12/21/24
August 15, 2003
Madden. Sports' new arbiter of cool (if, by sports, you are talking about helmet football).
My favorite part: For the lowliest players, simply appearing in the game (as all players on NFL rosters do) serves as a permanent validation of professional success, a digital upgrade to having your own trading card. Even if they cut you next year, they can never take away your appearance in Madden. Just out of curiousity, how many of you play Madden or FIFA? I haven't regularly played video games on a console since the original Nintendo. I'm late to the party, as usual, but I think I'm going to buy a PS2.
posted by dusted at 01:57 PM on August 15, 2003
X-Box. Far better hardware. The title selection isn't as good (damn you, GTA!), but most sports games are available for both gaming systems. FIFA 03 is absolutely amazing.
posted by garfield at 02:07 PM on August 15, 2003
I never play Madden, I'm a Sega Sports man. I can't stand Madden, he's alternately incomrehensible, stupid, or annoying. He's worse than Bill Walton.
posted by insomnyuk at 02:07 PM on August 15, 2003
PS2 for me. I've never been a big fan of (helmet) football games. Then again, I've never been a big fan of (helmet) football. I'll buy FIFA 2004 when it comes out. The last version I had was '98 on my computer, but I've played many versions since then. Hockey's also a big gaming fav of mine (NHLPA '93 for Genesis). May pick up a new version of that soon. I may pick up the 2004 NBA Live game as well. But that's a lot of games to buy in one six-month period. Besides, I think the new Tony Hawk Pro Skater (guilty obsession) is coming out soon. I do agree with what insomnyuk said about Madden though. Easily one of the three most annoying humans alive.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:31 PM on August 15, 2003
Madden is not good, but there is no announcer worse than Bill Walton. I constantly hope that Tom Tolbert finally loses his cool and strangles Walton on live TV. Thankfully, I can watch almost all the Laker games on the local station (KCAL in L.A., not the same without Chick Hearn). Garfield, I hear you on the X-Box, but fewer games and the Microsoft logo will probably deter me.
posted by dusted at 02:45 PM on August 15, 2003
Aw, Bill ain't that bad. Besides, he paid more for the X-box than you will.
posted by garfield at 03:05 PM on August 15, 2003
Gamecube for me. I'd rather have a medium sized assortment of good quality games than very little (XBox) or a ton of really shitty games with a few gems mixed in (PS2). I don't really like any FPS's, so the overwhelming glut of those on the other consoles never really swayed me. I also pray nightly for the next Mario Kart game. I think the Madden games get a little repetitive. Sure the rosters are updated, but the looks and feel of the game are basically the same. I bought Madden 2k2 out of the discount bin a little while ago and was throughly unimpressed. The original NFL Gameday for the PS was much better. I'll second garfield on FIFA 2003. I got it about a month ago and have played at least 3 matches every day since. Playing against the computer with it switched onto the World-Class difficulty setting is one of the most frustrating, infuriating things I have ever done.
posted by ttrendel at 03:10 PM on August 15, 2003
If you are looking at getting an EA sports game AND you want online play, the PS2 is the only way to go. EA has decided to not support XBox Live. As for football, er soccer, games - -get Winning Eleven over FIFA.
posted by mkn at 03:21 PM on August 15, 2003
Am I the only one that dislikes when Madden uses his video game on Monday Night Football to illustrate a play? It comes across as a blatant promo, since actual game footage would work much better.
posted by dusted at 03:32 PM on August 15, 2003
well, forget what I said....on-line sports gaming is essential. Anyone know if a multi-player team playing on a sinlge x-box can face against another multi-player team? I have a crew of a couple buddies who absolutley dominate FIFA 03, and we're looking to translate months of residing on a couch into a possible profession. No, I'm serious, are multi-playered team tournaments in the works? I still like the X-box, but not as much as this gamer.
posted by garfield at 03:36 PM on August 15, 2003
Since it's actually on topic, I guess I'll ask here. The other day I saw a used version of Fifa Rugby for PS2. Has anyone played this? Is it any good? Worth $20 for someone that knows nothing about rugby but is interested in learning?
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:48 PM on August 15, 2003
Um, shit, sorry. EA Sports Rugby. Friday afternoon. *shrug*
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:48 PM on August 15, 2003
EA has decided to not support XBox Live. Yes, right after Sony paid them a ton of money to do so. garfield, take heart: R* is supposed to be releasing both GTAs as a single package for X-Box. I'm a geek with all three major consoles. Two of them online. I'd be playing Madden right now but I'm buying it after we close on a house. Because I'm paranoid the closing will fall through and it'll be because of $50 spent on a videogame.
posted by yerfatma at 05:25 PM on August 15, 2003
pretty sure EA didn't want to support XBox live because it would have required a staff as large as the PC support group and they're too cheap to pay them. XBox somehow ended up with more problems than anything else. (I worked there... supported all EA sports PC games for a while. You should see the actual Console team, there are like 3 people doing every kind of console, because there are not many problems other than bad discs and machines, untill online stuff comes up, whole new can of worms. And of course the online stuff was the hardest to troubleshoot for PC games as well.) I am with the Madden Haters. I can't stand the guy, and he isn't even really that valuable as an intelligent resource, because he never makes any sense. His best days are behind him and I can't believe so many people still enjoy him. I think Walton is actually worse, though...
posted by Bernreuther at 10:00 PM on August 15, 2003
I bought Madden 2000 second hand for the PS1. I haven't played it much. The main problem is that playing defence is just dull. These days I mainly play racing games on the PC: Grand Prix Legends, GP4 and Nascar 2003.
posted by salmacis at 06:03 AM on August 16, 2003
I like Walton. He should be doing the commentary on Madden games. That is all.
posted by corpse at 09:13 AM on August 16, 2003
Oh, and about football games. TECMO SUPER BOWL is the greatest football video game ever.
posted by corpse at 12:57 PM on August 16, 2003
Fun Fact, 24 players are still on NFL rosters that were in TSB, Tim Brown being the only one with the same team.
posted by corpse at 12:59 PM on August 16, 2003
NICE corpse, NICE.
posted by lilnemo at 01:39 PM on August 16, 2003
I didn't expect this thread to become a videogame discussion but i am not unhappy to have provided an outlet. awesome link corpse. Rah for Tim Brown who gets the loyalty award. and Junior Seau has been in the league 14 years? i am older than i thought I was.
posted by gspm at 06:00 PM on August 16, 2003
I think as of last season, there were only 4 active players who appeared in the original Tecmo Bowl. Brown Rice Green Landeta
posted by dales15 at 10:53 AM on August 17, 2003
Madden: Sports' new arbiter of bad luck. Never mind Sports Illustrated. For the most insidious cover jinx in sports, look no farther than EA Sports' blockbuster football franchise.
posted by dusted at 02:50 PM on August 17, 2003
Anyone else have a PS2 online (besides you Yukon)? A SpoFi group would beat the pants of playing the tools that were online last year. A bigger group of sore losers there never was.
posted by yerfatma at 08:05 PM on August 17, 2003
Also, it had nothing to do with supporting XBox Live. It was all about the dum-dum-daddi-dum-dum.
posted by yerfatma at 08:06 PM on August 17, 2003
I have the broadband adaptor for the PS2, though it doesn't get much use. I might consider getting the next NHL game to play online with, but beyond that, I'm not much of a sports video gamer (oddly enough). Save for some racers, of course.
posted by mkn at 03:50 AM on August 18, 2003
Heh, very funny review. I'm no gamer myself, I dropped out after Nintendo 64, but I actually like to watch others play the football games. Somebody smarter than me find a helmet football game for flash friday! Like 10 Yard Fight!