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"NFL 2004 is a winner!"

Bought NFL a few days back and I must say it has managed to improve on the excellent 2003 version. Franchise mode rules but I've yet to build my own stadium so I look forward to that. I've played Franchise with the Eagles and we've gotten off to a bad start. We played Dallas and lost 21-17. We were ahead until the final 5 seconds when Dallas intercepted the ball and made a run to make a touchdown. I better improve on my throwing and efending I think. Anyway we're 20th and I'll tell you if I win my second game later.

By the way. Buy this game. If you own 2003 then trade it in. Out with the old and in with the new is what I say.

Yea Madden 2004 has turned out briliant. I haven't started a Franchise mode yet, I've spent most of my time learning the rules ang practising different techniques. I've learned enough basics to play games well now, and win them. But I still want to practice more until I really get to grips with the game, but for me that's half the fun of Madden, practising is fun and very rewarding.

I chose the Dallas Cowboys as my team and I got round to playing an actual game last night. I beat the Giants 30-0 so I'm pretty happy about that, but I need to work on my Punting skills, they really are terrible.

:)

I started a new Franchise though (just so I could check this), and I didn't see nay options that allowed me to build a stadium. As it sounds like you built one at the start of the first season, this is rather surprising, and I'd like to know how you did it. (Or maybe I'm just blind.)

And fair do's if you can't answer the original part of the third question, but could you possibly tell me if you used more of the city's money or took it from the club's funds? I just want to get an idea about which is better in the long run.

Okay the answer to your first question is yes. You are correct in saying that the number is the years left on their contract. Secondly the only way to build a stadium is at pre-season as it makes sense. You can't build one halfway through the season can you? And finally I'm sorry but I don't know the answer to that.

I got to the playoffs semi-final, losing to the Patriots. Ah well, at least they went on to lose to the Eagles, so I'm not too disappointed.

Right after the season finishes is annoying. So many players retire (including Jerry Rice, who scored hundreds of points throughout the season!) at the end of the year, and I don't have enough money to give new contracts to all my players.

Ghost Killer. Three questions:
When you look at the player in the Roster list, does the number under the bar 'Yrl' mean how many years they've got left on their contract?

How did you build a stadium at the start of the first season? I can only do it when I'm in the preseason bit of the second season.

And

When you did build a new stadium, what happens if you spend most of the money with your club's funds, and did you use the club funds or go to the city for help?

Haven't lost any of my season games. Beat Tampa Bay! I've won 7 out of 7 but I bet you I'll lose when it comes to the important games like the play-offs. But I'm happy so far. Fans are happy, I'm happy! I love this game.

It helps a lot to build a new stadium, but it can't be done at the start of the first season.

When (if) you play the Lions at any point in the season, the commentators will point out that their stadium is new and was only created in 2002, and compared to the rest of the stadiums on offer, it's pretty updated. Looks a treat, too.

Anyway, I got to the playoffs at the end of the first season but lost to the Patriots in the semi-final. They went on to lose to the Rams so I didn't mind. :-D

I got Madden today but I haven't played it yet.

:)

I'll get it started tonight though for sure, because it does sound immense from what I've read here.

Beat the Denver Broncos relatively easily and then thumped the Chargers 26-0 at home.

Also, I had put up the prices for the seats a bit, so I got more money. It helped that there was a bigger attendence than the week before also, but the fans overall are a little unhappy that I randomly raised the prices of seats in some area.

Well, I'm becoming a great team now, so they're going to have to live with it. :-D

Only played two games of the actual season so far - will probably do a few more later tonight.

I've won my first two games (beat the Titans narrowly, then slaughtered the Bengals), and if things keep going this way, I'll be able to put up some prices and get some more money in for stadium development.

Not signed anyone, and don't really plan to. I have an excellent Quarterback in Gannon, two great wide receivers (Rice and Wheatley) and some top defenders.

I like this a lot.

The eagles immediately blew a load of cash on a state of the art stadium. But things are going steady and I've won four of my games out of four. I don't intend to win the league but am aiming to make the play-offs. Doubt I'll win that either though. By the way Afro have you traded any players or bought any yet? I purchased Centers recently and he's great.