Cyber Bowl

By Lev Grossman

This week geeks and jocks alike can rejoice as two of the biggest video games of the year, Sega's NFL 2K3, above left, and Madden NFL Football 2003, above right, go head to head for the hearts and thumbs of armchair quarterbacks everywhere. As connoisseurs know, the matchup between the two faux football titles is one of the greatest rivalries in video-game history. Which to choose? Both games feature bruisingly realistic graphics and obsessively detailed playbooks. (Safety Bait? Strong Y Flood? You make the call!) Both have player drafts, combines, trading deadlines and mini-camps for those who love to micromanage their rosters. Above all, both simulate the great game of football without the fuss and bother of physical exercise. Choosing between them is really a generational issue. If you're an old-school, Monday Night Football kind of person, go for the classic stylings of Madden. If you're a newfangled, wisecracking Sunday Night Football fan, opt for the ESPN-themed NFL 2K3. Or do what real football players do: flip a coin. --By Lev Grossman