Madden NFL 07 Arrives
Simple headline, simple result: sports fans go nutso.
Published: August 22, 2006
We've heard the plight of many a game store employee, watched their eyes glaze over as they develop the 1000-yard stare of a Vietnam Vet whenever we mention a new Madden game getting released. It's not (completely) a knock against the kind of people that line up on day one for the latest version of EA's classic bazillion-seller, but whenever a new copy of a yearly game comes out, you expect that the reaction isn't going to be quite so... well, insane.
But it is, and every year a new Madden hits, it rockets up to the top of the sales charts for nearly every platform, dethroned only by the errant Grand Theft Auto release for a year before the king returns to the top. And now, finally, Madden NFL 07 is here. Which can only mean a horribly-worded marketing gimmick like "Maddenoliday" is used to celebrate the game hitting just about every platform out there today. Put on your dancin' shoes, cause it's Happy Dance time!
“Madden NFL Football has become a cultural phenomenon and, with Maddenoliday, we are honoring all the Madden gamers across the country who line up at midnight and then take off the day to play Madden NFL 07,” expertly spun Todd Sitrin, VP of marketing for EA Tiburon and EA Sports. “We continue to bring innovative changes to the game every year, and now with the improvements in the running game, Madden NFL 07 is even more authentic. You will know how it feels to be actually on the field playing with the pros.”
The running game is indeed the focus this year, with Lead Blocker Control, which allows you to lead the charge through a hole-widening offense, then quickly switch to a tailback to slip through and notch huge gains. While running, highlight stick controls allow you to show off, and new cutbacks, jukes and individual running styles.
Though the next-gen Xbox 360 version sports a mini-game filled side mode, it's current-gen systems that get the real love; an enhanced NFL Draft Scouting System allows for deeper selections while Franchise Player Roles lets you see exactly how high-profile players affect their respective teams throughout a season, while the College All-Star Game lets you start watching prospective players right from the start of potential pro career.
New cross-talk between the PS2 and PSP version of the game allows you to transfer franchise mode data between them, which is something we hope we see more often in the coming years, and the PSP version itself actually has its own stand-alone mini-games -- dubbed End 2 End Mode. Ha! Take that next-gen! And at least $10 cheaper too, woo hoo!
Okay, so technically this is a pretty good year. Better franchise mode, better running game, more purdy graffix... we promise we won't laugh and point at all you wild-eyed Maddenites frothing at the mouth with anticipation at getting your new copy. We won't laugh and point much.
But it is, and every year a new Madden hits, it rockets up to the top of the sales charts for nearly every platform, dethroned only by the errant Grand Theft Auto release for a year before the king returns to the top. And now, finally, Madden NFL 07 is here. Which can only mean a horribly-worded marketing gimmick like "Maddenoliday" is used to celebrate the game hitting just about every platform out there today. Put on your dancin' shoes, cause it's Happy Dance time!
“Madden NFL Football has become a cultural phenomenon and, with Maddenoliday, we are honoring all the Madden gamers across the country who line up at midnight and then take off the day to play Madden NFL 07,” expertly spun Todd Sitrin, VP of marketing for EA Tiburon and EA Sports. “We continue to bring innovative changes to the game every year, and now with the improvements in the running game, Madden NFL 07 is even more authentic. You will know how it feels to be actually on the field playing with the pros.”
The running game is indeed the focus this year, with Lead Blocker Control, which allows you to lead the charge through a hole-widening offense, then quickly switch to a tailback to slip through and notch huge gains. While running, highlight stick controls allow you to show off, and new cutbacks, jukes and individual running styles.
Though the next-gen Xbox 360 version sports a mini-game filled side mode, it's current-gen systems that get the real love; an enhanced NFL Draft Scouting System allows for deeper selections while Franchise Player Roles lets you see exactly how high-profile players affect their respective teams throughout a season, while the College All-Star Game lets you start watching prospective players right from the start of potential pro career.
New cross-talk between the PS2 and PSP version of the game allows you to transfer franchise mode data between them, which is something we hope we see more often in the coming years, and the PSP version itself actually has its own stand-alone mini-games -- dubbed End 2 End Mode. Ha! Take that next-gen! And at least $10 cheaper too, woo hoo!
Okay, so technically this is a pretty good year. Better franchise mode, better running game, more purdy graffix... we promise we won't laugh and point at all you wild-eyed Maddenites frothing at the mouth with anticipation at getting your new copy. We won't laugh and point much.
