NFL video games

[26 and counting]

I've been considering getting an NFL video game, because now that baseball season's over I need something else to get into. I can either get one for my PC, or I also have Nintendo GameCube. Is Madden still the best NFL game out there, or have the others caught up? I haven't been following the football gaming scene in quite a while, so if any of you could give me an opinion, that would be cool.

[thestupidpunk]

Originally posted by 26 and counting
I've been considering getting an NFL video game, because now that baseball season's over I need something else to get into. I can either get one for my PC, or I also have Nintendo GameCube. Is Madden still the best NFL game out there, or have the others caught up? I haven't been following the football gaming scene in quite a while, so if any of you could give me an opinion, that would be cool.

I don't know about the other games, but my bf has Madden 05 and it is very, very good graphics-wise, playability-wise, and just having so many options to play with.

[BroadwayBomber55]

The Madden franchise from EA Sports has been the most popular and the most dominant football video game franchise. I remember Madden and NFL Gameday from 989 Sports went head-to-head, but Madden blew them away. Now, ESPN's NFL series is challenging them.

[ConnYanksFan]

I own Madden and it's a fun game with enough upgrades from past versions IMO to pay $50 for. However, I'm addicted to NCAA Football 2005. That's by far the best football game this year.

[26 and counting]

I decided to get Madden. I've only played it for about 20 minutes so far, but the graphics are amazing, and there are a lot of things to do in the dynasty mode, so it should keep me quite busy for a while.

[Buck Foston]

Looks like there won't be a choice for at least the next five years...

NFL & Players Union reach Exclusive Deal with EA Sports

excerpt:
Electronic Arts, the leading maker of sports video games, signed an exclusive five-year contract with the National Football League and the NFL Players Association, deals that will give the company sole possession of the licensed football video game business.

Sigh...2k5 was such a great game.

(sorry to ressurect an old thread...I don't have enough posts for a new one)

[BroadwayBomber55]

I still say EA Sports Madden series is the best video football game in the world, but ESPN is makin' a challenge.

[dabomb2045]

ever since I bought the very first Madden for my SNES until playing Madden 05 on my xbox....I will say that Madden has always been the best and still is the best....Ive played the 989 sports games that challenged Madden in the late 90s/early 00s and ive played 2k5 and it just doesnt compare in my eyes

[reelbiggecko]

I've owned every Madden since 2003 and have been playing since the late 90s. In the past 3-4 years the franchise has taken monumental leaps forward, and is just fantastic now. The king until it is dethroned, and with that new deal it looks like it won't be dethroned for a while. Let's just hope EA doesn't start slacking off now that they have exclusive rights to the NFLPA.

[Buck Foston]

Originally posted by reelbiggecko
I've owned every Madden since 2003 and have been playing since the late 90s. In the past 3-4 years the franchise has taken monumental leaps forward, and is just fantastic now. The king until it is dethroned, and with that new deal it looks like it won't be dethroned for a while. Let's just hope EA doesn't start slacking off now that they have exclusive rights to the NFLPA.

It's the NFL and the PA...so nobody else can use real teams or players.

I think its terrible for the video game business, and terrible for fans. Even if you think Madden is better, having ESPN as competition year in and year out forced Madden to keep improving its product with each new season, and having a high-quality, low-price alternative brought Madden down to "classic" rates sooner than in previous years.

If EA decides to make nominal improvements to next year's version, and charge $100 for it, we're just SOL because we've got no alternative.

[reelbiggecko]

Originally posted by Buck Foston


It's the NFL and the PA...so nobody else can use real teams or players.

I think its terrible for the video game business, and terrible for fans. Even if you think Madden is better, having ESPN as competition year in and year out forced Madden to keep improving its product with each new season, and having a high-quality, low-price alternative brought Madden down to "classic" rates sooner than in previous years.

If EA decides to make nominal improvements to next year's version, and charge $100 for it, we're just SOL because we've got no alternative.

Well I agree with you that it's bad for the industry, because it gives EA a chance to slack off. That said, before this year when ESPN started charging $19.99 for its sports games, Madden went through a stretch where it didn't have any real competition anyways. That, coupled for a fact that it still needs to be competitive within the videogame market as a whole, should stop EA from doing anything stupid.

[RIREDSOXFAN]

How about a football game that can be played by someone in their 40's?
I can't for the life of me work those controls, please bring back Atari!

[TyWebb]

I haven't played a Madden game since I had a Sega Genesis, but I recently bought the $20 ESPN 2K5 game for the PS2 and it's pretty good. I can't tell you if it's any better than the others out there, but I do think it's well worth the $20 price. Even if you don't like it, it's not much of a hit to the wallet.

That said, I have a few questions for the gamers out there about this game. Any help would be appreciated.

1.) In the scenarios, I noticed that some of the players aren't there. For example, I did one of the 49ers Super Bowl ones and the QB was #13. Why isn't it Montana (#16)? Do I have to do something to unlock him? If so, does anybody know what?

2.) This is similar, in the all time teams, I played one with the '86 Giants and there was no Simms, etc. Can I unlock him and others? How?

3.) "The Crib." Do I have to buy that stuff? Does it help me? I'm not really interested in buying Amani Toomer posters and Donte Hall bobbleheads...I just want to play football. Are the 2nd and 3rd catalogs where I unlock the all time players? If so, How do I "unlock" those catalogs?

4.) I have a franchise going, and I was wondering if I can play with that team against current NFL teams and the all-time teams. I really want to give the 2000 Ravens a taste of MY football Giants. Can I do this?

5.) Intercepting a pass. The manual says to push R1 in the path of the ball to pick it off. There have been many, many times where I stood right in the path of the ball, pushed R1 only to have it bounce right off my CB's hands. Do I have to time it perfectly? I'm having more trouble with it than I think I should.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Originally posted by dabomb2045
ever since I bought the very first Madden for my SNES until playing Madden 05 on my xbox....I will say that Madden has always been the best and still is the best....Ive played the 989 sports games that challenged Madden in the late 90s/early 00s and ive played 2k5 and it just doesnt compare in my eyes

I actually thought Gameday was better than the PS1 Madden, I actually stopped playing Madden until the PS2 version came out. These days, nothing beats Madden.