Pastapadre, a site devoted to sports video games, has word that EA is working on Madden Arcade, a game in the vein of the previously released downloadable game 3-on-3 NHL Arcade, for release later this year. I don't know about you, but if this game can combine Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey with the "old school" arcade version of NFL Blitz, I might just poop my pants in excitement.

I shamelessly love the Madden series. I think that each and every year it's been on next-gen consoles, we've been treated to versions of the game that constantly one-up the last, with this year's version ready to set the bar yet again. While there's absolutely no other information about this arcade style deviation from the simulation norm, I'm pretty sure that the fact it's taken this long for EA to put it out means it's more than a bid to cash in. I mean, obviously they're trying to make money, but I don't see this as shovelware. Not with all the effort EA's been putting into Madden 10 to prove that the game is more than just a $60 roster update.

There's no doubt that I need to see and hear more about this game before I make any sort of practical judgment, but for now, my football fanboy hopes are pretty high. Let's hope EA can deliver on them.

[Source]