Watch Madden NFL on Prime Video – A Review
Madden NFL isn’t just a game—it’s a cultural icon. Since its debut in 1988, EA Sports’ Madden NFL has swept up over 130 million devoted fans, from celebrities to NFL players eagerly anticipating each year’s updated release with bated breath.
Premiering on Tuesday, Nov. 26, Prime Video’s docuseries It’s in the Game: Madden NFL delves deep into the history and influence of this legendary game. Packed with interviews, archival footage, and insights from NFL players, Electronic Arts developers, and even John Madden’s son, Mike Madden, the series provides an in-depth look at how this powerhouse franchise came to be.
In the mid-80s, EA founder Trip Hawkins set his sights on creating a revolutionary football simulator for personal computers. But it wasn’t until meeting the iconic John Madden himself that the pieces started falling into place. Madden—renowned coach and broadcaster—insisted on a true-to-life 11 vs. 11 game, spurning any watered-down substitutes. “There’s no way I’m endorsing a game with seven on seven,” Madden famously declared.
Despite a rocky start with the initial John Madden Football game for Apple II in 1988, both Hawkins and Madden doubled down on their vision. EA’s Jim Simmons spearheaded groundbreaking changes to enhance the game’s realism, while Madden introduced player ratings based on real-life attributes like speed, size, and catching skills. Their gamble paid off with immediate success.
As competing games like Sega’s Joe Montana Football and Sony’s NFL GameDay loomed on the horizon, EA faced fierce competition. However, a strategic move to establish an exclusive deal with the NFL in 2005 solidified Madden’s dominance in the market. This landmark agreement granted EA a virtual monopoly on NFL team names and player likenesses, cementing Madden’s status as the undisputed king of football simulation video games.
From humble beginnings on personal computers to becoming a global phenomenon, Madden NFL remains a juggernaut in the world of gaming. With an enduring legacy that spans decades, this landmark franchise continues to capture the hearts of fans around the world.
