If this was Peter Moore’s idea of an April Fool’s joke, I don’t think many PC gamers found it very funny. In a post on his official blog yesterday, the EA Sports head honcho confirmed that EA will not be releasing Madden NFL 09 on the PC:
We knew that our decision to not develop this year’s Madden for the PC would be an unpopular decision in some circles. But I’ll reiterate what I said a couple of weeks ago in this space…the PC presents some very serious business challenges to us in the sports category, particularly because so many of you all are playing your favorite sports games on the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii. We are committed to shipping a limited number of our games on the PC this year, but we’ve also had to cut a few of our games from the platform. We do have ideas for how to revitalize the PC for sports games and the types of games that are best suited to the platform, and we’ll continue to explore those.
Translation: the PC version sold very poorly in comparison to the console versions, so we’re scrapping it. According to an article from IGN-owned PC gaming site Voodoo Extreme, the PC version of Madden NFL 08 came in at number eight on the NPD sales charts for August 2007. It doesn’t specify the number of copies that the game sold, but whatever it is, it’s likely nothing when you look at the overall console sales — the 360 version moved nearly 900,000 units in August alone.
Though I’ve never really had a computer that was powerful enough to play games, I’ve downloaded a few demos of sports games in my time. I’m assuming that anyone who buys PC sports games has some sort of gamepad, because trying to play Madden with a keyboard and mouse is a nightmare.
Still, it’s rather alarming to see that EA is alienating an entire market of gamers. And think about it: because they have that accursed exclusivity deal with the NFL, PC-specific Madden fans now have nowhere to turn for their football fix.
[via Peter Moore Blog — thanks, power-glove and Jonathan!]
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52 comments + 134338 views
FUCK EA
i don't play their shit sports gaems.
Ah, not that easy to nickel and dime PC gamers, is it EA?
note that this is not an endorsement of PC gamer fanboyness, merely an opinionated response by Rockvillian
Kinda surprising coming from the company that, a couple years ago, would have put madden on your wristwatch if they could have.
I support the NOT making of Madden
This is just one step closer to that goal
This sentence shows how sad I am over this.
Good riddance to bad rubbish. I can play Mutant League Football on my PC, and that's more than enough sports gaming for me.
PC Gamers play Madden? I thought all the football-gamers didn't know how to use computers.
The punchline goes to Mac gamers, who finally, are going to be getting EA releases at the same time as PC releases . . .
And yeah, mac gaming is a punchline itself, blah blah blah
@ Kyousuke Nanbu
They can just mod one.
Word of advice to EA, use those would be PC development hands to make the PS3 version worth playing, otherwise expect poor sales on that platform.
Oh no! Now how is EA gonna cheat pc gamers out of their money for a game that gets released every year that probably took a day to update the roster.
I IS SO CRESFTALLEN. CEREALLY.
Looks like Peter is still working for Microsoft, eh? Maybe it'll help convince more people to pick up a console, if they don't have one already.
Now that high def graphics and online multiplayer gaming have both made the jump to consoles, there really is no reason to pay thousands every year for a new pc.
1500$ on a new, self built pc, and crysis still runs crappily... Pc gaming is begging to be put out of her misery.
But I don't need to worry, right? I can still play Madden 09 on my Xbox, Gamecube, GBA, DS, PSP, and Virtual Boy, right?
This is surprising, coming from EA. I don't really care though. Sports titles are pretty much the only genre that I think isn't superior to play on PC.
*golf claps for slapme7times*
I support this, while PC is lacking massive quantities of great releases, at least we wont be getting this crap.
@slapme7times: Funny... I just built myself a PC for $800 and it LULZ at Crysis on high.
Exaggerate much?
PC gamers says:
"We don't give a shit!"
Madden has always been terrible. The PC versions were the worst. But, really? Can EA really pass up making money off of total dorks who buy this on PC? I give this 3 months tops before they break in honor of $$$$
Well, i'm in a Madden on-line PC league, so this DOES suck.
looks like we'll be playing from the same franchise file for awhile.
I would assume that its a stretch that the PC version didn't at least come close to the DS in sales. Seems like the pc version would be easier to develop for considering its a port from the ps2 version.
In my honest opinion, i think they're sending out a message for those who pirate their shit. EA's throwing that middle finger at us PC gamers. I imagine they'll eventually phase out PC sales....they would much rather sale exclusively on the consoles....probably why they're thinking of making their own.
It sucks when any developer refuses to develop for the PC, but I can't say I'll miss this terribly. There are other PC football games out there however, maybe this will do some good for the smaller developers.
Pc gaming is not dead, and is not dying, is strong and is there for developers who like to innovate or to push limits and dont want to be constrained by a console model.
Also, pc gaming is there for me while the shitty hardware microsoft is doing continues.
sadly, I really don't care. Most Madden players are console gamers, anyways.
Why anyone would want to play a sports game on a PC is beyond me.
I've always enjoyed them better on the console, and that'll most likely continue for Madden 09.
Obviously they aren't alienating too many people, or the game would have sold better.
AAAAND...Brett Farve will be on the cover this year.
Remember you heard here first bitches.
Wow, guy who plays Madden on PC sighting...
i didn't even know madden was available on PC.
doesn't mean i want to play it though.
I did not build a High end game PC to play a dull football series anyway. Seriously Game foot ball is almost as bad dull as watching normal football.
I never bought madden in my life and I have been getting games since 1983.
Why is this madden guy famous anyway?
Wow Madden was on the PC? I guess that makes sense, I wouldn't want to have to pay for this crap either.
I don't mind if EA goes all console. They Make shit games and occasionally, mediocre games.
I couldn't imagine playing Madden with a keyboard and mouse, are people really upset by this?
I have always hated Madden, this just helps me understand its another step towards the end. Please stop making the same thing over and over EA, You're starting to look like Dynasty Warriors...
I never understood while people shell out 60$ a year for the same damn game... "OH NOES, AN UPDATED ROASTESTDTERTSER THINGUIS=NG!!!!11ONE".
Madden 09 is still coming to Atari 2600 and 3DO, right?
Just because madden is for pc doesnt mean you cant use a game pad. if you own a 360 you most likely own a pc gamepad. The main reason you would want to play ANY SPORTS game on a pc is like most games FOR THE MODS. Updated rosters are made almost every week, you can make your created teams with any symbols or jersey designs you can download. You can beat the yearly update by simply creating or downloading a roster with the new rookies in it and it is the easiest way to get a league together.
Im kinda mad that we wont get the 360 ps3 engine but im sure a week after the draft 2008 will get a roster mod that makes it just about what you will buy when 2009 comes out
Maybe if they ported a current-gen version to the PC rather than the PS2 version they'd see some more sales.
I see a trend coming on...
PC port of Madden has always been terrible.
Why waste the millions in development/QA resources when you can re-allocate them to better and more fruitful projects?
I don't own any of the new consoles, so this decision pisses me off but it comes at no surprise whatsoever. They always ported the PS2 version because it didn't sell enough copies, so I just pirate the game because EA disgusts me. I totally agree that Madden is a shitty game no matter what, but sadly its the only football game we got. Looks like I'll need to buy a 360 in time for next season.
This has to be only semi-legal.
With the borderline-monopolistic nature of EA's agreement with the NFL, they can't just phase out a portion of the market. NFL can't want them to do that either. Let's not forget that in the 1970s, an antitrust suit was brought against the NFL, and they barely won that case.
Essentially, EA is saying that if a gamer wants to play an NFL game, then they have to buy a platform of EA's choosing. To me, that's a pretty blatant use of a monopoly.
If there's a market for a product, then the market should be allowed to fill it. There's definitely a market for NFL games on PC, even if it is too small for EA. SOMEONE should be allowed to fill it.
"Translation: the PC version sold very poorly in comparison to the console versions, so we’re scrapping it."
I would read this translation more along the lines of: If people are going to continue to pirate our PC games and not buy them (see Tyson The Tool above) we aren't going to release another one until we have our own Steam-like system set up.
But wait, no Madden 09 on PC, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Oh wait, I never bought this game when it existed.
Actually, I don't think PC gamers care one crap about Madden since Madden has been a generic released "need some extra cash" edition each year since 2003. So, EA, keep your crap Madden game. I use Pirate Bay for all my EA Games shopping anyway.
i didn't even know madden was available on PC.
doesn't mean i want to play it though.
i didn't even know madden was available on PC.
doesn't mean i want to play it though.
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