R.I.P. Madden - shadthedad's Blog

shadthedad's Blog

R.I.P. Madden

Posted on September 5, 2011 at 01:18 AM.

(30)

I write this blog for one reason and one reason only......and that's the hope that EA will see this blog, value my opinion and make sweeping changes to the Madden Franchise. I've been playing this franchise since its first release on Super Nintendo (I know it was on genesis first), so needless to say, I'm not here to bash, just sad an American past time has lost its allure. First and foremost, I'm a business man and understand that one of the primary goals of any company is to create a turn key product, that can produce profits with minimal investment. Obviously, the Madden franchise has reached a certain level of success to where most sports gamers will purchase the product no matter what-and I commend EA sports for acheiving this milestone. But something has gone terribly, terribly wrong! Yes, we can nitpick in regards to inaccurate feet to ground interaction or linebackers who possess 60 inch verticals, but honestly most gamers dont care about that. True, the developers compose message board posts to appease the sim nation (which makes zero sense at all), but in my opinion realism isn't the source of Madden's issues. The game is realistic enough and I be damned if any OS blogger challenges me on the physics of the game as being the culprit of Madden's recent woes.

I had the opportunity of playing Madden 2012 for the first time with a long term fellow gamer of mine, and the biggest thing to stick out to me was its lack of creativity and being completely void of fun! Video games are an art form like anything else, and unfortunately Madden is seriously lacking soul, and in my opinion its been lacking in soul since Madden Vince Young! You sell units on FUN FACTOR not realism. Once again, you sell units on FUN FACTOR not realism. It was troubling to read a review that commented on a much improved presentation, but my perspective was one of staleness and status quo. Was it realistic to what you'll see on TV.... I guess, but there isn't any creativity in realism. And besides, if realism's the goal-go ahead and ante up for FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN overlays. The bottom line, there should be an intense approach to the game being fun first, with a serious kiss of artistry, and the realsim is the glue that keeps the product credible. For example, Wii Sports Bowling is not the most realsitic bowling software to hit the market, but I bet you didn't care back in 2006....and I bet your girlfriend and grandma didn't care either. Fun factor and creativity sells!

So, I'm playing fantasy football for the first time and as fun as it's shaping out to be, I'd rather be playing Madden (real fantasy football), but Madden is too much of a chore now. A chore because it isn't fun anymore, not because it lacks realism and an authentic NFL experience.

As a result, I pour out a touch of Malt liqour for a beloved friend. A beloved friend who taught me the ins and outs of professional football. A buddy who said BOOM! on big hits. A friend who was there 4-5 hours a night from August- January. You'll be sorely missed.... and until we meet again.... RIP Madden.

Comments

# 16 13whitebread @ Sep 7

I have to say is that I don't make a ton of money so I don't blast it on $60.00 sport games. I have to be more frugal I'm afraid so I use the reviews of several different website and OPS to provide me the feedback whether or not I am going to purchase the game. This year just seems that it is about the same as 2010(my last madden purchase) with not to many changes so again I also will wait to next year to see better improvements in the areas that I think are lacking like the commentators to name one in general. So RIP madden until next year maybe?

# 17 thescoop @ Sep 7

I think realism is the key to fun. But I agree Madden is lacking soul. I can't stand what they keep taking out. Fight for the ball, even if just an animation, needed to stay in the game. Why they pulled it out after just two years when most fumbles don't just get covered up right away bothers me. And formation subs are gone again in this years Madden. I mean we asked for them back, got them but only to see them disappear again. What goes on here?

The biggest things Madden are missing is first a good deep ball play. I mean if I lob a pass instead of throw a bullet it is always short. That shouldn't happen with the better rated quarterbacks. I can never throw a lob in stride. Also, audio isn't great. We need announcers that know what is going on. All the other great sports titles, The Show, NBA 2k have it. I actually was excited to see the game included the game in London only to be disappointed when the announcers just talked like it was a regular Bucs home game. That's just plain lazy. The crowds need to be pumped up. The bigger the game, the louder and crazier the crowd. The playoffs should feel like the playoffs.

Don't get me wrong, I do think Madden 12 was a step in the right direction in a lot of ways, but the things it pulled out, gets wrong and have gotten wrong for years just shows me they aren't trying hard enough and still don't get it.

But to trade realism for arcade games like Wii Bowling isn't something I'd buy and would in fact sign a true RIP for Madden.

# 18 thescoop @ Sep 7

And for the record, games like The Show, NBA 2K11, NHL and FIFA have proven that you can do realism with fun. All those games are well received and sell well. So the thought that Madden needs to dial down the realism to be more like Wii Bowling is not a sound one.

# 19 Acedeck @ Sep 7

Why is it that other sports games, even other ones put out by EA, have been rejuvenated with life through some form of enhancement at some point in their history? While I am actually enjoying this year's game, I just don't feel like Madden is ever going to step up and really try to breath new life into this series. It's just micro-enhancements each year, with a bunch of bugs sprinkled in. It's not like this in every other sports title. Why is it this way with the biggest sports title of them all?

# 20 ggsimmonds @ Sep 7

These two factors of realism and fun are not exclusive. If a individual is a football fan, than realism will equal fun.

It comes down to what you want. If you want to play a football game than realism is key; if you want to play a videogame than realism may not equal fun.

Myself, I want to play a football game.

# 21 sooperb @ Sep 7

Watch Kyle Orton have his best season ever this year,why... because Timothy "Christ" Tebow is being forced into his spot for some weird reason. Imagine the progression 2k would have made in 2k6,2k7,2k8,2k9,2k10,2k11 and 2k12. First game I didn't mind watching the computer play by itself. Bottom Line what Madden lacks is Competition, period!! I am sooperb and you have been briefed.

# 22 WipeOut464 @ Sep 7

Ugh. You are all kinds of wrong. Dumbing the game down doesn't make it fun, it just makes it dumb. There're plenty of Wii games and NFL Blitzes if that's what you want.

# 23 ewig @ Sep 7

Yada yada yada...Madden is dead...long live...the next Madden. I think we're at the point where EA can't do anything to Madden that will make certain segments of this community happy. Whatever, I'm enjoying this year's Madden.

# 24 Culture Rot @ Sep 8

really bizarre way to look at realism IMO

# 25 stlstudios189 @ Sep 8

Madden is not dead it is not going anywhere. Sales are strong this year and I think that it is due to the lockout. We were "giving" back football and now we are grabbing everything we can Madden included. With that said I don't have Madden 12 yet due to finacial reasons but, I am still playing madden 11 and NCAA 11 and guess what still having fun with those but, just not as much as I did with Madden 92 and Bill Walsh Football why? IDK I think Madden needs parts to be refreshed what those are again IDK but, I think next season if they do focus on commentary and presentation the 2k5 for life talk will die down and believe me as a fan of 2k5 it's time for Madden to pass that presentation package from 2005

# 26 Darkimpact17 @ Sep 8

I haven't liked any madden recently since I have been playing on PS2, but this years Madden genuinely feels great. I cannot disagree more with madden needing less realism and more Fun Factor because The reason most sport gamer's play sports games is to play as your favorite team, play with your favorite players, and for those players to have ratings which are very similar to the way they play in real life. So it seems obvious that with a game being more realistic people playing with those teams they want to play with or football fans in general want the game to be very similar to what they watch on Sunday. With a real physics engine (done right) the game would play with that unpredictability. Obviously Madden 12 is far from perfect and still doesn't have a physics engine but this years game was refreshing and a change in the right direction from years past.