Is It August 22nd Yet?

[Generic Brad]

I cannot explain why, but I have recently purchased the 2007 version of Madden Football. This is my 12th consecutive year I have purchased the annual PC release of the game. Possibly I am addicted. And although I was able to download the entire game over the internet, it is not available to play until Aug. 22.

Any suggestions on how to kill time until then? It takes forever for the NFL season to start. How's everyone else sweating out the Aug. 22nd release?

[Mojambo]

1. I've found the last couple of editions strangely unsatisfying

Don't get me wrong, they were GREAT games. But I feel like the Madden series has almost gotten too complex and realistic for me to keep up.

I don't particularly enjoy having to call an offensive line audible every other play to keep my QB from being crunched. And the innovations involving the QB (the sight cone and the directional stick passing) are flatout becoming too difficult for my old school thumbs to keep up.

I was never a Madden whiz, but I always enjoyed the game. Now it just feels like a lot of work to play proficiently.

That being said I'll still probably buy the game.