Madden, What Happens if There's a Strike?

A strike is looming, and the fatter cat team owners could possibly survive a two year lockout. Click here for a report.
While things might not turn out well financially for the NFL and the NFLPA come March 4th, 2011 (the day the lockout officially begins); many fans are wondering what this coming Fall will be like should America's most popular pastime is MIA?

I was thinking about all of this when suddenly, the thought occurred, "What the heck happens to the Madden video game franchise if the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement ends and a lengthy lockout occurs?"

While analysts have talked about the amount of money that might be lost in more mainstream sectors from a lockout; not any I've seen have talked about the $788 million dollars EA Sports will lose. EA already came up short of projections $391 million in 2010. (report here) In my opinion, EA will be obviously hurt, and I'd think it would have an even greater effect on the company that makes Madden franchise EA-Tiburon.

More importantly, what happens to the gamers!?!?

Will EA-Tiburon move to an edition that only highlights the classic rosters? Could they have something up their sleeves none of us can imagine? Surely they are prepared for what's looking more and more like a lockout eventuality; but it is a difficult question that I can only speculate about.

What is your speculation?

Let's start the discussion; what do YOU think?

Worst Game Ports Ever!

Street Fighter II port on the C-64. What were they thinking?!?!
We all have played them, great games that originally came out on a competing system which were ported to your system in a way that left you wishing for death to the programmers or project managers who botched the hell out of the game you waited to play for so long.
In the old days the Atari 2600 had a port of Pac-Man. To this day, if I met who was responsible for that abomination I'd (to this day) give them the finger. Especially since Ms. Pac-Man was much more faithful to it's arcade counterpart.
Recent times saw the first version of Madden for the PS3 running around 25 frames per second. No, it's not always the fault of the system you're playing on; it's the crap job the company of the game title did that left you saying, "I paid $50 plus dollars for this?!?!?"
This site has a list of ports that truly sucked. It's a trip down memory lane of rushed titles and programming incompetence.
I want to see your most hated ports here on Cowbell Tech. Let the venom flow free!!!

Madden Play by Play Critique

I must apologize for not getting a more inspired/current "graphic" to represent the one part of nearly every Madden game that pisses me off. Perhaps it's fitting that I use the cover of Madden 2000 for the PlayStation; because quite frankly, I haven't seen much improvement in this series in this area.
I got really excited when I didn't have to listen to the ABSOLUTELY uninspired "faux play by play" from Pat Summerall. I thought, Al Micheal's would be a joy!


NOT.

This year I haven't gotten to actually sample how the play by play is; but now it doesn't even have Madden. This iI don't mind either; because every year he tries so hard to muster up the collective rage to focus into his "Boom - Tuff Act'in Tinnaction" that there was nothing left for the game that carries his name.

I hear now that we are left with Cris Collensworth; and some other dude I have never heard of.

First, Cris Collensworth is a POLARIZING commentator. Most people I've met around the country hate him and want to pop his chicken bone neck in half. How could adding him to the game be an improvement?!?!?

I'm not even going to waste time commenting on some dude I've never heard of who's Cris's sidekick...

What really gets me most upset is that they can do the NBA, NHL, MLB, PGA all very well. WHAT THE HELL TIBERON!!?!?!?!? IS IT THAT HARD TO DO PLAY BY PLAY!??!!?

Ok, I've gotten that off my chest. I haven't posted in a while and I had some pent up rage. Still I think it's well placed.

I guess everyone will do what they always do with each years new installment of Madden. Turn off the Commentary after 3 days lest you have a conniption fit that would make the Tasmanian devil seem like a placid lake.

GAH! I"m like nearly POSTAL over THIS!


i really need to get out... and post.... more... (I want Shatner doing the play by play dammit!) LOL

Madden 09 looks spectacular

OK, now everyone can stop complaining about Madden not changing enough each year and getting better. With the graphics that they're displaying right now and this feature with the dynamic foot placement, I think they've definitely improved the game. As it stands, I don't care if the playbook consists of plays drawn in the dirt with bottle caps and rock. I'm buying Madden when it comes out this year.

There are a couple more movies that were placed on Gametrailers.com that show off how much more beautiful the game is, differences in moves, and how much smoother the motion is. I think this is the year people stop bitching and just start playing.

EA Will Ship With Michael Vick on Starting Falcons Roster

To follow up & give an answer on a story Cow Bell Tech brought up regarding the most popular football game for about a decade now, Madden'08 will ship with Michael Vick in the starting roster for the Falcons. It is important to note that during the coding of any game (by ANY DEVELOPER during the software development phase) a time comes when code needs to be frozen so the finishing touches can be done and the product can be shipped. To make changes now would compromise the software which needs to be able to perform on all the next-gen consoles and PC's. So, for that reason Vick and other troubled athletes (Pacman Jones) who wont be playing anytime soon will be on the rosters that ship. It is also VERY important to know that EA intends to deliver updates & patches to all systems which will correct the roster and any other problems or anomalies come up. So it's important to understand that EA is doing the right thing; in the only way they could do it. My sincere hope is that next year, Vick will be free due to evidence proving his innocence, and Pacman Jones (or any other troubled athlete) gets good advice; not from just anyone, but from experienced men in the NFLPA, and former players who know how to have a fulfilling time both in their playing days, and after they hang up the cleats. Men who have seen trouble; and handled their troubles in life the right way. In closing, I hope that men with great character will continue to make the NFL my favorite pastime. (Note: My views are mine and might not be held by others who post at Cow Bell Tech) Peace...

Vince Young Latest Addition to Madden Curse

Today it was decided that Vince Young of the Tennesee Titans would adorn the Madden '08 cover. Recently, all the players who have made the cover have met with season ending injuries. The list of those players include running back Eddie George, quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Daunte Culpepper, and last year’s cover man Shaun Alexander.

This year the final vote came down to Vince Young or San Diego Charger LaDainian Tomlinson. People thoughout San Diego literally celebrated the fact their MVP Running Back was not chosen.