Latest Peter Moore blog confirms no Madden 09 PC

by pastapadre
Posted April 2nd, 2008 at 6:40 am

Peter Moore blog

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

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

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

It is understandable that the very low sales numbers have not justified producing PC titles for years now and it has actually been surprising that EA Sports has continued to produce PC versions of many of their games. Hopefully though EA goes at the PC market in a different way with new titles that cater to that small hardcore group. What may happen is you’ll see an NFL game down the line but using a different model such as what EA is doing with Battlefield Heroes. That game will be free to download and play and will be supported by advertisements and microtransactions.

Tags:

BMadison

I have heard over and over again that Piracy is the reasoning behind this .For all you people who think that piracy is exclusive to PC, you should think again. Here is an example.

http://thepiratebay.org/search/madden%2009/0/99/0

Bite Me EA!! As someone who purchased the latest Madden on PC EVERY YEAR, I am truly disappointed. This trend is absolutely disturbing. You could have EASILY required internet activation, as microsoft does, and released a version that is harder to rip than any of the console versions. Speaking as someone who only owns a WII for my children, I have no other option to play the game. I have a very long profile online of years of playing with other PC users and now my options are consoles?!?!? No mods, no roster updates, no playing with my fantasy team against other managers in our league prior to the weekend games? This may not be important to them, but it is to me. Go to any street corner in any major city and you can find someone who can mod your xbox, ps3, wii, or any other system and dump 500 gigs worth of games on it for 70 bucks and you are going to site piracy as your reason?!?!? I am seeing red. The worst part about this is that the way EA has it setup, it is virtually impossible to play online without going through EAs service. How much you wanna bet they're going to cut that off too. I am litterally sick to my stomach. Us loyal PC guys will continue to update the 08 rosters and it will still be a good game, but this is just unspeakable what they have done. I want to vomit!!

realjd

no madden on pc. i am a pc gamer
PC GAMES STARTED IT ALL
AND NOW NO MADDEN

Ebo43

Mr Moore!!,you really know how to destroy me and my pc brothers hope of playing madden 09.I just bought a 23 inch monitor and upgrade my video card waiting on to play madden09 and then you pull the plug on us,its just not fair. Think about this,if it wasnt for PCs how in the world you can make any game and then you clowns don't want to make the game for the PC, LOL get real.

bigblitz6

I HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS WITH XBOX & PLAYSTATION AND THEY WERE ALL BLOW AWAY WITH THE GRAPHICS ON MY PC WHEN PLAYING MADDEN. AND ANOTHER THING WHO USES THE MOUSE AND KEY BOARD TO PLAY MADDEN I BOUGHT A JOYSTICK FOR $20 AT BEST BUY AND ITS THE SAME THING AS THE PLAYSTATION TO A T

bigblitz6

[quote comment="16770"]OK, are you crazy? So theres a Madden 08 espanol version, but no madden 09 for PC? Madden is a legendary series -- how can you can cancel it? Now PC users have no football games to play. Come on, seriously...you gotta make the game for PC. I dont know about anyone else, but the ps3 version of madden is a complete junk to me. Please reconsider, and make Madden 09 for PC. How much $$$$ does it cost to slap the old madden 08 engine on, make roster changes, and a few other minor changes, and sell it for $30. That's what has been happening the past few years, same game, minor changes. And yet I still purchase them...and will do the same with 09[/quote]
I AGREE WITH YOU ITS BAD ENOUGH THERS NO MLB GAME FOR PC NOW NO FOOTBALL EITHER ! SAD!

bigblitz6

ive bought madden for my pc for the last 6 or 7 years and ive always really injoyed it. I went and bought a new gaming pc just for playing madden and cod4 and i was really looking forward to 2009 so im very disapointed, big time.you peaple insalt the pc so much, I DONT WANT TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON A CONSOLE JUST TO SEE THE LATEST AND GREATEST COME OUT EVERY CHRISTMAS , I CAN ALWAYS UPGRADE MY PC TO RUN FASTER OR HAVE BETTER GRAGHICS IVE DONE IT IN THE PAST TO PLAY MADDEN AND IVE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY. this is very disapointing.

Greg

Madden on the PC is the only way to play football the graphics are better and the gameplay was more true to the game than the Consoles .. my 4yr. old stop playing madden on the 360 and would only play it on his computer ...as a matter of fact I now have no use for the 360 since he or I won't play it and I won't be buyin Madden 09 for the console ..

B

OK, are you crazy? So theres a Madden 08 espanol version, but no madden 09 for PC? Madden is a legendary series -- how can you can cancel it? Now PC users have no football games to play. Come on, seriously...you gotta make the game for PC. I dont know about anyone else, but the ps3 version of madden is a complete junk to me. Please reconsider, and make Madden 09 for PC. How much $$$$ does it cost to slap the old madden 08 engine on, make roster changes, and a few other minor changes, and sell it for $30. That's what has been happening the past few years, same game, minor changes. And yet I still purchase them...and will do the same with 09

Shopmaster

I feel really bad for the PC guys, those are some of the most hard-core football gaming fans you'll ever meet. That community is so tight with distributing mods that fix some of the bugs that ships with the game, custom uniforms, stadiums, etc... and now nothing. I guess they could still use 08 and just update the rosters but sill no 09 is just terrible.

Details

[quote comment="16704"]If there aren't enough sales to justify the time that goes into making it why bother.[/quote]

EA controls the NFL license. That's why they should bother. No EA, no NFL. That's the sad truth.

This is one of the many problems with exclusivity. I hope the NFL is aware that the entire PC market is going to be deprived of its product, all because EA couldn't bother.

bhurst99

[quote comment="16620"]As easy as it is to jump on EA, or any publisher, I really think the finger needs to be pointed at the various Leagues who negotiated the exclusivity deals. THEY could have required PC releases as part of any Keys to The Kingdom deal, ensuring that PC users also get access ... if that was important to them. Instead they cash the checks and move along

I will say that EA, by releasing clearly half baked ports to the PC, had a hand in creating a self fulfilling prophecy. The product wasn't great, so it didn't sell well, so they can point to the numbers and say they can't justify making it

Feel bad for my PC gaming brethern ...[/quote]

PC Madden 07 and 08 were not half baked ports. Both played better on the PC than on the next gen systems. The turnover issues didn't plague the 08 version. I think Madden 07 on the PC is probably the best football game on the market.

However, I certainly understand Moore's position. If there aren't enough sales to justify the time that goes into making it why bother. Part of the problem may be that the game was downloaded illegally more than it was purchased at retail.

Groundhog

It's like EA enjoy making me angry. The PC version of Madden is by far the best in terms of the gameplay on the field and the ability to customize. Not to mention it's the only version of Madden that has a decent draft that at least appears to be somewhat randomly generated, as opposed to next-gen where we get no MLBs etc.

As others have said, the fact that there is no possibility for ANY new PC football games thanks to the exclusive license makes this damn near a crime.

hubcapp

the pc community is bigger than a lot of people think, trust me. for all of the console players that have ever played franchise mode ..you aint seen nothin til you played in an online pc league. nuff said

Xtremedunkz

If they ever make it so Head Coach has 100% compatibility with Madden for franchise mode, it would eb the best football expereience ever created.

Timothy Daley

[quote comment="16620"]As easy as it is to jump on EA, or any publisher, I really think the finger needs to be pointed at the various Leagues who negotiated the exclusivity deals. THEY could have required PC releases as part of any Keys to The Kingdom deal, ensuring that PC users also get access ... if that was important to them. Instead they cash the checks and move along

I will say that EA, by releasing clearly half baked ports to the PC, had a hand in creating a self fulfilling prophecy. The product wasn't great, so it didn't sell well, so they can point to the numbers and say they can't justify making it

Feel bad for my PC gaming brethern ...[/quote]

I am both a High End PC gamer and a Staunch Console Supporter(PS3). I have always been of the belief that sports games don't belong on the PC. I for one are glad that EA is narrowing the platforms covered. I only hope it will have a positive effect on the consoles end product quality b/c we all know that Madden next gen is a far cry from where it should be.

pastapadre

[quote comment="16638"]Pasta do you think there is a chance for even more connectivity between head coach and madden other than the play editor?[/quote]

I think its being hinted at somewhat but I'm not sure if it means there will be more things revealed for this year or if that is just their plan for the future.

Russ

[quote comment="16637"]Ultimately, the problem lies with the NFL. The exclusivity deal punishes the consumer. It's a bad decision, and maybe one day the NFL will see beyond the dollars and understand that.[/quote]

I agree that the NFL is to blame. But, I doubt that the NFL will ever see past the money. On the outside looking in, I bet they could care less about the quality of the game as long as it moves units. This is evidenced after the NFL signs an extension with EA in the face of the debacle we call Madden 08.

I mean, could you imagine what NFL2K9 would of been like had there never been a license signed in the first place? It would've been the same scenario as the NBA videogame competition with 2K clearly being the victor.

RobsRaiders

I always thought NFL Headcoach would be great on the PC...

Xtremedunkz

Pasta do you think there is a chance for even more connectivity between head coach and madden other than the play editor?

Details

PC gamers are shut out of playing an NFL game because of greed and laziness.

I have to at least give credit to Peter Moore for allowing comments on his blog. EA is getting intelligently and thoroughly ripped apart (yet again) for this decision.

Ultimately, the problem lies with the NFL. The exclusivity deal punishes the consumer. It's a bad decision, and maybe one day the NFL will see beyond the dollars and understand that.

Mikw

[quote comment="16634"]I would rather see EA release a statistical-based sports sim on the PC as that is the type of game that fits the PC.

I remember the old school sports stat-based sims (Statis Pro Baseball by Avalon Hill, Three-in-One Football by Lance Haffner and NBA: The Pro Game, also by Lance Haffner) on my Commodore 64. Those were the best sports games, in my opinion.

EA could do something to bring back that old school feeling. Play a game of football in 15 - 20 minutes and have the stats, etc, to go with it.....

Earl Weaver Baseball was a great example. I wish someone would re-make a Statis-Pro Baseball-type game with real teams.....[/quote]

They had a deal a few years back to included Front Office Football with madden and then dropped FOF right before shipping. If you want stats game don't use EA go to FOF

nyr2k2

[quote comment="16634"]I would rather see EA release a statistical-based sports sim on the PC as that is the type of game that fits the PC.

I remember the old school sports stat-based sims (Statis Pro Baseball by Avalon Hill, Three-in-One Football by Lance Haffner and NBA: The Pro Game, also by Lance Haffner) on my Commodore 64. Those were the best sports games, in my opinion.

EA could do something to bring back that old school feeling. Play a game of football in 15 - 20 minutes and have the stats, etc, to go with it.....

Earl Weaver Baseball was a great example. I wish someone would re-make a Statis-Pro Baseball-type game with real teams.....[/quote]

NHL Eastside Hockey Manager is sick, and a must play if you're a big sports-management fan.

Eski

I would rather see EA release a statistical-based sports sim on the PC as that is the type of game that fits the PC.

I remember the old school sports stat-based sims (Statis Pro Baseball by Avalon Hill, Three-in-One Football by Lance Haffner and NBA: The Pro Game, also by Lance Haffner) on my Commodore 64. Those were the best sports games, in my opinion.

EA could do something to bring back that old school feeling. Play a game of football in 15 - 20 minutes and have the stats, etc, to go with it.....

Earl Weaver Baseball was a great example. I wish someone would re-make a Statis-Pro Baseball-type game with real teams.....

Fort

This sucks. With the lack of editing features in the 360 game the past few years (no position changes?!?!?! Are you kidding me? Along with no directly editable draft classes), I've bought both 360 and PC each year.

Beau

[quote comment="16622"]I haven't ever seen the appeal in playing Sports games on the PC. I'd rather play them on my couch and on a big TV, not my monitor. Probably if you own a massive gaming PC, you can probably afford a PS3 or 360.

Sucks for PC only guys, but you were getting worse versions of Madden than the console guys anyway.[/quote]

agree completely

also, i know this will sound greedy, but for as little market as there is in PC gaming for sports titles like this anymore, the time they would have o spend on the PC title could be better used elsewhere for Next-Gen (or current-gen now) consoles

Eric

I haven't ever seen the appeal in playing Sports games on the PC. I'd rather play them on my couch and on a big TV, not my monitor. Probably if you own a massive gaming PC, you can probably afford a PS3 or 360.

Sucks for PC only guys, but you were getting worse versions of Madden than the console guys anyway.

CrimsonVoodoo

As easy as it is to jump on EA, or any publisher, I really think the finger needs to be pointed at the various Leagues who negotiated the exclusivity deals. THEY could have required PC releases as part of any Keys to The Kingdom deal, ensuring that PC users also get access ... if that was important to them. Instead they cash the checks and move along

I will say that EA, by releasing clearly half baked ports to the PC, had a hand in creating a self fulfilling prophecy. The product wasn't great, so it didn't sell well, so they can point to the numbers and say they can't justify making it

Feel bad for my PC gaming brethern ...

blog comments powered by Disqus