MADDEN '09 IS HERE!!

[Haynie]

I've started a franchise as the Cowboys and played two games. So far, this game is surpassing any previous edition in terms of the smooth controls and more realistic workings of how plays unfold. I'm a little disappointed that they didn't fix the problem with how unstoppable high-rated running backs can be. But other than that, it's great! I especially love that now allow you to sub players in to whatever position you want in a formation. You can play the regular Nickel defense and sub Ware and Ellis in as the defensive ends. It even saves your substitutions over into future games!

One warning... if you're as concerned about rosters matching the rest of the league as I am, be sure to go through the Free Agent list and assign some of those guys to their appropriate teams. A lot of rookies are still sitting in the pool in Madden even though they're signed and playing for their teams now.

[CowboyFan-n-GA]

I just bought mine at lunch and played a minute in the Gamestop Store. It was pretty fun. Will play more tonight. Haynie, do you have ps3 or 360? If you have a 360 add me on live at drnkncamel.

[DonCanabis]

hate you guys I'm out of the States and won't be able to buy it until 2 weeks from now hope you practice because once I got it i'm kicking your arshes on live

[SmilesAustin]

I bought it last night and I LOVE it. Just like Haynie said, the flow of the game is so much smoother. The players seem so much less robotic than they have in previous years. One little thing I like is that if a player drops a ball (but it's not ruled a fumble) somebody else will scoop the ball up anyway and start running with it.

The rosters are a little off, as they usually are. On the Cowboys, you'll have to create Adam Jones because he doesn't exist (at least on the 360 version), I assume because he's still on suspension, but I really thought they could have at least created the guy and put him on the bottom of the depth chart or something. You'll also have to release Terry Glenn because he is listed as the team's 3rd WR.

BUT, an update coming around weeks 4-8 as usual should fix that. I can't remember if they usually update it at the end of preseason, but that would be nice.

This year it is definitely worth buying. I didn't think it could get much better than last year, but it got worlds better than last year. So many little improvements.

[SmilesAustin]

oh and I think my xbox ID is ZacAndAshley if anyone wants to add me. I moved my 360 to the living room though so I'm not connected to live at the moment. Will be back on within a couple weeks though.

[cowboynick]

I play online
XBOX 360 gamertag BBHOSS

[cowboynick]

I just bought mine at lunch and played a minute in the Gamestop Store. It was pretty fun. Will play more tonight. Haynie, do you have ps3 or 360? If you have a 360 add me on live at drnkncamel.[/b]

I added you to my list



oh and I think my xbox ID is ZacAndAshley if anyone wants to add me. I moved my 360 to the living room though so I'm not connected to live at the moment. Will be back on within a couple weeks though.[/b]

Zac it said your gamertag was wrong

[SmilesAustin]

CowboyNick: It could be ZacAshley . I will double check when I get home from work.

We should create Adam Jones as a group (if they don't do it before the season starts) and decide on appropriate skill points/ etc. I think his overall should be about 84, with speed at 95 and agility at 95. The rest I'm not sure about.

[Enlightened27]

Im still stuck on PS2, not only did they leave Adam Jones off of this one, but Orlando Scandrick too. When Adam Jones was on previous games his speed was 96 and Acc was 96 or 97, His Agility was 98 I think.

[CowboyFan-n-GA]

I think they usually release the first update around the first week of the season.

[mcaje]

I got my XX edition.

I've already imported the Rookie draft pools from Roster Kings @ http://www.kingrosters.com/ps3.html for PS3.

It's listed as, "NCAA Football 2000 for the PS3 Draft classes for use on Madden 09 draft years 2009-2012."

I'm playing the new Head Coach game now until Roster Kings updates their site with an update to the Madden Roster.

[Haynie]

They've put out an update already to cover Favre's return. They also moved Shockey to the Saints and Taylor to the Skins. Still no Pacman, though

Here's how I built Pacman:

Speed - 97
Agility - 97
Accel - 98
Aware - 75
Jump - 85
Catch - 70
Carry - 65
Zone Cover - 75
Man Cover - 85
Play Rec - 75
Pursuit - 90
Tackle - 60
Kick Return - 95

[CowboyzAdam]

They may as well Release the updates on Pacman already. They know he will reinstated. Do they really think he would go this long behaving himself and be so close then go out and blow it?

[SmilesAustin]

Those are fair ratings Haynie. I'll have to try them out tonight, though it looks like those ratings would probably put Pac in the 93-95 range overall. That seems high but I'm sure he will live up to it!

[Enlightened27]

They've put out an update already to cover Favre's return. They also moved Shockey to the 'aints and Taylor to the Skins. Still no Pacman, though

Here's how I built Pacman:

Speed - 97
Agility - 97
Accel - 98
Aware - 75
Jump - 85
Catch - 70
Carry - 65
Zone Cover - 75
Man Cover - 85
Play Rec - 75
Pursuit - 90
Tackle - 60
Kick Return - 95[/b]
Whats his break tackle? I need that on the PS2, for his returns.

[CowboyFan-n-GA]

On returns in the game, Sandrick is 93 overall and 97 speed. As a CB He was 73 overall but still the same speed.

[CowboyzAdam]

Actually I think Haynie's Stats are pretty good. I bet you when they do release them there will only be small changes. Good job haynie.

[Enlightened27]

I cant make a player based on his overall, sorry. I need speed, agility, tackle, catch, strength, awareness, and acceleration.

[CowboyFan-n-GA]

Well i will have to look when i get home. I was just going off memory what i could while i was at work.

[Haynie]

The overall was only "84" at these stats. Awareness, Man Cover, and Zone Cover are the major determinators for Cornerbacks. I'd say it works out very fairly.

[Enlightened27]

Thanks Cowboy, I wasnt trying to be rude or anything, thanks again for the help.

[SmilesAustin]

Haha, I'm 7 games into this season, and of course I am 7-0.

I'm still waiting for it to cool off out here so I can get into my attic and run an ethernet cord over to my living room so I can get the roster updates, so for now I'm just goofing off. here's some stuff I've done:

1. Traded Marion Barber and Terry Glenn (since he was still on the team) to Houston for a 1st round draft pick. I played the first game and just loved the speed of Felix Jones. In Madden Football, I prefer the shifty speedy backs to be the starters, and I still have Tashard Choice backing him up.

2. Traded a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick to the Cards for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. No Pacman.... so I figured I'd at least make a dream come true and have Mike Jenkins and DRC on the same team. SICK. Wonder if the Cards would actually go for that?

3. Signed WR Chris Henry. It's just Madden Football, so no trouble for Henry to get into. He's actually rated fairly generously considering I still say he hasn't shown much of anything yet.

4. Traded a 4th rounder, 5th rounder, and Patrick Crayton to the Bills for James Hardy and Steve Slaton. I needed another RB so why not go with another rookie? And I still wish we had taken James Hardy in the draft. I love his size (6'4") and he catches EVERYTHING because he's so big. I love Madden 09 because tall WRs can actually use their height to their advantage.

Romo has a QB rating of 111.5, Felix Jones has about 650 yards (remember I have played 7 games), TO has 600 yards receiving. Roy Williams leads the team in tackles with 53 I believe.

This game is incredibly fun and addicting. I regret trading Barber, though, because in case nobody else has noticed, the RB's legs actually get tired in this game. For instance, they could be completely rested (green light on the playbook), but once you get around 30 carries with a guy like Felix Jones who may not have the highest stamina rating, when he takes the handoff he goes really slow. Feels like his speed is only 75. Tashard Choice doesn't make a good bruiser in the game.

Did anyone notice they gave Barber a 93 for speed? That seems excessive to me. I'd peg him more at 86-89 myself.

[Enlightened27]

The big thing I noticed about Barber on the game is his 99 rating on his break tackle. About the speed, it seems the better a RB does the faster he is in the game. It makes no sense.

The transactions I want to make will be, getting DRC, Desean Jackson, and maybe Quentin Groves (I like to run the 4-6 Defense). I havent started my franchise yet though because I want the updated roster.

[Enlightened27]

I just started my franchise, tired of waiting to get the roster update.

1.) Traded Henry and a 3rd to Arizona for DRC and a 4th.

2.) Signed DJ Shockley on as a project. I love scrambling QBs and hes a Bulldog :D

Steve Slaton isnt on my version of the game and James Hardy is 6'6", thinking about adding him as well.

[DonCanabis]

just got my madden get read for all you don't have me I'm Don Kanabis

[Enlightened27]

I ended up starting my franchise over when I got the updated roster, all I did was trade for Marcus Howard. Pretty good young LB, 87 speed, 89 acc. , 70 strength.

[Enlightened27]

***INJURY REPORT***

In the second quarter against Philly Romo was hit while throwing a TD to Witten. He didnt get up right away and I knew there was trouble. When the report came back it was the worst news possible. Dislocated elbow out 12 weeks. It was only the second game of the season, hope Brad can lead the team to the playoffs. :(

[CowboyzAdam]

***INJURY REPORT***

In the second quarter against Philly Romo was hit while throwing a TD to Witten. He didnt get up right away and I knew there was trouble. When the report came back it was the worst news possible. Dislocated elbow out 12 weeks. It was only the second game of the season, hope Brad can lead the team to the playoffs. :([/b]

You should have turned the injuries off. Madden cheats with them. :P

[Enlightened27]

I try to play it as realistically as possible.

Plus before this game I traded Henry and a 2nd for Devin Hester and a 3rd. I already run the West Coast offense, so having Hester on short passing routes should be no problem, :D

[Enlightened27]

Now that Ive started over with the new roster update, Roy has been tearing it up. Its nice to know that I now have a receiver that will attack the ball, not let the defender just have the INT. I LOVE THIS OFFENSE.

[Nathan]

I traded in my madden. Madden has sucked the past 4 years in a row. Its terrible. The catching is disgusting. The computer AI is horrible. The tackling in this game is horrible, because even Darren Sproles trucks demarcus ware, and same goes for QB. The defense doesnt make any sense, because players dont play their assignments and the game is way too easy. Ive played madden on its hardest difficulty for years, and ever since the 360 came out, there really hasnt been any problem with spanking the CPU by 30. The glitches are also very bad...like the direct snap to any player on the field. Also, the players drop way too many INT and receptions. Also, the player ratings are way too high in this game.

I actually still play ESPN 2k5. I have something called a transport where i download a roster update online and transfer it over to my 360 hardrive. So i play espn with all the up to date rosters. The gameplay is so much better, and so is the presentation. Franchise mode is awesome, and Madden still hasnt made anything close to that game.

[Enlightened27]

Ive played madden on its hardest difficulty for years, and ever since the 360 came out, there really hasnt been any problem with spanking the CPU by 30.[/b]
Well, I can see an argument here, I just finished my season 16-0. I averaged 52 points for and 20.5 against. I love the game though and its playability makes it way better than Sega ever was, its 10 times easier to pick up and play.

BTW, Sega had major issues also, a friend of mine got over 100 sacks with Boss Bailey in a season, and as amazing as that is he only got a 2 point upgrade in progression that year, WTH?