johnprestonevans's Blog
When I look back on Xbox360/PS3 Madden, I look at a missed opportunity to really push the series forward. In 2005 when new hardware was available to take NFL football games to the next level, the developers started from the ground up with extremely blurred focus. Looking even further back to previous console (PS2/Xbox) versions of the game, each year brought a shinier polish to an already fundamentally sound game.
Enter the launch of Madden 06 on the 360 and suddenly all those great features and presentation were stripped to the bone in favor of higher fidelity. A simpler and quicker Madden was born - which would years later become the tagline of Madden 11. Over those first few of years it became evident that a deep, rich and authentic NFL experience was not the direction EA was taking with its flagship game. Yearly improvements were more cosmetic and gimmicky than they were building a great game of football. I will use Madden's questionable audio issues to make my case as I think sound design is a major factor in any game's success.
John Madden and Al Michaels were replaced by the boring "Radio Guy". For years we complained how dull and disjointed the "commentary" had become. It took 3 years, but EA listened when they installed veteran broadcaster Tom Hammond to change things. Well, poor Tommy turned out to be almost as lame and uninteresting to listen to as Radio man. After a couple more years EA listened again and got excitable booth personality Gus Johnson to save the day. Unfortunately he turned out to be just as confused and un-natural sounding as the rest of the current generation announcers. So why after 3 different commentary teams since 06 does the game sound just as bad? Couldn't focusing on a new and more intelligent commentary system be a good idea? Clearly patching in a different booth personality isn't going to fix one of the game's key and longstanding flaws. That is like laying a new coat of paint over a wall that is cracking from the ground up. You need to rebuild that wall.
The issues with Madden run much deeper than the talent of its programmers or the individuals calling the action in the booth. It seems to be a problem with the focus and vision that has been evident for this entire life-cycle of home consoles. I feel like it's the decision makers in the boardrooms that prohibit the developers from maintaining a true and steady focus with their franchise. EA signs an exclusive deal with the NFL and suddenly their games fall as flat as one of JP Lossman's passes. How can arguably the biggest sports game on the planet turn into a mediocre annual release that continues to fall short of expectations? You would think that with all the resources and revenues at EA Sports that the team would finally get things on the right track.
Things did start to look up with Madden 10. That game's mantra was to take out all the extra fluff and put out a solid fundamental NFL football game. Gameplay was vastly improved, commentary issues were at least considered and presentation received some attention as well. What happened a year later with Madden 11? Suddenly the focus for the game shifted once again away from polishing and building upon a solid foundation and instead marketing a simpler game with flashy box-worthy features to increase profits.
When you place Madden side-by-side with other sports games you see a game heading in the opposite direction from its competitors. Today's modern technology allows developers to push the realism and thus immersion of the audience in their games. You see this in games like MLB The Show and NBA2K which get more authentic every season. Gameplay is tweaked. Commentary sounds more and more lifelike. Television quality presentation appears to be a driving force behind these elite sports game experiences. It transports us into the game and ultimately makes it feel more real. Why has Madden failed to capture this basic sense of simulated reality? Why must everything be a trial and error back-of-the-box feature that gets retooled a year later?
I love NFL football and I long for those days when both EA and 2K Sports were putting out great games - like bitter division rivals in a playoff race. What is it going to take to get Madden up to speed and transform itself into the sports game of the year it used to be? I know we all can pick at little things like corner-back AI, unrealistic tackling or missed blocking assignments, but Id like to know from a macro standpoint - from the top level looking down - what does EA need to do? At this point I fear we have to wait for next-gen technology to lay a new and more solid foundation for the series. Perhaps the expiration of NFL exclusivity will resharpen the tools at EA to once again build a definitive football game.
# 2
jyoung @ Jan 15
Madden 10 is the only game in the series I've enjoyed this gen.
This year's game somehow managed to be worse than last year's.
This year's game somehow managed to be worse than last year's.
# 3
Dazraz @ Jan 15
Excellent blog. You echo the feelings of many of the guys here including myself. I hate to say that Madden is a write off on this generation of consoles as that may be interpreted as a slight on the consoles themselves. The problems with Madden stem from one area only, the guys who make the game. Or, as you more accurately put it the guys who sit in the boardroom & cut the budget by cutting the corners.
When will EA understand that it's not good enough to put 10 A grade commentators in a game unless you develop an audio system & an extensive dialogue list to supplement them. I'm no tech guy but it is pretty obvious that 2K have invested alot more in this area than EA. It's not only Madden that suffers but all their current gen games.
EA's attitude is, commentary doesn't sell games so why bother. The pride that made EA Sports such a revered brand in it's genre is long gone. Instead they invest heavily in acquiring exclusive licenses & then cut back on developing the actual game. Where as games like NHL & FIFA, due to the nature of the sports themselves, can include a more relaxed playing style, Football fans seek a highly detailed accurate simulation accompanied with an in depth braodcast presentation. This is what made NFL 2K5 so well loved. EA seem to be implementing an almost arcadey nature to the game. What they need to realise is if you are someone that doesn't get Football then you are unlikely to get the game no matter how accessible.
When will EA understand that it's not good enough to put 10 A grade commentators in a game unless you develop an audio system & an extensive dialogue list to supplement them. I'm no tech guy but it is pretty obvious that 2K have invested alot more in this area than EA. It's not only Madden that suffers but all their current gen games.
EA's attitude is, commentary doesn't sell games so why bother. The pride that made EA Sports such a revered brand in it's genre is long gone. Instead they invest heavily in acquiring exclusive licenses & then cut back on developing the actual game. Where as games like NHL & FIFA, due to the nature of the sports themselves, can include a more relaxed playing style, Football fans seek a highly detailed accurate simulation accompanied with an in depth braodcast presentation. This is what made NFL 2K5 so well loved. EA seem to be implementing an almost arcadey nature to the game. What they need to realise is if you are someone that doesn't get Football then you are unlikely to get the game no matter how accessible.
# 4
UMhester04 @ Jan 15
to this guy ^, If 12 is a standard for this generation and it doesnt include things like consecutive hit tackling or normal sounding commentary which "the other game" did back in 2004, then the standard for football games in this generation has dipped far too low and that is upsetting to me.
# 5
DocKnowsBest @ Jan 15
I really hope EA has a trick up their sleeve for '12, but I doubt it. They need a challenger in the market. There is no motivation for EA to put much effort into their NFL games anymore, because they know that ultimately, the NFL license will sell the game, even if it's pure crap. It's about money, plain and simple.
# 6
shadthedad @ Jan 15
I wouldn't be too worried. Madden 2012 will be the best Madden ever. Analog passing, better foot to ground interaction, and the NFL hear coach experience ported to Madden will make it great. NBA 2k11, mlb the show, as well as higher sells and review scores with NCAA shows, "if you build it right, they will come in droves." Long live Madden 2012!
# 7
mrmass413 @ Jan 16
there is things they can do to make a bettere product. all we can do is wait to see what the finish product produces. im a madden fan only cause there is no 2k and i love the n.f.l i need my fix
# 8
videlsports @ Jan 16
2k will be coming out soon with a College Game I think, because the agreement is over with the clc and ea. With 2ksports getting close to making a game I will not buy madden. Analog passing was out with NFL Fever with read and Lead, and BackBreaker has it also..
# 9
stcloudgopher @ Jan 16
A write-off? Yes and no. The write-off would be for those looking for a genuine, detail-oriented football game. But, from the "top level looking down" do you know what I see? The NFL.
What is the NFL right now? It is an almost-arcade-y type of game played by freakish athletes. Madden does suffer from not being able to accurately capture this, but they HAVE captured the NFL from the sky view that you ask for: Marketing.
Not long ago, the NFL had rivalries. There were dynasties that provided for real upsets. Now we get 7-9 teams in the playoffs. Coaches grandstanding other coaches whom they've yet to beat in a meaningful game. Tubby guys who like feet. Quarterbacks who go to plays. The NFL itself is all about back-of-the-box features, and we all know that EA has less wiggle-room in this relationship than a swaddled baby. Of course, considering the money, an uneasy truce between the billionaires and the gamers is one they are willing to walk. Kind of like the NFL. Billionaires and millionaires complaining to each other while us thousand-aires are stiff armed.
What is the NFL right now? It is an almost-arcade-y type of game played by freakish athletes. Madden does suffer from not being able to accurately capture this, but they HAVE captured the NFL from the sky view that you ask for: Marketing.
Not long ago, the NFL had rivalries. There were dynasties that provided for real upsets. Now we get 7-9 teams in the playoffs. Coaches grandstanding other coaches whom they've yet to beat in a meaningful game. Tubby guys who like feet. Quarterbacks who go to plays. The NFL itself is all about back-of-the-box features, and we all know that EA has less wiggle-room in this relationship than a swaddled baby. Of course, considering the money, an uneasy truce between the billionaires and the gamers is one they are willing to walk. Kind of like the NFL. Billionaires and millionaires complaining to each other while us thousand-aires are stiff armed.
# 10
striper_43 @ Jan 17
I agree with stcloudgopher. I used to love the NFL but now I'm getting more and more tired of it. I feel like they should rename sportscenter "nflcenter" because of how much coverage each game gets. No I don't want to see Trent Dilfer anaylze three different Matt Hasselbeck incomplete pass.
Anyway, back on topic, Madden is just declining every year. I just bought a ps3 last year and I was stunned at the differences between all the last gen games and the current games. NHL, FIFA, the Show, nba 2k all made great strides. I bought Madden 11 and had to pinch myself. Madden 10 for the ps2 had better gameplay and a deeper franchise mode than Madden 11 for the ps3.
The only edge Madden had was in graphics, and that's all they seem to care about (making it look pretty). Give us some realistic gameplay instead of just big play after big play.
Anyway, back on topic, Madden is just declining every year. I just bought a ps3 last year and I was stunned at the differences between all the last gen games and the current games. NHL, FIFA, the Show, nba 2k all made great strides. I bought Madden 11 and had to pinch myself. Madden 10 for the ps2 had better gameplay and a deeper franchise mode than Madden 11 for the ps3.
The only edge Madden had was in graphics, and that's all they seem to care about (making it look pretty). Give us some realistic gameplay instead of just big play after big play.
# 12
johnprestonevans @ Jan 17
I see how the perception can be that Madden is simply mirroring the larger than life "arcadey" feel of the real league. The argument here is that the NFL is no longer focusing on the game of football, but more about gimmicks, personalities and marketing. I agree that selling the NFL to more people may be unjustly important to billionaires making those top down decisions.
If I could steer the conversation in a different way, I would like to know what you guys think can be done to better simulate the real NFL. Im not talking about specific gameplay fixes, AI improvements or new features. I mean looking at the direction of Madden as a whole. Why do those other sports games like MLB The Show and NBA2K get it so right while Madden continues to tread water? What direction would you go with it? What does it need to do to recapture that GOTY quality it had back in 04/05? Does EA even have the time and ability to make this happen before the next-generation of systems?
If I could steer the conversation in a different way, I would like to know what you guys think can be done to better simulate the real NFL. Im not talking about specific gameplay fixes, AI improvements or new features. I mean looking at the direction of Madden as a whole. Why do those other sports games like MLB The Show and NBA2K get it so right while Madden continues to tread water? What direction would you go with it? What does it need to do to recapture that GOTY quality it had back in 04/05? Does EA even have the time and ability to make this happen before the next-generation of systems?
# 13
Eski33 @ Jan 17
Madden 10 was excellent. However, NCAA 11 is the benchmark for football games in this generation of consoles....
# 14
Paytonsplace @ Jan 17
The market is the only thing that will bring about a change. If the game does not sell then EA will start thinking twice. However the failure of Madden on this generation has actually been a blessing for me. I used to game just exclusively sports. Since Madden has been unsatisfying I've rediscovered gaming. This year I've completed "Mass Effect 2", "Dragon Age", "Alan Wake", and "Red Dead Redemption". Currently I'm playing "Alpha Protocal" and looking forward to "Dragon Age 2". Video games are to much fun to just settle for one inferior product.
# 15
stcloudgopher @ Jan 17
johnprestonevans: Why do those other sports games like MLB The Show and NBA2K get it so right while Madden continues to tread water? What direction would you go with it? What does it need to do to recapture that GOTY quality it had back in 04/05? Does EA even have the time and ability to make this happen before the next-generation of systems?
They have to redesign the game. Period. What does the Show do that works that Madden could take cues from? That's easy. The Show's gameplay is simply the best in baseball (and maybe the sports genre as a whole). Their graphics are fantastic. Their mistakes are rarely game-breakers, and they are almost always fixed for the following year's game. At the same time, they continue to push the envelope ever year. They rarely make that one big jump, but fixing bugs, legacy issues and, I know this is crazy, they listen to their fanbase about what needs to change/improve.
I know this does little to tell you what needs to be fixed in Madden, but the problem is that Madden is still plagued by problems they had last-gen. The envelope is rarely pushed, bugs remain alongside legacy issues. Seldom is anything fixed, and as far as listening to their fans? I think we know where that falls on their to-do list.
What Madden sells is an NFL approved NFL game. It is not football in the sense that Call of Duty is not a war game. They are games that blur the barrier between arcade/mass appeal and enough of a resemblance to sim that it draws in the hardcore. The Show is pretty sim at it's core, but there is a lot to like from a mass appeal view. Madden needs to make a hardcore, sim football game and then, and only then, start adding the mass appeal elements that draw in the crowd.
They have to redesign the game. Period. What does the Show do that works that Madden could take cues from? That's easy. The Show's gameplay is simply the best in baseball (and maybe the sports genre as a whole). Their graphics are fantastic. Their mistakes are rarely game-breakers, and they are almost always fixed for the following year's game. At the same time, they continue to push the envelope ever year. They rarely make that one big jump, but fixing bugs, legacy issues and, I know this is crazy, they listen to their fanbase about what needs to change/improve.
I know this does little to tell you what needs to be fixed in Madden, but the problem is that Madden is still plagued by problems they had last-gen. The envelope is rarely pushed, bugs remain alongside legacy issues. Seldom is anything fixed, and as far as listening to their fans? I think we know where that falls on their to-do list.
What Madden sells is an NFL approved NFL game. It is not football in the sense that Call of Duty is not a war game. They are games that blur the barrier between arcade/mass appeal and enough of a resemblance to sim that it draws in the hardcore. The Show is pretty sim at it's core, but there is a lot to like from a mass appeal view. Madden needs to make a hardcore, sim football game and then, and only then, start adding the mass appeal elements that draw in the crowd.
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