| Madden NFL 08 | |
|---|---|
| 256px North American cover art featuring Vince Young. |
|
| Developer(s) | EA Tiburon, Exient Entertainment (DS) |
| Publisher(s) | EA Sports |
| Series | Madden NFL |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Windows, DS, Wii, Xbox 360, Xbox, GameCube, Mac OS X [1] |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | |
| Media/distribution | DVD-ROM, Blu-ray Disc, UMD, DS game card, Nintendo optical disc |
Madden NFL 08 is the 2008 edition of the American football video game series published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 19th installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise. It features Titans star quarterback Vince Young on the cover. San Diego Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo was the cover athlete for the Spanish language version. This was the first Madden game released (on August 14, 2007) for ten different platforms; including Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, and PC. This is the last version of Madden to be released for the PC, and Madden NFL 08 would also eventually become the last GameCube game produced and released in North America.
EA and Apple Inc. had announced in June 2007 that a version for Mac OS X would be released at the same time as the other versions.[1] After the August 14 release date came and went without a Mac release, however, EA said it would be delayed until September or October 2007.[2] A Spanish language version of the game was released on December 11, 2007 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 platforms.[3] As of December 13, 2007, the Xbox 360 version has sold 1,069,576 copies in the United States.[4] Madden NFL 08 has sold 4.5 million copies.[5] It is also the last of the games in the Madden series to include all 6 NFL Europa teams.
Contents |
Gameplay [link]
Madden 08 runs at 60 frames per second on the Xbox 360, and 30 frames per second on the PlayStation 3.[6] A new branching animation system allows dynamic gameplay for the first time in the franchise. Players are no longer locked into animations but are now controlled more by the player. Features of the new animation system include mid-air collisions, big-time, one-handed catches, hurdles, sideline catches and gang tackling. Madden 08 brings back some features for its online play; for example, there will be a return of Season Mode and tournaments held online. Another updated feature – dubbed Hit Stick 2.0 – will allow players to hit high or low by flicking the analog stick up or down.[7] A new fatigue system has been implemented, disallowing users from taking a scrambling quarterback and repeatedly running around behind the line of scrimmage for very long gains.[8] Fatigue also plays a factor when cold-weather teams play in hot weather during the early months of the season.[7] Also returning to this year's incarnation is the much sought after "co-op" play, which had found itself sitting on the sidelines since making the jump to the next-generation consoles. This mode finds players teaming up with a friend and taking on the CPU or two human opponents.
Presentation [link]
On the next-generation systems former NFL running back and Madden NFL 2003 cover athlete Marshall Faulk hosts a segment called Marshall's Minute in which he discusses key star players and predicts the score prior to the game.[8] Weapons (see below) also get special introductions before games.[8]
Features [link]
Weapons [link]
Certain star players are deemed to have "weapons" which can enhance their performances and create game-changing plays.[9] For example, players with the "Smart Quarterback" weapon are able to read defensive schemes and audible accordingly. Possession receivers can make tough catches over the middle, Shutdown corners can stay on even the toughest receivers, and Spectacular Catch receivers are able to leap over defenders and make difficult grabs.
Another added feature is to change players' positions to utilize their individual talents more effectively, such as Devin Hester (who can be converted from cornerback to wide receiver) and Brandon Marshall (who can be converted from wide receiver to tight end). It is also possible to move around offensive and defensive linemen with little effect to their overall rating. However, on the PlayStation 3 version of the game, player positions are locked and cannot be changed.
Superstar Mode additions [link]
With the addition of the Campus Legend mode to the next-gen version of NCAA Football 08, players are now able to take their player from Campus Legend mode and import him into Madden's Superstar Mode. In addition, players are able to create a player, take over the careers of select rookies from the 2007 NFL Draft and use them in Superstar Mode.[9] Also, the superstar's team can be chosen by the user based on what the menu-set "Favorite Team" is. Camera angles have also been tweaked for the next gen of Madden 08 after complaints with its predecessor.[9] Key attributes of superstars are assigned by players when creating them, rather than generated by random parents.[10] A number of features have been left out in this year's Wii version, most notably, the ability to edit the game player's superstars appearance as the Superstar Mirror is no longer selectable, and the Barber Shop in the City Map is also no longer selectable. Users are stuck with the random hair combination given to the user while registering their new superstar. Although certain new features have been added as well. For example, a player can have more control over their character while firing agents, while the selection of rookies is more extensive.
Player attributes [link]
For the first time, a player can receive an attribute of 100 only for the best players and only for skill positions. Devin Hester (speed), Peyton Manning (awareness), Tom Brady (awareness), Champ Bailey (man coverage), Reggie Bush (acceleration), Lorenzo Neal (impact blocking), Larry Allen (strength), and LaDainian Tomlinson (juke move and elusiveness) as well as many of the Hall of Fame (HOF) unlockable players, are the only in the game with such skills.[11] However, if the player's ratings are accessed, these attributes will drop back to 99.
Player Info [link]
There are certain players such as Byron Leftwich, Josh Cribbs, and Vernon Davis that are from the District of Columbia whose homestate is blank. If the player moves the state, the blank spot is no longer present.
Trophy room [link]
The trophy room in Madden 08 is similar to the My Shrine feature in NCAA Football 08.[8] Trophies can be earned by completing in-game tasks (such as rushing for over 200 yards) or in other game modes (such as winning a Super Bowl in franchise mode).[8] Trophies can also be wagered in online head-to-head contests.[8] As skill and experience progresses, the user can earn five EA Challenge rings, which have customizable team logos and colors.[8] These features have been left out in the Wii version. Once a ring is unlocked, the player is given a code to buy the ring on Jostens.com.
Fantasy Challenge [link]
In the current-generation version, the game has a Fantasy challenge mode where the player adds players to an NFL team and plays through three different leagues in a single elimination tournament. Other teams can attempt to trade players and challenge the player to competitions to get players from the player's team. If the player plays well enough they reach the top league which has four fictional teams that play in a special way to win. This mode is similar to Blitz: The League's campaign mode.
Returning features [link]
A number of features missing from the first two next-generation versions of Madden return in Madden 08. These include Owner Mode, fantasy draft, roster-editing, and cooperative play-New, however, to the Xbox 360.
Other features [link]
In addition to the other versions, the Wii version features online gameplay, a Madden first for a Nintendo console, as well as the integration of Mii avatars, and features a few exclusive game modes.[12]
The PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube versions of Madden 08 have a fantasy football-type game mode called Fantasy Challenge Mode. In this game mode, players draft the ultimate NFL dream team while advancing through four levels of gameplay.[citation needed]
Soundtrack [link]
EA Sports officially announced Madden NFL 08's soundtrack on June 28, 2007.[13] The soundtrack is customizable and songs can be put in a playlist order or turned off.
Spanish version [link]
| Madden NFL 2008 Soundtrack | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Song |
| Kinto Sol | "Los Que Luchamos" |
| Motolov | "Blame Me" |
| Maná | "Relax" |
| Ashley Tisdale | "He Said She Said" |
| Vanessa Hudgens | "Let's Dance" |
| Keke Palmer | "Keep It Movin'" |
Roster updates [link]
Roster updates were made available via Xbox Live users and PlayStation Network users in the first week of the 2007 season. The first Roster Update of Madden 08 completely removes Michael Vick from the game due to his dog-fighting charges, but his face still remains as a create a player face in case the player wants to recreate him. The final update brought Ricky Williams back on the Dolphins and Ryan Grant on the Packers and Vinny Testaverde on the Panthers were the roster moves of note. Also some players and teams received a substantial ratings boost, the Patriots, Chargers and Cowboys were each rated 99, 98, 97 respectively and on the other hand Detroit and Miami were rated 62 and 64 and were the worst teams in the game. Each of the updates also had players on injured reserve until the end of the season when roster updates came with the injuries removed.
Reception [link]
![[icon]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} |
This section requires expansion. |
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| GameSpot | 8.5 out of 10[14] |
| Games for Windows | 5 out of 10[15] |
See Also [link]
References [link]
- ^ a b "Six Major Titles Herald EA's Triumphant Return to the Mac". Apple. https://www.apple.com/games/articles/2007/06/ea. Retrieved August 19, 2007.
- ^ a b "EA backtracking on claims of simultaneous Mac game releases". AppleInsider. https://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/08/16/ea_backtracking_on_claims_of_simultaneous_mac_game_releases.html. Retrieved August 19, 2007.
- ^ "Madden goes multilingual". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/news/6181102.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;1. Retrieved October 16, 2007.
- ^ Leigh Alexander (2007-12-13). "GamerMetrics: Halo 'Cannibalized' Stranglehold, Xbox 360 Software Sales". Gamasutra. CMP Media. https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16633. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ "Electronic Arts Slips to Loss, Announces Restructuring". https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16087.
- ^ "EA Tech responds to PS3 Frame limitations". Maxconsole. 2007-08-14. https://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=19757. Retrieved 2008-05-05. "As for frame-rate differences, 30 frames per second is the same for all PS 3 football games this year, not just Madden but also NCAA Football, and 2K Sports' offering as well."
- ^ a b "Madden NFL 08 First Look". IGN. https://xbox360.ign.com/articles/784/784281p1.html. Retrieved May 19, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Madden NFL 08 Hands-on". IGN. https://xbox360.ign.com/articles/789/789799p1.html. Retrieved May 19, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Five Things You Need to Know about Madden 08". IGN. https://sports.ign.com/articles/789/789781p1.html. Retrieved May 19, 2007.
- ^ "Madden NFL 08 for PS2 Review". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/madden08/review.html?tag=reviews;ps2. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
- ^ "IGN: Madden 08 Countdown: Player Ratings". https://xbox360.ign.com/articles/810/810854p1.html.
- ^ "Madden 2008 Wii: Online, Wii's and more.". IGN. https://wii.ign.com/articles/795/795634p1.html. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
- ^ Totilo, Stephen (June 28, 2007). "Timberlake/Timbaland, QOTSA, Swizz, Daddy Yankee Rock 'Madden 08' Soundtrack". MTV. https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1563549/20070628/timberlake_justin.jhtml. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
- ^ https://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/madden08/index.html
- ^ Zuniga, Todd (October 2007). "Madden NFL 08: Behind the Times". Games for Windows: the Official Magazine (Ziff Davis Media) (11): 68.
External links [link]
- Official websites
- Reviews
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
https://wn.com/Madden_NFL_08
Madden NFL
Madden NFL (known as John Madden Football before 1993) is an American football video game series developed by Electronic Arts Tiburon for EA Sports. It is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden, a well-known former Super Bowl–winning coach of the Oakland Raiders and color commentator. The series has sold more than 100 million copies, and influenced many players and coaches of the physical sport. Among the game's realistic features are sophisticated playbooks and player statistics, and voice commentary that allows players to hear the game as if it were a real TV broadcast.
Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins conceived the series and approached Madden in 1984 for his endorsement and expertise. Because of Madden's insistence that the game be as realistic as possible, the first version of John Madden Football did not appear until 1988. EA has released annual versions since 1990, and the series' name changed to Madden NFL in 1993 after EA acquired the rights to use NFL teams and players. Despite Madden's retirement as a broadcaster in 2009, he continues to lend his name to and provide expertise for the game.
Madden NFL 2002
Madden NFL 2002 (also known as Madden 2002) is an American football video game. It features former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper on the cover. Pat Summerall and John Madden are the commentators.
Features
Madden NFL 2002 features play now, season, franchise, tournament, create-a-player and create-a-team modes. It also has the Madden Card feature. It is also a GameCube and Xbox Launch title as well as one of the last titles released on the Nintendo 64, as well as the Game Boy Color. This is the first Madden to feature the Houston Texans in the team select. It was also bundled with NBA Live 2002 and NASCAR Thunder 2002 as part of the EA 2002 collector's edition for the PlayStation. Also the game featured the 2002 Expansion Draft where the player can add the 32nd team into the league but it will force the Seahawks to move into the NFC.
The Baltimore Ravens had the best team overall in the game with the score of 99. The worst team in the game belongs to the Houston Texans with the score of 39. The best offense in the game belongs to the St. Louis Rams with the score of 96. The best defense in the game belongs to the Baltimore Ravens with the score of 96. The best special teams in the game belongs to seven different teams (Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos) all with scores of 99.
Madden NFL 06
Madden NFL 06 is an American football video game which was released in 2005. It is also a launch game for the Xbox 360. It is the 16th installment of the Madden NFL series by EA Sports, named for noted color commentator John Madden. The product features former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb on the cover. It is the first Madden game for the PlayStation Portable and Xbox 360. The game also features WWE and UFC superstar, Brock Lesnar as a playable character in the Minnesota Vikings.
Significant changes
One of the additions to the 2006 version of Madden is Superstar mode, which allows the player to create and take control of an NFL player from his rookie year all the way to retirement. An athlete can be created by evaluating pairs of parents — judging, based on their IQs, occupations, and hobbies, whether their child would excel in the NFL — or by importing a player from NCAA Football 06 or NFL Street 2. This player is 21 years old at the start of his career. Superstar mode is essentially Madden's Franchise mode seen through the eyes of this athlete. Rather than manage the team's front office, the player manages the career of his athlete: selecting movie roles, accepting product endorsement, etc. The player can access different areas of the city the Superstar is playing in such as the barber shop, to get a haircut or the performance institute to raise attributes if the player's agent has a key. As the player gains in popularity and prestige the superstar's home will transform from an apartment to a luxurious mansion. The player will receive calls from former NFL running back Terrell Davis, who is the player's mentor and guide. This addition has met with mixed reviews from video game reviewers. Although the idea is considered great in concept, many found the actual execution of the mode to be lackluster.
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan “Believe in Now.”
Super Bowl XLIII, the league’s championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the Arizona Cardinals 27–23 and winning their NFL-record sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Conversely, the Detroit Lions became the first NFL team with a winless season since the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, finishing their season 0–16. For the first time since the NFL expanded to the sixteen game season in 1978, three teams won two or fewer games: the Lions, the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Rams. Previously two teams won two or fewer games in 1979, 1981, 1985, 1992 and 2001.
The regular season began on September 4 with the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants defeating the Washington Redskins 16–7, and concluded with the 2009 Pro Bowl on February 8, 2009 in Honolulu.
