Moans and groans.

When EA demoed Madden NFL 07 for the Xbox 360 before E3 and announced that Superstar mode was not in the game, that's all you could hear from the crowd of journalists.

Let's just say, EA heard the groans loud and clear.
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In the videogame industry, summer usually equals videogame death. Few if any games hit the shelves. Somehow, every publisher magically designs their games to ship between November 21 and November 22, right before Thanksgiving. There are a few exceptions, like last year when 2K Games published Sid Meier's Pirates on Xbox. Or back in 2001 when Sony published Gran Turismo 3 A-spec and Twisted Metal: Black on PS2. Generally, however, summer is the kiss of death for games.

We're happy to say that between now and the end of August a handful of original, worthwhile Xbox 360 games will hit retail stands. If release dates remain concrete as of today then, according to retailers, approximately 11 games will ship this summer, including two football games, one RTS, two first-person shooters, one racing game, one zombie game, one GTA-style urban mayhem title, and North America's first Japanese RPG.

This summer is significant for Microsoft's new system for a couple of reasons. With these games, the Washington-based game manufacturer will continue to establish its foothold in the next-generation space, which should be pretty easy since no other "next-gen" systems are out. This summer we'll see whether EA can truly make the transition from PC to console with The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2's spiffy new controls, we'll get the first localized Japanese RPG on the system with Enchanted Arms, and we'll get the second generation of EA's exclusive NFL football games on Xbox 360 with Madden NFL 07. Plus, on a purely gleeful note, we'll get Prey, a smoking hot first-person shooter that should kick all kinds of ass.

What are the games of summer you ask? IGN has the full story.
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NFL Football is a game where linebackers routinely mow down scrawny-but-nimble defense backs. In previous outings, Madden NFL has focused almost too much on the passing game and quarterback mobility. That's all changing with Madden 2007 for Xbox 360. Electronics Arts will finally add some bone-crunching realism. By pressing B on the controller at the start of a play, you can control any linebacker for a few seconds to create running lanes. Or, you can switch to a wide-out receiver and set up ...
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EA is calling their new control scheme for Madden NFL 07 FreeMotion control... but we call it awesome. The Wii's nunchaku controller gets put to heavy use in the newest iteration for the Madden series and it has to be grabbed to be believed. A number of the movements of real football are aped by the FreeMotion system. When it's time to pass the ball, you have to use your right hand to first hike the ball by snapping your arms back and then throw by arcing your arm forward, mimicking a genuine ...
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The Madden series will be making its way to Nintendo's newly named Wii console as a totally unique product. Going under the working title of Madden Revolution, the game will have the same astonishing detail as other next-gen versions, but you'll interact with the motion-sensitive Wii controller. From the line of scrimmage to the snap, the motion of receiving the ball will have to be mimicked with the controller in hand. Then, to make a pass, you'll have to make the motion of the desired pass ...
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GamePolitics writes: "I've been complaining (some might say whining) since 2005 that EA's exclusive arrangement with the NFL is, at best, a bad deal for gamers.

At worst, it's a monopoly.

Ultimately, the Federal Trade Commission, looked at the Madden issue in relation to EA's merger dance with Take-Two Interactive. But, inasmuch as the FTC pre-approved the EA-T2 deal, its regulators apparently came down against the monopoly view."
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GotFrag.com Madden will release the second edition of its Madden Top 50 on March 1, 2008. In last year's top 50, Eric "Problem" Wright ranked in at No. 1 and that is not expected to change as he recently took this year's Player's Bowl in Philadelphia. However, with strong performances from Dan "Truth Brown, Big Game James and other lower ranked Madden players, how will that shift the rankings?
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Madden NFL 08 has passed the 2 million mark in sales and becomes the 12th Xbox 360 game to do so, increasing the consoles lead over its competitors.

The Nintendo Wii currently has 9 games that have sold over 2 million, while Sony's PS3 sits a distant 3rd with only 4, and only 2 non-bundled.
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Eric "Problem" Wright didn't skip a beat from his Madden Challenge title only months ago as he defeated Big Game James Saturday in the XBox 360 portion of the Player's Bowl.
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Full details on the last roster update for Madden 08 (360, PS3) set to come out today includes all changes to ratings, weapons, transactions, contracts, and all injured players being removed from IR.
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