BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -Some LSU students are arriving right on schedule to play video games and get paid for it. For the past two months about 30 LSU gamers have been working to find any kinks in two EA sports video games that will hit stores next year. It was one “test” people did not mind signing up for in Baton Rouge.
You know the old saying – it’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it? “I’d say we had over 700 people apply so far,” said project manager C.D. Wright. It seems to fit here! Hundreds applied for a part-time job that requires serious concentration, hand-eye coordination and 20 hours of job training. “People have asked us what kind of background do you need or what kind of training do you need. And there really isn’t any,” said Wright.
To test two EA video games, Madden 10 and Tiger Woods 10 EA chose LSU to be it’s first North American testing center because of Louisiana’s passion for football. They say the parternship should position the state to become a leader in digital media and entertainment development. Wright says their job is to play the game and find out if anything’s wrong with it. For example while testing Tiger 10, one girl discovered the computer never takes its turn. Mistakes in the game are written down and sent back to the programmer who fixes it and sends it back here, for more testing.
To get EA Sports, the city of Baton Rouge put up $100,000 and other incentives – totaling near the 14 million dollar mark. The state also offered the game company a 20 percent tax credit.
Madden 2009’s 14th roster update is due for release Dec. 5th. There are some major changes as we come into the last part of the NFL season.
Transactions
DE Ervin Baldwin – Signs with Bears
WR Brandon Rideau – Signs with Bears
G Evan Mathis – Signs with Bengals
DE Josh Mallard – Signs with Bengals
T Kirk Barton – Signs with Bengals
FB Andrew Pinnock – Signs with Broncos
S Josh Barrett – Signs with Broncos
QB Bruce Gradkowski – Signs with Browns
CB Michael Adams – Signs with Cardinals
P Dirk Johnson – Released by Cardinals
P Ben Graham – Signs with Cardinals
LB Curtis Gatewood – Signs with Chiefs
LB Carlos Polk – Added to Cowboys
G/C Al Johnson – Signs with Dolphins
G Milford Brown – Released by Jaguars
DT Jimmy Kennedy – Released by Jaguars
DE Jeremy Mincey – Added to Jaguars
CB Omare Lowe – Released by Jaguars
P Steve Weatherford – Signs with Jaguars
TE George Wrighster – Added to Jaguars
WR Keary Colbert – Signs with Lions
DT Alfred Malone – Signs with Packers
LB Vince Redd – Added to Free Agents
LB Rosevelt Colvin – Signs with Patriots
G Junius Coston – Released by Raiders
G Dylan Gandy – Signs with Raiders
FB Dan Kreider – Released by Rams
FB/TE Daniel Fells – Signs with Rams
C Cory Withrow – Signs with Rams
HB Shaun Alexander – Released by Redskins
DT Ryan Boschetti – Signs with Redskins
CB Leigh Torrence – Signs with Saints
DE Josh Savage – Signs with Saints
DT Scott Paxson – Signs with Steelers
CB Fernando Bryant – Signs with Steelers
P Mitch Berger – Signs with Steelers
P Paul Ernster – Released by Steelers
Ratings Up*
CB Corey Graham – Bears – 76 to 77 – Will step into the starting lineup with the season ending injury to Vasher.
HB Matt Forte – Bears – 84 to 85 – Is up there with Chris Johnson and Slaton as top rookie back.
CB Brandon McDonald – Browns – 78 to 80 – Took his one week benching in stride making some big plays in solid coverage vs. Reggie Wayne.
DT Shaun Rogers – Browns – 96 to 97 – Should line up next to Albert Haynesworth in the starting lineup for the AFC Pro Bowl. One move that worked for Cleveland acquiring Rogers for Leigh Bodden.
DE Kevin Carter – Bucs – 82 to 85 – The Bucs brought him back and he has rewarded them with very good play against the run and getting to the passer.
DE Jimmy Wilkerson – Bucs – 77 to 80 – Has been thriving and playing very well as a defensive sub for Tampa.
LB Derrick Brooks – Bucs – 93 to 94 – Whispers that he was fading were exaggerated, looks very good in pass coverage.
LT Donald Penn – Bucs – 84 to 88 – A dominant pass blocker at LT who should be considered for the Pro Bowl.
CB Ronde Barber – Bucs – 91 to 92 – Has been making plays in weeks past after looking washed up earlier in the season.
WR Antonio Bryant – Bucs – 81 to 86 – Looks very big and strong as the #1 in Tampa. Very fluid running his routes and looks good after the catch.
DE Dwight Freeney – Colts – 95 to 96 – Gave Joe Thomas a beating in last week’s game. His bull rush is as good as ever and put Thomas on his back.
DE Robert Mathis – Colts – 95 to 96 – Worked with Freeney to win won in Cleveland when the offense had nothing.
WR Davone Bess – Dolphins – 74 to 76 – Looks he will pick up the slack with the season ending injury to Greg Camarillo. He has some experience catching tons of passes from Colt Brennan at Hawaii.
DE Justin Tuck – Giants – 94 to 95 – Last year’s most underrated Madden player has played above expectations.
WR Domenik Hixon – Giants – 76 to 79 – Showed he is ready to take the next step by showing ability to separate from Carlos Rogers. Will be looked upon more with the loss of Burress.
CB Al Harris – Packers – 92 to 94 – With the uncertainty that has been looming with the Green Bay secondary, Al Harris has been superb since his return from injury.
CB Chris Gamble – Panthers – 90 to 92 – Just was rewarded with a contract extension for his solid play this season, never had been consistent before but is so this season.
S Charles Godfrey – Panthers – 77 to 79 – After playing CB in college has transitioned nicely to the FS position.
HB DeAngelo Williams – Panthers – 85 to 86 – Blew up for 4 TD’s and has played better since the emergence of Jonathan Stewart.
G Travelle Wharton – Panthers – 88 to 89 – Has been Carolina’s most consistent lineman.
DE Charles Johnson – Panthers – 77 to 78 – Was getting a monster push in last week’s game vs. Green Bay.
CB Randall Gay – Saints – 82 to 84 – Has been solid this season. The best player in the Saints secondary.
HB Pierre Thomas – Saints – 78 to 83 – Looks to have his role expanded even more with Deuce being suspended.
LB James Harrison – Steelers – 96 to 97 – Is defensive MVP through 13 weeks.
HB Steve Slaton – Texans – 83 to 84 – Looked very fast in his big day on Monday night. He looks great in the Texans zone blocking scheme.
G Mike Brisiel – Texans – 78 to 83 – Has done a nice job in his first full year as a starting lineman.
C Chris Myers – Texans – 80 to 82 – Worked well with the right side to open up huge holes for Slaton to fly through.
WR Andre Johnson – Texans – 96 to 97 – Has taken the next step as a dominate WR. Looks like a big created player out there.
DE Jared Allen – Vikings – 97 to 98 – One of the most disruptive forces in football. Bucs LT Penn held him in check, besides that he has been dominating opposing tackles.
*Many more ratings changes
Ratings Down *
WR Chad Johnson – Bengals – 97 to 96 – Has displayed unsteady hands and has not been on his game this season.
WR Donte Stallworth – Browns – 85 to 81 – Has underachieved on every team unless the QB is Tom Brady. A free agent bomb along with the acquisition of Corey Williams.
TE Kellen Winslow – Browns – 97 to 95 – Will never be 100% again. Is still a top TE but he won’t be able to be durable again.
S Clinton Hart – Chargers – 85 to 82 – Has been abused by TE’s all year in pass coverage.
TE Antonio Gates – Chargers – 97 to 96 – Is unable to move and separate anymore. Does not appear to be near 100%.
CB Patrick Surtain – Chiefs – 87 to 84 – The Chiefs have moved on and will officially do so after the season.
S Bob Sanders – Colts – 98 to 97 – Has been plagued by injuries again this season. Troy P and Ed Reed should be the top 2 safeties.
WR Marvin Harrison – Colts – 94 to 92 – His inability to separate now must be alarming to the Colts.
LB Vernon Gholston – Jets – 79 to 74 – Had chances in last week’s game to make plays and didn’t. Is only rated a 74 based on pure potential at picking up OLB because now he looks slow.
*Many more ratings changes
Injuries
CB Nathan Vasher – Bears – IR
DT Dusty Dvoracek – Bears – IR
G Andrew Whitworth – Bengals – IR
S Marvin White – Bengals – IR
DE Robert Geathers – Bengals – IR
DT John McCargo – Bills – IR
QB Brady Quinn – Browns – IR
QB Derek Anderson – Browns – IR
G Ryan Lilja – Colts – IR
G Kyle Kosier – Cowboys – IR
WR Greg Camarillo – Dolphins – IR
G Justin Smiley – Dolphins – IR
S Sammy Knight – Giants – (Off depth chart)
WR Javon Walker – Raiders – IR
Contracts
DT Jonathan Babineaux – Falcons – 6 years total
WR Michael Jenkins – Falcons – 5 years total
CB Chris Gamble – Panthers – 7 years total
And the award goes to Plaxico Burress. The Dallas Cowboys may have drunks and arms dealers but at least they don’t shoot themselves in the leg.
The Giants’ dream season was thrown into turmoil Saturday when Super Bowl star Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub and linebacker Antonio Pierce tried to hide the gun, police sources said. Burress is expected to be arrested on felony weapons charges in the coming days, while Pierce’s attorney was in frantic discussions with cops last night to stave off criminal charges, police sources said. Burress’ latest self-inflicted wound came after he was initially turned away from the LQ nightclub in midtown because he was packing heat, police sources said. Burress, 31, who was sporting flashy jewelry and carrying loads of cash, told club management he needed the gun to protect himself, sources said. The mercurial Giant was waved inside the crowded Latin-themed club on Lexington Ave. about midnight. He downed several drinks, making already jittery security guards more nervous about his weapon. As Burress was being led into a VIP area, with a drink in his hand, the gun slipped down his pants leg. He reached for the weapon, but fumbled it and it went off, sources said. The bullet tore through Burress’ already injured right thigh, police said. “[The bullet] went in and out. No bones,” Chief Michael Collins, a police spokesman, said. Pierce, 30, rushed to his bleeding teammate and applied pressure to the wound as Burress screamed in pain amid the hip-hop beats piping through the club, sources said. As he worked to slow the bleeding, Pierce berated Burress for bringing a loaded handgun into a club. Panicking, Burress told his teammate not to call 911 for an ambulance, sources said. Pierce helped the bloodied receiver out of the club before taking off with the gun and stashing it somewhere in New Jersey, sources said. Burress was afraid to go to the hospital, but two hours after the shooting, at 2 a.m., his wife, Tiffany, and a friend escorted him to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell. He was treated and released at about 12:45 p.m., sources said. But a hospital spokeswoman denied that Burress was ever there. Cops only learned about the incident after Giants employees quietly reached out to the NYPD to report it, sources said.
Here is the lastest play of the day. If you would like to see your video up here please upload it to EA Sports World and then send a link to playoftheday@maddenfans.com
Location: DKR-Texas Memorial StadiumIs Championship: No
Is Rivalry: No
Bowl Game: 37
Game Mode: Dynasty
User Skill: All-American
Quarter Length: 5
Quarter: 2nd
Time Left in Seconds: 272
Down: 4th
Yards Gained: 0
Play Length in Seconds: 248
Greatness Score: 778
Distance to First: 13
Date: 19:18 2008-Nov-27
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