Madden 2005 is out
 

Well.. Sorta.. Gotta love wal mart putting games out early :)

For the PC?

Darn - I'm jealous (which is odd since I'm having quite a lot of fun playing ESPN) but I'm on call so I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow when my EB games gets it :)

Can't get it for a while. Wife let me get Doom 3 This weekend.

They aren't supposed to sell the game until midnight tomorrow night

PC release is a couple weeks off still I think (end of august). This should be the console versions.

Eh, I already pre-ordered the SE from an EB Games store down the street. I'll have to see if they have it tomorrow or if WalMart has the SE.

So the official store release date is Tuesday?

Did you get a PC copy?

no.. got a xbox copy.. which my friends are monopolizing upstairs hah :)

12th is the official date, I believe it "ships" Tuesday so EA pre-orders would get it on Wed (day early as usual) but stores differ depending on when they get shipments hence WalMart has it early.

Can't find an official date for PC but I think it's August 24th or something.

Did they have PS2 Special Editions?

I think the PC version isn't going to be out for a few more weeks unless I'm remembering incorrectly. My EB games said they are allowed to release it after 6 PM tomorrow night to pre-order customers. I'm anxiously looking forward to getting it (x-box version - my first time ever with Madden on the X-Box)

Got it today as well. Probably won't get any time to play it until this weekend.

If true, that stinks about the PC version...

According to Gamespot, the release date for Madden on the PC is 9/8/04. Also, I remember reading an interview where they explained Madden would come out later on the PC so they "could finetune gameplay for the PC market."

Is the PS2 Special Edition at WalMart also?

Damn.. should I goto Walmart tonight?


Just kidding... Gamestop is supposed to be getting them in around 2-3pm tomorrow. :)


Todd

I purchased ESPN already. Is Madden going to be worth it? I was thinking of getting the collector's edition anyway. Is that only for PS2?

I'm going to see if Target has one in tomorrow (or today).

collectors edition is only for ps2 sadly

PS2 only. Not a bad deal. Have ESPN on the Xbox, so this will give me some PS2 action.

Does that new Net Extender, to make PS2 wireless, work? How are leagues going to work for Madden?

Mine is supposed to be available 6pm tomorrow at EB. :)

Yes! Madden is scheduled for 3pm tomorrow 8/9 at my house, it usually gets here at between 11 and 3 from fedex. My loins are quivering with anticipation.

your using my phrase

let me know when they make a version with unlimited seasons in franchise mode....then i will buy one again

What is the limit at now? 20 seasons? 30 seasons? 40 seasons? I thought it was 40. I know people play the game very differently, but I can't see this ever being an issue for me. I don't think I've ever gotten past the 5th season in Madden, ever. That usually involves simulating one entire season to actually get some talent on the Lions roster. Don't reckon I will have to do that this time around. The Lions should be pretty decent right out of the gate.

I think I once got through 10 seasons in NCAA (last year's version). Though I simulated through the first 4 seasons to get rid of the "number" players.

I've played every year it has had a franchise mode and have never needed more than the number of provided seasons. I dont play Madden as an FOF type sim.

I've never reached the limit either, but to each his own.

Fingers maybe, but loins?

Madden 2001 was the only Madden that I went through all 30 seasons.

Obviously you aren't playing the game correctly...

The furthest I have gotten is 9 seasons. I play out at least half of my games every season, so I'v never seen the season limit as a problem. I just found out my 2 and 3 PM patients cancelled! I wonder if they did it because of Madden (they are both teenage boys ;) )

In any case, I'll be out of work at noon as a result, and since the store is right by my house, I'll see if it somehow came in early :)

Otherwise, it is supposed to be in by 6 PM.

I'll have it tonight around 6-ish. Just talked to EB.

I just stopped by my EB on the way home from work. It's not going to be in here until around 6ish as well.

Once again as usual, all of the places here wont be getting the game until tommorow.

3pm today baby!


Todd

Madden 2005 rosters for Xbox (Official EA Download from XBox Live at Aug 8, 2004)

Here: http://www.madden04.com/files/pafile...ion=file&id=65

Madden 2005 slider settings:

Here: http://www.maddenwishlist.com/sliders2005.php


Todd

Thanks for the links. I look forward to trying those sliders out today.

that was the point

I just got the call. Off to EB games :)

Dola -

Glad that I didn't have to wait in line for 3 hours like I did last year when there was a couple of hundred people ahead of me. I was one of the first in line today and only had wait for about 15 people ahead of me. Of course, since this EB is new, there were "only" approximately 300 pre-orders for Madden according to the manager. Anyway, guess I'll be playing Madden until the Redskins game comes on :)

touche'

Yay, only another month of reading reviews, suggestions and dyansties until I get it for PC!

Yeesh. I hate when the release dates are that far apart, almost makes me want to buy it for the GC, ah well, patience and all that fun stuff.

Not out. Target won't have them on shelf until around 1 p.m. Thursday.

Gotta wait for the PC version. Continue FOF career for now.

I have mine in the Xbox, will post impressions later tonight. I'm going to play a game on All-Pro defaults and go from there, until I'm good enough for All-Madden.


Todd

There is an option that says, "NEW: Coach Mode (on/off)" on the settings screen for those who like that option.


Todd

I played my first game on All-Madden using the linked sliders in this thread. I had a pretty good game. I accidently exited before writing down all of the stats, but I had about 250 yards passing with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Terrell was my main guy.

The Giants Will Allen did a respectable job shutting Terrell down, but I got him open on some crosses.

Kurt Warner and Toomer tore up my defense pretty good with mostly short passes. Kearse got two sacks on him. The Giants had a better pass percentage. Overall, it was a fun game.

It's impossible not to compare this game to ESPN.

Some random thoughts about the comparision:

I miss the break tackle feature by hitting "A" rapidly, which is interesting because I disliked the feature when I first started playing ESPN.

I think tackling in general is done better in ESPN, but I haven't really fooled around with the maximum tackle stick yetm and it could be a lot of fun.

I'm glad that I don't have to tap A to make guys run faster anymore.

I really like the new defensive options for QB containment. I scrambled with McNabb quite a bit in the 1st half but in the 2nd half, they either put a spy on him or had their linemen run containment or both. Of course, this gave him more time to just hang out behind the offensive line and that is when my passing picked up. My rate was just under 50% and I don't think the defensive backs are as tough as they are for me in college, but it is close.

I had very few dropped balls (and I didn't hit Y to make the guys catch it) Instead, my incompletes were due to DB's knocking the ball down before I could get to it.

Throwing deep is very hard in this game. It is much harder to throw deep than ESPN football. A guy really needs to be open to get a deep ball to work. The only long pass I had was to Chad Lewis who just schooled the strong safety on one play.

There are some things I like better about each passing game. ESPN's maximum passing seems better implemented to me. I like that my QB is more responsive when I tell him to throw the ball in Madden.

I like the rushing better in ESPN in that offensive holes are easier for me to see, but I like just holding the speed button in Madden.

I think ESPN clearly looks better to me, but Madden certainly looks better on the X-Box this year, then when I played it on the PS2 last year.

I love the accelerated clock in Madden.

I love in game saves in Madden.

I like the downloadable rosters. Trotter looks good in an Eagle uniform! :)

Overall, there are things I like better about each game and I expect I'll play them both quite a bit. Anyway, just some random early impressions. I think I'm going to fool around with a franchise to see if any annoying things pop up (such as renegotiating contracts being a useless exercise due to the cap calculation bug in ESPN)

If the franchise mode is really good with no errors, Madden will likely get more play than ESPN for that reason.

Yep, I fooled around with coach mode for just a few minutes and it looked decent, but it is hard to make any judgements after only a few minutes. I might try a full half or even a game tonight with coach mode and post some impressions of it.

I'm about to start my franchise, after I look at the sliders. I love the Rushing Attack game, especially online. I'll take Garrison Hearst up against anything you can throw at him. Err.

I played a half on All-Pro and I'll tell ya, the game wasn't as good as I thought it would be. I was expecting a "wow" factor, but ESPN did that for me easily.

The second half I put the game on All-Madden and (ok this sounds gameboyish) the game became more intense. Meaning, the CPU starting running the ball effictively, I saw more "wow" plays and animations, and suddenly I was immersed into the game. The Bears beat me 24-17, but it was one hell of a game. Weird, but there's that much of a difference between levels. 12 mins, acc clock, seems perfect as far as # of plays go.

I still love ESPN, especially how immersed you get with the presentation... but the gameplay has been better in Madden and I can't wait to get into franchise mode. I also thought the passing was better in ESPN as well as the running (I love it in ESPN when the runner studdersteps to the side automatically) game.

I think I'll be playing all 3 football games for awhile. NCAA has been fun, ESPN is great, and Madden is a blast so far. If ESPN didn't have some glaring bugs in franchise mode, it would be my choice, hands down... I really wish they would have fixed the bugs and released it when it was ready. :( BUT I think Madden will get my franchise gameplay more than ESPN will, although I hear there is a RFA bug where CPU teams won't match your offers to their RFA's.

If getting $50 was going to be tight for me to pay, I would get ESPN for $20 and save the money. I'm not saying Madden is not worthy of $50, but for the price ESPN is the winner. Again, I just got Madden and franchise is what I hope it is supposed to be. If you're like me, get all 3 games.


Todd

I just ran down to gamestop to reserve my copy. Already paid in full, so I should have it in my hands by 2-3pm tommorow.