2008 Kids' Choice Awards [Nickelodeon]

Madden 2008 for the Xbox 360 has taken a huge leap in quality of generations of yore. Hit the jump for the full story in our Frankenreview: your life gifted back to you, from Kotaku. It's that freaking efficient.

IGN
The biggest and most notable improvement this year is in the animation and tackling system. Gone are the majority of pre-canned animations. Just because you see Ray Lewis wrapping his meaty arms around Shaun Alexander doesn't mean the same overused tackle animation is about to kick in. The new branching animation system works in tandem with some new, more realistic football physics...Depending on a player's skill, positioning, and momentum, a large variety of animations become possible. The end result is some of the most varied tackling ever seen in a football game.

1UP
The new "weapons" feature has a two-pronged effect. First, these onfield icons make it supereasy to identify a team's key players and their strengths. And more importantly, these classifications bring some much-needed variety to each position. So running the pigskin with elusive Saints running back Reggie Bush feels way different than using Chiefs power back Larry Johnson.

Gamespot
These new weapon designations even go beyond basic techniques...After a single play or coverage scheme has been called four times, a quarterback like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady can actually see exactly what the defense is going to do, whereas a smart defender can get a glimpse of where the offensive play is going to go.

Game Informer
Fans have lamented the drop in features in past Maddens, but 08 pulls things back up to speed with extensive scouting/draft options and pre-game training for improving players. Overall, there are more draft tools at your disposal - including being able to manually rearrange your entire draft board, although the process itself of scouting and drafting is a little cumbersome.

Sportable
Something that is a lot more difficult about this game is Superstar mode. In years past, your "Superstar" would collect achievements based on randomized genes from parents...Instead of a randomization, you have to compete in several drills including the 40 yard dash, running back drills, catch and cover drills, and a bench press. If you don't do well in the events, your ratings will take a definite hit.

It sounds like Xbox 360 owners have finally gotten their taste of a "next-gen" Madden title. Kudos to EA for getting it right...on the 360.

Thanks, Steven!

VH1's Harold Goldberg was there when Ozzy Osbourne popped into Times Square's Hard Rock Cafe to shill for Electronic Arts Madden 08. Goldberg even got a second or two with the rapidly-aging rock star, probably just a second.

"When my son Jack was living with us and he would disappear for 15 hours, I'd think, 'Where can he be now?' I used to find him in his room concentrating on the screen. (Makes a face of grim determination.) I mean, he's an expert at this stuff. I ain't got a clue about it. But it's fun to watch him. He's got it down, Jack."

Exclusive: Ozzy Osbourne On Gaming [Game Break]

The rampant speculation, the endless images of circulars, the bogs of "insider emails" are all correct: The Xbox 360 is getting a $50 price drop starting this Wednesday, Microsoft announced tonight.

As of Wednesday the Elite will be $449, the Halo Limited Edition Xbox 360 (when it hits) will be $399, the standard will be $349 and the core will be $279.

The price drop is meant to be timed to the upcoming release of Madden 08, said Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, as a way to grab up all of those Playstation 2 Madden fans who haven't yet upgraded to the Playstation 3.

"Madden is the number one selling game, and we felt like that was the right title to lead with," he said. "We know Madden will bring a lot of PS2 owners into the store and that's a specific reason for this timing. We feel we have the showcase platform for Madden this year and with this drop we hope to be the home for those gamers this season."

Greenberg said that the decision to time the price drop with the release of Madden has been in the works for a very long time and that the 360 price drop has nothing to do with the recent PS3 pricing flux.

"We've had this on our plans for a long time, an extremely long time," he said. "We did not make this decision even heading into E3, this is all based on before hand. We had the first media briefing (at E3) so we could have been the first to announce it, but it was never on our calendar. The benefit of pre-planning, of having this time, outweighed being one-upped, perhaps, at E3."

Greenberg pointed out that the 360 has been the same price for 21 months, the longest any console has maintained their launch price.

Too bad Microsoft didn't drop the core down a bit more and make it competitive with the Wii. I think $249 would have made things very interesting for Nintendo.

Microsoft Lowers Price of Xbox 360 by $50

Price drop coincides with release of "Madden NFL 08" on Xbox 360, one of many titles that make up the greatest holiday lineup in video game history.

REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 6, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today kicked off the greatest holiday lineup in video game history by announcing it will reduce the retail price of Xbox 360™ by $50 (U.S.) beginning Aug. 8 at United States retailers nationwide. Soon to follow, Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) will release its blockbuster video game title "Madden NFL 08" on Aug. 14. "Madden NFL Football," one of the most important mass-appeal franchises in video games, was the top-selling game of 2006 and is the top-selling franchise of the past 10 years. Only Xbox 360 offers a console for all interests and budgets.

"The fact that we have been able to keep our launch price longer than any other console while retaining our leadership position demonstrates that consumers believe in the value of Xbox 360," said Mitch Koch, corporate vice president, Global Retail Sales and Marketing Group, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft.. "On the eve of the best holiday games lineup ever and the launch of 'Madden NFL 08,' there has never been a better time to jump into Xbox 360."

Xbox 360 will enhance the value of its entire family of consoles beginning on Aug. 8. At a new price of $349.99, Xbox 360 offers an unsurpassed experience right out of the box with a 20 GB hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox 360 headset, and more. For those looking for the ultimate value and the freedom to customize their console as they see fit, Xbox 360 Core System now has an estimated retail price (ERP) of $279.99 (U.S.). Xbox 360 Core System provides everything gamers need to hit the ground running while giving consumers the ability to add new features and accessories they want. Dressed in black and equipped with a 120GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Elite will be priced at an ERP of $449.99 (U.S.) for those who want the premium games and entertainment experience. In anticipation of this year's largest blockbuster game launch, the Xbox 360 Halo® 3 Special Edition Console will hit store shelves in September with an ERP of $399.99 (U.S.). Featuring an authentic Spartan green-and-gold finish, this console will include a matching Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 20GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Headset an Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit and more.

In addition to being a great value, Xbox 360 is the only place consumers will be able to play all of this year's biggest titles: "Guitar Hero III™: Legends of Rock" (RedOctane/Activision), "Halo 3" (Bungie), "Madden NFL 08" (EA) and "Rock Band" (MTV Games). Xbox 360 is also home to the most exclusive games, such as "Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation" (NAMCO BANDAI Games), "BioShock" (2K Games), "Lost Odyssey™" (Mistwalker and feelplus Inc.), "Blue Dragon" (Mistwalker and feelplus Inc.), "Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action," (Screenlife), "Naruto: Rise of a Ninja" (Ubisoft), "Project Gotham Racing® 4" (Bizarre Creations Ltd.) and "Mass Effect" (BioWare Corp.). With a record-setting attach rate of 6.1 games per console sold (NPD, June 2007), a new price and the greatest holiday games lineup ever, Xbox 360 has proved itself as the home of the best games and entertainment at the best value.

EA's definition of weapons are simply specific player attributes assigned to elite players that add an extra layer of strategy to the 2008 iterations. There are 24 of these weapons, each of which is highlighted in the gallery below.

If you're still interested, make the jump for more Madden weapon facts. Michael McWhertor

MADDEN NFL 08 - KNOW YOUR WEAPONS

Every NFL fan knows that some players just stand out from the rest. LaDanian Tomlinson is a stellar running back, while Peyton Manning can read a defense and call an audible before the defensive coordinator figures out what play to call. Knowing who's who in the NFL is now going to be a valuable asset when gamers take on their friends in Madden NFL 08.

In the latest installment of the blockbuster Madden series, weapons are assigned to elite players in the league to reinforce what makes them great. Weapons icons help you recognize great player attributes, like Ladainian Tomlinson's unstoppable trucking ability and incredible elusiveness. By correctly identifying and utilizing those abilities, gamers will transform into a true madden powerhouse. But, weapons don't work alone.

Gamers can use weapon combinations to maximize an offense or create a dominating running game. Gamers can create weapon combinations and counter them with weapon mismatches that expose another team's weaknesses. Identifying a team's weaknesses and exploiting them early on is vital to winning.

The 24 weapons in Madden NFL 08 work on multiple levels. They immediately reveal a team's playmakers, so the gamer can identify a team's strengths and play to them. By learning weapon combinations and exposing mismatches, a gamer can pick apart an opponent and become a football mastermind.

Big Hitter and Smart QB are just two of the many weapons in Madden NFL 08. Big Hitters have a high strategic value since they can upset both the passing and running game. Backed by the new Hit Stick 2.0, Big Hitters display the most bone jarring hits. A Smart QB, like Peyton Manning, can read the field, AKA your playart, and expose players who just stick to their money plays. Keep running the same plays and an opponent's Smart QB will be looking at your defensive playart before the ball is snapped.

Madden NFL 08 launches August 14, 2007, but here's a rundown of the weapons loaded into the game so you can start thinking about your weapon combinations now: