Madden 12 News Post

John Madden Rips Into Developers Early in Development, Didn't Like 7 on 7 (NSFW)

10:12 PM - May 12, 2011 by Steve_OS

I'm not sure how big of an impact John Madden has on the Madden series nowadays, but he sure did have an impact early in the development process when Trip Hawkins was still there.

Check out what he said to the developers when he was shown an early version of the game. Quotes were found in the book http://www.amazon.com/All-Your-Base-...=operasport-20 by Harold Goldberg.

Quote:


	"In a chapter detailing how Trip Hawkins started Electronic Arts, it mentions that Trip dreamed of making high art that would have players crying. At some point that took a back seat to EA�s true calling: being the biggest sports game maker in the world. Early on the company paid big money to sports legends to give authenticity to their games, and when Trip decided to make the definitive football game, he enlisted legendary Oakland Raiders coach and commercial pitchman John Madden to be the (giant) face of the game. When the developers showed Madden an early version of the game that could only display seven players per team, John wasn�t shy about sharing what he thought. �** that and you people. Either we do it in� right or we don�t **in� do it at all.� The team was pretty shocked to hear him saying things he�d normally keep confined to the locker room, but it ultimately pushed the team to get their football game as close to perfect as possible. They toiled for years, even as some in the company wanted to cancel the seemingly unending project, and when it finally did launch it created a dynasty that will probably exist as long as people throw footballs and the NFL gives exclusive contracts."

Source - Harold Goldberg's book is filled with game development anecdotes worth sharing (Gamesradar)

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Member Comments

# 21 TDKing @ 05/13/11 01:21 PM

***8220;**** that and **** you people. Either we do it ****in***8217; right or we don***8217;t ****in***8217; do it at all.***8221;
EA should remember this quote when the attempt to add a new feature or mode! It should be their wallpaper !

# 22 roadman @ 05/13/11 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	We really don't know what he thinks of the game, good or bad. And even if we did, I'm not sure that I would put much stock in it. He isn't a gamer. He may know Football, but he doesn't know game mechanics. I would think that his critiques would be more along the lines of are these real NFL plays, versus something simply gameplay related. For example, I'm sure he was thrilled with the product back in 89. It was 11 on 11. Had real teams, players, had pro type plays. Did that game play realistically? Not so much. Now obviously tech was different back then and not as capable, but somehow I doubt if John gets into what is capable today and really demands that the game reflect that. Bottom line, I'm not sure if we should be really put too much stock in whether Madden is happy with the state of the game, considering he gets paid. There's probably a lot of Miller Lite endorsers that drink Bud Lite.

To make my point simpler, if someone interviews Madden about Madden, he will promote the game, not demote it.

# 23 blklightning @ 05/14/11 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Do you really think Madden feels the game is lousy? His name is on the box and they go to his ranch once during the making of Madden, plus he is in constant consultation with them. He's not going to get out of the game, he feels the game is fine.

i think his honest opinion of the game wouldn't be a good one. what he says to the public is a different story for obvious reasons.

# 24 PGaither84 @ 05/15/11 12:13 AM

John Madden does it, and the game gets a lot better. OS users do it and get banned. lols.

# 25 roadman @ 05/15/11 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blklightning


	i think his honest opinion of the game wouldn't be a good one. what he says to the public is a different story for obvious reasons.

We'll never know what his personal opinion of the game is.

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John Madden Rips Into Developers Early in Development, Didn't Like 7 on 7 (NSFW)