Madden NFL 12 Blog - No Additions This Year For Online Franchise Mode

[ebugaloo]

Quote: Originally Posted by g2thecore

What makes you think that they're going to lose 1% of their customers based on "no changes" being made to a game mode? For the last 5 years offline franchise has gotten no attention whatsoever. What kind of decline in sales have they seen? Look I can appreciate people being upset about this. Like I said previously, I was in the same boat last year when I decided not to purchase the game for the 1st time since 2001. I was upset that offline franchise (my favorite mode) was yet untouched. But I got why it wasn't touched. They explained that they would need to rebuild it, and that they couldn't do that during that cycle. The way I see it is, I'd rather they take an extra year to make some significant changes to the mode than to have them half-*** it with some crappy feature, and say that they improved it.

They already did take an extra year.

I suppose the proof will be in the pudding (sales). They will also see it if certain gamertags, that showed up to play Madden 11 (and previous games) not return to play 12.

I would note that XBox unit sales declined by 300K, PS3 unit sales declined by 200K. That is with an increasing installed base of XBox and PS3 consoles, so that makes the sales decline look even worse. Assuming we have an NFL season this year, if you are right, sales should be slightly up from last year. If not, then their bet against online franchise may be a factor. I know a few users in here seem to be willing to vote with their wallets.

Lastly, while this may annoy some folks, I think it would be reasonable to charge a marginal fee for online franchise, as is done with NCAA Football 12.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by GGEden

I can't count how many people in this thread have said they're canceling pre-orders, or made up their minds to skip M12 for NCAA12. That's now a category of "people not buying game because OF wasn't touched as promised, and nothing was ever done with the 'we've got OF servers to add things in people want'." Not just 'any old feature', but a very important mode for Madden communities. The number of people in that category can only grow as more people hear the news, and will represent a % loss of sales.

If it's a deal breaker, then they shouldn't purchase it. We all have options and Offline Franchise people last year were held accountable to the same decision.

Heck, same thing happened a decade ago when HH Baseball decided not to upgrade Online Franchise. There were people that were very upset, but some people managed to get by with what they had to work with.

Offline Franchise has suffered immeasurably as well over the years and it's finally getting it's due. I see no reason OF won't follow the same path next year.

[ebugaloo]

Quote: Originally Posted by ebugaloo

They already did take an extra year. I suppose the proof will be in the pudding (sales). They will also see it if certain gamertags, that showed up to play Madden 11 (and previous games) not return to play 12. I would note that XBox unit sales declined by 300K, PS3 unit sales declined by 200K. That is with an increasing installed base of XBox and PS3 consoles, so that makes the sales decline look even worse. Assuming we have an NFL season this year, if you are right, sales should be slightly up from last year. If not, then their bet against online franchise may be a factor. I know a few users in here seem to be willing to vote with their wallets. Lastly, while this may annoy some folks, I think it would be reasonable to charge a marginal fee for online franchise, as is done with NCAA Football 12.

Sorry, accidentally hit the submit button early. Let me finish my thought.

Lastly, while this may annoy some folks, I think it would be reasonable to charge a marginal fee for online franchise, as is done with NCAA Football 12. A working online franchise I imagine gets me 30+ hours of additional gameplay. If they charged me, say $3 to $5, that is insignificant relative to the incremental entertainment I get out of the game. By not providing this, it is lost revenue for EA.

[Automatik]

Quote: Originally Posted by CRMosier_LM

No one has said anything about the draft other than rumors from OS members.

Alright might have overreacted, but they said no additions will be for Online franchise. So why would random rookie draft be a rumor unless you know something that will be announced July 25th.

[alkamist]

Well look at it this way, M12 = New players, updated teams, fixed bugs, fixed exploits, fixed grass, fixed graphics, added stuff to Offline Franchise = Madden 11 Upgrade 1200 gamer pts..

Sorry but like i said earlier, ive only bought M11 for there Online Franchise, never once played Offline, or Superstar, or even PvP because to many people cheeze on there with there QB or just nano the whole game...

Damn, im not trying to wast 60$ on a upgrade, thats why i didnt buy NCAA 12.. oh well guess Fifa will get my money, and than GOW 3

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by alkamist

Well look at it this way, M12 = New players, updated teams, fixed bugs, fixed exploits, fixed grass, fixed graphics, added stuff to Offline Franchise = Madden 11 Upgrade 1200 gamer pts..

Well, time to cancel my pre-order. Here I thought they added more to Madden 12 than that.

[GGEden]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

If it's a deal breaker, then they shouldn't purchase it. We all have options and Offline Franchise people last year were held accountable to the same decision.

A company should never take that attitude of "oh well, they can just not buy it, we'll pick up sales elsewhere." It's a reason why Madden global sales remain quagmired in the 5-6 million sales across the main two consoles. If that number is to ever rise to the 26+ million console owners (ps3/360), which even 50% of is a realistic potential, an attitude adjustment in EA HQ is required. In the 7 years of NFL exclusive license, that attitude has been in play, and is probably a big cause for where EA-consumer relationship is right now.

Quote:

Heck, same thing happened a decade ago when HH Baseball decided not to upgrade Online Franchise. There were people that were very upset, but some people managed to get by with what they had to work with. Offline Franchise has suffered immeasurably as well over the years and it's finally getting it's due. I see no reason OF won't follow the same path next year.

It's not just the announcement tho, the fact it wasn't touched, but that it joins a laundry list of letdowns and broken promises, and resulting excuses + what consumers see they ended up focusing on yet again (cosmetics, cut-scenes, cheerleaders, entrances, etc), and the "next year" talk. Like others have said, they made announcements/promises about the OF server existing to allow constant upgrading etc, they promised end of M11 that online would get focused on, etc.

Btw, I respect your input, just responding.

[mestevo]

Quote: Originally Posted by GGEden

A company should never take that attitude of "oh well, they can just not buy it, we'll pick up sales elsewhere."

A company hasn't.

You mistake the attitude of posters responding to those making melodramatic overtures as if online franchise was just dropped with that of EA. They've explained that resources to improve the mode ended up not being available for this cycle. Nothing more, nothing less. No promises made or broken, just the reason why it is not being updated.