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Madden Videogames - The New Wheaties Box?

Posted by simoniker on from the cooking-a-mean-turducken dept.

Thanks to Slate for their article discussing the Madden football game series' enormous popularity. The article suggests: "To a new generation of football players, landing on the cover of the latest version of the game is a career-defining experience, the way an enormous shoe contract, or the Wheaties box, or the cover of Sports Illustrated once determined which sports stars had hit the big time." It also points out that "In the last two years, only the Grand Theft Auto games sold more copies than Madden", and Wired News are also running a story on the Madden franchise, which debuts its 2004 version this week, and was recently voted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

19 comments

  1. John Madden by neostorm · · Score: 1

    I wonder how much Madden himself makes off of the royalties alone from this franchise. He's been it's #1 icon since it's inception, and EA wouldn't dare stop using his name do to the recognition it receives.

    It's sold so many copies past, present and future, that man is set for life...

    1. Re:John Madden by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's sold so many copies past, present and future, that man is set for life...

      Then why the fark do I keep hearing about "BOOM! Tough Actin Tinactin!" from the guy? =P

    2. Re:John Madden by leviramsey · · Score: 4, Informative

      IIRC, Madden (well, his company, Goal Line) makes around $10 in royalties for every copy sold new ($5 for the classic editions which retail for $20).

      He makes about $3 million a year from ABC for MNF (plus the expenses of the Madden Cruiser); not bad for less than 100 hours of work a year (He does 18.33 broadcasts per year (17 regular season games, 1 playoff, and every third Super Bowl) with a normal length of 3 hours.

      Endorsements aren't as lucrative as they were (when he was on CBS, he was one of the top endorsers out there), but probably good for about a million a year.

      Royalties from EA probably come to another $5 million a year.

    3. Re:John Madden by whorfin · · Score: 1

      If your figure of $10 per copy to madden is correct, I think that he likely makes more than $5mil a year. That would equate to 500k units moved, and at $50 a pop, would be $25 mil in sales.

      Madden sells far far more than $25mil a year for EA.
      In fact, according to this article, Madden NFL 2002 sold nearly 4 million units. For a $10 royalty, that would be $40mil.

      I have no idea how much Madden makes per copy, so he may in fact make $5mil...that just means that his royalty is $1.25 per copy...

      --
      Laugh while you can, monkey-boy!
    4. Re:John Madden by BoomerSooner · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Apparently he makes $10 million in licensing for his name and a set amount per copy sold.

      I remember reading all the EA people hate him because he won't even go there once a year for a release (all the voice over work is done at a place of his chosing).

      EA should consider moving away from Madden for two reasons. One the guy is like 300 lbs and is likely to die at any moment from any number of weight related issues. The second is the game is excellent independent of this jerk off shouting "Boom, that had to hurt". Most people I know who play these games turn commentary off (as I do).

    5. Re:John Madden by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Madden was robbed of the Selke Trophy this year. Anyone watching the play-offs this year could see how effective he is at shutting down the top lines in the league.

  2. This takes me back... by NeoBeans · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I remember playing Madden '93 on Sega Genesis, and having epic gridiron battles with a friend of mine. The most interesting thing about the Madden franchise is that I can walk up to any version, and after adjusting to the differences in game speed and button layout, and play it.

    The great part is, I know it's not reflecting *real* football perfectly, but as a game, it's always had phenomenal replay value, and anytime two hardcore football fans get together to play it, it can be more entertaining than the real thing...

    1. Re:This takes me back... by leviramsey · · Score: 1

      I liked Sierra/Dynamix's entry: the Front Page Sports: Football Pro series. It was much better from a fantasy league standpoint (actual fantasy league, not this rotisserie bullshit); indeed, even though they haven't made it in years, I actually belong to an FPS league, The Fantasy World League, which is populated largely by former World League and NFL Europe players.

  3. Better and worse than a Wheaties box by Enrico+Pulatzo · · Score: 1

    Both mean that you've made it. However, with the Wheaties box, you get kids thinking, "One day, I might be as good as Marshall Faulk." With Madden, you get people playing AS the sports hero. It kinda kills the inspiration, but I think it's a better honor of the athlete (cover stars are almost always awesome in the game).

    1. Re:Better and worse than a Wheaties box by Decaffeinated+Jedi · · Score: 2, Funny
      Both mean that you've made it. However, with the Wheaties box, you get kids thinking, "One day, I might be as good as Marshall Faulk."
      Oh, now I get it! I always thought it was supposed to get me thinking, "One day, I shall devour Marshall Faulk."

      DecafJedi

      --
      DecafJedi
      my weblog: apropos of something
    2. Re:Better and worse than a Wheaties box by Rethcir · · Score: 1

      Reminds me of my Freshman Seminar... "Religion, Sacrifice and Violence" with this psycho superliberal ex-hippy type proffessor woman. She always made us read stories bout ancient warriors consuming their foes or something. Made me wonder if eating Dragonball Z fruity snacks would make you become super-sayain. I'd settle for Marshall Faulk or whoever though.

  4. Way to go Wired! by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wired News are also running a story on the Madden franchise, which debuts its 2004 version this week, and was recently voted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

    I can't believe Wired was recently voted into the Pro Football HoF...that's awesome! I wonder why I didn't see it mentioned on espn.com. I'll have to check out Canton next time I'm passing through Ohio.

    1. Re:Way to go Wired! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Either you're a complete idiot, or you're really, really not funny. I'm not entirely sure which is worse.

    2. Re:Way to go Wired! by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 1

      Either way is better than being an AC.

    3. Re:Way to go Wired! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought it was funny.

  5. Sports games... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    are for chumps. Keep givin em your money every single year for a new roster. Wish I had money lyin around to waste.

  6. madden cover by therealcaf · · Score: 1

    well the cover of the madden box is definatly the epitome now it would seem. though i must say i was very dissappointed when the Patriots won the superbowl and the cover of the game the next year featured the star player (Marshall Faulk) from the losing team.

    --

    -caf
  7. Don't forget the Madden Cover Curse... by kreinsch · · Score: 1

    Covering The Blues