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You bet the 'Madden curse' will strike again
No seriously, that's what you do on PlayBlackjack.com. For those not in the know, the Madden "curse" has afflicted every athlete featured on the cover of a Madden game. These pros get injured in some way through the course of the season, forcing them to miss a few games. When one of the two Madden 10 athletes, Troy Polamalu, suffered an injury to his left knee, many wondered if Larry Fitzgerald would follow. Well, at least one site is planning on turning that inquisitiveness into a real gambling operation.To enter the pool, players will have to successfully guess which week Fitzgerald will get injured, with 9:1 odds offered for each possible game. With quite a number of games still left to play, the odds are definitely not in your favor. However, should Fitzergald manage to dodge a bullet, all bets will be called off. "If Fitzgerald does not get struck by the curse and remains healthy all regular season the bets will be graded as no-action and all money bet will be returned to the bettor."It's certainly a morbid concept to spend money on. We wonder if Madden curse victim Michael Vick is getting in on the action ...
Madden 10 for Wii sold only 67K copies in August, EA calls overall sales 'discouraging'
We first caught wind that an imperfect storm was brewing for this season's Madden offering shortly after kickoff in mid-August. Now we know that not only has Madden 10 for Wii been sacked at retail, but EA is less than happy with the performance of the franchise as a whole thus far in '09.IndustryGamers received word from NPD that Madden NFL 10 for Wii -- a game touted as being rebuilt from the ground up for Nintendo's console this year, in part to improve sales -- sold only 67,000 copies in the month of August. In comparison, the PS2 version sold 160K copies, with the Xbox 360 SKU selling the best at 928K. This time last year, the Wii installment of Madden 09 sold ... just about 116K copies.In the same afternoon, Bloomberg reported that EA CEO John Ricitiello emailed his employees a memo that stated, in part, "It is discouraging that one of our highest-rated and best-marketed Madden titles in years is facing strong headwinds." Ricitiello clearly wasn't faulting quality, but rather downward industry sales trends which he admitted "present a challenge." That may be the case, but it doesn't explain the Wii version's shockingly low sales, especially for a franchise that's about as mainstream as they come.Source -- Madden Wii Sells Just 67K Copies [IndustryGamers]Source -- Electronic Arts Says 'Madden,' Industry Sales Drop [Bloomberg]
August NPD: PS3 sales soar as gamers go batty for Arkham Asylum in a Madden world
This year's August NPD sales numbers were, as usual, dominated by EA's monolithic Madden franchise -- but who's that creeping out of the shadows? "I'm Batman." Rocksteady, Warner Bros. and Eidos officially have themselves a critical and commercial hit in Batman: Arkham Asylum, with the game having sold more than half a million copies across PS3 and 360 in its first week on sale. Even the Joker can't laugh at sales like that.Hardware saw a slight increase for the month, with the exception of PS3, which saw an impressive 72% jump in sales, no doubt due to early sales of the lower-priced 120GB slim SKU. Wii is still the best-selling home console, but its numbers are gradually dipping down into "maybe we should consider a price cut, too" territory. Here's how sales of the stuff we play are games on stacked up: -DS: 553K14K (+2%)-Wii: 277K24K (+9%)-360: 215K12K (+6%)-PS3: 210K88K (+72%)-PSP: 140K17K (+13%)-PS2: 106K2K (-2%Check out the software sales chart after the break.
Madden 10 tackles the iPhone
click for Madden 10 iPhone gallery There's an old (albeit imaginary) adage in the game's industry: If it can play games, Madden will undoubtedly follow. EA Sports is rushing Apple's App Store with a brand new game that takes full advantage of the iPhone's (and iPod's) touch screen. Unlike the console variants, the handheld Madden 10 experience is more accessible to the casual player. Beginners will be able to get by without thinking about the playbook, as the game automatically recommends appropriate plays. The action slows down when the quarterback has the ball, and color-coded icons appear on the screen, indicating the likelihood of making a completion. In our brief time with the game, it was clear that EA Mobile placed a lot of effort into ensuring Madden could be played in short bursts: not only does the game launch within seconds from the iPhone menu, the game auto-saves after every play, allowing players to stop and resume a match any time they want. Hardcore football fans are likely to appreciate the added depth that casual gamers wil avoid: there are 2000 players in the game, voiced (tinny) commentary from John Madden, and a feature called "Hot Route" which allows players to manually draw plays to carry out. A ridiculous number of stats are also tracked by the game with full sorting, so you can know exactly who has the highest 3rd down conversion ratio in the league. The game will be available for $9.99 in the App Store, though you can snag it for a discounted $7.99 today. We've been told that multiplayer is being worked on, as well as DLC, such as roster updates and "authentic jerseys." %Gallery-72206%
Madden 2010 confirmed for iPhone, probably requires more thumbs than you have
Yes, we know Madden's nothing new on phones, but we had to highlight Madden 2010 for iPhone -- which EA just confirmed today will be ready in time for the start of the NFL season -- because it looks really damn good. Console quality, even. That's great and all, but Madden's the kind of franchise that really needs quick reflexes and a whole lot of buttons positioned conveniently around the entirety of a console-ready controller to control with any precision, and buttons are something the iPhone distinctly lacks. So yes, we get it, the iPhone's capable of some stellar graphics -- but the real question is whether you'll be able to play through four quarters without punting it into the opposition's territory.
Analyst: Madden 10 sales 'slightly' below expectations
According to Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian, as reported by IndustryGamers, sales of Madden NFL 10 have been "slightly below" EA's plan for the title. Based on Lazard's retail data, Sebastian says he believes the lower than expected sales are the result of fewer purchases by mainstream gamers. Specialty game retailers seem to be having no trouble selling Madden, which indicates that "core game fans appear to be somewhat more resilient than mainstream shoppers," according to Sebastian. Not to worry though, as Sebastian believes the recent PS3 price cut, along with an expected 360 price cut and the beginning of the back-to-school season "could provide a later lift" for the game. We hope so -- because we're really hoping for a sequel.
Trophies: Madden 10
1 Platinum6 Gold16 Silver12 Bronze Difficulty: DifficultOnline Trophies? Yes Time to Completion: 10 hoursDLC Trophies? Yes**Trophies requiring DLC are highlighted in yellow. View Trophy List Read More About the Game %Gallery-50174%
Some copies of Madden 10 missing 'Online Franchise' DLC codes
Developers these days are doing a lot to incentivize those new game purchases over their used counterparts, and Madden 10 is no exception. Those who purchased the game were supposed to receive a downloadable code for the game's "Online Franchise Mode," though reportedly, those in "regions outside of North America," specifically Australia, the UK and "other regions" are getting copies with a missing DLC code.Panic broke out at EA's forums over the situation, but EA Sports told Joystiq this morning that a fix is on the way. "We are aware of the situation and we're working towards a solution right now," EA's Rob Semsey told us. The one-time use DLC code is supposed to be on the back of the manual in the game's box, but due to the "printing process of the manuals," some folks are getting copies without any code. Worse? The DLC has already landed on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, giving some Madden 10 owners the impression that they were expected to pay for the content -- despite having purchased a new copy on launch day.EA says we'll get more official word on a solution "very soon," but for now we suggest following Madden 10 lead designer Ian Cummings' tweeted suggestion of calling the customer support line. %Gallery-63607%
Sports Illustrated subscription and Madden 10 bundled for only $49
This looks to be quite the deal for sports fans. Sports Illustrated is offering a free copy of Madden 10 (on the platform of your choice) with every paid subscription. In addition to getting to getting 28 issues of Sports Illustrated, the $49 bundle includes a documentary DVD, "The Road to Canton" and the aforementioned copy of Madden. The bundle is actually cheaper than buying a standalone copy of Madden 10 at retail! With the money saved, you can afford all those crazy DLC packs EA is pimping in this year's edition ... almost.If you do take advantage of the deal, make sure you watch out for the auto-renewal option. You'll have to cancel your subscription before it ends, or SI will charge you for another year when your subscription ends.[Thanks, Colin M.!]
Madden 10 DLC lets you buy injury healing, retirement prevention, 'Elite Status,' more
To say EA has been going overboard with DLC would be an understatement. The upcoming Madden 10 continues EA's attempt at pinching even more out of your virtual wallet for cheats and game enhancements. Here's but a very small sample of the premium packs you'll be charged for: Super Superstar - Downloading this will enable your Superstar to get maximum progression for the length of his career. Pick A Superstar - Downloading this will allow you to pick any NFL player to start Superstar mode with. Dig Deep - For one play, your players respond to the challenges of the moment. All players receive a 10% boost to all stats. Game Day Instincts - For one game, your coaching staff is in the zone. All players receive a 5% boost to all stats; can be used once per year, per franchise. PK Scout - Download this to use a special scout who will reveal all true stats for Punter and Kicker prospects in the upcoming offseason. This is usable in Franchise only. Play Through the Pain - Using this allows for one player to recover from any injury no matter what the severity; usable once per season, per franchise. Not Done Yet - Downloading this allows you to keep one player out of retirement for one more year; usable once per season, per franchise. This is used in Franchise Mode only. In addition to these game modifiers, players can purchase "Elite Status" through the game's multiplayer lobby. What does it do? It'll give you access to "exclusive VIP lobbies, leaderboards" and will grant you access to "the all new Elite Gametype" which features "All-Madden difficulty level and is tuned exclusively for the hardcore." Wait, what? EA, you're seriously charging money for a new difficulty mode? (IGN reports that it'll be $5.) Those looking for the ultimate Madden experience will have to prepare for sticker shock when the game ships next week.[Thanks, Ryan!]
EA creating bite-sized Madden arcade title (think '3-on-3 NHL Arcade')
EA's 3-on-3 NHL Arcade, a smaller and more focused downloadable hockey title, seems to have been a successful experiment for the publisher. In a recent investor call, EA's Peter Moore confirmed that a similar title, this time with the Madden franchise as basis, is currently in development. Though little other information was divulged, we're told to expect title sometime "this holiday."
Play Madden in a football stadium ... on the big screen!
Following in the great tradition of, um, the Jonas Brothers' tour manager playing Gears of War 2 on a way too big screen at Cowboy Stadium, EA and Sony are hosting a Madden 10 event for 256 lucky fans at the same stadium. The kicker? If you manage to snag a spot, you'll not only get access to the full game nearly a week early, but you may also find your gaming projected on one of the stadium's many enormous screens. The event takes place on Cowboy season ticket holder appreciation day and as such, those lucky enough to get inside may find 10,000 or so people in the stands. However, if you brave the Madden 10 tourney ladder and win, you'll be walking away with a copy of the game, before its August 14 release, and a PlayStation 3. The PlayStation US blog is giving away 25 tickets (+1 guest) for little more than a silly photo of yourself demonstrating "your favorite touchdown dance or pose" with a PlayStation item in the picture. It could be worse, right? You could have to sing a Jonas Brothers song or something. [Image credit]
Economist: EA overcharged Madden buyers up to $926 million
Most sports game fans are none too happy about EA's monopolization of the NFL -- but only because of the limited choice of official football games they're afforded. A little over a month ago, two game enthusiasts, Geoffrey Pecover and Jeffrey Lawrence, filed a class-action suit against EA -- not due to the loss of fun that resulted following the eradication of the competing NFL 2K franchise, but rather, due to the loss of funds.The two men called University of Michigan economics professor Dr. Jeffrey MacKie-Mason (for those keeping count, that's three Jeffs in this story so far) as a witness in the case. His findings, which he admits are based on incomplete data, are shocking -- he claims that with no direct competitor, EA was able to raise the price on the Madden series. By his estimate, EA effectively overcharged the game's purchasers between $701 million and $926 million from 2006 to 2009.Wedbush analyst and Joystiq celebrity Michael Pachter responded to the estimate with vitriol, claiming that the professor had based his claims on faulty figures -- for instance, EA only made about $800 million off the Madden franchise during that period, and the series' average price only increased by a few cents after the NFL 2K series bit the dust. Thanks for the clarification, Pachy -- but we could have guessed the estimates were bunko. A billion dollars is a difficult thing to take from a group with such a keen eye for acts of corporate Ledgermain.
Madden 10 pre-order demo drops July 23, public demo July 30
Remember that fancy Superbowl reenactment demo that's only available to those that pre-order Madden NFL 10? EA has announced that said demo will arrive next week on July 23. But what about all the little people, the ones that won't be putting down some reserve cash for Mr. Madden's latest outing? EA has them covered too, announcing that a public demo will arrive on PSN and XBLA one week later, on July 30.As previously announced, the public demo will not be a reenactment of Super Bowl XLIII, but will instead be a boring, snow-covered night game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. We suppose you might want to pre-order if the particular setting of your virtual football demo is of great importance to you. Otherwise you can wait a week to take Madden for a spin without committing your cash.
Analyst: GameStop expects 'meaningful' PS3 price cut soon
Meaningful -- as in it'll mean Sony would finally bow to ubiquitous suggestions, predictions and occasional threats that see the PlayStation 3 being lowered in price please please oh please. Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia is the latest to join the frugal chorus, telling Industry Gamers, "We continue to believe a $100 price cut on PS3 will occur around the launch of EA's Madden NFL 2010, which is scheduled for release on 8/18."Agee claims to have encountered similar sentiment at a recent GameStop executive meeting, overhearing talk of a "highly likely" and "meaningful" near-term price drop even over the clinking of diamond-encrusted chalices and relentless pre-order thrusting. It's Sony's decision, ultimately, but if it's alright with you, we'd rather just get this price drop over with. A lower price means more people get in on the fun ... especially when they also get to stop reading these things.
Pre-order Madden 10 at GameStop ... to get free Madden 10 demo
Pre-order either the PS3 or Xbox 360 version of Madden 10 and you'll get a sneak peak at the upcoming football game. GameStop is issuing an "exclusive" 20-minute demo that lets you relive the Super Bowl yet again with the Cardinals and the Steelers, while, according to Kotaku, everyone else will be able to download a shorter 8-minute demo between the Giants and the Cowboys.We're not exactly sure how a free demo is meant to appease those that are already committed to buying the game, but at the very least, it's a far more compelling offer than, say, a free sample of Madden's short-lived recording career.Source - GameStop pre-order announcementSource - EA demo clarification
Madden suit settled by NFLPA, retired players
Say what you will about the American legal system, at least the thing is speedy. After all, in late April EA was denying it knew anything about a lawsuit between the NFL Players Association and retired players, and now said players have been awarded $26 million dollars a judge decided they were owed from the sale of games like Madden.Oh, and sorry if you thought we were talking about that other Madden suit, that one is still in the courts. Man, how do the players keep getting suits on over all their pads?
Judge says Madden monopoly suit can move forward
We feel like we're in some kind of topsy-turvy bizarro dimension this morning. Not only did a couple of guys sue EA for having a monopoly on football games, but a U.S. District Court Judge in San Francisco has said the case can move forward, denying the company's request to dismiss it. In the process, the judge recognized that "interactive video football software" is a distinct enough market for antitrust consideration.Next up on Joystiq: Valve reads anti-Left 4 Dead 2 petition, totally cancels it. At least the Madden guys have a fair argument, which GP lays out for you right here.
Sony timing its PS3 price cut to roll with Madden, homework?
Sony showed us a lot of things at this year's E3 -- some expected, some rather less-so -- but they didn't show us the primary thing shareholders and fans were hoping for: a price cut. That most expensive of gaming consoles still retains its lead in the brutal MSRP wars, but a Sterne Agee analyst indicates that Sony is just biding its time. According to the always accurate "industry sources," the PS3 will receive a $100 drop sometime in the middle of August, just in time for the launch of Madden NFL 10. That would also coincide with back to school shopping, apparently a popular time for buying consoles by parents who want to give their kids every chance in the world to fail thanks to spending too much time robbing graves in Uncharted.
Kill Southern zombies with four new characters in Left 4 Dead 2
The Left 4 Dead 2 announcement at the Microsoft press conference gobsmacked us this morning (didn't they just release Left 4 Dead like last November? What is this, Madden?), but apparently the sneaky folks at Rock Paper Shotgun weren't surprised: they've already seen the game in action. We're hoping to see it this week ourselves, but until then, here's a few juicy zombie tidbits to hold you over: the game takes place in the Southern United States, and the five campaigns will take you on a Southern odyssey from Savannah to New Orleans. There are four new characters also: a rough high school coach who's used to taking charge, a female cable news reporter, a rustic Southern mechanic type, and a Sawyer-style con man. The characters keep the snappy dialogue, and the campaigns will tell an overarching story as you move through them.
