Madden 2005 initial impressions.

That Guy · 08-13-2004, 11:54 AM

Maybe next year they'll take the time to add gibbs' playbook and new positions for him heh...

illdefined · 08-13-2004, 12:09 PM

and add at least 500 more animations

SKINSnCANES · 08-14-2004, 12:54 AM

The playbook is actually really big. At first glance it seems to be almost the same as last years, but with a shotgun formation. But its not, there are a ton more big sets. When you are picking a formation, and you hit right to change it up, to add a TE or a receiver to the set, there are a lot more of those last year then in spurriers. Most of the plays i have been calling were two TE sets, because Cooley is a heck of a receiving TE, and Kowolski(sp) is a great blocking TE.

d151b · 08-17-2004, 05:33 PM

yeh, i've been using the i formation double tight end set. koz and cooley on the right hand side with the counter option, halfback gut, or playaction. i beat two friends over the weekend with those three plays alone. average margin of victory 35 points.

BleedBurgundy · 08-22-2004, 11:20 PM

I will say that I don't understand why EA charges 50 (60 for the Collector's Edition) and ESPN only costs 20? I know it's a bitch to get folks to switch from EA but that just goes to show how much markup there is in Videogames. BTW, anybody else spring for the collector's edition?

MTK · 08-23-2004, 10:08 AM

Even at $50 videogames are a great entertainment value when you factor in the # of hours you'll play it. Especially with sports games that have a high replay factor.

EEich · 08-23-2004, 10:35 AM

The simple answer is marketshare. Before this year ESPN wasn't even a blip on the radar screen. Madden had a huge percentage of the market... so much so that all the other companies decided to stop competing with EA. All of a sudden, ESPN comes out with a great game with a more than reasonable price tag. They don't mind taking a loss for a year because they have Disney's capital behind them. Hear the wind coming out of EA's sails?

MTK · 08-23-2004, 10:40 AM

Madden '05 set sales records for the series, so I guess the wind isn't coming out of the sails too quickly.

I wonder if 2k will stick with the $19.99 price tag in the future?

illdefined · 08-23-2004, 10:56 AM

i wonder if Madden will finally upgrade their game enough to warrant another $49.99 next year.

Big C · 08-23-2004, 11:27 AM

madden 2005 is the best sports game ive ever played. the radio show is cool, the newspapers are awesome, reminds me of ncaa football, the gameplay is awesome with the hit stick, what is the problem? it is more realistic than 2004. great game

MTK · 08-23-2004, 12:26 PM

Madden is a sore spot with Ill

illdefined · 08-23-2004, 12:49 PM

i've owned every year Madden on any system i've had, since the first John Madden Football. i'm just mad at EA for being lazy and not seriously revamping player models, animations, and physics over the past 5 years since it came out on the PS2; all it's gotten are tweaks and add-ons every year. ANY other game besides this one would be considered an expansion pack and be $20. as you can tell i'm mostly pissed at myself for spending the $50 they charge.

EA is using its incumbency like a bully too. they effectively made MS cancel NFL Fever this year to do XBOX LIVE. Fever was another underdog that tried hard to push videogame football in ways EA doesn't feel it has to. it totally sucks that i can't Read n' Lead (think Maximum Passing but completely open and really well executed) a receiver in a current football game because EA crushed it. the least they could do is try and emulate something like it, add it to Madden. nope. don't have to. because of their 10 year name recognition. totally blows.

Madden is a great game. but it was almost as great 5 years ago. worth the $250 investment EA expects us to make over the years?? all you have to do is see the actual innovation and improvements made in other games like the $20 ESPN to get the answer to that one. IF they don't get cancelled by Madden's name alone.

jbcjr14 · 08-23-2004, 12:52 PM

I think both of these games are good. ESPN has better online play with XBOX. The graphics are tighter in 2k5, but the Madden game play is still good. It's a toss up for me.

MTK · 08-23-2004, 01:40 PM

2K5 sold about 900,000 units in July, I don't think they're going anywhere.

That Guy · 08-23-2004, 05:36 PM

you talk like every game is supposed to move 900,000 units... that'd still seem to land it in 2nd place for football games... madden will probably end up with 3-4 mill its first month...

its really not that bad.

08-14-2004, 12:54 AM	#33
SKINSnCANES Pro Bowl Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New Jersey Age: 43 Posts: 5,455	The playbook is actually really big. At first glance it seems to be almost the same as last years, but with a shotgun formation. But its not, there are a ton more big sets. When you are picking a formation, and you hit right to change it up, to add a TE or a receiver to the set, there are a lot more of those last year then in spurriers. Most of the plays i have been calling were two TE sets, because Cooley is a heck of a receiving TE, and Kowolski(sp) is a great blocking TE. __________________ "I'm used to winning, coming from the University of Miami. " Clinton Portis

08-23-2004, 10:08 AM	#36
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,843	Even at $50 videogames are a great entertainment value when you factor in the # of hours you'll play it. Especially with sports games that have a high replay factor. __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

08-23-2004, 10:40 AM	#38
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,843	Madden '05 set sales records for the series, so I guess the wind isn't coming out of the sails too quickly. I wonder if 2k will stick with the $19.99 price tag in the future? __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

08-23-2004, 12:26 PM	#41
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,843	Madden is a sore spot with Ill __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

08-23-2004, 12:52 PM	#43
jbcjr14 The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Age: 55 Posts: 2,015	I think both of these games are good. ESPN has better online play with XBOX. The graphics are tighter in 2k5, but the Madden game play is still good. It's a toss up for me. __________________ "Work Harder: millions on welfare are counting on you" - Obama 2009 address to Congress.

08-13-2004, 11:54 AM	#31
That Guy Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: VA Age: 42 Posts: 17,620	Maybe next year they'll take the time to add gibbs' playbook and new positions for him heh...

08-13-2004, 12:09 PM	#32
illdefined Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: nyc Age: 49 Posts: 2,631	and add at least 500 more animations

08-17-2004, 05:33 PM	#34
d151b Special Teams Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 157	yeh, i've been using the i formation double tight end set. koz and cooley on the right hand side with the counter option, halfback gut, or playaction. i beat two friends over the weekend with those three plays alone. average margin of victory 35 points.

08-22-2004, 11:20 PM	#35
BleedBurgundy Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,471	I will say that I don't understand why EA charges 50 (60 for the Collector's Edition) and ESPN only costs 20? I know it's a bitch to get folks to switch from EA but that just goes to show how much markup there is in Videogames. BTW, anybody else spring for the collector's edition?

08-23-2004, 10:35 AM	#37
EEich The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bristol, CT Age: 61 Posts: 1,001	The simple answer is marketshare. Before this year ESPN wasn't even a blip on the radar screen. Madden had a huge percentage of the market... so much so that all the other companies decided to stop competing with EA. All of a sudden, ESPN comes out with a great game with a more than reasonable price tag. They don't mind taking a loss for a year because they have Disney's capital behind them. Hear the wind coming out of EA's sails?

08-23-2004, 10:56 AM	#39
illdefined Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: nyc Age: 49 Posts: 2,631	i wonder if Madden will finally upgrade their game enough to warrant another $49.99 next year.

08-23-2004, 11:27 AM	#40
Big C Mr. Brightside Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Leesburg, VA Age: 39 Posts: 4,453	madden 2005 is the best sports game ive ever played. the radio show is cool, the newspapers are awesome, reminds me of ncaa football, the gameplay is awesome with the hit stick, what is the problem? it is more realistic than 2004. great game

08-23-2004, 12:49 PM	#42
illdefined Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: nyc Age: 49 Posts: 2,631	i've owned every year Madden on any system i've had, since the first John Madden Football. i'm just mad at EA for being lazy and not seriously revamping player models, animations, and physics over the past 5 years since it came out on the PS2; all it's gotten are tweaks and add-ons every year. ANY other game besides this one would be considered an expansion pack and be $20. as you can tell i'm mostly pissed at myself for spending the $50 they charge. EA is using its incumbency like a bully too. they effectively made MS cancel NFL Fever this year to do XBOX LIVE. Fever was another underdog that tried hard to push videogame football in ways EA doesn't feel it has to. it totally sucks that i can't Read n' Lead (think Maximum Passing but completely open and really well executed) a receiver in a current football game because EA crushed it. the least they could do is try and emulate something like it, add it to Madden. nope. don't have to. because of their 10 year name recognition. totally blows. Madden is a great game. but it was almost as great 5 years ago. worth the $250 investment EA expects us to make over the years?? all you have to do is see the actual innovation and improvements made in other games like the $20 ESPN to get the answer to that one. IF they don't get cancelled by Madden's name alone.

08-23-2004, 01:40 PM	#44
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,843	2K5 sold about 900,000 units in July, I don't think they're going anywhere. __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

08-23-2004, 05:36 PM	#45
That Guy Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: VA Age: 42 Posts: 17,620	you talk like every game is supposed to move 900,000 units... that'd still seem to land it in 2nd place for football games... madden will probably end up with 3-4 mill its first month... its really not that bad.

Madden 2005 initial impressions.

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