Xbox Madden 10 Contests Kick off the Greatest Showdown

If learning about all the new stuff still hasn't made you excited about Xbox Madden 10, then maybe a visit to video gaming's not-so-distant past can put things into perspective. Yeah, it could be a bit cruel to constantly bag on older games as a means to elevate today's football video games. Then again, those side-by-side comparisons help underscore the fact that Xbox Madden 10 is a truly top-notch football video game. From day one, football video games were what the original hardcore gamers wanted, back when the video game consoles were taking their first "baby steps" in the world. The bad news, though, was that video game technology was still in the "post-Pong" phase, and the games reflected those limitations. Even then, the game companies were excellent at the hype, and kept boasting that this one boasted "all the excitement" of real football. They didn't even try to make those guys look like people. Rough, but true. The photo may be underwhelming, but the game itself is even more so. From a technological standpoint, things were so basic, that multiple players moving at once meant that the only thing extreme about this game was the flickering of the players. Sound effects didn't fare much better, with the "spectators" sounding more like a car with a busted muffler. Another disappointment - the screen didn't (or just couldn't) scroll. Soon, the first round of the console wars would begin, and the competition created a football video game of their own. A serious effort was made with this next one, in order to give gamers a football video game closer to the real thing. It wasn't there yet, though. No doubt, it was a real exciting time for hardcore gamers, but there was still a ways to go before football video games would dominate the industry. It would take a few more years before anything like that took place. But this one, which was released in the late 80s, as part of the next generation of game consoles, really hit it big, to the point where people still love it. Over the years, this was the yardstick by which all football video games were measured. Can't argue with the fact that the hardcore gamers did take to this one - for the first time, the NFL got the red-carpet treatment from a football video game. With the improvements in both the sound and the graphics, gamers saw this as the first and last word in video football games. With the online revival, today's gamers are getting a taste of yesteryear - and loving it. While worthy of praise, it still trails in the distance from Xbox Madden 10. With the great strides in gaming, football video games have reached a level worthy of the fans. We've had a few chuckles, but mocking less advanced video games isn't a productive use of our time. You've gotten the point. You have to start somewhere, and those other games did - and Xbox Madden 10 would have never been possible if it weren't for those older football video games. Hardcore gamers have every reason to be fired up - Xbox Madden 10 really is the winning touchdown. The reviewers have spoken, and they're as stoked as the gamers, which is always a cause for celebration. "Realistic and enjoyable" are comments you'll see during most Xbox Madden 10 reviews. Xbox Madden 10 is another monster hit for EA Sports, though we think you could predict that one. Don't let the naysayers shape your opinion - Xbox Madden 10 is a game for the ages. As great as Xbox sports video games offerings are, Xbox Madden 10 is at the top of the pack. It's the favorite of hardcore gamers, and with good cause. More than just a great game, it's a chance to display your video game excellence, when you clash for cash. The stakes have been raised, and Xbox Madden 10 maniacs now can take each other on for some serious cash. After you've really given yourself a crash course and learned all the rules, you'll score touchdown after touchdown - and make off with your rival's bankroll as well.