The Hollywood Reporter says Electronic Arts’ company shares went up 2.2% on the release day of “Madden NFL ’09″. That’s because it’s one of the biggest, best selling games in videogame history with over 70 million units sold and counting. To celebrate the release, EA had a celebrity filled party in CocoDeVille/STK Texas and a fan-based preview party at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena with football greats like Deion Sanders, Marcus Allen, and Eric Dickerson.
“It’s a cultural phenomenon,” an EA spokeswoman said. “Men line up at midnight to buy the game then take the day off of work to play it.”
This time, the “Madden” release received an extra dose of free publicity when cover-boy Brett Favre was traded to the New York Jets. It was too late to alter the image that adorns the new game, so EA is letting consumers download new packaging via its Web site.
Investors are curious to see how “Madden” does for EA since the company is attempting to buy Take-Two Interactive Software, the company that makes the “Grand Theft Auto” games. “Madden” is no. 7 on the list of all-time biggest game franchises, just behind “GTA” at no. 6.
