Players previously featured on Madden NFL covers, including Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb, have had relatively lackluster seasons after appearing on the covers. This effect has become known as the "Madden curse."Unscripted 360: Madden NFL 10 Cover, Madden Curse Double? (April 24, 2009)

1. Procedural Awareness
   • This is a fancy way of saying that characters in the game will realistically turn their head, eyes, neck and shoulders to track the ball and other targets on screen. This becomes apparent during a number of different moments in the game, including when the ball is thrown and when the quarterback is going through progressions.EA Sports: Madden NFL 10: First Look (February 1, 2009)
2. Depth of Field
   • The Depth of Field system in Madden NFL 10 has been recalibrated to reproduce the way cameras capture images in the real world. This is best understood by thinking of an image as if it were composed of multiple layers: front, middle, back. The very front is in crystal clear focus, the middle layer is a bit fuzzy but details are still discernible, and the back layer is completely out of focus. This will make players feel that they are truly watching a broadcast game.EA Sports: Breaking Down "The Shot" - The first Madden NFL 10 screenshot (March 24, 2009)