MATT DRISCOLL: BIG DAY! HUGE DAY! >>>

While today, Tuesday, Aug 12 2008, might not seem like anything special â€" let me assure you, Tacoma and South Sound readers, it most certainly is.

After months of hype and much frenzied anticipation, Madden 09 hit shelves today. The best football video game of all time is finally back, updated and improved as usual, and dudely, video game loving flat asses everywhere are rejoicing.

While much of the attention around the release of Madden 09 is bound to center on the picture of Brett Favre in a Packers jersey on the cover â€" fans of the game know there are bigger things to discuss. What’s new? What’s improved? What’s the deal with this year’s Madden IQ feature? As you read this gamers across the country are answering these questions for themselves.

Unfortunately, I’ll have to wait to find out. I’ve got this damn job and a few responsibilities, which makes it tough to rationalize spending an entire Tuesday playing a video game â€" even one as important as Madden.

Luckily, I have friends who aren’t tied down by such inconveniences. Brett Potter, the Construction Supervisor with Blue Sky Landscaping in Fife, took the entire week off for the release of Madden ’09. I caught up with him early this afternoon, from his smoke filled apartment near Wright Park, to get the lowdown on this year’s game.

“I’m intimidated right now,” says Potter. “I’m afraid I might not be able to make the jump this year. This game is crazy.”

The craziness of this year’s Madden, at least according to Potter, can be attributed to a number of things. For one, this year’s game puts a great emphasis on adapting to the player. Basically, the skill level of the player decides the difficulty of the game. This, in theory, keeps games close and competition fierce. Before playing a real game, Madden ’09 leads players through a Madden IQ test â€" where passing, rushing, and defensive skill levels are accessed. Once your Madden IQ is established, the computer adjusts the difficulty of game play in accordance. After each game you play, depending on how the player has improved or declined, this Madden IQ is adjusted. It’s a brilliant idea, but one that will need time to prove itself.

“I think this means anyone can play against each other and the game won’t be a blow out,” says Potter. “When I did the rushing test I did pretty well, and when I got to a game it was really tough.”

Potter, who plays Madden on a Playstation 3, says running the football has proven difficult for him so far. In his first game he logged 14 yards on 22 rushes â€" which for those playing at home is not a very impressive average. Potter says graphically the holes that open up for the running back to hit are bigger and easier to see, but there seems to be less emphasis on the “speed burst” button this year and more on “juke” moves. 3 ½ hours after bringing Madden ’09 home, it was and adjustment Potter had yet to make.

“Madden is still a passing game,” says Potter, obviously frustrated by the game so far.

“I think I’ve aged.”

Indeed, since we graduated high school the same year, I know he has. I certainly have. That said, Madden is timeless, and with a whole week off from work to master the game something tells me Potter won’t be throwing in the towel any time soon. While he says this year’s game seems more designed for “gamers” than those who’ve grown up playing Madden, and the fact that Chris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond actually do the video game play by play this year is a bit weird, overall Potter was pleased.

“It’s crazy and intimidating, but it’s still Madden,” says Potter. “This game is fucking awesome.”