August 9 - August 13

Section: 

In the past I've had a love/hate relationship with Madden. Many years I've eagerly embraced its impending arrival as I would a lost love just returning from her year-long sabbatical from being a swimsuit model. Other years I have adamantly insisted that the relationship was over and that I was no longer infatuated with such pedestrian appetites.

This is the first year that I just haven't cared. That Madden is launching is simply a piece of information I deliver without passion. I may rent it, and I may not. Frankly my gaming plate is pretty full at the moment, and I don't see much draw from the nth iteration of a football simulation that hasn't meaningfully changed in a decade.

I don't really begrudge Madden -- after all, I'm giving it the default nod as Game of the Week -- but I can't begin to drum up any kind of enthusiasm, positive or negative. Probably if I buy anything this week it'll be Scott Pilgrim vs. the World on PSN.

Speaking of which, you guys have finally bullied me into including some (not necessarily all) of the major download releases on the list.

360
- Madden NFL 11
- Monday Night Combat (XBLA)

PS3
- Madden NFL 11
- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (PSN)

Wii
- Madden NFL 11

DS
- Galactic Taz Ball

PSP
- Madden NFL 11

Coming Soon
- Mafia 2 (PC, 360, PS3) : August 24
- Metroid Other M : August 31
- Civilization V : September 21
- DC Universe Online : November 2
- Kinect : November 4
- Little Big Planet 2 : November 16

Comments

Kinect but not PSM on upcoming?

Commence Elysium Madden purchase countdown.

UnclGhost wrote:

Kinect but not PSM on upcoming?

They don't typically list when Wiimotes start coming out in new colors. [/cheap shot]

garion333 wrote:

Commence Elysium Madden purchase countdown.

Yeah this. Elysium cracks every year, will this one be different?

Oh well, nothing for me on this list. Back to Starcraft.

MrDeVil909 wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Commence Elysium Madden purchase countdown.

Yeah this. Elysium cracks every year, will this one be different?

Oh well, nothing for me on this list. Back to Starcraft.

I agree, we shall see what happens....MWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA! I too will go back to Starcraft 2

Weird. This is the first year I have cared about Madden. Playing with GameFlow almost makes this a buy for me.

garion333 wrote:

Commence Elysium Madden purchase countdown.

I give the purchase until Friday, and 2 weeks from then until the front page article appears detailing how this is the most amazing thing EA has done in 2000 words or more.

Bastards!

AUs_TBirD wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Commence Elysium Madden purchase countdown.

I give the purchase until Friday, and 2 weeks from then until the front page article appears detailing how this is the most amazing thing EA has done in 2000 words or more.

Sounds about right.

Elysium wrote:

Bastards!

You know it's true. Might as well give in and buy it on your way home from work tomorrow.

Besides, I drew Tuesday in the pool.

MrDeVil909 wrote:

Besides, I drew Tuesday in the pool.

She's ready when you are!

IMAGE(http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID36158/slideshows/Tuesday_Weld20089623544352500.jpg)

RAWR

Speaking of which, you guys have finally bullied me into including some (not necessarily all) of the major download releases on the list.

The system works! Bullying, I mean.

Kepheus wrote:

Weird. This is the first year I have cared about Madden. Playing with GameFlow almost makes this a buy for me.

Funny, I just watched the GameTrailers review and I feel exactly the same.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/re...

Looks like EA might have actually stepped up this year.

hbi2k wrote:
UnclGhost wrote:

Kinect but not PSM on upcoming?

They don't typically list when Wiimotes start coming out in new colors. [/cheap shot]

Ah. So each new version of the EyeToy gets a listing then?

Aaron D. wrote:
Kepheus wrote:

Weird. This is the first year I have cared about Madden. Playing with GameFlow almost makes this a buy for me.

Funny, I just watched the GameTrailers review and I feel exactly the same.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/re...

Looks like EA might have actually stepped up this year.

If that's not filthy enabling, I don't know what is.

UnclGhost wrote:
hbi2k wrote:
UnclGhost wrote:

Kinect but not PSM on upcoming?

They don't typically list when Wiimotes start coming out in new colors. [/cheap shot]

Ah. So each new version of the EyeToy gets a listing then?

Touché.

They had best be releasing Scott Pilgrim vs the World on Steam, or I will pout very fiercely. I will be a furious pouty furnace of poutiness. Port me my 8 bit fighting game!!

Is it fair to put games coming out in November in the category of "coming soon"? November doesn't feel too soon, but maybe it's just me?

How about Coming 'soon'. But really if you're going to list November, there's a whole ton of games to include in that time range for the christmas rush.

Elysium wrote:

This is the first year that I just haven't cared. That Madden is launching is simply a piece of information I deliver without passion. I may rent it, and I may not will buy at least one copy immediately.

C'mon, Sean. Whether you call it the "default nod" or not, you did give it Game of the Week. They have suckered you into buying the exact same game for "many years." You even chose it over GALACTIC TAZ BALL. Who are you trying to kid?

Sean, I admire your restraint in not just picking StarCraft 2 again.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Sean, I admire your restraint in not just picking StarCraft 2 again.

It must have been tough. StarCraft II is pretty compelling, despite some real presentation flaws in the single player campaign that the entire world except for me, seem to be willing to overlook. And every bit of polish they lavished on the game makes each flaw hurt that much more. The horrible pause between lines of dialog, Raynor's clipping bicep at the inside of his elbow (most visible sitting at the table in the cantina), the lack of shouting when things get heated, and the list goes on. All those little things just continually break the experience for me, too.

Maybe I should post this in the SC2 front page article...

mrtomaytohead wrote:

Maybe I should post this in the SC2 front page article...

Or in the Starcraft 2 thread. While it may look like a circle jerk in there I'm sure a well thought out dissenting opinion will be appreciated.

1 day down and no Madden. It's one step at a time, people.

The day hasn't ended yet.

Elysium wrote:

1 day down and no Madden. It's one step at a time, people.

You want me to give you a token? Do you need a sponsor who's been through this?

I'll sponsor you. I've never played a single Madden game.

Elysium wrote:

1 day down and no Madden. It's one step at a time, people.

Dammit.

Day 2 of MaddenWatch comes to an end and my resolve remains firm.

Elysium wrote:

Day 2 of MaddenWatch comes to an end and my resolve remains firm.

The commercials tell me that if your resolve remains firm for more than 4 hours, you should see a doctor.