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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><itunes:author>Joystiq</itunes:author><itunes:image href="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/Joystiq_podcast_cover.png" /><itunes:summary>The Joystiq Podcast combines insightful commentary on the week&apos;s video game news and culture with several disembodied, often spooky, voices. Voices may or may not belong to Chris Grant, Ludwig Kietzmann, Joystiq.com editors, or their guests. Spookiness not guaranteed where prohibited, please check local laws. More information available at www.joystiq.com</itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Games &amp; Hobbies"><itunes:category text="Video Games" /></itunes:category><item><title>GC 2008: EA to serve up new Wii tennis franchise</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1188847&amp;highlight="><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/eatennis.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
With all the recent announcements and pick-ups, you'd think <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/EA/">EA</a> would be bursting at the seams with upcoming titles, but it's just crammed one more under its belt: A new tennis franchise that will debut on Wii (though it will later come to other platforms) and take advantage of the Wii MotionPlus accessory.<br /><br />Besides the control <strike>gimmick</strike> innovation, its other claim to fame is being the only video game that includes the All England Lawn Tennis Club, where Wimbledon is played. So, with tennis added to the list, what's left for EA Sports? Curling? Cup stacking?<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1188847&amp;highlight=>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1289698/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>leipzig-08</category><category>tennis</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>FIFA trade jinxes another EA Sports cover</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://sports.ign.com/articles/900/900073p1.html"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="366" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/fifa09wronguniform.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
<em>FIFA 09</em> cover athlete Maurice Edu has been traded to another team, meaning EA Sports will, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/">yet again</a>, have to change the box art on one of its games. Edu, who would have been featured on the cover wearing his Toronto FC jersey, will now wear the uniform of the US Men's National Team -- not Scotland's Glasgow Rangers, which is the team he'll actually play on. EA Sports tells <a href="http://sports.ign.com/articles/900/900073p1.html">IGN</a> that the cover of the game will ship with the correct art -- no <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/">"print out" version</a> necessary.<br /><br />This would be the second time in a month that EA Sports had to dump extra resources into changing a cover due to an athlete changing teams. Earlier this month the publisher had to <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/">fix the ar</a>t for perennial high-profile American football title <em>Madden 09</em> when cheesehead favorite Brett Favre <em>unretired</em> and left for <strike>New York</strike> New Jersey.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://sports.ign.com/articles/900/900073p1.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1288965/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea-sports</category><category>edu</category><category>fifa-09</category><category>maurice-edu</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:58:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Mega Man bombs Virtual Console, golf too</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/retro/" rel="tag">Retro</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><center> <object width="490" height="397"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tVk7f2-cek8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tVk7f2-cek8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="490" height="397"></embed></object> </center> <br />The <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/virtual-console">Virtual Console</a> just got its weekly nostalgia injection, offering fans of all colors -- but mostly blue and green -- something else to download and play as we wonder where the weekend went and why exactly there is a receipt for a Magnet Beam on the kitchen table.<br />
<ul>
    <li><em>Mega Man</em> (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): With the Blue Bomber set to <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/mega-man-9">don pixelated pajamas next month</a>, his freshman adventure marks this week's most noteworthy addition to the Wii's window into the past. Assuming you haven't bought the original <em>Mega Man</em> in one of Capcom's many other compilations, Guts Man and company are waiting ever so patiently for you to drop by. </li>
    <li><em>Neo Turf Masters</em> (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): This is 133 megs of hot golf action right here, straight from 1996 to your living room. You don't have even to admit to your friends that you like video game golf. We'll keep your dirty little secret.</li>
</ul><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=16087>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1287418/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>capcom</category><category>golf</category><category>mega-man</category><category>megaman</category><category>neo-geo</category><category>neo-turf-masters</category><category>neogeo</category><category>neoturfmasters</category><category>nintendo</category><category>virtual-console</category><category>virtualconsole</category><category>virtualconsolemonday</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:15:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>EA Sports' Moore sets sights on eclipsing Nike brand</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/311/MCV-LEGENDS-Peter-Moore"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/ea-sports-eclipse-490.jpg"  alt="" /></a></div>
Peter Moore is on a mission. In an interview with <a href="http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/311/MCV-LEGENDS-Peter-Moore">MCV</a>, the EA Sports president is looking to poise his company as "the leading sports brand in the world." That's a rather ambitious claim, given the brand dominance of sports industry companies such as ESPN, Nike and his former employer Reebok.<br /><br />Said Moore, "We need to globalize our business, provide even more opportunities for our customers to interact with us online, knock down the barriers to those who find the learning curve of our games too steep, and discover new areas in sports - and health and wellness&ensp;- in which our brand can truly make a difference." In other words, Moore is looking to expand the demographic and potential audience of EA Sports titles to every human in existence. May we suggest <em>Michael Phelps Pro S-wii-ming 2009 </em>for the Nintendo Wii?<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/311/MCV-LEGENDS-Peter-Moore>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1285232/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>ea-sports</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>moore</category><category>nike</category><category>peter-moore</category><category>reebok</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Tiger Woods 09, SBK08 demos hit Xbox Live</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/tigerwoodsdemo.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
So, we've got good news, and we've got potentially bad news. We're going to mix it up and give you the bad news first: There's a demo for <em>SBK08</em> on Xbox Live right now, but if you live in Asia or North America, <em>you can't play it</em>. Maybe it's not that big a deal, but what if we told you that SBK stood ... for <em>super</em>bike? We thought regular bikes were cool, but these bikes ... wow, they're just so far beyond that. We feel bad for anyone (ourselves included) who's stuck with a last-gen non-super-bike. You've won this round, Europe.<br /><br />But, hey, dry those tears, rest of the world, because today you can also download a demo for <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Tiger-Woods-09/">Tiger Woods 09</a>. </em>Experience the thrill of Joystiq editor Ludwig Kietzmann's day-to-day life as you play three holes at the Gary Player Country Club in South Africa. Hey, just because <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjWENNe29qc">Little Steven avoids it</a> doesn't mean you can't play Sun City!<br /><br />(P.S. We're assuming that at least the Tiger Woods demo will show up on PSN today. We'll let you know when we see an update.)<br /><br /><a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/08/14/content-sbk08-demo.aspx">Source</a> -- SBK08 Demo<br /><a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/08/14/demo-tiger-woods-pga-tour-09-demo.aspx">Source</a> -- Tiger Woods 09 Demo<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1284419/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>demos</category><category>superbike</category><category>tiger-woods-09</category><category>xbox-live</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:45:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Olympic gold medalist trained with Wii</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/beijing2008/aquatics/news/20080216-OHT1T00152.htm"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/marioswims.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
It may come as a surprise, but there are a few Olympic gold medals that Michael Phelps forgot to nab, magpie-like, for the gold medal throne we imagine he's begun constructing. One of those, the gold for the men's 100m breaststroke, was won by Japan's Kosuke Kitajima. How did he best longtime rival Brendan Hansen? Why, <em>Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games</em>, of course.<br /><br />"See, Mario does the breaststroke," he recently told Yomiuri Sports. "And thus, it's perfect mental training for envisioning the actual Olympic hall."<br /><br />... Let's, umm ... let's try to keep this from Jack Thompson, OK?<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://kotaku.com/5035862/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-nintendo-wii">Kotaku</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/beijing2008/aquatics/news/20080216-OHT1T00152.htm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282134/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>mario</category><category>mario-and-sonic</category><category>mario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-games</category><category>olympics</category><category>sega</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Season Update: What's new in Madden 09</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/microsoft-xbox/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/x3f-season-update-madden-nfl-09/972512/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/madden-update-2-490.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
The biggest question we hear every single year with the <em>Madden </em>franchise (and in fact, most EA Sports titles) is, "How is this game any different than last year's?" Snarky responses about the roster change aside (and even that gets <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/">fumbled sometimes</a>), the gridiron gang at our sister site X3F have assembled the Season Update, calling out the differences (both good and bad) between <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/madden-09">Madden 09</a> </em>and its immediate predecessor. For those still on the fence about picking up a copy, <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/x3f-season-update-madden-nfl-09/972512/ ">click here for the play-by-play</a>.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/x3f-season-update-madden-nfl-09/972512/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282461/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>ea-sports</category><category>madden</category><category>madden-08</category><category>madden-09</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:58:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>The '$10,000' Madden PSP Entertainment Pack</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=216710&amp;amp;catOid=-16491&amp;amp;c=1&amp;linkid=j13459594k31063&amp;affiliateid=k31063&amp;mid=&amp;om_keycode=777592"><img hspace="0" border="0" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/madden-psp-10000.jpg" alt="madden psp" /></a></div>
In order to offset the cost of <strike>printing</strike> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/">posting</a> an alternative cover for (most versions of) <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/madden-09"><em>Madden 09</em></a>, it looks like EA had to raise the price of the new Madden NFL 09 PSP Entertainment Pack to the tune of: $10,000! Graciously, Circuit City has elected to eat a full $9,800 of that cost, leaving pre-orderers with a much more manageable price tag. [Note: Circuit City has since removed the pricing error.]<br /><br />Retailer bloopers aside, the Madden Entertainment Pack (MSRP $200) includes: a very blue PSP, 1GB Memory Stick, <em>Madden 09</em> (game), download code for <em>Beats</em> ("game"), and -- <em>what's this?</em> -- a movie ... on UMD (they're collector's items you know).<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/08/12/save-9800-on-the-madden-psp-bundle/">PSP Fanboy</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=216710&amp;catOid=-16491&amp;c=1&amp;linkid=j13459594k31063&amp;affiliateid=k31063&amp;mid=&amp;om_keycode=777592>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282293/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>bundle</category><category>entertainment-pack</category><category>madden</category><category>madden-09</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Ransom-Wiley]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:57:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Metareview - Madden NFL 09 (Xbox 360, PS3)</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/metareviews/" rel="tag">Metareviews</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/maddenmeta.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
It's times like this we're happy there's a Metareview. Because, honestly, if we had to say something intelligent and clever about football, it's probably going to be related to <em>The Waterboy</em> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_Superpro">Superpro</a>. We're sports dumb, to put it more directly. Luckily, the internet is here to put the new <em>Madden</em> through its paces.<br />
<ul>
    <li><a href="http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3169294&amp;p=4">1UP</a> <strong>(A)</strong>: "<em>Madden</em>'s the sports-gaming superpower, though, so it's hard not to nitpick some of this stuff. But even with the listed complaints, this is a football game that one-ups the stakes between the sidelines, and it's so visually impressive that it's likely to stick in your system all season long -- even on Saturdays."</li>
    <li><a href="http://www.gamedaily.com/games/madden-nfl-09/xbox-360/game-reviews/review/7129/2099/">GameDaily</a> <strong>(80/100)</strong>: "Despite all the this cool stuff, Madden commits some penalties. The game supposedly has more dynamic camera angles, but you'll often see the same one repeat up to ten times per game. As for the computer, it often makes strange decisions, such as running out the clock when it needs a score or wandering out of bounds for no reason."</li>
    <li><a href="http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/898/898052p1.html">IGN</a> <strong>(88/100):</strong> "It may not look all that different to the casual observer, but football aficionados and Madden veterans alike will be able to appreciate the small enhancements."</li>
</ul><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282100/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>ea-sports</category><category>madden</category><category>madden-09</category><category>Madden-NFL-09</category><category>metareview</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:15:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Print me: New Madden NFL 09 cover (except Xbox, Wii, and DS ...)</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/microsoft-xbox/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/madden-nfl-09-replacement-covers/972228/full/"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="330" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/madden-09-_x360-490.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><small><em>click to enlarge</em></small></div>
<br />Huh, looks like EA doesn't have everyone ... covered. Less than a week after <em>Madden 09's</em> cover athlete Brett Favre jumped ship for the Jets (single-handedly thrashing millions in Madden marketing materials) EA has come through with <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/">its "plan"</a>: you can now download a replacement cover (<a href="http://www.easports.com/read/20080811-newmaddencovers.xml">in handy PDF format</a>) for your copy of <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Madden-NFL-09/">Madden NFL 09</a></em> featuring Favre donning his new team's colors ...<br /><br />... that is, if you happened to purchase either the Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, or PS2 release. Those of you that bought the Wii or DS versions, sorry. And for the four of you that bought the Xbox version ... you should know better. <br /><br />Also released today: a "new online roster download" for Xbox 360, Xbox, PS3, PS2 and Wii which "features Favre as the starting quarterback on the New York Jets." Rocking something a little more portable, are we? EA advises you hit up Franchise Mode, transfer "NFL Great" Favre to the free agent roster pool, and then scoop him up "on any of the 32 NFL teams for the 2008 season." <br /><br />[<strong>Update</strong>: If you don't want to blow all of your green ink printing out the new cover, stop by either Sam's Club or Wal-Mart <a href="http://checkoutblog.com/entries/2008/8/12/j_e_t_s__jets__jets__jets__jets.aspx">to pick one up in-store</a>. It's unclear if you'll need to purchase the game there as well but our money's on "probably."]<br />%Gallery-29488%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.easports.com/read/20080811-newmaddencovers.xml>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282321/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>BreakingNews</category><category>Brett-Favre</category><category>EA</category><category>EA-Sports</category><category>Madden-09</category><category>Madden-NFL-09</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Christopher Grant]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:59:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Joystiq goes to Maddenpalooza</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/features/" rel="tag">Features</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a></p><div align="center"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/maddenmain2.jpg" /><br /></div>
The Rose Bowl was <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971053/full/">Madden-ified</a> yesterday to make way for the 20th anniversary of Madden games, as well as the new <em>Madden NFL 09</em> game that went on sale at midnight last night... or 9 PM Pacific if you were lucky enough to be in the stadium in Pasadena. The upper deck was wrapped in gigantic Madden sail cloths promoting the game and featuring poster boy Brett Favre in his Packers gear. The playing turf featured autograph sessions with <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971091/full/">NFL legends</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971086/full/">skill games</a>, free Pepsi schwag (which we forgot to photograph, whoops), a Slurpee booth complete with <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971080/full/">Hooters-esque booth babes</a>, a <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971083/full/">mini Wal-Mart store</a>, and a giant gaming tent full of tons of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/963650/full/">Xbox 360s</a>, and a scant few <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/963648/full/">Wiis</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/963654/full/">PS3s</a>, and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971076/full/">PSPs</a>.<br /><br />Read on, dear gamer, to discover the rest, including a <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971078/full/">confab between rapper Busta Rhymes and EA's Peter Moore</a>. Plus you can click on the gallery below for loads of photos.<br />%Gallery-29734%<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Joystiq goes to Maddenpalooza</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1281419/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Busta-Rhymes</category><category>EA</category><category>EA-Sports</category><category>Football</category><category>Madden</category><category>Madden-09</category><category>Madden-NFL-09</category><category>Maddenpalooza</category><category>NFL</category><category>Peter-Moore</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Kelly]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Virtual Console breaks in Star Soldier spoof</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/virtual-console-breaks-in-star-soldier-spoof/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/virtual-console-breaks-in-star-soldier-spoof/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/virtual-console-breaks-in-star-soldier-spoof/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/retro/" rel="tag">Retro</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/simulations/" rel="tag">Simulations</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><center> <object width="490" height="397"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KZmSqMSUbdo&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KZmSqMSUbdo&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="490" height="397"></embed></object> </center> <br />Break it to Make it! Did you hear? This week's Virtual Console update includes a video game adaptation of 80s dance flick, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086998/"><em>Breakin'</em></a>. Finally we can live out our closet fantasies of break dancing in the shoes of Kelly, Ozone and -- personal fave -- Turbo. Oh, wait, that's <em>not </em>what the game is about? Monday mornings are so cruel.<br />
<ul>
    <li><em>Break In</em> (TurboGrafx16, 1-4 players, 700 Wii Points): No, there's no fancy footwork here. Instead, Nintendo offers up this decidedly break dance-free game of pool. So, yeah, it's pool.</li>
    <li><em>Star Parodier</em> (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, 900 Wii Points): Well, at least this is something to get excited over. A parody of Hudson shooter <em>Star Soldier</em>, here you'll be able to fly about and shoot down colorful bad guys as <em>Star Soldier</em>'s Paro Ceaser, iconic pyro Bomberman, or a giant flying PC Engine that shoots cards and discs at enemies. That <em>almost </em>makes up for this morning's dissapointment.</li>
</ul><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=16019>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/virtual-console-breaks-in-star-soldier-spoof/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1280861/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/virtual-console-breaks-in-star-soldier-spoof/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>break-in</category><category>star-parodier</category><category>virtual-console</category><category>virtualconsole</category><category>virtualconsolemonday</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Favre to remain a Packer ... on Madden cover (EA has a plan!) [update]</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/microsoft-xbox/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/firstcuts/entry/view/10743/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/jet-favre-490w.jpg" alt="mock-up" /></a></div>
With Brett Favre booked for a one-way ticket out of retirement and into New York (as a Jet!), <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/madden-09"><em>Madden NFL 09</em></a> will look decidedly vintage when it releases next week with Favre on <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/and-the-madden-09-cover-goes-to-brett-favre/">the cover</a> ... as a Packer. Some may attribute the gaffe to evidence of the "Madden Curse" at work (c'mon, it can do better than that!), but EA Sports boss Peter Moore assures, "There's a plan."<br /><br />While <a href="http://sports.ign.com/articles/897/897102p1.html">IGN</a> has already confirmed there will be no second printing -- Favre will remain a Packer on the surface of <em>Madden 09</em>, at least -- a <a href="http://www.crispygamer.com/interviews/2008-07-31/a-sporting-chat-with-peter-moore-4.aspx">Crispy Gamer</a> interview with Moore and marketing director David Tinson published last week addressed the possibility of Favre switching teams; to which Moore offered his vague assurance. "It will ship with what you've seen. Yes. And then we'll have a plan if he's not [a Packer]," Tinson added. <em>Day-one roster update confirmed!</em><br /><br /><strong>Update:</strong> EA will indeed release a day-one update placing Favre on the Jets (and reflecting any other relevant roster changes), reports <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/07/ea-madden-brett-favre/">MTV Multiplayer</a>. But that's not all: "We do not plan to re-issue packaging, but WILL offer a free downloadable cover in the coming days on easports.com featuring Brett Favre in a Jets uniform. Fans can print this new cover out and insert it into the case of <em>Madden NFL 09</em>," a company spokesperson revealed to MTV. See, EA did have a plan! ... But if you're not feelin' it, why not <a href="http://www.vgboxart.com/view/19121/madden.09/?replies=8">make your own cover</a>?<br /><br />[Image credit: <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/firstcuts/entry/view/10743/">FirstCuts</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://sports.ign.com/articles/897/897102p1.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1278115/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>brett-favre</category><category>ea</category><category>ea-sports</category><category>madden</category><category>madden-09</category><category>madden-curse</category><category>peter-moore</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Ransom-Wiley]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:27:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>John Madden impersonator in Blitz: The League II</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/john-madden-impersonator-in-blitz-the-league-ii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/john-madden-impersonator-in-blitz-the-league-ii/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/john-madden-impersonator-in-blitz-the-league-ii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><center><object width="490" height="397"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C5jF-v0lp4I&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C5jF-v0lp4I&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="490" height="397"></embed></object></center> Although it's probably wrong to call Frank Caliendo a "John Madden impersonator," because he does a billion great impressions ranging from President Bush to William Shatner, he's definitely best known for his spot-on send up of the white-haired football legend. Both Caliendo and Jay Mohr are joining the voice cast of Midway's upcoming footballer, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Blitz-The-League-II/"><em>Blitz: The League II</em></a>.<br /><br />Caliendo will play three different characters,         the prison warden, the offensive line coordinator and the color commentator, and Mohr will be playing The Agent, which will probably be similar to the role he played in <em>Jerry Maguire</em>. Midway probably wants to avoid a lawsuit with NBC, the NFL, and Madden himself, so it's doubtful Caliendo will be speaking as The Coach when we get blitzed this Fall... but here's hoping. <br />%Gallery-20859%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/john-madden-impersonator-in-blitz-the-league-ii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1277640/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/john-madden-impersonator-in-blitz-the-league-ii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Blitz</category><category>Blitz-The-League-II</category><category>Football</category><category>Frank-Caliendo</category><category>imperonator</category><category>Jay-Mohr</category><category>John-Madden</category><category>Madden</category><category>Sports</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Kelly]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Joystiq hands-on: Skate 2</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/joystiq-hands-on-skate-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/joystiq-hands-on-skate-2/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/joystiq-hands-on-skate-2/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/skate-2/958563/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/skate2.08.04.08.490.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><em><small>click to enlarge</small></em></div>
EA's reentry into the skateboarding genre with the original <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/skate"><span style="font-style: italic;">Skate</span></a> was viewed by many as an uphill challenge. Its last attempt - the ill-received <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Sk8er"><span style="font-style: italic;">Street Sk8er</span></a> on PS1 nearly 10 years earlier - and the fact that Activision's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/tony-hawk"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tony Hawk </span></a>franchise was the firmly seated king of the hill didn't help. Still, the game's innovative trick controls and return to a more "pure" skateboarding experience proved a huge success, outselling that year's Tony Hawk title <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/skate-outsells-tony-hawk-nearly-2-to-1/">nearly two-to-one </a>by some accounts.<br /><br />Now EA Blackbox is looking to recreate that success in <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/skate-2"><span style="font-style: italic;">Skate 2</span></a> ... not through the usual addition of modes and various novelties, but via some basic evolution of the gameplay fundamentals of the original game. This sequel is about two things: an all-new, modifiable environment to skate in and more ways to show off in it. We went hands-on with <span style="font-style: italic;">Skate 2</span> to bring you our first gameplay impressions, which you can continue reading after the break.<br />%Gallery-23257%<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/joystiq-hands-on-skate-2/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Joystiq hands-on: Skate 2</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/joystiq-hands-on-skate-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1274905/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/joystiq-hands-on-skate-2/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>hands-on</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>skate-2</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Randy Nelson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Get the 'free' Madden Xbox 360 demo for only $5.97</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/get-the-free-madden-xbox-360-demo-for-only-5-97/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/get-the-free-madden-xbox-360-demo-for-only-5-97/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/get-the-free-madden-xbox-360-demo-for-only-5-97/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/maddenlunch.jpg" /><br /></div>
We walked into 7-11 today while representatives were setting up the massive marketing onslaught of <em>Madden NFL 09</em>, and it's a full blitz. There are standees, posters, chip racks, Big Gulp plastic collectible cups, and even Madden sandwiches. That's right, Madden sandwiches. Boom. We feel as confused as the digital Terrell Owens in that photo.<br /><br />As a "special deal" they're offering a FREE <em>Xbox 360 Madden NFL 09</em> demo... if you purchase a "Madden Sub" ($3.59 for a turkey and cheddar sub, with maybe half a leaflet of lettuce on it), a .99 bag of Doritos (your choice of scent/flavor!) and any "Gulp" or larger drink. We didn't even know there were just plain old "Gulps."<br /><br />Find out what kind of idiot buys something you can get online at home free, after the break.<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/get-the-free-madden-xbox-360-demo-for-only-5-97/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Get the 'free' Madden Xbox 360 demo for only $5.97</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/get-the-free-madden-xbox-360-demo-for-only-5-97/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1273377/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/get-the-free-madden-xbox-360-demo-for-only-5-97/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>09</category><category>Demo</category><category>Electronic-Arts</category><category>Football</category><category>Madden</category><category>Madden-NFL-09</category><category>NFL</category><category>Sports</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Kelly]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:55:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Jim Brown sues Sony, EA over Madden likeness</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/jim-brown-sues-sony-ea-over-madden-likeness/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/jim-brown-sues-sony-ea-over-madden-likeness/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/jim-brown-sues-sony-ea-over-madden-likeness/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&amp;sid=auKfu6Qo6byE&amp;refer=home"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/jimbrown.jpg" /></a></div>
You'd think most football players would be overjoyed to be named to the <em>Madden</em>'s "All Browns Team." Not hall-of-fame running back Jim Brown, though. <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&amp;sid=auKfu6Qo6byE&amp;refer=home">Bloomberg reports</a> that Brown filed suit against Electronic Arts and Sony yesterday in a New York court, alleging that he "never signed away any rights that would allow his likeness to be used.'' <br /><br />What makes Brown different from the hundreds of other current players represented in the game? According to the lawsuit, Brown alleges that when he played in the '50s and '60s, "the NFL had league wide policy that players shall have no lawyers or agents when negotiating compensation." Even if he had had a lawyer, Brown argues, "video games were not invented yet and no union to obtain rights from [them] existed.'<br /><br />It's a decent argument, but we'd like to think that some forward-looking '60s lawyer could have foreseen the invention of video games and included them in his contract negotiations. After all, today's sports contracts routinely contain clauses for <a href="http://www.holosim.com/">holosim</a> royalties (No, not really).<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/report-jim-brown-sues-easony/?biz=1">GameDaily</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&amp;sid=auKfu6Qo6byE&amp;refer=home>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/jim-brown-sues-sony-ea-over-madden-likeness/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1272978/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/jim-brown-sues-sony-ea-over-madden-likeness/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>cleveland-browns</category><category>EA</category><category>EA-sports</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>jim-brown</category><category>lawsuit</category><category>legal</category><category>Madden</category><category>Sony</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Orland]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:35:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Madden 09, Facebreaker demos rush onto Xbox Live, PSN [update]</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/madden-09-facebreaker-demos-rush-onto-xbox-live/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/madden-09-facebreaker-demos-rush-onto-xbox-live/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/madden-09-facebreaker-demos-rush-onto-xbox-live/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/07/31/demo-madden-nfl-09.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/06/backtrack1024.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
Electronic Arts has today released the one-two punch of both <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/joystiq-hands-on-madden-nfl-09/"><em>Madden 09</em></a> and <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Facebreaker/">Facebreaker</a> </em>demos on Xbox Live [<strong>update:</strong> and PlayStation Network] (via <a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/07/31/demo-madden-nfl-09.aspx">Major</a> <a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/07/31/demo-facebreaker.aspx">Nelson</a>). Both downloads are approximately 1 GB apiece, and <em>Facebreaker</em> has the added benefit of a character creation feature that lets you <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/facebreaker-demo-coming-july-31-with-create-a-character-sharing/">transfer your created fighters</a> to the full game. PlayStation 3 owners can expect the <em>Madden 09 </em>demo today, <strike>but face breaking will have to wait until August 7.<br /><br /></strike>[<strong>Update: </strong>A Sony rep called to let us know that both demos will be coming to PSN today, as well]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/07/31/demo-madden-nfl-09.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/madden-09-facebreaker-demos-rush-onto-xbox-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1271843/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/madden-09-facebreaker-demos-rush-onto-xbox-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>demo</category><category>demos</category><category>facebreaker</category><category>madden</category><category>madden-09</category><category>xbox-live</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:35:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>EA Sports working on fixes for NCAA Football 2009 bugs</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/26/ea-sports-working-on-fixes-for-ncaa-football-2009-bugs/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/26/ea-sports-working-on-fixes-for-ncaa-football-2009-bugs/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/26/ea-sports-working-on-fixes-for-ncaa-football-2009-bugs/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><a href="http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3169023"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/gam_ncaafootbal09_490.jpg" /></a><br />July 15 was meant to be <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/ncaa-football-2009-demo-hits-xbox-live/">a day of great rejoicing for collegiate football fans</a>, as it was the day EA Sports elected to hand down this year's model of <em>NCAA Football</em>. Unfortunately, a couple of <em>NCAA Football 2009</em>'s newly implemented features (<a href="http://www.freencaa09rosters.com/index.php/what_is_the_ea_locker/">the EA Locker roster system</a> and <a href="http://www.easports.com/ncaa09/dynasty.jsp">online dynasties</a>) didn't work properly for a few unlucky players, occasionally erasing entire teams or failing to register online victories for a small percentage of gridiron gamers. Luckily, <a href="http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3169023">EA seems to be working diligently to recover</a> from these costly fumbles.<br /><br />According to EA spokesman Tyrone Miller, a patch to fix the EA Locker has been submitted to Microsoft and Sony for approval, and should be available to download during the first week of August. They've yet to announce any repairs to the online dynasties, though <a href="http://www.pastapadre.com/2785/online-dynasty-disaster">sports game blogger Pasta Padre reported</a> that EA was able to fix his online dynasty after submitting his in-game issues to the company. Whether or not EA will make a similar fix downloadable for the rest of the bug-riddled masses remains to be seen.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3169023>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/26/ea-sports-working-on-fixes-for-ncaa-football-2009-bugs/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1267717/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/26/ea-sports-working-on-fixes-for-ncaa-football-2009-bugs/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>bug</category><category>ea</category><category>ea-locker</category><category>ea-sports</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>fix</category><category>football</category><category>ncaa-football-09</category><category>online-dynasty</category><category>patch</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Griffin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Facebreaker to allow breaking of Peter Moore's face</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/facebreaker-to-allow-breaking-of-peter-moores-face/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/facebreaker-to-allow-breaking-of-peter-moores-face/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/facebreaker-to-allow-breaking-of-peter-moores-face/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><a href="http://buttonmasher.co.nz/2008/07/18/break-peter-moores-face/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/gam_petermoorechair_490.jpg" /></a><br />We're not exactly sure why anyone would want to punch EA Sports' charismatic figurehead, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Peter%20Moore">Peter Moore</a> -- especially in his cherubesque face. Still, we guess it's nice to have that opportunity available, should you someday develop a strong Moore aversion. However, traveling to Pete's home and mercilessly pummeling him would likely be a costly and illegal venture -- luckily, EA's upcoming <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Facebreaker/">Facebreaker</a></em> will reportedly allow you to <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/25/uwe-boll-does-something-awful-to-another-critic/">perform a beatdown</a> upon a digital representation of Moore's visage, free of travel expenses and assault charges.<br /><br />At their E3 booth, Electronic Arts <a href="http://buttonmasher.co.nz/2008/07/18/break-peter-moores-face/">revealed that Moore's face had been scanned and entered into the game</a> using the title's boxer creation feature. EA mentioned to gaming blog ButtonMasher that Moore's face will make it into <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/facebreaker-to-pummel-retail-shelves-this-september/">the final retail version of <em>Facebreaker</em></a>, perhaps as an unlockable character. We'll politely abstain from exercising our pugilistic prowess on the exec, though admittedly, we wouldn't mind seeing how <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/12/peter-moore-to-get-more-ink-if-ea-sports-misses-mark/">the tattooed spokesman</a> held up in the ring.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://buttonmasher.co.nz/2008/07/18/break-peter-moores-face/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/facebreaker-to-allow-breaking-of-peter-moores-face/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1261631/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/facebreaker-to-allow-breaking-of-peter-moores-face/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>boxing</category><category>buttonmasher</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>facebreaker</category><category>peter-moore</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Griffin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST</dc:date></item></channel></rss>