EA Repeating Same Mistakes with Madden Arcade - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

EA Repeating Same Mistakes with Madden Arcade Stuck

Posted on October 14, 2009 at 04:16 PM.

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Many of you may remember my review of 3 on 3 NHL Arcade.

In that review, I basically said the game was fun to an extent, but there was little reason to come back to play the game. For $10, NHL 3 on 3 Arcade was simply not a good deal considering you can buy some classic games from the XBox or the PS2/PSOne. Let's not even mention the $20 bargain bin pricetag of great games such as The Orange Box and Bioshock.

Enter the $15 pricetag for Madden Arcade. Other than being able to play with any team, and probable exhibition and online game modes, I'm not really sure there is anything there. It's almost as if EA has decided to replicate the formula of 3 on 3 NHL Arcade while throwing in licensed teams and then calling it a good idea.

It's not.

Development resources were almost certainly not taken away from Madden, but you still can't help but feel this is a giant waste of time. There is simply no reason to buy a $15 arcade game: even if the gameplay was surprisingly good.

Football fans wanting a fresh take on the sport would be better served picking up a copy of NFL 2K5 on used game store shelves or even an older copy of Madden somewhere. There are even great options on the IPhone and other mobile platforms that will almost certainly be a better buy.

Simply put: at $15, Madden Arcade is going to be a gigantic disappointment for anyone who buys it if you are looking for maximum bang for your buck.

Comments

# 1 jyoung @ Oct 14

If they wanted to make an arcade game, they should've just brought back Mutant League Football.

# 2 Mayo32 @ Oct 14

or continued there nfl street series? i loved street 2 street 3 just went way down hill tho IMO so if they wanted a true arcade game they could produce it

# 3 bronco92 @ Oct 14

Personally, as a hardcore sports gamer I'd never consider buying it. As a 10 year old though, would I ask my parents to purchase it for me?.. I think I would. We are not the target market for this game, so its only natural that we don't feel any interest in purchasing it.

# 4 RaychelSnr @ Oct 14

I see what you are saying Matt...and I know what you mean completely, but I can't help but think when it comes down to it, $15 is too high of a price point for a game like this, no matter who it might be for.

# 5 Steve_OS @ Oct 14

I enjoyed the over the top sports games, especially when I have people over, that don't get into the hardcore. It'll be perfect for my situation, but for the most part, I agree. There won't be much interest from the regulars at OS.

# 6 superstarshad @ Oct 14

There milking the madden franchise! This is a corporate move. EA should bring back NFL Street or make a Madden Street.

# 7 DubTrey1 @ Oct 14

Making this is like the equivalent of not having enough butter on the knife as you spread it on 5 inch piece of bread. These guys are spreading themselves

# 8 DubTrey1 @ Oct 14

Making this is like the equivalent of not having enough butter on the knife as you spread it on 5 inch piece of bread. These guys are spreading themselves way too thin .... and wasting resources IMO.

# 9 CM Hooe @ Oct 15

I'm not sure that Madden Arcade is intended for the typical football and sports gaming fan; I feel like it's a more ****** approach to the sport of football designed to bring new customers, who may be taken aback by Madden's not-so-easy learning curve, into the franchise gradually. It does have game variant options to fundamentally change the rules and objectives of each game, and the four-downs-to-score approach is a necessary simplification for fast and dynamic gameplay. That said, if there isn't some sort of season mode, then I hear your concerns about longevity to an extent (though it can be argued that game rules modifications add do help the game out in this regard).

There's a market for this title, but it's not anyone on this website, IMO.

# 10 bigsmallwood @ Oct 15

I agree with you MMChris

# 11 Eski33 @ Oct 15

NHL 3-on-3 was fun and I still pick it up occasionally. I agree that the price point is a little steep but to say this game isn't good when one hasn't played it is premature.

Yes, EA's perception isn't the greatest but much of that is due to unrealistic expectations. I was hesitant to purchase NHL Arcade until I tried the free trial game. I will give Madden arcade a whirl and think it can be successful with ****** gamers. However, the $15 price point will keep me from purchasing...