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Madden NFL 09
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Madden NFL 09 is an American football video game based on the National Football League that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 20th annual installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise. The game was released for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360 consoles, as well as mobile devices. Unlike previous versions, the game was not released for the PC. EA Sports has said that they are "retooling the PC version" after not making 09.
The Wii version of the game is titled Madden NFL 09 All-Play and was launched under EA Sports' new All-Play brand exclusive to the platform, taking a slightly different approach to the game and taking advantage of the motion controls.
The 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition of Madden NFL 09 includes NFL Head Coach 09, an alternative case, an exclusive version of John Madden Football '93 with updated teams and rosters and bonus video content and clips.
A demo of the game was released on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network.
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Encyclopedia
Madden NFL 09 is an American football video game based on the National Football League that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 20th annual installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise. The game was released for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360 consoles, as well as mobile devices. Unlike previous versions, the game was not released for the PC. EA Sports has said that they are "retooling the PC version" after not making 09.
The Wii version of the game is titled Madden NFL 09 All-Play and was launched under EA Sports' new All-Play brand exclusive to the platform, taking a slightly different approach to the game and taking advantage of the motion controls.
The 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition of Madden NFL 09 includes NFL Head Coach 09, an alternative case, an exclusive version of John Madden Football '93 with updated teams and rosters and bonus video content and clips.
A demo of the game was released on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network. The standard version and the anniversary package were released on August 12, 2008.
A Spanish language version of the game was released on September 17, 2008 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.
As of September 30, 2008, the game has sold 4.5 million copies, according to Electronic Arts.
Features
Note: Some of these features may only apply to the PS3 and XBox360 versions of the game.
Teams
Presentation
- New Booth Commentators: The game featured the two man broadcast team of Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth, but the PS2, PSP, Xbox and Wii versions still retained the broadcast team of Al Michaels and John Madden.
- Broadcast Plus Presentation Styles/EA Sports Ticker: Starting line-up banners, New coin toss and pre-game introduction, brand new Banner System, Pre-game visuals such as Stadium fly-in and exterior. The game will be branded with EA Sports Broadcast look including new camera angles. Also a new ticker that drives home the new broadcast look.
- Enhanced Play Calling System: Picture-in-Picture play calling system that streamlines important information to the user that includes Instant Replay, Stats and Accessibility hints. Also on demand access and the ability to make substitutions directly on play call gives more flexibility to the play call screen.
- New Cameras: New playable cameras keep more of the action on the screen by making sure you can see all of your receivers. It also focuses on big moments such as break-aways and hard hits. Also a variety of new pre-play and post-play cameras
- Improved sidelines: More people on the sideline, including a variety of security, coaches, and players. These characters have more activity and emotions than previous versions. However, there is still a problem with realism due to there being no officials seen (including chain gang)
Online
- Video Highlights: capture moments and create a highlight clip that can be uploaded to EA Sports World to share with friends.
- Improved online leagues: server-based leagues, supporting up to 75 players, with full schedules including the playoffs (up to seven rounds) and the Super Bowl as well as draft and trade support. Schedules can be played in a round-robin style as well.
Graphics
- Improved Graphics: Improved stadium models, new weather effects such as snow, rain & "movie weather", new lighting models, new realistic player models,improved team fans, field goal nets, and clear visors. Players can now see the football players have mud, rain, and snow on their jerseys.....
Supporting features
- Revamped franchise mode: Simulated stats have been improved (e.g. fewer running backs gaining 2,000+ yards in one season)
- Return of Last-Gen Features: Grudge Match, Bluff Play Art, Set Audibles, Slide Protection, Formation Subs on play call.
- Madden Moments: re-play through a number of real-life situations from the 2007-2008 NFL season.
- Rivalries: rivalry games have special value, play-off games have more crowd and television intensity and different presentation elements.
Gameplay features
- Total Control Animation System: this feature gives you the ability to break out of a tackle when a defender has you in his grasp. Use special moves such as Spin or Stiff Arm to break out of the tackle.
- Playbook Renovation: including team specific defensive playbook & new offense playbooks.
- User Celebrations: celebrate how you want with total control of your player (eg. Lambeau Leap, dunk ball over goal post, ram head-first into the wall like Gus Frerotte, etc.)
- Gameplay Tuning: lots of tuning items and smaller features aimed at getting gameplay feeling better and more realistic.
- Weather Specific Animations: weather will have visual effect on gameplay with slipping, sliding, and other animations specific to bad weather conditions.
- Other features: return missed field goals, bobble catches, pass tuning, set audibles, slide protection, bluff play art, smart routes, post play continuation, post play help-ups, ball carrier combo moves, live pre-play defense, new wrap-up tackling system, improved foot pinning, new catch system, gameplay slider, realistic fatigue, improved gang tackles, true penalty based animations, new fumble system, new player weapon types, new tackling engine & animations
- New Running/Ball-Carrier Engine: total control system, new transition system, character grounding with foot-plant, new procedural animation system, realistic momentum, new locomotion system, improved visuals and animations, left and right stick moves, directional diving....
Wii exclusive features
Madden NFL 09 All-Play for the Wii has several new exclusive features:
- 5 on 5 Mode : A new, faster paced arcade style football mode played on a smaller field. Ironically, one of the main sticking points John Madden demanded in a football video game before he put his name on it was that it had to be "real", 11-on-11 football.The plays you can call on offense is short pass, medium pass, long pass, or run. The plays you can call on defence is cover short, cover medium, cover long and blitz.
- All New Playcalling: Three unique playbooks are available based on difficulty, ranging from Easy to Advanced.
- Call Your Shots: Call Your Shots allows the player to create his or her own plays on the fly and direct receivers where they should run, using the pointer function of the Wii Remote. It can be easily applied in-game by pressing the A button and drawing the corresponding player's route.
- Celebrate Your Success: Allows the player to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to trigger celebrations after a touchdown, interception, or sack. By successfully doing this, players receive a small performance boost that enhances their gameplay. This mode is applied when you score a touchdown, sack a QB, or anything of the positive subject.
- Improved Tackling System: Swing the Wii Remote to deliver big hits.
- Easy field Goal kicks Just hold the A button and swing the Wii Remote forward.
DS exclusive features
- Fun, Accessible Family Play—Now anybody can dominate the game like a pro with all-new EA SPORTS Rookie Mode. Simplified playcalling controls and an easy-to-use passing system make Madden NFL 09 the most accessible football game ever.
- All-New Playcalling—Players of all skill levels can be competitive by calling plays from three unique playbooks, ranging from Easy to Advanced. Intelligent Coach Tips provide instant feedback to help you become a better player on the fly.
- Deliver Big Hits with Ease—Dominate on the defensive side of the ball with an all-new one-button control scheme featuring assisted player movement allowing new players to enjoy early success.
- New Player Indicators—Find the open man effortlessly with the help of new open receiver icons identifying who’s open or covered. Wide-open receivers help you out even more, calling for the ball by waving their arms. Player indicators also tell you when to evade an approaching defender or perform a crushing tackle.
- Wi-Fi Multiplayer Returns—Back by popular demand, play head-to-head against a friend over Wi- Fi, including single-card mode that allows you to challenge anyone with a Nintendo DS, or play with up to seven other players in Wireless mode.
- All-New Rec Room Mini-Games—Push your football skills to the limit with all-new mini-games made exclusively for the DS.
- Includes DGamer -the all new online community exclusively for Disney gamers. Create unique 3-D avatars, create a persistent profile, chat with friends in an NFL chat room, earn in-game honors and unlock exclusive Disney and ESPN content.
PSP exclusive features
The PlayStation Portable has many features different from other versions of Madden '09.
- Rookie mode : A feature for players that allows them to use only the X button to perform passes, Tackles and Big Hits.
- All New Defensive Camera : A new camera when you're on defense flipped 180 degrees from the original view. Instead of the camera facing the offense when you are playing defense, it faces the defense to immerse you in the action.
- All new player indicators : New Receiver icons that tell you if they are open or covered (shown green if open, red if covered). A new indicator tells you when to evade defenders or tackle a opposing player. A green dot indicates open receivers in Rookie mode, and red dots indicate covered receivers. Press X to evade and tackle in Rookie mode.
- Updated Superstar Challenge: The game mode from Madden NFL 08 PSP edition returns, updated with challenges from the 2007 NFL season.
Tier 1:
Soundtrack
Cover athlete
On April 24, 2008, David Letterman revealed that then-retired former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre would be the cover athlete of Madden NFL 09 on the Late Show with David Letterman. Despite Favre's later unretirement and subsequent trade to the New York Jets about five days before Madden NFL 09 was officially released in North America, the game's cover still features Favre wearing a Packers uniform. Instead of reissuing the packaging, On August 11, 2008, EA made available a free alternate cover of Favre in a Jets uniform from their website that players are able to download and print. At first the new covers were available for all the consoles except the Xbox, Nintendo DS, and Wii, which use an alternate cover. On September 15, 2008, EA made available a cover shot specifically for the Wii that had Brett Favre as a Jet.
Favre is a playable character in every version of Madden NFL 09 except for the PS2 version on the "NFL Greats" roster. He is not available at all in the Nintendo DS version. On the PSP edition, he is not on the Jets roster, but is available on a historic team, the 2007 Packers. 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. A roster update on August 12, 2008 places Favre on the New York Jets roster as their starting quarterback.
Like all other games of EA Sports' 09 Season, the "All Play" version of Madden seen on the Wii features a different photograph of Favre with different artwork than all other versions of the game.
The Anniversary Collector's Edition does not feature a cover athlete - it has a larger version of the Roman numeral XX logo shown in the top-left corner of the game's standard cover.
Roberto Garza, a starting Guard for the Chicago Bears, is the cover athlete for the Spanish language version, Madden NFL 09 en Español.
Presentation
Play-by-play and color commentary is provided by Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth, respectively. Al Michaels and John Madden are still the play-by-play and color commentary for the Wii, PS2, Xbox, and PSP versions. EA designers have confirmed that John Madden does play a part in Madden 09 as the person describing instructions to the Madden IQ. Madden guides the player on advice and other things to help raise his or her Madden IQ. Madden also appears in Mii form in the Wii version of the game, suggesting plays to run in the game's "Madden's Pick" feature, with a specific reason so new players can learn to call their own plays.
EA's relationship with ESPN also enables tie-ins with different ESPN shows.
Reception
Madden NFL 09 for the Xbox 360 received a 9 out of 10 rating from Xbox Magazine, as well as four out of five stars and Game of the Month from PlayStation: The Official Magazine. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions got an 8.8/10 from IGN and the Wii version got an 8.6 out of 10, receiving only 0.2 points less than it's Sony and Microsoft counterparts from IGN.com X-Play gave Madden 09 a 5 out of 5. GameSpot gave Madden NFL 09 an 8 out of 10, for both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. GameSpot gave the Wii version 7.0/10.
As of September 30, 2008, the game has sold 4.5 million copies, according to Electronic Arts. According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, the game has sold 2.958 million copies in the United States, 35,000 in the United Kingdom, and 1,000 in Japan, respectively, for a total of 2.994 million copies as of October 1, 2008. The Xbox 360 version was the 18th best-selling game of December 2008 in the United States. It was also the ninth best-selling game of 2008, selling in excess of 1.87 million copies. The PlayStation 2, 3, and Portable versions were the second, seventh, and first best-selling games respectively for their respective consoles of December 2008 in the United States.
Issues
Recently after the release of Madden NFL 09, consumers began reporting several freezing errors in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game. EA has since confirmed the issue, and stated that they are working on a patch for the two consoles to locate the source of the freezing and fix the issue. However, this problem has caused many gamers to doubt the advantages of games being able to be patched on consoles, and instead gamers have criticized this 'feature' for allowing companies to rush games and rely on post-release patches to fix the issues that consumers themselves find.
See also
External links
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