Xbox 360 Fanboy

Just released yesterday in preparation for the first Sunday of NFL football action, EA released the second Madden NFL 08 roster update which should download the next time you play the game connected to Xbox Live. The roster update updates various teams' rosters (no, really?) and also switches up the overall rankings of a few players. You can view the complete roster changes that the update brings by downloading them from here (Word document) or by looking after the break.

And after giving the new Madden 08 roster changes a look through we noticed that Michael Vick has been removed due to a suspension. We're wondering what he could have possibly done to be suspended from the NFL and Madden. Can anyone throw us a bone and help solve this mystery?

[Via Game Stooge]

Patiently awaiting your download this morning is a brand new Madden NFL 08 demo on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo weighs in at a nice 813MB and is available to North American as well as most European Xbox Live members. We aren't sure how long the demo lasts or what teams you get to play as since the description for the demo only reads "Download the demo.", so you'll have to feel this one out for yourself. Cue up Madden 08 for download fanboys, we know you're curious to see what EA has done with the series this year.

For our friends in or around New York City, this year's Madden release spectacle officially dubbed Maddenoliday is going down with events planned in Times Square. Tonight, starting at 5:00PM, the Times Square festivities will be kicking off with the best Madden players going head to head, NFL stars including Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Jamal Anderson and Eric Dickerson making appearances, and an Xbox 360 Madden 08 ball drop at midnight. Maddenoliday, it's like Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled together mixed with a multi-million dollar marketing campaign and consumer craziness. We wouldn't have it any other way.

It's that time of year once again. No, it's not time to go visit Grandma and sample her famous Apple Brown Betty (although that does sound pretty tasty), it's time for yet another edition of Madden to hit the shelves. Football fans look to be in luck, as Madden seems to have overcome its new generation jitters and delivers a solid football experience. At least, that's the impression we're getting from the early reviews. Besides, if you want NFL football, it's not like you really have a choice, right?

[Via Joystiq]

In today's Marketplace Roundup, we've got a couple trailers for you. First off, for Madden NFL 08, EA Sports Producer David Ortiz gives a demonstration of "Hit Stick 2.0", which should be interesting for those into 26% of the 360's retail library. Next up, Clive Barker's Jericho also has a trailer available for your viewing pleasure which isn't available in Asia. Finally, a slew of downloadable costumes are available for Rumble Roses XX, each set costing you 80 Microsoft Points. Oh Joy.

Today is Sunday and that means it's time to talk about this week's Xbox 360 super-Sunday-deals-of-money-savings-greatness! As usual, Circuit City has all the savings this week by offering up a free year of Xbox Live with purchase of any Xbox 360 console. You want video game deals? Well, if you're looking to get your Madden on later this year, plop down a preorder on Madden 08 and Circuit City will give you $25 towards a FansEdge.com order. And if Madden is too long of a wait to play football, this week NCAA Football 08 is available and if purchased at Circuit City they'll give you $10 gift card to boot.

There you go, that was the best of the best Xbox 360 deals this week. Pull out your plastic and shop, shop the day away!

1UP is reporting that all the heavy hitting football games coming out this year (Madden 08, NCAA Football 08, and All-Pro Football 2K8) will be running best on the Xbox 360. 30 frames smoother to be exact. 1UP says that they've confirmed with developers that the 360 versions of each football game will run at a buttery smooth 60 frames per second while the PS3 version will have to settle for 30 frames per second. What does that mean? Well, it means animations will be smoother, faster and less jarring than the PS3 version. And that's a good thing.

We aren't sure why the PS3 versions of the games are stuck at 30 FPS, but we're thinking the dev teams just didn't find it worth the extra cash to optimize it for the platform. But even if that were the case it should still put a feather in Microsoft's ego cap, because it would just further prove that the 360 is easier to develop for.

Boy oh boy has there been a bunch of Madden 08 news hitting the internet lately and we figured what better way to get you the dish than recapping all of it in one convenient post. Yeah, that kind of logic could only come from the smartest of bloggers. So, let's get right into all the crunchy Madden 08 news and media.

First off, EA released Madden 08's official soundtrack list including tracks from The Hives, Timbaland, Daddy Yankee and Xbox Artist of the Month Ozzy Osbourne. Madden 08 sounds like it's going to be a rocking good time. Also released were screenshots featuring all twenty-four new "weapons" classifications which are used to show players' crazy advanced abilities. It's a brand new way to identify stand out players and a first for the Madden franchise. The third piece of Madden 08 goodness comes in the form of a new trailer that we've embedded above. Give it a watch and you'll agree that stiff arms and side stepping never looked so nice. Finally, the Gamerscore Blog crew posted a few photos and a writeup of EA's little Madden 08 party which was held in LA the other night.

Now, if that's not enough Madden 08 news to keep you satisfied then by golly you're a football addict and need to drink some Gatorade. Go hit the showers and review all the new Madden news, because August 14th will be here soon enough.

[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]

Extremely obsessed and knowledgeable Madden fans know that the game has never given out a perfect 100 in any skill for any player, until now. Madden 08 will give Chicago Bears' crazy fast return man Devin Hester a perfect 100 ranking for speed. Hester's perfect 100 beats out previous high ranking players like Deion Sanders, Randy Moss, and Charles Woodson who all received 99s at their peak. So, is anyone pumped about Madden 08 or are you expecting just more of the same?

[Thanks, Chris]