Should you be worried about Madden's future? - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

Should you be worried about Madden's future? Stuck

Posted on June 17, 2011 at 12:57 PM.

(13)

As we all wake up this morning to see yet another leader of the Madden team has left Tiburon for seemingly greener pastures, the question to ponder is: Who should be worried about this recent trend?

But the real question everyone is really wanting to know is: what's going on at Tiburon to have so many key people leaving?

We don't know the answer to the latter question because that requires intricate knowledge of the Tiburon workplace and work environment. Most likely, the depatures are the result of companies giving 'offers they can't refuse' to very talented developers who are hot commodities in the gaming world. From a pure logic perspective, it's more likely that pure economics have played the role in the Tiburon gang's depature moreso than complete discontent.

I don't think it's time to assume the worst. However, it is time to figure out what this means for Madden.

For this year, the implications are clear: there won't be any real effect on this year's title. The team as a whole is huge and it's doubtful the game will be de-railed at this point. The developers who are actually coding the game are still in place and I don't think anyone stepping up into the leadership roles will go Napoleon on the vision of Madden before this year's product ships.

As far as next year and the years to come, a large part of the core leadership team is now gone. It's likely Madden could be taking a different direction in the years to come -- but as far as what that direction is, there's no way to tell. But change up the leadership and you are almost certainly going to get a different direction going in the product. We've seen these transitions in Madden's vision before and they've usually resulted in a different feel for the game in the years going forward...for better or worse.

Is Madden about to go the direction of NFL Blitz? Hardly. But is Madden probably going in a different direction from 'Everything you see on Sunday'? Most likely. Who knows if that will be good or bad, but we do know a season of change is now upon the Madden franchise.

Comments

# 1 PSRusse83 @ Jun 17

What would make you think Madden would stray from the " Everything you see on Sunday " route?

# 2 ChaseB @ Jun 17

I don't see the "Sunday" route changing. Cam Weber still runs the football team, and he's already outlined the direction of the series for the next couple years. In addition, I've spoken with Andrew Wilson, VP of worldwide development for EA Sports, a couple times, and everything he says seems to point to all the EA Sports games trending more towards the TV route than away from it.

In the past, the Madden team sometimes gets sidetracked or loses direction in a feature or something, but the overarching goals tend to stick.

# 3 Bumble14 @ Jun 17

Agree with Chase. From everyone I've talked to Madden's broadcast presentation will only be getting stronger.

Let's also not forget that the unconfirmed word on the street is Roy Harvey will be taking over the reigns on Madden as executive producer. Knowing Roy over the past few years I know that he is just as passionate about football gaming as we all are-- don't forget that he was the executive producer on NCAA 11, and got that franchise back on track.

Between Cam, Roy, and the rest of the team at Tiburon I think football gaming is in good hands for the foreseeable future.

# 4 TheTodd84 @ Jun 17

Three words... Real. Time. Physics. Just like in FIFA 12. That's the direction it needs to go in. If FIFA can make an impact engine, why can't madden and ncaa?

# 5 khaliib @ Jun 17

I don't know what's going on, but the daily grind from the business side of a profession can/will drain you eventhough you're doing what you love to do.

Sometimes a company loses a good component, sometimes a better component becomes part of the team.

The only way we can judge all of this change will be from/through the product that is released.

In the end, the game will speak to the quality and effect of these changes.

I don't know why someone would be worried over a video game!

# 6 LucianoJJ @ Jun 17

Since Madden has been the target of so much criticism over the past several years, shouldn't we look at this as the potential for a new and improved football game from EA? While NCAA always seems to be a year behind Madden, I enjoy it more than however the new and improved NFL game turns out. I was more interested in Madden several years ago. Madden on NextGen has yet to impress me. Madden can be the beta for NCAA for all I care.

# 7 Dazraz @ Jun 18

The situation at Tiburon is a real strange one. With current previews of Madden 12 being nothing but good the departures certainly don't appear to be based on individuals trying to distance themselves from the project. Equal to that is the theory that so many key staff would depart in the same time frame without there being an internal issue at work.
It could be possible that these top line staff have been headhunted & offered impressive salaries elsewhere but I have my doubts that the explanation could be that simple. The problem is I'm struggling to come up with alternate theories.
We know EA have have extended their NFL agreement so we can be certain that the franchise still has a secure life with them. However could EA be moving production of the title away from Tiburon. Possibly, but again unlikely.
We know Mike Wang quit EA after just 1 year with their NBA franchise, returning to 2K, because he didn't agree with EA's 'vision' for the game. Could it be that the powers that be have decided that Madden needs a change of direction that the staff in question have disagreed with? If so, this could be of concern. Especially considering that this year Madden seems to be making all the right noises.

# 8 tabulaRasa @ Jun 19

I work in the industry , on AAA titles , and trust me the impotance of producers and execs is way to exaggerated. They have mandate and are paper shufflers and meeting hoggers in general more than creative juggernauts. The important people are the mid level leads and inspired content makers. They usually know the engines better,workflow and bottlenecks and needs better.

# 9 tabulaRasa @ Jun 19

Oh also they almost always leave for money, creative ventures is second to cash when you make it to the top. The team Will probably be more creative and inspired after these departures.

# 10 jsquigg @ Jun 20

It wouldn't be a Sanner blog if he couldn't make an assumption with no evidence...