Those of you who are a little older, who can remember the early days of Madden help us out here. I can only go back to PS1, although Sega Genesis did have a decent competitor as I remember, Joe Montana sports talk football I think.
Anyway, PS1 came out in I think 96, with its own football game, Gameday, EA was caught, (like a-lot of game companies) it seems, by surprise. Ahhh Gameday, the first football game with polygon graphics, and its college sister Gamebreaker were both superior to Madden, which wasn't hard as Madden didn't have a game ready till a year or two later. Madden never cought up on the PS1, Gameday was just a better all-around game by the time Madden was ready in, (I think) 98? Somewhere around this time N64 came out and, (I think it was Acclaim), put out QB club, a flawed, but at the time, gorgeous game
If my facts are wrong correct me as I'm trying to make a point about Maddens competition over the years, I'm not just looking to trash Madden.
This brings us to 1999-2000, Sega Dreamcast came out around then with 2Kfootball, think it was 2k1 with Randy Moss on the cover, X-Box would follow and 2K had the start of its hey-day.
There was a launch title for the X-box with Payton Manning on the cover NFL Fever I think. Shortly after, by 2000 or 01 not sure exactly when, came PS2. Again EA wasn't ready, anyone remember ll the false reports of Madden for the PS2 when they just weren't ready with a game? EA would catch up by the end of the PS2 life, and 2K would respond with 05, perhaps the best playing football game ever.
So here we are, 2010, Madden in its 20th something year, and we are still hearing much noise that Madden has yet to eclipse that now ancient title.
Here's the question, when has Madden clearly squashed the competition, from what I remember the alternative has always been better, and usually first. My facts could be wrong, but its a fair debate.

Joeyland

With games representing every sport, every activity, and every creative outlet, why still no NCAA Lacrosse?

The logical argument against is that its a small sport, with a small fan base. But why then is hockey so big in video? Hockey may be bigger than Lacrosse, but I never played hockey, I can't skate, but hockey was one of the first games I played on video. The game translates well, thats why so many play it.
Lacrosse is basically land-hockey, the game could easily borrow a soccer engine and add all the stickwork and contact of Lacrosse.
Imagine, poke ckecks, shoulder checks, face dodges, roll dodges, bounce shots, and fast breaks. Imagine cranking a shot from the restraining line, risers, pipers, behind the back shots. Lacrosse is perfect for video, it has unique skills, can be beautiful and violent.
My point is this, even if you never played Lacrosse you could really enjoy playing a video game version.
After all, I play video soccer, hockey, snowboarding, and bowling, but never played or really understood any of these sports, but enjoy them on video.

Joeyland