Web hosting Custom Email SiteBuilder

A Review by ANT Stoic 9-28-98  (N64 version)

Subject: Tim's take on GD99 vs. Madden99
Date: 9/19/98 11:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: TxJxCx44

Ok, just for the sake of it...

Graphics - With the Madden99 camera, Madden's graphics beat the crap out of Gameday's, but since that view is so unplayable that you have to switch to Madden classic, I have to give the graphical edge to Gameday.

Commentary - As stinking awful as Gameday's is(if I hear Phil Simms tell me Scott Mitchell will be in the fastest man competition one more time...), Madden's isn't that great, either. He hardly ever pipes up, and Summerall's play by play is dull and lifeless. Edge - neither.

Gameplay - If you're not really a hardcore football fan, and just want to take a team to the SuperBowl while racking up obscene stats, then get Gameday. It's fun, it's easy, and it's as shallow as you. If you cherish football and want a REALISTIC challenge, then get Madden, it rocks, and it has the greatest spin move I have ever seen in a football game. Edge - Either one.

AI - Not even close. I can't even count how many times I cursed Herman Moore for jogging back to the line of scrimmage after finishing his route, even though the ball was on it's way to him. Gameday's AI is frustratingly stupid, the computer doesn't even know how to manage the clock late in the game, they never go for two, and I always end up pitying them in the end. Madden's AI may frustrate you also, but not because it's stupid. They challenge you,
and actually (gasp!) make you think about the plays you call. Edge - Madden.

Options - Sweet fancy Moses, it's not even close, Madden has so many options I don't even know what to do with them. (Franchise mode, Fantasy Draft, play creater, practice mode, FRANCHISE MODE, etc...) Edge - Madden.

So go buy Madden already.

tim.

Subject: madden 99
Date: 9/18/98 1:34 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: BravesK31

I just lost to the stinkin bears 31-24 on all-pro  with 8 minute quarters. i was down 24-7 with 7 minutes left in the 4 quarter and i scored on a shotgun curl drag 77 yards to michael irvin. then i get a safety on them, omar stoutmire on a 4-3 gut blitz to make it 24-16. 2 minutes left after a long drive, 3rd and goal from the 26 after back to back larry allen holding penalties. then i score a touchdown when troy aikman
lofts up a ball into the endzone and billy davis #87 grabs it for a touchdown. aikman to emmitt on a screen for the 2 point conversion 24-24 with :43 left. i boom the kickoff into the endzone and they take it back to the 16 when eric bjornson the backup tight end/ special team guy nails the return guy. the bears first play is a single back pass erik kramer stands in the pocket, dexter coakley #52 who already has a sack comes up and dives at him
kramer gets away and throws it up to curtis conway who catches it with like 25 seconds and hurdles deion sanders stiff arms george teague breaks a tackle by darren woodson then fred strickland comes up and tackles him but conway puts his hand on the turf and goes in to score with 8 seconds left. jaeger pat is good. 31-24 bears. then they kick it off to ernie mills i have the guys in a jumbo, mills takes it at the 2, goes to the 15, 20, 30 and jukes a
guy finally at the 35 then runs to half field where #45 nicky sualua lays down a block. mills to the 45 now in bears territory, walt harris is running with him down the sideline. no time left this is the last play of the game. mills to the 30,25,20,15,10,9,8,7,6,5,4, taken down at the 4 by harris. i am so mad as my record drops to 3-4 on my season and im in 2nd place behind the 4-3 redskins. clay shiver the center had 4 holding penalties, larry allen
3, everette mciver and billy davis 1 each, 9 holding penalties in a 32 minute game is awful i dont even roll out like everybody does sometimes i pump fake which gets guys open. i still think madden 99 is the best football game ever and i like the challenge but it gets you made sometimes when you clearly have a win and the computer takes it away like that. does anybody have any defensive suggestions for formations and what to call.

Subject: My view on Madden99 or Gameday99. List money play please!
Date: 9/18/98 4:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: EZ347

           I just got Madden99 and Gameday99 recently.  I have been a big fan of Madden football since Madden92(still one of my fav along with madden64).  I have to admit when i first play Madden99, i thought that it really sucks.  Some of the things that bothered me in the begining was small things such as the sound effect.  I thought that the sound effect was really bad in the begining.  And also i founded it sometimes hard to see where the runner
is in a crowd.  But after playing it more, I began to love it!  And yes the sound effect seems perfectly fine now.  The more i play it, the more i love it and appreacite how good it is.
         Although I tried Gameday99 before Madden99, I end up stop playing Gameday99 once I realize how great madden99 is.  And tonight, to take a break from madden99, I decided to give Gameday99 another chance.  First of all by no means is Gameday99 a bad game.  Clearly the graphics for Gameday is better than madden.  But Madden's control and gameplay just outshine Gameday.  I also found Madden to be a more realistic game than gameday.  I personally
would chose Madden over Gameday.  If you have been a madden fan, then there is no way you can go wrong with this year's madden.  If you have always loved Gameday a lot more than madden, then probably Gameday is the right choice for you.  But really you can go wrong either way.  They both are excellent.  And remember don't judge by your first impression, you have to play Madden99 a lot to understand how great it is.

        I'm still very sucky at madden.  I'm struggling with my running game a lot.  And also do you guys press the jump button when trying to catch the ball.  I founded that jumping for the ball has a greater rate of completing the pass, is this true , can someone tell me if i'm wrong on this.  And please list some plays that are great to use.  I found , I form, normal, HB screen to be one of my favorite.  Can someone list some good running and
passing plays

A review by Donnie Seals Jr., scores 9 out of 10.

Subject: Cool Madden '99 moment
From: Nate Blevins <nblevins@students.uiuc.edu>
Date: 9/11/98 4:28 PM Pacific Daylight Time

I was playing my franchise today (I'm the Bears, All-Pro difficulty,
10-minute quarters). I beat the Jaguars 44-14 on Monday night in
Jacksonville (BTW, has anyone noticed that if you do really well in a
season, the next season's schedule features you on Monday night more
often? I thought that was cool). The game itself wasn't all that
interesting, except for the fact that I had a much easier time against the
Jags' D than I had had against the Bengals in Week 2. Basically, I blew
open a close (17-14) game in the second half to win it. What really caught
my eye was one play late in the third quarter. With the score 20-14 (I was
ahead), I had the ball and just about had my drive stalled at about my own
40-yard line. I called a passing play with my TE draggin over the middle
and my WR streaking, because I'd been using short passes most of the game
and figured I could catch them off guard. Well, the WR ran right by the
cornerback, but I didn't have time to read the safety before the rush
came, so I just lobbed it up, and sure enough the safety was on his way
over to help deep. I ran to the spot and jumped to try to catch the ball.
Instead, I tipped it up in the air and then dove after it as I always do,
even though it's never worked. Only this time, it worked! I couldn't
believe it. I replayed it at least 5 times from every angle, and it was
the single greatest play I've ever pulled off in a video football game. It
was almost like that Lynn Swann catch in the Super Bowl back in the '70s,
although I didn't have the CB draped all over me as he did...Anyway, just
thought I'd share...

Nate
(thinking of changing my last name to Hawthorne after writing this much
just to describe one play)

Subject: Re : Madden 99 passing...Help me
From: "Mark & Michelle Wood" <bamf13@ix.netcom.com>
Date: 9/10/98 2:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time

I'm going to assume that you are throwing to an open receiver.  They are
much harder to distinguish in Madden 99 because even an open receiver will
usually have a defender close by.  Throwing into double coverage is a
definite no-no and the receiver usually needs some separation to have a
chance with one on one.  The better receivers (like Chris Carter) can go up
and make the catch if he's close one on one.  It just depends upon who you
are throwing to.

Your QB should be planted before throwing to increase accuracy.  Also, you
have to practice the difference of when to throw a bullet, normal, or lob.
On quick slants,  quick outs, or hooks you will probably want a bullet and
the receiver needs plenty of room to make the catch -- hard to catch a hot
pass when someone is trying to take your head off, I guess.  Most mid-range
passes (like an in or cross) generally require a normal pass as a bullet
will be too far off target for that range.  Your receiver should be leading
the defender in this case for the best chance to make the catch.  If he is
trailing instead, it will probably be knocked down or picked so throw to
someone else instead.  Longer routes like a deep post, corner, or fly
naturally require a lob and you should throw only if your receiver has
beaten (gotten past) the defender.

The pump fake is another weapon you can use.  For example, on a crossing
route between 2 receivers (like a TE out, WR post), try pumping to one and
throwing to the other.  Once you have completed a few outs or slants to a
certain receiver, you'll probably see the defender sneak up on him a bit.
If you can get him one on one with a deep route, try a pump fake early then
lob it deep once your receiver runs past!

Running quick slants with the slot is one of the easier completions to
make.  Make sure you throw quickly before the weak safety can move up.
After completing a couple of these, you can often get the outside receiver
open on an out.

The out patterns are best thrown just as the receiver is making his break.
Use the practice mode to get confidence on where this will happen for your
plays.  Actually, the best time to throw should be just before he makes his
break but this confuses the cpu sometimes and the throw goes deep instead
of out, so don't do it.

You can to a large degree read the DB's prior to the snap for position
(close, far, in, out).  Check the safeties movement at the snap to see if
they closing, rotating, splitting, or going deep.  That should give you an
idea of who will be one on one.  My advice is to ignore the LB's for the
most part prior to the snap as they are the biggest actors out there.  You
do need to check off to one of your quick patterns if one comes in
unblocked though!

I tend to roll a bit to one side or the other so that I can see where I
want to throw.  Usually, by the time I have gotten back to pass, I've at
least broken the field down to left, right, or middle anyways.  Don't drop
back too far as the outside rush can get you easily.  I like about 6 yards
(if you are getting sacked for 7 or more yards a lot, you're too deep),
then I usually move up and left or right into any opening before throwing.
Just remember to let go of the direction control prior to throwing to
increase accuracy.  Don't forget you can throw it away if you need to.

Above all else, practice.  It's a hard game but it's worth it when it comes
together.  I just wish the camera angles were better for the out patterns.
I just can't see myself playing it in blimp mode though.  I have stuck with
the Madden Zoom cam and have gotten used to it for the most part.

I thought I was using passes to the HB a lot but have found that my WR's
are leading the team with the most catches.  Jake Reed has the most
catches, followed by Chris Carter (who has the most TD's) then Robert
Smith.  The Randy Moss-clone is at the bottom of the heap so far because he
has had a lot of passes knocked loose with hard hits.  Anyways, I think I
am passing to the HB a lot but the WR's are more consistent at actually
making catches when it comes their way.  That's why they have more grabs
overall.

Sounds like you are already doing something right to me.  I beat out Tampa
Bay for first place in the NFC Central in a very close one.  There was only
one really controversial play -- TB had 4th & 10 and kicked a field goal to
tie the game at 24.  In my eagerness to try a block, I was offsides though.
 For some reason, TB accepted the penalty (4th & 5) then again elected to
try the field goal.  This time it hit the right upright and bounced off!  I
held on to win 24-21.  I don't see why they would want to retry a field
goal they had already made though.  I don't know if this is a bug or just a
very good simulation of a stupid coaching decision.  I remember a real game
a few years ago between Seattle and TB where TB could have just run out the
clock but tried a pass on third down instead.  It fell incomplete, stopped
the clock, and they had to kick.  They ended up losing that game, too.

Passing defense is the hardest part for me right now.  The Vikings have a
poor pass defense.  I have to alternate between blitzing for pressure and a
lot of zone to contain.  Man defense with no additional pressure is too
risky for me most of the time.  I tend to win a lot of games with offense
by scoring a lot of points and barely holding on with defense.  That was
true of the real team last year, also.

Good luck!

Subject: Simply the best... (Madden 99)
From: majleonj@aol.com (MajLeonJ)
Date: 9/9/98 7:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Warning: Somewhat lengthy post detailing a Madden 99 game. (All-Pro, 10-min
qtrs, Icon passing, Franchise Mode)

I just had the best game on Madden 99 so far and HAD to share it.  I took my
5-2 49ers into Green Bay (6-1) in the snow and was immediately blanketed by
this feeling of being in a hostile place.  Remembering all those loses to Green
Bay the last few years, I vowed to heed all those lessons learned and take the
initiative.  With grim determination, I returned the kickoff and promptly
unleashed my scripted plays, taking advantage of slippery conditions: straight
ahead runs and quick passes.  It SEEMED like the players were moving and
cutting slower and the offenses had an edge.  On the sixth or seventh play,
Garrison Hearst broke free inside and scored from 43 yards out breaking a
couple of tackles and making a defender miss!  I was pumping my fist and
"yelling" YEAH! YEAH! without a sound (lest my wife thinks I've lost it
completely).  Green Bay took the field and methodically drove the field to my
23 (or so) yard line.  Favre goes for the kill... INTERCEPTION!!!  More
"yelling" and pumping...  There goes Holmgren's scripted plays for now.
Punts were exchanged and with the score still 7-0 early in the 2nd Qtr, my punt
returner gets a break and returns one to Green Bay's 41 yard line.  A couple of
runs gain little but a break by Jerry Rice outside nets a first down.  Time to
gamble...  Young pumps left and throws long to Owens on the next play, he takes
it in stride and dives into the end zone wearing a safety!  TOUCHDOWN!!!
I'm pumped... these guys are mine.  Then came a blow that brought me back to
reality.  With a sense of urgency, Favre drives the Pack down the field in 9
plays and scores on a up-and-out to Freeman.  Niners punt.  GB's Longwell hits
a 44 yarder: 49ers 14, Pack 10.  With a little over 3 minutes remaining in the
half, Green Bay gets to my 9 yard line with Favre's passing and Dorsey Leven's
punishing runs.  Another touchdown, by Levens this time.  GB 17, Niners 14.
Here we go, I said to myself.  That Lambeau magic at work: 17 unanswered
points.
Green Bay scores another field goal in the 3rd quarter, the only score in the
3rd in a heroic effort by both defenses.  GB 20, 49ers 14.
In the beginning of the fourth, decided to risk some screens and sweeps and
Hearst catches one for 23 yards and runs one for 16.  Pump fake time?  Young
pumps right and looks left to Rice...  sacked for a 6yd loss.  AAARGH!  My
wife's brows knot wondering what I'm cursing and gesturing about.  She just
doesn't understand.  Niners regroup.  Hearst runs up the gut and gets a few.
Another gamble to Rice, time is of the essence.  Young throws a slant to Jerry,
he bounces off a defender, spins away from another...  and it's an open field
in front!  They won't catch Rice.  YESSSS!  Touchdown Forty-Niners!  (49ers 21,
GB 20).  Still around 6 mins remaining in the game and to my chagrin, f#@$!ng
Green Bay (oops) drives within field goal range with more Levens runs and a
couple of long ones from Brett Favre (I swear it should be f-a-v-r-e-y!).  More
teeth grinding from me doesn't help my defense and they kick a 40 yarder.  GB
23, Niners 21.  No problem, only need a field goal.  Uhweazouke (I like f-a-r-v
better) returns the kickoff to our own 26.  About 3 minutes remaining.  Another
screen works and gains 11.  A couple of quick safe passes (curls and outs) gets
me to mid-field.  A sweep to throw them off gets me only about 4.  Time for our
2-minute drill.  A throw to FB Edwards in the flat gets me to the GB 23!!!
HOLDING ON MY OFFENSE!!!  I stifle some curses and forget that I'm using my DAP
and try to twist my controller ala-Negcon style.  Deep breath.  Regroup.  2nd
and 16 near mid-field.  I choose a 4 WR set from the Singleback formation and
say a quick prayer.  Rice does an out and they double him leaving Stokes
one-on-one on a streak!  Young heaves a rainbow just as a defender gets in his
face and Stokes makes the grab and RACs to Green Bay's 27 yd line!  THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
I'm not all that great with field goals yet so I run a couple of times and get
to their 22.  7 seconds remaining.  I'm tempted to run up the middle on 3rd
down to center the kick and then use my last time out...  naah!  Don't want the
clock to run out or fumble the ball (Hearst has fumbled twice--weather?).  My
kicker prepares to kick close to the right hash mark and the wind is blowing
left... yes!  All I need to do is get some decent umph on the kick.
THUMMPPH!!!
 

-Maj Leon James
 Kell Hounds

Subject: Final Comments
Date: 9/7/98 8:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: Tripman91

These are my final observations of Madden99.  I have been playing this game alot lately and have something to say.

COMPUTER AI-  This year is a definite improvement over last year's.  But it is overrated in 99.  The defense isn't as honest as people think.  First off, the players are too fast on the defensive side.  When a linebacker is in the middle of the field and i'm making a turn on the right corner, he'll already be there with a big HELLO.  Second, I question the cpu defensive playcalling.  They always seem to pick the right play at the right time.  I won't
even get started on the offensive AI.

GRAPHICS- Although nicer than Gameday's, these aren't EXCELLENT but get the job done well.  My only gripes with this area are the stadiums.  They haven't changed much since 97.  The motion-capture is awesome as I can deal with a couple of missing frames.  The frame-rate never really drops during gameplay, although there is a little stutter when both sides walk to the line.  The tackling in this game is superior to anything else on the market.
Touchdown celebrations are great and do happen often with me (average of 3 every 2 games).  The weather effects are nothing to write home about, but are adequate.

GAMEPLAY-  Gameplay and AI do kinda mix in several areas.  This year's edition is fun to play, and after a while I felt the game speed was actually pretty fast.  The juke move does work a little to well.  I've probably used the spin move maybe twice since getting the game 2 weeks ago.  Passing is not to bad.  I don't like the fact that it's too difficult to pass to my receivers and often settle for my backs or TE.  I mean, when do you see John Aldred
get 9 receptions and Curtis Conway 2?  Gameplay not bad, but plenty room for improvement.

OPTIONS-  I'm gonna be flamed for this (as well as for the length of this post), but Franchise mode just like the AI is overrated.  Anyone who owns FBPro or has read about this year's Front Office Football has to LOL at how it's implemented.  There's not much depth for this mode.  I always go 10-6 or 7-9, between there and never more or less.  I do like how the salary cap increases and team payrolls rise over 100 million over the years!  Tracking
career stats would've been nice.  The free agents are always the same every time you begin a new franchise.  The play editor is a nice addition but can be better (360 3-d control of each route or assignment for each player) and the practice mode is well done, helpful, but this too can be better (not have to run same play over and over).

I have alot more to say about this game but can't remember.  I've had alot more negative things to say, but this is because no one else has mentioned these things.  The bottom line is Madden99 is a great game and is at the front and top of this field.  The game does fall short of being the revolutionary one it was hyped up to be, but one large step further isn't bad.
I'D LOVE TO DRINK SOME GRIDIRON GOODNESS, THANKS!!!!!!

Subject: Franchise mode and control of team?
Date: 9/7/98 1:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: TWIsM  X

 I havent been real indepth with Franchise mode, but from what I know you cant import created players into it and therefore it seems you cant import the custom rosters into it either which really sucks.  You should beable to import created players because key players this season like Moss and Preston will not be actually portrayed in Madden.  Moss is 84 now and Preston is among of if not one of the most deadliest kick returners in the game
(hahaha, i told everybody last season after the packers cut him that he would be our next desmond, now our st is back at full force).  Plus I have a problem at putting players at their actual positions in the game.  In the reorder roster menu you cant depict who will handle kick and punt returns.  With Corey Bradford on the Pack the computer automatically designates him as the return guy instead of Preston no matter at which slot I put him.  so my
only choice is to cut Bradford and fiddle with Schroeder and Preston on the roster to make it accurate.  That sucks though since Bradford really is on the Packers and I want my teams as accurate as possible.  The only good thing is that he'll see little to no playing time so it wont make much of a big deal, similar to terry mickens a few years back.  Anyone know how to solve these problems or advice on how to set my return guy?

Subject: Got it yesterday and I love it.
Date: 9/6/98 2:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: UBSGuy

     First off let me say that I am not a maddenite.  In fact I can't stand the man, but the game is good.  It's very realistic I think.  Everyone talks about how GD99's graphics are so much better, truth is, once I start playing I don't think to much about the graphics, it's more about gameplay to me.  One bad thing happened to me though.  I started playing in franchise mode with the seahawks on pro level (hey I just started ok?) and I
killed the eagles in the first game.  The final score was 48 to 21.  I had 2 100 yard rushers in game one!  Watters ran for 109 and Broussard ran for 108, (mainly because he broke out for an 85 yard TD run), and Galloway (player of the game) finished with like 190 yards recieving and 3 td's.  My defense was awsome, I sacked Hoying 6 times and had 2 INT's.  Moon only pased for like 267 yards becaude the main chunk of my offense was rushing.  Anyway I
finish this game all stoaked because of the total blowout and the game froze.  I was so mad.  But I'm just about to go in and start the whole thing over, hopefully I'll do as good.

Subject: PLEASE RESPOND MADDEN ENTHUSIASTS
Date: 9/6/98 12:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: StiikFigre@aol.com

okay i had some general questions i wanted to ask all you Madden fans out there.  im going to make my comments and here and just give me your feedback on these things...
for those of you that dont give a $hit about my comments...(MY QUESTIONS ARE IN ALL CAPS, PLEASE RESPOND)  ALL stats are based on ALL PRO- 8 min quarters

first off i think this is one of the best PLAYING Madden's ever.  I'm happier with this versions AI than any version I've played before.  Even though the computer has a little unfair advantage (especially in pulling off 50+ yard TD bombs) i still find this to be a fairly realistic challenge.  I LOST my first 2 games in the season mode and not by a close score.  I had to say even though i hate losing in madden it was nice to see the computer whoop my
ass on only the MEDIUM setting.  I'm learning to win now (good running and smart passes) but its a welcomed challenge.  ANYWAY some of my QUESTIONS and comments are about the gameplay:

1-  ARE YOU FINDING THAT THE CPU GETS A LITTLE BIT UNREALISTIC PENETRATION ON DEFENSE?

im getting sacked a little too often in some games, and im not trying to throw 50 yard bombs on some of the sacks.  its a little irritating because my players dont get the same kind of penetration on defense.

2-  ARE YOU SEEING AN UNREALISTICALLY HIGH NUMBER OF INTERCEPTIONS IN A GAME?

The fumbles seem to be okay so far but there are way too many interceptions thrown.  The one good thing is that it is fairly even number for me and the computer but 8 or 9 in one game (for both teams) seems a little high.  It's almost like the first TECMO BOWL where if your guy is their and has a clear path between him and the ball he automatically gets the INT.

Oh yeah another thing i love is the variety of tackles and that receivers get chucked at the line.  It was nice to throw to my square receiver and find he got knocked on his ass at the line.  (well it was nice ONCE or TWICE lol)

LASTLY, DO YOU EVER PLAY MULTIPLAYER, ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE CPU?

I don't know if me and my friends are weird but we like to play multi player against the computer.  If you got a friend of two you play with a lot try it sometime its kind of nice to have real blocking.  We always take a neutral team none of us love (were playing with the RAVENS)  and play the season.  It's a lot of fun to be able to have 1 or 2 human blockers giving intelligent lead blocks and it does wonders for your running game.  The hard thing
is finding people who don't mind blocking and not being the "star"  (I personally love blocking).  We had a 98 yard run with Leland Mc Elroy against Jacksonville in week 3 (we signed Leland to a 5 year deal as a free agent).  It was great we were on our 2 yard line and were just trying to kill the clock and get some room up the middle.  We called a GOAL LINE HB LEAD and when the hole was filled my friend bounced outside and shook 2 defenders and was
gone for 98 yards (he had to shake 2 people at the end of the run and dive but he made it)  So if anyone has topped that please let me know because my personal best is a modest 37 with Napoleon Kaufman (i can never break)
 

thanks for your time and comments

Tarashi <---the multiplayer blocking machine

Dr Mondo7 on Madden 99 vs. GameDay 99...
Date: 9/1/98

This is in reply to PhonSao's review on NFL Gameday 99.  I am not trying to make fun of you or pick a fight but you are totally wrong about this game my friend.  To reiterate the entire point, I want to give you all a report on Madden vs. Gameday.  To start off, I work 40 hours a week at a gamestore called Gamestop (aka: Babbages, Software Etc.) and have a great grasp on who is winning this football war.  For this last week or so, I have recommended Madden to everyone who wanted to buy Gameday 99. And they normally agree with me. Why?  Well, here is the truth about the two games....

1-  Graphics:  The graphics on Gameday look more refined and smooth than Madden's.  This is a big thing that many game buyers are looking at.  But its not everything.  Madden is still 3D, but the player detail could be better.

2- Sound:  This one is a draw between the two.  Although Madden has no running commentary like Gameday's, it has better bone crunching hit sounds.  Plus, I like the crowd reactions better when they get fired up.  The only thing that I will give cheers to on Gameday is the two man booth with Simms and Enberg.  But they get old after awhile.

3- Control:  Definately goes to Madden.  Madden has many of the original moves such as spin, stiff arm, hurdling, and a new juke move that works great.  Gameday has much of the same but they don't work as well.  Aside from moves, player control is much easier on Madden.  Its more "user friendly".

4- Artificial Intelligence:  Madden wins this one again.  They stepped it up once again.  The CPU defense will learn from your playing style as the game goes on an does a good job of predicting defensive plays and playing field coverage.  The CPU even cuts down angles as they chase you.  Gameday is very lacking in this field.  And I mean very lacking.  The main difference that a fellow employee showed me is that the difference in the difficulty levels is just the speed of the CPU defenders.  And he was right.  Madden's realism is far beyond any football game out yet.

Features:  Madden 99 wins this one by far.  With the historical teams, variety of season features, a franchise mode where you can play up to 15 seasons, and...(I can go on but this letter is long enough).  Gameday 99 is once again lacking in all of these categories.  The makers of Gameday really let go as they just threw in a season and exhibition modes.  That's about it.  The other good thing about Madden is that it has several different tackles.  Gamday is just jump and tackle.  Madden offers driving tackles, diving tackles, wrap tackles, wrap and roll tackles, flip tackles, ankle clip tackles...tackles tackles tackles.  :)

As a game salesman, I can honestly tell you that Madden is selling like wildfire.  Gameday is close behind.  The difference is that only the people who bought Gameday are returning it to get Madden instead.  They even admit that Gameday sucks this year. And these are people who were Gameday fans last year!  A lot of these people exchange the game the same day they bought it.  The main problem is that they say is that it is so different from last years version. For some reason they strayed from 98's version and left Gameday boring and dry.  Not even Phil Simms and Dick Enberg can save Gameday this year on the PSX.  I have first hand experience with both games because I chose to buy Madden 99 the first day and I took out Gameday 99 also on my employee "rental" 5-day period.  I played acouple of games of Madden and was surprised at the difference from last year's version. But I loved it after a few games.  After that, I played some games of Gameday.  Personally, I was disapointed at the gameplay.  It was so far away from where it was last year. I would rather play last year's game than purchase Gameday 99.  It took me less than 2 hours to convince me to return Gameday to my store the next day.

Here is some advise that I learned when I was chosing between the two games.  Buy Madden.  To tell you the truth I didn't like it much when I first got it.  But it took 3-4 games for me to truly find out that I loved it.  Gameday is a waste of money this year.  If you want to play a game like Gameday, buy Gamebreaker 99 when it comes out. The graphics and gameplay are going to be the same as last year's Gameday.  If you still disagree with me...buy Gameday...live and learn.  (Please e-mail me with any comments on this matter...just be nice) :)

Dr Mondo7

Subject: Re: Madden 99 and Reading Defenses
From: btjohnson@aol.com (BTjohnson)
Date: 8/31/98 11:24 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Of course, a lot of it depends on the difficulty setting your using and you did not specify. So here's my two cents.

Passing is hard on pro and harder on all pro (I haven't even tried the Madden setting). But in the dozens of games I have played, three things seems to work best for me. Two of them relate to the old saying, "if they included it in the game, they musta wanted you to use it."

1) The pump fake. I have never seen a video game so accurately capture the use of the pump fake (As a Dolphins fan, I am painfully reminded of the recent Dolphins/49rs pre season game where Young pump faked left, froze Brock Marrion, who allowed Owens to run down the field for a 70+ yard TD). OUCH!

This is how the pump fake is supposed to work. I find that in Madden (like in real football), the pump fake works best when given in one direction while throwing in another. It works even better when faking in one direction short, and throwing in the other direction long.

Anyone who doubts the usefullness of the pump fake can go to the practice mode and run back the replays using and not using the pump fake. It makes a BIG difference. Which brings me to how to become good at using it. Mastering the pump fake takes a lot of practice, especially while on the run and faking in the other direction while being pursued by a defensive tackle.  I pick plays with a lot of receivers, wide, backs, TEs, etc., going long and short, right and left. Go to the practice field, practice the plays until your fingers bleed. You won't regret it.

2)The play creator: Like the pump fake option, EA probably did not include the play creator if it didn't make a difference in the game. You don't have to be a football genious to design plays, but it doesn't hurt to know some of the basics.

I like to design plays for certain situations. For example, if the defense has been running a lot of Dime formations on 3 and 7 situations, I like to call a play that has the wides runing a streak pattern (straight for the endzone), and then I run my back out in the flats. Now, this work pretty good for short yardage because your wides are drawing away the defensive backs leaving your backfield with the ability to sneek out and get a reception from underneath (Miami actually did this a lot last year and would do it a lot more if they had a deep threat goto guy like Yatil Green).

Now, such a formation is harder if the defense is blitzing because your backfield is not their to pick up the blitz (they are running patters). But a quick throw can beat all but the best pass rush (It also doesn't hurt if you have a quarter that can move out of his own shadow).

Anyway, the play editor lets you create plays that can exploit your oponents defense (As an aside, I would recommend loading the audiables with plays aimed at dealing with specific circumstances).

When the defense lines up in a formation you can exploit, use an audible to get your offense to run a play that takes advantage of the circumstances.

3) A third and final way I find really has helped my passing is the use of the play action pass. In past Madden's and other football games, the play action pass was just for looks. But this year, due to Madden's superior running game, it actually works. Try running a series of draws, blasts, and sweeps -- maybe for a few series. Then, from the same running formations you have been using, pick a play action play. Run it and throw deep. It has worked almost 80 percent of the time I have tried it.

If you try these three things, try different combinations of them, or maybe use all three, you will have more completions. The passing game will get better.

The Practice field is the place to test all these out. Try them using different defenses, throw to different receivers. Then watch the replays and determine what you are doing wrong, why your receivers are not getting open, which patters work best against which defenses etc.

Hope this helps.

Subject: Got Madden, after first game thoughts
Date: 8/30/98 10:29 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: Cm1847863

Madden 99 is the best football game I've ever played!  It is so realistic(except one of my defensive linemen drop back into pass coverage and intercepted a Elway pass) Madden is not slow, it runs at a very good speed.  heres what Happend in my first game------Cowboys vs Broncos(PRO level)

Cowboys(me)get a lucky tipped pass and turn it into a 60 yard TD by E. Smith. Broncos drive the ball up the field in a few minutes and score on a TD pass by Elway to Sharpe, with the Mile High Salute Borncos get 2 field goals in the next 2 quarters to go up 13-7 with 4:30 to play in the game Cowboys-Aikman hits Irvin for a 70 yard bomb, it's called back for holding. Cowboys then start a drive from their 40 yard line after a great punt return.  3rd and 15 from the 20 yard line, Aikman hits a double-teamed Michael Irvin in the end zone for a TD, Cowboys 14, Broncos 13 Broncos, on their first paly of the drive, Woodson anticipates Elways throw to a TE and picks it off Cowboys-E. SMith runs the ball in from 20 yards for the TD BOys-21, Broncs-13 Broncos go 4-and-out, Boys ball on the 25. Cowboys-Emmitt runs the ball well, and scores on an amazing run from 20 yards out, Boys-28, Broncos 13 Broncos last hope, but RE G. Ellis is there to pick it off, game over.

Though I didn't do to well on offense, my D stepped up and made it easy, Emmitt Smith is the player of the game with 15 carries for 62 yards and 2 rushing TD's, he also had 2 catches for 74 yards and a TD.   Madden is a great game!!!!!!!

Subject: PSX football "fun factor" revisited (Madden 99) : Running the ball...(was: PSX football "fun factor"...)
From: richardhutnik@hotmail.com
Date: 8/29/98 9:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time

More play with a game reveals more.  I finally got to play a game or two in arcade mode in Madden 99.  One game will serve as my example: All-Time Madden, 5 minute quarters, arcade mode, Pro setting.  This was against the 49ers (not one of the past Super Bowl teams) of this year (or is it the past season?).  Anyhow, I ran the ball most of the time, and gained over 200 yards with Jim Brown (by the way Pat Summerall's voice informed me of this fact during the game).  Huge holes opened up and Brown couldn't be stopped (I think he broke 3 ones for touchdowns in the game) except when I got moronic with things (Iwould be stopped for a loss).  I was assured at least 3 yards a rush just by going up the middle most of the time.  I won the game 31-14 (two bombs to from Young to Rice when I called a blitzing package and I shouldn't have at that time).  The arcade mode is fun. Big plays occur more often in this mode.  In addition, running is a lot easier (holes are much larger, stay open longer on inside runs, and the sweeps to the outside offer more room to run) and the gameplay seemed to move faster (the speed of the guys, etc...). It is more of an "extreme", over the top, and faster version of football.  It reminded me of the older days of Madden where it was easier to accomplish things, and the stats pile up to outrageous numbers if you play 15 minute quarters.  In addition, the arcade mode adds more outrageous tackles (pick up the QB and slam him to the ground, and pro wrestling style clothesline tackles, and other moves). All I can say is the arcade mode, as of this moment, with its streamlined playbook (one button to select play), faster play, and more extreme form of gameplay (mentioned above), is a real good game for the "casual" fan who justs wants to pick up a football game and bash heads against someone or the computer AI.

Anyhow, it was real fun playing it.  Maybe Madden 99 will be more competitive on the arcade front that I wrote in my previous message...
- Richard Hutnik

Subject: Madden '99- The best baby!
Date: 8/29/98 10:31 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: SubNothing
Message-id: <1998083005312300.BAA01685@ladder01.news.aol.com>

After playing it more and more, I'm liking Madden '99 more and more. Everything's so realistic. The tackles, the jukes, the catches, everything. I just got done beating the Colts 27-9 with the Dolphins in my first game of the franchise mode (I checked the coach rating, they said "The local media was very impressed with your first win", or something like that).

In the first quarter, I had a 72 yard TD run with Abdul-Jabbar. Second Q, he gets a 32 yard run. Troy Drayton runs away with a 70+ yard catch, but he got tackled on the 1 yard line. Ran it in with Jabbar.

With about 2 min to go in the the half, *I*, *myself*, NOT THE CPU, intercepted a pass 8 yards deep in the endzone with Brock Marion, and ran it back to the 30 (I say this because it is HARD to intercept a pass yourself, you have to time it perfectly).

In the 3rd I took Jabbar out with 130+ yards (8.7 per carry), and put Avery in. He was doing pretty crappy for a while, but he broke out for a 32 yard run and finshed with 40+ yards (3.5 per carry).

In the 4th, OJ McDuffie juked his way from a 12 yard catch to a 68 yard reception. Also got caught at the 1 inch line, but I got him his diserved TD the next play.

Things I don't like about Madden? The RATINGS are TERRIBLE. The Dolphins and Jets are the 2nd worst rated teams in the league. Behind everyone but the Saints. Some of the player ratings on the Dolphins are SO WRONG. Terrell Buckley a 67? Zach Thomas a 77? Derick Rodgers a 68? Jason Taylor a 71? Abdul Jabbar a 72? John Avery a 69? Come on Madden, don't you see this? This would be OK if I could CREATE the players over again, but nooooo, the
create-a-player sucks. You can only set 5 ratings, and the other 10 or so are randomly set. So important things like accelertation and strength are always around 40-50.

My complaint is mostly detail though, and it's mainly because I use the Dolphins all the time. Another thing is that I always seem to score on the big pass, or the big run, there's hardly any sustained scoring drives. But overall, it's awesome. 93 out of 100.

Subject: Madden 99 better than NCAA and GD99
From: zipppacc@aol.com (ZippPacc)
Date: 8/29/98 8:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Madden 99 is the best Madden yet, even better than last years which I loved.  The tackling is very well done. It adds a ton of realism and fun.   No longer can you throw to a guy in triple coverage.  If it hits a DB he is likely to intercept it.  Very realistic and finally you don't have passes bouncing off the hands of DB's all day.  Running the ball is very well done.  You have to look for the holes and hit them, but most importantly follow your blockers. The OL holds their blocks well this year as well.  On defense, it's just as good.  Lot's of cool blitzes that you can actually use and mix up (unlike NCAA).  The ability to shift your line (the LB's shift accordingly too!) and play bump and run is also cool.  The added interception rate adds a lot of fun to playing defense, especially as a CB.  The defensive AI is also very very good and this year they will even cover RB's out of the backfield unlike last year... Defense is a lot more fun now, thatnks to the combination of wrap tackling, many new plays, line shifting, high interception rate... etc.  A few other great features is the ability to play in any minute intervals (yes!), as well as the ability to reorder the rosters outside of season mode, save them, etc.  Franchise mode.... this is the shit!  One of the shortcomings of video football in the past has been the fact that there are only 16 games in a season.  Sometimes I would finish my season within a week of playing.  In Madden 99 you can play franchise mode and take your team thru multiple seasons.... including signing FA's, trading players, draft, realsing players, etc. (even the real contracts are in the game).  I simmed a couple of seasons and you even get into bidding wars over certain free agents.  Damn this is cool.  Even better than  Dynasty mode in NCAA99 IMO.  A couple of drawbacks are the overall lack of sound, which kind of sucks and takes away from the atmosphere.  Some people complained the gaem was too slow?  To me it plays very well.   At first the camera angles sucked for the most part but this is resolved by setting the game on classic cam.  It gives you a very good view of the whole field.  The players are a tad too small but you get used to it very quickly and it becomes a blast.  I think many people haven't given this angleenough time because it is very good, almost the same angle in previous Madden's  and NCAA99.  Others have complained about the time allotted for selecting plays.   At first this was a small problem but now I have PLENTY of time. Sometimes I'm out of the huddle with 20 seconds or more on the play clock.

Overall it appears that most fans will be playing Madden for the NFL experience and NCAA99 for the college one.  Those who want the arcade experience should wait a couple weeks and go with Blitz.  Fun and addicting, unlike GD99.

Subject: FOOTBALL 99???  Which one to choose...?
From: "Mike Sindona" <godevils1PLAQUE@homePLAQUE.com>
Date: 8/27/98 9:35 PM Pacific Daylight Time

If you have friends, you'll enjoy NCAA 99* (note the asterix, see Gameplay (multi)).  Best 4 player football game until Blitz comes out on the N64.  If you have no friends, Madden 99 is your best bet, for it has the most challenging(and realistic) AI out of the top three (Madden, NCAA, and GameDay).  I'm gonna try out Madden's this Saturday at a friend's party to test it's multiplayer fun.  I am a gameplay freak, I don't really give two squats about commentary, instant replays, or flashy graphics.  As long as it has solid gameplay, I dig it.  NCAA and Maddens are both fun in my eyes, where as, unfortunately, Gameday was quite annoying.  Extremely buggy, AI and commentary wise.  I was very dissappointed because I have been *waiting* for GD99, not Madden99.  I have already brought back my copy of GD 99, and
Maddens is in my PS, cooling down for the moment.  Here's my short rundown:

Gameplay(single) - Madden99.  It runs smoother, the AI is smarter, the running game has been boosted (Barry Sanders in all his glory, Terrell Davis power, and you better get atleast 3 guys to bring down a truckin Charles Way), passing is not as unrealistic as last year, and NCAA comes close, but I am getting sick of be "bounced around" like a pinball in NCAA (which happens almost every play).

*Gameplay(multi) - for now, NCAA99.  I haven't tested out either Maddens99 yet or GD99, so take it for what you will..(I am assuming that Mad99 will be as fun as NCAA99, but no promises until I play it 4 player at my bud's party on Saturday!)

Graphics - I'm not too big on graphics, but I do prefer Madden99, maybe due to it's "simplicity"?  EA doesn't try to be flashy, and I like it.  But the animations are done very well (all of those wonderful wrap tackles) and flow smoothly, where as in GD, I felt like the action was quite choppy at times.
NCAA is graphically the same as Maddens, except missing a few of the wrap tackles and other unique animations Mad99 has (and, I think the "running" looks better in Mad99 over NCAA...in NCAA it seems like they run standing straight up..?).  Also, the field looks better in Mad99, especially once the players start tearing it up (on grass fields, that is).

Sound - Hmm? NCAA99 is my choice.  Well, if GD99 wasn't so buggy I'd go with them.  GD99 had correct crowd reactions (they hush hush on offensive 3rd down, etc) but in my copy, whenever Phil Simms talked, it sounded like he was talking through a Speak and Spell ("TeRRReLLL Day-vis RRRuns foRR a
thRRee yaRRd gain").  No, it wasn't my speakers, it was the game (or Phil, to be exact).  The hits sounded a little better on GD99 as well, but the "background stadium" music that would pop on and off during the game got annoying.  Since bugs tick me off, the best total "atmosphere" (sounds) are
in NCAA 99. Love those bands!  Mad99's game noises were good, just the inconsistant chat between Madden and Summerall gets annoying (although not repetitive, thank God).  Turn announcing off and go at it yourself, in Mad99, that is.

Playbooks - NCAA99 definately.  TONS of plays AND the option to create your own.  I just like college formations better.  Three running backs in one formation is so much fun.  But Mad99 comes in a close 2nd(only difference: Pro-style plays, not college), GD99...well, one thing that bugs me about
GD99 is not the plays themselves (which are quite good) but the way to pick them.  That rotating play gondola thingie gives me a headache, especially when I'm crunched for time.

Options - Madden99.  It has (almost) EVERYTHING a person could ask for.  An exaggerative arcade mode (crazy tackles, big money plays, etc), selectable penalty levels, AWESOME fantasy draft, better camera angles (than GD99), secret codes (like the GD series' Easter Eggs)the list goes on and on NCAA is on par with Mad99, but Mad99 still edges it out.
 

ANYWAY, that's all I got.  If I missed anything, or you'd like to question me or comment me, send me an email.  This wasn't meant to start a flame war, I am a HUGE GD98 freak.  Which is why I'm so dissappointed this year.  But, I believe EA have redeemed themselves from last year's poor offering (although Mad98 SHOULD have been a lot closer what Mad99 looks like!)

Subject: Game Settings
Date: 8/28/98 1:22 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: TWIsM  X

 Since I've had the game, I'm seen a tremendous jump from playing Pro to All-Pro.  On Pro it's possible for me to rush for 200 yards with Levens and it has the feel of the crappy AI of past Maddens.  On All-Pro it's like going from Rookie to All-Star on a basketball game.  I dont find All-Pro necessarily too hard, at the same time I agree that you may have to go for the big play to make any progress and the offense is just a tad TOO good.  But
hell, we've been asking for AI like this for the past two years and we've got it and I can either play Pro all my life or put it on All-Pro and take it that I can be beaten.
 Also, where do you guys put your penalty levels?  Previously I'd set the holding and pass int levels low because the ref constantly would call them interrupting gameplay.  Now I have def pass int way up and it's not being called much to at all.  Holding is about the same though.
 I'd also like to comment on Madden's animations.  If I'm correct, it seems that the defensive players try to strip the ball when the wrap tackle someone around the waist area.  My receivers have caught and dropped many balls due to this.  I havent did an instant replay though, but it somewhat clearly looks like they are trying to strip.  Very realistic catching and defensive animations.  One thing I hate though is that one juke animation.  When put
into good hands, you can possibly call it a money move.  If I recall, QBC 96 had this move and it was the difference from me being tackled or breaking away for a TD everytime since I couldnt be tackled.  The game got so easy and so lame I didnt even play a season in it.  I refuse to use the button, yet the computer abuses it and always breaks on me.  Combined with wrap tackling and the animation of balancing yourself when you're about to fall, it's
probably impossible to bring down a Barry Sanders on the hardest level.  I'd also like to point out that you can run players over too.  I ran Deion over with Mark Chumura by turbo boosting and just running straight at him.  I stood up when I say that because I thought it was be a guranteed tackle.  But in real life if Deion would try to tackle a TE one-on-one when the TE is coming straight for him, 80% of the time this would happen.  I somewhat think
Madden is a little too real, which takes adjusting to and may make some people initially switch from Madden to Gameday if they dont take the time to learn it.  I've played a little bit of Gameday and would have to say it comes damn close to Madden and more than I thought it would be and wouldnt complain if I HAD to buy it instead of Madden, at the same time I think Madden edges it out to take the title.  But like everyone else said, if you're a fan
of Gameday, buy GD, if you're a die hard sim person, buy Madden.  Neither will disappoint in my opinion.
 My last thing is franchise mode.  I've played just 4 games into my first season with the Pack, but I have yet to see any other teams trade, release, or sign a player and none have asked me.  I'm betting that they'll wait antoher game or two to start transactions, but I'm not sure.  Is anyone else having a great time in franchise mode?

Subject: Madden & Gameday - Got 'em Both...Here's my quick take
From: bkb@gamewood.net (Keith Barbour)
Date: 8/26/98 3:37 PM Pacific Daylight Time

I got both Madden and Gameday today with plans to return one of them
to EB in the coming days.  Here's my quick take on things:

First of all I decided to play one game with each, back-to-back using
the same two teams with the same difficulty level and rules settings.
I am a lifelong Cowboys fan so I took them at home against the
Packers.  I decided to try Gameday first and then Madden.  I played
5 minute quarters on each game and this is what I came up with:

Gameday screwed up immediately by having the Cowboys wearing dark blue
at home which is backwards from the way they do it.  They rarely wear
the dark blue except at Philadelphia and at Philadelphia.  That's
annoying, but not a game killer.  The Gameday menus are fine and I
won't go into a lot of detail since this is not a review, but a quick
look.  Gameday played great and it seems the monster hits and tipped
balls are gone.  The game plays more realistic than any Gameday
before.  Running and passing both seem fairly easy to do and I was
able to move the ball against the Packers with relative ease.  The
sound is crisp and bold in Gameday and I can't say enough about the
announcing team of Dick Enberg and Phil Simms.  In between plays they
say little things like, "Well, I was over at the team hotel on Friday
night and once thing the coaches said they had to do was stuff the run
and they did just that".  I think stuff like that is very cool and
adds immensely to that Sunday afternoon feeling of watching a game on
tv.  My only gripe with Gameday thus far is the way the players cut.
You can make a guy do a 360 turn easily.  The cutting is just too
severe...I don't like it, but I don't think it's enough to ruin the
game for me.  One questionable AI note...the Packers did not take a
timeout at the end of the game tied 10-10 with a chance to get the
ball back and win in regulation.  We went to overtime and I lost
16-10.  In overtime, they do not take the quick field goal...they try
and score the touchdown.  All in all, I'm happy with Gameday.

Madden got the uniform part right and I was pleased to see this.
The players look bigger than Gameday, but that might be the camera
view that each one defaults to.  I have a fairly long list of Madden
disappointments and after reading Randy Magruder's review couldn't
believe he didn't mention them.  First of all, the game is slow.  I
mean dog slow.  I was real disappointed in the game speed and don't
know if I can even get past that to keep the game.  The second thing
is where is all the talking?  Madden and Summerall are virtually quiet
the whole time.  This was always one of the things I thought that made
the Madden series.  I hate to say it, but it don't feel like Sunday
afternoon.  The sound reminds me of March Madness...just a steady hum
from the crowd.  I heard very little excitement from the crowd or the
announcers.  Color me very disappointed in this category.  The player
animations are cool with the running backs lunging forward and the
defensive guys wrap tackling, but I also saw quite a few missing
animations like turnovers.  I recovered a fumble that I didn't even
see.  The screen just shifted and it said "Defense Recovers".  I
watched it on replay and still didn't see it.  The ball just changed
possession magically.  Also I intercepted a pass with my guy's back.
That's right, an interception with my back turned.  The ball hit my
guy in the back and then it was in his hands with no animations in
between.  Again, on the middle difficulty, I had very little trouble
moving the ball either way.  I lost this game 17-14 after being up
14-0...that damn Brett Favre.  8-)

Anyway, I have to give the early nod to Gameday.  It plays faster,
looks just as good if not better and has a much better presentation
and I really can't believe I'm saying a Sony game has a better
presentation than an EA game, but it's the truth.  I didn't pay a lot
of attention to the rosters, but I did notice Ernie Mills, who was
signed as a free agent by the Cowboys was starting on Gameday, but
never entered the game on Madden.  I'm not sure what that says about
the rosters.  I have long been a fan of the Madden series and still
may turn that way with this one, but my early impressions say I like
the Sony game better.  I despised Gameday 98, and all it's other
predecessors, but I truly like the feel of this game.  I'm sure
Franchise Mode on Madden is cool so I want to like it better than
Gameday, but I don't know if I can.  Just so you will know what kind
of gamer I am...I am very serious about my sports games and I play for
the true simulation only.  I do not like arcade games at all, and
that's why I've been so critical of Sony in the past.  I play by
myself and play season modes all the time.  I don't give a plug nickel
about multiplayer so I can't tell if either one is a good 2 player
game.  I do know this...Sony stepped up bigtime in the realism and
presentation area and EA seemed to drop the ball in this area where
they have always been king.  I will play them more in the coming days
and who knows, I might wind up keeping both.

Keith
It's easy to sit there and say you'd like to have more money.  And I
guess that's what I like about it.  It's easy.  Just sitting there,
rocking back and forth, wanting that money.

Subject: Madden 99: Thumbs up so far (after a few hours)...
From: richardhutnik@hotmail.com
Date: 8/26/98 6:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time

This was after playing Madden 99 for a few hours.  I ended up leaning toward
Madden 99, because it had more options than Gameday 99.  I could of gotten
both and returned one, but didn't want to put up with the hassle.  Anyhow,
Madden 99 was around $40 for me, because the local Electronic Boutique price
matched the Web site's price.  I didn't go into the GM mode, or play editor
(I just focused on the gameplay.  I didn't mess around with the directional
passing either) Anyhow, on with my first impression after a few hours of
play:

* You can run the damn ball! Yippee.  Well, on the Pro setting, at least
running is not brutal/impossible.  On Pro setting, Tyrell Davis was averaging
around 7 yards a carry against the Saints.  The average per carry started to
drop as the AI began to stomp my pet running out of the shotgun play.

* The AI runs the ball a good amount, similar to the ratio in the pros.  I
actually had the AI break off a few touchdown runs with the Redskin's running
back.  I mainly got burnt when I ran the nickle on first down.  Yes, I am
guilty of stupid play calling, but I typicall found playing the nickle is
usually affective against computer AIs.

* The game features enough different control configurations to make everyone
happy. Not only is the traditional Madden controls there, but also the
directional passing, and one button play have also been added. I wished the
passing controls and running controls were separate though (so I could decide
whether I want one button for either just running or passing, but they are
not). Anyhow, from my brief play experience, the play is tight, and little if
any delay between hitting a button and an action being peformed.

* Last year's moronic "that is not tackling, that is sprites colliding"
argument levelled against Madden 98 on the PSX, is over.  Of course, this is
due to the use of polygons.  I watched replay a few times to see some nasty
hits being put on.  All I can say is that it is cool.

* The arcade mode is an interesting change of pace.  Definitely inspired by
NFL Blitz, but not the extreme antics. I did notice the physics of the ball
was more exagerated, with tips on incomplete passes travelling farther.  In
addition, the arcade mode features a streamlined playbook, just like Blitz.

* The graphics are fine, but a bit washed out for polygons.  Well, at least
the guys don't look like rockem-sockem robots.

* The game presentation is solid, but lacks of bit of MTV "rock and roll",
over the top, excitement.  The pieces are there, and makes for a solid
football game. I think "meat and potatoes" would be the best way to describe
it.  The little blurbs on each player are interesting though, as is the
player of the game and scores from other games coming up.  You don't get rock
and roll music when you score a touchdown, or play by play CONTINUOUSLY going
on, like annoucing a guys is on the "30 20 10..." etc...  The voices again
are functional, like Cashen, the ref announcing how many time outs you have
left, and Pat Summerall announcing that the game is coming up on the two
minute warning or the half.  An occational Maddenism, in addition to the
player info blurbs, is also thrown in. Again, it is all functional.  There
are a few "throw away" FMV clips, like Madden's two cents on opening season,
and James Brown kicking off opening season with a speech.  Again, it is all
functional. You aren't going to get the "thrills a minute" of NFL Blitz here,
or Gameday, from what I hear.  It is just football.

To sum up, this appears to be football, plain and simple.  And it appears to
be damn good at that.  As of now, I will rent Gameday 99, but don't feel any
incentive to get it.  I guess I am a Phil Simms fan, so I would be interested
in hearing how he comes off in the game.  I know some of this I just wrote is
probably rehashed, so bear with me.

Well, back to playing it or getting to sleep (I have work tomorrow)...
- Richard Hutnik