Madden 2006 & 2007 Prediction

[kondo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kanobi

Is this the one?: http://xbox.ign.com/articles/538/538246p1.html got that from the espnvg forums in the topic titled 1 million copies sold....but I don't see anything in it about nfl2k5 selling over a million copies. It's only talking about how Ben Wallace is the Cover Boy for NBA2k5. Is there another link besides this one perhaps?

They had to take it out of the artical because it wasnt true.

[Kanobi]

Quote: Originally Posted by kondo

They had to take it out of the artical because it wasnt true.

lol! Typical ign. Thanks, man.

[kondo]

If madden 06 releases with little upgrade next year and they put it out for 20bucks i would buy it because the already plays and looks great.

[bucs44]

Madden needs to improve graphics bottom line-even if they develop FIRST on xbox then port to Ps2 rather than the opposite. The developers also have to improve running game. The mario running just doesnt cut it and ESPN delivers here.
Presentation, overlays, import own music in game, LIVE highlights, stats, player interaction and commentary!!!! all need to improve.

[kondo]

Quote: Originally Posted by bucs44

Madden needs to improve graphics bottom line-even if they develop FIRST on xbox then port to Ps2 rather than the opposite. The developers also have to improve running game. The mario running just doesnt cut it and ESPN delivers here. Presentation, overlays, import own music in game, LIVE highlights, stats, player interaction and commentary!!!! all need to improve.

Next gen not now . And i dont care to much for the button mashing in espn . Just my opinion though.

[wco81]

Quote: Originally Posted by bucs44

Madden needs to improve graphics bottom line-even if they develop FIRST on xbox then port to Ps2 rather than the opposite. The developers also have to improve running game. The mario running just doesnt cut it and ESPN delivers here. Presentation, overlays, import own music in game, LIVE highlights, stats, player interaction and commentary!!!! all need to improve.

They've been selling far more copies of the PS2 version than any other version. So they probably won't change the way they develop.

Regarding this thread, Madden 2006 will come out for the current consoles in August 2005. But just before Xmas 2005, the Xbox 2 is suppose to be out.

So will EA support the Xbox 2 launch with a Madden 2006.5? If it does, I can see them using the current engine but scaling up the resolution to HDTV resolutions. In other words, much prettier graphics with the same gameplay, much like the PC version is today.

But even when they do a "new" engine with the new consoles, the gameplay will probably be similar to what we've seen since at least Madden 99. There will still be speed cheats, unless they fundamentally change the defensive AI to position the defenders better.

An EA guy claimed with the next generation that everything you see on screen will be modeled, meaning real-physics rather than motion-capture animations determining the outcome of each event.

But he's probably talking about different kinds of games, not sports games. Ironic, since sports games are what EA is known for.

[saabcaptain]

Quote: Originally Posted by wco81

They've been selling far more copies of the PS2 version than any other version. So they probably won't change the way they develop. Regarding this thread, Madden 2006 will come out for the current consoles in August 2005. But just before Xmas 2005, the Xbox 2 is suppose to be out. So will EA support the Xbox 2 launch with a Madden 2006.5? If it does, I can see them using the current engine but scaling up the resolution to HDTV resolutions. In other words, much prettier graphics with the same gameplay, much like the PC version is today. But even when they do a "new" engine with the new consoles, the gameplay will probably be similar to what we've seen since at least Madden 99. There will still be speed cheats, unless they fundamentally change the defensive AI to position the defenders better. An EA guy claimed with the next generation that everything you see on screen will be modeled, meaning real-physics rather than motion-capture animations determining the outcome of each event. But he's probably talking about different kinds of games, not sports games. Ironic, since sports games are what EA is known for.

EA will not release a Madden 2006 for the Xbox 2. The Xbox 2 is now likely to arrive in spring/summer of 2006 so Madden 2007 will be the Xbox 2 launch title. Also they would never have their first game on a next gen console use an uprated version of the current graphics engine, that would be laughable and leave them open to losing marketshare on a new platform when a competitor launches with much, much, much better graphics. Be sure that the first Madden to launch will be a brand new graphics engine.

Also because of the effort required to build such a new engine it seems to take away time to tweaking gameplay and adding rich features to the franchise and online modes. Expect those to improve little, or even get a bit worse in the first version of the game for the next gen consoles.

also i believe based on early reporting that PS3 and Xbox 2 will have nearly identical graphics power but Xbox 2 will remain easier to program for and will continue to have a more unified online strategy.

[wco81]

Do you know something we don't?

Spring would be a strange time to launch a console. Nothing beats the buying at Xmas but then again, if it's not ready, then it's not ready.

There are rumors that MS may unveil the console at the CES in January 2005. Bill Gates is going to be a keynote speaker.

A delay would make sense if they need that time to get Halo ready as a launch title.

As for Madden not necessarily using a new engine on Xbox2, I still think it'll be the best-looking Madden yet, even better than PCs since the Xbox2 should be better than the minimum standard configs. required to play most PC games. Remember, EA wasn't in a hurry to put games on XBL because most of their sales were on the PS2.

Even with a new engine, I think we'll see same kinds of gameplay. They will be too busy on the graphics to really change the gameplay. Plus, that gameplay is hugely popular so why change it? Of course, many of us who've dealt with all the shortcomings of that gameplay might like to see it changed a lot but most of the millions who buy the game are apparently happy with the gameplay just the way it is.