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Madden NFL Arcade: The heir to arcade games past.

(Credit: EA Sports)

Football is a team sport. Alas, that goes counterpoint to a lot of the superstar worship and smack-talking that gritty sports video games are made of. To satisfy the casual fan, EA has launched a surprise on Xbox 360 and PS3 owners with Madden NFL Arcade. A five-on-five football game, it borrows heavily from previous arcade football games like NFL Blitz and EA's own dearly departed NFL Street (and less remembered NFL Tour), while offering a few new wrinkles. It's also a download-only title, available through Xbox Live Arcade and PSN for a price of $15 (or 1,200 Microsoft points, which are always hard to do conversion rates for).

The game's not coming to the Wii, most likely because Nintendo's version of Madden 10 already incorporates an easier play mode that embodies a lot of what this new Madden game is about. And what, exactly, is this game about? From what we experienced, that would be man-on-man competition, quick scoring, and random fun.

(Credit: EA Sports)

We approached NFL Arcade from a serious Madden-playing angle, and needless to say, this game doesn't employ much strategy. Players select long-, medium-, or short-pass plays or runs and basic defensive packages, then face off in quick, hit-happy plays. With only five teammates, there's basically no offensive line, so the aesthetic is schoolyard chuck-around, not first-down making. In fact, one clever twist is that each possession is simply a four-down challenge to either score a touchdown or turn the ball over trying.

There's no play clock at all, and in our sampled game mode, the first to 30 won. Game settings can alter the points goal up to 48 and down to a handful of points, and the number of downs, length of the field and starting position can be toyed with, but the clockless format is a constant. We actually liked it at first, since it focused on scoring drives and points rather than artificially accelerated quarters. However, especially in games versus the computer, games can end up lasting forever if no points are scored on drives, prompting a tired gamer to give up a play just to end the experience already.

Another maddening (forgive the pun) addition is a randomized slot machine for each team that brought up certain power-ups, called game changers, on various plays. Whether you receive something or nothing is completely beyond your control, and some of the effects (instant fumbling, slow-motion, or a flipping of scores between you and your opponent) are insane and devastating. Perhaps too much so for my taste, since they almost completely eliminated any real strategy or skill from the showdown. On the other hand, they're purely meant for fun, and can be turned off if you're more of a game purist. In subsequent games with the final version, we got used to the power-ups and grew to like them, especially since they can be saved and activated at appropriate times, or countered with other game-changers.

Madden NFL Arcade

All NFL teams are included, and the models for the NFL players are less cartoonish than Blitz and Street games of the past, while still being more stylized and over-the-top than standard Madden. On the other hand, rosters can't be edited or retooled (although roster updates are downloaded during online play).

We lost our Jets-Texans match-up, but we're looking forward to the rematch. We do appreciate the price point--this game's a more affordable pickup than full-priced disc-based games that preceded it, and we welcome this move for future "extreme" arcade sports titles. It may seem like double-dipping for EA, but it's a smart way to reach those who are intimidated by Madden's intricacies, as well as a quick fix for NFL addicts who can't be bothered for a full four-quarter ordeal. On the other hand, the term "arcade" never fit a game better- this is a simple package, but a great game to whip out on a lazy Thanksgiving afternoon or quiet holiday morning during the thick of winter football.

We've already had some time with the new Xbox Live Dashboard update, and now the new firmware, which will bring Facebook, Twitter, and Last.fm to the console, is available for download today.

In addition to these services, Microsoft will be rolling out Zune Video, which promises instant-on 1080p video streaming as well as 5.1 surround sound.

We should note that Twitter, Last.fm, and Facebook will require an Xbox Live Gold membership ($50/year) and both Twitter and Facebook services require all users to be at least 18 years of age.

If you aren't a member of Xbox Live Gold, a free preview weekend will begin November 20, at 12 p.m. ET and run until November 23, at 12 p.m. ET.

For a sneak peek at these new Xbox 360 features, check out our video playlist above or click over to the slideshow.

Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm hit Xbox 360 November 17--photos

(Credit: Flickr/IanPhilipMiller)

It's hard to believe that anyone would want to unsubscribe from The 404 Podcast, but we're here to say that the unspeakable act comes with a $250 termination fee, which actually ain't that bad considering Verizon recently doubled its early termination fees from $175 to $350. Verizon attempts to justify it by reducing the fee by $10 as each month of your contract passes, but we're not entirely convinced you're saving money. Case in point: if you buy a Droid with a two-year contract on Verizon but want to jump ship after a year, the penalty is still a rip-off at $230, which is already $80 more than what I paid to terminate my fee when I switched to AT&T for the iPhone three years ago. With a Verizon iPhone around the corner, we're hoping to finally have a way to escape AT&T's frustratingly spotty 3G service. Sing it with me..."We want prenup, we want prenup, YEAHHH."

If you just couldn't wait for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to come out and modded your Xbox 360 to play a pirated version of the game, you might want to check the status of your Gamertag because you might be one of the 1 million players that Microsoft banned earlier this week. This week's release of the popular Call of Duty sequel caused a spike in players altering their consoles to play a bootleg version of the game, but many are unaware that Xbox 360s all contain "digital right management technologies designed to detect pirated software," says a report in InformationWeek. Unfortunately, once a Gamertag is banned, the person responsible is banished for life and must purchase a brand new console in order to reregister and play again. There's no doubt that Modern Warfare 2 is an amazing game, but it's worth it to keep your Xbox 360 clean and shell out the dough for the legit game. Piracy doesn't pay!

Comment with "Exit Strategy NYC" to win a free download!

(Credit: Exit Strategy NYC)

Finally, all our New York listeners should pay special attention to our next segment, because this new iPhone app could literally shave minutes off your commute time. I joke you not, any time saved on the subway is a blessing, so we're all very excited about Exit Strategy NYC, a mapping application that downloads an entire map of the city to your iPhone, so it works underground. It displays zoomable, scrollable, and interactive maps of the subway system as well, and even shows you which specific car to board so you'll exit exactly at the street level stairs.

The app is available on the iPhone App Store for $4.99, and it's well worth the purchase if you live in New York or plan to travel in the area. You can also download it for the BlackBerry, Android, and Amazon Kindle. The good folks at Exit Strategy were generous enough to give our listeners a handful of codes to download the app for free! All you have to do is comment on this blog with the words "EXIT STRATEGY" and you'll be automatically entered into the random lottery. We'll choose five winners over the weekend and send out the codes on Tuesday, so leave a comment now!

Also, don't forget that Tony Hawk will be on the show Monday to chat with us and do an in-studio demo of his latest video game, Tony Hawk Ride, so be sure to send in any questions to the404[at]cnet{dot}com and pick a few to ask. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Modern Warfare 2

(Credit: GameSpot)

With so many new blogs and Web sites that review video games and offer buying guides, it's hard to know who to trust; if you've ever vehemently disagreed with an online review and felt a boiling need to hunt down the writer, listen to today's episode of The 404--it's all about fanboys, online reviews, and our credibility as unbiased journalists.

(Credit: Destructoid)

We start off the show with a quick verbal fanboy bashing, and Jeff is probably the most engaging participant as a result of an article that instructs video game fans on how to respond to a bad review. After grilling Jeff for a while on what exactly makes him qualified to review video games, we run down the list of excuses as to what outside sources might influence a writer to give a game an unfairly low rating. For example, it could be that the reviewer might just suck at the game, or maybe the writer is just trolling for hits to further their career. In any case, The 404 fully endorses MetaCritic as the definitive source for unbiased, aggregated user reviews. (Disclosure: MetaCritic is a part of CBS Interactive, which also publishes CNET.)

Jeff is jokingly ticked off after we challenge his legitimacy as a professional video game reviewer, so we help him let off some steam with a study out of Keele University in North Staffordshire that claims swearing relieves pain. Although we don't normally use foul language on the air, everyone agrees that a well-placed cuss word can certainly alleviate frustration and even mild physical pain. Without getting ourselves into trouble, we run down a list of curse word dos and don'ts and even offer a few choice expressions in our native tongues.

We also want to give a big thanks to everyone that e-mailed and called about the derogatory comments sometimes heard on Microsoft Xbox Live. We received a lot of excellent comments about censorship and age limits in video games as well, so thanks to everyone for their input. If you have something to say about today's episode, give us a call at 1-866-404-CNET or email us at the404[at]cnet[dot]com and tell us what's on your mind.

Have a great day everyone!

Libe Goad

(Credit: Libe Goad)

The much-anticipated and controversial Modern Warfare 2 finally arrives in retail stores today, which gives us an excuse to invite AOL GameDaily.com's Libe Goad to give us some insight into all the action. Although it's definitely not the first Call of Duty game, Libe and Jeff tell us it's the most controversial of the pack, with disturbing scenes that let you take the side of terrorists.

It's hard to believe anything can be scarier than making the trip down to Chinatown, NYC, to pick up your "advanced" copy, though. Don't call it a bootleg; the copies they're selling down there are actually legit, a first for Canal St. merchants. And although they cost the same as copies from the big box stores, Modern Warfare 2 has been available at these "select retailers" for the past week! Good to know I live in such a respectable part of NYC.

Yesterday's episode sparked such a heated conversation about censorship, video game and movie ratings, and parenting video gamers that we're happy to revisit the topics today, with Libe's valuable industry input, of course! This time, we address the world of online gaming that's brought a new level of offensive material to young people who might not understand the implications of their trash-talking. With no moderators to police Xbox Live or PSN, players are allowed to communicate directly with each other, which often results in racist and misogynistic epithets. Tune in to today's episode to listen to our opinion on what should be done.

Finally, we hate to take the spotlight away from Libe, but we've been resisting the urge to announce our guest for the past week. We finally got the green light, so we're happy to announce that Tony Hawk will be in The 404 studio on Monday, November 16, to chat with us about his latest game, Tony Hawk: Ride and maybe even do a live in-studio demo! Start thinking up questions, as we'll most likely be taking questions from the audience as well.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2--photos

In the public preview of the upcoming Xbox Live update that features access to Twitter, Facebook, and Last.fm, users under the age of 18 aren't allowed to access the aforementioned social networks. Unfortunately for those users, that will still be the case when the software launches on all Xbox 360s later this year.

According to Microsoft spokesperson Major Nelson in a blog post, Microsoft made the decision to limit access to Twitter, Facebook, and Last.fm to those 18 and older because parents won't have the ability "to use Family Settings to customize which of these applications their children can access." Microsoft is also concerned with keeping the Xbox Live environment "age-appropriate."

Realizing it will be a hot-button issue for many Xbox Live users, Major Nelson was quick to point out that it wouldn't be a lasting solution. Microsoft, he said, is working on "an update that gives parents the choice of which social applications their children can access." According to Nelson, after the update is released, children between the ages of 13 and 17 will be able to access the social networks after obtaining parental approval.

So far, Microsoft has not said when the Xbox Live update will finally launch (Nelson said "soon"). The update that gives parents control over access to those social networks will be released "several weeks" after the launch of the Xbox Live update.

Let's hear from you. Do you think Microsoft should limit child access to social networks? Let us know in the comments below.

The final expansion pack (or episode) for Grand Theft Auto IV has been released in the form of The Ballad of Gay Tony. You assume the role of Luis, nightclub owner Gay Tony's right-hand man who must handle his dirty work across Liberty City.

The Ballad of Gay Tony can be downloaded via Xbox Live (for $20) or in a $40 disc form (called Episodes from Liberty City) which also includes The Lost and Damned, GTA IV's first additional episode.

We've had sometime with the final version of the game and here are our thoughts:

(Credit: Gamespot)

Jeff:
First thing's first. If you haven't downloaded The Lost and Damned, go out and buy Episodes From Liberty City. It's tough to recall such a great value in gaming prior to this double pack, and Xbox 360 owners don't need a copy of the original GTA IV to jump right in. There is an incredible amount of gameplay value here; it's like getting two full $60 games for less than the price of one.... Read more

With the near ubiquitous nature of broadband-enabled video game consoles, we've seen an increase in games that are intended primarily for online cooperative play. Games such as Left 4 Dead and the new Borderlands have basic single-player functionality, but are clearly intended for multiplayer sessions with friends.

The social utility of this type of cooperative gameplay is an especially important point of differentiation after a season of single-player hits, from Batman: Arkham Asylum to Uncharted 2.

Jeff, Scott, and Dan took the game for a spin to see if it's worth a spot on your holiday wish list.

Dan:
Mixing elements of pop-culture touchstones from Mad Max to Diablo, Borderlands stands out from the crowd with its graphics, done in a faux hand-drawn style vaguely reminiscent of French comic book artist Jean Giraud.

The razor-thin (even for a video game) plot about mercenaries on a semi-deserted planet searching for a treasure trove of alien artifacts is merely a deus ex machine to give players assignments to carry out -- usually involving a delivery boy style run through the badlands, killing bandits or hunting for a missing item. The handful of characters you meet are essentially cardboard standees, who act as vending machines to pick up new aissgnments, and to return to after to claim a reward.

In practice, the single-player game is a grim trek through the desert -- good if you're into endless shootouts, and fighting your way through the same stretch of road over and over again -- but it left us cold.

The real appeal is the up-to-four-player multiplayer version of the game -- which friends (and we guess strangers as well) can band together, much as one would in a massively multiplayer online game. The mechanic for linking up online is brilliantly integrated -- invite a friend who is also playing (something easy to see through the in-game friends list), and they can instantly beam into your version of the game world. Their personal games are automatically saved, and they pop up next to you with all their skills and equipment, can stay as long as they like.

Hooking up with others online instantly changed the game into a social event, with gunplay. By bringing in higher-level players, seemingly insurmountable enemies became easy to beat, and the game's mostly barren landscape now felt like it was teaming with activity.

Another key selling point is the semi-random nature of the weapons and equipment one finds -- they're mostly created on the fly by the game, allowing for nearly limitless variations. In practice, most of the guns look and feel the same, and you'll spend far too much time comparing stats and modifiers trying to figure out which gear to keep and which to ditch. Some may find this fun, we found it to be the video game equivalent of busy work.

The bottom line is that Borderlands works best when you and your friends all agree to get the game for the same console, and can work out your schedules to sync up for online play.

Scott:
Last year, Fallout 3 brought an incredible level of detail and world-building to a post-apocalyptic wasteland video game. Borderlands does not, but it's not trying to.

With a more ridiculous fun-loving Tarantino-like attitude, the game's gun battles and missions unfold with a sense of randomness--which is because a lot of the loot and weapons you collect are in fact generated randomly. That's the idea. Play for the ridiculous assortment of treasures, and for the anything-goes wild atmosphere.

Single-player gameplay felt thin and too full of do-this-do-that missions, but adding players for online co-op makes it more like Left 4 Dead, but with more story. The incredibly deep catalog of items and weapons reminded me of old PC games from the '80s and '90s, where you'd spend five hours questing for a better set of leg armor. But if you want a role playing game that's light on the RPG and heavy on the kick-butt, give it a try--especially if you like playing online.

Jeff:
Borderlands is an impressive hybrid, successfully combining role-playing and first-person-shooter elements. Come to think of it, it's surprising that these two don't join up more often in games. We saw this effort in Fallout 3, but the first-person-shooting mechanic in Borderlands is much more satisfying, while the story in Borderlands doesn't come close to that in Fallout. Looking past the mostly forgettable plot, the unique art style, and seemingly endless array of discoverable weapons, are the true stars here.

The game is set up on a mission-to-mission basis and for the most part, you'll have your hand held as to what you're supposed to accomplish. And while the single-player experience is mostly running around to the next mission start point, the online co-op definitely makes things a bit more interesting, but ultimately leaves you reliant on whether or not your friends own the game. Teaming up with online random players can be enjoyable, but it's not always ideal.

Your school of thought will ultimately decide whether or not Borderlands is a must-play. If you think online co-op should be just as engaging as a single player experience, then this is probably the title for you. However if you're like me, and you still look at co-op as an added bonus, you may want to give Borderlands a rent. That said, if you're open-minded, Borderlands may just be the title to change the way you think about online co-op.