As far as sports videogaming is concerned, franchise play is synonymous with the Madden football series. True, other sports titles have introduced franchise play as an option but no other game has a franchise mode that has captivated users quite like Madden’s. Franchise mode has single-handedly changed sports video gaming. But the real question is how do you play your franchise?

It could be a fairly broad question if not for the fact that message boards are flooded with threads from gamers that want the world to know how they franchise. Some threads contain only text; however, there’s a whole crowd out there that take it to the extreme. Most franchise threads contain faux press releases, in-game pictures, updated stats, and game-by-game reports. It’s even to the point that the franchise threads that do not contain the bells and whistles fall by the wayside. Franchise mode is alive and well, so let’s take a look at how people franchise in the Madden football titles.

I’ll start with myself. I’m a self-proclaimed franchise junkie. For those of you who are Madden die-hards you may remember my threads and franchise downloads from Madden websites. See, I’m a perfectionist. I will not play a franchise game unless I have the exact rosters that mirror the rosters of real NFL teams. Based on the limitations of Madden I usually end up with the latest roster update via EA Sports and then I take the extra liberty to make sure my beloved Philadelphia Eagles are exact. Obsessive-compulsive would not even begin to describe me with my Eagles. I search the web for pictures of every Eagles player on the Madden roster and make sure even their accessories are correct. I won’t play a game in franchise until that is done.

Another thing I try to do is make sure I have the exact NFL Draft Classes imported from the NCAA Football games. I understand you cannot get every collegiate draft hopeful from NCAA to Madden but I have to at least have the players picked in the first three rounds. And, as usual, I have to have all of the Eagles’ draft picks before I’ll play. It’s a sickness…it really is.

After the previously mentioned things are taken care of then it’s time to hit the field. By the way I don’t make any trades unless they have happened in real life. I try to call plays that Andy Reid and company would call in real games. Simply put, you could say that my franchise gaming can be summed up in one word…realism. If it doesn’t happen in real life then I don’t want it to happen in my Madden franchise.

There also appears to be several other "styles" to franchise play. Many people set all 32 NFL teams to user control in order to maintain some type of realism. I believe this method is the preferred method for hardcore Madden gamers. Personally, I don't know any gamers that control just a single team anymore. The biggest reason for this method is because there are many "faults" in how the CPU manages the rosters in the game. Controlling all 32 teams allows the user to keep crazy roster moves from happening but also allows the user to play with only one team. The downfall of this is that there are no limits on trades or moves made because you control everything. It can take away some of the excitement in running a franchise.

Others like to take horrible teams and try to build them into dynasties. Every year there are teams in Madden that are downright awful, at least ratings wise. It is fun to take over the franchise and make personnel moves and trades to see if you can take the team to the top. Playing games while using these horrible teams can be frustrating but it can also be very rewarding. There’s nothing like taking a bottom-feeding team and winning the Super Bowl after making the necessary changes. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I honestly wouldn’t know…I consider it treason if I don’t play with the Eagles! Hey, you know what they say; fan is short for fanatic!

Another method that has been a staple of the gaming community and is gaining more and more steam over the years is simming. I have never been a fan of the method but I do know several people that enjoy it. There does seem to be an underlying framework to the simulation style of play and that’s realism. Realism in every essence is at the core of simulation. Statistics must be realistic. Play-calling and roster moves must also be believable. Coaching tendencies are set to a desired setting as well in an attempt to produce the desired outcome.

During simulation style I have encountered two options for users at the end of each season. One option includes setting coaching tendencies and allowing the CPU to simulate the off-season; the other option lets the user complete the off-season manually and then continuing the sim during seasonal play. The fun would be in setting the tendencies just right so that you hit the jackpot and take a good step towards building a dynasty. It would be like winning the lottery. However, playing devil's advocate, I see the benefit in manually completing the off-season as well. Controlling off-season moves gives you the chance to assert your influence on your franchise. The results are dependent on the moves that you made so it gives you some responsibility in game play.

There are other styles of franchise play that are out there as well. Now is your chance to sound off on this issue. How do you franchise in Madden?