Madden 10 Online Dynasty ... like buying a Mercedes Benz with no gas in it! - Antwuan's Blog

Antwuan's Blog

Madden 10 Online Dynasty ... like buying a Mercedes Benz with no gas in it!

Posted on August 18, 2009 at 05:11 PM.

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Ah yes... the new Madden!

I really like the new Madden (2010). I really do. The game has come a long way. Playing quarterback is really starting to feel like playing quarterback. The atmosphere has been vastly improved. The game feels alive, from the fans, to the players, to the refs to the sidelines. EA has done a pretty good job of trying to let each game tell a story, and it seeks to do so by getting all the key characters screen time. Very cool.

It plays well too. Running feels really good, as long as you're not mashing the speed burst the whole time. I haven't had any "money" plays yet (though the screens are getting close). I haven't played with all the teams, but it seems the game does allow for players with different styles to be good in their own right (i.e. the power back vs the elusive back) and tackling, or better who is tackling, makes a difference.

And then there's Online Franchise...as far as I'm concerned, the feature that should have been this hen's golden egg. Unfortunately, here is where the end, begins.

Madden 10's Online Dynasty is like buying a Mercedes Benz that has no gas in it. It looks pretty, and some of the really cool stuff inside works well, but the most important stuff is missing. That "stuff" is the salary cap.

As I sit here, in my Mercedes' I have to wonder... HOW THE HELL was it ok'd to let out a "franchise" mode that does not have salary cap (or some derivative, thereof). The point of franchise is to bring your obscure, sucky team (like my Raiders) to prominence in a way that would happen in real life. There is NO thrill in having annual Fantasy Drafts that have no consequence. NONE. In fact, I don't even see why we should use real teams at all. If it's going to be a big fantasy draft, then call it that.

What is especially frustrating for me is that the logic exists already. I'm not a technical guru, but i don't see it being too difficult to add the salary logic, if it had priority. It clearly did not. To better serve the point (as if I haven't made it thoroughly enough), imagine NCAA "Dynasty" with no recruiting. Or better, NCAA with recruiting, but no pitches... just a list of players and a free for all where we are left to manage ourselves on who goes where. The money is the heart and soul, the blood in the veins of a franchise. If there is no money or caps, or penalties, or salaries to juggle for old players and young 1st round bloated contracts... What is the point?!

Indeed, what is the point of a Mercedes with no gas. EA, please explain how such a vital piece could be given such LOW priority. It LOOKS like you purposely left it out to be able to "add" something next year. There is certainly precedence for that.

Online Franchise was the most anticipated feature for me this year, and now it is just frustrating. And its sad, too. Because the gameplay for this game is great (still some "WTF was QA doing when they played, and how'd they miss it" moments) and would be fun to go online with other owner/coaches. Instead we are left with a glorified Fantasy league being pawned as a Franchise sim...(the word 'franchise' does imply money).

Come on, EA! Even you have to see how idiotic a decision this was!

~A