Madden ‘08 sucks on Playstation 3, delayed on Mac
By Danny Mendez
EA unleashed Madden ‘08 on August 14, 2007; however, the game apparently sucks on the Playstation 3 as opposed to the Xbox 360, and despite being released on almost every platform imaginable, EA backed down on its promise to simultaneously deliver a Mac version along with other versions of its games.
The problem with playing Madden ‘08 on the PS3 stems from developers’ inexperience with the platform. According to EA, developers have been working with the Xbox 360 hardware for about 3.5 years and non-Sony devs have only had a little over a year to get their hands dirty with the Playstation 3. The end result provides for a 60 fps experience on the 360 and a 30 fps experience on the PS3.
What does playing at 30 fps as opposed to 60 fps mean to you? USA Today says it means occasional stuttering action especially on injuries, penalties, and turnovers. There’s also a half second delay between pressing the hike button and receiving the ball in your hands, and Gameplay looks smoother especially on close-ups.
IGN and Gametrailers.com have posted side by side comparison videos of the game on the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. You can check out IGN’s video here and Gametrailer’s video here. Keep in mind the video frame rate is locked at whatever YouTube specifies, so any significant issues caused by only framerate differences shouldn’t be noticeable.
While playing Madden ‘08 on the PS3 should be a great experience, if you’re looking for absolutely the best experience and you have a 360 lying around, buy the 360 version. But if you happen to only have a PS3, I wouldn’t sweat buying a 360 just for this game. If you choose not buy the PS3 version, EA fully understands.
EA also promised to simultaneously release Mac versions of its games with the release of other versions. Unfortunately, as you may have noticed in stores, there is no Mac version as of yet. An EA rep told Appleinsider the game’s Mac release has been pushed back to September or even October.
If you are playing Madden ‘08 on the PS3, let us know via the comment section about your experience, and if you’ve played both versions, have you even noticed the difference?
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Tips N4G
August 16th, 2007
I love Madden on PS3 got it as soon as our store opened on tuesday - rushed home after work and started playing it. I do notice the graphics are not as nice as they could be - sort of washed out like they were on rainbow six vegas but overall it is a blast. If you like Madden and have a PS3 score it. If you can hold out till next year ,it might be the call if you can handle it since you know which one will blow doors next year! PS3 baby. Microsoft better milk this one since for all its got. THey are the Sega Genisis of this generation good- but not the best.
August 16th, 2007
PORTS SUCK lets see some real development for all systems!
August 16th, 2007
i own both. 360 is noticeably better.
August 16th, 2007
ive played both and i only notices a slight difference when you pointed it out
and it seems like it is only like that on line
August 16th, 2007
I have purchased all but like three maddens since 96. I have the PS3 version and trust…….IT SUCKS. Its almost like you’re playing on the old sega genisis version but with better graphics. Personally i think EA is trying to hard, and making the “Game” a little too complicated. They have already killed NBA live, is Madden next….how many icons can we fit on one screen? how many buttons must we push to activate all of the functions? and seriously……i will sacrifice the great “replays, and inactive shots” for smoother game play
August 16th, 2007
The game is TRASH! period it is clearly the worst madden ever the got damm game fumbles to much and to many turnovers ea just need to give up please bring madden back on the game!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2007
To the writer on this artical;
Your a freak’in xbox fanboy! so just STFU!
August 17th, 2007
I can’t say I’ve played Madden, and I might not.
Many of the best ratings came for the Wii version of Madden, and they’re going to release a patch for it. If you annouce your game isn’t good enough and requires a patch before I buy it, I’m not getting it.
However, I don’t see the big deal about 30 fps in the PS3 version. No one complained about it before this year, and now that we can get 60 fps, 30 is obsolete? 60 fps is 1 frame every 0.017 seconds. 30 fps is 1 frame every 0.033 seconds.
0.016 seconds isn’t going to make your gaming experiance any worse. Something tells me there are much bigger problems with the PS3 version than just the frame rate. If it’s really as bad as some people are saying, we’re not talking about some minor detail; we’re talking about problems that didn’t exist when 30 fps was standard.
August 17th, 2007
[…] release other games on Mac at the same time as PC, EA fell through with it's word when it released Madden '08 on everything but the Mac. The company still plans to eventually release the game, with a release window sometime in […]
August 18th, 2007
I have the PS3 version of Madden, and it doesn’t suck. I don’t notice any slowdown. The animation may not be as fluent as the 360 version, but since I have never played the 360 version I don’t notice it. But if you think this game sucks on the PS3 avoid it on the 360 as well.
August 18th, 2007
1
August 18th, 2007
I’ve been buying Madden for 17 years or however long it’s been out. I bought the PS3 specifically for Madden 08 and I’ve never been more disappointed with a game in my life. If you can’t tell the game sucks, then you suck at Madden and have no idea what you’re doing or saying. Here is a list of the problems which exist for all three of the systems, the only difference being that the PS3 has a horrible frame-rate so it’s like playing with a strobe light on:
1. there is no longer a camera angle option and it’s defaulted on madden cam, which means you can’t see your outside receivers. who the hell wants to play Madden when you can only see the middle of the field. are you kidding me??? it’s the worst. why even have receivers if you can’t use them?
2. player control is horrible. i’ve got serious skills (not to brag - just making a point) and i’m whiffing all over the place on defense. on offense if you move your guy slightly he’ll sometimes make a sudden right or left turn like he’s heading out of bounds. it’s pathetic.
3. you can no longer see three plays at a time (you could actually see 9 in the past) when you’re picking your plays. they’ve made the plays so small you have to press the triangle button (or whatever) to zoom in to actually see them, therefore making it so you can only look at one play at a time. screw that!
4. the new player specialty icons are fine before and after plays but i want to see football players on the field during the play, not a bunch of mario looking brick walls and wavy lines surrounding the players every time they hit each other. it’s freaking silly and you can’t see the action when it’s covered by icons every second. get a grip ea! we’re playing football not paper mario.
5. they have taken out virtually all options and added virtually worthless options. you can no longer speed up the playclock on blowout games or turn the play clock off if you want ( not that i do but why take out that option - some people need to learn without being pressured to pick a play in five seconds). there’s no option for the QB vision cone to be turned off or on, etc.
6. There’s no more training camp. Boo! That was fun and they took out all the drills.
7. Bottom line, Madden 08 is the biggest disappointment in the history of Madden. I’m so pissed that EA leads their loyal customers on when they know full well the next generation madden is sub par. I know you can’t please everybody and there will always be bitchers, but good god, this is out of control bad. They hyped it up so much and in all honesty Madden 07 is better in every way than Madden 08. Sorry Madden fans but rent it before you buy it - I know it’s hard to believe but believe it: Madden 08 is an agonizing experience. I’m such a nerd to be so disappointed, but I freaking love Madden and now it’s ruined. I’ve started a petition to get EA to refund all disappointed customers. Please contact me at pjog@tx.rr.com to get the ball rolling and i’ll let you know what to do.
August 18th, 2007
Has anyone played the wii version? If so, please comment on your experiance. Thank you.
August 20th, 2007
I agree with everything that pjog just said. Although, my biggest disappointment is I can’t customize my personnel anymore for different packages. That SUCKS. I really would like to be able to put in situationaly players again and don’t want my starting CB’s in on kick return coverage. Plus the fact you can’t change the auto sub setting so your players don’t get ridiculously tired.
August 20th, 2007
NOT HAVING TO PLAYWITH QB VISION SUCKS. JUST STEP BACK AND THROW IT. DOESN’T MATTER HOW SORRY THE QUARTERBACK IS. NO SKILLS NEEDED.
BASICALY THE GAME SUCKS. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I LIKE PLAYING IT ON PLAYSTATION 2 CAUSE AT LEAST I HAVE QUARTERBACK VISION.
August 22nd, 2007
Madden 08 failed on Wii, PS2, PS3, but the only system that I actualy found playable was Xbox 360. If you play it on any other system then 360 then it’s identical to playing the previous Madden games. No trophies, no unlockables, same graphics, same stupid memory eater. Worst game ever, it will make nobody happy because it’s a failure.
August 23rd, 2007
Hey,
Im looking forward to buy the PS3 now, and them comments dont make me think about my decision twice.
Not to say that PS3 is better than everything out there now.
But the points “Pjog” noticed, most of the times dont got somethin to do with PS3, its Madden.
U cant play Madden without being anrgy at times but thats part of the game.
If u played Madden for a long time u notice that there are a lot of points in the game that not as clear as u expect them to be.
Like the perspective on what u cant see ur Receivers, theres a button to see the whole field tho and playin in another perspective, seein all its kinda weird, cause its far away from the line tho if u ask me.
Even tho u sayin theres no more option to turn off the placlock, man please, who the hell cares, this game is gettin more mature in kinda way, no more bullshit drills they takin it to reality son, and in reality u cant turn off the playclock or make ur computer being dumb ass shit… even tho u want to learn, get a previous version of madden everybody know its not simple to understand but if u play u learn fast about the game. Also I wanna say that I beat up the computer with a normal Team (normal means without self created superstars or soemthin like madden cards) like almost to 100 points in a franchise game just gettin some good picks in the draft in off season, and that kinda bothers me cause its gettin boring soon…
All in all there are always points that are not perfect, the games not perfect, but its good enough to have a lot of fun and action, even tho ur player isnt always catchin easy balls or runnin out of bounds without u wantin him to do so. Of course in Madden 06 for example defense Players hit sticked evrything and sometimes just ran through the line without even being touched or defensive players try to pick a ball of that slipped through their body, but as u know them “small things” happen, and even Im gettin angry at times but that part of the game u cant make the game look like real life even in todays reality boy - and thats true so “dont hate the game - hate the player” and be happy if u cant get along with this small “errors” or dissapointin things - then dont play madden. Cause there are a lot of bangin thangs in this game besides the small mistakes. Its worth playin it in my oppinion.
Or u mad cause Im shinin on u - Tellin things thats more cheatin - makin the game easy ass hell - just cause u cant beatthe Computer 100 : 0 anymore doesnt mean that this game sucks tho.
Holla at me - see u online ? =)
August 27th, 2007
i went to my friends house to have a tournament on the ps3 and i could only play 2 games it was soooooo bad then i went home to play on my 360 and i cant put it down
September 3rd, 2007
I know on PS2 and Reg Xbox it looks just like 06/07 and maybe wii.
Other than the small framerate difference i dont see any other problems. Thats just 1 minor thing. Which, like the article said, its EA’s fault cause they didnt have ps3 hardware experience, so im pretty damn sure they will fix that for 09.
Also, most all the things pjog said wasn’t ps3 related, instead it was basically pointing out Madden 08 as a whole. This is only my 4th Madden playing
I played like… 95 or 96(i forgot) and 06/07. 06/07 was almost the same and i saw 08 on ps2 and its again almost the same. My brother played 06/07 alot and was very good (winning prize money tourneys). In his opinion there are some cons but the pros outweigh the cons and overall the game is pretty good.
anyway the article is about the difference in XBOX/PS3, not madden as a whole. I think the difference is over exaggerated and its probably hurting ps3 sales. I bought Wii and xbox and my bros getting to scared to get ps3 cuz of bashing
anyway, if i was a betting man, ps3 09 will > xbox 09 for sure.
September 3rd, 2007
Oh sorry for double post, but sesom there is QB vis, u have to view ur players then highlight ur reciever. It gives better accuracy that way. But then again I hardly do it, atleast when i play a home vs my brother.
September 28th, 2007
I have the ps3 version of madden 08 and it sucks I have a order list. 1. what happened to the online buddy list, you have to exit online to contact them. 2. no ea locker which prohibits you from playing franchises with friends and reordering rosters before games. 3. no defense assignments or man lock are you kidding me. 4. they put qb vision in to stop players from running side to side throwing across there body and going back 20 yards passing accurately but players are doing just that throwing without vision and completing passes. 5. no ranked fair play games for those who exploit the game such as hurrying up on every play, and who wants to play ranked games on all pro level, they dont react. In all ea hyped everybody with all that bs talking and showing screen shots im not gonna lie i was caught up in the hype, but when i purchased it all i got was madden 07 ps3 version with weapons. so to me with all the features ps2 version is better, with no good graphics.
September 29th, 2007
bmoremurda is right about what he said. i also own the ps3 madden 08. you got uncoverable tight ends. wide open rbs in the flat. only about 5 rbs can run the ball and are hard as hell to bring down. all the fumbles and passes that caught then dropped is bs when you can sack the qb repeatly without getting a single fumble. qbs hold on to the ball to long when you need to get rid of the ball. every kicker can nail a 50 yd fieldgoal with ease. roster updates take to long to happen, you got players with season ending injuries still playing in games. you got your 3rd ,4th, and 5th string corners sorry than 3rd, 4th, 5th strings wrs. they say create mismatches but this game already comes with some in the game, like adjusting your offensive line coverage protect the qb. you can be running full speed past a lineman, linebacker, cb to have them reach out and grab you for a bs tackle. when another decent ps3 game comes out madden will be traded out for it. thanks for reading this.
September 30th, 2007
I returned my copy of madden cuz i thought i had a bad disc it still skips. My buddy who has it on 360 it playz so smoothly. I think they should refund us our money or make new ones for the public. If they knew it would be problems delay the game til the kinks is worked out!!!
November 13th, 2007
My son convinced me to trade my ps2 and games for the ps3 . i play madden what a crock…i guess i will be using it as a blu ray player more
November 13th, 2007
My son convinced me to trade my ps2 and games for the ps3 . i play madden what a crock…i guess i will be using it as a blu ray player more
December 24th, 2007
I just got Madden 08 for the PS3 last week, before that i was playing 08 in PS2, and loved it..now i hate playing it on PS3…it’s garbage. Where are my formation shifts? I should be able to spread out my offense, no matter whose on the field, if i think someone is gonna crash the middle on a run… Where’s the slide protection? alot of the offensive pre-play options on the PS3 version are gone. I don’t feel in control of the offense, only bound within this freakish creation of EA developers…and Vision cone only works if you choose to set a different primary receiver, and then you have to use the right stick and hit it a thousand times to the left if you want to go to the other side of the field…..so basically they want you to just snap n’ throw like the good ol’ days of Madden 05 when you could throw for 900 yards and 8 TD’s in a game. I also don’t like the deal where on DEFENSE you have to press X before you can do any defensive playmaker option and that all options are divided between the 2 sticks…instead of all of ‘em on the right stick like the PS2 and NORMAL version would have you do. And what’s worse…thinkin’ i’d be actually happy with this version, my girlfriend sold my PS2 version on me…so now i’m stuck with the PS3 version until next year…..Way to go EA!
January 3rd, 2008
goddam this is so irratating i got the wii version and its a great game, but in 2 player my brother cant see iff he needs to press up down left right or A to throw it to a reciever he can see it before the play but not during! our settings are the exact same and i cant figure it out can some1 help me
January 3rd, 2008
goddam this is so irratating i got the wii version and its a great game, but in 2 player my brother cant see if he needs to press up down left right or A to throw it to a reciever he can see it before the play but not during! our settings are the exact same and i cant figure it out can some1 help me
January 13th, 2008
The difference between the xbox 360 and ps3 are extremely noticable and anyone who thinks otherwise has not played the two consoles enough. Some people are saying that 30 frames per a second is that different from 60. The game is not nearly smooth enough and it sucks. The problem with having the xbox is that the cds themselves are crap. I can’t play one b/c the cd is shot and the other cause it doesn’t use all the capabilities of the ps3. The xbox also freezes way too freakin much. Next year better be different…
January 14th, 2008
Anyone who has played the 360 Edition, and the PS3 edition - and can say that the PS3 edition even compares - is crazy.
I am a diehard Sony guy.. always have been. But, EA dropped the ball on this one - on their own feet. The frame rate is tediously slow, the game “jumps” at certain points - and the graphics are no where near the 360’s. It’s times like this that I rejoice in a game like Unreal Tournament 3, and laugh at all of the Xbox bitches.
January 21st, 2008
I haven’t played the 360 version, but I have the ps3 one and it does suck, the 30 fps does matter, not so much during the actual gameplay, but on the menu screen. I play alot of franchise mode with my cousin and between the both of us reordering our rosters, signing free agents and god forbid trading and viewing the trading block, it is soooooooooo slow. The game literally loads when you switch between every little thing like from team to team, and the game can’t keep up with you when you moving up and down the menus so it feels so slow and frustrating. As far as that, the only problem I have is the weapon setting(it turns off after every game so you have to turn it on before ever game), you cant see your outside receivers, and they took out all of the cool features from last game. HUGE disappointment.
February 2nd, 2008
Too bad I bought this game before I rented it, otherwise i would have seen how terrible it truly is, and i would have avoided it at all costs. Expecting that the game would become better as a newer version was released, it did exactly the opposite. Player control is hard to use and does not work, however you do not have much control over the player to begin with. Like somebody with a comment before mine said, you will attempt to do something such as get a loose ball or plow over somebody while running up the sideline, and instead the player will make an overly-exagerated move out of bounds. I was playing this game before i wrote this, and on several occasions my running back was tackled, even though you could see on the game and even more clearly in the replay the the tackler did not actually even make contact with my RB. Also, more than 50% of the options on the previous Madden games have been taken and replaced with stupid ones that myself nor anybody i know likes or uses.
How EA sports could release such an atrocious 2008 game, we may never know. John Madden should be embarassed to have his name on such a pathetic game.
If you are considering buying this game and have a xbox360, buy madden 07 for half the price and download roster updates from xbox live.
I hope EA sports burns in hell for stealing my money in exchange for this trash.
February 2nd, 2008
The guy at the top who thinks this game is enjoyable should be severely burned and shunned from society
P.S- i have an 80GB ps3 AND a xbox360 my xbox360 is far better than the PS3. in fact, i hate my ps3. i hate sony for selling me this piece of crap and i hope they die a fiery and radiation-oriented death
February 22nd, 2008
I can’t believe how much the the 08 madden sucks for PS3. I am a play station guy and have played all the maddens on ps and ps2. Madden 07 and 08 was great for ps2. I figured 08 for ps3 would just continue on it greatness but it completely sucks. why change the controls at this point when everyone is so used to the other versions. How can you sit and play against someone else when they easily can see the exact play you are calling. in the past you were able to have 3 choices and even pick plays that were on the previous screen without anyone knowing. there are way too many game contols and adjustments that you can make. way to complicated. gameplay is so stiff. it just sucks. I will play my ps3 for other games but I guess I will have to keep my PS2 hooked up for madden 08
March 3rd, 2008
I feel like punching every single dumb fuck who decided to change the controls for madden 08 on ps3. Wheres rushing attack? Why do the players looked mentally challenged when running down the field? Why do I have to awkwardly look the other way when my friend or brother is choosing his play? Why can’t I convert players positions? I’m pretty sure they do that in real life don’t they? Like I honestly know 4 other people who play madden 08 on their ps2 rather than their ps3 not including me! I went out and bought a 42″ hd tv for nothing!!! Me and my buddies had madden as ritual for bragging rights, now we all hate it!!!!WHY DO I FEEL AS THOUGH SOME HUGE NERD DESIGNED AND CHANGED THE ENTIRE GAME???
March 6th, 2008
At first i hated madden 08 i am excelent in 07 for ps2 i now have madden 08 for ps3 you just have to get used to it. Once you get used to it you will love it trust me. I have played on 360 and it is smoother, but the difference is not that huge. Get over it and get used to playing 08 its a good game.. Only thing is the ps2 online setup was so much better than ps3 version and we need maddens voice back
March 28th, 2008
i personally think madden 08 for the ps3 is trash, i mean i would personally raher play 07 on the ps2 thn waste my time playing it on the ps3..
July 17th, 2008
I just bought a ps3 and got madden and im a so pissed. I am more pissed that they changed the online format. If I wanted to play it like xbox, I would have bought a damn xbox. I use to love how madden 08 for ps2 was so much better than my buddys xbox. Then I wanted to break my ps3 when I played online. Are you kidding me, then changed everthing to be like the xbox. From online lobby, controls, and plays. I am so mad, I have played ever single title of madden sence its exsistance. If the online isnt like ps2 in the ps3 version of 09; I will not buy the game.
July 29th, 2008
well fellas Madden ‘09 is coming out in a few week (this time i’m renting before i buy) but if it sucks just like ‘08 i’m seriously going to hurt someone! why did EA have to change a great football game into a game for an 8 year old? what i’m thinking of doing is buying the ps2 version of ‘09 because that one (i think) still looks like the old madden, the one created for real madden gamers and playing it on my ps3!