Live top ten: Revenge of the Demos
For two weeks in a row now, we've had demos creeping into the Xbox Live activity charts. This week is no different, bringing a forth into the fold, ironically taking the forth spot. Of course, we're talking about the Def Jam: Icon demo. Gears of War and Rainbow Six: Vegas continue to dominate and hold onto their stranglehold for the top spots. COD3 moved into bronze position, pushing Crackdown to fifth behind the aforementioned new demo. Madden, Lost Planet, NBA Street and Oblivion stay put, and GRAW 2's demo replaces its predecessor in tenth place. Take a gander at our handy dandy list after the break.
Ten rejected achievements revealed!
Sometimes developers create a huge list of possible achievements for their game, have to narrow down the list, and choose which ones they want to include in the final game. There are some that get rejected because they are either too lame, too dull, too easy, or just too impossible to attain. The guys over Game Stooge put on their detective hats and went searching. They dug up unused achievements that developers didn't put into the game simply because the achievement didn't mesh with the rest. And after looking at their handy work we know why these rejects didn't make the cut. Viva Piñata's "No Incest" achievement would have been a challenge, Blazing Angels' "Victor Over Boredom" would break down even the strongest gamer, and Madden 06's "Press 'A' Button" would be ... wait a second. Didn't that achievement make it into the final game? Anyway, did anyone un-earth rejected achievements that didn't make it into the final game? If you have, we beg you to share with the rest of us.[Via Digg]
DC-area Madden pros heading to Hawaii
The Washington City Paper this week has an interesting look at how two D.C.-area Madden players struggled to win a spot on ESPN2's Madden Nation. The pair criss-crossed the country to win two separate regional finals and an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii, where they'll face off against 30 other finalists for a $100,000 grand prize on national TV. Not all is wine and roses for these pro-level players, though. Maddener R.J. Warren got fired from his job at a video game store because of his obsession. Justin Chow has fallen a year behind in his studies at Radford University because of time spent with the game. What's worse, Chow says "this Madden thing, and the ability to make money on it, that has ruined me for other games. I'd just feel like I was wasting my time." The Madden, she is a harsh mistress.
The story behind the Madden '07 tournament street poster
We've entered a new era when you start to see gaming tournaments, like the third one down in the picture, advertised on the streets. It oozes dirty Fight Club competition, where if you fail some guy might cut off your thumb as a trophy. Whatever images these signs on the highway conjure up in your mind, we're sure they aren't the idea of legitimate business and competition. Alice from Wonderland snapped this photo on the way back home from the airport. Sounded interesting ... so we called the number.First time calling the machine answered and told us that if we were calling about the Madden Tournament it was $40 in advance and $60 at the door. The message said we could go to their website, PrimeTimeGamers, to register. After going to the website we discover that shady highway sign actually hides a tournament sponsored by Gametap, TimeWarner Cable, Jackson Hewitt Tax Prep and, apparently, Electronic Arts. The tournament is part of the Ballers Club Alliance, run by "Tha Super," and are held at Nationals Sports Bar in Torrance, Calif. When we called the number again to double check some info a guy picked up the phone. After an awkward exchange he said, "I'm in the middle of a Halo tournament right now, can you call back at 9PM?"Guess we'll find out more about the mysterious highway sign and the underground tournament with high-profile sponsors later.
Got any gamer resolutions?
Got any games-specific resolutions that you'd care to share? Here are a few suggested to us by friends and family over the last few weeks as we canvassed for suggestions on this topic:
