Sports video games are a very popular hobby. For about 15 years now, the different systems have put out various football, baseball, hockey, basketball, tennis, golf and soccer video games. People get passionate about these games, but one game seems to have more of an impact than any of the others-Madden football games.

EA Sports created the Madden line over a decade ago, at a time when the games were available only for SEGA Genesis. The game was fun but was limited by its primitive graphics and audio commentary that had John Madden repeating the same couple phrases over and over (“Boom! What a hit!” and “He’ll feel that one tomorrow!”). As the game moved to more advanced systems like Playstation, Playstation 2 and Xbox, its popularity soared.

The game became so big that EA Sports now sponsors an annual Madden Challenge tournament in all 32 NFL cities. This past weekend, the Challenge visited St. Louis Mills. In each city, 512 players battle for the right to earn a trip to Hawaii to play in the finals and a chance at the $100,000 grand prize. Most gamers, however, simply covet the title of Madden Challenge Champion.

Many readers probably think it is crazy that people could become so involved in a video game. But Madden is not a video game – it is a way of life.

Consider the following scenario from personal experience:

1) A best-of-31 series with my friend, Evan, on Madden 2004 with the following rules: no Falcons (Vick is too fast), no Vikings (Moss was too good), and each guy picks a team at random, and then a team is randomly picked to match the others’ overall strength value. This ensures that the teams are even so there are no complaints. Winner gets free dinner at Applebees.

Results of the series: I was up 13-10 until it was so far out of football season that we both lost interest.

2) A “Madden League” started in my town. A different person controlled each team and all games were played on one system. The cost was $20 per team and the winner took home $600.

Result: I was 5-0 before the league fell apart because the host could not stand constantly having people over his house.

It’s clear that I have caught Madden fever, but others have been infected as well. One WU junior, who wished to remain anonymous, once played an entire 16-game season in just one day.

Another junior, Matt Zarider, recalls a massive tournament with his friends.

“There were 30 of my friends from my soccer team. We had a 60-game round-robin elimination league,” he said. “We made a trophy and gave it to the winner.”

Sophomore Paul Wu said that games among his friends were not one on one.

“We would specialize. On good days we’d have six people for each game,” Wu explained. “One person would play offensive coordinator, one would play defensive coordinator, and we’d even have one for special teams.”

Madden addicts aren’t the only ones affected by Madden fever. The “Madden Curse” has been a well-documented phenomenon ever since EA Sports started placing NFL stars on the game’s cover each year. Beginning with the 2000 edition, which featured running back Eddie George, the production of the featured player has dropped significantly. For example, in 2001, Eddie George failed to rush for 1000 yards after rushing for 1400 the previous season.

Daunte Culpepper became the next victim when he threw for just 14 touchdowns during his Madden year. The year before, he threw 33. Marshall Faulk graced the cover in 2002 and he, too, failed to top 1000 yards, having his worst season since 1996. Michael Vick became the worst victim, when just weeks after the game was released with his picture, he was injured in a preseason game and missed the first 11 weeks of the season. Last year, Ray Lewis’ production led people to believe that the Curse had been snapped, but this year’s featured player, Donovan McNabb, has been hobbled by injuries all season. The Eagles have already lost as many games as they did all of last season.

Needless to say, Madden football is more than just a video game. Its influence on football fans and players nationwide is undeniable, and it can be dangerous. So far this year I have avoided playing Madden, since I want to have a life outside of the black rectangle that is my PS2. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before the fever strikes again.

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