After viewing NBA 2K12...What is stopping Madden???

[Big FN Deal]

Quote: Originally Posted by DreadedSteeler

I think lack of competition is only a small part of it. Just from playing the games I really don't think there have been enough programmers that are football "fans" on the Tiburon team. My guess has been they were mostly good programmers looking for a job and they were hired and stuck on the football games. It would explain why there have been so many small details that are just off in these games. Beluba was posting awhile before he was hired at 2K Sports and his knowledge and love for the game were very evident in his posts here, at sportsreviewers and other boards he frequented. Hopefully new talent like adembroski can inject Tiburon with the type of programmers that should have been working on these games from the start.

I agree with all of your post but this really stands out.

I am by no means some fanboy but there are many little things that have me believing Madden 13 will be solid and Madden 14 spectacular. The main things being AJ, Cam Weber, Roy Harvey being moved to online franchise and Mike Young now Creative Director.

If you notice the presentation components in Madden 12 they seemed designed as foundations for something much more detailed. The game has really well done and realistic quarter/halftime/end game transitions with network broadcast style player visuals. These seem designed to include a really immersive halftime/end game show as well as potentially a round the league wrap up. Also, the commentary has all but been confirmed to be a huge focus for Madden 13.

What the future holds for Madden gameplay is up for interpretation but I would be completely surprised if Madden 13 doesn't offer something equal to what 2k has in regards to presentation.

[MaddenFranchise10]

This problem perplexes me too. On the one hand, it'd be easy to bash EA, saying they don't allocate enough resources to produce quality games. But I love the FIFA series, NHL, Skate, Mass Effect 2 was great, and Battlefield 3 looks incredible so far. EA knows how to make good games, even good sports games.

I honestly think the issue here is exclusivity. Considering the regression Madden has endured the past several years, it's quite evident that EA's exclusivity deal has had a detrimental effect on Madden's lack of progress and innovation when compared to other titles (even other EA games).

If EA didn't have to pay $80M every year for exclusivity, imagine how that money could otherwise be spent improving Madden's gameplay, presentation, commentary, or just basic QA to find and remove bugs so the game is playable day one.


Madden was doomed to be mediocre when EA purchased the exclusive rights, and the guys at Tiburon know this. From a pure business standpoint, there is no incentive for EA to invest the resources necessary to make a NFL game that rivals NBA2k at recreating its sport. EA would need to rebuild it's entire engine, and make hundreds of gameplay, presentation, feature, commentary, and graphical improvements to even be approaching NBA2k's level. And this won't happen, since the bean-counters know an "improved Madden" won't outsell a "copy-pasted Madden" enough to validate the increased investment.

Another issue might be the "culture" of Tiburon. In sports, we often talk about a team's environment or culture, and how it affects their performance. If I was a programmer at Tiburon, I'd be irked that our team isn't receiving adequate resources to produce an accurate depiction of the NFL. Cranking out bad-to-mediocre iterations annually to a critical fanbase probably sucks away any lingering motivation they have.

Also, since the NFL will likely stick to its exclusivity business practices forever, and since 2k probably won't be able to outbid EA, we're stuck with Madden as our only NFL game for the foreseeable future.

[tril]

company philosophy.
Im sure 2k's NBA development tremas philosophy is to produce the best basketball representation possible.
2k is trying in the baseball department, and it shows.

The same could be said for the Show franchise. company philosphy shows that those folks really care about baseball.

I cant say that its exclusively an EA thing cause the NHL and FIFA title gets great reviews, even though their presnation packages are still bland.

In addition, EA stepped up in the soccer departement, cause there was a time not too long ago where PES was the soccer title of choice.

[MissionMaximus]

Judging by what I see in NBA 2k12. Just imagine what NFL 2k12 could have been.

[UMhester04]

Quote: Originally Posted by MissionMaximus

Judging by what I see in NBA 2k12. Just imagine what NFL 2k12 could have been.

AGREED.


And I cant believe the NFL makes EA pay 80 million dollars for an exclusive license for a video game like come on are you serious.

[43M]

I agree with most around here about the lack of compeition...

But lets be honest...the game did improve this year presentation wise. Is it perfect or "there" yet? No, but its a step in the right direction along with other upgrades.

The biggest thing with presentation right now is the commentary. The new stat overlays are great IMO. The TV broadcast angles are done well. The pregame is good but needs some work (I personally dont like the team specific intros EVERY game. Id like to see them in the playoffs and once in awhile, but Id prefer to see more of a TV broadcast things, but this is a small gripe). And there really does need to be some type of highlights show. I thought the Extra Point had potential, but certianly wasnt close to what it needed to be.

Anyway, yeah....commentary. By far the biggest problem with Madden's presentation. EA really has half a$$ed it here for years. If they dont do something with it next year, Im convinced they never will.

[43M]

Quote: Originally Posted by UMhester04

AGREED. And I cant believe the NFL makes EA pay 80 million dollars for an exclusive license for a video game like come on are you serious.

The NFL doesnt MAKE them pay anything.

[mvb34]

Madden 12 is just as good as NBA 2k12...