The excitement and exhilaration of being flown to San Francisco for an all-expenses paid trip to Electronic Arts, Inc. to play Madden NFL 2005 with 14 other Madden fanatics would be pretty overwhelming to begin with -- but then, add the opportunity to talk to the producers of Madden and ask them all the questions you want. Yes, Jim Preston live on video-conferencing. Sounds like a big day for any Madden fan, right?
Just wait, it gets better.
Throw in autographed footballs, EA SPORTS t-shirts, duffle bags, Polo shirts, and lots of other swag. Oh, and did we mention that this Madden dream day is on the same day as the EA SPORTS press day? So, you get to take a crack at all of the 2005 EA SPORTS titles, and meet a few professional athletes as well.
Fifteen of our most elite Madden Community Leaders actually got the chance to experience this ultimate Madden fantasy. While you were at home or work dreaming of what it would be like, they were eating pizza and playing Madden NFL 2005 with Michael Strahan and Roy Williams.
But don’t take our word for it -- listen to what a couple of our Elite Madden Community Leaders had to say about their day at EA:
"It was so fun and exciting. It is beyond words to describe. Everyone from EA and within the group was very nice, respectful and gracious. I am truly honored for being allowed to be a part of it.
That trip was truly like heaven on earth and in talking with the entire group last night when things were winding down, everyone shares the same feeling on this. It was a very special day for all of us life long EA Fans and loyal supporters. It was a time that I will never forget. You really did something special for us and as impossible as I thought it would be, that trip has raised my excitement for EA even more so."
-- Dan Bertholomey
"After spending much of this past Thursday I think I am more impressed with this year's game than I have been with any new version of Madden since the first one that hit the PS2. When EA said they were going to improve the defense they weren't kidding.
I'll admit it, I thought the hit stick was going to be a gimmick, but by the time I left that was one of my favorite features in the game. It's something that you really have to practice to get it down but once you do there is no better feeling than nailing a WR going over the middle or obliterating a running back who is trying to turn the corner on an outside run.
The biggest feeling I got from playing the game was that EA has really focused on the X's and O's elements of football. They have given you almost unlimited options on both offense and defense so that "chess match" that takes place between the great NFL coaches each Sunday has been very well replicated for the online portion of the game.
The tackle animations are very impressive. When all of us were playing there were a number of times when the room went nuts and people yelled out "ouuuuuch" or "daaaayum" after someone got creamed with the hit stick.
Bottom line on Madden 2005 is this... I played the game all day this past Thursday and I loved it. Madden impressed me more than it has in a long time and I think you guys will be impressed as well when you get to play.
I'll reserve my final judgment until I have more time with the game but I can honestly say this is the most I have been impressed by Madden in many years. You guys did a hell of a job. Thanks for letting us play around with the game so early this year, it's got us all very excited."
-- RAC
Host of Madden Nation
