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?

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

NFL rant

OK, here's my situation. I work weekends. I work until 8 pm almost every night during the week. Now that I'm on the west coast, that means I miss almost every freakin' NFL game except for the first quarter of the early games on Sunday and the 2nd half of the Sunday night game. I get to watch about 5 minutes of Monday or Thursday night football. I know I'm probably in the minority on this issue, but I want to know how Major League Baseball, the NBA and the NHL for god's sake offer a way to watch games with your broadband access and the freakin' NFL can't?

Isnt' the NFL supposed to be the big dogs of all the leagues? I can subscribe to MLB and watch 6 games at once from my laptop, but I am restricted to radio broadcasts with the NFL? Now I am thankful that now NFL Network is actually broadcasting the Thursday night games, albeit only with lookins half of the time, but the only reason they are doing it is to get more people to start liking NFL Network and pressure their cable company to stop being douchebags and include it in their general sports package. See this article on CrunchGear.

Now tell me, am I asking for too much? I would gladly pay probably up to $40 bucks a month just for the priveledge to watch my beloved Bears each and every Sunday. You know what, maybe I'll just buy a Slingbox and say "Screw you NFL, I don't need your broadband package anyway."

Just for the record, I have been paying $10 a month for the past 2 years just to listen to Bears games while I'm on the road.

Patriots Caught Using Video Camera To Steal Signals

It looks like The New England Patriots have a problem on their hands, after using technology to gain an unfair advantage last Sunday. After Sunday's 38-14 ass kicking of the New York Jets, league officials confiscated a video camera and tape from an assistant coach of the Patriots. The tape reportedly had the hand signals from the Jets coaches. This is a no no in the league, and could result in serious penalties for the Patriots.

New England has been accused of stealing signals in the past, but no proof had ever surfaced until now. According to ESPN "NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is considering whether to hit the Pats with "severe sanctions".

It is against NFL rules to tape from the sidelines or from the booth.
I guess there may be another reason why the Patriots have had such a good run the last few years.

[Crave]

We're BAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!

Hey.. in case you didn't know, I have lived in Indianapolis for the past 10 years. Oh, and as Nelson can tell you, I gloat like Chad Johnston after a touchdown. I am a huge NFL and Colts fan, and I'd just like to say. We went out tonight and played like defending Superbowl champions on speed. (Especially in the 2nd half.)

We smashed the Saints 41 to 10. Even the Defense looked great.

So, to all others out there who are hopeful their team will do what the Colts did last year, good freaking luck.... MUWAHAHAHAHAHA

I Hate to be the First to Publicaly Ask This.

ANYONE who's a fan of just sheer physical prowess, let alone a 35+year hardcore fan of the NFL, hates to bring this question up. Michael Vick has NOT been arrested, and that NEEDS to be said. Unfortunately he has been indicted by a Grand Jury regarding the findings on one of his properties. I hope he is PROVEN INNOCENT. Right now, if guilty Vick faces $350,000 in fines and six years in prison if convicted of the charges.
My first question is, how will he perform this year in the NFL, and how could anyone not be overwhelmed by all of this to a point of not performing well. Who knows, perhaps anger from this will translate into even more unreal perfomances on the field; realizing anger effects everyone differently.
My second question is, how will Madden'08 handle this? In the past as the year unfolds EA Sports has released updates to reflect more realistic performences as well as position changes. I have no idea when this is all going to be moving ahead; and perhaps it's ridiculous as a consumer to be selfishly thinking about this. I just know there is MORE than A LOT of people who want to play as Michael Vick; thus I bring the question. Once more for his sake; HE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY!
I'm sure if you're interested in learning more, you can find news about it; I'm not going to link to any stories because right now, in my estimation, news services aren't being completely fair to him.
So if you can excuse me for asking such a strange question; I'd love to hear your opinions on how to handle this as EA Sports.

Call of Duty 4 trailer hits the NFL draft

As if you needed more reason to watch the NFL draft this weekend, Activision has provided you more. The new trailer for 'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare' will be unveiled via a trailer that will be shown during the NFL Draft on ESPN at (10 a.m. PDT /1 p.m. EDT) this Saturday April 28.

The first 3 games were set in the World War II stage and this will be the first one set in modern warfare. No word on which console this will be available on, but you can read the rest of the story after the jump.

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.