I am buying Madden on PS3, so I seriously doubt that Gameflow is killing disc space on a Blu Ray. In fact, I doubt that they have reached the capacity on a DVD either. Gameflow seems to be mostly data and audio driven. Madden isnt heavy on video or lengthly cutscenes. So I am guessing the addition of Gameflow didn't impact space that much. But I could be wrong...

You are absolutely right in the fact that people have the right to bash if they want. We are entitled to our opinions. I just wish that a) people would try to full product first, and b) stop dwelling on the subject. If you dont like it, you dont like it. State ther reasons why and keep it moving. People who bash Madden every minute they get are just as annoying as 2K5 fanboys who wont let go.

Madden has made some strides this year. I only play online, No franchise etc, and the demo did good, but I guess peopl are still mad about the exclusive contract with the NFL. I was really upset about it for the past 3 years. I started to really miss 2k. BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO worked hard on it 80 HRS A WEEK, thank you, it's just not what i'm looking for. I let go because college football 2k and Backbreaker, should be made in 2011. The Ea college contract is over this year

@cwaash020: Okay. I think people have to realize that folks are not just "bashing" Madden, but rather calling them out for actually having a lackluster game. I have played every madden that has existed, so don't call me a 2K fanboy, but the effort from the two companies are not the same.

The lack of presentation, botched commentary, and general innovation is baffling for most people. How is it that John Madden and Al sounded great last gen during games, but this gen we have commentators who rarely (if ever) communicate during the game? Gameflow is a good idea in theory, but it is not something that seems to be effective for HUM vs. HUM.

I like certain aspects of Madden 11 and will be picking it up. However, 2K while far from perfect, did the damn thing for NFL 2K5. There was no patches (although it needed a couple) and yet the game is still playable til this day.

If EA/Ian were not creating these excuses about what is and is not possible in a one year cycle, people would not be so hard on them. But they say one thing and then do another. If you see it on Sunday, You will See it in Madden. Well my friend we are waiting (6years and counting; 3for Ian) to see that day....other than just being able to pop in 2K5. They still don't call half the penalties you see in NFL 2K5 in Madden. I've had OFF-Setting Penalities in 2K5...Madden you are hard pressed to get anything more than a holding penalty.

The Extra Point was supposed to be worked on this year....so when people saw it missing all together, they really wanted to know what happened. Presentation is key in any game but especially sports games....

Great Blog... it's like your in my head!!

@bigsmallwood - you have some valid points and I wont consider you to be a 2K fanboy. I have already mentioned that 2K5 excelled in presentation. I also never said that Madden 11 was better overall than 2K5 in it's time. But can you tell me, other than the ESPN integration/presentation and maybe the 2K Crib what made 2K5 so much more innovative than Madden? Some people (myself NOT included) would argue that Madden 05 was the best football game that year.

Another thing - while the commentary in the Madden demo was full of issues, the 2K5 commentary wasn't much better. Those two repeated several lines over, and over, and over again. I do agree with you though about Gameflow. I think it's a component of the game that's more suitable for single player modes.

Did you pick up Madden 06 or 07 this generation? Plop that in your PS3/360 and tell if EA has not made strides in the last 4 or 5 years. They might not have included everything that everyone wants to see, but no game has.

2K had their attempt this generation with APF 2K8. Sure they were limited without the NFL license, but that didn't stop them from making a decent game. But you know what was missing from APF 2K8?? Good presentation, a major graphical upgrade, and a franchise mode. But I dont hear people mention that. I will admit that the gameplay was still as amazing as 2K5s though.

I want 2K sports to release another football game to give us a choice to choose another good alternative. I was devastated when EA took sole possession of the NFL license. But it is what it is. Luckily this year I think Madden is a good enough option to purchase. But that's just my opinion.

cwash - I think it's a combo of antiquated code and, possibly, DVD storage space. Max DVD capacity is under 15GBs. Think about that for a second. I think apart of the reason EA drops some features to add in new ones is because of disc space and this really should only apply to the 360 and the Wii but I won't even count the Wii in this.

Now, think about the max capacity of a Blu-ray - 50GBs. What a difference and as we all know, the PS3 is the ONLY current console with Blu-ray. You think EA will give the PS3 the biggest and best Madden they can because of this? Nope, not with MS on the other side of things. MS would be KILLED behind the idea of EA developing a Madden on the PS3 that would outdo what could be done on the 360 due to more disc space. Too much politics involved in such a move, not to mention, I don't think EA wants devs to lead with the PS3 as it would take too much time to get a better grip on what the PS3 can do and utilize all that storage space.

As for the Madden bashing, eh, I really don't care anymore cuz I see how it's going down and what's the use of trying to convince someone otherwise? Madden ain't going nowhwere and EA keep's trying to make the game better. I see the effort and that's all that matters to me. I'll be picking Madden 11 up Tues. morning. Nuff...

@cwash020: NFL 2K5 innovated by using motion capture in a very unique way. They used 32 NFL players from Superstars down to scrubs and that helped them to spawn the differences in animations and also talent in the game. was NFL 2K5 better than Madden 05....on the field Madden 05 was better in a lot of regards...but Overall 2K5 was the winner. There was the ability to create a gameplan week to week against your opponents in 2K5....Madden is just now adding it in their own way.

Madden has most definitely made strides...but it needs to be on another planet by now. ANd they actually have the $$$ and Manpower to make it happen...AllPro 2K8 had neither...minus an NFL license as well. ANd the gameplay on the field was still solid.

I am buying Madden 11 and hoping that Madden 12 is the game we have all been waiting on! Much Respect!

@Trey - Good point about the storage issue. It could be a bigger problem than what I am making it out to be. I know MS is limited in many ways with the low storage capacity. Here's hoping that next generation will remedy that with digital downloads, or whatever method they plan on using.

@bigsmallwood - Good luck with Madden 11 this year. Here's hoping that Madden 12 is indeed revolutionary, or that 2K sports gets back on the football field soon. Can you imagine how NFL 2K11 would be with the natural progression between 2K5 and now?? SICK!!!!

@clutch masta - What are you talking about? I fully understand that some games are ported from the 360 to the PS3. But I still dont necessarily buy in to your theory that Gameflow is the space hog you make it out to be. I think it's a combination of things.

You guys can "Bash" all you want, but I guarantee all your asses will be out at Midnight to get your copy of the game, so STOP COMPLAINING.......
and to quote my boy Forest Gump "That's All I Have To Say About That"

Haven't played Madden in 7 years. Won't be getting this one.

i bought both games in 05 madden and 2k, bought madden seen da 2k i was woed read stories leading up 2 release then was shocked wen they dropped the price i all almost cnt believe it on top of that the game came out a month early i cnt believe it it everything that a nfl game was suppose to have, dnt bash why not 2k, gave everything we wanted in a nfl game and we dnt have to ask or remind them ether was madden 05 good yes but 2k football was better overall.lately ea have not done any justice since they bought the licences so stop trying 2 cover it up. ea needs to step up cuz when 2k football comes back ea gonna wish they did, 2k football will return soon as the license runs out. how sweet

You're liable to be waiting a long time for 2K to make another NFL game. They probably won't exist by the time the license expire. LOL!

@clutch - Homie, you have been talking in circles from the jump. We get it...you dont like Gameflow. It's cool - you are entitled to you opinion. But to say Gameflow is not needed just because it is a feature you dont like is borderline idiotic. I can think of several sports game components that I didnt like in the past (1st person football, family play, etc...) but that does not mean they shouldnt be in the game. EA and 2K Sports are not stupid. The reason they are still in the industry is because they do their research. For every one person who hates Gameflow, chances are one person will like it.