Release Dates

08/14/07

TBA

TBA

TBA

The Madden team said players can expect AI improvement practically across the board. When it comes to improvements for gameplay, it seems the team's essential goal is in finding balance--for every move on the field, there should be a counter move that a player can use to offset it. Co-op mode will be re-introduced to the series for Madden 08, you can call for the ball and it will rumble the controller of your partner to signify you're open.

As producers put it, for the third year of Madden on the Xbox 360, it's time to start putting in the features they've always wanted in the game. Things like gang tackles, owner mode, the lateral, an upgraded fatigue system, improved defensive artificial intelligence; all of these features and more will be part of Madden NFL 08.

It starts with overhauled animations, specifically tons of new branching animations. The big benefit of this new branching technology seems to be more animation "breaking points" wherein the player holding the controller regains control of the player on the field quicker than ever before. And speaking of tackling, gang-tackles, long missing from the series, debuted in the PlayStation 3 version of Madden NFL 07 and will now spread to include every version of Madden 08.

Equally important as to what will be included in Madden 08, is what's being taken out. Take jet-packing, for instance, a common term referring to Madden wide receivers that are able to leap unnaturally high in order to catch passes. That's gone in the current gen versions of the game, according to producers, just one of the steps taken to improve the overall performance of wide receivers (and defensive backs) in the game. For receivers, situational awareness is going to be a big part of Madden 08.

On the defensive side of the passing game, the new tackling animations look to play a huge role in how you defend against big-time receivers. Both man-on-man and zone coverage has been improved.

RELEASE DATE: AUG 14 07 / INFO TAKEN FROM Gamespot
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/madden08/news.html?sid=6169878&om_act=convert&om_clk=newlyadded&tag=newlyadded%3Btitle%3B1&page=1