Thirty years after exiting pro football's coaching ranks, John Madden still knows how to execute a winning game plan.
About to start his 29th year of network NFL broadcasts, Madden has developed a bigger-than-life personality — boisterously punctuating plays with "Bam!" and "Boom!" — and has earned 16 Sports Emmys. He bashed through walls in a string of Miller Lite TV ads in the '80s, and his career in commercials continues for Ace Hardware, Outback Steakhouse, Sirius Radio and "fast-actin' " Tinactin.
Then there's the product he's most known for: the Madden NFL video game. With more than 70 million copies sold, the franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary this year in high style. There'll be a "Maddenpalooza" at L.A.'s Rose Bowl with rock acts and video kiosks. And as usual, lines are expected (and workdays will be missed) when Madden NFL 09 hits retailers at midnight Tuesday.
"We don't so much as launch Madden any more, we celebrate its arrival," says EA Sports president Peter Moore.
Even today, Madden remains incredulous about the game's success and was skeptical from the beginning. "It's easy to say, 'Aw, yeah, hell I saw it coming,' " he says. "But I never did."
In 1986, Trip Hawkins, founder of software firm Electronic Arts, asked Madden to help create a football game. Madden, then with CBS, taught a Football for Fans college course on the side. "I thought maybe I could use this tool, and high schools could use it," he says.
For authenticity, Madden demanded each team have 11 players. It took nearly four years to achieve that technological breakthrough. "In those days, any kind of game was always three on three or four on four," Madden recalls. "I said, 'If it's not 11 on 11, it's not a real game.' It had to look like NFL football."
The first edition of John Madden Football, with blocky, slow, Lego-esque characters, was designed for the Apple II computer. This year's versions, with high-def action and digital facial scans, arrives Tuesday for Xbox 360, Wii and DS handhelds and Sony's PlayStations ($30 to $60; collector's anniversary edition, $90).
Madden helped build EA. "That whole idea of having Madden help design the game, that whole point of authenticity, gave birth to the brand identity for EA Sports," Hawkins says.
The game has generated $2.4 billion in sales since 1995, when research firm NPD Group began tracking sales. "The property has been among the top 10 franchises each and every year, and most of those, it was among the top five," says NPD analyst Anita Frazier. "There are only a handful of elite properties that can claim that sort of success."
Alternative rockers and hip-hop artists vie to be on the soundtrack, just as NFL players jockey to compete in the annual Madden Bowl tournament during Super Bowl week. The game even has a reality show, ESPN's Madden Nation (its fourth season begins next month), with top players competing for $100,000.
The franchise also made John Madden a household icon, right beside Mario and Pokémon. With young teen males, the Madden game ranks with the GameBoy handheld, the Grand Theft Auto franchise and Microsoft's Xbox Live online network in terms of consumer likability, says Henry Schafer of Marketing Evaluations, which produces the so-called Q ratings measuring public affection.
Madden the man rates even higher. His familiarity rating of 60% with the general public and above-average likability rating put him "in the company of Brett Favre and Joe Montana and not that far behind Tiger Woods," Schafer says. "The unusual thing is how pervasive he has become in and out of the sport. He's transcending his profession."
Madden waves off any discussion of his finances. But Madden's Madden earnings, estimated by Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter at $2 million to $3 million a year, make up the largest portion of his income.
His longtime agent, Sandy Montag of IMG, would say that Madden has sustained his client's marketability.
"Arguably, John is known among certain circles more for his video game today than he is for anything else," he says. "He's almost had three separate lives: a coach, a commentator and video game guy."
More juice
Madden executes his daily activities from his studio east of Oakland, built in 1995. Notoriously opposed to flying — he's claustrophobic — Madden re-cords game video and commercials there as well as his Daily Madden 10-minute report on Bay Area radio station KCBS. Not on the premises: his tricked-out motor coach, the Maddencruiser, in which he travels the country. Madden comfortably moves into the role of storyteller, a tactic he uses in the broadcast booth, too.
He says he has gotten used to NFL players' obsession with their portrayal in the game. "I go to practices, and some guy, you don't even know where it came from," he says, before bellowing in his familiar gravelly baritone, " 'Hey, Madden, I need more juice.' They all need more juice."
Over the years, only one player has told him different: former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith.
"I was at a Cowboys facility. They had been playing Madden in the locker room, and he was watching someone play as the Cowboys, and he was saying, 'I was watching me in the game,' and he goes, 'I'm not that good. You have me too good,' " Madden says. "But he was the only one."
NFL players eagerly await the game because it's a popular pastime at preseason football camps — and to see how they rate. "You want to see how the guys who make the game view you," says NFL Network analyst Marshall Faulk, a former All-Pro running back and cover athlete on Madden NFL 2003.
New twists
Madden knew he and the developers had achieved their goal of making the video game seem as if players were controlling an NFL broadcast when he heard Fox Sports chairman David Hill say, "One of the goals (Fox has) is to make their game on television look like a video game," says Madden, who analyzed games on Fox for eight years. "I thought, 'We've gone the whole circle. We wanted to look like them, and then they wanted to look like us.' I'm proud of that."
Each year, Madden adds new features, some for realism and others to feed fantasies. "At one time, it was just playing the game. Then there was ways you can change your roster, and then you can be the general manager and then owner and coach and player," Madden says.
"That's what people want today. They want to be. There was a generation where 'I want to sit and watch.' Now there's a generation where 'I want to sit and do. Or I want to be.' "
In one new feature, Madden appears, in a holographic effect, to administer a skill test when you start the game. You perform several drills (running and passing the ball, tackling and rushing the quarterback) in a virtual training camp. The game uses the resulting rating to adjust to your skills.
"Now they get a grade, so they can see they have a number," says Madden, who also appears for pregame, halftime and postgame analysis. (In the past, he has also handled commentary, but this year Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond make their debut on the newer platforms.)
The L-shaped wing that makes up his office has a replica of the Super Bowl trophy from the Raiders' 1977 win, Emmy statues, a bronzed shoe from his days as a Raiders coach and a Pro Football Hall of Fame bust.
In a weird twist, the video game became part of the Hall five years ago — in its own interactive exhibit — three years before Madden himself was inducted. "It makes me feel the game has been accepted as a historical part of the history of pro football," he says.
In case you haven't heard, this guy, Brett Favre, happened to get traded to the Jets. As it turns out, he was going to be featured on the cover of Madden NFL 09 -- in a Packers uniform -- but we wouldn't want all of those Jets fans to suffer with an incorrect cover. Click the images and you'll get a larger print size for the console of your choice. Sorry, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 only. We'll hopefully have something later in the day on Thursday with an actual photo. Also, check out EA's simulation to see what you can expect with Favre in a Jets uni.
With all the speculation currently surrounding Madden NFL 09 cover athlete Brett Favre and his pending return from retirement, EA SPORTS used Madden NFL 09 to predict how the future Hall of Famer would perform on a select group of NFL teams reported to be in contention for his services. Comparing the full-season simulated results between teams with and without Favre, the Minnesota Vikings stand to gain the most with Favre under center, while the New York Jets also went from missing the play-offs with their current roster, to making the post-season with Favre as their QB.
Brett Favre is currently a playable character in Madden NFL 09, on the "NFL Greats" roster. In Franchise Mode, players can transfer Favre to the free agent roster pool, and pick him up on any of the 32 NFL teams for the 2008 NFL season.
Multiple news reports have named four NFL teams that Brett Favre may play for this coming season - the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings. Listed at
are the results of the 2008 NFL season simulated in Madden NFL 09, with Brett Favre starting for each of these NFL teams.
Available nation-wide August 12, Madden NFL 09, the First Sports Game That Adapts To You, introduces over 85 new features and enhancements. Whether you are a seasoned veteran, or a franchise rookie, Madden NFL 09 will continuously asses your skills and adjust the gameplay to keep the experience both fun and challenging, all while training gamers to become better Madden players. Madden NFL 09 also includes a brand-new broadcast presentation package featuring Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond, online leagues, and the most realistic graphics in franchise history.
Quote of the Day: He who laughs last has not yet heard the bad news. --Bertolt Brecht
John 1:12-13“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”
Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.
Game Informer dissects the overall performances of Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony at E3 2008. Personally, for me, this was the most unimpressive E3 as far as entertainment of the coverage, but there are some “funtastic” video games on the horizon on for each console.
Microsoft As far as the big three console developers are concerned, the general consensus is that Microsoft “won” E3. There’s no doubt that they had the most announcements, new features and even some surprises–an important component the other contenders sorely lacked.
The Good Live In-Game Footage Microsoft gets extra points for showing live footage of their most anticipated titles–not simply showcasing pre-rendered footage and trailers. Watching Todd Howard give Fallout 3 a go, seeing Resident Evil 5 playable for the first time, and checking in on Fable 2 was a treat–even if the geniuses behind the games need to work on their aim.
Co-op Resident Evil 5 How did Microsoft win the right to announce co-op for Resident Evil 5?
Fable 2 Gone Gold, Introduces Orb System When an anticipated game goes gold, it’s always good news. Peter Molyneux began his Fable 2 screen time with the announcement and then proceeded on to highlight a new feature integrated into co-op online play. Via floating purple orbs distributed in the Fable world, players can now instantly invite their friends to play at any point in time during the single-player campaign.
Brumaks And The Horde Sure, Cliffy didn’t spell it out for us, but at the end of our “live” Gears of War 2 demo, Dom and Phoenix implied that we’ll have a chance to mount a Brumak after taking out their pilots. Giggidy giggidy. We also learned of a new five-player co-op mode called Horde, which will pit players and their friends against unending waves of Locusts.
Multimedia Partnerships After playing the numbers game during the Microsoft press conference, Don Mattrick–senior vice president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business unit–announced partnerships with NBC Universal and Efflux. The partnership with NBC Universal allows users to download shows like Heroes, The Office and Battlestar Galactica via Xbox Live. Microsoft also announced that they have entered an exclusive partnership with Netflix, which will allow you to instantly watch more than 10,000 movies and television shows. The best part? There’s no extra cost if you’re already a Netflix Member.
Interface Redesign John Schappert–the corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment Live–unveiled one of the highlights of the entire press conference. A new Xbox 360 interface will be hitting the console with the next system update. The redesigned and retooled interface does away with the current content blades, and instead opts for a simple/sparse tiered design. We wonder if the plan to delist Xbox Live titles will still go forward with this new announcement.
Xbox Live Love Microsoft also announced that Geometry Wars 2 will be making its way exclusively to the Xbox 360 next month and will support four-player co-op. Galaga Legions–a new version of the old-school shooter–will debut around the same time. Lastly, Microsoft also announced Uno Rush, 1 vs. 100, Portal: Still Alive and a new South Park title for XBLA.
Rock Band 2 Tracklist Not only are AC-DC and Bob Dylan confirmed to be on board the Rock Band 2 train, but this will be their first time ever appearing in a music video game. As one would expect, the two rock legends will be joined by dozens of other artists. During the press conference, the entire Rock Band 2 tracklist was revealed. Here at GI, the team is pretty excited about The Replacements and Modest Mouse, among others.
Microsoft Scores Final Fantasy XIII After showing off Star Ocean: The Last Hope and Last Remnant, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada dropped a bomb on us. Final Fantasy XIII will be coming to the Xbox 360. No longer a PlayStation 3 exclusive, Final Fantasy XIII will be releasing for both systems simultaneously.
The Bad No Halo Wars With Halo Wars expected to come out before the end of the year, we figured it would make an appearance at the Microsoft press conference. Sadly, Halo Wars was missing in action. Combine that fact with the decision to halt Bungie’s big E3 announcement from surfacing, and there seems to be no love for the company that was once Microsoft’s bread and butter.
What? Avatars If information about these avatars hadn’t been leaked a few weeks back, this announcement would have been much further out of left field. While the general consensus is that the new Mii knock-offs are fine in theory, the execution of them is up in the air.
Lips There’s no debate when it comes to Lips–the name is outright horrible. However, the game might not be so bad, if you’re into that kind of thing. Lips will allow players to plug in their Zunes or iPods and import DRM-free songs to the game. Lips will also use wireless mics equipped with LEDs and motion sensors to bring a whole new level of realism to the experience. During the press conference, the game was demoed for the first time live by the artist Duffy.
You’re In The Movies Evidently, you have to play You’re In the Movies to really enjoy it. We all agree that it looked pretty goofy on stage, but when tested out with our own GI staff it was decidedly more fun. The game uses the Xbox Live Vision Camera to turn minigames performed on camera into fake movie trailers. Simple, yet entertaining. Take note Nintendo.
Nintendo Well E3 has come and gone. One of the big talks of the show was Nintendo’s press conference sadly because of the lackluster job they did talking about their new line-up.
The Good Nobody Died Nintendo’s press conference wasn’t a total bust. There were definitely some nuggets of info to take away. While they didn’t focus on it at all, there was an announcement of a brand new GTA title for the DS called Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. And that was it, nothing else was revealed. They also announced Animal Crossing: City Folk, which everyone will enjoy. It adds a new auction house for friends and a DS suitcase to bring your saved game in. It’s great that we get a new AC game, but it also leads us into….
The Bad Same Game, Different Name So while AC: City Folk is a new game, we could have never guessed. The game has no updated in graphics at all. Instead, we get a few new features tacked onto a game that’s becoming a Frankenstein. Sure the city is a new concept for the game, but besides adding the auction house all it really does is add new items, move/add a few shops and allow you to stick your Mii’s head on the main character through an in-game mask. If you’re a fan of the series, you deserve more if you’re going to be paying full price (again).
Wii Music Out Of Tune While Nintendo seem to put their biggest focus on it, Wii Music fell flat in front of an entire auditorium of press. It started out pretty cool with a guy ripping it up on a drum set using the Wii remote, nunchuk and balance board. They way he demoed it made it seem like you could just play like you’re at a drum set and the system would track where you hit and correspond to the right cymbal/drum on the set. As it turns out, it’s a convoluted control scheme that’s far from Nintendo’s “friendly” moniker, yet because it’s the Wii, anyone can sound halfway good. The game’s music selection is public domain, Nintendo hits and licensed tracks, and from what we can tell, there’s really no gameplay beyond flailing around to a metronome. It’s not hard to figure out why they made the title (a huge explosion in music games), but we doubt it has the depth or quality to keep anyone busy for too long.
What? Hope You've Been Saving Up What’s up with the new peripherals? Wii MotionPlus works great, but it when we asked a Nintendo rep, he said consumers had to buy it with Wii Sports Resort or separately. New Wii owners will still have to shell out for something that should probably be packed in. Nintendo also left the entire third-party development community out of the loop.
A Sound Investment? The other new piece of hardware announced was Wii Speak. What is essentially a speakerphone for your console; it will bring Nintendo an inch closer to having some sort of structured online service. While we haven’t tried it out, it’s going to be tough to see how it will pick up a players voice from the TV without causing a lot of noise from game sounds and other player’s voices, not to mention any ambient sounds.
Not Phony The last item on the list was the conference itself. From where we were sitting in the Kodak Theater, we had a great view of both the stage and the rest of the press in the audience. Host Cammy Dunaway triggered a few snickers and a lot of perplexing looks as she regaled us with boring stories about breaking her wrist on a ski trip. At one point, we looked over and even saw the teleprompter telling her to “smile” while on stage.
Sony Sony’s press conference wasn’t all that flashy, in spite of what those banks of...flashy...Sony TVs might have had you believe. They showed off a solid lineup of games and features, but didn’t fill the event with too many “wow” moments. However, it’s better to take things conservatively and deliver than attempt to wow a crowd of jaded reporters, analysts and other assorted industry types and fail miserably—remember 2006?
The Good Movie Downloads Sony finally rolled out its movie-download service, and it did so in a big way. Not only did attendees learn about how it worked—with partners including MGM, Disney, Paramount and Sony Pictures—but they also discovered that the service was going live just hours after the official announcement. With all the talk about the PlayStation 3 being a media hub for the living room, it’s great to see more features that support that philosophy. Being able to look at pictures from your digital camera only gets you so far.
LittleBigPlanet Kept The Crowd Awake During the obligatory “here are a bunch of numbers” section of the press conference, Sony Computer Entertainment of America President and CEO Jack Tretton invited Media Molecule’s Alex Evans onto the stage for a little illustrative help. As Tretton trotted out sales projections and other assorted figures, Evans guided LittleBigPlanet’s Sackboy through a custom-built level that was essentially a more entertaining version of the PowerPoint slides we’re all accustomed to. Not only did Tretton get to toot Sony’s horn, he did so in a way that virtually ensured that the audience was actually paying attention.
PSP Gets Lots Of Love Yeah, those movie and TV downloads are cool, but let’s face it—Microsoft got there much earlier. Sony wisely added support for its PSP, though, so users can transfer downloaded programs to the device. For those who like to keep their games and multimedia separate, there are a ton of new PSP titles on the way, including sequels to LocoRoco and Patapon and portable versions of Super Stardust and Resistance. As Tretton pointed out, Sony is the only company with three successful hardware lines, and it’s clear that it’s going to make the most of it.
Say Goodbye To The 40 GB PS3 Sony’s phasing out the 40 GB core PlayStation 3 in favor of a new 80 GB version. While the additional space is already a good deal, better still is the fact that it’s going to sell for the same price: $399. It’ll come bundled with a DualShock 3, too.
The Bad Underwhelming Reveals There wasn’t anything capital-b Bad about Sony’s press conference, but there were plenty of missed opportunities. We all knew God of War III was coming, but getting a quick glimpse at it through a teaser trailer was probably the most underwhelming way to reveal it. Seeing Jim Lee do one-armed pushups was impressive, though his entrance actually upstaged the lackluster footage he showed from DC Universe. We all know what Superman looks like—showing him walking on a street isn’t really all that compelling. How about showing off some of the user-created heroes? And while MAG (Massive Action Game) is a great concept, what with 256-player battles, that’s all we got to see—a video showing off a battle. How about some game footage?
The WTF Nice…Bundle? We like to save money as much as the next person, but Sony’s family-friendly PSP bundle left more than a few of us confused. If you are on the market for a PSP and like A) Ratchet & Clank B) National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets and C) Echochrome, boy, has Sony got a $199 deal for you.
SAs the E3 Media & Business Summit wound down last week, gamers and industry execs chirped up about the state of the show. Speaking with the San Francisco Chronicle last week, Ubisoft North America president Laurent Detoc and Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello both panned this year's show.
"I hate E3 like this," Riccitiello told the paper. "Either we need to go back to the old E3 or we'll have to have our own private events."
Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter was no more charitable, saying the spectacle of the event was dead and the show itself is "headed for extinction" unless the publishers and console makers realize people don't care about it in its current form.
Regardless, there are plans for at least one more E3. A representative with the event's organizers at the Entertainment Software Association affirmed that much for GameSpot today, but gave little indication as to how next year's show will differ.
"As we do every year, we're beginning the process of surveying exhibitors and attendees to determine potential changes to the summit," the representative said. "Once this is completed and shared with the ESA's Board of Directors, we will make an announcement about the specifics of the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit, which will occur."
Like the gunslinging, risk-taking Brett Favre on the cover of Madden™ NFL 09, it's refreshing to see EA shrug off the comfortable check-down pass and toss up a long bomb, risks and all, injecting the twentieth anniversary edition of this most storied franchise with welcome innovation.
While there's no time for marathon sessions during E3 to dig deep into the Franchise and Superstar modes, even just a few minutes of hands-on time reveals a number of features that leap off the screen.
Don't bring that in here, rookie.
Look and Feel
Not since the shift from Xbox to Xbox 360® has EA executed such a dramatic upgrade to the game's look and feel. From the player models to field degradation, stadium ambience, fan detail, weather effects, a host of new animation routines, and a great deal more besides, Madden NFL 09 stands head and shoulders above any of its predecessors.
There are subtler changes at work here, too. For example, player control feels more grounded than ever. Rather than glide across the field, now you get a sense that every step connects with solid turf, every change of direction requires a real effort to change momentum, and every bone-jarring hit, is, well, just that.
Madden Test
The first few moments in-game find the player face to face with Madden himself as he not only offers up an introduction but challenges you to a four-part Madden Test. Upon completing these mini-game challenges Madden NFL 09 custom-creates your own My Skill difficulty setting as well as defining your overall Madden IQ.
I believe this is what you were looking for, number 11.
Gone now (if you choose) are the days of static difficulty settings like All-Pro or All-Madden. Rather, you'll face a different difficulty level for each facet of the game, such as passing defense or rushing offense, based on your test results. Your My Skill rating is re-evaluated after every game you play, readjusting each of the four categories based on your performance.
Collinsworth's Backtrack
Madden NFL 09 marks a return to the classic TV-style presentation, complete with an all-new broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Tom Hammond and the always straight-shooting Cris Collinsworth. Collinsworth in particular comes to the fore with his no-bull color commentary, highlighted by the brand new Backtrack feature.
Critical plays that swing the balance of a game are often given the Backtrack treatment, featuring Collinsworth's dissection of the play from start to finish. Complete with highlighted players, diagrams, and appropriate pauses for Cris to expound on a point, Backtrack isn't just entertaining; it's genuinely informative.
Add one to the tackle stat.
What's more, this feature highlights the play from several different angles, even ending by showcasing which play each team called while positing the selected play's percentage chance of success in the given situation.
Do Over!
Every Madden player has seen their carefully cultivated margin of victory brought to grief by some bone-headed mistake. Whether it's forgetting to pause when the phone rings, only to have the play clock run down, calling a Special Teams defense on mistake, or any number of other slipshod errors, it's human nature to goof on occasion. That doesn't mean it should cost you the game though.
Madden NFL 09 offers a bit of welcome leeway though with the Rewind feature. Depending on the assigned difficulty level or your own custom options, you're given a set number of plays to Rewind at your discretion, allowing you a second chance to dodge a Hail Mary bullet or simply correct a blundered decision.
Madden NFL 09 is a touchdown in any playbook.
Beyond the aforementioned meatier upgrades, here are a few subtle additions sure to catch the Madden veteran's eye:
Active icons: During play in Madden NFL 09 you'll spot button prompts underneath whichever player you're controlling. For example, you might see LB Finesse under a Defensive End prior to the snap or RT Sprint when controlling the running back. Impressively, the button prompts shift to highlight the strengths of a given player.
Madden moments: These historic recreations allow you to relive some of the NFL's most astonishing moments. For example, the Mile High Miracle asks you to drive Green Bay 82 yards down the field for the winning touchdown in overtime against the Broncos.
Huddle Facts: Highlighted now on the play-calling screen are a number of features accessible with a flick of the right thumbstick. For example, you can immediately view a replay without having to pause the game, see a few highlighted stats pertinent to your situation, such as sacks or takeaways, and even view a tip or two.
Fantasy integration: Not only can you now download Madden-specific Fantasy Football tools to host your own offline draft, but you can then upload the results of your draft online, view live stats on gameday and even play your fantasy team in-game.
Madden NFL 09 takes seriously its responsibility for greatness, and for that we can be thankful. Look forward to more coverage as Madden NFL 09 nears launch.
More than a quarter of all video gamers in the United States are over the age of 50, according to new research. And women over the age of 18 are almost twice as likely to play computer games than boys aged 17 or younger.
Quote of the day: A poet who reads his verse in public may have other nasty habits. - Robert Heinlein
Quote of the Day: Alcohol, if taken in sufficient quantities, produces all the effects of intoxication. --Oscar Wilde
Romans 1:16“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.
At the E3 Media & Business Summit today, Nintendo unveiled an enhancement for its iconic Wii Remote controller and new games that promise to further enrich and engage players around the world. These offerings build on Nintendo's ongoing efforts to remove the barriers between expert and novice video game players, an approach that has been instrumental in creating a paradigm shift for the industry since the advent of the Nintendo DS portable system and the Wii home console. "Much has been reported about the 'expanded audience' for games, but what's really at play is an expanded experience," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "People of all ages having fun together-whether in the same room or from remote locations-puts smiles on faces and drives millions of new players into video game entertainment." Wii Sports Resort is not just a simple sequel to one of the world's most popular console games, Wii Sports. It is the first title to make use of another Nintendo advance, the Wii MotionPlus accessory, which plugs into the base of the Wii Remote controller to provide an incredibly realistic motion experience. Scheduled for release in spring 2009, Wii Sports Resort includes new game experiences such as Sword Play, Power Cruising on a water scooter and Disc Dog, along with the new Wii MotionPlus accessory and Wii Remote Jacket at no additional cost. The Wii MotionPlus enhances precision and player immersion for the Nintendo-pioneered motion-controlled gaming trend that has drawn millions of new people to the world of video games. This holiday season, Animal Crossing: City Folk lets players move into a fun community populated by quirky animals. Players can improve their community, chat with the locals or just spend the day fishing and collecting fossils. There is also the opportunity to catch a bus into the new urban city area. Though you'll never see other players in the city, you can connect with them in new ways using WiiConnect24, such as bidding on your friends' items at the auction house or visiting the Happy Room Academy headquarters to see the top-rated player house. Another new feature in Animal Crossing: City Folk is the ability to visit friends' towns and chat with one another using the new WiiSpeak microphone. The WiiSpeak microphone is sold separately at an MSRP of $29.99 and allows Internet voice chat among Wii Friends - not just from person to person but from room to room. Wii Music makes it easy for people to jam to tunes, even if they don't know anything about music. Wii Music transforms the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers into more than 60 different instruments, including a violin, steel drums, electric guitar – even a cowbell. Players strum, shake, tap and drum along to the music in a pressure-free musical playground where there are no mistakes. They can improvise on their arrangements by skipping a note - or adding 10. The music always sounds great, but it's up to players to come up with creative arrangements that they can then send to friends and family who have Wii Music. Those Wii Friends can then put their own spin on the arrangement and send it back and forth over WiiConnect24. Wii Music will be available in the United States for the holidays. In the portable category, Nintendo DS remains on top. Nintendo DS has sold more than 20 million units in the United States and more than 70 million worldwide. Third-party publishers continue to take advantage of that installed base. Coming this winter exclusively to the Nintendo DS is Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, a new entry in Rockstar Games' award-winning and hugely successful Grand Theft Auto franchise. Activision's exclusive Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades makes its anticipated debut this fall, as does a collection of wild and wonderful critters from Electronic Arts' Spore Creatures.
Quote of the day: The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he really is very good, in spite of all the people who say he is very good. - Robert Graves
Quote of the Day: I not only use all the brains I have but all that I can borrow. --Thomas Woodrow Wilson
James 1:21“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.
Fallout 3 Resident Evil 5 (Dated for March 13th 2009 ) Fable 2 (Dated for October 2008 ) Gears of War 2 (Dated for November 7th 2008 )
Movie and TV content featured
A New Dashboard is featured with Avatars Geometry Wars 2 shown for the first time to be available next month New Galaga shown for the first time and to be available next month exclusively on Xbox Live Arcade Portal Still Alive on Xbox Live Arcade with new test chambers and achievements Xbox Community games montage is shown Netflix Partnership announced with no additional cost if you have a Netflix account already Share your Netflix que with your Live Party
More titles are headlined for Xbox 360 (Mention of GTA IV downloadable count for later this year) New Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts trailer is shown New Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise trailer is shown
Scene it? Box office Smash! shown for the first time Your in the Movies is announced and is coming this holiday exclusively on Xbox 360, plus demoed live on the stage with Dan Mattrick. Several of the Vision Cam enable mini games are demoed on stage
Music/rhythm action Games are highlighted 80% of all song downloads attributed to Xbox Live only Guitar Hero World Tour highlighted on Stage REM 3 song track pack will be downloadable from their album Metallica and Van Halen is also mentioned
“Lips” is finally shown for the first time with its new microphone Sing karaoke from your own collection of music
Rock Band 2 shown on stage (Coming this September) 84 track set list shown off (All master tracks) Guns N’ Roses Highlighted Bob Dylan Highlighted AC/DC Highlighted (finally in a music game) 20 bonus tracks will be downloadable this fall for free Rock Band 1 tracks will be exportable into Rock Band 2 (not disc swapping needed)
Square Enix RPG’s are highlighted September 2nd is the release date for Infinite Undiscovery Star Ocean coming spring 2009 The Last Remnant will be released on Xbox 360 first this holiday November 20, 2008(New footage is shown) Lastly a mysterious trailer for ? Here’s the “Oh Shit” moment for RPG fan’s: Final Fantasy 13 will be coming to the Xbox 360
* Of note: No mention of what Bungie is up to or anything from Halo Wars even though it is at the show.
Quote of the day: I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it. - Harry S Truman
Quote of the Day: If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion. --George Bernard Shaw
John 15:10“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.”
Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.
Quote of the day: The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority. - Ralph W. Sockman
Quote of the Day: Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death. --Albert Einstein
Philippians 2:9-11“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.
NCAA Football 09 will unveil the all-new Break Away Animation Engine which allows gamers to break in and out of moves giving the user more direct control as well as instant influence and responsiveness on the field.[1]
Offensive lines will also create bigger holes and create cutback lanes for running backs to utilize.
EA Locker will make it's way into the NCAA Football series, allowing users to exchange fully named rosters online which EA can't sell within the game due to NCAA regulations. Previously, users had to download the free rosters to memory cards or send the cards to roster makers, who would upload a named roster for the price of shipping and handling.
A new feature being brought back is home field advantage, which uses EA's top 25 Toughest Places to Play list to interfere with audibles and more when visiting those stadiums.
Stadiums will now be louder and dynamic to reflect the college gaming, such as reacting to a big play.
There will be a custom stadium sounds feature, allowing user customizable music to create a truly authentic feel to each stadium.
The field and sidelines will be more realistic than previous games like having much more backup players on the sidelines, cheerleaders, and field degrading during the game. Mascots will also be user influenced after a touchdown.
New college player models, including more than 50 alternate uniforms
New online features are also being implemented; including online dynasties and file sharing (includes roster sharing).
New college specific tackling engine
A refined and improved recruiting system
New post-game presentation and play-by-play
Offline cooperative play with up to four players
The ability to return missed field goals
Bluffed play art to prevent people from looking at your playcalls when sitting next to you
Formation audibles
Smart routes
Bobble catches
Better passing control
Mascot Games
Interactive TD celebrations
Post play continuation
All-New Mini Games
QB Quiz to help the quarterback regain composure after a turnover
Quote of the day: The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it. - Dudley Moore
Quote of the Day: Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death. --Albert Einstein
Ephesians 3:20-21“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.
1UP.com reports that the 2.4 firmware update for the PlayStation Network is on the way, and it will finally brings to the table several of the tools and features gamers have been demanding. To help get a grasp on the massive upgrade, we've got our very own video walkthrough showcasing all of the new features. Here's the breakdown of what you'll see:
The Cross-Media Bar is finally accessible in-game, though some features of the XMB can't be used while a game is running in the background.
A robust trophy system (read: Achievements) that can be patched into existing games. Here's to hoping all those Uncharted trinkets won't go to waste!
A new player profile card for you and your friends allows access to and comparison of trophies.
Send and receive text messages from buddies at any time. Voice messaging is still nowhere to be found.
Silver Fox's SpacePhotosProfileFriends
Tools 
