Browse by Tags
All Tags »
Maddenpalooza (
RSS)
Posted
Aug 19 2008, 07:54 PM
Just arrived in Leipzig for the annual Games Convention, where we will be talking about our globalization strategy for EA SPORTS, as well as giving attendees a much-anticipated deep dive on FIFA 09, by far our top selling game here in Europe.
It would be remiss of me if I didn’t thank all of the members of Madden Nation who joined us at the Rose Bowl last week for Maddenpalooza. As you can see from the attached video, a good time was had by all, as we welcomed a number of NFL legends, had non-stop music from acts like Busta Rhymes and Good Charlotte, and of course, had a full afternoon of hands-on with the game itself before our partners Wal-Mart sold the first game at the close of the evening.
We are also very proud of the outstanding reviews the game is garnering on the three consoles – great work from the team at Tiburon.
Red Sox making me feel very uneasy – mid-August and we are 4 ½ games back of Tampa Bay? Only good news is that the Yankees are even further back. Starting to feel like the wild card is the only way we get to the post season.
Across the pond, I watched Liverpool Saturday morning on Fox Soccer Channel (how did we displaced footie fans ever get by without FSC?). Unconvincing performance, but a win nonetheless. Thank God for Torres…
More later in the week.
Peter
Posted
Aug 08 2008, 11:29 PM
Before I head down to Pasadena for Maddenpalooza, I wanted to share with you our new 60 second TV spot for Madden NFL 09.
Created by our talented in-house advertising team and our agency Weiden & Kennedy, the ads are probably a departure from what you have seen from
EA SPORTS on television in recent years.
To all of us who have played video games and watched sports over the past 15 years, “It’s In the Game,” is one of the most familiar signatures in television advertising. EA SPORTS iconic sign-off and stylistic advertising has defined the EA SPORTS brand and you, its fans, for nearly a generation. But as the business changes and the demographics of gamers evolve, so too must EA SPORTS’ advertising creative.
Beginning a few weeks ago with the launch of NCAA Football 09, and carrying through the majority of EA SPORTS advertising for the remainder of the 09 season, a new brand campaign will better reflect the brand and the face of gamers everywhere. This new campaign includes nearly two dozen television spots and more than 50 web vignettes, as well as community, mobile and other extensions.
No longer speaking exclusively to “boys in their bedrooms,” EA SPORTS will bring forward the new faces and voices of real-life gamers in an authentic, unscripted vision by legendary filmmaker Errol Morris. The campaign features YOU - real gamers of all types - young and old, male and female, celeb and athlete – speaking in their own voices.
While the essence of "It's In the Game" and the ubiquitous EA SPORTS medallion remain unchanged, this new campaign replaces that familiar sign-off with a range of voices from within the EA SPORTS community in their own words. I truly hope you enjoy the spots, and that you appreciate how we are trying to bring to life the unique faces of sports video gamers by sharing your stories and passion for our franchises.
Enjoy…
Posted
Aug 08 2008, 01:46 AM
As we all know by now, Brett Favre is a New York Jet. And if you believe the simulation we ran using the Madden NFL 09 engine, Jets fans should get ready for the playoffs. Our prediction has the Jets winning 11 games, their most since the 1998 season, and New York earning a wild card berth in the playoffs. It’s going to be fun to see Favre in the AFC East, but I’m sure my fellow Patriots brethren will tell you that we’re still not scared of the Jets.
Get a look at #4 in green and white. Going to take a while to get used to this, huh?
Meanwhile, our team is in LA making final preparations for Maddenpalooza. We can hardly wait to get down to the Rose Bowl for next week’s launch.
Chris Erb, our director of marketing for Madden and the brains behind the incredible flurry of launch activities, checked in earlier today with these pictures to give us a sneak peak from the Rose Bowl, where we’re expecting thousands of fans to turn out on Monday to see Good Charlotte, Busta Rhymes and buy their first copies of the game. Most importantly – admission is free. Get there early.
A couple of other important announcements we made today:
• An online roster patch featuring Brett as the Jets starting QB will be available by launch day, and hopefully even Monday Aug. 11. As we’ve said before, the final packaged version of the game that you can buy in stores beginning next week will feature Brett on an “NFL Greats” roster. In Franchise Mode, players can transfer Favre to the free agent roster pool, and pick him up on any of the 32 NFL teams for the 2008 season. Or, go online and download new rosters (that include other changes as well) after you buy the game on Tuesday.
• As we’ve previously confirmed, Madden will hit stores on Aug. 12 with Brett in his Green Bay Packers uniform. We don’t plan to re-issue the game with new 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 Madden NFL 09. Look for it by Tuesday.
• The Madden demo is now available. We’ve been reading lots of feedback on it. Make sure you download it and preview the new Virtual Training Center and Madden IQ test. Our producers are in the forums answering your questions, and they’ve posted this story for anyone wanting more about the demo.
Read article
See you next week in Pasadena.
Posted
Aug 07 2008, 12:06 AM
On the road this week for business, I was excited to pick up my copy of USA Today this morning and see a terrific story on the history of Madden.
Click here to read it.
As I’m quoted as saying in the story: “We don't so much as launch Madden any more, we celebrate its arrival”, and it’s quite a celebration at Tiburon this week. Our Madden development team has put together a truly breakthrough game this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this great franchise – something we’re extremely proud of. And it's nice to see the critics agree. Madden was named best sports game of E3 in the official “Game Critics Best of Show Awards” that were announced yesterday. Congrats also to EA’s other nominees for this category, including: NBA LIVE, Skate It and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR.
And so much for what I said in yesterday’s post about welcoming Brett back to Green Bay. As we all continue to watch this saga unfold, reports have Brett heading to Tampa Bay next year. Who knows. But since I’ve had many people asking, I just want to set the record straight – Madden NFL 09 will hit stores next Tuesday with Brett wearing his Packers green and gold, as we celebrate his legacy as one of the great QBs to ever play the game and someone’s who’s been with us from the early days of John Madden Football. But what’s most important is what’s in the game – and by the start of the season, we’ll have a roster patch that will ensure that, in the game, Brett is on whatever team he’s playing for this season.
Who could have imagined the offseason would be this fun?
We’re under a week to go until Madden launch. Don’t forget to look for me next week at Maddenpalooza.