Madden 09 News Post

Madden NFL 09: Ups and Downs

02:23 PM - August 7, 2008 by RaychelSnr

Madden NFL 09 is due for release next Tuesday and it seems like there are more opinions on whether to be excited for the game or not around OS these days. Wil McCombs checks in today with his own thoughts on whether you should be excited for Madden or not in his article, Madden NFL 09: Ups and Downs.

Quote:


	"So how many of you have bought into the madness? Are you all pressed up against the windows, your breath fogging up the glass, your eyes all sad and puppy dog-like, whimpering for the clock to strike 12 on August 12th? Has the EA Sports marketing hype machine injected that sweet addictive substance straight into your veins, making us a gaggle of itching, drooling junkies hungry for that late-summer fix?"

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Member Comments

# 21 ewto16 @ 08/08/08 09:39 AM

Should have mentioned that EA left out in-game saves, which would make the game much more enjoyable for us that have lives and wives.

# 22 labguy @ 08/08/08 09:47 AM

"The only reason I list online leagues as a negative, is that they are not online franchises. Although online franchise is the obvious next step, it is unfortunate that it did not make this year’s game. I get that old tingly feeling when I think about importing a draft class from my online dynasty into my online franchise. Sounds wonderful, does it not?"

AMEN brother! I could not have said it better! Online leagues are half-***! EA needs to deliver the goods on a full online franchise mode! The league feature wouldn't feel like such an insult except the fact every board or forum I have been a part of for the last few years has been clamoring for a online franchise mode. It's like EA just hasn't been listening. Hopefully that has changed.

# 23 asu666 @ 08/08/08 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdon2k


	Thanks for bringing up NCAA in the comments of a Madden article.

You're welcome. The two go hand-in-hand for me because I like to alternate seasons and import my draft class from NCAA. That being the case, if NCAA has problems, then it hurts Madden too. For me, they are two halves of the same game. I would like to thank you for your useful comment about pointing out my comment.

# 24 mwjr @ 08/08/08 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil McCombs


	Yes, I know all the arguments. You do not have to use it; it won’t be available online; etc, etc. I just find it bothersome that actual dollars were spent in developing something that appeals to a fringe audience before the game was perfected for the core following. Just my opinion.

First of all, great article. Excellent points that reflect my position on Madden. I used to be a release-purchaser of both NCAA and Madden. No more.

I see your point regarding the rewind feature. But I usually won't fault a company for trying out a new feature like this AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT TAKE RESOURCES AWAY FROM OTHER, MORE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE GAME

# 25 mwjr @ 08/08/08 11:31 AM

Oops. I hit enter too soon.

As I was saying...

I see your point regarding the rewind feature. But I usually won't fault a company for trying out a new feature like this AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT TAKE RESOURCES AWAY FROM OTHER, MORE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE GAME

But therein lies the problem: we don't know what else they could be doing.

One of the features from the Triple Play baseball series, an otherwise crappy video gaming experience, that I liked was the option to select either an Arcade style of play or a Simulation style of play. I wish like hell that EA would adapt this feature to its football titles. This 'rewind' feature would be a great aspect of an Arcade play style. It does appear that, as you pointed out, Will, this feature can be turned off. In that regards, kudos to EA.

The problem is that these arcade aspects have seeped their ways into the gameplay of the mainstream gameplay action. Case in point: the inability to play a solid game along the defensive line in the NCAA 09. EA appears to have opted for a more arcade-ish style of gameplay (i.e. wide-open gameplay), allowing the offense to dominate, as opposed to a more sim-style gameplay, which would appeal to folks like myself who are die-hard football fans.

Why must it be an either/or proposition? Why not make these arcade-like features and gamplay options, as opposed to the standards??

These are a few of the reasons why I'm no longer a release-day purchaser.

# 26 acarrero @ 08/08/08 12:44 PM

Does everyone have problems defending the roll-out passing in both NCAA and Madden? I hear so much complaining about this and i don't get it. I love when an opponent tries that against me - all you have to prevent is the QB from rolling out, and you do that easily by blitizing from both sides, or blitzing from one side and taking over the DE on the other side and rushing out as far as possible to make the other player either run into the blitz or have to try to dodge you - which is hard if you're using a good DE. It works agaist Pat White, so it can work against any QB. Of course, if the opposing player only does this once in a while, it will be harder to contain because you will get burned if you blitz every play, but if their offense is based on scrambling out of the pocket and throwing on the run, then you should welcome that kind of offense because it's easy to contain.

# 27 ibis @ 08/08/08 04:29 PM

i have been playing madden since 92 when I purchased it for my sega genesis. I am now 33 and this is the first year I have not been excited about this franchise. The past 2 iterations of the game have killed it for me. I can expect game issues but EA's inability to correct these issues in a timely manner and to make matters worse their horrible communication with the community.

Based on what I have seen this year and the Issues with NCAA, EA has done a great job at communicating and is even working on patches. With that being said, i am optimistic that this is the year EA gets their ish together and brings back some excitement I felt many years ago.

# 28 slavestate13 @ 08/08/08 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hndavis


	yall need to stop hatin on madden..like for real this is the best pro football game out since the 80's hands down..madden is the king of football gaming and video games itself..im going to be one fo those ppl wating in line at midnite wating for madden hopefully ill even sneak out of my moms house idc..i love madden and its all i play

When someone starts a sentence off with "ya'll", I don't even read the rest of the post. Is it just me?

# 29 asu666 @ 08/08/08 07:30 PM

Just think, with a lot of hard work and a little luck, Madden NFL may one day be almost as good as NFL 2K5 was four years ago. Did I mention it was only $20 new too.

Anyway, it looks like this year's Madden is going to be a decent jump over last year's. I ended up messing around with the original Xbox version of NCAA and Madden last year because there were so many missing features in the current gen versions. I'd still take a high def version of NFL 2K5 over this year's Madden on current gen consoles, but I'm looking forward to playing this year's Madden too. I hope it is a step in the right direction. I'm getting the LE version because I am looking forward to Head Couch's comback. I was very disappointed with the retail release of NCAA this year, but I think Madden will give me some hope going into 2010 for a solid football offering from EA on both the college and pro fronts.

# 30 db56 @ 08/10/08 01:34 PM

32 years old, married for 11 years with 2 sons 7 and 3 and get absolutely stoked for the release of Madden every year, although the game is far from perfect. playing Madden every year is just an integral part of my life, I need counseling. Go Broncos! Go Hawkeyes!

# 31 Herky @ 08/10/08 02:35 PM

31 years old and the past two years Madden has made me cringe on release day for the next gen.

I remember the days when I didn't have to worry about EA releasing a half *** version of Madden.

# 32 Kramer5150 @ 08/10/08 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hndavis


	yall need to stop hatin on madden..like for real this is the best pro football game out since the 80's hands down..madden is the king of football gaming and video games itself..im going to be one fo those ppl wating in line at midnite wating for madden hopefully ill even sneak out of my moms house idc..i love madden and its all i play

# 33 xV3L0CiTY @ 08/10/08 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VikingFan4Ever


	31 years old and the past two years Madden has made me cringe on release day for the next gen. I remember the days when I didn't have to worry about EA releasing a half * version of Madden.**

Man...I miss those days...

# 34 Stroehms @ 08/10/08 04:50 PM

EA needs to find a balance between the defense and the offense. The O is too powerful and the (CPU) defense can't even produce a 3 and out for the user once in awhile. Here's an idea:

Bring in a momentum engine.

Where if the opposing D creates a big stop or stops the Offense to give them good field position, the engine would give the (CPU or even user) team momentum, thus going on a lengthy drive (eating up the clock or even scoring).

# 35 texbuk84 @ 08/13/08 04:26 AM

great read. i really like this years madden though. they need to do something about the server and people quitting the games early. instead of playing the computer who are super cheats, they need to let us get the win.

# 36 ChubbyBanana @ 08/13/08 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMD


	Ha, older gamers, you guys are babies at 27, Talk to me when you're in your late 40's like I am. Every year at this time I'm like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas morning. First I look forward to the new Madden game and second I can't wait for the first Sunday that kicks off the NFL season. Football kicks ***.

I guess you got me there.

What I meant to say is that I feel old when I stand in a midnight release line with 17 year olds knocking each other's hats off their heads and chasing each other around the parking lot.

That's what I meant to say. No offense to any really "old" gamers.

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