ESPN doesn't make NFL games anymore?

thedude_frombaywatch

I bought a 360 with call of duty recently. I also have a sports fetish when it comes to games too and i couldn't help but feel like madden was the only game in town when it came to football games. What happened to ESPN football. Damn i loved that game on the xbox. Announcers that I know plus the cool ESPN bumpers. Great commentating and it felt like i was watching a real game.

Madden 09 i haven't bought but i watched the youtube video and madden doesn't commentate anymore apparently. I never liked madden. I guess i'll just have to learn to like it..

ShimSham

The NFL decided they wanted a company to have exclusive rights to their license and EA won the bidding war. Thus, no more NFL 2K games. Though there is All-Pro Football 2K8 which is a generic football game made by the old 2K guys, though a lot of people didn't care for it.

And Madden 09 does have commentators, I'm not sure what you were watching.

There are always the 2K Fans who refuse to believe that Madden has made any progress over the past several years and maintain that NFL 2K5 is the best football game to ever be thought of.

But for anyone who has actually played the Madden games, rather than made generalizing statements about them, it's pretty clear that Madden 09 has taken some bigger steps than in years past and it's a very good football game.

Triple B

Didn't ESPN jump onboard the Madden franchise too, after EA acquired the exclusivity?

scottiec809

I don't really like the new Madden games. I used to have like 2001 and 2002 for the N64 and they were cool, but now there is just so much of a difference. I play all of the NCAA football games, and I like those. I don't understand why they have to be that much different. If the new Madden games were like the NCAA games, I'd have Madden 09 right now.
I do have to agree with the dude from bay watch
I also like the ESPN games much better than Madden and I got pissed when I found out that the NFL wanted one publisher of pro-football. I loved the Pre/Post-game commentary and the Highlights every week in the season mode. I always thought that was awesome.

captaink

Triple B wrote: »

Didn't ESPN jump onboard the Madden franchise too, after EA acquired the exclusivity?

Yeah, they do a lot of "EA Sports sims" on their NFL-specific shows. I don't think they mention Madden, since he doesn't work for ABC/Disney/ESPN right now.

scottiec809

Triple B wrote: »

Didn't ESPN jump onboard the Madden franchise too, after EA acquired the exclusivity?

I think they did, but its just not the same as the old ESPN 2K games though.

thedude_frombaywatch

Oh i meant. John madden doesn't commentate anymore. Or atleast I didn't hear him on the clip i watched. I think it's just the imagery of the ESPN games that made the experience almost feel authentic. It also gives EA the freedom to slack off since there isn't much competition. I guess i have no choice

Marth

I remember playing 2k5 a while back. It didn't seem any different than your usual Madden.

taliosfalcon

The ESPN games were better than Madden in pretty much every way =(

Triple B

taliosfalcon wrote: »

The ESPN games were better than Madden in pretty much every way =(

Agreed. Presentation was phenomenal, graphics spanked anything EA ever did on the last gen consoles, game controls were better, and there was tons of shit to do outside of the actual games. I loved the whole "crib" or "pad" thing, or whatever it was called in 2k5. I also loved the celebrity challenges. 2k5 was the best football game ever made, for my money. It even let you upload and edit your own stadium music; something that is sorely lacking in today's football games. Sure, it falls under the category of "bells & whistles", but you'd be surprised how significantly enhanced the experience is when you're able to actually use your team's touchdown music in a video game. Back then, the Pats were still using "Rock & Roll pt. 2", and it was a blast hearing that play every time I scored a touchdown at home. The only flaw I can clearly remember was the passing game. It left a lot to be desired, and if you had a good RB, there was no reason to ever throw the ball.

zanetheinsane

Just came to say that John Madden has plenty of voice talent lended to Madden 09 but I don't think he's one of the main announcers.

New Booth Commentators: The game featured the two man broadcast team of Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond, but the PS2, PSP, Xbox and Wii versions still retained the broadcast team of Al Michaels and John Madden due to memory limitations

Well, shit. There you go.