Software:Madden NFL 99

From HandWiki
Short description: 1998 American football video game
Madden NFL 99
Developer(s)EA Tiburon
Publisher(s)EA Sports
SeriesMadden NFL
Platform(s)PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation
Nintendo 64
  • NA: September 22, 1998[2]
  • EU: January 1999
Windows
  • NA: September 30, 1998[3]
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Madden NFL 99 is a football video game released for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows. It is the first video game to feature Franchise mode. The game's commentary is by John Madden and Pat Summerall. The American version of the game features John Madden himself on the cover, while the European version uses Garrison Hearst instead. The game was the top-selling PlayStation sports video game in 1998 in North America, having sold 1.1 million copies on the PlayStation.[4][5]

Gameplay

Features

  • The game is the first to feature the concept of covering the ball while running and the chop block and "clothesline" techniques, which were later scrapped and moved to players simply tackling ball-carriers. Although players' heights resemble their real-life counterparts, all players share the same sized physiques. The game includes twelve historic teams, including the 1978 Steelers and 1985 Bears and secret teams such as the Tiburon sports team and NFL All-Star teams from each decade. The Cleveland Browns, who were a year away from rejoining the league, can be accessed for exhibition games via the password "WELCOMEBACK".
  • This is the first Madden game to feature Franchise Mode, in which the user can control their team for 15 seasons, complete with realistic NFL type schedules consisting of alternating inter-conference divisional opponents. The user is able to trade, sign/release and draft players. Drawbacks to this feature include only one player/team owner being allowed to participate during the same franchised season, and the second prohibits any created players from being added to specific teams or to the free agent pool.
  • This is one of the few PlayStation games to support two multi-taps allowing for up to eight players to play simultaneously.

Free agents

  • Created Players from NCAA Football 99 can be put in the game as free agents and put on other teams in Quick Game Mode.
  • Gary Zimmerman appears as a free agent despite being retired at the beginning of the season.
  • Pepper Johnson is listed incorrectly as a 24-year-old twelve-year veteran, which would mean he would have been a 12-year-old rookie.

Rankings

Development

In early 1998 Electronic Arts announced that, following the 1997 Madden Football 64's lack of an NFL team license due to Acclaim Entertainment holding exclusive rights to NFL games on the Nintendo 64 for that year, they had ensured that the Nintendo 64 version of Madden NFL 99 would sport the NFL license.[6] They also sought to catch up with competing football video games by using high resolution graphics and adding animations for wrap-tackles and players tracking the ball with their heads.[7]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
N64PCPS
AllGame4.5/5[11]4.5/5[12]4/5[13]
CGWN/A4.5/5[16]N/A
EGM8.75/10[17][lower-alpha 1]N/A8.5/10[18]
Game Informer8.75/10[19]N/A9.25/10[20]
GamePro5/5[21][lower-alpha 2]5/5[22][lower-alpha 3]5/5[23][lower-alpha 4]
GameRevolutionA−[24]B[25]A−[26]
GameSpot8.5/10[27]8.8/10[28]8.3/10[29]
HyperN/AN/A82%[30]
IGN8.5/10[31]8.5/10[32]8.5/10[33]
N64 Magazine88%[34]N/AN/A
Next GenerationN/AN/A2/5[35]
Nintendo Power8.3/10[36]N/AN/A
OPM (US)N/AN/A4.5/5[37]
PC Gamer (US)N/A85%[39]N/A
PC ZoneN/A87/100[40]N/A
N64 Gamer8/10[41]N/AN/A
Aggregate score
GameRankings88%[8]87%[9]84%[10]

The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to video game review aggregator GameRankings.[8][9][10] Next Generation, however, said of the PlayStation version, "It can be argued that this year's Madden was better than last year's, but the fact remains that compared to its main competitor, the gaming experience has become mediocre. The gap that had existed between the GameDay series and the Madden series can now only be described as Grand Canyon size."[35]

Kevin Cheung of Hyper gave the PlayStation version 82% in its December 1998 issue, calling it "the best NFL sim anywhere."[30] An issue later, Matt Adamsons gave the PC version 85%, calling it "the best NFL simulation money could buy."[42] Martin Kitts of N64 Magazine gave the N64 version 88%, saying, "Madden is still great stuff, but it hasn't really changed significantly enough to warrant another 92% rating."[43] Steve Bauman of Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the PC version four stars out of five, saying, "The perfect synergy of hardcore action and cerebral simulation hasn't been reached yet, but Madden 99 is as close as anyone has ever managed to get, and as its management features evolve, it will no longer be, 'I guess we'll have to wait until next year.' Now it's more like 'I can't wait until next year.'"[44]

During the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Madden NFL 99 was named as a finalist by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences for PC Sports Game of the Year, which ultimately went to FIFA 99.[45]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Nintendo 64 version, two critics gave it each a score of 9/10, and the other two gave it each a score of 8.5/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 5/5 scores for graphics and overall fun factor, 4/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 for control.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the PC version 4/5 for graphics, 4.5/5 for sound, and two 5/5 scores for control and overall fun factor.
  4. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, 4/5 for control, and 5/5 for overall fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ IGN staff (August 25, 1998). "The Race Begins: Gameday Vs. Madden". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/26/the-race-begins-gameday-vs-madden. 
  2. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (1998-09-23). "Madden Pays Early Visit" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/23/madden-pays-early-visit. 
  3. ↑ "GameSpot: PC News: New Releases". 2001-07-07. http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2464983,00.html. 
  4. ↑ "Electronic Arts Ships Madden NFL 2000 for the PlayStation". Berkshire Hathaway. August 17, 1999. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/990817/ca_electro_1.html. 
  5. ↑ GameSpot staff (February 23, 1999). "EA Touts Madden Sales [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-touts-madden-sales/1100-2452372/. 
  6. ↑ "Quartermann: Video Game Gossip & Speculation". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (106): 24. May 1998. 
  7. ↑ "Madden NFL 99: Hey Look, It's Licensed!". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (107): 36. June 1998. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Madden NFL 99 for Nintendo 64". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/197831-madden-nfl-99/index.html. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Madden NFL 99 for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/197830-madden-nfl-99/index.html. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Madden NFL 99 for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197832-madden-nfl-99/index.html. 
  11. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Madden NFL 99 (N64) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14139&tab=review. 
  12. ↑ Irwin, Jeff. "Madden NFL 99 (PC) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15563&tab=review. 
  13. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Madden NFL 99 (PS) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14030&tab=review. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Brumley, Doug (November 3, 1998). "Madden NFL 99 (N64, PS)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Nintendo/Madden99/. 
  15. ↑ Bub, Andrew S. (October 29, 1998). "Madden NFL 99 (PC)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2217,00.html. 
  16. ↑ Todd, Brett (January 1999). "Maddening No More (Madden [NFL 99 Review)"]. Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (174): 346–47. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_174.pdf. Retrieved April 17, 2021. 
  17. ↑ Ricciardi, John; Hager, Dean; Smith, Shawn; Williams, Ken "Sushi" (October 1998). "Madden NFL 99 (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (111): 258. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-656-258.jpg. Retrieved April 17, 2021. 
  18. ↑ "Madden NFL 99 (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (111). October 1998. 
  19. ↑ Storm, Jon; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (October 1998). "Madden [NFL 99 - Nintendo 64"]. Game Informer (FuncoLand) (66): 41. https://archive.org/details/Game_Informer_Issue_066_October_1998/page/n41/mode/2up. Retrieved May 15, 2015. 
  20. ↑ Storm, Jon; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (October 1998). "Madden [NFL 99 - PlayStation"]. Game Informer (FuncoLand) (66): 48. https://archive.org/details/Game_Informer_Issue_066_October_1998/page/n49/mode/2up. Retrieved May 15, 2015. 
  21. ↑ Scary Larry (October 1998). "This Is Football's Finest Hour (N64)". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (121): 184. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_111_October_1998/page/n183/mode/2up. Retrieved April 17, 2021. 
  22. ↑ Knibbe, Willem (1998). "Madden NFL 99 Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/693.shtml. Retrieved May 15, 2015. 
  23. ↑ The Rookie (October 1998). "The King of the Gridiron Returns to Glory (PS)". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (121): 182. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_111_October_1998/page/n181/mode/2up. Retrieved April 17, 2021. 
  24. ↑ Dick, Kevin (October 1998). "Madden NFL '99 Review (N64)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32646-madden-nfl-99-review. 
  25. ↑ Hubble, Calvin (October 1998). "Madden [NFL '99 Review (PC)"]. CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33142-madden-99-review. 
  26. ↑ Dick, Kevin (September 1998). "Madden NFL 99 - Playstation Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34194-madden-nfl-99-review-2. 
  27. ↑ MacDonald, Ryan (October 16, 1998). "Madden NFL 99 Review (N64)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/madden-nfl-99-review/1900-2544702/. 
  28. ↑ Poole, Stephen (October 16, 1998). "Madden NFL 99 Review (PC)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/madden-nfl-99-review/1900-2542413/. 
  29. ↑ MacDonald, Ryan (August 27, 1998). "Madden NFL 99 Review (PS)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/madden-nfl-99-review/1900-2548197/. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Cheung, Kevin (December 1998). "Madden NFL 99 (PS)". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (62): 54. https://archive.org/details/hyper-062/page/54/mode/2up. Retrieved April 17, 2021. 
  31. ↑ Egger, Dan (September 25, 1998). "Madden NFL 99 (N64)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/26/madden-nfl-99-2. 
  32. ↑ Bates, Jason (October 22, 1998). "Madden NFL '99 (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/10/23/madden-nfl-99. 
  33. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (August 26, 1998). "Madden NFL '99 (PS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/27/madden-nfl-99-4. 
  34. ↑ Kitts, Martin (Christmas 1998). "Madden NFL 99". N64 Magazine (23): 60–65. https://archive.org/details/n64magazineukcollection/N64%20Magazine%2023%20-%20christmas%201998%20%28UK%29%20%28preliminary%20version%29/page/n59/mode/2up?q=%22Madden+NFL+99%22. Retrieved August 9, 2021. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Madden NFL 99 (PS)". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (47): 150. November 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_47/page/n153/mode/2up. Retrieved April 16, 2021. 
  36. ↑ "Madden NFL 99". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 113: 110. October 1998. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-355-110.jpg. Retrieved April 17, 2021. 
  37. ↑ "Madden NFL 99". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) 2 (1). October 1998. 
  38. ↑ PCA staff (December 1998). "Madden [NFL 99"]. PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (4): 109. https://archive.org/details/PCXL04Dec1998/page/n107/mode/2up. Retrieved April 16, 2021. 
  39. ↑ Smolka, Rob (December 1998). "Madden NFL 99". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 5 (12): 172–73. https://archive.org/details/pcgamer199812/page/n199/mode/2up. Retrieved April 17, 2021. 
  40. ↑ Chrismas, Warren (Christmas 1998). "Madden NFL 99". PC Zone (71): 99. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_71_Xmas_1998/page/n99/mode/2up. Retrieved August 9, 2021. 
  41. ↑ Curtis, Jack; Steve (December 1998). "Madden NFL '99". N64 Gamer (10): 56–57. https://archive.org/details/N64_Gamer_Issue_10_1998_12_Next_Publishing_AU/page/56/mode/2up. Retrieved July 20, 2021. 
  42. ↑ Adamsons, Matt (January 1999). "Madden NFL 99 (PC)". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (63): 93. https://archive.org/details/hyper-063/page/92/mode/2up. Retrieved April 17, 2021. 
  43. ↑ Kitts, Martin (Christmas 1998). "Madden NFL 99 vs. NFL Quarterback Club 99". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (23): 60–65. 
  44. ↑ Bauman, Steve (November 3, 1998). "Madden NFL 99". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/015/073/madden99_review.html. 
  45. ↑ "Second Interactive Achievement Awards; Personal Computer". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. http://www.interactive.org:80/iaa/finalists_pc.html. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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