Jamal takes a look at Madden 08' in his weekly blog!

Madden Nation rejoice! The day that marketing has affectionately called “Madden Holiday” has arrived and the new and improved Madden Football 2008 is here.

Madden Nation rejoice! The day that marketing has affectionately called “Madden Holiday” has arrived and the new and improved Madden Football 2008 is here. I haven’t had the time (or the money) to pick it up yet, but you know when I can get it, I will get it.

  

I don’t know what it is about this game that has us Maddenites hooked. It’s basically the same game year after year, only with updated rosters and maybe a few new gadgets, but we buy it every year. I have every one since 2001. I know a few people that have EVERY Madden game since it debuted in 1989. It’s THAT important to some people. There are some NFL players who’ve actually listed being on the cover of Madden as one of their career goals (Vince Young is on the cover this year, a goal he set for himself upon his entry to the league) And most players are familiar with the “Madden Curse” since the game started featuring players on the cover in 1999: The player who appears on the cover will either suffer an injury that year or have a sub par year. There are multiple examples: Sean Alexander was on the cover last year and broke his foot in the season opener against Detroit, Donavan McNabb was on the cover in 2006 and had a sports hernia and seriously injured his knee, Ray Lewis missed 10 games of the 2005 season with a hamstring injury, Michael Vick was on the 2004 cover and…we’ll you know how that turned out for him.

  

I remember getting a Sega Genesis for Christmas back in the early 90’s and the first Madden game came with my console. My how far technology has come. I play it every now and then when I’m feeling nostalgic, just for laughs, but it truly is amazing how far the game has progressed. The graphics look so real now that when my mom walks in she thinks I’m watching an actual game instead of playing one. There are Madden tournaments throughout the nation year round and some people take the game very seriously. Trust me, this game has ended relationships and friendships. But it’s still good, clean fun for all ages. I asked Chris L. Rucker, the Spartans talented freshman DB, what he’s looking forward to when the school year starts and he said as much as he’s looking forward to going out and meeting people, he’s “really looking forward to playing the new Madden” with his teammates because they’ve already challenged him to play.

  

The best part about the game in my opinion is the franchise mode where you can take control of a team for as many years as you want. It’s great because you can do things that otherwise would seem impossible. For instance, I’ve won the past 4 Super Bowls with the Detroit Lions. Video games can be a wonderful thing.