EA Abandons Madden for PC

[NoStateofMind]

Last year EA released Madden 08 for PC and to the discomfort of many (including myself) didn't update the graphics engine. EA reused the old engine and added "features" yet disregarded many Madden lovers want for better graphics.

Enter in Madden '09 which will be released within a couple months. Instead upgrading the game for PC gamers they removed it from their PC lineup altogether.

EA scraps Madden '09 on PC

American Football fans will have to turn to one of of their consoles or portables to get their next Madden fix, as Peter Moore has revealed EA's cancellation of Madden '09 on PC, citing "serious business challenges" in releasing sports titles on home computers.

The title will still appear on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, DS and PSP, leaving PC Madden fans feeling a bit left out. Moore notes that Madden '09 is not the only PC title receiving the axe, and that it represents a larger decision by EA Sports to cut back on their number of PC releases. It's unknown if EA will continue to release future versions of Madden on the PC, or if this is the end of Madden on the PC altogether. Luckily, gamers can still experience the latest iteration of EA's flagship sports franchise on a plethora of platforms. Just not on the computer.

So sadly the end of my Madden domination has come to an end, thanks to EA. I grew up basically worshiping this game right along side the NFL. I guess I don't need to say that I will not buy an EA game again do I? Goodbye EA, you're selfish bastards and have no idea what gamers really want. I hope you go bankrupt. I'm sure I won't be the only one toasting a bottle of champaign with people from 2K on that day.

EDIT:

Here's a blog about the removal of Madden on the PC:

Latest Peter Moore blog confirms no Madden 09 PC

When the Madden 09 20th Anniversary Collectors Edition press release mentioned all platforms known to man except for the PC people took notice. Now Peter Moore has confirmed that there will be no PC version of Madden 09 in his latest blog entry.

We knew that our decision to not develop this year?s Madden for the PC would be an unpopular decision in some circles. But I?ll reiterate what I said a couple of weeks ago in this space?the PC presents some very serious business challenges to us in the sports category, particularly because so many of you all are playing your favorite sports games on the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii. We are committed to shipping a limited number of our games on the PC this year, but we?ve also had to cut a few of our games from the platform. We do have ideas for how to revitalize the PC for sports games and the types of games that are best suited to the platform, and we?ll continue to explore those.

One legitimate complaint regarding this decision is that when an exclusive license holder chooses not to develop for a particular platform there are no licensed alternatives. While anyone is free to make football PC games none can use the NFL. This is the case also with the MLB as 2K Sports does not make a PC title. It is my understanding that there are clauses in the contracts that require them to be released on all major platforms however the PC is no longer considered to be one.

 

[tigersty1e]

What's with the EA hate on this forum?

Can you really blame them?

Nobody buys sports games for the PC. It's not that they have no idea what gamers want.... the PC gamers aren't buying the sports games.

Add me to that list. I never bought a sports game for the PC. They just play right on the console while you can talk trash to your buddy right next to you.

 

[andrei3333]

So since they also did not update the game engine on the NHL 05,06,07, and 08, will they AXE NHL09 AS WELL????

the reason they are killing it is because no one bought those PC versions, and the reason for that is because they were NOT WORTH BUYING!!!!!

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: andrei3333
So since they also did not update the game engine on the NHL 05,06,07, and 08, will they AXE NHL09 AS WELL????

the reason they are killing it is because no one bought those PC versions, and the reason for that is because they were NOT WORTH BUYING!!!!!

QFT

I specifically didn't buy last years Madden because of their laziness in updating the graphics engine. Would this be the reason they didn't sell? I would say so, and so would the other 100 or so signatures I received for the boycott of that game.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I made the mistake of buying the PS3 version of Madden 2008, I cannot see why anyone would want the madden series on any platform if it is anything like the one that I own on the Playstation 3.

(Some of the readers of this thread might be interested in the new console versus PC thread)

 

[Drift3r]

I can't say I'll miss the franchise since it's been so god damn stale and stagnate for a very long time now.

 

[IL2SturmovikPilot]

Heh,guess my Brother ain't gettin' no more Madden unless he gets a console or handheld,unless he can live with 08.

As for me,i could care less abpout sports in general,much less sports video games,no loss for me.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
What's with the EA hate on this forum?

Can you really blame them?

Nobody buys sports games for the PC. It's not that they have no idea what gamers want.... the PC gamers aren't buying the sports games.

Add me to that list. I never bought a sports game for the PC. They just play right on the console while you can talk trash to your buddy right next to you.

People would probably buy more sports titles if EA didn't suck so much dick and get all the exclusive licenses and then deliver a product that has about as much quality as boxing up dog shit and calling it playdoh.

 

[RS8]

Madden = garbage. EA sports = garbage.

 

[KMFJD]

Bring back 4th and Inches and Tecmo Bowl!

 

[wanderer27]

Thought I saw somewhere that the EA deal with the NFL expired this year . . . not sure, maybe not.

Personally, I liked the Madden games, but I haven't bought a new one in years since basically the only thing they updated was the Rosters :disgust:

 

[AstroManLuca]

I wonder if they'll update the graphics engine for the Wii version this year. Probably not. Because Wii owners obviously don't care about graphics :\ Yeah, we don't care if our games look like bad first-gen PS2 titles.

 

[BladeVenom]

Originally posted by: wanderer27
Thought I saw somewhere that the EA deal with the NFL expired this year . . . not sure, maybe not.

Personally, I liked the Madden games, but I haven't bought a new one in years since basically the only thing they updated was the Rosters :disgust:

Originally it would have, but they had it extended till 2012. Of course they will probably keep getting it extended to keep their NFL monopoly.

 

[TC91]

wow the creative driver thing and now this ... hopefully they dont kill off nhl 09 for pc too. i dont really like these "business decisions."

 

[jjones]

The last Madden I played was 2003 I think, which was pretty much the same as 2000 I played before that, except for the player names. Never understood why people would buy that game year after year, paying $50.00 just for an updated roster.

 

[shortylickens]

That makes sense.

All of EA Sports and especially the Madden series is based on the concept of pretty graphics and rotten gameplay.
Their sales model is based on releasing the same thing 2 or 3 years in a row and charging 5 dollars more each year.

That corporate policy fits perfectly with the console fanboy's purchasing habits, who thinks he's so fucking clever because he only spent 600 dollars on a gaming console instead of 800 dollars on a gaming computer.

Why would EA cater to a market who doesnt tolerate their bullshit?

 

[Mandin62]

the thing that pisses me off the most about PC sports games is that EA continues to sell us 2-3 year old graphics and game play. it is ridiculous to think they will sell units when they dont provide their audience with any reason to purchase their products. I would think that with the Games for Windows games all having to be controller enabled that EA would have taken the opportunity to encourage PC gamers to purchase 360 Controllers for their PC's to reestablish a base in the PC market. Madden 08 was the same as the last 2 Madden games for PC. It is a shame though that we will probably never see Madden again for PC. I doubt we will see any EA Sports titles besides maybe Tiger Woods in a couple of years for the PC. It is a sad day because EA has truly destroyed a market through lack of commitment and innovation. I dont hate EA. I just hate that they are giving up on a market that given a little time and effort could have payed off.

Imagine how many units they would have moved if they could have worked out some sort of Madden + 360 Controller Package? I would have jumped on that. I already own 2 360 controllers for PC. I guess that was a waste of money now.

I hope this doesnt become a trend for developers on a wider scale. I know that some are becoming discouraged with the PC market but they just need to stick it out and help the PC gamers out there remember why they love this platform more than others. The PC is a special market requiring constant innovation in graphics, game play, and IP's. We love this shit and we need to get some love in return. Developers and publishers need to stop with the blame game and show some love for the most passionate and invested gaming community out there. We will return it ten fold if you just give us a reason to and put some faith in us.

 

[RS8]

The only thing that keeps EA sports games "fresh" is everything the mod community does. Aside from that, EA does nothing but hack jobs.

2k should step into the PC arena.

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon

Originally posted by: andrei3333
So since they also did not update the game engine on the NHL 05,06,07, and 08, will they AXE NHL09 AS WELL????

the reason they are killing it is because no one bought those PC versions, and the reason for that is because they were NOT WORTH BUYING!!!!!

QFT

I specifically didn't buy last years Madden because of their laziness in updating the graphics engine. Would this be the reason they didn't sell? I would say so, and so would the other 100 or so signatures I received for the boycott of that game.

I've been "waiting" for a LONG time for EA to release a Madden game which actually did everything well AND had the latest graphics. For the past ~6 or 7 years, I never bought the game due to the mediocre reviews it received for the PC version. Then my hopes were up a couple years ago when I read 2007 was the first year "running" was possible but that the graphics engine hadn't been updated. So I passed on the 2007 version thinking EA would update the graphics and the 2008 version would be the best version ever on the PC which would be worth my $$$$ and I planned on buying a copy.

Then I read the review on the 2008 version and I believe the graphics STILL weren't updated and I also believe the review indicated some features found in the consoles were left out of the PC version. So again...I passed on buying the game. And now it won't be available next year????

No wonder Madden sales were poor on the PC...EA doesn't have a clue. They seem hell bent on NOT delivering what PC gamers want which are "fun" games that look better than the console version due to our expensive video cards! Is that so hard to figure out!!!

 

[jonnyhazE]

Now that Madden for PC is axed, maybe we may be able to get our hands on some developer tools.
Right now it is a tedious process to add player portraits and upgraded textures.
I hope this happens because then this game can live forever.
Much like MVP Baseball 2005 which has a robust mod community that works tirelessly to keep the game current.

 

[coldmeat]

If I need a controller to play a game comfortably, then I'm getting it for my XBOX, not my pc. It's really frustrating trying to play Madden with a keyboard.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: coldmeat
If I need a controller to play a game comfortably, then I'm getting it for my XBOX, not my pc. It's really frustrating trying to play Madden with a keyboard.

They've actually made controller like devices for computers for some time now.

Personally, I can't blame EA, I'd never play Madden on the PC when I could just play it on a console.

 

[skace]

This is excellent, by stepping down they've created a hole that will inevitably be filled by something better.

 

[Oyeve]

YAY! They havent made a decent FB game in years for the PC so I aint gonna cry for no more madden on the PC.

 

[murphy55d]

there's always Front Office Football... for those of us who prefer to run a team. Great game!