Pecover vs. Electronic Arts is set to go to trial on September 14th in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, according to GamePolitics. At issue is whether or not EA has a monopoly after securing an exclusive EA-NFL-NFLPA deal that basically makes it impossible for 2KGames to keep making games like NFL2K.

The exact grievance is spelled out in a 48-page transcript of a November 4, 2008 pre-trial hearing. Pecover's lawyer, Stuart Paynter, says gamers won't buy football games that don't carry the NFL brand and that EA has created an unfair market situation that drives up the cost of games. EA's lawyer, Daniel Wall, says the market is larger than Paynter paints it and that Percover's complaint isn't "even close" to a viable claim.

The parts GamePolitics has pulled from the transcript make for pretty good reading. But my favorite part is where Judge Vaughn Walker leans toward letting the games speak for themselves:

THE COURT: I know absolutely nothing about video games, but how in the world would the quality of a video game be affected in this fashion?

MR. PAYNTER: Well, in the same way that, any time, Your Honor, a market becomes uncompetitive, there's not the same incentive by the entity that's monopolized the market to continue to invest in that product. And you know, I'm not a video game player, either, Your Honor... But my understanding is, you know, there are websites out there that review these games. And you know, we have alleged that, at the time, that the Take-Two game was widely viewed as a higher-quality game, presumably, Your Honor, in terms of the graphics.

THE COURT: Maybe that would be fun, a fun issue for us to decide or allow a jury to decide that. We could have a lot of fun in this case....

Later comes the epiphany:

THE COURT: So that means we wouldn't have a jury trial. We would have a bench trial. It would be a lot easier to play the games.

MR. WALL: It would be, yeah. We would only need one machine. It would be much better. But we would have a bench trial where what? Your Honor is going to assess the relative quality of games before and after exclusivity contracts? That should be interesting.

THE COURT: I'm up for any challenge.

I'm glad that he is, because the more we see games being brought up in court cases, the more important it is for lawmakers to know what they're talking making laws about. And if by some miracle the justice system did provide juries with game consoles for these trials, I'd never dodge jury duty again.

Spirited Courtroom Argument Highlights Madden Monopoly Case [GamePolitics]

Most of the star athletes were defeated in their own games. Tiger Woods went down before 52-year-old Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2009 world champ, Steven Ward. New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush was taken out by gamer Paul Glasgow in Madden NFL 2009. Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson lost a game of NBA Live to Steffon Dunlop — adding insult to his recent real-life injury on the court.

It didn't go much better for all-star athletes who tried their hand at other sports games:

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter tried his luck in FIFA Soccer but proved to be no match for Jose Miguel Morales Herrera (GT: CAPELLOOO) of Mexico. Before the match started, Jeter was asked if he was ready to begin. No, I just learned how to play this game five minutes ago, Jeter joked. Herrera said he would have rather played Tierra Henry but had a good time anyway. He let Jeter score in order to make it seem closer than it really was.

Aw, how sweet of him.

You can watch the Finals on Spike TV February 18.

Gamers dominate athletes in sports game competition

A yearly tradition, EA has been using the Madden football franchise to predict the outcome of the Super Bowl since 2004, when it forecast the New England Patriots defeating my beloved Philadelphia Eagles. As the folks at MTV Multiplayer so conveniently point out, over the past four years the prediction has been accurate three times, and the one time it was wrong involved the Green Bay Packers hiring a sorcerer. Well chalk up another win to Madden, as the 09 version of the game not only predicted the winner this year, it predicted the score within 2 points.

Last night's game ended with a score of Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23 - honestly much closer than I had anticipated. And Madden's prediction? Steelers 28, Cards 24. That's verging on the spooky right there.

So is the prediction the result of the accuracy of Madden NFL 09's player modeling, or simply a fluke? Did Madden take into account several bad referee calls for both sides? Did Madden NFL 09 stop and chuckle at the hilarious antics of simulated E-Trade babies, or was this entire post an excuse to point you towards that one commercial? Only Madden knows for sure, and he probably forgot.

The publisher is just one of a handful of corporate entities going all out at Super Bowl XLIII with Madden Bowl XV, a select group of party hosts that includes dude-centric media outlets like Maxim and ESPN. EA's annual, invite-only event pits NFL players against each other in the latest edition of the game, whilst freeloaders enjoy free snacks and booze.

EA's plan to throw a Madden-pimping party "was never in question," according to EA Sports bossman Peter Moore, reports CNBC. Madden Bowl XV goes down this Thursday in Tampa, Florida, 90 miles southwest of Madden NFL developer EA Tiburon, which recently saw cuts.

Sure, cash-blowing parties like Madden Bowl are probably harder to justify if you've just been given walking papers from Tiburon, or almost any EA developer. But one would think that with over 5 million copies of Madden NFL 09 sold last year, they've worked the party fund into the budget.

Where Have All The Super Bowl Parties Gone? [SportsBiz]

Upgraded with each team's current roster and the latest stats, the two teams took the virtual field and fought bravely for the coveted Super Bowl ring, but when the dust finally settled the Steelers came out on top, inching by the Cardinals to a 28-24 victory. Somewhere, in a game of SimCity modeled after the Pennsylvania town, tiny virtual people are rioting joyously in the streets, while Phoenix slowly returns to the tumbleweed strewn wasteland they were before they accidentally made it to the big game.

Check out the screens below for some shots and a video from the big game, and then watch the actual Super Bowl on February 1st to watch this prediction come true. Oh, and you know I love you Arizona. Your colorful bird helmets never fail to amuse me.

EA SPORTS PREDICTS SUPER BOWL XLIII CHAMPION USING MADDEN NFL 09

January 23, 2009 — Black and gold will reign supreme in Tampa Bay, according to the official EA SPORTS simulation of Super Bowl XLIII by Madden NFL 09. According to the award-winning video game, the Pittsburgh Steelers will win an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title in a tightly contested game against the Arizona Cardinals, by a final score of 28-24. Holding off a fourth quarter comeback by the Cardinals, the Steelers bring the Vince Lombardi trophy back to the Steel City for the second time in the past four years and for a sixth time in franchise history, setting an NFL record.

Madden NFL 09 is the most authentic and adaptable game in sports video game history, and utilizing each team’s current roster and the latest player statistics, EA SPORTS matched the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals in a simulation of Super Bowl XLIII. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 3 touchdowns and was named the Super Bowl MVP; joining teammate Hines Ward who was the Super Bowl XL MVP. Steelers coach, Mike Tomlin, became the youngest coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, at the age of 36.

The start of Super Bowl XLIII became a defensive struggle, but Pittsburgh put the first points up with a 10-yard touchdown reception to Santonio Holmes, with less than two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Cardinals returned the favor with their reinvigorated running game as Edgerrin James diced through the vaunted Steelers defense with 8-yard touchdown run, near the start of the second quarter. Pittsburgh, showing great balance, quickly swung the momentum in their favor with two consecutive touchdowns – a 10-yard scamper by “Fast” Willie Parker, and a 13-yard strike to Hines Ward. The Steelers headed into halftime with a 21-7 lead and the route appeared to be on.

Despite their high-powered air attack, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt, kept to the successful running attack as the third quarter opened. The Cardinals made a statement as again they punctured the Steel Curtain with an Edgerrin James 14-yard touchdown run; drawing the score to 21-14. The Steelers, unfazed, looked like they had potentially put the Cards down for good with Santonio Holmes’s second touchdown reception. At the close of the third quarter, the score was 28-14 in favor of Pittsburgh.

Taking a page from the Steelers defense, the Cardinals held tough and would not surrender any additional points. This coupled with Pro-Bowl receiver, Larry Fitzgerald’s 15-yard touchdown catch midway through the 4th, brought the Cards within seven points. Neil Rackers added a 45-yard field goal with 3:15 remaining in the game, closing the gap to 28-24. On the following possession, Pittsburgh was able to break through for a few first downs; leaving the Arizona comeback short.

Super Bowl XLIII kicks off Sunday, February 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

In an interview with the Kansas City Star, KU's Briscoe explains that improvements between Madden 08 and Madden 09 were the key to his performance on the field.

“I’d have to say the updated Madden 2009,” Briscoe said. “In Madden 2008, they didn’t really roll their coverages as much...I mean, I play Madden a whole lot,” Briscoe explained. “They roll their defenses now. The game systems these days are just crazy. Me playing Madden, it helps me read the defense on the field.”

So instead of going to the film room to watch endless replay reels, Briscoe heads over to teammate Rell Lewis' dorm room to play video games. I smell a future Madden cover athlete in the making.

Video game helps Kansas’ Briscoe improve on the football field [KansasCity.com]

That’s not to say Madden NFL 09 is a failure or a warmed-over roster update. It is by any objective measure the best version of the game since Madden ‘05, which was the game’s apotheosis on 2nd-generation consoles. Madden 09’s outstanding presentation will please lifelong adherents, and its remarkably accurate replay analysis will educate newcomers and encourage those returning to the series. Foundationally, this version begins the title's next generation. But in gameplay, it takes safe but incremental steps toward the classic, impossible goal of a sports title: Creating realistic competition that is challenging yet winnable. If you are not an experienced player, Madden ‘09 skews toward winnable, but it doesn’t leave you feeling like you played your best.

Loved:
Backtrack: A mistake play brings up an animated breakdown that points out the error you made and exposes the alternatives you had. It’s remarkably accurate for a first effort. A sports simulation really shines when it teaches people something about the game as it is played in real life. Madden ‘09 has always led that effort, and takes another strong step forward with this feature.

Rewind: As a single-player device only, this is a great addition. Rewind allows you a do-over for one particularly egregious play (or more, depending on your settings). Its purpose is to save perfectionists from themselves and keep them playing the game rather than starting over.

Improved ball-running controls: Beginning this year, when a tackle animation starts you can lay on the buttons or the right stick to spin, stiff-arm or sprint loose from the tackle. In time you’ll develop your own go-to set of control choices. Fighting for your yards is a rewarding feeling and deepens the game’s authenticity.

Cris Collinsworth: Widely considered the class of NFL analysts, he is no less than that on Madden 09. His familiar, natural delivery is a part of every play and it matches well with the onfield action. Collinsworth will also startle you with his accuracy in the Backtrack commentary, especially when he says you were staring at a single receiver the entire time. Collinsworth, in substance and style, is more than a good analyst. He’s an upgrade from Madden himself.

Presentation: When the franchise calendar hits November you’ll play with long shadows under foot and leaden skies overhead, and it lends a different quality of light to the turf and the stadium surroundings, especially when the lights are on at twilight. After four quarters of rain, your uniform will be unidentifiably filthy. All it lacked was dirt clods in your face mask. In post-play animations players help each other up, swoop to and run with dislodged balls after the whistle, or shove and jaw at one another. All of these things extend the immersive experience striven for and built on in previous versions of the game.

Hated:
Adaptive difficulty: I don’t literally hate the concept, certainly don’t think it should be stripped from future versions, but I’m not sold yet on the idea that Madden 09’s AI really adapts to your skills. Online single matches tended to come down to the final two series and not a one of them came close to being the kind of well played epic you imagine when the game is decided on the final drive or in overtime. It’s like the football equivalent of a “My kid is a terrific kid” bumper sticker. The diagnostic tests that set your “Madden IQ” at the beginning of the game are way, way too easy. My original tests put me as an all-Madden level runner and I am nowhere near it. You’re inevitably starting the game overrated in one or more categories, and failing at it to bring your AI down to a more reasonable level is both time consuming and not fun. You’re better off sandbagging your diagnostics and letting your Madden IQ rise and fall according to your in-game performance, or just playing on its standard pre-set difficulties. In conversation, online gamers to a man expressed no confidence in or understanding of how Madden IQ either moved or affected gameplay beyond anecdotal assumptions.

Tom Hammond: The new play-by-play man is not at all natural in this environment. The substance of his call is very generic, routinely omits players’ and team names, and his tone is almost always mismatched to the play or the circumstance. Even the between-plays endorsement of EA Sports is off. He needs work, because right now he sounds like C3PO.

Artificial Stupidity: This is nothing new, and is perhaps more of a concern for singleplayer than multiplayer. But the offensive line’s AI is still, year after year, utter crap. Draw plays and screen passes are useless, making obvious passing downs even more obvious. Defenses are helpless against the slant route. But the game really is long overdue for better offensive line play. I would have no problem if the Madden 10 cover boy was Alan Faneca or Matt Light or Jeff Saturday and the game touted revolutionary offensive line AI and pre-snap adjustments, which seem entirely gratuitous as of now. But linemen don’t sell video games.

Madden ‘09 offers to date the most inclusive experience ever for a sport so complex and inscrutable as American football. But it’s based entirely on execution, when so much of the game is about decision-making before the snap. The game has always been given to information overload and a myriad of choices that lack context. Still, longtime gamers have coped with that for years, developing their own systems; neophytes won’t really care and will accept the spoonfeeding; and those coming back to the series after a few years will get a warm welcome from the game’s AI and find strong value for their dollar.

But you get what you give to this game, and if you are expecting Sunday afternoon realism, you still need to give a lot to help create that experience.

Madden ‘09, developed by EA Tiburon, published by EA and released Aug. 12. Retails for $59.99. Versions available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP. Reviewed on Xbox 360. Played singleplayer franchise mode for a complete season into the playoffs and played online multiplayer single-game mode.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

GameDaily
To further assist your play style, EA added EA Rewind and EA Backtrack. Rewind allows you to erase a play in case you screw up with an interception or fumble. Cheaters are sure to squeal in delight over this addition, while devoted players will turn it off. Backtrack is more helpful, with Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond, the in-game announcers, breaking down certain plays to tell you what went right or wrong.

GameSpot
Just as there are plenty of good things to talk about with regard to 09's gameplay, there are some problems worth mentioning. Slants and crossing routes are exceedingly difficult to defend against. The linebackers who could snag almost any ball out of thin air last year were annoying, but so is watching a lousy QB and below-average tight end pick you apart like they're Peyton Manning and Dallas Clark. It's not all fun and games for QBs and receivers though. Quarterbacks will frequently overthrow passes in the flat so that they lead receivers right out of bounds or receivers will get stuck in an animation and, head to the sidelines, lose yards, or run right into a tackler.

Associated Press
One of the problems in a series with so much history is that it can be somewhat daunting to a newcomer. Many of the new features in "Madden 09" are geared toward helping the novice. For example, play selection can be as simple or as deep as you want it. At the easiest level, the computer will select your plays for you. Later on, you can arrange your playbook by play type (power run, quick pass) rather than by sometimes confusing formations like Z slant wide corner or double Z LB spy.

1UP
A perfect example of the upgrade: Beautifully realized snow games — a quantum leap from the pseudo-sleet that passed as powder in recent years (though why do footsteps stay in the snow, while tackled players leaves no trace?). The rivalry games (Giants vs. Cowboys or Jets vs. Patriots, for example) receive a different, more epic visual treatment than regular games, which seems a tad overdone — during a Broncos vs. Chiefs clash in the rain, the jerseys were so muddied and the lighting so dramatic that it was tough to tell the sides apart.

G4 X-Play
With EA owning the NFL license till 2012, they could have easily milked the franchise with minor tweaks and the occasional roster update till their deal expired. Madden NFL 09 actually reinvents the series with upgrades to previous modes as well as the introduction of new ones like Madden IQ, Online Leagues, and Madden Moments. The new commentating team, Backtrack replays, soundtrack, and improved graphics really packs that extra punch of realism making this game a must buy.

While I still haven't even opened my copy of Madden NFL 09, I've heard it's very nice.

GameStop asks, and we assume not rhetorically, "Why not change up the typical 'girls night out' with a Madden-packed 'girls night in?'"

What exactly does a "girls night in" consist of? Playing Madden NFL '09 All Play for the Wii apparently, with its big-headed players, simplified play-calling and waggle-friendly controls, all the while becoming fluent in football vocabulary and learned in gridiron trivia.

If playing the expanded audience version of Madden doesn't appeal to you, ladies, perhaps the hot crab dip will! That's just one of many "delicious, health-conscious and easy-to-make snacks" that you'll find at the GameStop's female online reeducation program. You will, of course eat said snacks off of cute sports themed partyware and use the approved cute names ("Quarterback Quesadillas", "Fumble-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies", etc).

Like many of GameStop's efforts to attract female gamers young, old and fond of pink handhelds, the Madden Girls Night In endeavor is an awkward effort. Honestly, we have no idea if this is even remotely appealing or patently offensive, given that our thick foreheads block this sort of critical information from reaching our pea-brains.

What we think we do know, however, is the real reason someone felt this warranted Gamestop.com front page prominence — the "Submit Your Party Photo" link, through which Maddenettes are asked to "attach images from your Girls Night In experience" and send in.

Someone at GameStop corporate is assuredly hoping for candid photos of the bra and panties pillow fight that concludes every all-woman party. Those do happen, right?

Girls Night In [GameStop]

We checked out Sam's prices for the games after receiving the news, and they do offer a nice little discount. The PS3 and Xbox 360 version are going for $55.55 ($83.22 for the collector's edition), with the PS2 and PSP versions marked at $36.33, the Wii version at $46.66, and the DS version a bargain at $26.66. All this plus a free cover replacement while you wait? None too shabby.

Update - Just got word from Walmart that they'll be printing covers on-site as well, though the games are regular price and you don't get a Walmart card with your picture on it - that's reserved for managers.

And of course, Electronic Arts is quick to point out that this Madden is a keeper.

“Madden NFL 09 truly embodies the rich history of Madden NFL football,” said Senior Producer Phil Frazier. “With adaptable gameplay, stunning visuals, and beyond broadcast presentation this game is a fantastic and competitive experience for all types of gamers.”

Personally, I'm not much of a sport fan which means I'm also not much of a video game sports fan, but despite that I play a bit of Madden every year when it comes out and, more importantly, I enjoy it.

Before sitting down to the latest Madden I always think, sometimes even write, that this year's Madden can't be worth the price of admission, that it can't possibly squeeze anymore nuance into a game that's been recreated 19 times before. And every year I'm surprised to find just enough difference to make it worth while.

This year the game promises 85 new enhancements including a Virtual Training Center, Adaptive Difficulty Engine and of course another boost to graphics.

But is it worth it? I haven't yet sat down to see this time around, but have you or are you planning on buying Madden 09?

Last night I made the trip down the street to the Mansell location for the midnight launch of EA's Madden NFL 09, and things were definitely different. It's amazing what a little corporate prodding and a more enthusiastic store manager can accomplish. I would have called the story A Tale of Two GameStops revisited, but if they get it right the first place you go you don't need to go anywhere else.

This time around, Mansell pulled out all the stops. They had a tent set up outside the store with kiosks so players could get their hands on the game a little early. They had two coolers filled with non0alcholic party beverages. Not only did they have Papa John's pizza there, they also had several boxes of wings from the nearby Hooters (considered a family restaurant in the South), along with two lovely Hooters girls in oversized football jerseys who did far more than serve food, if you know what I mean.

They also tossed the football back and forth, and at one point one of them tried her hand at the game on the PlayStation 3. "I have no idea what I'm doing," she worried. I know exactly how she feels when it comes to football games and football in general. At one point in the evening one of the two Nerf footballs that were being tossed about in the parking lot landed in my unsuspecting hands, leaving me staring at it as if someone had just handed me a dead baby. The same Hooters girl gently took it from my grasp, saving me from the embarrassment of actually trying to throw it myself.

The night passed relatively quickly and without major incident. I chatted with the GameStop district manager Mike for a bit, who said, "Ah, A Tale of Two GameStops" after I introduced myself as a writer for an online gaming website. The Hooters girls passed out fliers for their upcoming Guitar Hero tournament. The police stopped to check up on things, refusing my offer of ice-cold Dr. Pepper that no one else wanted. Things wrapped up around 11:45PM with the raffle of an Xbox 360 faceplate and a Atlanta Falcon's cap, after which everyone lined up and quickly got their games and departed.

This wasn't just a game launch. It was a memorable event, which is exactly what I said a game launch should be in the original article. The big difference between the GTA IV launch and this one? This guy right here.
There wasn't a day that I went into the Mansell GameStop this past month that I didn't hear the new manager, Louis Lanius, telling everyone who came into that store about the big Madden NFL 09 launch. He ordered pizza, worked out a deal with the local Hooters that could result in his store co-sponsoring a Guitar Hero tournament with the restaurant, and even bugged his DM to get him a tent so the festivities could continue rain or shine. Even better, he was outside with the fans the whole evening, tossing the football, talking about the game, and generally being a part of the celebration, rather than being the stodgy guy looking through the glass from inside the store, wishing he were home. Damn fine work Louis. Looking forward to what you come up with for the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed midnight event.

As for Madden NFL 09, it looks very shiny in its protective cellophane, sitting on my coffee table. I'm a bit scared to unwrap it for fear that it will unleash my inner beast, which will then get spooked by the cats, bursting out of my apartment door in a desperate attempt to escape, leaving me with no inner beast at all. That cannot be a good thing, so I am sticking to Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon for a few more days before chancing it.

That said, fanatical football fans with a desire for accuracy will be able to download a Jets uniformed Favre next week, according to MTV Multiplayer. It's due to hit EAsports.com sometime next week, just begging to be printed and inserted into a clear plastic sleeve. Ready the inkjets!

Welcome Back Brett [Peter Moore blog]
EA Will Produce Brett Favre ‘Madden’ Cover Featuring Jets Uniform, Updating Roster On Monday [MTV Multiplayer]

EA has hooked the Major up with 25 pairs of tickets, which he will award randomly to folks who email him between now and 9AM Pacific time tomorrow. He'll notify winners tomorrow afternoon, giving you a good four days to figure out how the hell you're going to make it to Pasadena in time. PROTIP - If you live in Pasadena, don't move.

I've got your tickets to the Maddenpalooza event in Pasadena [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Oh, and a FaceBreaker demo is out too. Yay.

Demo: Madden NFL 09 And Guest [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Artists scheduled to appear include headliners Good Charlotte, Busta Rhymes, Rev Theory, Airbourne, From First to Last and Young Dre The Truth. Sounds like a worthy successor to the traditional Maddenoliday, more than enough to hold us until they add the word Madden to the front of some new festive term.

EA Kicks-Off Madden NFL 09 Launch with Maddenpalooza Celebration
Madden NFL 09 Music Soundtrack Artist Good Charlotte to Headline Fan Festival

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today that Madden NFL 09 will celebrate its launch with Maddenpalooza, a music, sports and gaming fan festival hosted at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on August 11. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the award-winning Madden NFL franchise and the release of Madden NFL 09, Maddenpalooza will run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. the day before the official August 12 launch date. The event will feature live musical performances by bands from past and current Madden NFL soundtracks, including Good Charlotte who will headline the music stage. In addition to the music performances, Maddenpalooza attendees can enjoy a number of fan-friendly festivities including autograph signing stations with retired NFL legends, interactive NFL activities, 300 Xbox 360® gaming kiosks to play Madden NFL 09, and a Wal-mart pop-up store where customers can be among the first to purchase their copy of Madden NFL 09.

”Maddenpalooza will truly be a celebration of the 20th anniversary of one of the most popular video games in history,” said Director of Marketing Chris Erb. “The fan festival will provide an interactive experience for Madden fans to come together and experience Madden NFL 09 before its launch.”

Each summer, the launch of Madden NFL has emerged as a highly anticipated event that wins the attention of both consumers and media across the country. Past Madden NFL launches have centered around the concept of Maddenoliday, where thousands of Madden NFL fans flocked to stores and took the day off from work and school to immerse themselves in that year’s copy of Madden NFL. This year, with Maddenpalooza, EA SPORTS™ will take it to the next level for the 20th anniversary of Madden NFL. Hosted at the Rose Bowl, the stadium where John Madden and the 1976 Oakland Raiders won their first Super Bowl, Maddenpalooza brings together the impressive mix of elements from sports, entertainment and video games that have made the Madden NFL franchise an American pop culture icon.

In addition to Good Charlotte, whose song “The Anthem” first appeared on the Madden NFL 03 soundtrack, other music acts scheduled to perform include Busta Rhymes, Rev Theory, Airbourne, From First to Last and Young Dre The Truth. Each of these bands will perform throughout the day – leading up to the first sales of Madden NFL 09 which will begin at 9 p.m. PST at the Wal-mart pop-up store located within the Rose Bowl stadium.

Admission to Maddenpalooza is free, tickets will be distributed through the Los Angeles based radio station KIIS, as well as various other local radio stations and promotional partners. There will also be a limited amount of tickets available at the Rose Bowl on August 11 through a first-come-first-serve basis.

Madden NFL 09, the First Sports Game That Adapts To You, introduces over 85 new features and enhancements. Whether you are a seasoned veteran, or a franchise rookie, Madden NFL 09 will continuously asses your skills and adjust the gameplay to keep the experience both fun and challenging, all while training gamers to become better Madden players. Madden NFL 09 also includes a brand-new broadcast presentation package featuring Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond, online leagues, and the most realistic graphics in franchise history.

Madden NFL 09 is developed in Orlando, Florida by the award-winning EA Tiburon studio, which also produces NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

Madden NFL 09 will be available for the Xbox® and Xbox 360® video game systems from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment systems, Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and is rated E by the ESRB.

EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

For more information about Madden NFL 09, check out www.madden09.com.

The web-based service of Fantasy Football, which will be free, and the paid applications for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for fantasy football are expected to hit later this summer.

“EA SPORTS Fantasy Football this year takes fantasy football leagues to the next level,” said EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Executive Producer Jeremy Strauser. “Through our draft day and live scoring applications we have made fantasy football a truly interactive and innovative experience. In addition, we have created integration between our EA SPORTS Fantasy Football product and Madden NFL 09 which gives the football gamer the complete football gaming experience.”

Gamers will be able to download a Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker to the 360 or PS3 which will give them the ability to view video clips and hear EA expert commentary. The Live Score Tracker, another download, will track fantasy football scores, delivering them either in full screen mode with rosters and details or a more compact picture-in-picture mode.

Hit up the jump for more screens, the full release and to speculate on what exactly the price tag will be.

EA Sports Fantasy Football [EA Sports]

EA SPORTS™ FANTASY FOOTBALL DELIVERS INNOVATIVE CONSOLE-BASED TOOLS AND IN-GAME INTEGRATION WITH MADDEN NFL 09

EA SPORTS™ Fantasy Football is the Complete Fantasy Football Experience

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., - June 16, 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that EA SPORTS™ Fantasy Football will be launching a new website, fantasy.EASPORTS.com and will have fantasy football applications specific to the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system later this summer. The web-based service of EA SPORTS Fantasy Football is free, while members of Xbox LIVE or PLAYSTATION 3 Network will have the opportunity to download the innovative fantasy football applications for a fee. In addition, for the first time ever, gamers will have the ability to play their fantasy football squad in Madden NFL 09. EA Experts, a team of internal fantasy football gurus, returns and serves as a go-to source for all fantasy football information.

“EA SPORTS Fantasy Football this year takes fantasy football leagues to the next level,” said EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Executive Producer Jeremy Strauser. “Through our draft day and live scoring applications we have made fantasy football a truly interactive and innovative experience. In addition, we have created integration between our EA SPORTS Fantasy Football product and Madden NFL 09 which gives the football gamer the complete football gaming experience.”

Exclusive to EA SPORTS Fantasy Football customers, gamers will have the ability to download the EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker application and experience a fantasy draft that includes all of the fanfare and presentation of an authentic professional football draft on their Xbox 360 or PLAYSTATION 3. The days of paper draft boards are over and gamers can view video clips and hear the EA Experts team provide commentary on top players. Moreover, gamers will be able to track their EA SPORTS Fantasy Football teams and leagues through the EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Live Score Tracker application, which is also available via download from Xbox LIVE or PLAYSTATION 3 Network. The fantasy scores can be viewed in two ways: full screen mode with complete rosters and details or picture-in-picture mode which allows gamers to keep an eye on scoring updates while watching live football action.

If you’ve ever wanted to test your fantasy team against others in the Madden NFL franchise, EA SPORTS Fantasy Football now gives you the opportunity. Through the website, players designate which fantasy team will be imported into Madden NFL 09. This fantasy team is a fully-functional created team and can be played in all areas available to created teams, including online head-to-head games, providing the ultimate football gaming experience.

EA SPORTS Fantasy Football is an officially licensed product of NFL PLAYERS, the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association.

EA SPORTS Fantasy Football is developed in Orlando, Florida by the award-winning EA Tiburon studio, which also produces Madden NFL 09, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL®, NBA LIVE, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

The graphics whore within wishes that Madden NFL 09 looked like this all the time (and that a holographic John Madden could be called upon for advice at any moment, should we need to know the barbeque time on sausages or find out if Ace hardware had something in stock). We think the "Madden IQ Test" revealed last month is a fantastic introduction for people who are terrible at virtual football, as I am, so that they can have a good measure of their skill level before playing. Maybe it's just so easy to place John in an AT-AT or Death Star transmission with that bluish interlaced look he's got. It's slimming!

Madden NFL 09 - IQ Test: Rushing Offense HD [GameTrailers]

That feature and the "Backtrack" function—which illustrates how you blew a play with on field graphics and voiceovers—look like they're going to go a long way to help relapsed Madden players and noobs figure out the intricacies of the venerable football series. GameSpot's preview of Madden NFL 09 is far more enlightening, should you be interested in seeing what this year's entry has to offer.

Madden NFL 09 First Hands-On [GameSpot]