Madden 12 News Post

Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

08:44 PM - February 8, 2011 by RaychelSnr

Gamasutra posted a good analysis of what the NFL Lockout might mean for Madden NFL 12. I'm going to provide my own thoughts and notes while selectively quoting parts of the Gamasutra article.

Quote:


	"Electronic Arts will release its 2012 installment of the Madden franchise this year as it has each year since 1988 � but it might be doing so without the marketing force of the league behind it for the first time in the game�s history. And that has everyone from analysts to EA execs planning for the worst."

This is indeed a big problem. The NFL is a powerful force right now, just look at the ratings for this year's Super Bowl, which happened to be the most watched television program in American history! But what is true today may not be true tomorrow, and if the negotiations were to go so bad that an entire season was canceled? You'd be naiive to think the league's popularity won't take a hit initially.

Quote:


	"But should there be a lockout that lasts any substantial length of time, analysts expect the numbers to take a big hit. Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities says he expects sales of Madden will be down 50 percent if the season is canceled completely, but will see no negative effects if the season starts within two or three weeks of its normal start time."

EA's forecast included a toned down forecast for what we'd conventionally think as Q3 and Q4 of 2011 for this very reason. Madden sales will be down significantly if the 2011 season doesn't happen -- which may be good news for those looking for a possible way EA doesn't go after an exclusive license again.

We'll be taking a wait and see on this to see what happens with the negotiations between the players and owners, as will a lot of people at Tiburon Studios in Orlando.

Game: Madden NFL 12Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 44 - View All

Madden NFL 12 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 khaliib @ 02/13/11 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benweird


	Or they could just delay the release until the lockout is over and use the extra time to make a good game. I'd rather wait for a good game than get an average game in August.

Sorry to burst that bubble, but it will still be the same game engine that's already maxed out.
Outside of visual tweaks and odd injections, nothing major can be done.

There is a reason Offline Dynasty and Audio Package have not advanced.
The engine is limiting what can be done.

Sure they can flesh out the Dynasty more, but then because the core (gamepaly engine) can't be upgraded also, you'll find Madden becoming more Text Based style as gamers simulating the Old Gameplay just to get to the Fleshed out Dynasty.

Same thing with new Audio Package. New announcers can be used or how they say their lines, but we've seen every engine replication of gameplay since being on Next Gen consoles.

That's why the audio changes have become stale so quick.
-Different Audio, same Tackling animations.
-Different Audio, same Running animations.
-Different Audio, same Sliding Movement animations.
-Different Audio, same 2-Step Dance Blocking animation.
-Different Audio, same Catching animations.
and so on the list goes.

It's not that the Audio is repetitive in itself, but that the maxed out game engine forces repetitive lines as the animations across the board are simply the same as we've seen since making Next Gen.

We're finally starting to see it hinder the Visual Upgrades also.
When there's no movement, the game looks awesome, but when movement starts, we see those Clicky-Sliding-Robotic Movements that just pull your vision to those animations.

Until their is a new game engine to develope off of, Madden will never be able to "WOW" the community with something major.

What happens if there is a lockout? Nothing!!!

Gamers will spend $60 for the same Game Engine with some tweaks and adjustments.

It's not Ian and Co. fault. If the Administrative side would give him the keys, I really believe this guy would change the Football Gaming Experiece to a level that would blow our minds.

But, business is business, and unless your the owner, you just got to do what your told (esp if you want to keep your job).

This was suppose to be a short 3 line reply.
Oh well!!!

« Previous 12Next »

More Links

Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?