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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15 Jul 2009

Economist: EA's Madden Monopoly Cost Gamers Up To $926 Million

360 News from N4G | Madden NFL 08

360 - Madden NFL 08 - Economist: EA's Madden Monopoly Cost Gamers Up To $926 Million

The high-profile court case against EA Sport's "monopoly" in the NFL market took an interesting turn this week, with an economist brought in to show how much the demise of 2K's competing NFL franchise has cost sports gamers.

Despite admitting his report is based on incomplete data, University of Michigan economics professor Dr. Jeffrey Mackie-Mason has told the the U.S. District Court in San Francisco that EA's domination of the NFL video games market has cost gamers between $701 million and $926 million since 2K's NFL2K series was blocked from competing with EA.
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10 Jun 2009

Federal Judge: Madden Monopoly Suit May Proceed Against EA

360 News from N4G | Madden NFL 08

360 - Madden NFL 08 - Federal Judge: Madden Monopoly Suit May Proceed Against EA

EA had previously requested that Judge Vaughn Walker dismiss claims by Geoffrey Pecover and Jeffrey Lawrence. The two Madden buyers, serving as named plaintiffs in the class-action suit, alleged that by eliminating competition for NFL-licensed games EA had acted in a monopolistic fashion and unjustly enriched itself at the expense of consumers. On Friday Judge Walker issued a ruling denying EA's motion. The Judge did, however, rule that only claims in California and Washington, D.C. would go forward since that is where the two named plaintiffs in the case reside.
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20 Apr 2009

Report: Retired NFL Players Plan to Sue EA, Madden

360 News from N4G | Madden NFL 08

360 - Madden NFL 08 - Report: Retired NFL Players Plan to Sue EA, Madden

His days of calling NFL games on T.V. may be over, but John Madden's retirement might not be as idyllic as he had hoped.

According to a report on former Oakland Raiders lineman Dave Pear's Blog, NFL retirees are planning to go after Madden and Electronic Arts, publisher of the best-selling pro football game which bears the former coach's name.
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18 Nov 2008

$28 Million NFLPA Verdict Reveals Details of EA's Madden Monopoly

360 News from N4G | Madden NFL 08

360 - Madden NFL 08 - $28 Million NFLPA Verdict Reveals Details of EA's Madden Monopoly

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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16 Jun 2008

Video Gamers Sue EA Over Exclusive Sports Games

360 News from N4G | Madden NFL 08

360 - Madden NFL 08 - Video Gamers Sue EA Over Exclusive Sports Games

Sports video games are a huge business -- and for many years, it was an extremely competitive space. I remember a few years back trying to wade through half a dozen different baseball video game titles to figure out which one was worth buying. However, a few years back, video game giant EA started signing "exclusive" deals with a variety of sporting leagues, including the NFL. These "exclusive" deals supposedly meant that only EA could produce games with the names and stats of real players -- a huge selling point among most fans. And, of course, in gaining exclusivity, EA has completely cashed in. However, a bunch of angry video gamers are now suing the company for anticompetitive conduct, noting that these exclusive deals killed off all the competition, allowing EA to drastically raise its prices.
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5 Jun 2008

GTA Rules NPD All-Time U.S. Top 10

360 News from N4G | Madden NFL 08

360 - Madden NFL 08 - GTA Rules NPD All-Time U.S. Top 10

Next-Gen.Biz writes: "The NPD Group has revealed the top 10 selling games of all time in the U.S. market.

Forbes reported earlier this week NPD Group's up-to-date top ten U.S. videogame sales figures by units, revealing a list dominated by the Grand Theft Auto and Madden NFL franchises.

As seen below, GTA: San Andreas from 2004 is the top-selling game in the U.S. with 9.43 million units sold. The franchise shows up on the top 10 three times, while Madden appears four times.

Activision had two 2007 titles already break the top 10 (Guitar Hero III and Call of Duty 4), while EA had one 2007 title on the list in the form of Madden NFL 08."
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22 Apr 2008

Madden NFL 09 LE not seeing a PAL release? - Dimorphic360

360 News from N4G | Madden NFL 08

360 - Madden NFL 08 - Madden NFL 09 LE not seeing a PAL release? - Dimorphic360

Dimorphic360 writes:

"It seems that Australia once again is getting shafted when it comes to limited edition releases of games. First Mass Effect and Devil May Cry 4 were given cut down limited edtion releases (in the case of Mass Effect we only got a small pre-order bonus) and the limited edition bundle of EA Sports Madden franchise looks like the next in line..."
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25 Feb 2008

New Madden Top 50 Rankings

360 News from N4G | Madden NFL 08

360 - Madden NFL 08 - New Madden Top 50 Rankings

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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20 Feb 2008

Madden NFL 08 Becomes the Xbox 360's 12th 2 Million Seller

360 News from N4G | Madden NFL 08

360 - Madden NFL 08 - Madden NFL 08 Becomes the Xbox 360's 12th 2 Million Seller

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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