Madden NFL Arcade coming to XBLA & PSN; $15 this Dec.
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Oct 14th 2009 at 11:15AM } 
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Dear Download-only Record Holder,
You had a good run -- time to move over. Madden NFL Arcade is coming to town. EA has detailed, priced and dated its bite-sized Madden for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. Targeted for the holiday season, Madden Arcade is described as fast-paced, 5-on-5 football. It's a classic backyard scenario -- first to 30; 4 plays per possession; no penalties; no field goals -- draped in NFL glamour.
Following in the tradition of its arcade-football predecessors (NFL Blitz, NFL Street, etc.) and EA's 3-on-3 NHL Arcade, Madden Arcade will feature a 'toonish art style, downsized playing field (60 yards) and 13 "Game Changers" (power-ups), including the ability to freeze your opponents, turn off their passing icons, or enlist an army of lineman to pretty much guarantee a sack. Each match is customizable, too, by altering skill level, points to win and other options, and supports up to 4-player co-op on a single console or 1-vs-1 online.
Madden NFL Arcade will be released this December on XBLA (1200
) and PSN ($14.99). And shortly thereafter, the game is the odds on favorite to become the best-selling download-only title ever. How's the saying go: Don't hate the player? Hate the ...Gallery: Madden NFL Arcade
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
vidGuy @ Oct 14th 2009 11:21AM
Isn't Madden already a little too arcadey? I'd prefer NFL Blitz over this any day.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 14th 2009 11:30AM
You must be thinking about the Wii version
JUNG GUNS @ Oct 14th 2009 11:37AM
*covers face and shakes head*
You've got it backwards.
vidGuy @ Oct 14th 2009 11:39AM
Nope - I only play the 360 version (Madden 09 currently). It's just EA hasn't balanced out the game enough to where it plays like a real football sim. I still play against guys who drop back for 60 yard bombs every other play, and the game gives them some bs catches more often than not.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 14th 2009 11:46AM
I can't say I've noticed that in a game....then again I haven't played Madden since Madden 08
Brazell @ Oct 14th 2009 11:22AM
Madden NFL Arcade: otherwise known as: What Madden Wii would look like if the Wii weren't less powered than a PS2.
THERE I SAID IT AND I HAVE MY FLAME RETARDANT SUIT ON!!!
PedoJokerBear [Planeteer | Power of Gall Bladder] @ Oct 14th 2009 11:47AM
your suit isnt the only thing thats retardant.
I HAD TO DO IT!
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 14th 2009 11:53AM
Wii sucks!!
THERE I SAID IT AND I HAVE MY FLAME ABSORBENT SUIT ON!!! YOUR NEGATIVE COMMENTS AND DOWNVOTES WILL ONLY MAKE ME STRONGER!!!
CheeziePotato [Has finally become a Super Saiyan] @ Oct 14th 2009 12:04PM
@Captain Planet
Then I will pollute the world. Take that Captain Planet.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 14th 2009 12:09PM
CheeziePotato, don't make me go Al Gore on your ass.
Brazell @ Oct 14th 2009 12:13PM
Boys, boys, stop using your powers for good and evil to SPAM MY COMMENT! It's only serving to reduce my genius!
754Boy @ Oct 14th 2009 12:22PM
The Wii is basically a glorified Gamecube. And considering the Cube was more powerful than The PS2, your post fails EPICALLY.
deaftly (PSN,LIVE,STEAM) @ Oct 14th 2009 12:26PM
Duct tape is nothing but 2 nintendo's super glued to the ceiling
Spartan [Planeteer | Power of Sunshine & Lollipops] @ Oct 14th 2009 12:53PM
Brazell, I want to.............. downvote... your .....
comment, but........ your powers of........ reverse-psycology....
are... stronger........ than me.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 14th 2009 1:19PM
Spartan, or should I say...JUDAS!!
Spartan [Planeteer | Power of Sunshine & Lollipops] @ Oct 14th 2009 2:50PM
Cap'n! do not cast thyne eyes down on me.
PSN: Str84rumBk @ Oct 14th 2009 8:45PM
@Captain Planet
so then the upvotes must make you weaker! UPVOTE Captain Planet as he must be defeated!
Whingnut @ Oct 14th 2009 11:25AM
Just give me some Tecmo Bowl or Sega Genesis John Elway's football - that's some good arcadey football fun.
Weapon360 @ Oct 14th 2009 11:37AM
John Elway on Sega Genesis? I think you meant Joe Montana. The last time Elway had a game of his own it was on the NES... and it wasn't pretty.
Ethan Rom @ Oct 14th 2009 1:49PM
I loved John Elway's Quarterback in the arcade. You had to pull back the stick and aim with the little arrow and release. It was great. So was Joe Montana's sportstalk football on genesis. But you were right about John Elways nintendo game, it was terrible.
The only thing I hated about the game is that John Elway was on it. Don't get me wrong, he was a great player but he started the trend of not playing for the team that drafted him. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts and refused to play for them. As a longtime Colts fan, that pissed me off.
Dan Davis @ Oct 14th 2009 2:55PM
I remember the reverse worked every time in John Elway for NES.
CheeziePotato [Has finally become a Super Saiyan] @ Oct 14th 2009 11:26AM
I can get Madden 09 for $5 at Gamestop. Much better deal than this.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 14th 2009 11:28AM
but that had MORE people....this is a lot more like playing football in the street with friends like you use to do
CheeziePotato [Has finally become a Super Saiyan] @ Oct 14th 2009 11:31AM
Like umm NFL Street.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 14th 2009 11:44AM
wait...wasn't NFL Street 3v3?
CheeziePotato [Has finally become a Super Saiyan] @ Oct 14th 2009 11:49AM
No, it was much more than that.
Space @ Oct 14th 2009 11:55AM
I want to play M.F.G. massive foot ball game 128 vs. 128 football wars
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 14th 2009 11:28AM
yea so ummmmmmm....Midway should have gone this route with Blitz, had they done that they may have hung around a little longer...Did WB get the Blitz license??
Courtney @ Oct 14th 2009 11:42AM
I would love to see a real resurrection of the Blitz line (I'm just ignoring the current gen trainwrecks with that name).
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 14th 2009 11:45AM
Blitz: The League was actually pretty good...
Courtney @ Oct 14th 2009 12:26PM
The League just didn't do anything for me. For single player, the AI was horribly broken, you just had to find one play that worked against each team, and then spam it over and over. We tried multiplayer a couple of times, and it didn't seem to have quite the same arcadey feel of the originals, like it was trying to be too dark and gritty for its own good. I still have NFL Blitz and NFL Blitz 2000, and we ended up getting rid of The League and going back to the classics.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 14th 2009 12:57PM
it was innovative....it showed what could happen when people actually TRIED to do something with a sports game rather than something generic...
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 14th 2009 11:35AM
Now this is a Madden game I can actually see myself playing.
FNG @ Oct 14th 2009 11:37AM
"Dear Download-only Record Holder, You had a good run -- time to move over."
I don't think so. Madden is popular, but it doesn't have what gamers really love. Guns. Lot's of Guns. (hi Neo) Just my opinion, but I just don't see this mini madden overtaking 1943 for the record.
Shadsy @ Oct 14th 2009 11:47AM
Dude. MADDEN. It's not a "gamer" kind of game, but it's an unstoppable behemoth of a franchise. It's become synonymous with a multi-billion dollar sports industry. It can move 5 million units while barely making any changes. It has its own TV show on ESPN, AND a yearly TV special.
Madden cannot be stopped. It is everywhere, whether we like it or not. Do not resist. Authorities are on their way.
xbit @ Oct 14th 2009 12:00PM
Wait until they release a FIFA version. It'll eclipse BF1943 and Madden in a very short space of time.
Nate Addison @ Oct 14th 2009 1:28PM
I am now getting this. My reason? Spite. Good day sir!!!
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 14th 2009 11:40AM
Sounds pretty good.
dark_inchworm (stronger than never, ever before) @ Oct 14th 2009 11:42AM
Does it, now?
murph @ Oct 14th 2009 11:44AM
Ugh. Please don't but this...it only encourages them...
$15?? DIAF EA.
ifalldownstairs @ Oct 14th 2009 5:37PM
are you joking? this is a great deal for $15
Toasty Toaster Man @ Oct 14th 2009 8:04PM
Says the guy with the Rock Band avatar.
Dirty @ Oct 14th 2009 11:54AM
I want NBA JAM! NOW!
URM0MLIK3SME @ Oct 14th 2009 2:16PM
Second That!!!
butaneko @ Oct 14th 2009 11:55AM
Madden Anorexia Edition?
Chad @ Oct 14th 2009 12:03PM
I'll consider buying this, the whole time wishing it would be Mutant League Football.
WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Oct 14th 2009 12:06PM
Four words, say it with me:
Rather have Mutant League.
reebo @ Oct 14th 2009 6:27PM
Rather have Mutant League.
Martin @ Oct 14th 2009 12:16PM
I'll give the demo a try. I'd rather try something new in this case rather than, say, bringing back NFL Blitz or another game. I've found nostalgia only gets you so far :/
Edicius @ Oct 14th 2009 12:22PM
It sounds fun to me. I might buy it, but I'd like it better at 800 msp.