You JUST WAIT until next year, Madden. - Kushmir's Blog

Kushmir's Blog

You JUST WAIT until next year, Madden.

Posted on September 28, 2010 at 03:02 PM.

(36)

Its been said many times, that you can Laugh Now--only to Cry Later...

I wasn't gonna write this, but if Chris can tell the truth (http://tinyurl.com/2wumbma) SO can I. Great read by the way, Chris...GREAT READ.

With the cancellation (lets be honest--that's what it is) of NBA Elite 11 EASports got the message of the consumer, but don't kid yourself, it wasn't for the quality issue they're preaching, they could care less about that--they made a BUSINESS DECISION based on the fact that their New Brand would be ridiculously outsold and associated with failure forever. The real message they got is that they have to COMPETE...if not, its best to cancel your release altogether.

after the bait-and-switch that was Madden 11 (because lets be honest, the demo gave no clue that defense would be non-existent) we know one thing for sure.

THEY SIMPLY CAN'T BE TRUSTED.

In the coming months, EA/Tiburon will try their best to do damage-control and sway you with promises of Madden gameplay "fixes" and try to use words you identify with like: "new tackle system" or "defensive AI" but don't fall for it. NOT FOR AN INSTANT. Never forget that feeling you felt after 3 days or so of playing Madden 11 (or that you're feeling right now) and realizing that the game was bad. REALLY BAD.

Whether it's the fact that their testers are horrible or they simply DON'T test, the simple truth is this: EA/Tiburon is a Bastion of Game-Killing Glitches and ALWAYS HAS BEEN. Doubt me? FINE. Let's take a walk down memory lane then, shall we?

2003: Online is a cluster@&%# six words: GAME SHARK. SEAM ROUTE. DB AI.
2004: Jet-Packing and Mike Vick reign supreme.
2005: Nano-blitz enters the urban vernacular. for good measure so does juke-glitch.
2006: Run/Pass Glitch ruins games everywhere. remember this petition? http://tinyurl.com/29dtbp8
2007: Lead Blocker Control aka no run defense to speak of. play-action runs wild.
2008: Another no-defense game where Vince Young ran wild. DB AI is horrendous.
2009: FG blocks and the infamous WR Direct Snap Glitch.
2010: largely a solid game, but even then "flats" defense broke the game yet again.

This year was even worse, we received a game where the game had been purposely "dumbed down" to appease the casual customer and even after it was patched--was still unacceptable.

My Suggestion? Let your voice be heard with CURRENCY (or lack of it, to be more specific) and don't compromise on one thing. NOT ONE. If there are things you know SHOULD and CAN be implemented and aren't? DEMAND IT. If they're not? Tell them what they've been telling YOU since as long as you could audible down...

MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

If you've been asking for dirty jerseys and field degredation and they aren't in? WALK AWAY. You say you want individual coverage audibles and all of the past-gen features and they aren't being added? spend your hard-earned dollars elsewhere. What's this you say? You demand full rosters, Adaptive AI, realistic franchise stats, Collision Detection and a game where Speed isn't the dominant attribute? Well by all means, DEMAND IT THEN.

Because in simple terms, they don't listen to, or respect you enough to give you what you want. To them, you'll complain but still continue to buy like the videogame sheep you really are. The cold, hard truth is that The Madden Series is NBA Elite without any competition, and the only reason you don't know it, is because they keep PISSING on you, calling it RAIN--and you keep believing it. That's right,you're playing the football version of NBA Elite, but you just haven't figured it out yet.

In the tradition of classic beer commercials everywhere...

MAN UP.

Comments

# 1 rangerrick012 @ Sep 28

I passed on Madden this year, don't regret it. Picked up NCAA a few weeks ago and am loving it. More people need to take the stand and not settle for what Madden offers. As a franchise gamer, for Madden not to improve Franchise mode was a dealbreaker. Would love to buy M12 if they improve franchise mode AND presentation drastically, not just window dressing.

# 2 robbiedizzle @ Sep 28

I'm with ya. Havent bought Maadden in 3 years and wont until they add things to franchise. For me personally..incentives in contracts like in Head Coach and Trade Finder Like in NBA 2K11

# 3 yoda43 @ Sep 28

I agree 110%. And, guess what EA.......you better hope.......you better get down on your knees and pray to the sports gaming gods, that the NFL and the NCAA reup on your the contract that you have with them !!! Because if 2k ever gets their hands in the NFL and NCAA cookie jar.......ITS GAME OVER for you guys.

EA, are you about ready to start listening to us!!!????

# 4 Kushmir @ Sep 28

LOL @ "get down on your knees and pray to the sports gaming gods" I hear you Bro, won't make any difference to me. Madden's on atleast 3 year's hiatus from me and sadly NCAA 09 finished me altogether.

# 5 Nunyerbiz @ Sep 28

I generally agree with the thrust of his argument... But...

What is the end result of this happy sunshine bunny universe when we stick it to the evil corporate men running EA? What happens if they fix all the issues after we all sit out for a year? Once all these glitches and flaws and balance issues are eliminated, and the game is as close to perfect as video game football has ever been... well, then what? Then it's suddenly worth the $60 per year for the roster updates? Of course it won't be.... and I'm still amazed so many people buy these titles every single year... but to act like it's a matter of quality to the average user... it's simply not. The internet was the best thing that could have happened for sports games. Get 'em hooked with online play, then like clockwork turn off the online support when the new version rolls around.

Considering the $755 kazillion dollars or whatever king's ransom the NFL wanted for exclusive rights, I don't know what other choice EA had... It's pretty clear that the R&D budget hasn't exactly been stellar and there is no reason to see that changing while they have a monopoly.

# 6 rooney8 @ Sep 28

Alot of the issues you list I don't put on Madden but cheesers. I do agree with you though. I remember Madden 10 they were laying the foundation of a great franchise mode. Now they are rebuilding it? Laying the foundation seems to be their go to excuse as it's the reason given why the commentary was so bad this year quickly followed by wait until next year. I used to be unable to resist buying Madden on release day even when I knew I would be dissappointed but with NBA2k11 and Fifa11 it's not that hard to resist anymore.

# 7 Kushmir @ Sep 28

in a nutshell, nunyerboz gamplay simply can't be sacrificed so that "reviewers can't say we didn't add anything" it's silly to piecemeal additions to gameplay so that people will notice progress more. they are tons of other areas to include new features without doing this.

# 8 russwg1970 @ Sep 28

Don't worry, Madden will still be around. Every year they throw a list of "improvments" or "additions" and hype it up and people buy it hook line and sinker. How many years has Madden been headed in the right direction? I'm so sick of reading that... When are they going to arrive TO that direction?

Good luck with seeing improvments to the franchise mode, Ian Cummings thinks people don't play it accrding to the latest GameInformer interview - and he does not see a need to spend resources on vast improvements for something that isn't used. Well duhhh, people don't play it, or lose interest quickly becasue it sucks! It's not rocket science people.

# 9 computerlover @ Sep 28

Im still waiting for the capability to have a 53 man roster, allow only 45 on game day to dress, and have a 8 man practice squad. What would also be nice is that if a player is IR, then they are removed from the roster count and you are allowed to sign another player without having to cut someone of the active roster.. LIKE IN ummmm REAL FOOTBALLL!! I mean lets be real EA.. this is in the game.. and its NOT in UR game!!! Who in the world would cut ray lewis to add another mlb when he is done for the season with an injury.. also the ridiculous minimum player BS. I have players that can play multiple positions FS/CB G/C/T, but i have to have a minimum number of players at each position to play offline franchise.. thats ********.. the ravens this year have 4 T 2 G and 1 C and one guy that can do them all.. but with the DL roster, i have to add a person in order to start my chise.. what da deal?? come on EA!!!

# 10 Blak_Baki_Hanma @ Sep 28

Unfortunately, too many consumers are wasteful. When cost doesn't equal value, we all lose.
Perhaps the makers of these games just aren't very good at what they do...

Patience on our (the consumers') part and consistently underachieving sales will force the nfl to open the license for 2k to return.
Let Madden die and burn in Elite Hell where it belongs.

Money talks...
Elite walks.

Haven't WE learned OUR lesson?

Fool me once... shame on you.
Fool me twice........

# 11 Kushmir @ Sep 28

it took me some time but i finally got the message. i was content for progress to inch long after Madden 10, but when they showed they were going to take steps backwards? NO WAY.

# 12 DaReapa @ Sep 28

This is a very good right up and I've been on the bandwagon for the better part of the past decade now. However, this article has been written for years now, only to be met with a sales increase in Madden over the previous year's edition. One of the contributing factors to EA pulling Elite was the enormous backlash from the community before the game's release. Until we see the general consensus producing the same feedback for Madden, I doubt that we'll ever see a similar situation along the likes of Elite. Your title says it best, and sadly, every year it's the same complaint from Madden diehards - "Madden dropped the ball this year, but next year will be better." Until consumers address the complaints with their wallets, this trend will never change. Either that, or the NFL relinquishing license exlusivity in the next two years (or better yet, the NCAA exclusivity by next year).

# 13 49UNCFan @ Sep 29

Love this!

# 14 shadthedad @ Sep 29

I think through EA canceling NBA elite, it gives madden backlasher's hope that they have the power to send Madden back to the drawing board as well.

# 15 AMYO @ Sep 29

AHHHHHH MENNNNNNN....THANK YOU...MADDEN NEEDS TO GO...GIVE 2K ONE YEAR WITH NFL RIGHTS IM CURIOUS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN...ONLY 2K SERIES I HAVENT LIKED IS MLB BUT NBA IS INCREDIBLE AND NFL BACK IN THE DAY WAS WONDEROUS....IM DONE PURCHASING MADDENS AND I SAID THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR...I BOUGHT 11 BECAUSE I WAS BORED....RETURNED IT IN 3 DAYS AFTER I REALIZED HOW ****IN ******** I WAS TO BUY IT...AND MADDEN 12 WILL NEVER TAKE MY 60$ GAURANTEED..UNLESS...THEY SERIOUSLY DO SOMETHING...WHICH THEY WONT CAUSE THEY NEVER DO...

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