EA catching up to 2k: Good decision, or bad idea? - Perfect Zero's Blog

Perfect Zero's Blog

EA catching up to 2k: Good decision, or bad idea?

Posted on July 9, 2009 at 11:26 AM.

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Over the past half decade, the sports world has seen a great soap opera unfold before their eyes. It started with one of the greatest shockers in the world; that EA Sports had persuaded the NFL to sell their exclusive rights to produce a NFL video game. To this day, there have been many critics of the move, and with a new development team, EA is admitting they have not done the best possible job with the license. Now the team, led by Ian Cummings, is looking for ways to fix their game, and they are looking no further than the game they helped to destroy with a war chest full of money, NFL 2kX.

It's admirable that the EA team wants to improve their product by going back and looking at what works for them, and what worked for 2k. By trying to introduce more presentation and by adding little things like coaches having specific play styles (ala VIP), the team is looking to go forward with what worked in the past for the competition. While many in the community applaud this, there are a few major setbacks that actually hurt Madden when they go this route.

For one, they are admitting that their game is not up to snuff with what should be expected out of a next- gen game. While this may seem like a great revelation, it's sad to see it come nearly five years after the fact. The gurus at EA's world headquarters have not taken the consumer seriously until last years bomb of a game. It is only now when it is required of the team that they are making so many major strides to put out a great game. Many people are tired of the wait for a next- gen game (including yours truly), and are reluctant to get a new version because of it.

The second problem is that the team is spending a lot of time trying to catch up with 2k and their game. Again, many people are applauding this, but it also means that the EA team is playing more catch- up rather than creating their own stride. So far, the only original idea from the EA team is Pro- Tak (which is looking to be a great major addition to this years game). It's nice to have these additions, but I want to see what EA's creative team can come up with on their own. This also creates a problem that will be discussed in the third issue with the game.

Which is the fact that EA will never catch up with what 2k has, and will never win over the hearts of 2k fans. Take for example the promise of better presentation. The main focus was on better cut scenes which are looking to add a bit of varity to the game. They have also gone on to add "The Extra Point" show, which is where EA fumbles the ball. Compared to what 2k did with Chris Berman and Suzy Kolber, the Extra Point looks like a stripped down version of KDAF's High School Saturday Special on at midnight. There is no flair, no excitement, and no hint that it took the team more than two days to come up with it.

The main problem lies in the fact that 2kX and Madden are two seperate games, and deserve to be treated as such. The best thing for Madden to do is to go out and find their own nitch. They need to continue the community interaction and find out what hardcore and ****** gamers want in a football game. Trying to catch up with the 2k crowd will only produce a product that will never be as good as 2kX, and will never satisfy fans of the origional Madden game.

Comments

# 1 rspencer86 @ Jul 9

You bring up some interesting questions, but I disagree with many of your conclusions.

Your first point was that while it was nice EA was finally admitting they were lagging behind the benchmark that 2K set, it was too little, too late. While this has come a little later than I would have liked, it was necessary to recognize what the competition did better and to go about improving in those areas. The alternative was to continue to ignore what made the "other game" so popular, which would have led to the same stale product IMO.

Your second point was EA trying to play "catch-up" with 2K is an exercise in futility. I disagree here as well. While you are correct in saying the Extra Point show leaves a lot to be desired, to say that EA's product "will never be as good as 2K" is just flat out wrong. I loved 2K5, but I am also thrilled with the major presentation improvements that have been made this year in Madden. I know I'm not alone in this thinking. EA will continue to improve their presentation and hopefully reach and exceed the benchmark set by 2K5 in a year or two. This progress will likely win over the 2K fans who were, like me, amazed by the presentation and immersion of that game.

The bottom line is, you gotta walk before you can run. EA needed major improvements in areas such as presentation and atmosphere, and many of those improvements have been addressed. Once these important areas that 2K did so well are solidified, I think that will allow the developers to concentrate on innovative ideas that will provide an experience that is far different (and hopefully better) than what 2K gave us.

# 2 TracerBullet @ Jul 9

I guess that Fight Night and NHL aren't good series jusmegamer... anywho, I think that just making these improvements they have in one year is actually a good thing. Most people in the community are asking for the things you say they are using to catch up. Looking for their own niche at the moment would pretty much exclude the fan interaction. Honestly they could probably a game better than 2k5(maybe not this year but next) but a lot of people still harbor so much resentment towards EA that they still wouldn't play it and they would still claim 2k5 as the best game ever. I really don't think it's the 2k crowd they're going after. I think it is the hardcore community.

# 3 theanswer34 @ Jul 9

Man they dont need to catch up to 2k5,it getting madden to represent how the game of football is played at best as possible, 2k5 did right, old gen madden did right, when madden went to next gen they tryed to make madden something it wasn't and f ed up at it, thats why I'm glad Ian took over and went back to basic.

# 4 EtheRed @ Jul 9

2K5 will always be considered the best NFL game by true gamers throughout the US and beyond. It was a game that still is fun and impressive today. If 2K finds a way back into the NFL mix it might be lights out for Madden.

# 5 rspencer86 @ Jul 9

Quote:


	2K5 will always be considered the best NFL game by true gamers throughout the US and beyond. It was a game that still is fun and impressive today. If 2K finds a way back into the NFL mix it might be lights out for Madden.

To say 2K5 will "always" be the best NFL game is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, it is the best NFL game I've ever played thus far and the one I've played the longest, but to say that it will never be topped is just wrong. With the way Madden has improved this year, it won't take long.

# 6 elgreazy1 @ Jul 9

Let me preface and say I'm not a 2K fanboy; I've bought Madden's, 2K's, Gameday's, Fever's, Tecmo Bowl's, Emmitt Smith football (yes! on SNES!), etc. If it was football, I wanted it!

July 20, 2004, this was when ESPN NFL2K5 was released and it is taking more than 5 years worth of work for Madden & EA to finally get up to snuff with them. 5 full years!

The problem with Madden is the gameplay engine, simply put. The engine is downright terrible with lack of physics, momentum and absolute no semblence of a pocket, run blocking nor passing physics. What EA needs to do is completely scrap the entire engine they have and start with something new. You can only bandaid a gashing wound for so long. I'm not saying NFL2K5 is superior in every way to Madden, but it did play a great game of football.

I'll give Madden some kuddos, the player models are great, the lighting/atmosphere is excellent and the stadiums are downright beautiful, but that's all glitz and glam, no substance. I think Ian and company are doing a great job of trying to get away from whatever the heck Madden has been since coming to the next-gen consoles, but 4 years into modern technology and only now they're starting to make changes? Most of it probably had to do with the lackluster (multi-million sales isn't lackluster, mind you) sales as compared to previous years.

Simply put, competition breeds excellence. When the NFL agreed to sell off an Exclusive License it completely killed off any competition between games, thus turning Madden stale. Had both companies (and other future rivals) been allowed to develop NFL games, consumers would not have suffered nearly as much.

# 7 FunNgun034 @ Jul 9

I will continue to play 2k5 as long as I can still edit and make rosters,,, thanks to Finn 2K5 will never die.

# 8 questlove76 @ Jul 10

I'm neither a 2k fanboy nor a maddenite. I just watched 4 years of boring video game football(for me) go by and finally feel a sense of excitement go by in this generation. I don't know 1 cheese play for any of the maddens new gen because honestly, nothing excited me about this gens game. This season does remind alot of 2K5 and the best parts of Madden 05 for ps2. I liked both. played both religiously at different times. Hopefully, EA gets it finally. I'll know in Madden 10. But, I'm not holding my breath because they totally ignored their fans since they got exclusivity. If they don't get they need to push the threshold of football gaming from now on and make next gen better than 2k5 and Madden 05 (combined) They will see fair weather non-sim, just fun videogame minded people like me move on to something new and interesting like wii fit (god how sad but you forced it on us with insults like all-play)

If Madden continues to evolve and stops doing this back to basics approach every year it will continue to grow. Otherwise it will be as boring as it seemed over the years and continue to lose gamers.

All I want is fun, and some sense of realism as I create my image of myself(with a 99 overall) playing free safety. If I keep being out played and maneuvered by a guy with 70 speed because he's on all-madden and weird fumbles I won't buy the game. simple. Make the game fun, logical and let me be the illogical component.

# 9 Swanison @ Jul 12

EA is not copying 2k nor trying to catch up with 2k fans. by madden admitting they havent lived up to the contract does not imply they want to copy 2k to get 2k fans to jump the band wagon. Maddens goal was to bring authenticity, realism, and emotion just like in real nfl not copy 2k5. EA sports its in the game. All of these ideas for madden are not stealing 2ks. just bec madden is finally tryin to live up to thier motto doesnt mean they are stealing ideas. how is bringing presentation to a football game taking others ideas. extra point is nothing like 2ks halftime show. your are basically saying madden 10 is trying to be exactly like 2k5. everthing in madden 10 is nothing like 2k5 and madden 10 IS creating thier own stride

# 10 lvsolja09 @ Jul 12

as a 2k fan since day one when it was SEGASPORTS & joe montanta (early 90's) it disgusted my whole liking for videogames ..that exclusive rubbish in 05.. now madden fans seem to think the 2k community is a huge mafia family of bashers..THAT IS NOT TRUE..people is the gameplay people...to a 2k fans hands and eyes your game plays like $H*T ...now in the nextGEN pretty $H*T! with nice modes and frachise and menus.............IS JUST THE GAMEPLAY MAN ....it still is the absolute low grade b-movie... feelLIKE driving cars on afield of game....... it is sad cause i wish to be playing football videogame again but with this one game only that year after year is apretty dressed up toad.. my interest in videogame s on the whole is ultra low

# 11 blazer003 @ Jul 12

I agree with some parts of this, but not others.
I agree that EA is admitting that they haven't put forth the effort to bring the best game possible, but I think this was needed. It was obvious whether they said it or not. By admitting it, they have made a watershed year. They can now say, "We understand your frustrations, we've gone away from their old ways and are now going to do right by you."

I don't think this is a bad thing. I haven't bought Madden since '05 on XBOX, but this year I'm seriously considering renting NCAA and buying Madden instead, simply because they seemed to be committed to making a good game. NCAA team take note. This is what I'm looking for.

I do agree their playing catchup with what 2k had, whether they are thinking, "This is what 2k did right, let's copy it," or just, this is what is right, 2k happened to do it, so let's do it too."

But ultimately, if the Madden team continues what they've started this year, this game will soon again be called a great game.

# 12 BigRick47 @ Jul 12

If EA is admitting that their efforts over the last few years was not up to par, and they are using what 2K did in it's last effort to make a game that had everything in it before being forced out by EA, then they should drop the price to $19.99 just like 2K did. This would at least please people who have spent their money on a subpar product for years standing behind Madden and those who didn't really have a choice because it's the only pro football game, it would also justify Madden using every feature that 2K had before it and now are putting into their game. I know this will never happen but it would be a great gesture on EA's part.

# 13 texbuk84 @ Jul 13

Please EA will never "catch up" to 2k unless they get rid of that game engine and have 2k develope their games.

# 14 bigsmallwood @ Jul 13

EA has to set a new bar...and it is pathetic that they are just now trying to catch up to NFL 2K5....and how many Madden games are we into Next Gen???

# 15 spursfan @ Jul 13

I'm not a 2k fan, nor a EA fan either, I'm a sports video game fan, and I won't settle for half assed product that they try to tell me is the best theing since sliced bread. I've bought madden and 2k football games every year. I usually would get madden and only play it for a month and I STILL play 2k5 to this day. Anyway, its nice they're stepping up the presenation, fixing some money plays, but the core gameplay for me is flawed. I hope and pray that this a better version of madden, if not, I'll be pissed. On a side not the first espn game from 2k wasn't that great, it'll take time.