@JustJake:

$20 for a better game too

Codman24

The only sports games I'd ever buy at this point would be a revival of the Mutant League series.

That's about as likely to happen as EA releasing next year's Madden roster as free DLC.

Lightbunny

As much as one-word responses are frowned upon:

NO.

Enkur

any ps3 trophies support?

still im not going to get it.

otis123

@Archaotic: I'm pretty sure there is a lot more to football than that.

Gray665

No, not for me. I've only owned one football game, and that was the first Blitz. I loved tackling the hell out of people.

HoxtonHero

I typically purchase one version of Madden per console and leave it at that because honestly...that's all I need.

The only way I would be super excited over a Madden game was if they began to include some realistic physics. The animations have always looked like shit and with all of EA's resources (and probably incredibly low overhead for each iteration of Madden) it's pretty inexcusable that they're unable to make the tackles look remotely realistic.

jihadjoe343

That is a surprising quote. I would have expected something closer to "This is the worst Madden we have ever made. I wanted to make it better, but we really just went through the motions on this one. It was a chore for us to just update rosters. A lot of players moved around this year. Maybe next year we can get a Red Bull and work on some innovation or improvements, but this was just a bad year, ya know?"

curtisawa

I'm not a fan of the sport, but I've tried to get into the Madden series before, just to experience them for their objective merits as action/strategy games.

The problem is that they're completely inaccessible to people who aren't already well-acclimated with the real life sport. Just about every other game on the market in every genre imaginable does a great job of explaining all the basic mechanics and layered intricacies through really helpful tutorial systems or a series of simple and increasingly complex early challenges, but EA's sports games have failed epically in this regard.

I know they already make more money than God with these things, but they could make even more if they actually made some kind of effort to teach the sport to non-fans. People don't need a big-headed Wii game to get into it, they just need some basic, common-sense tutorial features that should have been made standard a really long time ago.

brianewing

"Do You Care?"

Ironic, I'm actually watching a Cheap Seats re-run.

But to answer your question, no.

advertised as poetry

I bought the collectors edition. I care. Its GOOD!

dadeisvenm

I'll probably be lame and buy last year's edition like I always do with Madden. I really don't care about rosters that much (as I'm not a HUGE football fan), and I get my fix / enjoy remembering who used to be on what teams for half the price.

bangbangblah

I'm not in to sports games, but I do respect the Madden series because I know a lot of people who love it and have nothing but good things to say about it so if it's making someone happy then i say the more, the merrier!

Desmondia

I was a big fan of the 2K series. Not so much for Madden.

JustJake

@ysleiro: Well, American football is a sort of a variation of football (Gridiron football) and since we didn't bother calling it something else when it was created it's impossible to change it now.

@fokin_pikey: haha, too true.

Đipic

I might buy it when it becomes 30 dollars used at gamestop. I just feel duped after the bullshot that was released years ago that made the graphics appear to be worthy next-gen. I recently watched a comparison video of '08 and '09's graphics and am sad to say that '09 is where they should've been years ago after we were teased with that pretty snow-filled bullshot.

dmcshinobi

the game sucks. zero defense online period. i've had it since last week and every game i've played online has ended in some retarded score like 56-49, where every time a team gets the ball, they march down the field and score. triple cover a receiver and he still catches the ball every time.

themissing

@80sGuy:
You should try it.American Football(actual playing on the field is fun).

enewtabie

Love football(NFL), do NOT love Madden. I am one of those sad people who much preferred the 2k NFL games. Maybe Blitz will offer some relief this year.

I've tried nearly every year to give Madden a chance...it is hard to explain, but it (the game) just doesn't feel right. It is something about the movement and size of the players on the field. I am not sure if it is because it is too realistic in movement and size or just the opposite. The 2k series just felt better with motion and space to me.

jasoncourt

@fokin_pikey: LOLz.. aww man thats awful..

shame on you.. ROFL

ysleiro

I have a long standing tradition of not buying this game, or enjoying sports games.... call me a sentimental fool, stuck in my mire of sentiment, but no not interested...
I'd personally rather play real sports, than watch them or play them on a console...

Ehardergardens

nerp

uberlad

No. Absolutely not. The last time I actually cared about sports games was back in the day of California Games and World Games. Matter of fact, that was the first time I cared about sports games as well.

Purple Dave

I never play sports video games.

ManlyVGnoob

I love football! Actually, I love playing and watching it more than video games. I know writing that is like sacrilege here, but that's just me. Not sure about buying Madden again this year though. Maybe I'll just rent it for a really long time on Gamefly.

flashtut

PS: "Adaptive Difficulty Engine" is code for - "This game will get cheap"

Example: 75% of fighting games have AI that once you start getting better transitions to simply blocking 90% of the time.

TRT-X

@ysleiro: Or call it National Felon League

fokin_pikey

I've been playing the madden games since Madden 94. I own several of them, but don't buy all of them. The last couple I have just rented for an extended period of time.
I love the games and I really enjoy the series. They just seem to get better and better.
I Don't buy them anymore because, once I've completed the franchise, won the superbowl/pro-bowl and unlock most of the achievements, I don't play it anymore.
The online play is only fun to me if I'm playing against a friend I actually know. I don't play with random people online, and most of my friends don't play sports games.

Capp

And no Kotaku, I don't care about Madden.

ysleiro

NO

KingBroly

Meh, I never really liked sports games except for Tecmo Bowl, Joe Montana's Football, Mutant League Football and Arch Rivals. Plus it seems Madden doesn't innovate anymore since there's only Blitz to contend with.

zombie16thc

I lost interest after Madden 2004.

GrrSnort

nfl 2k5 is all i will ever need

MINIBOSS

i love football. But i only buy madden once every 5 years or so. The time for a new copy is just about due so i may get it. I REALLY miss NFL 2k tho :(.

houkah

I never cared much about any sports game. I'll probably get it during the holidays for my brother though. He likes it, I don't.

SanjiX

So wait. Did they go ahead and update the game at release to shift Favre to the Jets? Or is that just a screen from some random person playing the game?

TRT-X

I enjoy putting EA's kids thru college every year.

fokin_pikey

The overwhelmingly anti-frat mentality is glorious.

That screen still doesn't look as good as the bullshot from years ago.

sir_carrot

@80sGuy: Me three.

Why is it even called Football when there is another older sport that uses feet?

It should be called American Rugby but not Football.

ysleiro

not a football fan, not a football game fan. i considered buying Madden '07 when i bought my Wii for a millisecond, awash in the heady rush of a new system, but quickly came to my senses.

geekgrrl

I hope everyone pre-ordered their copy! By tonight the game will be impossible to find ANYWHERE!

Seriously, though, I'm not at all excited about it. I've never liked the Madden games (something about the "feel" has never been right to me), and when the NFL 2K series arrived they really blew me away. I bought the 2K games every year like a good little drone, but once they lost the NFL license, I went back to not caring.

Last Madden game I bought was a $9.99 copy of Madden 2007. It's still eh. Played the 2009 demo. Still feels like Madden, and I'm not sure why I don't care for it, but I'm ehh. Although I may end up owning it anyway, as I am extremely tempted by the blue PSP bundle that comes out today... (but for the blue PSP, not the bundle)

Justin42

@commandercacho: Fair enough. I still say I love football and hate madden. To be fair though it's not the game itself. It's the people I would have to play it with. For my pre season fix I usually just go hang out outside of Seahawks training camp so i can chat with the guys.

Eville1 says SKUse me a sec.

Madden has sucked since it went 3D! Give me the old school Sega Genesis versions!!

Norrin_Radd

This is not my kind of football. I like games where I can play real Football.

80sGuy

@Tails437: Hahah. I was just thinking of that actually.

Good call.

Eville1 says SKUse me a sec.

@KidU: Haha, no joke. Where's my Final Fantasy 13 dammit!

evslin

I'm picking this up for sure. I've definitely been disappointed by the last 2 years' iterations, especially being a ps3 owner, but with the framerate supposedly fixed and the overall facelift and gameplay tweaks, I'm sold...or suckered, however you wanna put it.

For a lot of us football fans, the incentive to buy Madden goes beyond the quality of game, and I know that makes no sense to a lot of you.

We've had a long, 6 month offseason, and EA does a great job of releasing the game when pre-season games are just starting, and rabid NFL fans are going to spend money on anything having to do with football because we've been so deprived for the last half-year.

For people who understand the intricacies of the game of football, Madden offers the best interactive experience, and usually a good one at that.

commandercacho

where's the "no - I'm still not over the EA spouse letter" option?

Tails437

Man, I'm sure glad you guys you guys can see through all the BS with Madden. Same basic engine and concept with just a few minor features tweaked? What a bunch of bull. Now, excuse me, I have to go play Soul Calibur IV and Halo 3.

KidU

From the general tone of this thread, I'm going to make the prediction that Madden will sell 6 copies and be a horrible failure.

Look out, Pachter. All your job is belong to us!

doubtful

@Robling: Um, you mean like "King of Fighters" does every year?

Skunky

I stopped liking sports games after Blitz....

givetozim!

Every year they release a new madden with a couple changes and its ridiculous. So last month I bought Madden '06 for 5 bucks used for my 360. In three more years Madden '09 will be 5 bucks but I prolly wont get it since I already have a football game. I feel sorry for the poor chaps that actually buy this "new" videogame.

bmac320

It's time to watch the sales charts become awash with boring.

Swift_

I'm not buying it, mainly for two reasons: first, I'm not that into sports games in the first place, at least for the price (the last one I purchased was NFL 2K5); and second, I'm still annoyed at EA and the NFL about their exclusivity agreement as I feel that the only way to get truly groundbreaking advances from year to year is to have competition other than yourself.

kylenalepa

@Eville1 says SKUse me a sec.: I think if we scream around Kotaku logn enuff, some EA PR type person may read it and pass it along to hits superiors.

And keep this video in mind:

+ Watch video

Id buy this 1000x faster then Madden *Insert year here*.

Shiryu

Something about football does it for me, I think that it has
a regulated wargame feel to it. You take ground with tactics,
but you have to keep your strategy in mind. The last football
game I bought was last century. I'll probably buy another in the
next couple of years... Madden '09 might be it.
So, I guess I don't care about Madden '09 going live, but I'm
curious.

yobbo

I love football, but playing football video games just doesn't get it done for me. Nothing against EA or John Madden, and I'm not one of those high-horse jackasses who think if you're going to play a football video game you might as well go outside and play football for real that seem to show up in just about every Guitar Hero/Rock Band/{random_sports_game} thread. Just don't care for them.

evslin

Nope, couldn't care less.

tybeet

I don't live in the US.. so.. no, I don't!

CockroachMan

I just bought Madden 2005 for PS2 at GameStop for $1.67 and am perfectly fine playing that.

archibaldleech

@Altima NEO: are you saying Madden is a casual game?

The thing that gets me about Madden is that not that a new one is made every year; it's just that people seem to think the NEED a new Madden every year. The game is built with a franchise mode that can go on for a pretty long time. I think the only real thing a lot of people buy Madden for is the re-evaluation of player ratings and inclusion of that year's Rookies.

teh_joe

@caleb:
Same, I had Madden '01 until my I sold my gamecube, picked up '08 and I don't think I'll need another Madden until maybe '14

RageKage

I have more fun watching games being played by the computer than I do actually playing the game. Partly cause I kinda suck at it. But it's great to watch the computer play itself on the newer systems because it's like watching an actual game, with the appropriate presentation and some decent voice splicing for the announcers.

Skunky

@TheCleaningGuy: Well, I guess theres Tecmo Bowl

TheCleaningGuy

No. Why would I want a digitized version of something I have minimal interest in?

TheCleaningGuy

Nope. As said in the other thread, I'm not interested in a sport where big sweaty dudes jump all over each other for extended periods of time, and I'm definitely not interested in paying $60 to have access to it on my consoles.

Archaotic

Now as much as I hate Madden I do love me some football. The one feature that interested me was the challenge mode that put you in the shoes of whatever Qb was playing at the time of the highlight. They're giving a bunch of the best highlights of the season to see if you can complete it just like the real QB. THAT is cool.

Oh, and I agree with @Shiryu: Bring back MUTANT LEAGUE.

Eville1 says SKUse me a sec.

@Shiryu: Oh, and this videos is from a time when game bugs were fun, not craptastic:

+ Watch video

I loled everytime that happened...

Shiryu

Football and Madden are teh lamezorz.

Don't forget to pick up the latest $300 pair of kicks while you are out buying Madden 09.

mentok1982

Super Tecmo Bowl is still the greatest football game ever created. Even though Madden 09 has much better graphics and is ridiculously more complex, I'd rather play STB any day of the week.

Besides, I prefer to blow things up when I play.

Nocuous

I don't play sports games period.
Unless it's a crazy take on it, something like Tony Hawk or Facebreaker

Jawmuncher

nope I just cant buy the same game every year and hate when madden season starts. I think the publicity should go to more deserving games and I don't like sports games either.

Ether02

@Chris Gamble: Yeah that's pretty true. The reason fighting games manage to get away with it is because they don't add the year to the end of every title they release.

Robling

Id rather have this:

+ Watch video

But hey, im European, what do I know of american football?

Well, enuff to be a huge fan of Blitz and having purchased the first Madden on the Wii, at least...

Shiryu

It's Football. Bah. Pass.

Eclectified

Sport games were games about 10 years ago,
now theyre just additions to those old games,
with the current players and what teams they're on etc.

How can a game be a game if people can't be killed, with blood spouting from every orifice :(

LiamR

With ToV coming out this month im skipping Madden.

Omegasoap

I love all games except shooters! MAdden this year is a lot better than 08 and 10 times better than horrible 07!

symbspider33

I love football (american football to all you non-yanks) and usually get Madden because, well, its the only game with licensed teams and players (FU EA) but Im skipping this year even though they say this one is good. I dunno why, I just have no desire to play it. Maybe it was the god awful demo they put out. Spending an hour doing those stupid tests just to replay the end of the superbowl is not my idea of fun.

Gray665

Yawn. Casuals, etc.

Altima NEO

Madden is a great party game.

By the way, what Madden does everyyear is no different than what most fighting series do.

Graphical facelift. Check.
One new mode. Check.
Roster update with a character or two. Check.

Chris Gamble

I could care less about the game, but what I am happy about is that it pushed a couple great games off the shelf and onto the clearance shelf at Target. I just picked up Bully for 360 for $20.00. They also had BioShock for $20.00 as well.

Doomstink

I don't like sports games. Thus this game does not interest me.

Pyro Jack

Nope i don't care that it is live. I will still know a billion other people who are going to buy the game anyways so more power to them. I just don't give a shit.

MURDERFACE

in response to the title of the article: no, and i don't plan on buying it just like i have for 15+ years now.

DarkTravesty

I enjoy the games, I just don't buy them (mainly sports games) anymore because as soon as I purchase it...I have instant buyers remorse knowing that another, newer, better edition will be right around the corner.

caleb

I've got this thing for the madden games. I dislike them, I dislike the company that makes them even more, and I also think they both need to die. It's the Microsoft Money of the gaming world.. bunches of incremental updates with no real changes. It's also about as fun :/

Karunamon

No as I don't like Football :P Maybe I'll look into FIFA 09, but that's still a big maybe. Sports games have lost their appeal to me some time ago.

Candlejack

I usually don't play sports games and this is no exception.

Wahrheit

Hey, for those that like this game, good for you! :)

Me? It doesn't let you inject 'roids in the players, cut their heads off and toss them at the fans, detonate the football after possession, plant mines randomly between the goal and fans (do a little dance, make a little BOOM!), sniper the quarterback from the Goodyear blimp, get an achievement for find Madden's 6-legged turkey and shoving it up his....

Now THAT would be a game!

SigmundTheSeaMonster

I'm tired of the monopoly of NFL football games where there's no innovation. I miss NFL 2K series.

HannibalKing

I already have this game, only the suffix on the end is 94.

kagebutsu

"A cultural phenomona" - Madden? Really? What?! Why? I really don't mean to troll but genuinely sports games are dull anyway let alone a game based on a sport I'd rather ACTUALLY play (and I still wouldn't enjoy that).

get2sammyb

I'm considering it. This will be the first Madden i've purchased in some time. It's all dependent on whether or not the ability to create a user-based league is available. They're doing something simliar to what i'd like to see in NHL 09...if they do it in Madden, i'll strongly consider it.

beta_angel

Madden... not my thing.

Mutant League Football... that was my thing.

I'm sure it's great for those that love it. And it's not that I don't enjoy a little bit of football... just that it gives me the impression of the American equivalent of a highly technical Japanese mech game if you're playing it right.

I just want to toss a ball around and have a few laughs, not bury myself in stats and technical depth.

It probably doesn't help that I don't follow the sport professionally enough to know or really care Jim from John. I've just never cared about living vicariously through professional athletes like a few of my friends. Appreciate their accomplishments? Sure... but not enough to follow it with religious fervor.

Besides, I've got other things to get stupid addicted to anyway.

dv8godd

@Muisee: If you want one Madden for your 360 or PS3, I think this is the one to get. Well, unless 2k comes back.

Or until Madden '10 comes out amiright...

TRT-X

If the "no" vote wins, does that mean Kotaku will stop posting about all this trite sports drivel? That would be an epic win.

tybeet

I usually never buy sports games because my brother always buys them. So Im sure by Friday (Pay day) this will be in my home for the 360 and eventually the PS3. I actually do care, I have not played a Madden in ages.

R3load

Any word on Backbreaker? That appeals to me more.

FATDAN

OMFG! There's a squeal to Madden! Holy snickers batman! I never thought that they would make another Madden! Madden was such a sleeper hit that, in my hearts of hearts, I had hoped that they'd make another, but my god, never did I expect it nearly a year after. Were they developing it in secret? They must have for no one to have known about it!

halo00to14

Aliens? Nope. Explosions? Nope. Epic Story? Nope.

Forget it.

darkroastbeans

I have not played a sports video game seriously since Tecmo Bowl.

I don't see that changing any time soon.

ncsbert

This is the Madden to buy on the next gen consoles. A truly great sports video-game, and this is coming from someone that hated and didn't buy 06 and 07, and sold 08 shortly after I realized it was worse then 07.

If you want one Madden for your 360 or PS3, I think this is the one to get. Well, unless 2k comes back.

Muisee

@givetozim!: After the NBA Jam series I thought there'd never be another entertaining sports game, and then came Blitz. Once again, I don't think there will ever be another sports game worth playing.

tybeet

@Norrin_Radd: You know, I was just thinking that. Nothing will ever live up to Madden '92! Mutant League also needs a return.

BullLifter

@fokin_pikey: and then getting to say "no homo" afterwards

[deadspin.com]

dmcshinobi

@Karunamon: Took the words right out my mouth. I hate EA for reselling the same game every year for the Madden Sheep to buy.

SuperSplashBro

@Gray665: sure there is. getting to pat the bottom of a fellow male team mate and not be called "gay" for doing it.

fokin_pikey

FIFA for the win american football bites

DarwinCB

I am a huge, huge football fan and I will not be buying Madden. The series is just doesn't introduce anything new to me anymore to keep me purchasing it. The only thing I ever get a new version for is roster updates and that hardly matters since all I really enjoy doing is fantasy drafting and seeing how good of a team I can build.

ビッグ ボス

I hate sports games so much to the point that I don't really consider them games with the exception of a few like Tony hawk because its so unreal that it's fun to play. What I don't get is when I see people buying madden for the most part at least where i live it's not fat flabby guys. It's guys that look like jocks and very much in shape. It makes me wonder if that's the kind of people playing Madden why don't they just... you know.... PLAY REAL FOOTBALL. I have never really had fun with a sports game out side tony hawk. Mutant League Foot ball from back in the day was great but that again was a unreal game. It just makes no sense to me. But what will be will be I guess and to everyone their own.

Reibooi

Madden isn't for casuals, at least not at its most depraved. Ironically, Madden diehards share the other side of the same nerd coin with the RPG nerds they beat up in high school.

Don't believe it? Talk to any fantasy football player in your office, and how they've taken that mentality to Madden. The stat tracking and obsession factors easily match anything we non-sports gamers throw down in search of achievements or victories over impossible Ultima Weapons, or forging the best weapons by time-consuming quests, rare drops, or a combination thereof.

I played football in high school (state champ in 2000, baby), but never felt a desire to play fantasy, and the last videogame I played was NFL2K for the Dreamcast. 16-bit games were easy enough for me to enjoy as games, and not football sims.

But I realize at this point there's enough people who want attention paid to even the finest details and a sense of realism. Fair enough, enjoy your day.

Jonaconda

The formula is tweaked little by little every year, so you only need to buy a copy like every 5 years for a big change. :/

As for the whole fighting games do the same thing. I would say SCIV added some actual good, fresh content. as opposed to Madden. If they would take the time to actually overhaul it and stop trying to release a copy the same time every year, it might be good.

But, EA is greedy, so meh.

Nocte

I only buy a new Madden once every 3 years, and just reupped in '08. See you in '11, John!

kidjesus

I'd only buy it if someone could tell me whether Johnny Unitas and Jim Brown are in it.

Kirk Douglas

i wished they put as much attention to ncaa as they do with madden... i would've preferred to snatch up ncaa.

this madden seems interesting though, it's been a few years since i snagged a copy. i'll wait a bit and see how the online community grows.

phrequency

@HannibalKing:

Everyone does, but you have to make the best of what you got. Madden 09 is the only decent Madden since the monopoly, so at least it is looking up this year.

Muisee

@Al Bino: No one can keep a straight face after that one. xD

Shiryu

@Shiryu: That thing made LOL in a honest to god way, if wouldn't be alone in my office people probably declare me as a lunatic for finding this funny - but hell, it definately is.
As for Madden: Had it in my post box this morning and enjoyed the first few hours of before having to work in the afternoon. Seems to be pretty solid, just the achievements are a bit too easy, I've unlocked 19 of them within two played games for way over 400 Points plus another 100 points for creating two players. But aside from this it's a pretty fun game.

Al Bino

@geekgrrl: I bought it, and Was very surprised to find a really fresh take on a very old game. It was easly the best version out of all consoles, simply intuitive and fun to play by mimicking passed and such. Rent it if you can. :)

Shiryu

@FunKrusher:

You have to block out those people, they have been doing it for years. That does seem to be the popular belief of non-football fans and non-sports fans in general, that only idiots and sheep buy Madden. Some are like that, some buy it every single year no matter what, but there are people like that for every big title and every genre. The simple fact of it is there are many football fans and Madden fans that hated what EA did the last couple of years and did not buy those titles.

I agree with you that '09 is much different then past games and was worth the money. Many small problems are fixed, and the game feels right. Madden/football fans shouldn't have to justify what we like to other gamers that simple do not like football games.

Muisee

Where do I sign the "I don't give a ****" list?

To defend that statement, I'd just like to add that Madden does not need my support to sell. So my harsh words will have no effect. Maybe I just think that the NFL license is something that shouldn't be exclusive, that's all. I don't play sports games (outside of Pro Evo) but it's a fairness factor.

Anarchist_Gamer

I really really couldn't care less about Madden. I don't like football for starters, and I can't understand people who buy video game consoles just to play Madden and other sports games (and there's alot of them.) People moan and groan about the Wii and the "casual gamers" these days, but it was Madden games that really started to draw a casual crowd first.

MPSai

Why don't they just make one really sweet game then have DLC roster updates each year? I haven't been impressed with any Madden game since the genesis versions, and I've played them all.

Zenrick2.0

@FunKrusher: I've played last years rendition and previous years as well. There are additions here and there, but none to really warrant spending $60 on the next installment year after year.

B33

Following up my comment I find it funny how people say

"the series doesn't do anything new. it's the same old same." when half the people that say that pry

a.) haven't played a modern Madden game recently (in the past 3-5 years)
b.) haven't played a Madden game ever.

I mean what is there a follow the leader pool consensus code of conduct that heads have to follow?

If you've played any of the next gen Maddens and are seriously saying that THIS YEARS version is anything like 04-08, then I need the number of the drug dealer you get your stuff from cause it must be some good shit!

I actually play the games, and can tell you this version isn't the same cookie cutter ver. they put out year after year.
/end rant

FunKrusher

Nope. I've no interest in paying for a repeatedly rehashed concept.

B33

@Nocte: The major difference between fighting games and Madden is the fact that Madden is released every year and fighting games, with one major exception, are not released yearly. KoF is released nearly yearly with some major changes in roosters, teams, gameplay, and an over arching storyline (who plays fighters for story?).

Now, if they released Street Fighter every year, do a color pallet swap and change of the names then yes, you'll have a point.

halo00to14

Madden 09 is Live: Do You Care? A resounding NOPE!

Juthan

Wow at all the super cool witty haters on here that hate Madden?!?! Never saw that before in videogame land, it's oh so shocking...

In any event I got the game and it's changed drastically since last year. I mean the way the whole game plays has been pretty much revamped. The last time the series changed this much was the introduction of the hit and highlight sticks. (2004/2005) but everything else stayed the same, character models, animations etc.

EA really did do what they say they do every year and changed the game. Not sure where I stand with it yet (because I haven't spent that much time).

But I will sayt he graphics are really a BIG STEP UP.

FunKrusher

MUTANT LEAGUE. Bring it back EA.

velvet396

Among the various issues such as don't watch football, don't really play standard sports games, could just rent an old copy of Madden to see what all the buzz is about, etc. there is another show-stopper... Everyone that pays attention to Madden says that every year it just gets more complicated, so how could it possibly appeal to someone that might want to even check it out?

kasplat

@Nocte: Comparing Madden to fighting games is hardly an even matchup.

There's 4 Soul Calibur titles. According to reports this is the 20th iteration of Madden.

Even the KOEI Warriors games have more innovation from title to title, and those are critically panned for their supposed "rehashing"

TRT-X

Truth.com: If you don't play sports videogames you are fat.

Truth.com: If you do play sports videogames you are still fat.

Rampage

@FunKrusher: or c.) Madden still sucks even after it has been "revamped." Played the demo and NFL2K to this day is still better than anything Madden has come up with. No game has ever made me feel like i was playing an actual game more than ESPN's NFL2K5. Madden keeps trying, and you sheep keep buying, but it can never be NFL2K.

sniper13x

@Nik in NOLA:

Some great points. I do not understand how people can keep buying pretty much the same FPS every few months but I do not jump on them. That is just not my type of game.

Muisee

Wait, I thought Madden came out last month?
No?

I'd best hurry up and get a copy... what's the title again?
Oh never mind, going back to bed.

~19

Black_Ops_19

I bought Madden for the first time in about 3 or 4 years. This year's version (from what I can tell) is a big step up in terms of look, feel, presentation, and gameplay from the last few years. Probably the first true "NEXTGEN" version of Madden. Still has its faults, but I can deal.

I don't get people that say its dumb to buy Madden every year but they don't complain if they buy Mario Party X every year or Generic WWII shooter every year. I personally don't buy Madden every year, and the thing most people don't realize is how much Madden can resell for on Ebay compared to other sports titles (or even most other titles in general). Even after the EA price cuts to the title, you can usually get a decent payback by Ebaying it. Not so much at Gamestop/EB IMO. They really don't give you jack for sports titles.

Nik in NOLA

Do I care? Not really. Not unless they have inserted Rock Band 2 cds into every copy of Madden '09.

Then you could count me among the "caring".

EndersGame

I haven't bought a sports game in some time, though I guess that's not true since I did buy Beijing 2008 after playing it and feeling like I was playing a next-gen Track & Field (ah the memories).

I haven't bought a Madden game since.. hmm.. the original PSX? Sounds about right. If I was to look into a football themed game, I'll just wait for Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff on DS to get my retro nostalgia on.

Captiosus

I haven't bought another football game ever since the last NFL 2K game.

Evinco

So funny to see the hate! As if the title wasn't leading enough! I'll bet you guys don't even own TVs. Anyway, I've got the LE pre-ordered. Madden has a lot of flaws but overall plays a good game of football. Things I like are:

The graphics
The broadcast presentation (RADIO GUY BEGONE)
the easier to use playcalling screen with SUBS!
the attempt to make Madden more accessible to noobs while staying out of the way of masters.

Things I don't like include:

AI weirdness It's rare in my experience, but it happens
Online leagues don't mirror NFL divisions
I suck

Overall, I care. If this is the direction EA is going under Peter Moore, It bodes well in my opinion.

I got NFL 2k5 for cheap because so many sports game folks seem to worship it. It is pretty good, I like the different approach than EA took, but it is just too old to be my regular football fix.

AlreadyDead

Nope, I don't like American Handba-...err...I mean "Football"...But I do those that purchase it enjoy it...Now C'mon FIFA 09...

Elemence

I LIKED Madden 08, I hate 09, they screwed up everything that you can screw up with madden. They dumbed down the AI, allowing them to now run out of bounds without even thinking "oh, that might end the play" or that stupid Madden IQ thing, which constantly screws with your settings! (example: I never user catch unless Its a risky catch, so during a game in 09, I score all madden in passing offense under madden IQ. What does it do? It turns off AI catching! WHO DOES THAT? So now ever time I change it back, finish a game, score all madden in passing offense, IT TURNS IT OFF AGAIN!!!) not cool, man.

Swizzler121

They actually improved this years Madden! *gasp*! Great game this year so far with what i've played.

N0Skillz

I whooping yes for me. Lol at the "Since the majority of Kotaku hates sports games can we take them off" Uhh no.

Aznchan

Eh... I might pick this up, if for the only reason that the Giants should have pretty high stats and I just got a 360. That said, the last Madden I even played was probably '02, and the last football game in general was NFL2K5, which I was actually impressed with.

Maybe its a rental.

StrikerGold

Never cared, not starting now.

Shogan

PC Version? Nope.

Arthois

Coming from someone who has waited in numerous lines, I have found this year to be just like the others...
Madden madness.

[hardfortheyard.com]

Love this! For those who are stuck in line this year, you know they could agree

wtchthegme

If You Don't Like The SPORT. Then Y Comment. I Would understand if you dislike Madden. But This Years Copy is BAD A$$. Picked It Up @ Midnight Night. Got 4 hours of Sleep. GG.

Skyline4

This site is for blog reading gamers.

Gamers are (to use a stereotype) non-athletic.
People who read blogs generally are not meat heads either.

I have no doubt that the game will be a great success, but this this is a sports game, this is probably not quite the place.

jafoca

If I was going to get this game I would wait. By Friday it will most likely be available used. Maybe even sooner. GameStop will probably be offering $30-$40 for it on trade-in value. In my area there are a lot of people that will buy the game, get drunk playing it, run out of beer, not have any money to buy more beer, and then trade the game in to get said beer. I've seen my roommate pawn his 360(now PS3) for beer/gas/cigarette money on multiple occasions.

cholinms

@AlreadyDead: "So funny to see the hate! As if the title wasn't leading enough! I'll bet you guys don't even own TVs."

I play my video games on my microwave. It was a bitch to plug my new 360 in there, but man the image is even clearer than on a HDTV. It is abso-fucking-lutely ama-fucking-zing and nothing you can say such as "It's impossible and you are a liar!" will detract me from this statement.

CommentatorHatman

Bah, I want a new Blood Bowl video game.

Oyn

To answer the question : If it's an EA sports game not based on boxing, no. And by that, I mean Fight Night. Not commenting on Facebreaker 'cause that's not the goal of the article.

More specifically american football which I've always considered a pussy version of rugby, and seeing as the EA made rugby games tend to either be complete shit or unreleased in North America, screw that noise.

CommentatorHatman

I really want this game but I cannot justify the $60 price tag. I just can't do it, I did for MLB THe Show 08 just for the Road to the Show. That doesn't really rely on the right rosters and whatnot. I feel like I will always have the ability to go back and play that one whenever I want but with this game I wont touch it after a few months and I know it. Id buy it for sure if it were $30 though but that will never happen.

Sollus

Madden, to me, is just like Mario Party.

A new game every year, little to no changes, same old same old, etc. Though Madden gets a lot more praise than Mario Party does.

OMGitsDarkMatter

If they had any love for the people who purchase their games, especially now that online is such a big plus in gaming, people like EA and 2K should just come out with something like "Madden". No year, no B.S. You pay $60 for the actual game, and then every year after, you can download updates for the next year, major patches, added modes, etc for like $10, as opposed to releasing the same exact game for another $60.

Sports games are the biggest rip-offs in the video game industry.

UCB-Disco

No, I do not care my good sir. I must now take my leave before the Madden Fanboys hurt me.

sylvester6680

No. I have usually never bothered with playing sports games for a couple of reasons.

1) They aren't usually fun.

2) I would rather go out and play the sport.

Mrobinson587

@CommentatorHatman:

American Football a "pussy" version of Rugby?

Okay chief... whatever you say. Personally I think a guy weighing 250-300 pounds, and can run a 40 yard dash in under 4.5 seconds and is as strong as 10 oxes, and is athletic as all get out, is the last thing that I'd look at and think of a womans vagina.

But I'm clearly not as in touch with my masculine side as you so clearly are. Good luck with that.

FunKrusher

I love the NFL and have tried Madden every year since the exclusivity agreement began, but have never convinced myself to buy it. I have been spoiled. by 2K.

NFLL2K was the first game I bought for the Dreamcast, and I was simply blown away by the developers' initiative. NFL2K5 is one of the best sports video games of all time and I don't believe that any one Madden iteration is recalled so fondly.

All-Pro Football 2K8 was a good idea, and I am disappointed that Virtual Concepts didn't build on it -- adding 100 more top retired players and introducing some more depth would have been a good next step -- but I guess it just didn't sell well enough.

If the NFL wants to avoid licensing crappy products (or the PR nightmare that was NFL Blitz), they should offer dual exclusivity to EA and 2K. There are enough people who would buy both games that the league could make a similar amount of money.

Yeliab

@B33:

This year is 100% completely different from any of the previous Maddens as well as the Next gen (06-08) Maddens, so you're point is pretty much irrelevant. To each his own though.

@sniper13x:

Sorry man while 2k's NFL franchise was UNPARRALLELED in the presentation dept. I'd take Madden over it any day (even when it played more "arcadey" than it does this year which is A LOT more realistic). The character models in 2k alway threw me off, they all ran like they had sticks up their asses.

But it's cool if you don't like Madden. We hear you loud and clear

@Muisee:
@Nik in NOLA:
At least some people get it, or try it. I like all games, but I tells ya you get on the net and "certain" types of games get hated on like WHOA! It's like being in highschool and th haters are having their "teenage moment of self importance", d*ck riding and offering baselss opninions with virtually no foundation to stand on.

@Swizzler121:

See Madden 08 was good but way too arcadey and don't even get me started with the glitches (online and offline). But at least you have PLAYED the damn game and can give an INFORMED opinion.

FunKrusher

No not really. I'm not interested in American football to be honest. I'm all about real footy :)

tironabardheblu

@FunKrusher:
Meh, from playing (FER REALZ~) both sports casually from time to time back in my youth when I wasn't friends only with people with some sort of strange allergic reaction to sport, it's what I found. Maybe it's just the whole padded protection thing in American Football, or the fact that there's a lot of stoppage.

Keep in mind I made no comment on the actual footballers, I made a comment on the sport in general. Athletes are athletes, after all, and their performances are nothing short of amazing. American football as it currently is, however, is not for me.

CommentatorHatman

I haven't played a Madden game since it went to polygons. I'm an old man and today's technology frightens and confuses me. However, I am looking forward to the new (old skool) Tecmo Bowl.

sandwiches

TOUCHDOWN THURMAN THOMAS!

NewSc2

@NewSc2:

gb2/sp/ :o

I'll eventually pick it up, when that is, I'm not sure yet.

jello44

If I want footbal, I'll watch footbal. Playing it in video game form isn't the same.

Now Blitz, I might actually get, that's how football should be turned into a video GAME.

Herabec

while i do hate the annual sports game frenzy. i hate the people who buy into this bs every freaking year!!! it's all your fault!!!! put the n2deep cd down, and stop wearing your hat sideways and play some motherfucking do donpachi!

cihx

Last Madden game I played was '97. It was pretty fun back in the day. Not going to get this one though. I'm not going to lie it looks impressive (flashy). Just not really into sports games enough to buy a new one.

ShiningDark

I would buy it if there was a PC version. But since according to Peter Moore no one on the PC plays Madden, I'll stick to 05.

If they would have released the next-gen version for PC I would have bought it, but they insisted on porting the PS2 version

skunkboy72

Blitz: The League 2, baby!

mantel

@skunkboy72: That's odd. They came out with an original Xbox version and no PC version?

mikeko10

I care. I picked up a copy on my way back from work today at Target (also got 2 1600 microsoft points cards for 14.99 each).

mikeko10

@skunkboy72: i heard they skipped out on this year, but itll be back for next year.

d4rlp3nc1l

@mikeko10: yep i picked up the collectors edition of madden, (imo, one of the greatest c.e. out there, and the packaging is not to shabby either) at best buy, but i forgot my 10% off coupon, effn me.

then went to target n picked up 4 1600 ms points for $15 bucks each. gotta get ready for that gta4 dlc, and of course gears 2 maps.

d4rlp3nc1l

@Shiryu:
LMAO!

No, I won't be buying Madden '09--I don't play sports games. I do remember really enjoying SSX Tricky back in the day though.

.em.

No thank you, I'm a Blitz man, I'll just recreate the whole NFL myself.

Kamizzle

I got the CE

Teh_Volz

I really don't understand why they roll out every year. I know it's suppost to be a new season and all but won't less frequent releases be of more profit? But it seems as though 09 is a big step forward compared to the others. Every new title should be like this, perhaps even better.

Littlefields

I just don't understand. How do the people who say they don't buy Madden because they only have "incremental changes" every year know its only "incremental changes" every year? Why? because 11 guys in helments take to the field in every version they've seen? I guarantee you, if you buy Madden 07 and buy Madden 09, you'll see more than just a few differences...

NeVeRMoRe666

51% said no at this point. I said yes but I would hate to see these poll results for NHL09.... Ummmm I do next ta no sports gaming but this years Madden is actually the best football game ever. It's only taken 4+ years to better 2K5....Finally! Now bring on the 12 on 12 LIVE matches!

davahsa

Nope, the only sports game have enjoyed in recent years (maybe ever) was Tiger Woods 04 an then EA killed that that series (in my eyes) the very next year.

SAKY

An apt question!

The answer? No!

Kainy

@Chris Gamble: well said. ditto the Final Fantasy Series:

1. new roster. CHECK!
2. new spells. CHECK!
3. new storyline... new storyline?!?

rainofwalrus

I love how people act like they are above Madden and all other sports games. I don't care if you don't like the genre, but anyone that takes on a holier-than-thou attitude about this is just like every jock in high school that ragged on nerds for their interests, except 300 times more ironic. Considering most of us know how it feels to get chastised for loving something, I find it funny that so many of us will jump at the chance to rag on anyone that enjoys playing a football game.

littlefatpants

I have tickets to NFL games + College games, so...

DO NOT WANT!

SpeedNut

A keeper? Is that a joke? Anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows that Madden 09 will be irrelevant and worth about as much as my dirty socks in approximately 1 year's time.

edgeblade

@edgeblade: Which is why if this iteration is indeed different than past titles; it'd be wiser to just buy it from a used bin for $5 in a year or so when the next Madden title hits.

B33