CBS Electronics "Maddeness"

[atari_envy]

Saw this interesting letter from CBS Electronics about the game Maddeness in ebay auction. Googling this game returned virtually nothing. So little info seems odd as this letter seems to indicate a) This game was available for pre-order and b) Development was well underway albeit behind schedule.

 

Anyone have any insight on it?

[graywest]

Maddeness? What does that even mean? The state of being Madden?

 

Interesting find, though. I hope someone has more info.

[Rom Hunter]

"An early version was being done, using "X's" and "O's" for the players (much like Atari's Football coin-op) but was later scrapped in favor of a completely different version that saw very little progress before CBS shut down their games division. Although the only boxes shown in ads (bearing the name "Madden Football") indicated it was for the Colecovision version, a CBS Games order form offered a FREE copy of this game for the Atari 2600! Ok, it wasn't exactly free - you had to send them proof-of-purchases from both Wizard of Wor and Gorf. Still, that was a great offer (especially since the ad states that was the only way you'd be able to get it), which would have been even better if the game was actually MADE. Catalog description: "The video football game for the coach in all of us! Developed by the man who wrote the book on offense and defense: John Madden. Realistic gridiron action with eleven players on a side and advanced play options!"

 

Edited December 22, 2011 by Rom Hunter

[Dino]

_{http://www.digitpress.com/library/newsletters/digitalpress/dp20.pdf}

 

_{Page 15 has all your answers}

[jhd]

Had this game actually been released, would it have been the first use of the Madden name/license?

[graywest]

Wow, the game really was about Madden? I was just being a smart ass...

[SoulBlazer]

It's rather kind of a interesting history. CBS had aproached Madden about doing a video game circa 1983, but he refused to lend his name or help with the game unless it was actually 'realistic' -- the key thing he insisted on was that it had 22 players on the field at ONCE -- 11 for each team, just like a real football game. I think that was possible with the tech of the time, but it would have been pushing it and a bit of a challenge. No doubt CBS was having problems with it and when the crash happened they were glad to give up the project.

 

Madden finally got his wish several years later in 1989 with the release of John Madden Football for personal computers by Electronic Arts. (I BELIEVE it was originaly for Apple only, then ported to a couple other computers.) A sequel which came out in 1990 was much better and released on more platforms and more known, with regular new games bearing the Madden name coming out every year after that. And thus was born the most successfull franchise in video game history. Many people claim Madden got inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame a few years ago mostly due to the success of the games and getting a new generation of kids hooked on football.

 

It would have been interesting to see what CBS had before they scrapped the project.

Edited December 23, 2011 by SoulBlazer

[atari_envy]

_{http://www.digitpres...lpress/dp20.pdf}

 

_{Page 15 has all your answers}

 

This, ROM's and Soulblazer's response were informative. I have cut the snippet out of the article to save others from hunting for it like I did.

 

That would have been pretty cool if the 2600 would have had the first Madden game.

[high voltage]

Wow, six years later the Apple ][ and C64 did get the first John Madden game then

Edited December 23, 2011 by high voltage

[rolenta]

CBS Electronics threw a press party at the Automat in NYC in 1983, a week before the summer CES. They showed a box for the Madden game for the 2600, but there was no actual game shown. They did have a working copy of Wings, however! That party was memorable for me because it was the first time I met Bill Kunkel and Arnie Katz.

[Tempest]

. They did have a working copy of Wings, however!

The same prototype that was eventually released or a different one?

[atari_envy]

Wings looked like a pretty ambitious 2600 release.

 

http://www.videogame...ari2600_cbs.jpg

 

http://www.atariprot...wings/wings.htm

[rolenta]

. They did have a working copy of Wings, however!

The same prototype that was eventually released or a different one?

 

I wasn't aware that one had been released!

[Rom Hunter]

. They did have a working copy of Wings, however!

The same prototype that was eventually released or a different one?

 

I wasn't aware that one had been released!

Ages ago.

 

NTSC:

http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-wings_14099.html

 

PAL:

http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-wings_14100.html

 

[rolenta]

Oh, okay. I have the ROM. I thought someone released it on cartridge.