Madden NFL 09 is shipping in August
The big dog of all sports games has a release date for its 20th season.
Electronic Arts says it will start shipping “Madden NFL 09″ on Aug. 12, and it will be available for practically every platform.
But because this is the 20th anniversary year of the football franchise, EA plans to distribute two kinds of “Madden” — a standard edition and a special anniversary Collector’s Edition that includes “Madden,” a copy of the strategy game “NFL Head Coach 09″ and bonus video content, among other things.
Better still, “Madden” and “Head Coach” will be interactive; plays designed in one can be imported to the other, and there will be other elements the two games share with each other.
EA did not say how much the Collectors Edition will cost. Both editions are slated for availability on the scheduled release date on Microsoft’s Xbox 360; Sony’s PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable; and Nintendo’s Wii and handheld DS consoles.
The “Madden” franchise has sold more than 70 million copies since its debut in 1989 and is the best-selling video game of all time in the United States. It also is the only American football-themed game that has the NFL’s seal of approval.
Madden is the only game i’ve regularly purchased since I’ve had my “old” Playstation 2. I usually refresh the title every 3 years or so, not so much because I don’t want to spend the money, but because I don’t want to give up my franchise that i’ve created. I know other friends of mine who have only purchased a gaming system JUST to be able to play Madden. I’m looking forward to this new one.
Any word on who will b on the cover.