New player??

[joecrisp]

One of the coolest things about Madden is that it is very adaptable to individual skill levels. It has Rookie, Pro, All-Pro and, of course, All-Madden skill levels which gradually ramps up the intensity and complexity of the game as you improve as a player. When I bought my first copy of Madden, back in 2000, I started off on the Rookie level, played maybe 4 or 5 games at that level until I felt comfortable with the controls, and then moved up to Pro. As I moved up each skill level, it took me a few more games of practice before I felt prepared to move up to the next level. I would say I had probably played 2 full seasons worth of games before I attempted to go All-Madden with any regularity. But it was this flexibility of the game for new players that truly got me hooked. It allows you to enjoy the game right from the start, without having to suffer through a painful and frustrating learning curve to get there.

Obviously, the game has improved dramatically since that first copy I bought 5 years ago. One of the neat little additions has been the "Minicamp" feature, which allows you to master particular skills critical to each facet of the game through positional drills. Much like the regular games, the minicamps can be played at different skills levels. I think that feature helped me a lot, because it allowed me to focus on each aspect of the game and made me a better all-around player.

Madden is by far the best football game out there. The attention to detail, the graphics, the gameplay-- nobody can touch 'em. That's why they sell so many games, and people keep coming back for more.

By the way, Hogskin, can I come over? Sounds like you have a really cool house!