XBox, PS2 - Madden 2004 - Oakland Raiders Forum | Message Board

**crizpynutz** · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2003, 11:31 PM

Well, I picked up a copy of Madden 2004 for XBox and 'acquired' a copy for PC. I have to say this game is tremendous. Even if you don't play video games, you can at least appreciate the wealth of content in the game, particularly the franchise mode.

What has become the staple of football video gaming, the John Madden Football series, has raised the bar in an already dominated field with EASports' new addition Madden 2004. Let's forget that you can create your own playbook, plays, formations and even custom routes. Let's pretend that we didn't even know you could modify blocking assignments on the fly or reciever routes during the play. What has really gotten a much deserved update is the Franchise mode. We already had 30 seasons worth of preseason and regular season games, free agent signings, contract negotiations and rookie drafts.

New in 2004 is the training camp portion of the offseason where you run players through typical camp drills hoping to improve on the individual players skills. You now have a full coaching staff, head coach, co-ordinators...everything. As you watch the improvement in your co-ordinators ratings watch also as they leave for new jobs with other teams or start looking for a promotion and a raise in salary. You will be left looking for the next Marc Trestman. What probably excites me the most is the new Owner mode, where you control ticket prices, prices for jerseys, hats, beer and food. You control how much to spend on scouting, marketing and whether to improve the stadium by adding a big screen. Salary caps include signing bonus' and keep track of your cap penalty if you have mortgaged the future. Players hold out for bigger contracts and careers are ended in tragic injury.

I must say the staple of football video gaming has just gotten a significant improvement and for anyone out there who still has some little kid in them, pick it up you won't be dissapointed.

**Towner13** · #2 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 02:34 AM

Wow it's starting to sound more like the Sims then Madden!

This is truly the male version of it!

**silvernblack10** · #3 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 02:38 AM

Not only that crizpy, the AI for DB's is so much better. In '03 u could toss one up to owens or keyshawn and it was a guaranteed catch, not no more biatches!

LongFavor · #4 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 02:42 AM

... or Tim Brown.
I'm just really getting the hang of taking control of recievers and making plays on less-than-perfect throws ... guess it's a good thing I am.
Tell me this since I can't get it 'til Monday, what rookies that we have are missing? They always cut a few guys off for some reason. Is Cooper finally on the game?

**crizpynutz** · #5 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LongFavor
... or Tim Brown.
I'm just really getting the hang of taking control of recievers and making plays on less-than-perfect throws ... guess it's a good thing I am.
Tell me this since I can't get it 'til Monday, what rookies that we have are missing? They always cut a few guys off for some reason. Is Cooper finally on the game?

No Cooper is not. I believe the D-Line is:

LE - Trace Armstrong, Kenyon Coleman, Tyler Brayton
RE - Tony Bryant, Sam Williams, DeLawrence Grant
DT - Rod Coleman, John Parella, Dana Stubblefield, Junior Ioane

They have Asomugha, Fargas, Gabriel, Shabazz, Brayton, Williams for rookies. No Rykert or Hoag. You might have to change a name or two from LE#95 to Tyler Brayton, but if you've played Madden ever you know that's all of 18 seconds worth of time.

They also have Nash as the backup at SS and no Dorsett.

I guess I'm in the minority but most (not all) of the Raiders rankings I thought were pretty good considering when they were done. I don't get Stubblefield getting the same score as Rod Coleman, but it's in the Raiders favor so oh well.

**crizpynutz** · #6 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Towner13
Wow it's starting to sound more like the Sims then Madden!

This is truly the male version of it!

Seriously Towner, it's almost like a sports RPG (Role Playing Game). You can also create a team, a stadium, everything! There's just so much you can do in the game.

bigtoe_o · #7 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 03:42 AM

The only problem I have with Madden is that EA will not make games for X-Box Live. I would love Madden if it was live. Imagine having I gigantic X-box live draft with all real people. Then you play through-out your schedual each week. It would be the ultimate fantasy football. But, EA won't do it because they want to eventually make there own server. So, I will be going with NFL Fever 2004 this year. It is the first year since I can remember that I won't be getting the new Madden.

**crizpynutz** · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigtoe_o
The only problem I have with Madden is that EA will not make games for X-Box Live. I would love Madden if it was live. Imagine having I gigantic X-box live draft with all real people. Then you play through-out your schedual each week. It would be the ultimate fantasy football. But, EA won't do it because they want to eventually make there own server. So, I will be going with NFL Fever 2004 this year. It is the first year since I can remember that I won't be getting the new Madden.

There is always the PC version....

bigtoe_o · #9 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by crizpynutz
There is always the PC version....

Yes and that one I am planning to "acquire" also.

**Towner13** · #10 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 04:51 AM

My Cousin is marrying a Microsoft Programmer and he said that EA sport is the ****iest group of programmers in the world. We actually were just talking about this same subject (Madden vs Fever).

My response to him was simply "They deserve to be the ****iest! they have been untouchable with their sports gaming drivers."

Many people don't understand what the difficulty is in making a game better (in regards to game play).

They think it is as simple as Visually (graphics and envrinment) and interactivity (quickly and smoothly reacting to user commands).

But in actuallity the programming that makes the game so amazing (and is concidentally the toughest job) is the Physics Driver.
The way a game interacts when someone picks something up, someone bounces of another player, how a Cb's hand in the air affects the WR's ability to catch a ball. These things literally take a genius mind to program and make the code quick, smooth and accurate. There is more then one way to programm the code and get the desired result, so creativity is a definite factor.
EA sports physics are by far and away the best of the best. And thats a big reason they have been heiled as the best for years and years...
Back since the Sega days!

AUTUMNWIND81 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 04:59 AM

Last year I made the mistake of getting NFL2ks new one (see I don't even remember the name of it that's how often I play it) it was the first time in years that I didn't get madden. Let it be knowen that the same mistake will not happen twice!

Madden it the King!

DontBeMessin · #12 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 05:28 AM

I play this game religiously. I play the 2003 every night with my cousin. I was wondering . . . How is Eric Bartons and Napleon Harris's stats? Who is starting at center? I am so glad the changed the Always Catch mode that comes with Owens and Keyshawn, because the person I play with every flippin night plays those two teams. Any other good tid bits you might have left out?

jt

**AceRimRat** · #13 (**permalink**) 08-14-2003, 05:29 AM

I got the game yesterday for my PS2 and played some last night with a buddy.

And even though he killed me repeatedly (nothing out of the ordinary), I'm completely in love with the game.

The owner mode is frighteningly complex.

The Raiders have a strong team (except at backup safety) and yes, the rookie changes take two seconds.

Cooper is in the game... on the Historic '02 Raiders. So given the new ability to edit historic teams, it should be easy to copy his numbers down and add him to the main roster. Many, many historic Raiders teams, including the '90 guys and teams all through the '70s, but the SB champs are locked at the start, I think.

On other roster notes besides those mentioned, Bryant is on the Raiders and Pierson is not at DE. Dorsett is on the free agent list, as is (if you want him back) Mondriel Fulcher. Rookies abound: Asomugha, Brayton, Johnson, Williams, Fargas, Gabriel and Shabazz. Oh, and in the default lineup, Porter is the #2 WR, Brown #3, but Brown is higher rated slightly. Jolley starts at TE over Roland Williams. DEs are Bryant ahead of Grant and Armstrong ahead of Kenyon Coleman and Brayton. Buchanon and Cecil Martin start. The other positions you can figure.

I thought one great thing is the ability to change up packages (i.e. send your RB out into the slot in a multi-receiver formation) without substituting.

And to reset the depth chart: Alvis Whitted is the #2 KR. Oy.

I could go on and on, but I've only played the game for about three hours. More later. Yum.