13 years. 13 freaking years. Thats how long EA has been putting out Madden games. With no intention of slowing down, EA Sports and Tiburon Studios are set to unleash the 13th edition of football and continue their dominance in the genre.

While thirteen years of football games is indeed a long time, Tiburon still continues to innovate and refine their game. Last year saw the introduction of the deep Two Minute Drill, the "Ask Madden" feature, a Tutorial actually worth playing through with audio help from John Madden himself, and an even deeper and more realistic franchise mode. For the 2003 version, it’s all about refinement, as Tiburon is breaking down each mode and adding layers of depth and replay value. Theres also the "Madden Tour Bus" mode. In this mode you travel from city to city, completing tasks to obtain unique and rare players/Madden Cards. Madden Bus is all a part of the new Mini-Camp feature, where you can actually fine tune your skills on all sorts of little areas of the game, making you an entirely better player. Tackling practice and pass defense practice helps you learn defense. On offense, you have QB practice with moving targets and rings throughout the field. Hit your WR on the run for bonus points. For the RB theres dummy practice, power through them all. Theres basic "beat 4 guys to the endzone" stuff, and special move practice. It’s basically the deepest training mode ever seen in a videogame, and you’re actually rewarded for going through it and getting better in the form of rare Madden Cards.

Also new is an "Audio Dream Team" element. Finally Pat Summerall has left the building, and Al Micheals from Monday Night Football will replace him. It should add alot of personality to an area of Madden that has not been up to par with the competition in years. Fans of the franchise mode will wet their pants when they see all of the refinements made to this years version. Tiburon has added an NCAA-style recruiting system into the franchise mode, making for a much more in depth and involved process of building a dynasty. Also, a first in the genre- Take your franchise team and export it into Exhibition mode for play against your friends franchise team. Very cool.

As usual, all kinds if refinements and improvements are being made on the gameplay. The speed is being increased, as well as the animations. WRs now make stand-still catches. New to the Madden series, but they were in Segas NFL2K2.

If you own a Playstation 2 system, the PS2 version will be the one you want to get, assuming you have no PC. EA is promising out of the box online play(with network adapter) for the PS2 version of Madden only. Like Segas NFL2K2, Madden will have online lobbies, chat and ranking systems. Where Madden innovates is an online roster update feature. Before each game you can select for the latest roster update, which will include free agents, injuries and trades.

Madden 2003 is set to go on 6 platforms. From PSX, all 3 next-gen systems, PC, and the GBA. Heres EAs feature list:

Online Gaming (PS2 Only) - Features an on-line lobby area where gamers can meet, greet, chat and play Madden head to head, as well as download current player rosters throughout the real NFL season (roster update includes trades, position changes, and injuries).
Mini-camp - Features John Madden’s Cruiser Tour Bus traveling to all NFL cities to complete skilled tasks. Take control of players in practice gear and become an expert in all player positions in your ultimate goal to earn unique Madden cards.
Audio Dream Team - The Monday Night Football team of John Madden and Al Michaels handles commentary, with dynamic play-by-play and more analysis than ever before. New audio engine delivers appropriate commentary based on current game situation and player/team statistics. Greater use of on-field player sounds, including player banter, offensive and defensive audible calls, crushing hits and improved crowd reaction sounds.
Improved Graphics and Presentation - New signature player animations like sidearm QBs, gang-tackling, stand-still receiver catches; new cut scenes with high-poly cheerleaders and additional emotion-based bench scenes; more than 300 realistic player faces; cinematic approach to camera positions gives new, more natural feel.
New Game play Mechanics- Faster game speed; players follow through, making hits on people without the ball; tighter control with quicker animations and reduced player momentum; more finely tuned passing game; independent audibles for defensive line, linebackers, and defensive backs
Create-A-Playbook - Customize receiver routes, player formations, and your team’s entire playbook. Create virtually any play imaginable and play it on the field immediately.
Franchise Mode Enhancements - Just as you can in the real NFL, you’ll evaluate and progress rookies, free agents and created players during a four- game pre-season; Export a franchise team to exhibition play; Rookie Scouting Reports serve as a new way to evaluate rookies.
Ask Madden - Legendary coach John Madden provides strategy and advice during both offensive and defensive play calling.
EA SPORTS Unlocks - NCAA Football 2003 consumers will be able to unlock special Madden Cards within Madden NFL 2003.
PC-CD

Player Mode - Allows the user to only execute plays given by the "Coach," -- the closest thing yet to a real NFL experience.
Game Interface - Customize elements of the screen to match your favorite team. Features revolutionary mouse control and high-resolution interface screens. The team specific interface will grant access to a newly revamped feature set which includes the new Player Mode.
Online Game play - Quick Tournament -- with 2-minute drill/situation/create-a-scenario (user tournaments) allows tournaments to be played in less than 30 minutes; High Score Chase -- 2-minute drill/situation; Ranked Matchup -- exhibition games with individual player ranking attached; Online Hero Challenge -- mini games for Online Hero with Score Chase element.
PlayStation®

Updated team logos, team uniforms and stadiums.
Official inclusion of the Houston Texans in Exhibition, Season and Franchise modes.
Conversion of franchise mode to new NFL conference and division alignment.
Game Boy® Advance

Link play for head-to-head competition.
Full season stats tracking.
Scouting combine style Create-A-Player - build your player through a series of rigorous events.

With the same top notch gameplay and refinements that should make people forget Madden 2002, pigskin purists are in for a real treat come August.