text:
Madden NFL
|Madden NFL
Current logo
|American football video game
|High Score Entertainment
|EA Tiburon
|Apple II, Amiga, Macintosh, SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, 3DO, Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, Wii U, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Windows PC, Mac OS X, DOS, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Sega Saturn, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Nintendo 3DS, Android, BlackBerry PlayBook
|Platform of origin
|Commodore 64, Commodore 128, Apple II, MS-DOS
|Year of inception
|First release
|John Madden Football
|Latest release
|Madden NFL 15
|Official website
|Official Website
Madden NFL (known as John Madden Football before 1993) is an American football video game series developed by Electronic Arts Tiburon for EA Sports. The game series is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden, a well-known former Super Bowl–winning coach of the Oakland Raiders and color commentator. The series is the best selling EA Sports series in the United States. The games have consistently been a best seller, and have spawned TV shows where players compete. Among the game's realistic features include sophisticated playbooks and player statistics, and voice commentary that allows players to hear the game as if it were a real TV broadcast.
The series was originally conceived by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, who then approached Madden in 1984 for his endorsement and expertise. Due to Madden's insistence that the game be as realistic as possible, the first version of John Madden Football was not released until 1988. The second version of the game was released in 1990, with annual versions since then. The series' name was changed to Madden NFL in 1993 after EA acquired the rights to use NFL teams and players. Despite Madden's retirement as a broadcaster in 2009, he continues to lend his name and provide expertise for the game.
- 1 Overview
- 1.1 Voice commentary
- 1.2 Series overview
- 1.3 1980s: Creation
- 1.4 1990s
- 1.5 2000s
- 1.6 2010s
- 1.7 License history and spinoffs
- 2 Madden Curse
- 3 Madden Bowl
- 4 Annual EA Super Bowl simulation
- 5 References
- 6 Further reading
- 7 External links
As of 2010[update] Electronic Arts has sold more than 85 million copies of Madden NFL, and as many as two million in one week, for more than $3 billion in total sales. At EA Tiburon in Orlando, Florida a team of 30 developers and more than 100 game testers works on each new game in the series,[1] which as of 2012[update] contains more than 10 million lines of source code.[2]
Madden describes himself as "never a good player" of Madden NFL, and prefers to watch others play.[2] Although retiring from broadcasting in 2009, he nonetheless continues to participate in each Madden's development:[2][1]
He breaks down upcoming rules changes. He brings up concussions, helmet-to-helmet hits and gimmick quarterbacks. A digression on how the Dome Patrol-era Saints used to frustrate Bill Walsh's 49ers teams with short linebacker drops becomes a lecture on the obsolescence of the fullback, which then morphs into a short aside on player character.[1]
As of 2012 John Madden has since retired from the franchise but continues to lend his name and likeness to the game.
"Madden recalls a time in San Francisco when a Philadelphia Eagles player rushed into a hotel room asking, 'Where's Madden?' When people pointed to the Fox commentator, the player said, 'No, not that Madden. I want the game!'"
EA estimates that the series has five to seven million dedicated fans.[2] Among the fans are NFL players, who typically play as themselves regardless of their electronic counterparts' abilities.[3][4] They often complain to Madden and EA about allegedly inaccurate ratings of their talent, or ask for changes in their in-game appearance. Such complaints began as early as 1990, confusing the broadcaster, who did not contribute the player statistics for that year's version due to lack of time.[1]
Coaches and players have said that Madden has influenced their play,[1] and football broadcasts on television use Madden-like visual cues to more closely resemble it. The NFL reportedly considers the series its "33rd franchise", because each week during the season EA Sports receives the same searchable film database of every play that each of the league's 32 teams do.[2] The game is the NFL's second-largest source of licensing revenue after apparel, and an important part of the league's recruitment of children as new football fans.[3]
Museum of the Moving Image in New York City is celebrating the 25 year history of Madden NFL with an exhibit. The exhibit will run through from January 9, 2014 to February 23, 2014. Five versions of Madden NFL will be playable: Apple II version of John Madden Football, Sega Genesis version of Madden NFL '94, PlayStation version of Madden NFL 99, Xbox version of Madden NFL 2005 and Xbox 360 version of Madden NFL 25.[5]
Voice commentary[edit]
Voice commentary in Madden allows players or watchers to hear the game being called as if it were a real game on TV.[6] For most versions of the game, this commentary was performed by Madden himself and his contemporary broadcast partner. Initially, this was Pat Summerall (Madden's partner during his days at CBS and Fox during the early 1980s on through the early 2000s) until Summerall retired; the role was then filled by Al Michaels, John's broadcast partner on ABC Monday Night Football (2002–2005) and NBC Sunday Night Football (2006–2008). Madden NFL 09 would end up being the last version to feature Madden's commentary. By that time, he felt that reciting a script covering every single scenario in the game was boring and tedious[7]—Madden recalled the long hours spent alone in the recording studio as "the most difficult part of any part that I've ever had in the game and the least amount of fun"[2]—but said that in the decision to remove him from game commentary, "I feel that something is being taken away from me".[1] Madden was replaced by Cris Collinsworth as color commentator, who was then paired with Tom Hammond in Madden NFL 10, and Gus Johnson in Madden NFL 11 and Madden NFL 12.[8] Madden NFL 13 marks the debut of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms doing the commentary, including them appearing in an in-booth cutscene before the game.[9]
In a similar approach used by the automobile industry, until Madden NFL 25, the Madden series has always historically been numbered one year later than the year in which it is released. However, the season it represents is the year in which the game is released (thus, Madden NFL 13 was actually released in 2012 and is modeled after the 2012 NFL season).
Series overview[edit]
|Release year
|4th gen
|5th gen
|6th gen
|7th gen
|8th gen
|Other platforms
|On the cover
|John Madden Football (1988)
|C=64/C=128, Apple II
|John Madden
|John Madden Football (1990)
|Genesis, SNES
|John Madden
|John Madden Football II
|John Madden
|John Madden Football '92
|John Madden
|John Madden Football '93
|Genesis, SNES
|John Madden
|John Madden Duo CD Football
|Turbo Duo
|John Madden
|Madden NFL '94
|Genesis, SNES
|John Madden
|John Madden Football[10][11]
|John Madden
|Madden NFL '95
|Genesis, SNES
|Game Boy, Game Gear, TV game
|John Madden with Erik Williams of the Dallas Cowboys and Karl Wilson of the San Francisco 49ers in the background
|Madden NFL '96
|Genesis, SNES
|Game Boy, Game Gear
|John Madden
|Madden NFL 97
|Genesis, SNES
|PS, Saturn
|Game Boy
|John Madden
|Madden Football 64
|John Madden
|Madden NFL 98
|Genesis, SNES
|PS, Saturn
|John Madden
|Madden NFL 99
|John Madden / Garrison Hearst of the San Francisco 49ers (PAL version)
|Madden NFL 2000
|Game Boy Color
|John Madden with Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions in the background / Dorsey Levens of the Green Bay Packers (European PAL version)
|Madden NFL 2001
|Game Boy Color
|Eddie George of the Tennessee Titans
|Madden NFL 2002
|PS2, NGC, Xbox
|Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance
|Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings
|Madden NFL 2003
|PS2, NGC, Xbox
|Game Boy Advance
|Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams
|Madden NFL 2004
|PS2, NGC, Xbox
|Game Boy Advance
|Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons
|Madden NFL 2005
|PS2, NGC, Xbox
|Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Tapwave Zodiac
|Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens
|Madden NFL 06
|PS2, NGC, Xbox
|Xbox 360
|Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PSP, Windows Mobile, Mobile phone
|Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles
|Madden NFL 07
|PS2, NGC, Xbox
|Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
|Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PSP
|Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks
|Madden NFL 08
|PS2, NGC, Xbox
|Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
|Nintendo DS, PSP
|Mac OS X
|Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans / Luis Castillo of the San Diego Chargers (Spanish language version)
|Madden NFL 09
|PS2, Xbox
|Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
|Nintendo DS, PSP
|Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers / Brett Favre of the New York Jets (alternative cover) / Roberto Garza of the Chicago Bears (Spanish language version)
|Madden NFL 10
|Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
|PSP, iOS
|Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals
|Madden NFL 11
|Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
|PSP, iOS
|Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints
|Madden NFL Football
|Madden NFL Football logo
|Madden NFL 12
|Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
|PSP, iOS, Android, BlackBerry Playbook
|Peyton Hillis of the Cleveland Browns
|Madden NFL 13
|Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
|Wii U
|PS Vita, iOS, Android
|Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions
|Madden NFL 25
|Xbox 360, PS3
|Xbox One, PS4
|Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions and Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings
|Madden NFL 15
|Xbox 360, PS3
|Xbox One, PS4
|Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks
1980s: Creation[edit]
|The real reason that I founded Electronic Arts was because I wanted to make computerized versions of games like Strat-O-Matic.
—Trip Hawkins[13]
Trip Hawkins created a clone of the Strat-o-Matic paper and dice-based football simulation game as a teenager. The game was unsuccessful due to its complexity, and he hoped to one day delegate its rules to a computer. At Harvard College, where Hawkins played football for the Crimson, he wrote a football simulation for the PDP-11 minicomputer which, he later said, predicted that the Miami Dolphins would defeat the Minnesota Vikings 23–6 (actually 24–7) in the 1974 Super Bowl.[1][14] After founding Electronic Arts in 1982[1]—"The real reason that I founded [it] was because I wanted to make computerized versions of games like Strat-O-Matic", Hawkins later said[13]—the company began designing a football game for the era's microcomputers. Hawkins first approached childhood hero Joe Montana to endorse the proposed game but the quarterback already had an endorsement deal with Atari, and his second choice, Cal coach Joe Kapp, demanded royalties.[1]
In 1984 Hawkins approached Madden. The CEO and game producer Joe Ybarra arranged a follow-up meeting with the broadcaster during an Amtrak train trip over two days because of Madden's fear of flying.[1][15][16][2] The EA executives promised that the proposed game would be a sophisticated football simulation, and asked the retired Oakland Raiders coach for his name and expertise. Madden knew nothing about computers beyond his telestrator but agreed; he had once taught a class at the University of California, Berkeley called "Football for Fans", and envisioned the program as a tool for teaching and testing plays.[1][7] (Madden still sees the game as an educational tool. When asked in 2012 to describe Madden NFL, he called it "a way for people to learn the game and participate in the game at a pretty sophisticated level."[2]) Hawkins and Ybarra spent the train trip learning football plays and strategies from Madden "from dawn to midnight".[1]
Early plans for the game envisioned six or seven players per team because of technical limitations but Madden insisted on having 11 players per team,[1][2] stating "I'm not putting my name on it if it's not real."[16] Ybarra, who had played chess, not football, in high school, became an expert on the subject through his work, but found that 11 players overwhelmed contemporary home computers. The project took three years, more than twice the length of the average development process, and became known within the company as "Trip's Folly"; Madden believed at times that EA had given up.[1] The company hired Bethesda Softworks to finish the game, but the relationship ended when Bethesda sued for EA's failure to publish new versions of its Gridiron! football game as promised, adding to the delay.[16]
EA already had a copy of Madden's 1980 Raiders playbook, and hired San Francisco Chronicle writer Frank Cooney, who had designed his own figurine football game with numerical skill ratings. Although the company could not yet legally use NFL teams' or players' names, Cooney obtained real plays from NFL teams. Madden turned down the opportunity to buy an "unlimited" number of options for EA stock in its initial public offering, a decision he later called "the dumbest thing I ever did in my life."[1][2]
Using Bethesda's physics engine,[17] John Madden Football debuted in 1988 for the Apple II series of computers.[1] The back of the box called the game "The First Real Football Simulation" and quoted Madden: "Hey, if there aren't 11 players, it isn't real football." Documentation included diagrams of dozens of offensive and defensive plays with Madden's commentary on his coaching strategies and philosophy.[18] Given its sophisticated playbook the game's interface was complex, and Madden's insistence on 11 players caused it to run slowly.[16]
In early 1990 EA hired Park Place Productions to develop Madden for the Sega Genesis video game console. The company had already developed ABC Monday Night Football with "arcade-style, action-heavy" game play, and its Madden also emphasized hyperreality compared to the computer version's focus on exact simulation.[1]
EA reverse engineered the console in hopes of selling the game without paying the standard $8 to $10 license fee per cartridge, then proposed to Sega a compromise of $2 per cartridge and a $2 million cap on the fee. The console maker agreed, afraid that EA would sell its reverse-engineered knowledge to other companies; the agreement saved EA $35 million over the next three years. As its own Joe Montana-endorsed football game would miss the 1990 Christmas shopping season, Sega asked EA to let it sell Madden with the Montana name. EA refused, but offered a crippled alternative that lacked Madden's 3-D graphics and most of its 113 plays.[1] Joe Montana Football sold well despite shipping after Christmas 1990, and remained popular after BlueSky Software took over development.[16] John Madden Football for the Genesis became both the first hugely successful Madden game and the first "industry game-changer" for EA and Sega, however, helping the console to gain market share against the Super Nintendo.[1][16] From 1992 to 1994, Mega placed the game at #1 in their monthly Top 100 Mega Drive Games of All Time.
In 1990, EA producer Richard Hilleman brought in veteran sports game designer Scott Orr, who had founded the mid-1980s Commodore 64 game publisher GameStar, and had led the design of their best-selling sports games. The team of Orr and Hilleman designed and led the development of what is today still recognizable as the modern Madden. Early versions of Madden were created by external development studios such as Bethesda, Visual Concepts, and Stormfront Studios. After Visual Concepts failed to deliver Madden NFL '96 for the new PlayStation in 1995, EA hired Tiburon Entertainment for Madden NFL '97[16] and later acquired the company, centralizing development in-house.[1] EA planned to release John Madden Football as their first sports-based arcade game, but the game was cancelled due to unenthusiastic reactions from play testers.[19] EA's refusal to release Madden and other sports titles for the Sega Dreamcast in 1999 contributed to the console's lack of success and Sega's exit from the hardware market.[16]
Franchise Mode[edit]
|This section requires expansion. (September 2012)
In 1998 Electronic Arts added "Franchise Mode" to Madden, giving players the ability to play multiple seasons, make off-season draft picks, and trade players.[20] Within Franchise Mode, players take on the role of General Manager and manage all personnel matters, including contracts, free agency, draft picks, and hiring and firing coaches. The player also acts as a head coach-like character (although there is a head coach figure in-game), choosing which players to play, making substitutions, running practices, practicing gameplans, etc. Players may play with any of the NFL's 32 franchises, and can choose whether or not to have trade deadlines, salary caps, and if they want to start their Franchise with a 49-round fantasy draft of all active NFL players. Players can also upload created teams for use in the game. Once in game, players run training camp (individual drills for improving players' attributes), play in preseason games and compete in a regular 16-game NFL season, including playoffs and the Super Bowl.The player has the option to play any game in the simulation, including those involving other teams if he so desires, or may simulate through the games as he chooses. Most versions of Madden give a player 30 years with their franchise, sometimes with an opportunity to apply for the Hall of Fame at the end of the simulation.
Madden NFL 2000[edit]
Madden NFL 2000 was the first game for the 2000s decade and it featured many modes and features.
Madden NFL 2001[edit]
Madden NFL 2001 featured a segment called "Great Games" where one would be put in a situation where they control one team and would have to win the game with a set amount of time. If the player wins, they unlock either a new team or a stadium. Overall there were more than 60 teams and over 80 stadiums in Madden NFL 2001.
Madden NFL 2002[edit]
Madden NFL 2002 featured for the first time Create-A-Team. Where one would make a team and play with that team in either Play Now or Franchise mode. It also featured Create-A-League mode but it never caught on. Create-A-Team was not featured in Madden NFL 13 and moving teams was first featured in Madden NFL 2004 called "Stadium" in the Franchise mode of the game. Madden NFL 2002 was the 2nd highest selling game in 2002.
Madden NFL 2003[edit]
There are multiple modes of game play, from a quick head-to-head game to running a team for a whole season or even multiple seasons. Online play, which was a new feature for Madden NFL 2003 (in this version there are also mini-camp challenges) was only available for users of the PlayStation 2 console, Xbox console, or a Microsoft Windows PC until early 2004.
Madden NFL 2004[edit]
Also, starting with Madden NFL 2004, EA Sports created the new Playmaker tool, using the right analog joystick found on each of the adjustments previously unavailable in prior installments of the franchise.[21] One such adjustment includes the ability to switch which direction a running play will go without changing the formation. Prior to the Playmaker tool, the Player could only call one of four available "hot routes." With Playmaker and the use of the right thumb stick, the player is given 4 additional Hot Route options. When the quarterback has the ball the Playmaker Tool can be used to make receivers alter their routes mid-play. When running the ball on offense, the runner can control the direction in which the blocker is going. Defensive alignment adjustments, however, were not available leading to obvious imbalance in favor of the Offensive player.
Madden NFL 2005[edit]
In Madden NFL 2005, EA Sports ran a campaign with the Theme "Fear the D" emphasising their improvements on the "other side of the ball." In an attempt to re-balance the players experience, EA gave a Playmaker Tool to the defense. Similar to the offensive Playmaker Tool, the defensive Playmaker allows the player to make pre-snap defensive adjustments. EA Sports further utilized the right analog joystick on defense by creating the "Hit Stick", an option on defense that allows the controlled player to make big hits, with a simple flick, that increases the chances the ball carrier will fumble. Also introduced for the first time is the "Formation Shift." This new feature allowed players to shift their formation in the pre-snap audible menu without actually changing the play. For example if you call a run play up the middle out of a goal line formation, you could then call a formation shift and make your players spread out into a four wide receiver formation while still in the same running play. The problem with this new function was that EA also added a fatigue penalty for the defense causing defensive players to get more tired each time there was a formation shift. This led to players on offense calling multiple formation shifts each play making the defensive players too exhausted to keep up and force them to substitute out of the game until they are fully rested. This led to more imbalance that could only be fixed by turning off fatigue.
2005 also added "EA Sports Radio", a fictional show that plays during the menu screen of Franchise mode to provide a greater sense of a storyline during gameplay. It features Tony Bruno as the host, who often interviews players and coaches about how the season is going and also has quiz questions in which fake listeners call in to make attempts at answering football-related questions. It included mock interviews of famous NFL players and coaches throughout the in-game season. Some fans have criticized EA Sports for not including new features to the 'programming' as the radio became stale after only two seasons in franchise mode, but the feature drew acclaim for adding content to the Franchise menu. Also added was the Newspaper where the player could look at National News from licensed USA Today and Licensed Local papers for almost each of the 32 NFL teams. Lastly, 2005 also saw the introduction of multiple progressions during franchise mode. Previously NFL players in Madden would only progress or regress at the end of each season. Now at the end of Week 5, 11, and 17 the game would use a program to "progress" players based on their performance in addition to end of season progression.
Madden NFL 06[edit]
In Madden NFL 06, the "Truck Stick" was introduced. This feature allows the offensive player to lower his shoulder and break a tackle, or back juke to avoid one. Another new feature is the Superstar Mode, which allows the player to take control of a rookie, and progress through his career.[22] This includes an IQ test, interviews, workouts, the NFL Draft, hiring an agent, and other aspects of a superstar's life.
EA also introduced the QB Vision feature in the 2006 installment. With this feature, a cone of spotlight emits from the quarterback during passing plays, simulating his field of vision. To make an accurate pass, the quarterback must have his intended receiver in his field of vision. Passing to a receiver not in the cone reduces pass accuracy significantly. The size of the quarterback's vision cone is directly correlated to his Awareness and Passer Accuracy rating; Brett Favre and Peyton Manning see nearly the entire field at once, whereas an inexperienced quarterback such as J.P. Losman or Kyle Boller sees only a sliver of the field.[1] This feature also allows for bigger plays and more interceptions.
Also, EA sports added the Smart Route. This means that when pressing a hot route to the corresponding receiver, you put the analog stick down and the receiver will run to the first down, and you can throw him the ball.
While current gen Madden remained the same with the exception of a "Smart Route" and "QB Vision", this was also the first year Madden was released on the next-gen Xbox 360. It was completely stripped down, almost every change made in the previous gen was wiped away.
Madden NFL 07[edit]
In Madden NFL 07, EA introduced Lead Blocker Controls which allow users to control blockers during running plays. In addition, EA redefined the Truck Stick into the Highlight Stick. With the Highlight Stick, users can have their running backs perform different running moves and combos, instead of just bowling over defenders. Truck Stick features still exist for bigger backs, but not for smaller backs who would never realistically use them anyway. Instead, more agile backs perform acrobatic ducks and dodges to avoid tackles.[23]
Madden NFL 08[edit]
In Madden NFL 08, the Weapons feature was added, allowing superstar players to be noticed. Randy Moss, for example, is a Go-To-Guy, allowing him to make amazing one-handed grabs. Peyton Manning is a Franchise QB. It also includes new skill drills, Hit Stick 2.0, and Ring of a Champion features. Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young is on the cover. Madden NFL 08 was also the last Nintendo Gamecube game ever released. 2008 marked the last year of the PC version of the game.
Madden NFL 09[edit]
Madden NFL 09 was released on August 12, 2008. Citing business concerns, EA chose not to release it on the PC platform.[24] The game features quarterback Brett Favre on the front cover.[25] Madden NFL 09 was the first of the series to offer online, league game play, allowing up to 32 players to compete in an online, simulated NFL season. According to EA Sports Senior Producer Phil Frazier, up to 32 players will be able to participate in competitive games, the NFL Draft and conduct trades between their teams. The game was also the first of the series to incorporate a Madden IQ. The Madden IQ is used to automatically gauge your skills through a series of mini-games consisting of run offense, pass offense, run defense, and pass defense. At the end of each of the drills, the player receives a score ranging from rookie to all-Madden. The final Madden IQ is a mixture of those scores which is used to control the game's difficulty.[1][26][27]
Madden NFL 10[edit]
Madden NFL 10 was released on August 14, 2009.[28] Compared to previous iterations, Madden NFL 10 has been extremely transparent with its development efforts, maintaining a weekly blog updates as well as a constant presence on various message boards. A new design team has also taken over the game, including members from NFL Head Coach 09. The direction of Madden NFL 10 has been shifted to much more of a realistic and simulation focus, with info already released including Procedural Awareness (a robust head tracking system), a new philosophy on player ratings, and big improvements to realism in QB play, WR/DB play, and other areas across the game. Madden 10 has several new features including the PRO-TAK animation technology, which allows up to nine man gang tackles and fumble pile-ups to help players 'fight for every yard', in this year's tagline. Madden 10 also features an in-game weekly recap show called The Extra Point. Madden 10 offers a series of multiple play packages. This allows for more options to score. This version features a completely overhauled rating system for players, featuring new categories such as throw on the run and specific ratings for short, medium, and deep passes.[29] The Wii version has been criticized for the cartoon-like graphics, as opposed to the more realistic graphics of the other platform releases.[citation needed] The game's soundtrack features rap, alternative rock, rap metal and hard rock bands such as Nirvana, Pantera, System of a Down, and Kid Rock.
Madden NFL 11[edit]
Madden NFL 11 was released on July 27, 2010 (moved up from its original release date of August 10, 2010 for promotional reasons[30]), and features Drew Brees on the cover. It features several new additions to the franchise, such as Online Team Play,[31] Online Scouting[32] and online attribute boosts for co-op play.[33] Along with these new game additions is a new rating (sponsored by Old Spice) known as Swagger.[34] Although early speculation was that this new rating would be reflective of "confidence" or "composure," it was quickly confirmed to be directly tied to a player's personality for celebrations.[35]
Madden NFL 12[edit]
Madden NFL 12 was released on August 25, 2011. The release was delayed by two weeks due to the NFL lockout,[36] and features Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis on the cover. However there is a limited edition in which the cover features St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk.
Madden NFL 13[edit]
Madden NFL 13 was released on August 28, 2012, and features Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson as the cover athlete. Madden NFL 13 is the first Madden game to be released on the PlayStation Vita, and is also the first game in the series to have Kinect support as well as a new physics engine promoting real in game physics.[37]
Madden NFL 13 included a complete revamp to online franchise mode which became known as Connected Careers Mode (CCM). Some of the new CCM features included player contracts, the ability to trade draft picks, a salary cap, and up to 30 seasons worth of gameplay.[38]
Madden NFL 25[edit]
In early 2013, EA Sports announced that the next installment of the Madden series was released on August 27, 2013. As this installment is the 25th anniversary of the series,[39] the game is called Madden NFL 25, instead of Madden NFL 14 with the year like the previous versions.[40] The cover vote consisted of two brackets containing past players ("Old School") and active players ("New School").[41]
"Old School" player and Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders was chosen as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 25 on the April 24, 2013, episode of ESPN's SportsNation. The "New School" finalist was Adrian Peterson.[42]
Madden NFL 15[edit]
On March 13, 2014 EA Sports posted on its website that user would be able to design and submit uniforms for Connected Careers by March 17, 2014 for "the next Madden NFL."[43] On April 28, 2014, EA announced the release of Madden 15 pre-ordering in a release video with NFL linebacker and Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly. The game was released August 26 in North America and on August 29 in the EU for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. The game will feature "dramatic all-new camera angles, as well as dynamic pre-game and halftime features."[44] During the Detroit Lions 10th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, Barry Sanders announced fans again would be able to vote for the cover athlete.[45] On June 6, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was announced as the cover athlete.[46]
License history and spinoffs[edit]
Until 1993, the Madden series did not have official licenses from the National Football League or National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). Madden NFL '94 was the first game in the series to include real NFL teams, and Madden NFL '95 added an NFLPA license for real players through the National Football League Players Incorporated (NFLPI).[47] The licenses restrict EA from including certain content in current Madden games, such as the humorous ambulance that picks up injured players in 1991's John Madden Football II.[1] The NFL Coaches Association sold the rights to have NFL coaches' names appear in the Madden NFL games; Madden NFL 2001 was the first game in the series to feature this license.[48] Neither New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick nor Bill Parcells appeared in the game as they are not members of the NFL Coaches Association. Likewise, non-NFLPA players (such as Thurman Thomas during his playing career) do not appear in the game, instead being replaced with generic placeholders.
In 2004, EA signed an exclusive license through 2009 with the NFL and the NFLPI to give the company the exclusive rights to use the NFL's teams, stadia, and players in a video game.[49] This exclusive license prevents other official NFL video games. The deal, reportedly worth $300 million and later extended to 2013,[1] has been widely criticized. Some competitors, such as the Blitz: The League series, have elected to continue, seeking to distinguish themselves through innovative gameplay while others, such as the NFL 2K series, have ceased production. In 2007, 2K Sports released All Pro Football 2K8, which used former NFL stars.
Head Coach series[edit]
In August 2006, EA Sports debuted NFL Head Coach, which utilized the Madden engine to create a football management simulation. The game was criticized as buggy and unrealistic. EA Tiburon rebuilt the game from the ground up, addressing flaws and creating a proprietary engine, over the course of three years. NFL Head Coach 09 was released on August 12, 2008 bundled with the special edition of Madden NFL 09 and as a standalone game on September 2, 2008.
Madden Arcade[edit]
Released on November 24, 2009,[50] the game is 5-on-5 and takes the best 10 players from each of the 32 NFL teams.[51]
Madden NFL Football[edit]
Madden NFL Football was released as the launch title for the Nintendo 3DS on March 27, 2011.[52]
Madden Curse[edit]
Prior to 1999, every annual installment of the Madden NFL series primarily featured Madden on its cover.[1][53] In 1999, Electronic Arts selected Garrison Hearst to appear on the PAL version's cover, and has since featured one of the league's top players on every annual installment[54] despite Madden's opposition.[1]
While appearing on the cover has become an honor akin to appearing on the Wheaties box,[1] much like the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx, certain players who appeared on Madden video game box art have experienced a decline in performance, usually due to an injury.
- Garrison Hearst appearing on the 1999 PAL cover was known to be the "start" of the curse, as after his appearance, he broke his ankle and was out for two seasons. Upon his return, however, Hearst rushed for 1,206 yards and won his second NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
- After Barry Sanders' appearance on the 2000 cover (as a background element), Sanders abruptly retired before training camp,[55] falling just short of the record for most career rushing yards.
- Dorsey Levens appeared on the PAL version of the 2000 game, and the Green Bay Packers, whom Levens was playing for at the time, failed to make the 2000 playoffs, and Levens was eventually released the year later.
- After Eddie George appeared on the 2001 cover, the Tennessee Titans lost in the divisional round in the 2000 playoffs. Late in the 4th quarter with the Titans down 17–10, a Steve McNair pass was bobbled by George and intercepted by Ray Lewis for a touchdown, sealing the game. George also never averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry for the rest of his career.[56]
- Daunte Culpepper led the Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs in 2000, but after appearing on the Madden NFL 2002 cover, he threw 23 interceptions as the Vikings slumped to a 5–11 record.[57] He also tied the record for most fumbles in a single season. While his career looked to be back on track in 2004 with a career season, he blew out both knees in 2005 and 2006 and never resembled the player he was at the start of the decade.
- Marshall Faulk appeared on the 2003 cover, and his career (and the success of the St. Louis Rams) severely declined afterwards. He did not register another 1,000-yard rushing season and his yards per carry average dropped from a consistent 5.4 over the previous three years to 4.5 in 2002 and 4.0 in 2003 and 2004. He started 21 out of a possible 32 games from 2002–2003 as knee injuries got the better of him. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery in 2005 and retired that same year.[58] Since 2007, the Rams have a record of 22–73–1.
- After appearing on the cover of Madden NFL 2004, Michael Vick broke his fibula in a pre-season game against the Baltimore Ravens,[59] and the Atlanta Falcons went 5–11. Years later it was discovered that he participated in an illegal dog-fighting ring and he was sent to prison.
- Ray Lewis, 2005 cover athlete and middle linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, had his season cut short in week 15 with a wrist injury.[60] It was also Lewis' first season without an interception.
- In 2006, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb tore his ACL and meniscus in his right knee while jumping out of bounds in a game versus the Tennessee Titans, ending his season.[61] McNabb also suffered a sports hernia in the first game of the season.
- Running back Shaun Alexander, then the league's reigning Most Valuable Player, was featured on the cover of Madden NFL 07, and sustained a foot injury that caused him to miss six starts.[62] As a result, Alexander's rushing statistics were substantially less than those from the previous season, and he never returned to true form.[62] Alexander himself has asked, "Do you want to be hurt and on the cover, or just hurt?"[63]
- In 2007, GameSpot and CNBC reported that a large number of LaDainian Tomlinson's fans, who believed in the Madden Curse, were strongly opposed to EA Sports' initial decision to feature him on the cover of Madden NFL 08, so much that a fan created SaveLTfromMadden.com to voice their disdain.[64][65][66] Tomlinson eventually declined the offer, but stated it was solely due to contract negotiations.[66]
- Madden NFL 08 cover featured Vince Young, the starting quarterback of the Tennessee Titans. Young missed one game of the 2007 season due to a minor injury, but for the rest of the season was roughly even with his 2006 performance. When Young appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to officially announce that he would appear on the cover of Madden NFL 08 he derided allegations of becoming the curse's next victim, and stated, "I've done prayed about it and we're gonna go home and try to get to the playoffs and try to get to the Super Bowl. We'll see what happens."[67][68] In contrast, Young suffered longer-term injuries in 2008 (from which he came back in 2009) and 2010, which, combined with a coaching dispute, led to the Titans releasing Young prior to the 2011 season. Young played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011, Young himself declaring the Eagles were a "Dream Team". The Eagles finished 8–8 in 2011 and 4–12 in 2012. Young was released by the Eagles in Spring 2012. Young was signed by the Buffalo Bills in May 2012, but was cut by the Bills prior to the 2012 regular season. In August 2013, Young was signed by the Green Bay Packers but was released before the regular season began. This after Young stated in 2007, he would one day "be in the Hall of Fame".[69]
- Luis Castillo appeared on the Spanish version of Madden NFL 08,[70] and broke his tibia during the first game of the 2011 NFL season. He was released by the San Diego Chargers for the second time on July 19, 2012.
- Brett Favre appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 09 as a Green Bay Packer, under the impression that Favre was retired. However, shortly after the decision, Favre came back out of retirement and was traded to the New York Jets,[71] where he was plagued by poor on-field performance and an off-field sexual harassment scandal.[72] He also suffered an ankle injury as a Jet and later suffered a shoulder injury as a Viking that would end his career.[73]
- On September 10, 2009, Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals and safety Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, were both featured on the cover of Madden NFL 10. Since this was the first year that there were two athletes on the cover, many believed the Madden Curse would be split up evenly between Polamalu and Fitzgerald. Others speculated that the curse would cause twice the damage to these athletes. Polamalu sprained his MCL in the first half of the season opener[74] and missed the next four games. After returning, Polamalu played in three more games before injuring his posterior cruciate ligament on November 14, 2009 against Cincinnati, and missed more games as a result. The Steelers went 9–7 and missed the playoffs. Fitzgerald, on the other hand, started all 16 regular season and both playoff games for the Cardinals. He did not attend the Pro Bowl due to a rib injury, leaving Steve Smith of the New York Giants to take his spot in the 2010 Pro Bowl. He recorded 97 receptions (third-most of his NFL career), 1,092 yards (fourth-most), and a career-high 13 touchdowns.[75]
- Madden NFL 11 cover athlete and New Orleans Saint Drew Brees played in every game of the 2010 NFL season. However, he threw twice as many interceptions (22) that season as in the 2009 Super Bowl-winning campaign (11). Also, his quarterback rating dropped nearly 20 points, and the Saints lost in the first round of the playoffs to the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks, the only team to date to make the playoffs with a losing record in a full-length season. He made the 2011 Pro Bowl as a reserve, after being unable to participate in the 2010 Pro Bowl, as the Saints had made the Super Bowl. Brees played 6 weeks of the NFL season with a torn MCL, a fact that was first outed by his teammate, Heath Evans,[76] later confirmed by another teammate, Jon Stinchcomb[77] and, eventually, Brees himself.[78] More recently, the Saints were implicated in a bounty scandal. The Saints lost draft picks, and head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the 2012 NFL season. Former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was the subject of the scandal, was suspended indefinitely. Williams was re-instated in 2013 and signed with the Tennessee Titans.[79]
- Madden NFL 12 cover athlete Peyton Hillis missed five games in the 2011 NFL season with a hamstring injury and missed one game with strep throat, causing his numbers to decline continuously after the second week. Hillis suffered a re-injury to his hamstring during practice before week nine. In addition, his divisive behavior in the Browns locker room during the season, particularly with regards to his contentious contract negotiations, were the subject of much media attention. Hillis eventually left the Browns, signing a with the Kansas City Chiefs during the off season as a free agent.[80] When asked about his significant decline, Hillis pointed towards the infamous Madden curse as a factor, saying "Things didn't work in my favor this year. There's a few things that happened this year that made me believe in curses. Ain't no doubt about it.".[81] Three weeks into the 2013 NFL Season Hillis was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since his excellent 2011 season, he played for 3 teams and amassed less than 1,000 yards rushing.[82]
- Madden NFL 13 features Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson on the cover. Johnson was not affected by the "curse", breaking Jerry Rice's single-season receiving record of 1,848 yards and many other records as well. He ended the season 36 yards shy of being the first receiver ever to have 2,000 yards receiving.[83] However the Detroit Lions, Johnson's team, finished with only 4 wins and 12 losses. In May 2013, Johnson admitted to playing with broken fingers throughout the season.[84]
- Madden NFL 25 featured both retired Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on the cover. Peterson, the NFL's reigning MVP, was hampered by foot injuries and played only 14 games. His season ended on December 28, 2013 when it was announced that he was downgraded from 'doubtful' to 'out' for the next day's game versus the Detroit Lions. He finished the season with 1,266 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, and an additional 171 receiving yards. The Vikings' record also fell from 10–6 in 2012 to 5–10–1 in 2013 including a tie vs the Green Bay Packers. Sanders, however, wasn't directly affected by the curse. The Lions were 6–3 and leading the NFC North after Week 10. They would go on to drop 5 of their next 6 games and lose control of their own playoff destiny. Eventually, they were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 with a 23–20 overtime loss to the New York Giants.
When asked about the "Madden Curse", Chris Erb, the EA Sports director of marketing, commented, "I don't know that we believe in the curse. The players don't believe in the curse."[63] To earn the honor of being put on the game cover, a player is usually coming off of a strong year and some regression the following year is to be expected, though many cover athletes had season-ending injuries. The injuries that Madden cover athletes experience could be attributed to the physical nature of football.[63]
Starting with Madden NFL 11 fans have voted to choose the cover athlete.[85] Whether or not the Madden Curse exists, EA believes that many fans voted against their favorite player in hopes of avoiding it.[2] The Madden Curse has become so prominent, that it's even gained the attention of the gambling world, creating odds on how likely an injury will occur to the player appearing on the cover.[86] In December 2010, EA announced their plans on developing a movie based on the Curse, which will be a comedy, and not based on fate-based horror movies like Final Destination.[87] However, EA Entertainment executive Pat O'Brien revealed in October 2014 that EA is not working on a Madden Curse movie. [88]
Madden Bowl[edit]
The Madden Bowl is a single elimination tournament held on the most current edition of Madden NFL. It has been held since 1995 during Super Bowl weekend in the host city and, in the past, participation included NFL players and celebrities. The Madden Bowl's participation has changed over the years from being an event held with athletes, musicians, and celebrities, to become an event where only NFL players who are invited to participate get a chance to play. Participants in the Madden Bowl are free to choose whichever team they like. Winners receive a Madden Bowl trophy and recognition in the upcoming Madden video game.
The 2006 Madden Bowl, held during the weekend of Super Bowl XL in Detroit, Michigan, was televised on ESPN and premiered in April 2006. It is not to be confused with Madden Nation, which was a reality television show that chronicled a cross-country trip to crown the best Madden player in America, which also aired on ESPN.
As of 2011, the Madden Bowl competition utilizes the new Online Team Play feature included in Madden NFL 11. Rather than competing as individuals, players form groups of three to square-off for the trophy.
Madden Bowl winners[edit]
- 1995: Reggie Brooks
- 1996: Reggie Brooks
- 1997: Jimmy Spencer
- 1998: Morris Chestnut
- 1999: Ray Mickens
- 2000: Terry Jackson
- 2001: Jacquez Green
- 2002: Jacquez Green
- 2003: Dwight Freeney
- 2004: Dwight Freeney
- 2005: Michael Lewis
- 2006: Alex Smith
- 2007: Alex Smith
- 2008: Willis McGahee
- 2009: Antonio Bryant
- 2010: Maurice Jones-Drew
- 2011: Patrick Willis, Chad Ochocinco, and Maria Menounos
- 2012: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, and Tim Tebow
- 2013: LeSean McCoy
- 2014: Richard Sherman
Rookie Madden Bowl winners[edit]
- 2006: Alex Smith
- 2007: Vince Young
- 2008: Devin Thomas
- 2009: Vernon Gholston
Annual EA Super Bowl simulation[edit]
Since 2004, EA games has run a simulation of the Super Bowl using the latest game in the Madden NFL series and announced the result. The game simulations conducted by EA have correctly predicted eight of the last eleven Super Bowl winners. The predictions were incorrect in 2008, 2011, and in 2014. EA also releases a computer-generated description of the simulated game as if it were a summary of the real Super Bowl. The results of the simulated and actual Super Bowl games are listed below.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Hruby, Patrick. "The Franchise" ESPN, 5 August 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bissell, Tom (2012-01-17). "Kickoff: Madden NFL and the Future of Video Game Sports". Grantland. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ a b c Pham, Alex (2002-01-31). "Odds-On Favorite". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ Yoon, Peter (2011-06-08). "Alterraun Verner's lockout to-do list". ESPN. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ^ Tach, Dave (8 January 2014). "Museum of the Moving Image looks back on 25 years of Madden". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ Adams, Ernest (2002-04-26). "Putting Madden in Madden: Memoirs of an EA Sports Video Producer". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
- ^ a b Markazi, Arash (2009-08-21). "John Madden talks retirement, video game, plans for '09 season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ Robinson, Jon (May 21, 2010). "Gus Johnson joins 'Madden NFL 11' booth". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
- ^ "Madden NFL 13 Features: Presentation". EA Sports. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ^ "John Madden Football - 3DO". IGN. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
- ^ "John Madden Football '93 for 3DO (1994)". MobyGames. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
- ^ Madden NFL 25 Available August 27
- ^ a b Lemire, Joe (2011-02-10). "Strat-O-Matic more than a game for its founder and devotees". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ Ferrell, Keith (May 1988). "These Are a Few of Their Favorite Games". Compute!. p. 14. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
- ^ Pham, Alex (2009-04-17). "Popular Madden NFL game will continue". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Fahs, Travis (2008-08-06). "IGN Presents the History of Madden". IGN. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
- ^ The Escapist :
- ^ "John Madden Football by Electronic Arts". Commodore 64 Boxed Sets. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
- ^ "Off the Wall at AMOA". GamePro (66) (IDG). January 1995. p. 34.
- ^ September 04, 1998 (1998-09-04). "Madden NFL 99 the best PC football game bar none - CNN". Articles.cnn.com. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
- ^ Navarro, Alex (2003-07-09). "Madden NFL 2004 Impressions". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ Ekberg, Brian (2005-07-01). "Madden NFL 06 Superstar Mode Preview". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ Navarro, Alex (2006-08-22). "Madden NFL 07 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ Ars Technica: "Another blow for PC gaming: EA drops PC version of Madden '09" April 3, 2008
- ^ ESPN.com: "Favre chosen for Madden 09 cover", April 25, 2008
- ^ "Madden NFL 09 Preseason Report", April 25, 2008
- ^ "Madden NFL 09 First Hands On", May 22, 2008
- ^ Gamespot: EA Answers Your Questions
- ^ NASCAR - Sporting News
- ^ daren sprolles lands cover of `Madden' video game
- ^ New Madden 11 Video Talks Online Team Play with Designers | GoMadden
- ^ Madden 11 to Introduce Enhanced Online Scouting | GoMadden
- ^ Madden 11 Boosts to be Purchasable | GoMadden
- ^ Madden 11 Has Lots of Swagger… Literally | GoMadden
- ^ Madden 11 Swagger is Pure Personality | GoMadden
- ^ "'Madden NFL 12' release delayed three weeks". Pro Football Weekly. April 13, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
- ^ Stein, Scott (2012-08-24). "Madden 13 on Vita and Kinect: New technology in the huddle | Crave - CNET". News.cnet.com. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
- ^ "Madden 13: Online Franchise Replaced by Connected Careers Mode". e-Athlete.net. 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
- ^ "Madden 25 Coming Soon". easports.com. January 29, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
- ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (February 1, 2013). "EA confirms Madden NFL 25". IGN. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (March 12, 2013). "Forte in running for Madden cover". Chicago Bears. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
- ^ "Barry Sanders wins Madden vote". ESPN. April 24, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ^ "DESIGN LOGOS AND UNIFORMS FOR THE NEXT MADDEN NFL". EA Sports. 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
- ^ "Madden NFL 15 Available on August 26". EA Sports. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
- ^ "Madden NFL 15 Cover Vote Now Underway". EA Sports. 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
- ^ Farrar, Doug. "Seahawks CB Richard Sherman wins Madden NFL 15 cover vote". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ^ "Then And Now: Madden Football Turns Twenty". GameSpot. 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
- ^ Ajami, Amer (2000-05-13). "Madden NFL 2001 First Impressions". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
- ^ "EA and NFL ink exclusive licensing agreement". Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ Madden NFL Arcade Review - PlayStation 3 Review at IGN
- ^ Madden NFL Game News | The latest news from Madden NFL | EA SPORTS | EA SPORTS
- ^ Madden NFL Football 3DS Hands-On - GameSpot.com
- ^ "Favre a Victim of the 'Madden Curse?'". myfoxnewisconsin.com (WLUK-TV). 2008-07-17. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ Mikkelson, Barbara; David P. Mikkelson (2007-10-21). "The Madden Curse". Snopes.com. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
- ^ EA Sports. "Barry Sanders - Madden 2000 - The Madden Cover Curse - Photos". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ EA Sports. "Eddie George - Madden 2001 - The Madden Cover Curse". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ EA Sports. "Daunte Culpepper - Madden 2002 - The Madden Cover Curse - Photos". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ EA Sports. "Marshall Faulk - Madden 2003 - The Madden Cover Curse - Photos". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ EA Sports. "Michael Vick - Madden 2004 - The Madden Cover Curse - Photos". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ EA Sports. "Ray Lewis - Madden 2005 - The Madden Cover Curse - Photos". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Torn ACL ends McNabb's year; swelling delays surgery". ESPN.com. 2006-11-22. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ a b "Seahawks' Alexander out indefinitely with foot fracture". The Associated Press (ESPN). 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
- ^ a b c Pearson, Greg (2007-07-09). "Chapter, verse on the curse". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
- ^ "Chargers fans plead to keep LT off Madden cover". GameStop. 2007-04-16. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
- ^ McWhertor, Michael (2007-04-16). "Fans Want Madden Coverboy Dropped, Fear The Curse". Kotaku. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
- ^ a b Rovell, Darren (2008-07-18). "Tomlinson Turns Down Madden, Rutgers Coach Cashes In, No Texting & Another MJ". CNBC. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
- ^ Orland, Kyle (2007-04-18). "Vince Young talks Madden curse on Jimmy Kimmel Live". Joystiq. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
- ^ Malinowski, Erik (2007-04-18). "Tomlinson Turned down 'Madden 08' Cover". Wired. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
- ^ "The "Invincible" Vince Young". CBS News.
- ^ Brown, Larry (2007-10-16). "Will Madden Curse Strike Luis Castillo?". AOL News. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
- ^ "Jets set for Brett: Packers legend headed to New York". ESPN. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Brett Favre Sued for Sexual Harassment - Sports Blog". CBS News. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ McClure, Vaughn (2010-12-20). "Wootton's first sack has major impact". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Madden Curse strikes Troy Polamalu". Los Angeles Times. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
- ^ "Larry Fitzgerald Game By Game Stats and Performance - Arizona Cardinals". ESPN. 1983-08-31. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Heath Evans, others say Drew Brees played with torn MCL". Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Report: Saints say Drew Brees played six weeks with Jay Cutler's injury". Msn.foxsports.com. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ Chase, Chris. "SC Interview: Brees says he played this season with a torn MCL". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Sean Payton suspended, Saints fined for bounty program". USA Today. 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Peyton Hillis leaves Browns for fresh start with Chiefs". NFL.com. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "After tough season, Cleveland Browns' Peyton Hillis a believer in Madden video game curse". ESPN. 2011-12-30. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers release RB Peyton Hillis".
- ^ Trister, Noah (2012-12-30). "Bears Beat Lions 26-24 But Miss Playoffs". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
- ^ Marc Sessler (May 20, 2013). "Megatron: I had broken fingers during historic season". Around the League. National Football League. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5125018&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
- ^ "Would Madden Curse Topple Calvin "Megatron"Johnson?". Sportsbettingonline.ag. 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Electronic Arts Developing MADDEN CURSE Movie". Collider.com. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ Koopa, Ludwig (12 December 2014). "Madden Curse Movie: CANCELED!?". KoopaTV. KoopaTV. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ Madden NFL Game News | The latest news from Madden NFL | EA SPORTS | EA SPORTS
- ^ Madden NFL 2005: Super Bowl XXXIX Prediction - Xbox
- ^ Madden Predicts Super Bowl Winner
- ^ EA Sports Madden NFL 07 Predicts Super Bowl XLI - Xbox
- ^ EA Sports Predicts The Giants/Patriots Super Bowl XLII Winner | RipTen Videogame Blog
- ^ News | EA SPORTS
- ^ Game Blogs - Yahoo! Games
- ^ Steelers will win Super Bowl XLV, predicts Madden 11 | Games Blog - Yahoo! Games
- ^ Doug Aamoth (2012-01-30). "Madden NFL 12 Simulates Super Bowl – Last-Second Kick Wins It All". Time.
- ^ "Madden, Right In 7 of Its Last 9 Picks, Says Baltimore Wins Super Bowl XLVII". Time. 2013-01-28.
- ^ http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/broncos-win-super-bowl-xlviii-predicts-madden-nfl-144805173.html
Further reading[edit]
- Suellentrop, Chris (January 25, 2010). "Game Changers: How Videogames Trained a Generation of Athletes". Wired (February 2010) 18 (2). Retrieved August 5, 2013.
External links[edit]


text:
Free information about stuff it pays to know.
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Format Dell laptop
If you need to reformat your Dell laptop and your system did not come with restore disks, you should not reformat using a standard windows disk because you will have to find the drivers for the graphics, sound, video etc.
Chances are, you probably have a partition on your system that contains the restore files. This makes it extremely easy to restore your system to factory defaults.
Before you start, MAKE SURE YOU BACK UP ALL FILES because this process will restore EVERYTHING to default. Backups should include your \'My Documents\' folder, mail, favourites, ftp settings, internet connection settings.
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text:
July 21
Summer Fitness Classes. A variety of free fitness classes will be offered during Summer Session. Hydrorobics — Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:15-7:15 a.m., McPhee Pool; Combo Class — Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:15-7:15 a.m., McPhee 127; Spinning — Mondays and Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m.; and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., McPhee 127; Step and Strength — Mondays and Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m., McPhee 127; and Deep Water Hydrorobics — Wednesdays, 6:15-7:15 a.m., McPhee Pool. On-site seated massage and table massage are available during Summer Session. Call 836-3377 to make an appointment or visit the University Recreation Web site for more information.
Music on the Mall. Featuring the Billy Krause Trio, an acoustic group that performs enjoyable, non-mainstream music. Billy Krause, Chuck Roll and Mike Quick are veteran musicians who have worked for more than 30 years in many formats — as solo artists, in small ensembles, and in table-thumping electric roadhouse bands. Audience members are invited to bring blankets or folding chairs for lawn seating. Central Campus Mall (rain site: Schofield Auditorium), 7 p.m.
July 22
Summer Session Films. "Ordinary People." (U.S. 1980, directed by Robert Redford, 124 minutes, rated R.) The Oscar-winning Best Picture of 1980 studies a wealthy suburban family in the aftermath of a tragedy — the accidental death of its elder son, and the attempted suicide of its younger. At age 19, Timothy Hutton became the youngest person to receive the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Mary Tyler Moore is the perfect mother who insists that the family can solve its own problems; and Donald Sutherland is the father who tries to hold his shattered family together. Davies Theatre, noon and 7 p.m. Also July 24.
July 23
Retirement Reception. The university community is invited to a retirement reception for Penny France, Human Resources. Schofield 220, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
July 24
Summer Session Films. "Ordinary People." Davies Theatre, noon and 7 p.m. See July 22 item.
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
Music on the Mall Final Performance. Featuring Tom Brill performing the great songs of the 1960s. If you remember The Searchers, The Rivieras, Paul Revere and The Raiders, The Fortunes, Gene Pitney, Terry Stafford, Wilson Pickett, The Vogues and, of course, The Beatles, then you'll have a ball with Tom Brill (The Memories) as he revisits these great artists and their music. Audience members are invited to bring blankets or folding chairs for lawn seating. Central Campus Mall (rain site: Schofield Auditorium), 7 p.m.
Summer Bulletin • Vol. 3, No. 7 • Seventh Week • Summer Session • July 21, 2003
Liz Wolf Green, Editor, UW-Eau Claire News Bureau, Schofield 201, (715) 836-4741
Diane Walkoff, Editorial Assistant. Updated: July 15, 2003


text:
The ISC Launches DLV (Go DNS-SEC!)
June 22nd, 2006 by SecuriTeam, Filed under: Commentary
dns-sec, what a lame excuse for a well-run project by the ietf. it's been more… more than a decade since the development started and we are still not there.
the isc (people who develop and maintain bind and other useful tools, maintain a couple of dns root servers, etc.) announced dlv, a tool with which dns-sec can be deployed without the need to use the infrastructure. you can start your own dlv registry.
it is an important step in getting to dns-sec which is long over-due, not to mention get rid of domain hijacking and other such nuisances.
you can read more about it at circleid/
in my opinion other than providing the world with a great tool and for a way for people to make more money, the isc may be thinking of pressuring the ietf to move it's behind.
gadi evron,


text:
EA-published shooter Crysis 2 has reappeared on Valve's Steam service after being pulled last year due to issues with the way the digital marketplace handles DLC.
A revised version of the Crytek-developed FPS called Crysis 2: Maximum Edition has now been given the all-clear to be sold on Steam.
"Changes made by Crytek to Crysis 2: Maximum Edition have brought the game in compliance with Steam's terms of service," an EA spokesperson confirmed to Kotaku.
The disappearance of Crysis 2 from Steam coincided with the launch of EA's rival Origin service, leading many to speculate the move was a power play by the publisher. However, according to EA, games like Crysis and Battlefield were removed from Steam as they didn't conform to "restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to deliver patches and other downloadable content" - restrictions which the publisher claims no other digital platform has.
In March, EA confirmed in a financial call that Origin had 9.3 million users.


text:
Nationality: Australian
Date of birth: 12 December 1991
Place of birth: Adelaide
Speciality: road - sprints, track - endurance
Height: 171 cm
Weight: 65 kg
The South Australian experienced a meteoric rise to the top of junior track cycling winning multiple national titles and medals at world championships events. She repeatedly broke records in the process.
Three years after she began to ride, Nettie took an indefinite break from the sport when she lost the passion for racing. Away from the bike, she traveled, worked part-time jobs and grappled with what she felt she had left unaccomplished when she left the sport. Over time, she realized that she had retired prematurely. She returned to racing in 2011 with the intention of specializing in the newest addition to the Olympic track programme – the omnium
Nettie's comeback was hugely successful by any account. Eight months after she returned to racing she was the 2011 Australian Omnium and Scratch Race Champion. The following year, she earned as silver medal in both the omnium and team pursuit at the Track World Championships before taking bronze in London.
While Nettie's track results suggest a strength in sprinting, Sport Director David McPartland suspects he may have a talented all-rounder on his hands. He watched her race over an undulating course in the Czech Republic two years ago and was pleasantly surprised at how well she handled the hills. He expects her development on the road to be as exciting as her early years on the track.
During the 2013 season, Nettie will focus on the track through the Track World Championships before joining the team in Europe the second half of the road season.
Career Highlights
1st Australian National Track Championships, Individual Pursuit (2012)
1st Australian National Track Championships, Points Race (2012)
1st Omloop Rond het Ronostrand (2012)
1st Australian National Track Championships, Omnium (2011)
1st Australian National Track Championships, Scratch Race (2011)
1st Ronde van Oudenbosch (2011)
2nd Track World Championships, Omnium (2012)
2nd Track World Championships, Team Pursuit (2012)
2nd London World Cup, Omnium (2012)
2nd Australian National Track Championships, Scratch Race (2012)
2nd Tour de Feminin – O cenu Ceskeho Svycarska, Stages 1, 2 (2011)
2nd Rendition Homes – Santos Women's Cup Overall (2011)
3rd London Olympics, Omnium (2012)
3rd London World Cup, Team Pursuit (2012)


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I must tell you all, that as Belgian, that this indeed is a great restaurant. They give a verry nice menu with a lovelly service. The atmosphere is like Paris, they... more
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Water & Wastewater Companies in Prince Edward Island
Biogt Group (M) Sdn Bhd
based in Rawang, MALAYSIA
Biogt Group (M) Sdn Bhd is one of the leading manufacturer of grease trap in Malaysia. We produce more than 17 different models of grease. Our grease trap have been recognized by many Malaysian local municipality and approved by SIRIM and other lab. We guarantee that our products will satisfy you and fulfill all your requirements, including all requirements set by ...
Rotomac Industries Pvt.Ltd
based in Kanpur, INDIA
based in Zaragoza, SPAIN
DICSA is a company specialized in manufacturing stainless steel hydraulic fittings (AISI 304, AISI 316L, Superduplex...). We have high technology machines that guarantee a high quality. More than 40.000 part numbers, 10.000 m² of modern facilities and the versatility of our machines, let us undertake with quick deliveries to our customers. We offer a wide range of ...
based in TURKEY
Kazeloğulları Ltd Company was established in Konya in 1982 and it has been manufacturing pump series, valve series, tank series, power take of data and fitting equipments with the high technological background and its professionalist staff.Our Firm has ISO 9001-2008 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM certificate and serves in its 11000 m2 open and 6000 m2 closed modern ...
based in St-Ignace de Stanbridge, QUEBEC (CANADA)
Founded in 1978, the family business specializes in the sale and maintenance of agricultural equipment and lawn gardens. Located in St-Ignace de Stanbridge this business is growing constantly growing seeking to increase our expertise in equipment for municipalities and sports fields. Baraby equipments will not deliver products to an address outside of Canada.
Miller Technology Inc.
based in North Bay, ONTARIO (CANADA)
We design, manufacture and support underground mining products for personnel carriers, utility trucks, utility tractors such as the; Toyota Landcruiser, Toyota Hurth, Miller Truck, Miller Max, Triple 4ce, Etrac, Manbasket, Aerial Boom, Scissorlift, Cable Reel Trailer, Torque Tester and Miller Lifter.
Entico Corporation Ltd
based in London, UNITED KINGDOM
Entico specialises in delivering high quality publications and online content for the environmental and development sector. For the past 10 years the company has worked closely with the United Nations, national governments and international organisations raising public awareness of their ambitions and achievements. The company is best known for its work with Responding to ...
JASCO Research Ltd
based in Victoria, BRITISH COLUMBIA (CANADA)
JASCO Research is an international company with over 25 years experience providing consulting services to the Marine Industrial, Oceanographic, Oil & Gas, Fisheries, Defence and IT sectors.
Energy Specialties International (ESI)
based in Houston, TEXAS (USA)
Energy Specialties International (ESI) is engaged in the sale, engineering, design, manufacturing, installation and technical servicing of produced water and wastewater treatment equipment. ESI has spent years improving traditional equipment such as our Skim Pile open drain sump caisson, Quadair induced gas flotation unit (IGF) and corrugated plate interceptors (CPI) ...
Gensym Corporation
based in Burlington, MASSACHUSETTS (USA)
Founded in 1986, Gensym Corporation is a leading provider of rule engine software and services for mission-critical solutions that automate decisions in real time. Gensym`s flagship G2 software applies real-time rule technology for decisions that optimize operations and that detect, diagnose, and resolve costly problems. Gensym`s G2 real-time rule-engine platform and ...


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Lzzy Hale To Join Forces With All That Remains? [VIDEO]
There recently have been Facebook rumors that Lzzy Hale of Halestorm will be joining forces with All That Remains for a duet.
There recently have been Facebook rumors that Lzzy Hale of Halestorm will be joining forces with All That Remains for a duet.
Since the dismissal of lead singer Howard Jones there has been alot of speculation on what the band will do.
Last night in Lubbock 11/11/11 Five Finger Death Punch, All That Remains and Hatebreed threw it down for us.
We go snow skiing in the cold, we check out football in the cold, and Friday night we throwdown to Five Finger Death Punch in the cold as the "Share the Welt" tour is now on the outdoor stage at the Lonestar Event Center.
Halloween means many things to many people. Check out what some of your favorite rock stars said about what Halloween means to them.
Our friends in Missoula, Montana were able to preview the "Share The Welt" tour this past Monday night and they took pics. Check 'em out after the jump.
Five Finger Death Punch have released the video for their new single "Under And Over It." In typical rock start style it was shot at a mansion in Las Vegas. According to guitarist Zoltan Bathory, "We wanted to hit a pretty sarcastic tone with it, so it looks like a typical big c***-rock video, but in a tongue in cheek way
FMX is pleased to welcome back the hard hitting Five Finger Death Punch. Click through for the whole bill.
FMX has been a part of the concert business for over 30 years now. We've promoted shows that some of your grandfathers rocked out at. With this kind of "run" we get the hookups for everything. This week you can pick up on tickets for one of the hottest new acts, plus a classic double bill. Details after the jump.
All That Remains with Nonpoint, Hail The Villain and Sinful Serenade April 21st. Advance tickets are just $17 plus service charge. This is a true value for an exceptional bill. More details soon


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ZoneOut Videos
The Secrets Behind Tech Awards 2011
23 February 2011 marked the date of our second prestigious HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards event. Comprising of Readers' Choice and Editors' Choice awards, it was a massive undertaking spanning several months of hard work. While the former was derived from trawling over 80,000 total reader votes, the Editors' Choice awards looked into 170 products covering 75 brands! We show you how we pulled it off.


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Rugby Union
Select a team
Six Nations
- England
- France
- Ireland
- Italy
- Scotland
- Wales
Aviva Premiership
- Bath
- Exeter
- Gloucester
- Harlequins
- Leicester
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- London Welsh
- Newcastle
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- Sale
- Saracens
- Wasps
The Rugby Championship
- Australia
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- South Africa
Guinness PRO12
- Cardiff Blues
- Connacht
- Dragons
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Leinster
- Munster
- Ospreys
- Scarlets
- Treviso
- Ulster
- Zebre
Top 14
- Bayonne
- Bordeaux-Begles
- Brive
- Castres
- Clermont Auvergne
- Lyon
- Montpellier
- Racing Metro
- Stade Francais
- Toulon
- Toulouse
- Grenoble
- La Rochelle
- Oyonnax
|Home team
|Away Team
|31 - 24
Match Links
- Super Rugby
- Overall Group
- 14th Apr 2012
- Ground: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Taylor haul sinks Stormers
Fly-half inspires Crusaders to hard-fought victory
Related links
Also see
Tom Taylor was the star of the show for Crusaders as they ended the Stormers' unbeaten start to the Super Rugby season with a 31-24 victory.
Taylor spectacularly justified his selection ahead of All Blacks star Daniel Carter at fly-half with a try, a conversion and eight penalties to ensure the Cape Town-based franchise were finally beaten in their seventh match.
The visitors, who crossed through Juan de Jongh and Bryan Habana, did at least leave Canterbury with a losing bonus point thanks to a late Peter Grant penalty.
The Stormers were dealt two early setbacks when both starting locks Adries Bekker and Eben Etzebeth were forced off with injuries which disrupted their set piece.
Inside pass
Taylor scored the first try of the game on 13 minutes, straight running and quick hands working the ball to Corey Flynn on the wing and his inside pass put the No.10 over.
Taylor converted his own score and added a penalty but sandwiched in between was a 21st minute try for De Jongh, one which kept the Stomers in contention - they trailed 19-13 at the interval.
The South Africans cut the gap further on the hour mark when Dewaldt Duvenage's clever crosskick was gathered by Habana who finished, though JP Pietersen missed the conversion which would have put them ahead.
A yellow card for flanker Rynhardt Elstadt for a high tackle, and Taylor's sixth penalty handed the momentum and a 25-21 lead to the Crusaders, and two more three-pointers from the fly-half sealed the victory.
Grant's penalty well after the siren earned the visitors a losing bonus point they thoroughly deserved for their part in a hugely-entertaining game.
Sky Bet Odds:Click Here for Your Free Bet
Experts & Blogs
Phil Edwards
Read the thoughts and opinions of Phil Edwards with skysports.com


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TUNEDColor Inc. - 10/5/2006TUNEDColor Inc. PrintDoctor 1.5
TUNEDColor Inc. is proud to announce the release of PrintDoctor LFP v 1.5, a unique software program in the
large format printing industries. This new version retains the feature set of the original PrintDoctor LFP software,
including predictive job costing, pre flight assessment of files, and workflow control.
Version 1.5 includes new features, such as the inclusion of white ink for cost calculations and a more robust
job-costing feature set, including HTML-based reporting.
TUNEDColor Inc. is an industry leader in Color Management training and consultation for the large format printing
industry. The company is structured into two divisions. ColorDoctors manages the services side of the business,
while all software development is handled by PrintDoctors. TUNEDColor Inc. has headquarters in Philadelphia
and an office in San Clemente, CA.


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Category:Rūjiena parish
From Latvian Surname Project
Rūjiena parish is located in northern Latvia, and for the purposes of this wiki, includes the town of Rūjiena. In the inter-war period, it was a part of Valmiera county.
Pages in category "Rūjiena parish"
The following 33 pages are in this category, out of 33 total.


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Tag Archives: Oliveto restaurant
From a Berkeley garden to top local restaurants
When Pauline's Pizza opened in San Francisco in 1985, owner Sidney Weinstein says small organic farms up and down California were "in their hey day."
As bigger names came in and started to buy up independent farms, she said, the best produce became harder and harder to find. So Weinstein started to grow more of the restaurant's produce herself, all in the backyard of her Berkeley home — eventually supplying other Bay Area restaurants, too, with her hyper-local harvest.
Today, Weinstein's production has grown tremendously. And even as she and her husband oversee a multi-acre ranch in the Sierra foothills of Calaveras County, they are still growing a number of staples among the winding paths of their Berkeley garden. … Continue reading »
Bites: What's new in East Bay food, XX
Openings, closings
HIVE A new coffee shop called Hive ("the place to bee") should be open within a month in Oakland's Dimond district at 2139 MacArthur Blvd. Calanit Kamala, who is opening the spot with Bree Dezort, says they will be serving Highwire coffee and Starter Bakery pastries, as well house-made sandwiches and salads. "We are going to have honey cake as one of our specials, as well as completely vegan honey-lavender-coconut granita," she adds. Follow Hive on its Facebook page for details of opening day. … Continue reading »
Tagged Berkeley dining, Bites: What's new in East Bay food, Caffe Venezia, Dave Cruz, Dot Island Grill, East Bay drinking, Edible Schoolyard, Hive Cafe, Michael Pollan, Mrs. Dalloway's, Naan-n-Curry, Oakland dining, Oliveto restaurant, Sprouts Farmers Market, St George Spirits, Tara's Organic Ice Cream, Taste of North Berkeley, Tasting under the Loft, Zensen Sushi Express
Bites: What's new in East Bay food, XV
Bites is Berkeleyside Nosh's round-up of restaurant, bar and food-related news in the East Bay. To stay up-to-speed with all that's going on locally, read our daily Nosh Wire, and check out previous editions of Bites. We always love receiving food-related tips at email@example.com.
PURPLE KOW Popular San Francisco boba (tapioca) tea and dessert spot Purple Kow is making its move into Berkeley. It's setting up a new location on Center Street. (According to license applications, it's replacing La Cascada at 2164 Center, though the business has been somewhat coy about its exact location so far in its online posts.) Cafe reps say it plans to open by mid- to late-April, and that Purple Kow is accepting resumes. Learn more about Purple Kow on Facebook. There are lots of details about available drinks, toppings and other menu options on the company website. Reader ECHang, who tipped Berkeleyside to the news, noted "Long lines stretching" at the San Francisco location on Balboa Street. (Purple Kow also applied for its on-sale beer and wine license earlier this month.)
CLAYPOT Claypot Restaurant, set to move into the old Bacheeso's location at 2501 San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley, is gearing up to open by the end of March, according to an ad on Craigslist that was posted in late February. (Berkeleyside first noted the business' plans earlier this year.) According to the ad, Claypot will feature Asian fusion casual dining along with beer and wine. We're taking it as a good sign that Claypot launched its Facebook page on Wednesday, promising one thing: "Claypot Restaurant will be opened soon." … Continue reading »
Tagged Ajanta, Barkada Bakery and Cafe, Berkeley dining, Bites off Broadway, Bites: What's new in East Bay food, Bocanova, Camino, Claypot, Coffee, Dessert in Berkeley, Dishcrawl, East Bay drinking, Edible Excursions, Oakland dining, Olde Depot Public House, Oliveto restaurant, Purple Kow, Raise the Root, Scream Sorbet, Telegraph Avenue, Temescal, Temescal Tastes, University Produce
Bites: What's new on the East Bay food scene, XIII
Bites is Berkeleyside Nosh's round-up of restaurant and bar news in the East Bay. Bites is produced by Nosh in collaboration with Christina Mitchell, founder of East Bay Dish. To stay up-to-date, read our daily Nosh Wire, and check out previous editions of Bites.
Freshly served…
ASSEMBLE Assemble Restaurant has quietly opened for lunch service in the old Boilerhouse space at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond. Terumi Shibata-Mazzera (Downtown Restaurant, Trattoria Corso) and her husband Richard Mazzera (Cesar, Downtown Restaurant, Chez Panisse) are at the helm. They're serving American cuisine with regional classics like a cheesesteak sandwich (roast beef, peppers, onions, melted house-made cheese whiz on an Acme torpedo roll served with house-made chips, $13), muffaletta (salami, ham, mortadella, provolone, mozzarella, olives, tomato and celery, served with potato salad, $11) and fish & chips (club soda batter, tartar sauce, served with cole slaw and house-made chips, $15). Dessert also looks promising with "Serena's Solution" chocolate cake, served with salted caramel ice cream ($6) on the menu. There are beer, wine and cocktails. Dinner will be added in the next few weeks. 1414 Harbour Way South, Richmond. 510-215-6025. Monday to Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. … Continue reading »
Tagged Assemble Restaurant, Berkeley dining, Bites: What's new in East Bay food, Caffe Mediterraneum, Carriage House, Dishcrawl Temescal, East Bay drinking, Eat + Lounge, Heat Hot Sauce Shop, Hodo Soy Beanery, Homeroom, Kingston 11, La Fable, Legionnaire Saloon, Lungomare, Next Door Restaurant, Oakland dining, Oakland Grown, Oliveto restaurant, Piedmont Avenue, T-Rex BBQ, Temescal
Bites: What's new, what's hot, what's happening, IX
Bites is Nosh's round-up of restaurant and bar news in the East Bay. Got a tip or a scoop? Send it our way at email@example.com. Bites is produced by Nosh in collaboration with Christina Mitchell, founder of East Bay Dish. (And we've started numbering Bites so you can check out previous editions and be sure you are up with all the food news.)
Coming soon…
CHOLITA LINDA BISTRO Word on the street is that Cholita Linda, which until now has served its Latin American "dressed up" street food treats at farmers markets and the like, is opening a bistro in Temescal. The plan is to take over three stores — S&S Seafood at 4923 Telegraph Ave., a vitamin store and a hair-braiding place — and turn them into a restaurant. Cholita would be one of three foodie newbies coming to this vibrant neighborhood: Indian street food spot Juhu Beach Club, run by Top Chef alum Preeti Mistry is due to open March 1 at 5179 Telegraph Ave. in the old SR24 location; and beer and sausage place The Hog's Apothecary is coming to 375 40th St. soon. The transformation of this vibrant Oakland neighborhood continues. There's no word yet on Cholita Linda's Facebook page, and attempts to reach the business had been unsuccessful at press time, but we'll keep you posted. … Continue reading »
Tagged Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen, Berkeley dining, Bites: What's new in East Bay food, Bocanova, Cholita Linda, Comal, East Bay Dish, East Bay drinking, Grand Lake Kitchen, Hawker Fare, Jon Kosorek, Kitchener Oakland, Marrow, Oakland dining, Oliveto restaurant, SF Beer Week, Temescal, Valentine's Night Market, Viva Amore
With Duende, chef Paul Canales breaks free
Paul Canales, who opened his new restaurant and bodega Duende in Uptown Oakland last week, admits to having been more than ready to embark on his new venture. Canales was at the venerable Oliveto in Rockridge for 15 years — he joined as an intern and left as Executive Chef — and he loved it there. But, even before he handed in his notice in 2010, he had been fantasizing for months about a different cuisine, a different aesthetic — in fact an altogether different approach.
He was drawn to small plates and Spanish food, mainly because of his heritage — his father was raised in the Basque region — and partly because his passion for Italian food had run its course.
"Entrées never seem that exciting to me. They are a lot of commitment for a dinner," he said this week sitting on a stool clutching a carton of coconut water in his vibrant new space on 19th St., a stone's throw from Oakland's beautiful Fox Theater. Adding to the disconnect was the fact that Canales and his wife — Ici Ice Cream owner Mary Canales — and their daughters didn't eat that way. "We don't eat a lot of one thing — we like ethnic food," he said. … Continue reading »
Thin-crust pizza restaurant to open in Rockridge
Some might argue that opening a new pizza restaurant directly opposite one of the East Bay's most cherished pizza joints is asking for trouble. But Jeff and Heather Clapp, the couple behind Jules Thin Crust, which is slated to open in March at 5804 College Ave., are confident there are enough customers around for both Zachary's and their new launch.
"I love Zachary's deep-pan mushroom pizza," said Jeff on Tuesday this week as he worked on fitting out the space formely occupied by Las Palmas taqueria with his father-in-law. "We used to live in Rockridge and would come to Zachary's often. We see Jules as offering something very distinctive." … Continue reading »
Announcing: Berkeleyside NOSH, East Bay food news site
Today sees a thrilling new launch for Berkeleyside and, we hope, an exciting new source of information for East Bay residents on all things edible.
With the launch of Berkeleyside NOSH, Berkeleyside has broken out of Berkeley (gasp!). We felt — and we trust you agree — that if we were covering food and drink locally, we couldn't ignore all the wonderful things happening in Oakland, as well as neighboring areas like Emeryville, Kensington, Albany and El Cerrito.
Be assured, Berkeleyside itself remains firmly focused on Berkeley. It is purely for our food-related stories on NOSH that we have expanded geographically. … Continue reading »
Oliveto's Bob Klein can't get enough of white truffles
Bob Klein, the owner of Oliveto, cares so deeply about truffles that he is currently nursing several broken ribs sustained while out on an adventurous truffle-hunting expedition in Tuscany.
Klein heads to Italy every year to meet up with his friend Giorgio Sacchini and his pack of truffle-hunting dogs (watch the video below, shot on one of those trips, to see just how one unearths the subterranean mushrooms.)
What Klein finds, he brings back for the Oliveto truffle dinners prepared by the Rockridge restaurant's chef Jonah Rhodehamel which are happening right now (see below for details).
NOSH checked in with Klein this week and asked him about his intriguing hobby.
Why the passion for truffles?
I don't know if it is a passion really, it is just something that I could do and got good at. I've come to know a great deal about truffles, and have probably bought (and cleaned) a couple of hundred pounds of white truffles — that's a lot.
When did you first discover truffles, and where?
My earliest, and best memory of truffles is coming back for dinner to our truffle hunter's house, and having him mash all the small whites into new olive oil and slather it over grilled meat. … Continue reading »
Tagged Berkeley dining, Bob Klein, Oliveto restaurant, truffles
Chez Panisse chef opens butcher shop in Berkeley
On Tuesday, Aaron and Monica Rocchino quietly opened the doors to their new business, an artisan butcher shop where the term "snout to tail" really comes into its own.
The Local Butcher Shop, in the old Red Hanger Kleaners space on Cedar Street in the Gourmet Ghetto, has already attracted dozens of curious foodies.
One-on-one customer service, offering cuts of meat hewed from whole carcasses, is the principal order of business. But providing some meat — most likely beef — to … Continue reading »
Bill Fujimoto reports from the Berkeley Farmers' Market
Bill Fujimoto, the former manager of Berkeley's Monterey Market, recently took a stroll through the Derby Street Berkeley Farmers Market with Bob Klein, owner of Oliveto restaurant. Klein had his video camera in hand to shoot some footage for the Oliveto Community Journal.
Fujimoto, a produce expert who left Monterey Market in 2009 and is now at Diablo Foods in Lafayette, chatted to farmers about the fruit and vegetables coming to market. He spoke with farmers from Full Belly Farm, Riverdog and Lucero. The report is one in an ocasional series created by Klein where he talks to the producers and farmers supplying his restaurant, often with his friend Fujimoto in tow. … Continue reading »
Chez Panisse chef to open artisan butcher shop
Chez Panisse chef Aaron Rocchino and his wife Monica are bringing artisan meat to the heart of the Gourmet Ghetto with the opening this summer of The Local Butcher Shop on Cedar Street in the old Red Hanger Kleaners space.
"We think there's a void in the market for restaurant-quality, sustainable meat for home customers," said Monica Rocchino, who is setting up the new retail operation with her husband.
"It's an idea whose time has come. I'm looking forward to having this shop in the neighborhood," said Michael Pollan, who lives in north Berkeley and has done much to champion the consumption of responsibly sourced meat.
The butcher shop will feature whole animals sourced directly from farms, none of which are further than 150 miles from Berkeley. The emphasis will be on grass-fed, sustainably raised meat, and the butchering and cutting will be to order. … Continue reading »


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Ifa Then and Now!
Orisha in a Modern World
Oluwo Philip Neimark, author of The Way of The Orisa, The Sacred Ifa Oracle and the Energy Matrix of Ifa, has chosen a path less traveled. Initiated into Santeria/Lukumi and subsequently finding the "root" religion of Ifa into which he was also initiated, he has constantly pushed the bubble to keep Ifa/Orisha relevant.Stripping away the Western incursions on this Eastern philosophy, he has forced initiates to examine their world view not as something fixed and immobile, but as something that takes its ancient truths and weaves them into the social, political,environmental situations of today's world. The result is a dynamic LIVING philosophy whose Truths have absolute relevance and whose applications have no end.
More by this author:The Orisha Today
Other related publications:Arzãn tiiga
The Truth In Your Heart
Hush Now Baby
The War Of Art
James' Journey


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Olympic Decimation Of UK Tourism
....a national survey of UKinbound members which was carried out over the weekend across all sectors of the membership to establish the impact of the 2012 Games on inbound tourism businesses.
The research, conducted by Qa Research in conjunction with UKinbound, showed that for the period of 23 July - 12 August, 66% of members surveyed stated that year on year inbound tourism bookings or inbound tourism visitors numbers were significantly lower and a further 22% stated they were slightly lower.
Furthermore, 59% of those who believed numbers were considerably lower stated they had seen decreases in excess of 10%.
For the post Olympic period 13 August – 9 September, 82% stated that bookings or visitor numbers were lower or significantly lower year on year.
72% of members agreed with the statement that 'lack of accommodation for advanced booked groups in London had adversely affected destinations around the UK' during the Olympics.
Rita Beckwith CEO City Cruises commented: "As an industry we knew the Games would have a negative impact on international visitor numbers to London but the impact on the rest of the UK, combined with domestic visitors staying away, has been deeply disappointing.
After a party always a hang-over. This disaster won't make the UK papers.


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Tested by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute
Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Product Review
Editors' Pick: "Tart" and "tangy" pretty much sums up tasters reactions to Ocean Spray's "classic" jellied cranberry sauce. Many tasters recognized the product, calling it "old school." The "soft" and "smooth" texture went well with the slightly "sweet" and "sour" flavors.
Tell Us What You Think!Click Here(
GHRI Tested: Cranberry Sauce
- 365 Jellied Cranberry Sauce
- 365 Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
- Cross & Blackwell Cranberry Chutney
- Dickinsons Cranberry Relish
- New England Cranberry Chutney
- Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce
- Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
- Pacific Organic Jellied Cranberry Sauce
- Pacific Organic Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
- Robert Rothschild Farm Cranberry Pomegranate Chutney
- Sable & Rosenfeld Port Cranberry Sauce
- Stonewall Kitchen Cranberry Horseradish Sauce
- Stonewall Kitchen Cranberry Relish
- Sun Brand Cranberry Chutney
- Tipton Grove Jellied Cranberry Sauce
- Trappist Cranberry Conserve
- Wild Thymes Original Cranberry Sauce
Special Offer


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But it doesn't have to be.
Continue Shopping.
Categories Health Topics Colds, Flu & Viral Cold & Flu Formulas
Categories Herbs Belladonna
Boericke & Tafel, Belladonna 6X, 100 Tablets
- Shipping Weight: 0.08 lbs (0.04kg)
- Product Code: BAT-05533
- UPC Code: 308071055333
- Package Quantity: 100 Tablets
- Dimensions: 0.08 x 0.08 x 3.2 in, 0.05 lbs (0.02kg)
- Expiration Date: Apr 2017
Rainbow Light, Gummy Vitamin C Slices, Tangy Orange Flavor, 90 Gummies
Priced together: $10.00 Priced separately: $12.00
Product Overview
- Nasal Decongestant & Internal Analgesic
- Homeopathic Medicine
- Heal Yourself Naturally
- Est. 1835
Indications: For the temporary relief of nasal congestion, sore throat or headache associated with a cold or flu. Characteristics: Face and throat are hot and red; head may be throbbing, or sensitive to noise and light.
Suggested Use
Adults or children over 2 years: Take 3 tablets 4-6 times per day. Allow to dissolve under tongue. Stop when symptoms are relieved.
If nasal symptoms do not improve within 7 days or are accompanied by a fever, consult a doctor. Do not take this product for pain for more than 10 days (adult) or 5 days (children) unless directed by a doctor. If pain persists or gets worse, if new symptoms occur, or if redness or swelling is present, consult a doctor because these could be signs of a serious condition. If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a healthcare professional before use. Keep out of reach of children.
Sealed for your protection. Do not use if seal is broken.


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6, 2010 Atlantic City, N.J - Shana "Live Onstage" at
the Taj Mahal
This is the ONLY officially sanctioned website published and
managed under the direction of Shana Petrone.
"I am going to let all my fans know as much as possible
about what I have done in the past, what I am doing now and what
my plans are for the future. Please visit my Blog and also Shana
Petrone Interactive where you can speak with me personally".
Design by Forthought, Inc.
- Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved - Do Not Copy Or Redistribute
In Any Way


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LaSalle Achieve Fall 2013 - page 2
For years, I was reluctant to apply to LaSalle while finishing my pre-reqs at CCP. I guess I was intimidated, countless people told me to apply...but I put it off, fearing rejection. May 2012, I finally applied studied for the... Read More
- 0Feb 27, '13 by Angie-BabyHi,
I'm new here. I also have applied to the Achieve program for Fall 2013 and hope that I get in. The only thing that I was waiting for was my NLN scores and that was received yesterday. Has anyone been accepted and how long did it take to hear back?
- 0I've only received a "favorable consideration" letter. You should be getting an email soon about the required info session we have to attend in order to be considered for official admittance into the program.
- 0How long did it take for you to receive your"favorable consideration" letter?
- 0Also, is there a specific date for the info session or is there a list of dates to choose from?
- 0It took two weeks after I took the NLN to receive the letter. Yes, there are a list of dates and times for the info sessions.
- 0Feb 28, '13 by MakingItRealityHi Angie-Baby...
It took 7 days after my NLN scores to receive my "favorable consideration" (September), and I had a 1:1 with the assistant director (*******) several days later. From what I've gathered they no longer have the 1:1 (but I could be wrong), I did attend an information session prior to even taking the NLN. I haven't been invited to one since going in August...but I've been instructed that more info should be coming my way soon (next few weeks). But everything is different for everyone. I guess it depends on alot of different factors.
However, as of today I have not recieved an offical accpetance. So I am in the same boat as you...anxiously awaiting some "good" news.Last edit by Esme12 on Feb 28, '13 : Reason: TOS/no staff names pls
- 0Feb 28, '13 by MakingItReality***I had sent all of the other required documents prior to taking the NLN (child abuse, criminal background, transcripts, application)**
- 0Thank you for the reply. I'm so nervous! I'm pretty much finished all my pre-reqs except for religion but I'm not sure if I have to take that since I have a BS (I've heard conflicting reports). Now the waiting game starts. Do you know if they tell everyone if they have been accepted at a certain date or is it rolling?
- 0I emailed ******* to ask when we'd receive a decision letter. She told me two weeks after we attend the info session, so I'm assuming it's a rolling type thing.Last edit by Esme12 on Feb 28, '13 : Reason: TOS/no staff names pls
- 0Feb 28, '13 by Esme12, BSN, RN Senior ModeratorAs a gentle reminder.......to protect the privacy of staff at facilities please do not post any staff namesNo information about specific schools, instructors, or health care facilities/entities should be posted in these forums. While it is important to be able to network, everyone should be mindful of the following:
- It is a small world - when we narrow it down to a state and throw in some personal info, there is actually a pretty good chance someone may recognize you if you are not careful. Your privacy is paramount to us.
- While this site is a wonderful place to vent (without excess personally identifiable details) it is not the place to express why ("x" specific person, place or program) is terrible. Gripe away, but since we cannot permit allegations to be made about named entities, your care in not naming them is very much appreciated.
- Please do not give out personal identifying information about yourself or others. Do not name names where anyone could identify any person in any facility including your nursing programs or place of employment.