Madden 10 and My Addiction to Buying the Damn Games

Madden NFL 10 looks fantastic.  After a couple of lackluster years Madden '09 was a return to form and the series finally seemed to hit its stride on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  While this video doesn't show off many of the new features it does have the new "gang tackling" and it gives me an excuse to show of Jay Cutler, Da Bears and the NFC North.




Yes I still play and buy Madden games.  Flame me if you must but there is something irresistible about the series and there must be some reasons why I still play them.  They are almost as bad as my caffeine habit, though caffeine never fails to deliver unlike say Madden '07 & '08. 

First and foremost I point the finger towards the roster updates.  Roster updates are nicotine to a Madden fan.  Sure you could download custom rosters after the season starts by some Joe Schmoe online for your old game but the waiting and hassle are a slight pain in the ass.  EA and the NFL take all the work out for you.  You get all the new rookies, improvements in abilities and roster updates week to week during the season.  This is probably the biggest asset that keeps me coming back.  My Bears have their first franchise quarterback in over 20 years now with Jay Cutler, no way in hell am I missing out on that.

Finger number two points at the sport itself.  I simply love the NFL.  It isn't my favorite sport to play (basketball) but it is definitely my favorite to watch.  I know you non-Americans love your soccer and rugby but many of us here grow up playing and watching football, it has surpassed baseball as the American past time.  When it comes to watching the Bears few things get in the way on those Sunday afternoons.  If they aren't on local or national TV I head to the bar to pick them up on the NFL Ticket.  While I never played football in school I grew up watching the NFL long before I got in to other sports.

The new features are another selling factor.  I realize these aren't a sequel revolution in content but every now and then they toss in some awesome features like the hit stick, superstar mode or 32-man online franchises (this year).  The franchise feature alone has me drooling.  Instead of playing vs. A.I. I can now load up my Bears squad and play a bunch of randies during my season, have a full draft, do trades out of the game, etc.  This year's PRO-TAK sounds stellar as well allowing 9-man gang tackles and hopefully cuts down on scripted tackle animations.

I can't forget about the competition.  From playing online scrubs to smashing friends in 21-0 routes in home games over a case of beer; I love it.  We have various house rules and of them is 21 points down at any point is a route and the game is over, time for someone else to step up.  Madden is like my console version of a FPS death match game on PC.  The ultimate in head-to-head competition for me.  If you don't keep with new players, formations and rosters you fall behind the curve.

Last on the list is habit.  We are creatures of habit and I am no exception when it comes to Madden games.  After being disappointed in '08 I posted on here numerous times that I would skip out on 2009 if it sucked.  For the first time I didn't even preorder the game.  I waited for reviews and the game delivered.  This year I am leaning towards preordering it again though this isn't a lock yet.  I've bought or owned pretty much every year since '94, crazy I know.  The good thing is I usually resell them when I can still get $30-40 for them a month or so after the Super Bowl.  $30 for 7+ months of playtime isn't a bad deal.

There you have it.  I am a willing Madden addict and I know it.  Baring another ****-cluster like Madden '08 I will continue to support my addiction with new doses of NFL-fueled testosterone every year.  They may not be "perfect" games and they may not win any game of the year awards but I sure find them a blast to play.