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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><itunes:author>Joystiq</itunes:author><itunes:image href="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/Joystiq_podcast_cover.png" /><itunes:summary>The Joystiq Podcast combines insightful commentary on the week&apos;s video game news and culture with several disembodied, often spooky, voices. Voices may or may not belong to Chris Grant, Ludwig Kietzmann, Joystiq.com editors, or their guests. Spookiness not guaranteed where prohibited, please check local laws. More information available at www.joystiq.com</itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Games &amp; Hobbies"><itunes:category text="Video Games" /></itunes:category><item><title>New tech puts ESPN anchors on video game gridiron</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/new-tech-puts-espn-anchors-on-video-game-gridiron/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/new-tech-puts-espn-anchors-on-video-game-gridiron/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/new-tech-puts-espn-anchors-on-video-game-gridiron/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/simulations/" rel="tag">Simulations</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/business/media/05espn.html?ref=business"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/virtualgridiron.jpg"  alt="" /></a></div>
Don't be surprised if this Sunday's edition of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_NFL_Countdown">ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown</a> looks a bit more like a game of <em>Madden</em>.  According to a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/business/media/05espn.html?ref=business">New York Times report</a>, the Disney-owned sports network will use the "EA Sports Virtual Playbook" and a special studio and camera setup to allow "both real and virtual people move around the ESPN set to demonstrate plays and possible situations." It sure sounds a lot simpler than getting real NFL players to crash around the set, but we'll reserve judgment until we see it in action this weekend.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/business/media/05espn.html?ref=business>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/new-tech-puts-espn-anchors-on-video-game-gridiron/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1305923/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/new-tech-puts-espn-anchors-on-video-game-gridiron/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea sports</category><category>EA-sports</category><category>EaSports</category><category>ESPN</category><category>football</category><category>madden</category><category>virtual</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Orland]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:50:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Joystiq interview: Blazing Lizard on Pirates vs. Ninjas vs. Nixon</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/joystiq-interview-blazing-lizard-on-pirates-vs-ninjas-vs-nixo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/joystiq-interview-blazing-lizard-on-pirates-vs-ninjas-vs-nixo/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/joystiq-interview-blazing-lizard-on-pirates-vs-ninjas-vs-nixo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/pirates-vs-ninjas-dodgeball/696000/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/pirates-vs-ninjas-interview-main.jpg" /></a><br /><em><small>click to enl-arrr-ge</small></em>
<div align="left">If there's one thing we've learned about Christopher Stockman, Studio Director for developer Blazing Lizard, it's that he's a very good sport. Not only did he agree to speak with us on the phone (most people regret this instantly), but he bravely ran into our questions head-on. He's obviously rubbish at dodgeball.<br /></div>
</div>
<br />Read on for our interview regarding <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/pirates-vs-ninjas"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball</span></a>, deceased presidents and Xbox Live Arcade's infamous certification process.<br /><br /><strong>Alright, be honest. How sick are you of interviewers asking you to pick between pirates and ninjas?</strong><br /><br />You know what, I haven't had very many interviews lately, so I'm fresh. I'm not quite a virgin with regards to pirates and ninjas in interviews, but close enough. Born again, you could say.<br /><br /><strong>Plus, you know, it's obviously PIRATES. </strong><br /><br />Well, some would say it's obviously NINJAS, so the argument rages on.<br /><br /><strong>How much longer do you give this meme before it's gone?</strong><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/joystiq-interview-blazing-lizard-on-pirates-vs-ninjas-vs-nixo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Joystiq interview: Blazing Lizard on Pirates vs. Ninjas vs. Nixon</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/joystiq-interview-blazing-lizard-on-pirates-vs-ninjas-vs-nixo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1303306/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/joystiq-interview-blazing-lizard-on-pirates-vs-ninjas-vs-nixo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Blazing-Lizard</category><category>Chris-Stockman</category><category>DLC</category><category>Pirates-vs-Ninjas-Dodgeball</category><category>PSN</category><category>WiiWare</category><category>XBLA</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>X3F goes hooks-on with Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball multiplayer</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/x3f-goes-hooks-on-with-pirates-vs-ninja-dodgeball-multiplayer/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/x3f-goes-hooks-on-with-pirates-vs-ninja-dodgeball-multiplayer/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/x3f-goes-hooks-on-with-pirates-vs-ninja-dodgeball-multiplayer/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/hands-on-pvn-dodgeball-multiplayer/1014345/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/pvnd.title.490.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div align="left"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/this-wednesday-xbla-dodges-balls-plays-cards-and-shreds-ne/">This Wednesday</a> will see the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/pirates-vs-ninjas-dodgeball">latest round</a> in the eternal battle between pirates and ninjas arrive on Xbox Live Arcade. Although we <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/pax-2008-cosplay/1008834/full/">caught</a> them <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/pax-2008-cosplay/1007650/full/">coexisting</a> on film <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/pax-2008-cosplay/">at PAX 2008</a>, know well that these two groups are still very much rivals, ready to take desperate measures (dodgeball, naturally) to settle their scores once and for all. (Or at least until someone comes up with another PvN game concept.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com">X3F</a> had the opportunity to play the game's developer, Blazing Lizard, in a number of multiplayer modes featured in the final game (but that weren't originally; it was just going to be a one-mode affair) and survived to offer their thoughts. <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/hands-on-pvn-dodgeball-multiplayer/1014345/">Click here to get your read on</a>, whether you wear a black hood or an eye patch.<br /><br /></div>
</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/hands-on-pvn-dodgeball-multiplayer/1014345/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/x3f-goes-hooks-on-with-pirates-vs-ninja-dodgeball-multiplayer/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1302563/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/x3f-goes-hooks-on-with-pirates-vs-ninja-dodgeball-multiplayer/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>blazing-lizard</category><category>hands-on</category><category>pirates-vs-ninjas-dodgeball</category><category>x3f</category><category>xbla</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Randy Nelson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Beijing 2008 demo goes for the (Xbox Live) Gold</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/beijing-2008-demo-goes-for-the-xbox-live-gold/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/beijing-2008-demo-goes-for-the-xbox-live-gold/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/beijing-2008-demo-goes-for-the-xbox-live-gold/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://209.11.233.26/archive/2008/09/02/demo-beijing-2008.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/beijinggame.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
We've been in Olympic withdrawal in recent weeks, wishing that we could just once more see Michael Phelps win America's heart through wild gesticulation or try to deduce which one of the Croatian swimming team members is actually a dude (spoiler alert: all of them). <br /><br />Now, you can recapture the glory with a new demo for <em>Beijing 2008</em> that has just arrived on the 360, a sample of what has been called "the best Olympics game ever." Sure, that's a little like being the world's mightiest primordial dwarf, but it's also plenty endorsement for something that's completely free.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://209.11.233.26/archive/2008/09/02/demo-beijing-2008.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/beijing-2008-demo-goes-for-the-xbox-live-gold/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1301759/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/beijing-2008-demo-goes-for-the-xbox-live-gold/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>beijing-2008</category><category>demos</category><category>xbox-live</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:50:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball coming to Wii</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/pirates-vs-ninjas-dodgeball-coming-to-the-wii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/pirates-vs-ninjas-dodgeball-coming-to-the-wii/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/pirates-vs-ninjas-dodgeball-coming-to-the-wii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/piratesvsninjasdodgeballmain1.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
Just a week or so before the game lands on XBLA, we get word that <em>Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball </em>will be coming to the Wii this winter. In addition to eight-player, seven-team pirate-on-ninja action, the Wii version will include "all-new story and challenge modes, along with several customized control schemes." We don't know how much they'll be asking, but with the 800 point XBLA asking price, we're hoping for "not a heck of a lot more than $10."<br /><br />Wow, PS2, PSP and now XBLA. What <em>can't</em> you port onto that thing?<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/pirates-vs-ninjas-dodgeball-coming-to-the-wii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1297855/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/pirates-vs-ninjas-dodgeball-coming-to-the-wii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>blazing-lizard</category><category>gamecock</category><category>pirates-vs-ninjas</category><category>pirates-vs-ninjas-dodgeball</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:45:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Metareview - Mario Super Sluggers (Wii)</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/metareview-mario-super-sluggers-wii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/metareview-mario-super-sluggers-wii/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/metareview-mario-super-sluggers-wii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/metareviews/" rel="tag">Metareviews</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/mario.super.sluggers.metareview.490.jpg" /></div>
Mario steps up to bat on the Wii and ... well, doesn't strike out, but doesn't hit a home run, either. That's the consensus (minus the baseball terminology) on the latest mascot-ified sports title from Nintendo, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/mario-super-sluggers"><em>Mario Super Sluggers</em></a>. <em>Mario Strikers Charged</em> was the last, and scored (both a gaming <em>and</em> sports term) a bit better overall. We're just excited to finally see the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/wii-sports"><em>Wii Sports</em></a> baseball mini-game fleshed out into something that will (we'd hope) have us playing for more than, oh, two minutes<em>. <br /> </em>
<ul> <em> </em>
    <li><a href="http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3169577&amp;p=44">1UP</a> <strong>(B)</strong>: "<em>Super Sluggers</em> succeeds and fails as most <em>Mario</em> sports games do. Its quick, arcade-style action is easy to get into and plenty fun, coming at the expense of the nuances - and balance - you'll find in a sim."</li>
    <li><a href="http://www.gamedaily.com/games/mario-super-sluggers/wii/game-reviews/review/7049/2112/">GameDaily</a> <strong>(80/100)</strong>: "What it lacks in innovation and online play, <em>Mario Super Sluggers</em> makes up for with its robust modes, fun controls and multiplayer options. If you're a fan of either the characters or the sport, you owe it to yourself to round these bases."</li>
    <li><a href="http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/700CB1D4-853F-460C-A71B-CC95A77D8D9F.htm">Game Informer</a> <strong>(55/100)</strong>: "Multiplayer is amusing in that hanging out with your friends is fun anyway, but the single-player content is truly terrible. A series of boring one-off challenges punctuated by simplistic exploration and the occasional full game makes up Mario's quest to foil Bowser Jr. via baseball. Yes, it's as insipid as it sounds."</li>
    <li><a href="http://wii.ign.com/articles/902/902881p1.html">IGN</a> <strong>(74/100)</strong>: "We wouldn't go as far as to say this is Nintendo-made shovelware, but there's very little that has changed in the three years between <em>Mario Superstar Baseball</em> on GCN, and <em>Mario Super Sluggers</em> on Wii.</li>
</ul><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/metareview-mario-super-sluggers-wii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1297413/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/metareview-mario-super-sluggers-wii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>mario-super-sluggers</category><category>metareview</category><category>nintendo</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Randy Nelson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Joystiq X08 interview: NHL 09 producer Andy Agostini</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/joystiq-x08-interview-nhl-09-producer-andy-agostini/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/joystiq-x08-interview-nhl-09-producer-andy-agostini/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/joystiq-x08-interview-nhl-09-producer-andy-agostini/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a></p><div align="center"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="4" height="273" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/nhl09interview222.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
Who says a sports franchise can't reinvent itself? For <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/EA-Sports/">EA Sports</a>, the NHL game franchise has done just that over the last three versions. After introducing the analog control mechanic in <em>NHL 07</em> along with the AHL teams and Create-a-Play feature in <em>NHL 08</em>, it would appear the franchise has gone as far as it can. Well, sports fans, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/NHL09/">NHL 09</a> attempts to break the mold once again with its <em>Be a Pro </em>mode. The mode is instantly recognizable to fans of <em>FIFA 08</em> but different because it's spread across seasons in <em>NHL 09</em>, rather than single games.<br /><br />In an interview with Joystiq at Microsoft's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/X08/">X08</a> in Toronto, <em>NHL 09</em> producer Andy Agostini discussds the <em>Be a Pro</em> mode, annual creativity and the hardships of updating rosters after a title ships.<br /><br /><object width="290" height="24" data="http://www.weblogsinc.com/media/audio_player.swf" x-shockwave-flash="" application="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.weblogsinc.com/media/audio_player.swf" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="soundFile=http://podcasts.aolcdn.com/joystiq/files/x08-nhl09interview.mp3" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="menu" value="false" /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object> <br /><br />[<a href="http://podcasts.aolcdn.com/joystiq/files/x08-nhl09interview.mp3">MP3</a>] Download this interview in MP3 format<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/joystiq-x08-interview-nhl-09-producer-andy-agostini/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1291787/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/joystiq-x08-interview-nhl-09-producer-andy-agostini/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea-sports</category><category>nhl-09</category><category>x08</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Xav de Matos]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>See Tiger Woods actually make the Jesus Shot</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/see-tiger-woods-actually-make-the-jesus-shot/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/see-tiger-woods-actually-make-the-jesus-shot/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/see-tiger-woods-actually-make-the-jesus-shot/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a></p><center><object width="490" height="404"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FZ1st1Vw2kY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FZ1st1Vw2kY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="490" height="404"></embed></object></center>There are really only two ways of handling a glitch. Fix it in a patch or convince everyone who experienced it that it never happened in the first place. EA, as you can see in the above video, has provided the most impressive example of that second method we've ever seen.<br /><br />After seeing one user's "Jesus Shot" video from <em>Tiger Woods 08</em>, (you'll find it just after the break), wherein a glitched Tiger walks over a pond to make a shot, EA answered back with its own video that Levinator25's supposed bug was, in fact, a mind-blowing feature. Bravo, EA. Bravo.<br /><br />[Thanks, Conrad]<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/see-tiger-woods-actually-make-the-jesus-shot/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>See Tiger Woods actually make the Jesus Shot</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ1st1Vw2kY>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/see-tiger-woods-actually-make-the-jesus-shot/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1290935/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/see-tiger-woods-actually-make-the-jesus-shot/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>ea-sports</category><category>tiger-woods-08</category><category>tiger-woods-09</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Kratos wields 'clubs of chaos' in Hot Shots Golf tomorrow</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/kratos-wields-clubs-of-chaos-in-hot-shots-golf-tomorrow/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/kratos-wields-clubs-of-chaos-in-hot-shots-golf-tomorrow/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/kratos-wields-clubs-of-chaos-in-hot-shots-golf-tomorrow/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/online/" rel="tag">Online</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/08/20/kratos-to-swing-the-clubs-of-chaos-in-hot-shots-golf/"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="275" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/kratosgolfmain.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
The <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/08/20/kratos-to-swing-the-clubs-of-chaos-in-hot-shots-golf/">PlayStation Blog</a> announced today that the God of War himself will be available tomorrow as a downloadable character for PS3's <em>Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds</em>. Kratos, sporting the "clubs of chaos," is taking some time off from battling the gods of Olympus to try and sink a couple putts.<br /><br />The Kratos DLC will cost $2, but this isn't just a fancy new character model for the game. We give Sony props for bringing in T.C. Carson, the voice of Kratos, to record some new lines for the Ghost of Sparta to use in the game. Don't expect any of Kratos's trademark rage, though, as the game will continue to be rated "E."<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/08/20/kratos-to-swing-the-clubs-of-chaos-in-hot-shots-golf/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/kratos-wields-clubs-of-chaos-in-hot-shots-golf-tomorrow/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1290510/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/kratos-wields-clubs-of-chaos-in-hot-shots-golf-tomorrow/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>dlc</category><category>god-of-war</category><category>hot-shots-golf</category><category>kratos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>GC 2008: EA to serve up new Wii tennis franchise</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1188847&amp;highlight="><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/eatennis.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
With all the recent announcements and pick-ups, you'd think <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/EA/">EA</a> would be bursting at the seams with upcoming titles, but it's just crammed one more under its belt: A new tennis franchise that will debut on Wii (though it will later come to other platforms) and take advantage of the Wii MotionPlus accessory.<br /><br />Besides the control <strike>gimmick</strike> innovation, its other claim to fame is being the only video game that includes the All England Lawn Tennis Club, where Wimbledon is played. So, with tennis added to the list, what's left for EA Sports? Curling? Cup stacking?<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1188847&amp;highlight=>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1289698/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/ea-to-serve-up-new-wii-tennis-franchise/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>leipzig-08</category><category>tennis</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>FIFA trade jinxes another EA Sports cover</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://sports.ign.com/articles/900/900073p1.html"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="366" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/fifa09wronguniform.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
<em>FIFA 09</em> cover athlete Maurice Edu has been traded to another team, meaning EA Sports will, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/">yet again</a>, have to change the box art on one of its games. Edu, who would have been featured on the cover wearing his Toronto FC jersey, will now wear the uniform of the US Men's National Team -- not Scotland's Glasgow Rangers, which is the team he'll actually play on. EA Sports tells <a href="http://sports.ign.com/articles/900/900073p1.html">IGN</a> that the cover of the game will ship with the correct art -- no <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/">"print out" version</a> necessary.<br /><br />This would be the second time in a month that EA Sports had to dump extra resources into changing a cover due to an athlete changing teams. Earlier this month the publisher had to <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/">fix the ar</a>t for perennial high-profile American football title <em>Madden 09</em> when cheesehead favorite Brett Favre <em>unretired</em> and left for <strike>New York</strike> New Jersey.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://sports.ign.com/articles/900/900073p1.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1288965/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/fifa-trade-jinxes-another-ea-sports-cover/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea-sports</category><category>edu</category><category>fifa-09</category><category>maurice-edu</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:58:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Mega Man bombs Virtual Console, golf too</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/retro/" rel="tag">Retro</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><center> <object width="490" height="397"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tVk7f2-cek8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tVk7f2-cek8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="490" height="397"></embed></object> </center> <br />The <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/virtual-console">Virtual Console</a> just got its weekly nostalgia injection, offering fans of all colors -- but mostly blue and green -- something else to download and play as we wonder where the weekend went and why exactly there is a receipt for a Magnet Beam on the kitchen table.<br />
<ul>
    <li><em>Mega Man</em> (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): With the Blue Bomber set to <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/mega-man-9">don pixelated pajamas next month</a>, his freshman adventure marks this week's most noteworthy addition to the Wii's window into the past. Assuming you haven't bought the original <em>Mega Man</em> in one of Capcom's many other compilations, Guts Man and company are waiting ever so patiently for you to drop by. </li>
    <li><em>Neo Turf Masters</em> (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): This is 133 megs of hot golf action right here, straight from 1996 to your living room. You don't have even to admit to your friends that you like video game golf. We'll keep your dirty little secret.</li>
</ul><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=16087>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1287418/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/mega-man-bombs-virtual-console-golf-too/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>capcom</category><category>golf</category><category>mega-man</category><category>megaman</category><category>neo-geo</category><category>neo-turf-masters</category><category>neogeo</category><category>neoturfmasters</category><category>nintendo</category><category>virtual-console</category><category>virtualconsole</category><category>virtualconsolemonday</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:15:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>EA Sports' Moore sets sights on eclipsing Nike brand</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/311/MCV-LEGENDS-Peter-Moore"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/ea-sports-eclipse-490.jpg"  alt="" /></a></div>
Peter Moore is on a mission. In an interview with <a href="http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/311/MCV-LEGENDS-Peter-Moore">MCV</a>, the EA Sports president is looking to poise his company as "the leading sports brand in the world." That's a rather ambitious claim, given the brand dominance of sports industry companies such as ESPN, Nike and his former employer Reebok.<br /><br />Said Moore, "We need to globalize our business, provide even more opportunities for our customers to interact with us online, knock down the barriers to those who find the learning curve of our games too steep, and discover new areas in sports - and health and wellness&ensp;- in which our brand can truly make a difference." In other words, Moore is looking to expand the demographic and potential audience of EA Sports titles to every human in existence. May we suggest <em>Michael Phelps Pro S-wii-ming 2009 </em>for the Nintendo Wii?<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/311/MCV-LEGENDS-Peter-Moore>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1285232/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/ea-sports-moore-sets-sights-on-eclipsing-nike-brand/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>ea-sports</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>moore</category><category>nike</category><category>peter-moore</category><category>reebok</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Tiger Woods 09, SBK08 demos hit Xbox Live</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/tigerwoodsdemo.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
So, we've got good news, and we've got potentially bad news. We're going to mix it up and give you the bad news first: There's a demo for <em>SBK08</em> on Xbox Live right now, but if you live in Asia or North America, <em>you can't play it</em>. Maybe it's not that big a deal, but what if we told you that SBK stood ... for <em>super</em>bike? We thought regular bikes were cool, but these bikes ... wow, they're just so far beyond that. We feel bad for anyone (ourselves included) who's stuck with a last-gen non-super-bike. You've won this round, Europe.<br /><br />But, hey, dry those tears, rest of the world, because today you can also download a demo for <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Tiger-Woods-09/">Tiger Woods 09</a>. </em>Experience the thrill of Joystiq editor Ludwig Kietzmann's day-to-day life as you play three holes at the Gary Player Country Club in South Africa. Hey, just because <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjWENNe29qc">Little Steven avoids it</a> doesn't mean you can't play Sun City!<br /><br />(P.S. We're assuming that at least the Tiger Woods demo will show up on PSN today. We'll let you know when we see an update.)<br /><br /><a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/08/14/content-sbk08-demo.aspx">Source</a> -- SBK08 Demo<br /><a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/08/14/demo-tiger-woods-pga-tour-09-demo.aspx">Source</a> -- Tiger Woods 09 Demo<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1284419/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/tiger-woods-09-sbk08-demos-hit-xbox-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>demos</category><category>superbike</category><category>tiger-woods-09</category><category>xbox-live</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:45:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Olympic gold medalist trained with Wii</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/beijing2008/aquatics/news/20080216-OHT1T00152.htm"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/marioswims.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
It may come as a surprise, but there are a few Olympic gold medals that Michael Phelps forgot to nab, magpie-like, for the gold medal throne we imagine he's begun constructing. One of those, the gold for the men's 100m breaststroke, was won by Japan's Kosuke Kitajima. How did he best longtime rival Brendan Hansen? Why, <em>Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games</em>, of course.<br /><br />"See, Mario does the breaststroke," he recently told Yomiuri Sports. "And thus, it's perfect mental training for envisioning the actual Olympic hall."<br /><br />... Let's, umm ... let's try to keep this from Jack Thompson, OK?<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://kotaku.com/5035862/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-nintendo-wii">Kotaku</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/beijing2008/aquatics/news/20080216-OHT1T00152.htm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282134/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>mario</category><category>mario-and-sonic</category><category>mario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-games</category><category>olympics</category><category>sega</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Season Update: What's new in Madden 09</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/microsoft-xbox/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/x3f-season-update-madden-nfl-09/972512/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/madden-update-2-490.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
The biggest question we hear every single year with the <em>Madden </em>franchise (and in fact, most EA Sports titles) is, "How is this game any different than last year's?" Snarky responses about the roster change aside (and even that gets <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/">fumbled sometimes</a>), the gridiron gang at our sister site X3F have assembled the Season Update, calling out the differences (both good and bad) between <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/madden-09">Madden 09</a> </em>and its immediate predecessor. For those still on the fence about picking up a copy, <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/x3f-season-update-madden-nfl-09/972512/ ">click here for the play-by-play</a>.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/x3f-season-update-madden-nfl-09/972512/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282461/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/season-update-how-madden-09-differs-from-last-years-model/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>ea-sports</category><category>madden</category><category>madden-08</category><category>madden-09</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:58:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>The '$10,000' Madden PSP Entertainment Pack</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=216710&amp;amp;catOid=-16491&amp;amp;c=1&amp;linkid=j13459594k31063&amp;affiliateid=k31063&amp;mid=&amp;om_keycode=777592"><img hspace="0" border="0" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/madden-psp-10000.jpg" alt="madden psp" /></a></div>
In order to offset the cost of <strike>printing</strike> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/">posting</a> an alternative cover for (most versions of) <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/madden-09"><em>Madden 09</em></a>, it looks like EA had to raise the price of the new Madden NFL 09 PSP Entertainment Pack to the tune of: $10,000! Graciously, Circuit City has elected to eat a full $9,800 of that cost, leaving pre-orderers with a much more manageable price tag. [Note: Circuit City has since removed the pricing error.]<br /><br />Retailer bloopers aside, the Madden Entertainment Pack (MSRP $200) includes: a very blue PSP, 1GB Memory Stick, <em>Madden 09</em> (game), download code for <em>Beats</em> ("game"), and -- <em>what's this?</em> -- a movie ... on UMD (they're collector's items you know).<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/08/12/save-9800-on-the-madden-psp-bundle/">PSP Fanboy</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=216710&amp;catOid=-16491&amp;c=1&amp;linkid=j13459594k31063&amp;affiliateid=k31063&amp;mid=&amp;om_keycode=777592>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282293/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/the-10-000-madden-psp-entertainment-pack/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>bundle</category><category>entertainment-pack</category><category>madden</category><category>madden-09</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Ransom-Wiley]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:57:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Metareview - Madden NFL 09 (Xbox 360, PS3)</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/metareviews/" rel="tag">Metareviews</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/maddenmeta.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
It's times like this we're happy there's a Metareview. Because, honestly, if we had to say something intelligent and clever about football, it's probably going to be related to <em>The Waterboy</em> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_Superpro">Superpro</a>. We're sports dumb, to put it more directly. Luckily, the internet is here to put the new <em>Madden</em> through its paces.<br />
<ul>
    <li><a href="http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3169294&amp;p=4">1UP</a> <strong>(A)</strong>: "<em>Madden</em>'s the sports-gaming superpower, though, so it's hard not to nitpick some of this stuff. But even with the listed complaints, this is a football game that one-ups the stakes between the sidelines, and it's so visually impressive that it's likely to stick in your system all season long -- even on Saturdays."</li>
    <li><a href="http://www.gamedaily.com/games/madden-nfl-09/xbox-360/game-reviews/review/7129/2099/">GameDaily</a> <strong>(80/100)</strong>: "Despite all the this cool stuff, Madden commits some penalties. The game supposedly has more dynamic camera angles, but you'll often see the same one repeat up to ten times per game. As for the computer, it often makes strange decisions, such as running out the clock when it needs a score or wandering out of bounds for no reason."</li>
    <li><a href="http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/898/898052p1.html">IGN</a> <strong>(88/100):</strong> "It may not look all that different to the casual observer, but football aficionados and Madden veterans alike will be able to appreciate the small enhancements."</li>
</ul><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282100/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/metareview-madden-09-360-ps3/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ea</category><category>ea-sports</category><category>madden</category><category>madden-09</category><category>Madden-NFL-09</category><category>metareview</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:15:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Print me: New Madden NFL 09 cover (except Xbox, Wii, and DS ...)</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/microsoft-xbox/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/madden-nfl-09-replacement-covers/972228/full/"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="330" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/madden-09-_x360-490.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><small><em>click to enlarge</em></small></div>
<br />Huh, looks like EA doesn't have everyone ... covered. Less than a week after <em>Madden 09's</em> cover athlete Brett Favre jumped ship for the Jets (single-handedly thrashing millions in Madden marketing materials) EA has come through with <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/favre-to-remain-a-packer-on-madden-cover-ea-has-a-plan/">its "plan"</a>: you can now download a replacement cover (<a href="http://www.easports.com/read/20080811-newmaddencovers.xml">in handy PDF format</a>) for your copy of <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Madden-NFL-09/">Madden NFL 09</a></em> featuring Favre donning his new team's colors ...<br /><br />... that is, if you happened to purchase either the Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, or PS2 release. Those of you that bought the Wii or DS versions, sorry. And for the four of you that bought the Xbox version ... you should know better. <br /><br />Also released today: a "new online roster download" for Xbox 360, Xbox, PS3, PS2 and Wii which "features Favre as the starting quarterback on the New York Jets." Rocking something a little more portable, are we? EA advises you hit up Franchise Mode, transfer "NFL Great" Favre to the free agent roster pool, and then scoop him up "on any of the 32 NFL teams for the 2008 season." <br /><br />[<strong>Update</strong>: If you don't want to blow all of your green ink printing out the new cover, stop by either Sam's Club or Wal-Mart <a href="http://checkoutblog.com/entries/2008/8/12/j_e_t_s__jets__jets__jets__jets.aspx">to pick one up in-store</a>. It's unclear if you'll need to purchase the game there as well but our money's on "probably."]<br />%Gallery-29488%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.easports.com/read/20080811-newmaddencovers.xml>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1282321/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/print-me-new-madden-nfl-09-cover-except-xbox-wii-and-ds/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>BreakingNews</category><category>Brett-Favre</category><category>EA</category><category>EA-Sports</category><category>Madden-09</category><category>Madden-NFL-09</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Christopher Grant]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:59:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Joystiq goes to Maddenpalooza</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/features/" rel="tag">Features</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a></p><div align="center"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/maddenmain2.jpg" /><br /></div>
The Rose Bowl was <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971053/full/">Madden-ified</a> yesterday to make way for the 20th anniversary of Madden games, as well as the new <em>Madden NFL 09</em> game that went on sale at midnight last night... or 9 PM Pacific if you were lucky enough to be in the stadium in Pasadena. The upper deck was wrapped in gigantic Madden sail cloths promoting the game and featuring poster boy Brett Favre in his Packers gear. The playing turf featured autograph sessions with <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971091/full/">NFL legends</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971086/full/">skill games</a>, free Pepsi schwag (which we forgot to photograph, whoops), a Slurpee booth complete with <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971080/full/">Hooters-esque booth babes</a>, a <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971083/full/">mini Wal-Mart store</a>, and a giant gaming tent full of tons of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/963650/full/">Xbox 360s</a>, and a scant few <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/963648/full/">Wiis</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/963654/full/">PS3s</a>, and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971076/full/">PSPs</a>.<br /><br />Read on, dear gamer, to discover the rest, including a <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/maddenpalooza/971078/full/">confab between rapper Busta Rhymes and EA's Peter Moore</a>. Plus you can click on the gallery below for loads of photos.<br />%Gallery-29734%<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Joystiq goes to Maddenpalooza</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1281419/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/joystiq-goes-to-maddenpalooza/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Busta-Rhymes</category><category>EA</category><category>EA-Sports</category><category>Football</category><category>Madden</category><category>Madden-09</category><category>Madden-NFL-09</category><category>Maddenpalooza</category><category>NFL</category><category>Peter-Moore</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Kelly]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST</dc:date></item></channel></rss>