Australia, homeland of beloved former Chargers punter Darren Bennett, got Madden NFL 10 a day earlier than the rest of the world - part of that whole day-ahead, winter-is-summer, up-is-down, toilets-flush-in-reverse thing. But they didn't get free Online Franchise codes.
EA Sports spokesman Rob Semsey confirmed that the codes were, mistakenly, not printed on the instruction manuals for some regions outside of North America. "We are investigating what regions this is affecting and will provide a solution once we have more details," he says.
Oz gamers on the GameFAQs forums complained earlier today that the PAL version of Madden NFL 10 shipped with the same promise of an online franchise mode but no code printed on the manual to unlock your 10 franchise entitlements. Ordinarily it costs 800 Microsoft points. But hold your horses on starting an online dynasty until EA Sports responds to this, because it's easier to collect a free chit than seek a refund.
Meantime, because I truly have no time for an online franchise mode in addition to the offline dynasties and franchises I'm running in NCAA and Madden 10, respectively, I hereby give up my code, first come, first served. U.S. gamers, please defer to our friends from the convict colony.
In case you can't read that, it's
2T9F-74AN-936A-B8S8
No Code on the Back of My Manuel [sic] for Online Franchise !!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!! [GameFAQs]
UPDATE - EA Sports' Rob Semsey has said "For those Madden 10 owners outside N.A. that don't have an online franchise code on your manual...we are working on a solution. Stay tuned". So...stay tuned!