Two more classic stadiums went live today for the XBOX Live Marketplace.

The two new stadiums are Classic Giants Stadium and Classic Steelers Stadium. Take a look at the screen shots below to get an idea of what they look like.



New York Giants



Pittsburgh Steelers

Each stadium will cost you 300 points on the XBOX Live Marketplace.

Madden Nation Season 2 Podcast (Week 1): DJ Rhude Interview

Madden Nation Season 2 Contestant Discusses His Experiences on the Show.

After every Madden Nation Season 2 airing, the Madden community is ablaze with discussion about the drama that has unfolded each week on the bus. As Season 2 competitors depart, we’ll get the inside story straight from the cast members themselves to hear their take on what happened behind the scenes.

Madden Nation Season 2 Podcast - Week 1

Recently departed Madden Nation Season 2 cast member DJ Rhude took a few minutes to talk with us about his experience on the tour. He discussed his Madden background, meeting Michael Strahan, and what it meant for the Madden community to have one of their own representing hardcore sim-style players on the Madden Nation bus.

To hear DJ Rhude's thoughts while on the bus, click on the link below.

http://www.easports.com/madden07/news.jsp?id=mn2_podcast

Packwolf Previews Madden Nation 2

Packwolf talks about his experience from Madden Nation show 1. It's a good read from an every day normal family guy who likes to play Madden as a hobby and not worry about the money.

As Madden Nation Season 2 debuts, it's a good time to look back at some memories from season one. We spoke with season one cast member Packwolf about his experience on the show, what it takes to win, and his thoughts on what to look forward to in season two. The following is part one of our two part interview with Packwolf.

EA SPORTS: Tell us about your Madden background prior to competing in season one of Madden Nation.

Packwolf: I have been playing video sports football in general since the late 70's. I started with Odyssey II football and moved on to Intellivision football early in my sports gaming career. I was introduced to Madden in 1992 with John Madden Football for Super Nintendo . I have been a Madden head ever since. I have played locally for years, first in Chicago where I was born and raised in underground leagues and I have been playing in Portland Oregon recently, where I reside now. I have won many local awards and leagues. Madden Nation season one was my first chance to compete on a national level.

For the rest of the article, click on the link below.

http://www.easports.com/article.jsp?id=packwolf

Redskins Playbook Released!!

For past 3 months VG Sports Writer, Kobra, has been hiding out in
the lab perfecting his game. This year he has been attracted to
the Redskins playbook and decided to put together his most
comprehensive breakdown to date.

If you are looking for a playbook that you can run different
types of schemes from, then the Redskins playbook is a great
choice. With the ability to run any scheme, you can keep your
opponent off balance.

For instance, if you run the compression offense, there are
several compressed formations within the playbook. These include
the I Form Close, Singleback 4WR Stack, and Singleback Trips
Bunch.

If you want to run a spread offense with no problem you will find
the Singleback 4WR Spread and Singleback Trips WR.

If you want to run a power run game scheme, the Redskins playbook
has got you covered with such power running formations as the I
Form Twin TE, Singleback Big Jumbo Wing, Strong H Twin TE, and
Weak I H Twin TE.

Here are just some of the things you will find in this guide:

Play Breakdowns Galore!!

Kobra breaks down a ton of plays from the Redskins playbooks.
Everything from 2 back sets to Singleback to Shotgun is covered
with insane detail!

Bump-n-Run Beaters

I went crazy in this section of the book on showing all types of
bump-n-run man beaters. You will want to spend a lot of time in
this section. Many different formations are covered in this
section of the book.

Routes Bumped, But Still Bump-n-Run Beaters

Despite this routes being jammed at the line of scrimmage, they
are still good routes to call to beat bump-n-run coverage.

Reading One Side Of The Field

This section will help those who have problems reading the whole
field once the ball is snapped. Instead of reading the whole
field, I show how to read half the field to help make things
easier.

Keying on a Defender

Rather reading the defense to see if it’s man or zone coverage, I
show how sometimes I key on a particular defender to decide on
where the ball needs to go.

Snap While the Play Screen is Still Up

A nice little trick to help you read the outside coverage quicker
and faster.

Dealing With 11 Man Coverage

A few tips that I use to deal with my opponent dropping 11 men
into pass coverage.

Formation Shifts

Kobra shows some plays he like to use formation shifts with. In
this section he doesn't go to crazy with it because throughout
the rest of playbook I show a lot of plays that have formation
shifts involved. However, there is still a good amount of plays
you will find here.

Motion Within The Redskins Formations

You can create a lot of unique formations in the Redskins
playbook.

Vision Cone & the Quick Pass

Believe it or not a lot of players don’t like the vision cone. In
this section of the book, I show how those who don’t like to use
the cone, can use the quick pass to avoid the using the cone.

Angle Fade Route

If you have the filmroom, you know about this route already.
RB Angle and Circle Route. Two of the best pass routes in the
game because of the low risk of the pass being picked off. The
Redskins playbook has plenty of these type of routes. Throw in
the fact they call be pulled, makes them that much more potent.

AND THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG!

To get more information about how you can get your hands on this
awesome guide, go to:

http://www.maddentips.com/redskins

Alternate Uniforms Update

Quick update on the Alternate Uniform downloads. I have received word that they will be available tonight, potentially in the wee hours of the morning. We'll let you know as soon as we see them.

Madden Alternate Uniforms - Coming Tomorrow

Alternate uniforms for both NCAA 07 and Madden NFL 07 on the XBOX 360 are scheduled to be available tomorrow via the XBOX Live Marketplace, at no cost to download. I'll post some pics up later tonight.

Madden NFL 07

• AFC East Throwback Uniforms: Throwback uniforms for the Bills, Jets & Patriots; alternate uniform for the Dolphins.
• AFC North Throwback Uniforms: Throwback uniforms for the Steelers & Browns; alternate uniforms for the Bengals & Ravens.
• AFC South Throwback Uniforms: Throwback uniform for the Titans; alternate uniforms for the Colts, Texans & Jaguars.
• AFC West Throwback Uniforms: Throwback uniforms for the Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs & Raiders.
• NFC East Throwback Uniforms: Throwback uniforms for the Cowboys, Eagles, Giants & Redskins.
• NFC North Throwback Uniforms: Throwback uniforms for the Bears, Lions & Packers; 2005 season uniform for the Vikings
• NFC South Throwback Uniforms: Throwback uniforms for the Bucs, Falcons & Saints; alternate uniform for the Panthers.
• NFC West Throwback Uniforms: Throwback uniforms for the Cardinals, 49ers, Rams & Seahawks.

NOTE: All Madden uniforms are either throwback uniforms or alternate uniforms. The throwback uniforms were either the 75th Anniversary uniforms that were worn in the 1994-1995 season; for teams that aren’t 75 years old, the throwbacks were worn in the league, but not during the anniversary season. Alternate uniforms were uniforms teams wore at least once in the 2005 season.


NCAA Football 07

• Alt Uniforms - Big 10, Pac 10, Notre Dame: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan St., Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Arizona, Cal, Oregon, Stanford, Washington, WSU
• Alt Uniforms – ACC: Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest
• Alt Uniforms - Big East, Conf. USA: Cincinnati, Connecticut Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, USF, Syracuse, West Virginia, Marshall, UCF, Houston
• Alt Uniforms - SEC, Mtn. West: Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Colorado State, UNLV, San Diego State, TCU, Utah, Wyoming
• Alt Uniforms - Big 12, WAC: Baylor, Colorado, Iowa St, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma St, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Boise St, Hawaii, LA Tech, Nevada, Utah St

Madden Alternate Uniforms - Pats Preview

We should have some info by the middle of next week about how the Alternate Uniforms will work. In the meantime, here is a preview of the Pats Alternate unis.

Hall of Fame Stadium on Xbox Live

Below you can find 4 screens of the NFL Hall Of Fame stadium which will be live on the XBOX marketplace for 300 points this coming Thursday, November 16th.

From what we hear you can also expect to see alternate uniforms available before too much longer.

Exclusive 45 Minute Strategy Call

I got on the phone the other night and spent 45 minutes with one of my staff writers discussing the Compression Offense. This scheme is used by just about every top baller and has led multiple players to EA Madden Challenge tournament victories.

You will get to hear how Big B began to research the compression offense as well as discover the key components of running this offensive scheme. There is some incredible information here that will help you improve your game no matter what level of player you are.

This call was recorded and is available for free in MP3 format.

To download your copy, click here!

Thoughts from Compression Author, Big B

I would like to thank everyone for buying this year's guide of "Compression 301: Enter the West Coast Offense". We all know that the west coast offense is a scheme or type of system that has been used in the NFL for some time. This quick passing attack allows offenses to move the ball by using short passes and running the ball.

In the early days not many teams used compressed sets to run the west coast offense. They used split backs, weak, a strong I sets. Once defenses began to make defensive schemes for this system, the offensive coordinators made adjustments. They went to using compressed sets. Using compressed sets made the WCO harder to defend.

Then the use of motion also put pressure on the defense. Now we come to Madden 07. The compression is one of the leading sets in the game. EA has added new sets every year. Then if you looked real close you will find that 90% of your WCO playbooks were compressed. Oakland, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Denver, and a host of others were very heavy in compressed sets.

I saw people win tourneys using compressed sets. When you add the quick passing scheme of the WCO in compressed sets you are now taking the scheme to another level. This helps with pass protection. The line don't need to hold blocks as long. This system is harder to defend because you take away the time the defense has to set-up.

Many of the playbooks have plays that don't require you to make any adjustments. These type of plays cut down on the defensive pre-snap adjustments. You can force the defense to run a base sets. Then with random blitz angles it makes it harder to genrate pressure. The need for shotgun isn't as big now. So running compressed sets in a WCO fashion allows you to keep the defense on its toes and allows you to run/pass the ball.

This scheme also allows you to work the clock and move the chains. Lastly, I posted 12 plays from the WBC players. Two of them are EA Sports Madden Challenge Regional winners...Marc Dawg and WBC Brusk. I also did a break down of 3 playbooks and their key formation shifts. You still have the basic sections to help you fine tune areas so that you can run the compression scheme easier. All in all I hope you enjoyed this year's guide.

You all made "Compression 201" the leading selling guide last year next to our Virtual Playbbok. Many felt that writing a scheme book wouldn't work, but the people of the community felt differently about that. So to show my thanks for supporting my product I will give the 201 guide away for free when you buy 301.

This is my way of saying thanks for your supoort and making the compression one of the best syetems out there to date. For more information go to:

www.maddentips.com/compression301

Compression Guide 301 Released!

"What If You Could 'Spy' On the Lab Sessions of Some of the Best Players In The Country (including 2 EA Madden Challenge 07 Regional Champs)...

And Ethically Steal* Their Step-By-Step Secrets On Moving The Ball at Will and Lighting Up The Scoreboard Again And Again?"

VG Sports is at it again with the release of the 2007 edition of the Compression Guide. In this guide, Big B breaks down the secrets that his crew, the WBC, has used to capture 5 EA Sports Madden Challenge Regionals.

Big B takes you through step by step covering pass protection, progressions, marrying routes and more...

To find out more about this guide, go to http://www.maddentips.com/compression301

Interview with SSN - Madden League Provider

Recently VG had the opportunity to sit down with Larry Dickerson of Simsportsnet.com to find out a little bit more about what they do to support leagues in the Madden Community. I've included the interview below.

1. What is Simsportsnet.com?

SSN is an online community for Madden players featuring a league management tool and search tools displaying updated roster and playbook information.

2. What makes SSN’s league manager different from other league managers out there?

The primary difference is SSN’s ability to offer automatic game statistics and roster downloads.

3. So you do not have to input any stats manually?

No. We take your game result files from your Madden franchise and automatically import them into our site. No manual stat input.

4. What systems are the auto stats available for?

PS2, Xbox and the PC. Auto stats for the Xbox 360 are coming soon.

5. What are some other unique features you get with SSN?

Customize your league home page. We give you the template and you can lay your page out any way you like. Display league schedule, standings, league leaders and so much more.

Real time online transactions. Make trades, drop players or add free agents. All in real time directly thru the site. Shop for trades by putting players on the block and display them to the entire league.

Free agent bidding is cool too. When you want to sign a free agent you must negotiate terms with his agent. If they find the offer satisfactory there will be a 24 hour time period where other owners can try to out bid you. Other team owners can not see your offer but they can see your cap space and must make an educated guess as to what will get the deal done. If you are the top bid that free agent automatically signs with your team and appears on your roster.

6. Where can you go to see a sample of one of the leagues hosted on your site?

http://www.simsportsnet.com/madden/leaguemanager/leaguehome.asp?leagueid=204

7. One of the major strengths SSN has is your stat tools. Are there any other useful stat tools you offer?

Yes. Madden players can point their emails from the game server to us and we display all there online games played. You get box scores from all games and your overall user stats accumulate. This is great information if you like to chart your progress online or if you want to scout other online players.

To view instructions on this process go to:

http://www.simsportsnet.com/products/product-mygamespace.asp

8. Tell us about your community. Do you offer a standard forum?

We are not a forum. Our community is called “My Game-Space”. This is a spin off of the popular My Space but it is targeted to gamers. You can customize your personal Game Space page by adding in a background and choosing from our many modules to import to your page. You can utilize our message center and chat feature to communicate with other members. You can add a juke box and video clips. You are also able to bring in modules from your leagues hosted by SSN. Import league schedules, standings and just about anything else you find useful.

My game space is where you will find your online game results posted. There is a scrolling ticker with your last few games. If you click recap you can see the box score of that game. There are many other links to see all of your game scores and overall statistics.

For a sample go to:

http://www.simsportsnet.com/users/user-home.asp?user=dokken

9. Is there any thing else you would like to tell us about SSN’s offering?

Yes. We have the ability to provide Throw back games for the PS2 for online game play. We have teams dating back to the 1957 49ers. These teams have real names and real numbers. SSN is the only place you can play with the great teams online. We would be happy to provide VG Sports with some games to hand out to its members for free.

10. In conclusion what would you like to tell the Madden community about SSN?

SSN is a fantastic tool for Madden. There is nothing else out like what we offer. SSN provides bar none the best roster presentation on the web. We offer the updated rosters the day they are released.

We ask the community to come to www.simsportsnet.com and see for yourself. Simsportsnet is the only tool with auto stats, the only place with great teams for online play and the only community that gives you your own personal space (My Game-Space) to be creative and communicate with other players around the world.

For more information please contact us at:

SSNCommissioner@simsportsnet.com

Thanks

Larry & Keith
SSN Principals

Madden 07 for Xbox 360 - Patch

We have been notifed by EA Sports that a patch has been released for Madden 07 on the Xbox 360. The most noticeable fix is the fatigue issue that has been in the game since it came out.

Get online and and download the patch!!

EA Sports Coaches Corner

EA Sports has launced a new initiative called Coaches Corner. This is a place for members in the Madden community to post their own favorite strategies. We will be visiting from time to time and posting there as well. Kobra has broken down one of this favorite route combinations on the site.

Click here Kobra's Combination Route Breakdown

Madden 07 Rosters & Ratings - VG Sports Style

We really appreciate IGN dropping the ratings for everybody, but their format leaves a bit to be desired.

We've cleaned things up a bit and put them in a format that is easier on the eyes. We've included only the most important attributes for each position, as well as our one-of-a-kind visual power ratings system so that you can tell at a glance where your team's strengths and weaknesses lie.

Also, with Run to Daylight and Lead Blocking being the big feature this year, we have put together something we call the Run Power Rating.

This is a VG Sports special. We've combined the most important run blocking ratings for each team's offensive line to give you a visual indicator of which teams you can pound the rock with best.

Anyway, you can view these all at http://www.maddentips.com/rosters

Season behind the Season - Part IV

By Ron Jackson, VG Sports

Tournament Style player prep: Ten months and a few days since the release of the last Madden and I'm just starting to wind down. Things are crazy all year. From the first day I get the game until the next one comes out it’s a constant effort to get better, to keep labbing and trying to find something in the game that I can use to exploit my opponents defense. People have all sorts of names for this, but they rarely just give us the credit for developing the skill to consistently make some aspect of the game work....

Full Article

Madden Challenge Schedule

Looks like we are still looking at Xbox 1 for Pros and Xbox 360 for Rookie challenge.

2006 EA SPORTS MADDEN CHALLENGE
Schedule

DAY DATE SCHEDULE VENUE
Friday 1-Sep 1 Denver Invesco Field
Sunday 3-Sep 2 Minneapolis MetroDome
Saturday 9-Sep 3 Indianapolis RCA Dome
Sunday 10-Sep 4 Chicago Solider Field
Saturday 16-Sep 5 Green Bay Lambeau Atrium
Sunday 17-Sep 6 Detroit Ford Field
Saturday 23-Sep 7 Atlanta Lenox Mall
Sunday 24-Sep 8 New Orleans Superdome
Saturday 30-Sep 9 Cincinnati Newport on the Levee
Sunday 1-Oct 10 Pittsburgh Heinz Field
Saturday 7-Oct 11 Boston Gillette Stadium
Sunday 8-Oct 12 New York Grand Central Station
Saturday 14-Oct 13 New Jersey Jersey City Mall
Sunday 15-Oct 14 Philadelphia King of Prussia Mall
Saturday 21-Oct 15 Baltimore M & T Bank Stadium
Sunday 22-Oct 16 Washington DC Fed Ex Field
Saturday 28-Oct 17 Charlotte Concord Mills
Sunday 29-Oct 18 Tampa Raymond James Stadium
Saturday 4-Nov 19 Houston Reliant Stadium Park
Sunday 5-Nov 20 Dallas Texas Stadium
Saturday 11-Nov 21 Phoenix Cardinal Stadium
Sunday 12-Nov 22 San Diego Qualcomm Stadium
Saturday 18-Nov 23 Los Angeles Hollywood & Highland
Sunday 19-Nov 24 Oakland McAfee Coliseum
Friday 24-Nov 25 Seattle Qwest Field
Sunday 26-Nov 26 San Francisco Metreon
International - TBD
27-Jan 27 Mexico city, Mexico TBD
13-Jan 28 Toronto, Canada TBD
4-Feb 29 UK, London TBD
4-Feb 30 Frankfurt,Germany TBD
Jan 31 ASIA TBD

Online tournament
Nov-feb 32 online

Madden Challenge Announcement

From what we hear the official announcement will be made tomorrow. We'll have our ears open and our eyes peeled. We'll let you know asap what we find out. In any event, get those fingers warmed up and get ready to compete!

ESPN/EA Sports Madden PPV

Last week the first Madden related PPV hit televisions and
computers all over the world. If you are a fan of Madden it is
worth seeing just for the production value alone.

It is obvious that ESPN really put some effort into making this a
quality TV show. The set was excellent and the camera work was
gritty and kept your attention.

Content wise, the strategies weren't exceptionally deep for the
hardcore player, but there were some good nuggets to be found
there no matter what your skill level is.

You definitely got into the mind of the tournament player a bit
as you can see how they prepare to play the game. Their style
may not be your cup of tea as far as how to play the game, but
their approach is worth learning from.

As I mentioned above, there were some good sections involving how
the guys use bump-n-run with their linebackers as well as tips on
manually controlling your players. This is valuable stuff.

If you have ever wondered the thought process behind what the
producers do with the game and how they view the community, then
this show is a good fit for you as well.

All in all, I was impressed with the show for a first effort and
can recommend it to you if you love the game of Madden!

Madden 07 is only a few weeks away. If you haven't had a chance
to check out the Virtual Playbook for Madden, hit up our main
site at:

http://www.maddentips.com

Madden 07 Q&A

Several members of the VG Team recently had the opportunity to
head down to EA Tiburon to check out Madden 07 for a couple of
days.

When we got back, Big B & Ron hosted a Q&A on the forums. We've
included some of these questions and answers here.

Q: How was the 360? Was it better than 06? Most people were
disappointed with last year, will we be happy this year with the
360?

Big B: Very good game. Once they get the other things from
current to next gen....it will no doubt be the best game ever.
Right now the game is off the chain. It felt like the old days.
No audibles, formation shifting.....just str8 work.

Think of the passing like 05 without the rocket. If you have a
player that is 6'5" vs. a DB at 5'11" the taller player will get
up. I also feel that the manual defending is easier. This game is
about pounding the rock, and running routes.

Big B: The high pass is toned down. Now if you have a big WR he
will get up. The thing is that you can defend it better. Zone
seems to help when you were a manual defender.

You can play they area that the CPU isn't playing. Like the LB in
a hook zone will play underneath. You would have to play over top
with the safety for the easy pick. If they're big they will get
up. One thing is that you can't depend on the cpu to catch for
you as much as before. Yes, guys you need some stick to get
things done to a degree this year.

They do what they do they do best. If they're a smaller back they
will do a series of moves to get free. If they're big they try to
truck the defender. If you're between the tackles and you need to
get past with a smaller back, he will get skinny.

Q: What about screens?

Big B: The screen is off the chain. Just replace the truck stick
with the highlight stick. Nothing changed all that much. You will
be better off using the analog to generate jukes and moves. This
allows you to get the most out of your player. Like when you had
Bush you hit up for the truck stick (highlight) and he will do a
swimming like spin to break the hit stick. Then if another
defender is coming you tap right and he will do a quick juke and
be out.

Q: Do defenders still get "sucked" into blocks?

Big B: No, they don't as bad as before. Line play has a much
better feel to it. Not as scripted.

Q: How did user controlled player's feel in contrast to last
year? (i.e., are they still sluggish with their movement, or have
they been polished up?)

Big B: Better my man. I was able to move around better. The
movement isn't as tight as current gen, but much improved from
last year.

Q: What's your take on the degrading field conditions?

Big B: The field was off the chain. When I was in practice mode
you can see the path of the routes I ran because the grass broke
down because of me running the play over and over again. Wet
weather conditions were crazy as well.

Q: How is the All-Madden AI, will I continue to see Chris Samuels
put on his back by Osi Umenyiora or Carlos Emmons cover S. Moss
on a post.

Big B: It's decent. Samuels was doing his thing when I was
playing with them. You will see that the LB's in the game are
getting faster. There has been a move to speed TEs and LBs in the
NFL. You will be surprised at who upgraded their teams.

Q: If I come out in I form big and the defense comes out in
quarters will I finally be able to pound the rock like I should
be able too?

Big B: Yes you can. The MLB gets in sometimes, but you can
control your own blocking now. So you can fix the problems now.
Run the ball and if you see someone get through, grab your guys
and plug that hole. Please everyone who doesn't lab the run, get
ready to spend some serious time in practice mode. Many people
will be here to beat our forums up for some good run defense. If
you lived just by the run commit feature, you are pretty much
done this year. Practice!

To view more of the Q&A, be sure to visit the VG Sports forums at
http://www.maddentips.com/forums

ESPN TEAMS UP WITH EA SPORTS TO OFFER AN INSIDE LOOK AT MADDEN NFL 07

I'll be tuning in tonight. Gotta catch the 11:00 show. Let me know what you thing about it.

PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT AVAILABLE ON TV AND ONLINE

Beginning August 4 at 8 p.m. ET., ESPN and ESPN.com will offer an exclusive pay-per-view event with Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) - Inside Madden NFL 07 - produced by ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) and available to gamers through affiliates on television and also online.

In this special, available 18 days before the release of Madden NFL 07 from EA SPORTS(tm) on August 22, fans will get an early look inside one of this year's most anticipated video game releases. EA game designers and some of the best Madden players will lead gamers on a guided tour through new changes and advances in all aspects of the game. Included in the special are the exclusive release of player ratings and tips from top Madden gamers and behind-the-scenes details about the making of the next generation of Madden NFL games.

Intended to give the hardcore gamer and fan a leg up on playing the latest version in the popular Madden game series, ESPN and EA SPORTS invited some of the best gamers in the business to EA Sports Tiburon studios in Orlando. Before arriving, the five gamers were given a chance to try the new game and see a number of new features. Once at the EA studios, the players were given the opportunity to interview game producers, engineers, and further test and evaluate the latest edition of the game for the cameras.

The gamers that took part in the program are:
- Dwayne "D-Train Harrison" - winner of the 2002 Madden Challenge
- Jarvis Thomas - winner of the 2005 Madden Challenge
- Justin Chow - Washington DC regional winner of the 2005 Madden Challenge
- Will Kinsler - co-owner of MaddenNation.com, and writer for gaming strategy guides and EA Sports
- Rod "Reality" Winn - a former competitor on ESPN's Madden Nation

Throughout the 60-minute special, the gamers discuss how the new game features will impact their own play and provide insight into techniques and strategies that help make them among the best in the world.

Inside Madden NFL 07 also includes interviews with top athletes regarding their experience with the latest version of the game. Atlanta Falcons' Warrick Dunn, Tennessee Titans great Eddie George, Minnesota Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson, and St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk were each given the opportunity to take an advance look at their OWN player ratings while cameras captured their feedback.

Fans can purchase Inside Madden NFL 07 for $19.95 at www.espn.com (search Madden), or by contacting their pay-per-view provider. For re-airs throughout the month of August, check www.espntv.com listings or contact your pay-per-view provider.

Leading up to the pay-per-view special on August 4, ESPN Classic will air episodes of EOE's Madden Nation from 2 - 6 p.m. ET as part of Generation Y Week on ESPN Classic.

Virtual Playbook for Madden 07

We've posted a ton of information up about the Virtual Playbook for Madden 07. Get the inside scoop on what is inside the guide as well as view video feedback from some of the leaders in the Madden Community.

This year's guide is packed with content guaranteed to make you a better Madden baller!

Go check it out at http://www.maddentips.com

Xbox.com visits EA Sports Community Day

Major Nelson of Xbox.com came out to pay a visit to the Community at the EA Sports Madden Community Day. Check out this video for a behind the scenes peek at what the guys and myself got to experience.

Keep your eyes peeled as well for a couple of cameos with VG Sports own Philly Ron Jackson.

Click here for the video

Madden Challenge 2006 Platform Announcement

We have gotten the much awaited final word from EA Sports regarding the Madden Challenge. The main tournament will be on Xbox Current Gen with the Rookie Challenge taking place on Xbox 360.

I know that many of the guys that invested in Xboxes for last year's event will appreciate the change. To me this shows EA making a move to best present the best looking version of the game possible. Even though PS2 tournaments were attended more heavily, they look look crap when televised.

With Xbox they can get a much better picture for productions sake. I'm sure there were a number of factors that went into this decision...many that we will never know.

VG Sports to appear in Beckett Magazine

VG Sports has put together a nice 8 page strategy piece for the upcoming Beckett video gamer magazine coming out in August. Be sure to check it out!

Madden NFL 07 Unveiling in New York

Gamespot attending the unveiling of Madden NFL 07 in New York last week. Check out the video as they talk with Running Backs, Shaun Alexander, Warrick Dunn, Marshall Faulk, Reggie Bush, and Larry Johnson. Also prepare yourself for the in-game footage.

Madden NFL 07 in New York

Madden 06 Virtual Filmroom - July 3rd Edition

Singleback Tight Galloway Option - The Tight formation is a set that can be effective when you have the right routes to get the full potential out of it. I wanted to look at a play that I use often in my Singleback Compressed sets. The play that I want to talk about is the Galloway Option. This play allows you to attack man or zone with no problems if you’re good at pre-reading defenses. Even if you’re not it’s still a hot play.

Shotgun Empty Trey Stick Strong Overload - The Shotgun Empty Trey Stick Strong Overload is effective against man coverage as long as you know where to throw to based on what the defense does. If you lock onto one receiver, you will be in for a world of hurt.

Shotgun 2RB 3WR HB Deep - If you know how to read defenses, you don't know need a bunch of senseless shifts just to beat the pass coverage. In this write up, we show how we like to run the Shotgun 2RB 3WR HB Deep to open up several passing options.

For more information about the Virtual Filmroom, visit www.maddenfilmroom.com

The Season Behind the Season: Strategy Site Owner Perspective

EA Sports just posted the their latest Season Behind the Season Article. Go check it out:

"My name is Bert Ingley and I am the owner and operator of the web’s largest Madden strategy site, www.maddentips.com. Since the site began running in early 2002, there has been a literal explosion in the number of people who are searching for strategies and tips on the net. During this time we have grown from an initial one-man show into a staff of six who eat, sleep and breathe Madden football.

I am continually amazed at the hardcore nature of the Madden fan base. I watch the video game industry pretty closely, and with the exception of a couple of Massive Multiplayer Online RPGs (MMORPG), I don’t think there is a more rabid group of gamers than Madden players. Guys take this game VERY seriously.

Many members of our site have played some level of competitive football during their lives. Everything from Pop Warner to the NFL is well represented, and they all have one thing in common -- they are incredibly competitive! While they want to win at all costs, most have a genuine respect for the game of football. They don’t want to glitch their way to victory; they want to learn the X’s and O’s behind the game so they can play it like it’s played on Sundays."

Click here for the Full Article

EA Community Email Address

EA has set up an email account in order to answer fans questions. They are encouraging podcast listeners and anyone else who has a question to shoot an email to the new address. This will be a great way to get some of your community related questions answered, so don't miss out. If you do send in a question, make sure and let them know you're from VG Sports!"

The email address is maddencommunity@ea.com

First look: "NFL Head Coach"

Here's a bit more about NFL Head Coach:

By Jeff Rider
Staff writer
Have you ever watched an NFL telecast and found yourself second-guessing a coach’s decision?

It’s OK, you’re not alone. And now EA Sports is giving you your own video game.

In the 3D sports strategy game “NFL Head Coach,” you’ll make the calls on game day. Do you run out the clock late in the game when you’re nursing a lead or be aggressive and throw deep? Give the ball to your fullback on fourth-and-short or have your quarterback sneak for the first down?

The EA Podcast: Madden NFL 07, Part I

EA Sports has posted a new podcast on Madden NFL 07.

This is from the Rookie Premiere event from last week. This first podcast features conversations with:

- Vernon Davis

- Brandon Williams

- Maurice Drew

- Derek Hagan

- Laurence Maroney

- Demetrius Williams

The theme is transition. EA discusses their transition to the pros as well as transition into playing and being in Madden 07

Tye Hill Interview

This one is pretty funny. It's cool to see how guys don't always get their props in the game, and how everybody knows it:

Talking Deion and the draft with the Rams top pick. New Madden screens included.

May 24, 2006 - Whatever stat you quote to Tye Hill, there's one that gets him fired up. "I'm not 5-9, I'm 5-10," he says with a laugh. "That 5-9 thing is a bad rumor. They pushed my head down at the combine and now everyone thinks I'm short. Of course I'm 5-9 when you push my head down."


Whatever his size, there's no doubting Tye Hill stands tall on the field. The first cornerback taken in the draft instantly became one of the fastest men in the NFL when his name was called by the commissioner, and his athletic ability could make him one of the standout rookies in 2006. Not bad for a track star who started his football career as a running back and only started to play corner, a position many feel is the hardest in the sport, as a sophomore at Clemson.

Madden Next Gen Interview with David Ortiz

Next Gen Madden Producer David Ortiz sits down and sheds some light on the Offensive and Defensive lines and the running game. Short but good read.


Check it out here: EA Sports Next Gen Interview 5/22/2006

Dan Bertholomey aka Packwolf sounds off on Madden 360

All Games Interactive Podcast

Today's installment of All Games Interactive comes to a screeching halt when the king on the non sequitur Arena Lounge's very own Ron hits us with his breaking news involving . . . Paul McCartney? Doesn't sound very gamer oriented to me. Luckily Scot Rubin is here to save the day with his thoughts on Saint's Row, the new Blue Ray copy protection solutions, the Phantom gaming system fiasco, and gaming publishers' doubts about the PS3.

We also hear from Microsoft MVP and purveyor of all things Madden Packwolf a.k.a. Dan Bertholomey. He and Scot talk about their experiences with the next generation of Madden games at E3. With madden 07 on the PS3, Xbox 360, and The Wii these two Madden maniacs have much to say on how each one stacks up. Packwolf also brings us a Madden related exclusive that you can only hear first on All Games Interactive. So what are you waiting for!? It's All Games Interactive and its just one click away.

Click here to listen

EA Community Manager Mike Johnson on Air Tonight!

Madden Nation Radio will feature a special guest tonight. New EA Madden community Manager Mike Johnson (MJ) will join us to introduce himself and discuss some of his plans to make this the biggest and best year ever for the Madden online community.

To listen live, go to the following link at 9:05 PM EST. click here.

Madden 07 goes Mobile

This article comes from the UK. I know, it's an odd place for Madden news, but info is info so here you go:

"Okay, so most of us Brits aren't exactly clued up when it comes to American football. After all, it's just another U.S. stop-start sport played by men too wussy to do without the helmets and padding and play rugby, innit? (Letters to the usual address...)

Actually, there are plenty of gridiron fans in the UK, as shown by the popularity of EA's Madden franchise down the years, and those are the people who'll be getting excited by EA's announcement of the mobile version of Madden NFL 07 at E3 last week."

Click here for more on Madden Mobile

Xbox and PS2 Madden 2007 Trailer

EA/Tiburon has released a new Madden 2007 Trailer.

Check it out here: PS2 and Xbox Madden 2007 Trailer

Madden 07 Current Gen Interview with Phil Frazier

Here's bit of the EA Sports Interview with Phil Frazier

Phil Frazier Current Gen Interview
Phil Frazier, Lead Producer for Madden NFL 07 Current Genenration
Q: Talk to us about the all-new defensive playbooks. How did you come up with those?

Frazier:We watched a lot of game-tape. We've got two guys that are dedicated year-in and year-out to making Madden playbooks great. They're the most hardcore football guys that we have in this building. One of the guys actually played college ball at Florida, and the other one aspires to be a head coach somewhere. The two of them combined watch hours and hours of game tape that we get directly from the NFL. Using that footage, we're able to create plays in Madden that look exactly like plays that NFL teams run, and we also get a lot of different systems and formations in there as well.

This year, we have team-specific defensive playbooks in the game. Instead of having just the schemes, like 3-4 and 4-3, we actually went in and looked at team-specific things. Teams will run things based on specific personnel, and we wanted to capture that in Madden.

Q: You've expanded last year's Superstar Mode? What's new in that?

Frazier: Superstar Mode was something that a lot of people were excited about in concept last year, but at the end of the day, when the game shipped, there was no real difference in playing a Superstar game than there was in playing a Play Now game or a Franchise game. The in-game experience was exactly the same. This year, we wanted to change that, so we went in there and now we lock you to your position. If you create a quarterback, you play quarterback and only quarterback. If you're a wide receiver, you play only wide receiver, and so on. It's called Superstar: Hall of Fame mode and it's a big improvement over last year.

We really wanted to kind of focus on you being the guy you create, and that's more than just the off-the-field stuff -- that's with in-game stuff as well. As you're playing with these guys, we've also added position-specific cameras so you actually get to experience what it's like to play at that position. When you're on defense, you're not looking at the standard camera where you're looking down the field -- you're actually looking from behind the defensive player's shoulder. You get to watch the quarterback as he's looking at you or into your zone, you get to cover wide receivers as they're running all over the field, and you have to react to plays like a normal defender would.

Click here for the full article

Madden E3 Info on the EA Sports Site

EA Sports has relaunched their Madden website with a bunch of new content:

Innovative rushing controls give you a game-breaking ground attack featuring all-new jukes, cutbacks, and the distinct running styles of your favorite backs. Between the tackles or in the open field, run to daylight with Madden NFL 07.

Key Features

Lead Blocker Control: Throw the perfect block and create a running lane with all-new lead blocking control, and then take command of the tailback and rip off a big gain.

NFL Superstar: Hall of Fame Mode: Play your way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame by taking complete control of any position on the field. Your actions on and off the field determine your impact on the game.

Run Like the Players Run with the All-New Highlight Stick: Bust out player-specific running styles matching those of real NFL players (e.g., smaller backs slash to break tackles, while bigger runners bowl over defenders in the open field). All-new jukes, cutbacks, and power moves.

Additions to Franchise Mode: Scout collegiate prospects with the all-new NFL Draft Scouting System and the College All-Star Game, or watch players around the NFL impact their teams with the new Franchise Player Roles feature.

Team-Specific Defensive Playbooks: For the first time, use actual plays from your favorite team's defensive playbook to shut down the running game, pressure the quarterback, or force key turnovers.

Online Play: Climb the leaderboard as you take on your biggest rivals from coast-to-coast in Play Now or Session Match games.

Click here for the full article

Gamespy looks at Madden Wii

Football fans have often thought of the Madden games as less of a simulation and more of an arcade-styled pigskin experience. While it may not have been conceived with this intention in mind, Madden NFL 07 on the Wii may just come closer to simulating what a gridiron athlete goes through over the course of a game.

If the idea of playing Nintendo's simplified sports party games doesn't appeal to the hardcore sports enthusiast in you, then Madden NFL 07 may be right up your alley.

Click for full article

E3 2006: Hands-On Madden NFL 07 Wii

IGN has posted some hands on thoughts about the Nintendo Wii version of Madden NFL 07.

I personally am interested in playing the game, but I don't know if it will be anything beyond just a gimmick. I know that when I am playing a video game, I want to be lounging back on the couch, not having to get all involved waving my hands in the air to get stuff to happen.

I haven't played the game personally, but I get the feeling that the gimmick will only be fun for a limited period of time. I don't see this being a game for the serious competitor. In any event, here's the article:

How does it play with Nintendo's revolutionary new controller? IGN goes hands-on to give you the scoop.
by Dan Iverson

May 10, 2006 - One of the most anticipated games for any system has to be Madden NFL 07. The Madden football franchise has always been solid, but it always seems to lean on familiar ways by simply updating the roster, giving the graphics a face-lift, and maybe adding a new play mode. However, here in the seventeenth installment of Madden we are given a new way to play. Using the Wii remote is a shock at first, but within a short amount of time you feel like you are getting completely immersed into the game of football.

Click here for the full article

Madden NFL 07 PS3 hands-on preview and screens

I've included a bit of themanroom.com's look at Madden 07 at E3 below. One thing to bear in mind is that these are very early builds of the games. I have to wonder if the guys from themanroom.com have ever been to E3 before. They seemed really surprised at the early builds.

Like many others, they are beating up the PS3 version of the game. Well at E3 last year, all we had for Madden 360 was some player models to look at.

PS3 already has full 11 on 11 game play. It should be on par with 360 by August and they still will have more time to get stuff done before the November release. The producers for the game stated that the PS3 version would be everything you see in Madden 07 for the 360 PLUS some more. That is encouraging!

In any event, here is the article:

If the E3 2006 demo for Madden NFL 07 for the Xbox 360 was rough, then the Playstation 3 version was non-existent. It was obvious that the demo was quickly thrown together just so something, anything, was playable at E3. The developer stated that the Xbox 360 version was almost 60% complete while it's PS3 counterpart was closer to 30. The graphics and player control were obviously rushed versions and the developer was quick to point that out as well. The screenshots on the right do not look anything close to what was shown at E3, a good guess would be that they were polished up a bit.

When questioned about the different play features that would be included in the PS3 version the same answer was given each time... "We're not allowed to talk about it." Hmmmm, not very promising. Could we be looking at the Playstation equivalent of the bare-bones Madden 06 debut on the Xbox 360? Based on the lack of answers, a good guess would be yes.

Click here for the full article

Madden Filmroom Updates

46 Bear Buzz Weak -This week we take a look at another blitz from the 46 Bear that I ( Kobra) have had success with over the course of the 2006 season. What I like about the 46 Bear Buzz Weak is I get good pass coverage down the field, plus over the short middle. Another reason I like this blitz is there are three different gaps I can move the MLB to blitz through. This keeps my opponent off balance.

Big B's 46 Normal Mike Blitz - Me and Kobra was talking one day and he said that he wasn't finding any CPU blitzes in the game that were consistent. I told him that they were several of them and I would show a few in the filmroom since I’m down from Madden till 07. The 1st blitz I saw this year was the Mike Blitz. I saw something there, but the high passes ran me away from it. Then a crew member made a adjustment or two and found a decent safe blitz to run. I will show this blitz so that you can add it to playcalling when you need to get pressure on the QB.

I-Form Twin TE Series - The I Twin TE is a formation that Chow of The Firm, and Vinny of The WBC use quite well. These two labbed this set last year and became very good with it. Many feel that the lack of WR speed can be a problem passing effectively. Since this year is about size and jumping ability, the Twin TE can be deadly. Let’s take a look.

Madden 07 HB Draw Preview - We have a bit of a surpise for you here. The screen aren't the greatest since we had to work with camera shots of the E3 Madden 360, but you'll get the drift. We are not going to go in depth into this play but merely show you something to look forward to in the upcoming game. Lets get right to the new stuff.

E3 Hands On with David Ortiz - Many of you reading this now get those thoughts in your head that no matter what the situation is there should be some exclusive information for you when we go to events such as E3 or EA Community days. We value your opinion and understand your desire for exclusive content that is not on our message boards. Here you will find a video with David Ortiz, Lead Producer of Madden Next Gen. This was taken while on the floor of the E3 Expo.

If you don't have the filmroom, you can find out more about it at www.maddenfilmroom.com

IGN Looks at NCAA '07 PSP

May 10, 2006 - We managed to get our hands on EA Sports' version of NCAA Football '07, which is making its PSP debut in a little over two months. However, just because this is the first time the long running football franchise has crossed over to the portable realm doesn't mean that the design team has cut corners in any way. In fact, using a lot of the lessons they learned from last year's PSP version of Madden, the designers decided to focus primarily on the game experience. In doing so, they tried to push the envelope of what the PSP and UMD could do.

Click for more

More Madden 07 360 Screen Shots

More Madden 360 Screens:



The grass texture in 07 is downright sick. Heck, the grass doesn’t look that good in my own front yard.



I like the new kicking meter. If you have played Tiger Woods, you will feel right at home with 07.



In the screen shot above, I take control of the FB and look to block for Parker on a counter play.



Look really close at the turf...notice how it is starting to get muddy. This year the turf will have more of an effect on the running game.



Here I take control LG (Faneca) and look to block the MLB to free up Parker.



If you look at the screen shot above, you will see I am again in control of the LG, but this time I am passing the ball. As soon as the ball is snapped, I will automatically be switched to the QB. You will want to be sure to do this often so that you don't tip off your play selection.

Madden 07 Xbox 360 Screens

Below are some screen shots I took of Madden 07 on the Xbox 360.



One of the cool parts in the opening sequence was the inflated helmet as the home team players come out of the tunnel. We also saw some great particle effects with the smoke.



If you look really close at Big Ben, notice he has his right arm up in the air as if he getting ready to throw the ball. The kicker is he doesn’t have the ball, instead Willy Parker has it. This is how the HB Draw play looks in 07. When I first saw it, I was totally fooled by it. A nice amination!



I mentioned this in the write up above, but I am really happy to see that I am able to move defenders before the snap more fluidity in 07 than I was in 06.

Madden 07 Xbox 360 Impressions

by Kobra

When Madden 06 came out on the Xbox 360 I wasn’t a big fan of the game. I remember when I first played it, I felt like I was playing some of other game and not Madden. After playing it out at E3 this year, I felt the team at EA Tiburon did a better job at making the game feel more like Madden. Normally I can get a pretty good idea if I am going to like a game or not within the first five minutes of playing and I can safety say that I will want to play 07 on the Xbox 360 rather than shelving it like I did with 06.

The first thing that I noticed write off the bat was the controls felt tighter. One of my biggest complaints with 06 was I felt I didn’t have much control of the defenders before the snap. When I tried to move a defender, I had a hard time trying to move them. In 07, I was able to move defenders before the snap with no problems.

Another issue I had with 06 was controlling the ball carrier. To be honest, I felt like I was controlling a ball carrier in ESPN 2k5. For those who played ESPN 2k5, you know what I am talking about. In 07, that twitching and jerking has been cleaned up.

Speaking of the running game, you can tell that Tiburon put a lot of time into tweaking it. Being able to take control of any player before the snap and block is an advantage to help clear out running lanes for the ball carrier to run through. Admittedly I didn’t get as much time on controlling the blocker as much as I wanted to, but from the time I did get, I see how it will help make the run game a blast. Even when only picking up just a few yards.

Not only can you take control of the blocker, but having the ability to perform running moves when controlling the ball carrier with the R3 stick also improves the running game dramatically. If you have a big back on your team, he isn’t going to run around the defender, he is going to lower his shoulder and try and run the defender over. If you have a smaller ball carrier, instead of trying to run the defender over like in 06 with the truck stick, he either spins or tries to juke out the defender. What I like most about this is it separates the north-south runners from the east-west runners like never before.

The passing game for 06 was another issue that I was glad to see fixed. In 06 when throwing the ball, there seemed to be frames missing between the time the ball left the QB's hands to the time the receiver made the catch. In 07 that seemed to be corrected.

Something else that caught my eye was the addition of over 20 new individual ratings. I didn’t hear what those ratings are going to be, but I am sure we will see a few for quarterbacks and running backs. One I did actually see was elusiveness. I am sure that one has something to do with how well the CPU ball carrier avoids defenders.

Overall I am really happy with the direction the game is going for next generation. I felt like I was playing Madden again and not some other game. Granted there still needs to be work on the game. The build we played out at E3 was only 65 % done. David Ortiz promised us that there were a lot of features in the game haven’t been implemented or were locked and we couldn't see yet.

That made me feel really good about what the final product of the game is going to look like once released. We will have more info on Madden 07 on the Xbox 360 once we go down to the Tiburon studios for Madden Community day later this summer.

E3 Recap from Philly Ron

It’s now Friday and I’m starting to slow down as the convention comes to a close. Guys have been hitting me up like crazy asking for info but I have been trying to play enough games to give you a real foundation to work from.

The situation that I'm in is like a person who loves classic cars and finally gets his first one. The joy of finally having it is your first wave of emotion and then you look at the work that has to go into it to make it run right. EA has done a great job in the look, feel and responsiveness of the game but it is still early and the car (Madden 07) is in the garage with 40% of work left to make it drivable.

Here are some things that you will love in this year’s game.

#1 The new run blocking features. This is going to be a monster and will drive the game for the whole year. The run feature takes advantage of the new Highlight stick. (Right analog stick)

2# The right analog stick is now known as the Highlight stick when you are using the run block feature. From a blocking standpoint you can select the person you want to use as your blocker and then fire off the ball and before you engage (right stick) up for blow up block, left for seal left, right for seal right and down for cut block. This feature is very useful. I had a few runs for TDs because of getting the timing down.

#3 The Highlight stick can also be used when you’re running the ball. This is more on the lines of how you use it in the NCAA game. Juke left or right, back juke or truck stick. All of these animations can now be controlled from the right analog stick.

#4 There is a new animation in the game that many players will love and it’s because of the Run to Daylight feature. After you have set the block that you want, you can then press the B button on the (XBOX) controller and regain control of the HB. What is sweet about this feature is that the animation goes to the clutch kick type animation and slows the game down so that you can see how important your lead block was. If you did a great job then you will see the defender blown up and the regular animation will kick in so you can run to daylight.

There are a ton of more features that are in the 360 and PS3 that I want to talk about but will have to do when I get back to Philly. It’s almost that time of year again. I can’t wait.

PS: Check out www.myspace.com/phillyron_j This is going to be another way we strengthen our Madden community. My profile is set to private so send a friend request and I’ll add you.

Later

Ron_J a.k.a Phillyron

Madden Next Gen Graphical Enhancements

The field looked incredible this year. Unfortunately we were only able to see Hienz field, but the turf really looks good. The grass is much more 3D this year. Also, the field degredation is awesome. The more you play on a certain area of the field, the more torn up it gets.

Uniforms looked better as well with new shading and textures.

Player models got more tweaks this year. Players are starting to look more and more unique in their builds. You can actually recongnize players by body types.

With the focus being on the run, there were a number of run tweaks that were made. There are now several different types of running styles. Tiki Barber carries the ball up high, Randy Moss runs like a sprinter and Jamal Lewis has his signature leaned back running style.

From what we heard, this process is just beginning and we can expect to see more and more new changes along these lines to make players take on their individual characteristics and movement styles.

There will be 17-20 new player attributes which will affect the game play significantly.

There are new offensive line animations and schemes. Holes up up more randomly (but within the confines of the play call and attributes of the O & D lines). You will also see defenders get different types of penetration and have room to make their moves as well with the new blocking scheme.

More to come later...

NCAA '07 Impressions

First off, NCAA 07 on the 360 looks awesome. Reaction times were much better than Madden 360. The controls felt much better, smoother and more responsive.

Stadiums and live crowd interaction was phenomenal for NCAA 07. You can see the mascots reacting live on the field while you are playing.

More to come later tonight...

VG Sports prepares for E3

The team is getting all ready to rock to head to E3 to check out Madden 07. We'll have just about the whole crew there with 4 representatives of VG at the event.

Stay tuned to this site for breaking coverage of Madden 07 right from the show. We'll get our first look at the game Wednesday morning so check in throughout the day.

If you have questions you want to see answered, post them as comments here on the blog.

Madden 07 - All About the Running Game

IGN has posted a pre-E3 breakdown of many of the new Madden features, including a total reworking of the run game & Superstar mode.

We'll get our own hands on coming up this Wedneday at E3 in a special session not available to the general public. We'll bring you all the details left out in the IGN breakdown. They did a pretty nice job though and things look exciting for this year's game again.

IGN Madden 07 Preview

Madden Challenge 07 Platform?

Each year, the Madden community waits with baited breath to see which platform EA Sports will use for the Madden Challenge.

So far we don't know what EA has planned but there is plenty of speculation on the VG Sports Madden Forums. My personal opinion is that it will be the Xbox 360. If you follow recent patterns, the game used in the Madden Bowl is also used for the next Madden Challenge.

If that is any indication, we might just see the tournament on next-gen next year.

Madden Rookie Card - Mario Williams (1)

Name: Mario Williams
School: NC State
Height: 6'7
Weight: 295 lbs
Pos: DE
Team: Houstan Texans

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Reggie Bush (2)

Name: Reggie Bush
School: USC
Height: 6'0
Weight: 200 lbs
Pos: RB
Team: New Orleans Saints

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Vince Young (3)

Name: Vince Young
School: Texas
Height: 6'5
Weight: 230 lbs
Pos: QB
Team: Tennessee Titans

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - D'Brickashaw Ferguson (4)

Name: D'Brickashaw Ferguson
School: Virginia
Height: 6'6
Weight: 312 lbs
Pos: DT
Team: New York Jets

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - A.J. Hawk (5)

Name: A.J. Hawk
School: Ohio State
Height: 6'1
Weight: 248 lbs
Pos: LB
Team: Green Bay Packers

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Vernon Davis (6)

Name: Vernon Davis
School: Maryland
Height: 6'4
Weight: 254 lbs
Pos: TE
Team: San Francisco 49ers

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Michael Huff (7)

Name: Michael Huff
School: Texas
Height: 6'0
Weight: 204 lbs
Pos: S
Team: Oakland Raiders

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Donte Whitner (8)

Name: Donte Whitner
School: Ohio State
Height: 5'10
Weight: 204 lbs
Pos: S
Team: Buffalo Bills

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Ernie Sims (9)

Name: Ernie Sims
School: Florida State
Height: 5'11
Weight: 231 lbs
Pos: OLB
Team: Detroit Lions

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Matt Leinart (10)

Name: Matt Leinart
School: USC
Height: 6'5
Weight: 223 lbs
Pos: QB
Team: Arizona Cardinals

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Jay Cutler (11)

Name: Jay Cutler
School: Vanderbilt
Height: 6'3
Weight: 226 lbs
Pos: QB
Team: Denver Broncos

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Holati Ngata (12)

Name: Holati Ngata
School: Oregon
Height: 6'4
Weight: 338 lbs
Pos: DT
Team: Baltimore Ravens

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Kamerion Wimbley (13)

Name: Kamerion Wimbley
School: Florida State
Height: 6'3
Weight: 248 lbs
Pos: DE
Team: Cleveland Browns

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Brokrick Bunkley (14)

Name: Brodrick Bunkley
School: Florida State
Height: 6'2
Weight: 306 lbs
Pos: DT
Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Tye Hill (15)

Name: Tye Hill
School: Clemson
Height: 5'10
Weight: 180 lbs
Pos: CB
Team: St. Louis Rams

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Jason Allen (16)

Name: Jason Allen
School: Tennessee
Height: 6'0
Weight: 209 lbs
Pos: S
Team: Miami Dolphins

Click on the photo to view the link you will need to use this card in your forum signature.

Madden Rookie Card - Chad Greenway (17)

Name: Chad Greenway
School: Vanderbilt
Height: 6'3
Weight: 226 lbs
Pos: OLB
Team: Minnesota Vikings

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Madden Rookie Card - Bobby Carpenter (18)

Name: Bobby Carpenter
School: Ohio State
Height: 6'2
Weight: 256 lbs
Pos: OLB
Team: Dallas Cowboys

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Madden Rookie Card - Antonio Cromartie (19)

Name: Antonio Cromartie
School: Florida State
Height: 6'2
Weight: 208 lbs
Pos: CB
Team: San Diego Chargers

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Madden Rookie Card - Tamba Hali (20)

Name: Tamba Hali
School: Penn State
Height: 6'3
Weight: 275 lbs
Pos: DE
Team: Kansas City Chiefs

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Madden Rookie Card - Laurence Maroney (21)

Name: Laurence Maroney
School: Minnesota
Height: 5'11
Weight: 217 lbs
Pos: RB
Team: New England Patriots

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Madden Rookie Card - Manny Lawson (22)

Name: Manny Lawson
School: NC State
Height: 6'5
Weight: 241 lbs
Pos: DE
Team: San Francisco 49ers

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Madden Rookie Card - Davin Joseph (23)

Name: Davin Joseph
School: Oklahoma
Height: 6'2
Weight: 311 lbs
Pos: Guard
Team: Tampa Bay Bucs

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Madden Rookie Card - Jonathan Joseph (24)

Name: Jonathan Josepth
School: South Carolina
Height: 5'11
Weight: 187 lbs
Pos: CB
Team: Cincinnati Bengals

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