Madden NFL 07 Tips and Hints

Madden NFL 07 is one of the most anticipated, and certainly most publicized games of the new generation of games. The fine folks at Prima have not only been generous enough to share some sample pages of their guide to this epic football title, but they even gave us this tip sheet to get you started on your way to football dominance. Get a taste of what Prima has to offer the gamer who needs that extra edge.

Offensive Strategy
No matter which direction the ball is thrown when using the QB Precision Placement, the harder you press the thumbstick in the direction you want the ball to go, the more the pass will lead the receiver.

Not all pass routes can be smart routed. Running back routes cannot be smart routed, even if he was sent in motion. You also cannot use smart routes on option routes. Hot route to something else and then smart route in this situation.

Defensive Strategy
If the halfback is the main target in your opponent's passing game, consider assigning your top linebacker or defensive back to stay on him. That way you will limit the primary threat and force the QB to throw to other receivers on the field.

Looks like that draft pick is paying off.

Put your top defensive back on a lower-rated receiver. That way you will limit your opponent's ability to throw to that side of the field. Now you can roll your pass coverage to the other side of the field and focus on defending your opponent's top receiver.

If you don't like any of the 32 team-specific defensive playbooks, don't worry, the six generic defensive playbooks are still in the game. They are: 4-3, 3-4, 46, Cover 2, Balanced, and QB Contain.

Franchise Strategy
Be smart about signing players. The longer the contract, the better it is for your cap. Raise the signing bonus and sign long-term deals, and eventually you'll have a cap friendly roster. On the other hand, avoid long-term deals with older players. Their skill will deteriorate, and you will be stuck with a big cap hit.

If you reach the playoffs in Franchise Mode, raise prices on tickets, food, merchandise, and parking. Go above the recommended limits. Fans will stretch the dollars to see the home team host a playoff game.

If you want to turn a profit, keep those seats full.

Don't always rely on your advisors. Even if your advisors caution that fans are whining about ticket prices, keep them high until you notice a significant drop in attendance. Once that happens, fire off a quick fan appreciation day to move things along again. Remember, winning puts fans in the seats more than anything else.

If you have quality depth, trade away big contracts for future draft picks. You'll stay young, and more importantly, you'll remain within your budget.

Be on the lookout for additional sources of revenue. Get good enough and you can get a local media contract. This can be used to buy more advertising and put more fans in the seats.

Article by Prima Games