Electronic Arts (EA) created the Madden NFL series.
Origin
EA founder Trip Hawkins conceived the idea in the early 1980s, inspired by Strat-O-Matic football simulations, and approached John Madden in 1984 for endorsement and expertise after others like Joe Montana declined. The first game, John Madden Football , launched in 1988 for Apple II computers following years of development to ensure realism, including an 11-on-11 format per Madden's input.
Key Contributors
- Trip Hawkins initiated the project and secured Madden's involvement during a two-day Amtrak meeting.
- Producer Joe Ybarra collaborated with Hawkins and Madden on design.
- Programmer Robin Antonick (sometimes referenced as "Zanuck") coded the initial version over three years.
EA has published annual iterations since 1990, with Madden providing playbooks and ongoing guidance.
