Electronic Arts has hit back at a report published yesterday by USA Today, in which it was claimed that Madden NFL 08 on the Microsoft Xbox 360 is superior to its Sony PlayStation 3 counterpart. Specifically, the paper cites the huge difference in frame rates between the two versions as the main reason, with the Xbox 360 version running at a silky smooth 60fps, while the PS3 trundles along at just 30fps.

EA has, in the past, pleaded with the press and gaming public to give developers more time to get to grips with the PS3's capabilities. It has explained that while the majority of developers have worked with the Xbox 360 for over three and a half years, many have only worked with Sony's next-generation console for a little over 12 months.

"The differences in the overall knowledge of the hardware is vastly different for both consoles and... it is very difficult to get it right the first time," a spokesperson for the company said - even though this is the second time a Madden game has been released on the PS3. Ahem.

Sony has also spoken out against recent criticism from Ubisoft, which saw the developer stating that the PS3 couldn’t support artificial intelligence as comfortably as the Xbox 360. Sony's director of corporate communication, Dave Karraker, has since stated in his latest blog that the "PS3 can more than handle AI, as you will see with Heavenly Sword, which has hundreds of on-screen enemies with different AI routines at one time thanks to the power of Cell [the PS3's processor]."

We’re all terribly sorry for ever doubting you or your console, Mr. Karraker – or at least we will be when you prove those claims.