turftickler's Blog
I start off by telling you all a little about my history with football games. I started out playing Tecmo Bowl and John Madden Football way back in 1989. win I was 15 years old. That should tell you how old I am and today is my birthday. I have been playing Madden football games ever since, but once 989 Sports, Acclaim, and 2k Sports jumped onto the scene, I started falling out of love with the Madden NFL series.
The Mission
I am also a member of TheSimStandard on youtube. I just found out yesterday that EA Sports has been watching our videos and it seems that they respect what we are trying to do. Contrary to what some people say, we are not EA bashers or game nitpickers. We simply want a better football game to play on this generation of consoles. Yes we know that these are just video games and they will never be real. However, when we sit down to play a game that only exists because of the NFL, we want it to be a pleasant experience that lasts us until next year's release.
Fan Input
I started this blog to respond to Phil Frazier to this video, Madden NFL 12 First Look Preview. Phil stated that "Madden NFL is about being true to the NFL" and each one of their feature enhancements this year is about providing the core fan with something they've always wanted". Now before you all respond to this blog, I want you to gather you thoughts on paper or screen first.
- What makes Madden NFL games what the are today?
- What is a hardcore fan?
- What is a hardcore football fan?
- What is a hardcore football video game fan?
- Who does each one of these fans affect how Madden NFL is developed?
- When you play Madden NFL games or NCAA football games, do you feel that you are getting your money's worth each year?
Years ago, before there was online console gaming, game development companies delivered great games. The games had to be done well straight out of the box. There were no updates and/or patches. Developers had to put their best effort into each game. Updates and/or patches should only be a luxury, not an add-on after the game has been played for a couple weeks.
My Thoughts on Fan Input
- Each football video game player who has ever played a football video game has made an impact on Madden NFL and NCAA football game development.
- A hardcore fan is the type of fan that plays the game no matter how bad it is. They will give a game a pass even though it has major flaws, because they cannot and/or will not turn down buying the latest version of that game. In this case it is Madden NFL and NCAA football games. Hardcore fans will say things like, "As long as the game has real teams and players, I will play it". or "It's okay if the players are warping, morphing, and sliding the whole game, I still enjoy it."
- A hardcore football fan is the type of fan that loves watching football and talking about it with everyone they know. They might be interested in playing Madden NFL or NCAA football games, but they would rather watch the game instead. If they do play, they may only play a partial game or maybe 1 or 2 games ever so often. I like to call this type of fan a casual fan. There is no reason whatsoever, that the casual fan should have any say about how a video game should be developed, because they do not spend enough time playing to be credible.
- A hardcore football video game fan is the type of fan that loves football so much that he will spend ample time watching the game itself, playing real football, and playing football video games. This person may have the ability to break down footage of real football and video game football to help others understand the game better. Some of these people may even coach football or have coached in the past. They may be very skilled and knowledgeable in all things football or they may just be very analytical types with a passion for the game and/or video games.
- The hardcore fan may not know much about football, but loves to play football video games. This was me about 17 years ago. I just wanted to play football games and it did not matter how they were made. In respect to all developers, this is a new day. The PS3, XBox 360, and the PC are far more advanced than they were even 7 years ago. The hardcore football fan should not really even be considered other than them being allowed to play the game in easy/beginner mode. I am a casual fan of first person shooters. I should never want any developer to cater to me, period. The hardcore football video game fan is all out crazy about football video games and football in general. If any football game developer wants their game to go to the next level, make sure gameplay is fundamental sound before you add any of this. 2k Sports nailed all aspects of true NFL football simulation and presentation. Please watch this video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-X3M6Zrg54
- To be brutally honest, when I play Madden NFL games, I literally start to become angry and bitter at EA Sports. However, I am mature enough to see that EA's main goal is to make money, but their first goal should be to deliver a solid product to the hardcore football fans who are actually hardcore football game fans. If EA Sports does this, they will see their numbers grow in sales at a rapid rate as well as satisfying the “hardcore fans. The casual fans; give them an arcade mode and a beginner mode and most of them will be satisfied. They don't really play the games long anyway.
game. It doesn't matter who developes the game as long as it is do well.
One more thing. I am TrueSimGamer a.k.a. turftickler. I represent TheSimStandard channel on youtube, the subscribers, and the simulation nation.
# 18
xITSxDAWKINSx @ May 12
i watch the tss vids on youtube and i respect u guys to the fullest. have been playing madden since i was 6years old. however the first football game i owned was gameday 97(loved it). had played gameday, madden, QB club, nfl fever, but found myself always going back to madden because of madden(john).t sounded like real football. i think it is time to stop wishing and hopeing for a big jump in gameplayin madden. maddens gameplay even on the ps2 wasnt that good 2ks was better but the players for 2k were ugly and the guys in the both i didnt know. i just wish ea would have better game modes because gameplay will always be a prob in my eyes
# 19
turftickler @ May 12
@xITSxDAWKINSx , I feel you on this, fam. We will never stand down and even when EA Sports finally does make a great football game, we will be there to support them and help them make an even better game.
# 20
wallofhate @ May 12
I respectfull disagree with you xITSxDAWKINSx. I myself ( I can't speak for turftickler) didn't think Nfl 2k games were that great in fact after dreamcast I didnt even purchase any 2k football games I just rented them to see how it played. The only thing I felt 2k did better was the highlights and presentation. I would have agreed with you about expecting small steps a few years ago but there are plenty sports games with yearly cycles that make great leaps and or atleast fix the glaring problems. To me there used to be only 2 games that everybody gamers and non gamers knew Mario bros. and Madden so it saddens me a little to feel like they will never make a proper representation of simulation football.
# 21
xITSxDAWKINSx @ May 13
@wallofhate i see where u are coming from. i feel like the stuff that is in madden should have been there when the 360 frist came out. what makes me sad is that the people at ea are not even hardcore football fans. when 2k had espn they used the espn license well. ea for the most part owns the nfl and we cant even get a real team in the booth. if i was in charge i would find away to make cbs, nbc, fox and espn in the game, if i wasnt going to make a big jump in gameplay.
# 23
turftickler @ May 13
@wallofhate, Please tell me why you did not enjoy playing NFL 2k games. I've heard people say this before, but they could never give me a reason why the disliked the game. I'm very curious and I would like to know your thoughts on this. Maybe I am missing out on something, but when I play 2k football games, I feel like 2k Sports really wanted to show football gamers that football can truly be emulated in a video game.
# 24
wallofhate @ May 13
@turftickler, for me it was the button mashing that made me dislike the game. Getting caught into those long animations sometimes kinda bothered me also. I wanted to like it because there were cool aspects of the game and the price but I couldn't. 2k football always was better to watch and show of to people but madden was more fun to play if that makes sense.
# 25
Eski33 @ May 13
I have played video games on consoles since 1979 so I am an old school gamer as well. I like some of the things people have included. Here is what makes a good football game for me:
1) Atmosphere -- NCAA captured this well over the past 10 years while Madden has lacked.
2) Presentation -- 2K5 was a good game but the presentation has yet to be matched. People remember 2K5 for SportsCenter and The Crib, not the gameplay
3) Classic -- I loved Madden 93 because it had a ton of classic teams. Why can't we get classic teams? I don't need the real rosters as long as editing is available. Just get me the 85 Bears
4) Classic uniforms and stadiums -- Madden has a few throwbacks but with the exclusive license I have no idea why the game cannot include all uniforms each team has sported over the years. This was something 2K did and did well. My beloved Seahawks' throwbacks aren't accurate in the game. And how about some classic stadiums that we don't have to pay for?
4) I like the gameplay in Madden but how much can developers really change?
5) Dynamic weather -- Hopefully this can be implemented some year
6) Dynamic attendance -- Shame on me but I cannot recall if the current football games have attendance based on team's record or prestige (Packers sell out regardless)...
Overall, to a less critical eye, Madden is an awesome looking game and NCAA 11 was off the charts with both Madden and NCAA 12 looking stellar.
1) Atmosphere -- NCAA captured this well over the past 10 years while Madden has lacked.
2) Presentation -- 2K5 was a good game but the presentation has yet to be matched. People remember 2K5 for SportsCenter and The Crib, not the gameplay
3) Classic -- I loved Madden 93 because it had a ton of classic teams. Why can't we get classic teams? I don't need the real rosters as long as editing is available. Just get me the 85 Bears
4) Classic uniforms and stadiums -- Madden has a few throwbacks but with the exclusive license I have no idea why the game cannot include all uniforms each team has sported over the years. This was something 2K did and did well. My beloved Seahawks' throwbacks aren't accurate in the game. And how about some classic stadiums that we don't have to pay for?
4) I like the gameplay in Madden but how much can developers really change?
5) Dynamic weather -- Hopefully this can be implemented some year
6) Dynamic attendance -- Shame on me but I cannot recall if the current football games have attendance based on team's record or prestige (Packers sell out regardless)...
Overall, to a less critical eye, Madden is an awesome looking game and NCAA 11 was off the charts with both Madden and NCAA 12 looking stellar.
# 26
turftickler @ May 14
# 24 wallofhate , this is the first time I have ever gotten a great answer to that question. Most people have said, the game is too fast (That's football
) while others just say stop riding 2k's jock. Thanks, bro!
) while others just say stop riding 2k's jock. Thanks, bro!
# 27
wallofhate @ May 14
@turftickler, no problem. hopefully EA will put this discussion on that white board of theirs as insperation and make the game so us sim guys can stop with the nastalga lol
# 28
turftickler @ May 14
@wallofhate , lol. I agree. Even if Madden NFL 12 and NCAA Football 12 are a lot better this year, I will still be making videos at TheSimStandard on youtube to keep pushing them. We are not looking for the games to be perfect, but as simulation sports gamers, we want it to be playable.
turftickler
19
398 Forum Posts
1 Blog Entries
295 News/Blog Comments
14 Reader Score Votes
8 Friends
2 Chalkboard Messages
3 Screenshots
0 Videos
19,623 Arena Visits
turftickler's Blog Categories
More
turftickler's Friends
Recent Visitors
The last 10 visitor(s) to this Arena were:
turftickler's Arena has had 19,623 visits
- ChuckaLuk
- ESPOMAN
- MJHSpanda57
- packerboy71
- packers312
- Paul Pierce_OS
- pittsburgher86
- Reggie.100.OVR.AGI
- roadman
- SussyBodge
turftickler's Arena has had 19,623 visits
Working...
I feel the reason EA Sports does not develop football games for the true simulation style people is because they simply do not have to. It is bad situation and the more I think about it the more angry I become, then I start making more videos to help them build a better game. The question is, Are they listening to the true football fans that play football video games?