60 LATE SPORTS

EAGLES: WHAT WEVE DONE FOR THE DISABLED

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2003

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PHILADELPHIA
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ITS MORE THAN A GAME ITS A CULTURE. AND THE 2004 VERSION IS THE BEST YET.

MAD ABOUT MADDEN

PAGE 68

60

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2003

BIRDS PUNTER WILL BE JOHNSON OR JOHNSON: PAGE 64

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WE TAKE ON A LEGEND OF THE GAME, AND TEST THE BIRDS AGAINST THEIR 2003 SLATE

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Challenging best in business in hottest video game

By DANIEL McQUADE For the Daily News
Photos: JENNIFER MIDBERRY/Daily News

EAGLES getting ready to take the field THEtouchback, offense is56-6, after a trailing, to the Falcons late in the second quarter. The Eagles, announcer Al Michaels says, have an uphill battle here. Tell me about it. No, the 50-point deficit isnt a flashback to the end of the Ray Rhodes era. Its how far Im behind in Madden 2004, the 14th installment in perhaps the most popular video game in the nation. Im playing David Seitchick, whos certainly the best Madden player Ive ever seen, and might be the best in the world. He has won seven of eight Madden tournaments. He pocketed more than $20,000 playing Madden 2003. Shockingly, theres a guy in upstate New York who has beaten Seitchick three times in five games. Hes better than me, Seitchick says. Great. The game isnt just a pastime for Seitchick, an 18-year-old who lives in Margate, N.J. He graduated from Northeast High School last year. Seitchick, who is studying for his real estate license, takes a few hours out of each day to play Madden. He has competed in tournaments only since January, when a top-ranked player whom he beat online invited him to a local tournament. He won that Jersey tournament and has since traveled to Washington, Baltimore, Chicago, Las Vegas, Sacramento and even as far as Jamaica. He must pay his own way although hes been approached by sponsors, hes wary of signing a contract but usually ends up winning his airfare back in prize money. He has tons of trophies, including one taller than he is. From what [fellow players] told me, he is the best, says his beaming father, Bernie. I agree. I end up losing, 105-6. Michael Vick throws for eight touchdowns and runs for another four. My lone score is a Donovan

McNabb pass to rookie tight end L.J. Smith, who came in when Chad Lewis was injured on the opening series. I fail on the twopoint conversion. Seitchick outgains me by 309 yards. Still, he says its not his widest victory margin ever. I beat two guys in a preliminary round, back-to-back, 106-0 and 103-0, he says. I wasnt scored on for most of that tournament. Somehow, that doesnt make me feel better. But at least I scored. The Madden series has been popular since the original John Madden Football on the Apple II computer and Sega Genesis systems. Everyone plays from youngsters in their bedrooms to pro football players in their dorm rooms at training camp. The Daniel McQuade (right) is in over his head against David Seitchick, who has a handle on one of the m game has sold more than 30 million copies since its tight end McNabb pass to rookie inception. The Smith, who came released L.J. newest edition was in when on Aug. 12 for Playstation 2, Chad Lewis was injured on the XBox, GameCube, PC, opening series. I fail on the twoPlaystation and GameBoy point conversion. Seitchick outAdvance. Area stores gains me by 309 yards. quickly sold outhe says its not his widest Still, almost every system. According ever. victory marginto Slate magazine, over beat last 2 years,a only the I the two guys in prelimiGrand Theft Auto games sold nary round, back-to-back, 106-0 more copies than Madden. Over and 103-0, he says. I wasnt its lifetime, most of that games scored on for the Madden tournahave grossed more than $1 billion ment. in Somehow, Last year, themake revenues. that doesnt NFL made more money from least I me feel better. But atlicensing Madden scored. to EA Sports than from any other licensed has been The Madden series product, except since the popularfor apparel. original John The games popularity Madden Football on the Apple II g g reached and Sega Genesis the computer a new level with sysplayers addition of online play Madden according to Madden producer Madden, most in the say their first prize Madden tems. Everyone playsin from its lifetime, the Madden games video-game counterpart is inferiJeremy Strauser. than $1 billion 2001. Colleges hold schoolwide have grossed moreAlmost 60 peo- Challenge, which hits all NFL youngsters in their bedrooms to tournaments. People bet hun- ple tested it before it hit the or in ability; except for Emmitt cities, plus Los Angeles. pro football players in their dorm in revenues. Last year, the NFL Smith, who said he wasnt The as dreds at training players like shelves. Philadelphia stop is Sunday, Oct. rooms of dollars on camp. The made more money from licensing good as his character. Theres even a cover curse, as Seitchick soldnationwide 30 mil- Madden to EA Sports than from 5, at the Gallery. at more than tournagame has Madden has said he often gets the last three players to grace the ments. EA Sports, inception. Expect lion copies since its the games any other licensed product, recognized a crowd. announcer not as the publisher, will shell wasareleased except of the game now have gotout $50,000 cover for apparel. More than 45 people had a The newest edition ten hurt. games The latest popularity or the former coach, but as the is Falcons hand in creating the game, The on Aug. 12 for Playstation 2, first prize in the Madden guy. quarterback Michael Vick, on the video-game to Madden producer XBox, PC, Challenge, GameCube, all NFL reached a new level with the according isnt just a game, its a which hits Madden 2004 cover, who broke Madden addition of online play in his right Jeremy Strauser. Almost 60 peoPlaystation Los Angeles. The GameBoy cities, plus and culture. leg Aug. 16. Advance. Area stores quickly 2001. Colleges hold schoolwide ple tested it before it hit the Philadelphia stop is Sunday, Oct. So what makes Madden so NFL players are big bet huntournaments. People fans of the shelves. sold out almost every system. 5, at the Gallery. game. Eagles cornerback Bobby popular, so addictive? curse, as Theres even a cover dreds of dollars on players like Accordingcrowd. magazine, Expect a to Slate Theres Taylor flew fellow players to his the last variety and authenticover the last 2 45 people had a Seitchick at nationwide tourna- ity. You three players to grace the More than years, only the the house recently for a Madden cover ofcan play with allhave curnow gotGrand in creating gamesgame, ments. EA Sports, the games rent NFLthe game Europe teams hand Theft Auto the sold tournament. According $50,000 ten hurt.and NFL to John The latest is Falcons more copies than dd Madden. d Over publisher, will shell out a d

Its a Madden, Madden world

Its a Madden, Madden world

p as well as classic teams. You can suit up as the 1960, 1980 or 1990 Eagles. The historic teams go back as early as the 1957 Lions. (Sorry, no 1925 Pottsville Maroons.) There are create-aplayer, minicamp and situational modes. There are more than 100,000 lines of audio, 1,500 player portraits and 400 modeled players in 3D. There are even special celebrations: Terrell Owens might sign the ball with a Sharpie after scoring an important touchdown. The newest installment of the game possesses playmaker controls that let a running back guide blockers or allow a receiver to change his route on the fly. A new franchise mode puts the player in ultimate control of the team you set ticket, concession and parking prices, negotiate contracts and can even move your team and build a stadium. You can import a draft class from NCAA Football 2004, a college game built on the same code base as Madden. You can even give out bobble-heads to boost sagging attendance. Madden and Michaels announce the games, with Melissa Stark as the sideline reporter. The game features more than 15 original songs, including tunes from Blink 182, Alien Ant Farm and the Roots. The only things missing are options to ban hoagies or deprive old South Philly crooners of their parking spaces. The game keeps getting bigger and bigger and deeper and deeper each year, Strauser says. Strauser, a Philadelphia native who graduated from Bensalem High School, says that Madden is a major consultant. The Madden team visits him about seven times a year. His input helps keep the game realistic and true to the NFL. Still, that doesnt prevent someone like Seitchick from beating up on me by 99 points. Well, thats like the Philadelphia Eagles playing the Bensalem Owls, Strauser says. My opinion is that its your game, and you can do with it

what you want. Strategically, Seitchick, and other top Madden players, avoid running plays. On defense, they use creative blitzes that involve shifting players around on the line of scrimmage. Thats the thing Ive been trying to work on! Seitchick yells as his linemen sack McNabb immediately after he snaps the ball. Football sense in this game will only get you so far. Its a video game you have to play it like one. So where is Madden headed from here? The original John Madden Football had a bug in which, if you blocked the extra point, the computer still received credit for a made PAT. Now, you not only can block an extra point, but also watch your players do a dance after they do it. And, if you think the extra point actually went through the uprights and the refs blew the call, you can throw the red flag and challenge. Youre going to see even more lifelike movement grass getting kicked up when somebody runs and sweat on arms, Strauser says. Theres not going to be much difference between playing the game and watching one on TV.