Madden 09 News Post

EA Announces Madden NFL 09 Ship Date and Special Collector’s Edition

02:49 PM - March 27, 2008 by djordan

EA ANNOUNCES MADDEN NFL 09 OFFICIAL SHIP DATE
AND SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION

Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition,
including NFL Head Coach 09, Available This Summer

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., – March 27, 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Madden NFL 09 will be available in retail stores in North America on August 12, including a special collector’s edition in celebration of the 20th anniversary of one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. The Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition will be the ultimate interactive NFL experience - featuring full versions of both Madden NFL 09 and the all-new NFL Head Coach 09, exclusive classic Madden NFL gameplay, and an extensive library of exclusive bonus video content.

“The Madden NFL franchise has a rich history, and we’re proud to be celebrating it with this definitive video game package,” says Peter Moore, president of EA SPORTS. “Featuring two deep and innovative new standalone games, as well as a host of exclusive bonus content, the Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition is the ultimate interactive offering for both long-time Madden NFL fans and anyone who enjoys football on Sundays. I can’t think of a better way to get your NFL fix than to enjoy everything that’s unique about both Madden NFL 09 and NFL Head Coach 09, and then connecting and sharing content from both.”

Whether you prefer to make your moves on the field, from the sidelines or in the front office, the Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition has something for every football fan. Madden NFL 09 will feature the most immersive gameplay, the richest online offerings and the most comprehensive feature depth in the history of the franchise, while NFL Head Coach 09 has been reinvented to provide a unique new NFL experience by allowing fans to be in total control of their favorite franchises. The two games offer unique experiences and then can even interact with one another with gamers being able to import their user-designed plays from NFL Head Coach 09 and put them into Madden NFL 09 to create customized playbooks for complete control on the field.

“Both Madden NFL 09 and NFL Head Coach 09 are deep and unique gaming experiences that will truly immerse sports fans of all ages, skill levels and playing styles,” says Chris Erb, EA SPORTS director of marketing. “With the Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition, we’re bringing two great NFL games together to create the definitive football offering.”

NFL Head Coach 09 provides the complete NFL coaching experience, offering a variety of different ways to control an NFL franchise, on and off the field, in-season and off-season. With strategic game-planning features, NFL Head Coach 09 places gamers in the coach’s seat by allowing gamers to comprehensively scout the opponent, build custom playbooks, and develop a team that will adapt to the philosophy and system of an NFL franchise.

Last year’s Madden NFL 08 was honored with various awards, including the 2007 Game Critics “Best Sports Game” award at last year’s E3 Media and Business Summit, “Best Team Sports Game” from the Spike TV Video Games Awards, “Best Sports Game of the Year” by GameTrailers’ 2007 Game of the Year Awards, GameSpot’s “Best Sports Game” Reader’s Choice Award, and the “Best Sports Games” of 2007 by MSNBC. Over the past 20 years, the Madden NFL franchise has sold over 70 million* copies and has been established as one of the most revered sports video games in the industry. Since 2002, Madden NFL has been the number one selling sports game** each year in North America.

Both Madden NFL 09 and NFL Head Coach 09 are developed in Orlando, Florida by the award-winning EA Tiburon studio, which also produces NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

Madden NFL 09 will be available for the Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment systems, Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and is rated RP by the ESRB. NFL Head Coach 09 is scheduled to ship only as a part of the Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition, which, at a suggested retail price of $89.99 for the complete package of Madden NFL 09 and NFL Head Coach 09 plus additional exclusive bonus content, will ship on the Xbox 360™ and PLAYSTATION®3.

EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

For more information about Madden NFL 09 and NFL Head Coach 09, please visit www.madden09.com

* Based on internal sales data
** According to the NPD Group

Game: Madden NFL 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 88 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 Kevin26385 @ 03/27/08 04:23 PM

Things like this have me very excited for the presentation part of the game. That looks like Adam Shefter in Full 3D giving you his news.

I seriously cannot wait to see if they combined the NFL Network into the game, or ESPN or both.

Maybe NFL head coach is powered by the NFL Network and maybe Madden is powered by the ESPN Network.

# 22 jake44np @ 03/27/08 04:24 PM

There is no way I am spending $90 on this, I couldnt stand Madden or NFL Head Coach last year.

# 23 ewto16 @ 03/27/08 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev5890


	How about you look up some of the games features, it has a right to be a stand alone game..and EA just did us a favor

Cool, I just did that. Here is what I saw and think.

Coach Clipboard - Wow, neat name for a menu system that I'll use throught the game. Color me terribly unimpressed.

Team Campuses - Probably 1 - 6 different models that all just have different skins applied to them to make them match your team. In no way will they resemble the actual campus of the team. Sounds like a graphically intense way to tell me if it is sunny, windy, raining, or snowing. Based on previous iterations of Madden, these conditions will be meaningless anyway.

Approval Rating - This is the point of the game. Get a high approval rating. Coach well and the CPO Owner will approve. Seems simple enough, though not really groundbreaking.

Career Starting Point - Again, this was in last years game. Wow, I can recreate the most recent draft. Nice feature I guess, but nothing new.

Active sideline - This sounds pretty neat. Little cutscenes for certain actions your coach will take. Only 300 though. Not a whole lot, and after seeing your kicker start to warm-up for the 10th time, you will probably skip it. Doesn't effect gameplay. Would be REALLY cool if this was just in Madden

In game Play Creator - Playbook editor that should have been in Madden already. The AI can't handle the little shifts that you make manually in the game already. I can only imagine the exploits that can be created with this.

Defining Moments - Fancy name for scoring certain parts of the game for your approval rating. Shouldn't the game do this anyway? If you always make a bonehead call with the game on the line, shouldn't your approval rating go down?

Bah, I got tired of listing all these, but you can see that most of them are just window dressing or fancy names that are a bullet point for something that should just be standard. There are a ton of off-season features (future draft pick trades, CPU Trades, Live bidding for free agents, expanded rosters, etc.)that people have been asking for in Madden for years that they included in this instead. Should have put them in Madden first.

In fact the NFLHC web site is polite enough to remind us that people have been asking for these features to be included in Madden forever, but put them here instead.

If you truly beleive that EA would rather do you a "favor" and sell you a game for $30 bucks, instead of making more money off it by selling it for $60 and offering the same integration with Madden, then you are truly the type of sucker that EA is looking to get to buy this version of the game.

# 24 jfsolo @ 03/27/08 04:29 PM

People who only want Head Coach should be seriously pissed. They have to pay over 95 bucks just to get it.

# 25 DLaren @ 03/27/08 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_OS


	EA ANNOUNCES MADDEN NFL 09 OFFICIAL SHIP DATE AND SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION The Madden NFL 09 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition will be the ultimate interactive NFL experience - featuring full versions of both Madden NFL 09 and the all-new NFL Head Coach 09, exclusive classic Madden NFL gameplay, and an extensive library of exclusive bonus video content (for $89.99).

I'm conflicted, on one hand I'm mildly disappointed because I had hoped to play NFL Headcoach this spring and all throughout summer, then switch to Madden in the fall; like I did the first time Headcoach came out. So it's unfortunate that I won't be able to dive into that game for another six months. (Oh Lawd

)

On the other hand I'm happy that the total package is going to sell for $89.99 because I'll essentially only have to pay about $30 for Headcoach (instead of $60 had it sold seperately), and on top of that I get Madden'09, probably a classic version of Madden'99, and a bunch of bonus content...So ultimately I'm satisfied with this package representing Maddens 20th Anniversary celebration.

# 26 JIMIHEMMY @ 03/27/08 04:36 PM

I would think that EA will change their minds and eventually sell NFLHC as a standalone.

On another note, since we do not know what the features are yet for Madden, why don't we wait before we talk down on it and see what they have to offer?

You never know....play editor just might be in Madden too. If they told us everything now, the boards would be filled with 'I can't wait' and "Why wait so long' posts.....

# 27 ewto16 @ 03/27/08 04:38 PM

You understand that is all just glossy presentation, right? It doesn't effect gameplay at all. If the simulation aspect is terrible and the actual process of doing things is tedious, like last year, then the presentation doesn't matter.

Similar to how Madden looks pretty good, but everyone hates it because it plays like crap. It is like having a Lambo that doesn't run parked in your driveway. Looks nice, but doesn't do anything for you.

I'd be all over Madden actually having some actual NFL Network or ESPN presentation though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev5890


	Things like this have me very excited for the presentation part of the game. That looks like Adam Shefter in Full 3D giving you his news. I seriously cannot wait to see if they combined the NFL Network into the game, or ESPN or both. Maybe NFL head coach is powered by the NFL Network and maybe Madden is powered by the ESPN Network.

# 28 Kevin26385 @ 03/27/08 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewto16


	You understand that is all just glossy presentation, right? It doesn't effect gameplay at all. If the simulation aspect is terrible and the actual process of doing things is tedious, like last year, then the presentation doesn't matter. Similar to how Madden looks pretty good, but everyone hates it because it plays like crap. It is like having a Lambo that doesn't run parked in your driveway. Looks nice, but doesn't do anything for you. I'd be all over Madden actually having some actual NFL Network or ESPN presentation though.

Ever play ESPN NFL 2k5, the game was not perfect at all but presentation helps quite a bit. You can overlook gameplay elements if you feel like you are playing a nationally telivised game.

Presentation just makes the game feel more authentic, with halftime reports and the graphics it is cosmetic, yet it can make the game much better.

And honestly if they were to just add announcers it would make the game a lot better, considering I feel like I am playing madden 08 and noone is watching because I barely hear the radio

# 29 ewto16 @ 03/27/08 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev5890


	Ever play ESPN NFL 2k5, the game was not perfect at all but presentation helps quite a bit. You can overlook gameplay elements if you feel like you are playing a nationally telivised game. Presentation just makes the game feel more authentic, with halftime reports and the graphics it is cosmetic, yet it can make the game much better. And honestly if they were to just add announcers it would make the game a lot better, considering I feel like I am playing madden 08 and noone is watching because I barely hear the radio

Actually, I just bought NFL 2K5 the other day because everyone talks about how cool it is. I'm looking forward to playing it.

I agree that presentation is key and make the game a lot better. However, I felt that Madden 08 was so bad, that adding new announcers and some presentation to the same Madden 08 will not satisfy me.

Right now, it looks like the focus is strictly on presentation. Maybe we will know more later.

# 30 kenneth33 @ 03/27/08 05:00 PM

Some gamers complain about everything,I guess this is what peter moore was saying gamers don,t like change!!!

# 31 SageInfinite @ 03/27/08 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfsolo


	People who only want Head Coach should be seriously pissed. They have to pay over 95 bucks just to get it.

I could've swore head coach was coming out in Sept.

# 32 Kevin26385 @ 03/27/08 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageTheInfinite


	I could've swore head coach was coming out in Sept.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/854/854928p1.html
On release it now says "US: Not available separately"

# 33 Kevin26385 @ 03/27/08 05:58 PM

http://www.easports.com/madden09/

Site just went live

# 34 ewto16 @ 03/27/08 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldogg


	i guess ea feels that headcoach won't sell on its own so they bundled it. now if 1 million people by the collectors edition. ea can say that head coach sold that many even though it was bundled with madden.

You are correct!! Then when they unbundle them next year, they can put a bullet point on the Head Coach box about how it sold over a million copies last year.

# 35 mvb34 @ 03/27/08 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewto16


	You are correct!! Then when they unbundle them next year, they can put a bullet point on the Head Coach box about how it sold over a million copies last year.

So whats the problem with that?

# 36 BlackNGold @ 03/27/08 06:42 PM

LoL, it's so funny how some people take this so seriously. Well, at least its good entertainment reading the thread.

# 37 SageInfinite @ 03/27/08 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackNGold


	LoL, it's so funny how some people take this so seriously. Well, at least its good entertainment reading the thread.

# 38 ewto16 @ 03/27/08 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvb34


	So whats the problem with that?

Saying a game sold a million copies when it is bundled with another game really isn't the same as selling a million on it's own.

That would be like Microsoft releasing some total crap game (Elmo's ABC's) with Halo 3 and boasting when they release Elmo's ABC's 2 that the first copy sold 5 million copies.

It is dishonest marketing.

# 39 dbeth @ 03/27/08 06:55 PM

Hmmm......

Madden 05: 15th Anniversary Edition
Madden 09: 20th Anniversary Edition

me is good at math?

# 40 bcruise @ 03/27/08 07:30 PM

They had BETTER sell HC separately - I'm not buying Madden to get that game (I'm not even sure if I'm getting HC yet)

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