I can't get no...

[Llava]

So I haven't seen a post about this apparent mess with Madden '06 for the PSP.

Following some links around on Penny Arcade, I did notice this rather genius moment of customer service quoted (taken from the EA forums, then apparently deleted):

     I guess I'm looking for some affirmation that EA
    plans to satisfy all the consumers that are $50 in
    the hole right now. Whether that is with a fix or
    refund it doesn't matter. EA letting their customers
    know they will be taken care of is what needs to be
    done at this point. I guess that is what I'm trying
    to say. I don't expect an answer of what the
    resolution will be at this point. I know that takes
    time. However, it doesn't take this amount of time
    to tell your customers that they will be taken care
    of.

    Again, I can't answer that. Everyone has there own definition of "satisfaction".

    Nathan

Here's a list of the problems:

Intermittent crashes after accepting the Terms of Use to create an online account

Intermittent inability to apply Assistant Coach Points in Franchise Mode

Frequent PSP lockup and shutdown when selecting “End Game” at the end of a Franchise Game

PSP lockup and shutdown when playing the Gameplan practices in Franchise Mode after turning the ball over. This happens every time the ball is turned over.

According to EA Sports, the Online Mode is still in a “testing phase” weeks after the game was released to the public

The majority of online games get disconnected

While playing online games, the experience is extremely laggy. That is until it gets disconnected.

Online roster updates are corrupt and now generally unavailable

Graphics flash randomly during load screens

Typographical errors throughout the game

Kick Meter randomly disappears during kicking plays

Random wrong team behind players in load screens

So, yeah.  Most of us should be feeling pretty smug right now.  How long was that before they stopped trying?  Anyone clock it?

EDIT to add a link to http://www.maddenrecall.us/

[HaemishM]

How long was that before they stopped trying?  Anyone clock it?

The exact moment they got the exclusive NFL license.

[Llava]

How long was that before they stopped trying?  Anyone clock it?

The exact moment they got the exclusive NFL license.

Good point.

[Mesozoic]

Yeah, who could have guessed that a monopoly would have resulted in such poor quality.  Whats so galling is that all these assholes have to do is shit out the same game every year with new rosters - for the awesomely discounted price of $49.99 - and they can't even pull that off.  And when their customers actually complain, the sum total of their response is to offer a work-around that doesn't work.   

Bravo.

[shiznitz]

Don't be surprised if you get a STD while dancing with a $5 whore.

[Sky]

  Visual Concepts 

Fucking Madden.

[Llava]

I liked how the guy who appears to be the official forum liason used the wrong "there".

[Bunk]

Frequent PSP lockup and shutdown when selecting “End Game” at the end of a Franchise Game

This same problem was in the PC version of '04. I'd spend an hour playing a season game, and 50% of the time the damn thing would crash when you hit End Game, and never save the results. Gave up on buying Madden after that.

[Jain Zar]

I would feel bad for the buyers, but they were dumb enough to buy both a PSP and an EA Sports game.

They knew the skinny, yet they chose to sleep with the Devil.  Should they really be surprised at getting
fucked in an uncomfortable place?

[Merusk]

Some people go to bed with Lucifer, then they cry when they don't greet the day with God. 

Same as it ever was.