I just love anecdotes like this one:
In 1988, "John Madden Football" was released for the Apple II computer and became a modest commercial success. [Programmer Joe] Ybarra had already left the project to make adventure games. Burned out, he didn't watch real-life pro football for an entire season. Meanwhile, a jubilant [Trip] Hawkins approached Madden.
Hawkins: "You stayed with me. EA is about to have an IPO [initial public offering]. You can have as much stock as you want."
Madden: "What do you mean by 'have'?"
Hawkins: "Well, you have to buy it -- at the IPO price."
"Hell, I'm just a football coach," Madden says now. "I pointed with my finger, all knowing, and said, 'I gave you my time. I'm not giving you my money.' I showed him!"
From 1989 to 1999, EA's share price went from $7.50 to $70. Madden laughs. "That was the dumbest thing I ever did in my life."
3 comments:
Yo, I HAD the original Madden football game. Even back then, it was awesome.
Kids, computer monitors had two colors back then: green and blank.
There was no NFLPA licensing, so San Francisco had a quarterback named "Joe Idaho."
There was no truck stick, but on defense you could hit "r" or "p" at the snap to have your team react to run or pass.
I made my own football team with the players on my high school team. It was awesome.
An incredible advancement over Atari football, and true to football despite its simplicity.
Andrew, I really recommend the article if you haven't read it yet. The reverse-engineering of the Sega Genesis was maybe the single most important act in the history of gaming, and led to billions of dollars.
That sounds ridiculous, I know, but considering what an industry it is these days--it was a huge deal, and super-ballsy.
I also love almost all of Madden's quotes in the article. I really like it when he talks about Sean Payton's strategy in the Super Bowl, what with turning down a field goal to go for it on fourth and short, and starting the second half with an onside kick--Madden says something like, "Holy Shit, this guy is playing a video game!"
Pretty good article, really enjoyed reading it.
There's plenty left unsaid, e.g. how that exclusive licensing deal came to pass. But we all agree that it couldn't have happened a better way. I can't wait to play Madden '11 on somebody else's TV!
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