Anticipating Madden NFL 13. - everydaygorship's Blog

everydaygorship's Blog

Anticipating Madden NFL 13.

Posted on August 13, 2012 at 11:15 PM.

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This years Madden NFL effort from EA Sports and Tiburon actually has me hooked before the game even releases, which hasn't happened since the jump to 360 and ps3 close to 7 years ago. I was not a supporter of the way Madden represented the great gridiron game on the current gen, and I soon learned that a large portion of my fellow gamers agreed. (The Sim Standard) is a community dedicated to getting the message to developers of any sports game that we expect as true fans of sports, the most authentic experience possible.

In April 2011 we heard about the departure of Ian Cummings and others from EA. Later on we found out that Cam Weber who worked on the Fight Night & FIFA series would be joining the development team, along with others. As the team was working I started hearing positive quotes through sites (Game Informer) from EA higher -ups including Richard Hilleman.

"What I like about the new team is that they haven't accepted any of the conventional wisdom about the product. I found that when I went down there a lot and talked about change I wanted to see in the product, I was considered a raving lunatic because I advocated more change than almost anybody else did. I would take bigger risks than anybody else. I think Cam is built out of that same cloth. His attitude is "what can I be," not "what could I lose"...I think Cam will do some pretty interesting things in that space so I'm pretty optimistic." "I don't think we're likely to make a terrible mistake, and I think we're pretty likely do so some things new that we needed to do."

With quotes like this I was still in the skeptic camp, I knew not to let my expectations get high at all because I was privy to business talk. Some months later, after watching all the playbooks and now only a couple weeks away from the release of Madden NFL 13, the "new" development team has given us all they can to wet our appetites. From the new Infinity engine - Feel the physics of no 2 tackles being the same. (No real improvement in O -line/ D-line interactions) The improvements in the passing game - drop backs, trajectories, pump fake animations including play-action. The new catch animations - easier user WR catching making for better battles for the ball. Read and react - no more psychic INT's, defenders have to see the ball in order to make a play, but most of all we will not see the leapin LB's. Even the small details were adjusted including Special Team blocking schemes, defensive alignment, and even QB cadences exclusive from NFL films.

Leading into the presentation which has also seen some much needed improvements. We will hear and see a real life duo take to the booth with Jim Nance and Phil Simms, the commentary has never been Madden's strong point and I have respect for these two, but I'm not expecting much. The Improvement on NCAA's lighting system looks snazzy, along with the new Nike uniforms. One thing I think is much overdue is a news feed with pictures, also included is a fully functioning Twitter feed consisting of real NFL personalities tweeting about your league. #Coolstorybro

Ray Lewis makes HOF and James Harrison is snubbed.

All of that is much anticipated and appreciated, but the thing on everyone's mind is an innovative new way to play sports games, Connected Careers. When EA and Tiburon announced this way to play Madden NFL 13 I was undoubtedly confused at first, with all the new features it took me a few hours to completely get an idea of what they had done to Madden. After reading and seeing all about Connected Careers I was impressed at the effort to move in a different direction than ever before. It seemed they were going for a sports RPG in a way. Being able to Be a Pro or Be a Coach wasn't new, but to have 10 seasons as a player, retire, and come back as a Head Coach in the 11th season was something we have never done before. All the while you could have been in an online league with 31 other players or coaches, deciding their own path.

So recently I was saying to myself "Did they finally figure it out?" "Has this development team listened to the communities such as The Sim Standard?" We will see on August 25th if your an EA insider, and the 28th for everyone else whether or not Madden is on the right track to becoming the NFL football game that is worthy of bearing the Shield of the National Football League. Thanks for Reading!