What Effect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madden?

[Big FN Deal]

I think the thread title is pretty direct but I will still try to explain the context of the question a little more.

I have been posting on the internet at various forums about next-gen Madden since around 2008 and have bought every next-gen Madden since the NFL exclusive landed on me. In that time I have seen features come and go, along with a whole host of decisions made concerning the game, I still have yet to understand and/or agree with. However, even since 2008, I honestly don't know what the Madden community, meaning gamers that bother to communicate with EA/Tiburon with more than just their purchase, have accomplished or had a substantial affect on in Madden this generation.

I am told that the community programs like CE, CD and Game Changers matter, also that devs read all sorts of Madden message boards but to what end? I honestly wondering what would be substantially different about Madden 13 or any Madden this gen if those things and the Madden community we have now, didn't exist or wasn't the same.

I am starting to think that things would be pretty much the same, not including things like hand towels, strat pads, score bugs, etc and the only thing that has substantially changed next-gen Madden is the sales numbers. So aside from the therapeutic nature of getting things off my chest, sometimes having entertaining discussions and meeting some stand up people, community interaction doesn't seem to have changed much of anything substantial in regards to next-gen Madden, imo. Even substantial things like pass trajectory, physics and read & react offense/defense seem to be due to EA/Tiburon personnel changes and lackluster sales, more so than community interaction.

What do you think?

[SageInfinite]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

While I'd like to believe we've had a serious affect on the direction of Madden, I honestly don't believe it.

[roadman]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

Well, I know when Ian came around for Madden 10, he showed 90% of the items made it in for Madden.

Hand Towels, Nets, Refs, etc....whatever.

So, to that extent, I thought we were involved.

At the end of the day, lately, I think it comes down to marketing and business decisions.

[juggalotusx]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

I think now days there more like look what we did, its so great and cool. The people on the sites writing about the game must have a small percentage of what goes into the game and my guess is what people complain most about, then they see if they can fix it or not. Lets be honest and blunt they know what should be in the game by now, they have known for many years and have done nothing about it since there is no compatition. They knew sales were plummiting down fast and had to do something with the exclusive about over. I know every one thinks that the nfl does not care about video games but its one of the most reconized games out there for football.I also think this year people will no longer compare it with the old 2k franchise.

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

I don't believe we have had that much of an impact on anything big.

Minor things maybe.

I think the issue with EA Tiburon's attempts to interact is that they do not know how to go about it.

Even the illusion of listening would happen if they interact. I know Ian cam here for a while but it should be done on their boards where they can have their own ban hammer to weed out the trolls and douchebags. Maybe I'm just spoiled from being a Paradox Interactive fan. Speaking of which, I shall go enjoy some Crusader Kings II. The Moors shall not have Europe.

[JaymeeAwesome]

I think the madden community had a big influence on RTP because EA was ready to let it sit til next gen. I believe gamers pushed enough for them to finally add. I wish we didn't have to make other feature sacrifices to get it.

[Moegames]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

I think the thread title is pretty direct but I will still try to explain the context of the question a little more.

I have been posting on the internet at various forums about next-gen Madden since around 2008 and have bought every next-gen Madden since the NFL exclusive landed on me. In that time I have seen features come and go, along with a whole host of decisions made concerning the game, I still have yet to understand and/or agree with. However, even since 2008, I honestly don't know what the Madden community, meaning gamers that bother to communicate with EA/Tiburon with more than just their purchase, have accomplished or had a substantial affect on in Madden this generation.

I am told that the community programs like CE, CD and Game Changers matter, also that devs read all sorts of Madden message boards but to what end? I honestly wondering what would be substantially different about Madden 13 or any Madden this gen if those things and the Madden community we have now, didn't exist or wasn't the same.

I am starting to think that things would be pretty much the same, not including things like hand towels, strat pads, score bugs, etc and the only thing that has substantially changed next-gen Madden is the sales numbers. So aside from the therapeutic nature of getting things off my chest, sometimes having entertaining discussions and meeting some stand up people, community interaction doesn't seem to have changed much of anything substantial in regards to next-gen Madden, imo. Even substantial things like pass trajectory, physics and read & react offense/defense seem to be due to EA/Tiburon personnel changes and lackluster sales, more so than community interaction.

What do you think?

While I'd like to believe we've had a serious affect on the direction of Madden, I honestly don't believe it.

I personally DO believe we have made a big impact on the game...i see it in many ways. While not everything we suggest gets put into the game.. madden is one of those games out there today that is heavily influenced by user feedback. Do you guys honestly think EA would spend and invest money on stuff like community day, game changers,etc if it werent important ot them? And besides..i can clearly see some of our feedback has changed madden in recent years.

I cant see how someone could say we had no influence..seriously. Maybe you all are a bit disappointed some things you wanted personally was not taken seriously or put into the game? I dont know, not really directing this towards the two i quoted..just in general to those that question it..i could be wrong but while i am not expecting us to determine the entire game's outcome development wise..i do see that we have had a rather big impact on the game and EA..is one of very few developers that heavily interact with its community... trust me..i am at many developer boards and have been for many years and very few of them take user feedback and actually put it into its game like Madden does...thats just my honest unbiased observation.

[Tweeg]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

I don't think any 'sim' gamers around here are considered a part of the Madden Community.

[Evan_OS]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

I don't think any 'sim' gamers around here are considered a part of the Madden Community.

Then what community are you apart of then if you play Madden?

[aaronrodgers012]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

Im one of the few people who think gameplay is more important than the way the game looks. Im not interested in hand towels and referees or even the fans. Im more interested in the way players block, tackle, catch, etc... I think cosmetics are completely useless.

So to answer your question the madden community has done a pretty good job influencing the madden team. And people wonder why madden plays the same every year. Not enough people try to force the issue on gameplay.

[kjcheezhead]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

I think we influence them with smaller decisions. I know I was very vocal about wanting individual coverage assignments in the game. It took 3 years, but it finally got added.

Other things, I'm not so sure. I don't believe game planning, game flow, NCAA 13's "bullet time" were OS ideas. At least I don't remember threads about that prior to it being put in the games.

I also believe they choose to ignore certain complaints like player movement and unrealistic user catching because the casual community enjoys it the way it is in Madden. They've worked on locomotion in 09 and 11 and I think it actually got a little worse the past 2 years. Either they really suck at player movement or they aren't really trying to get it as realistic as we want.

[KBLover]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

Then what community are you apart of then if you play Madden?

Sometimes I feel like I'm in the modding community considering some of the hoops/testing/etc that sometimes is needed to get the game to be more realistic.

Maybe I'm just spoiled from being a Paradox Interactive fan. Speaking of which, I shall go enjoy some Crusader Kings II. The Moors shall not have Europe.

Smaller/niche game companies seem to get it.

And they still make money - considering they survive/thrive year after year (Working Designs being a sad exception as they have given up the ghost some years ago).

If small developers can do it - larger ones should be able to as well. I wish the indy development house would become a trend as indy band/music artist seems to be.

Even with other console games, the "niche" developers seem more oriented to their communities and look to develop/import games that speak to their communities instead of just trying to shove things at them, hoping they stick and sell DLC.

I think I'm spoiled as well. I must not get "mainstream" game developers.



As for influence:

-If we do have influence - where is the evidence? Some have said CCM is part of that evidence. Does that mean this question is actually premature since M13 is a cultural shift (i.e. let's revisit this in a couple years to see if we have influence on M14/15/beyond)?

-If we don't have influence - why not? Is it truly that suggestions are either beyond the developer team's ability or the engines were too messed up and, again, we should revisit in a couple years now that Infinity Engine is in the game (to see if the new engine reverses this trend as well)?

If the first case is true, then the difference might be actually less ever-changing focus. It seems that, at least according to marketing-speak, that the shifts are trying to address things. If the case is that we didn't have influence, then nothing would be different.

I don't know what the answer is for the past, and perhaps it's more productive to try to predict the future - since that's what we can actually change - or at least the potential.

[kingkilla56]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

I would say we influence it more than we think or rather care to see.

We asked for Franchise mode to evolve it did. Maybe not the way we wanted specifically but it changed and we'll have to wait to see how it turns out.

We asked fro real time physics. They added it.

We asked for scheme based ratings, they put it in.

And I know there are many more examples. Just because they do things to the game we didnt ask for or dont agree with doesnt mean we have little input in the game.

[Jimi XIII]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

I think whenever we happen to meet somewhere in-between EA's corporate needs and ours, we came claim we influenced them. But when too much time & effort is required at the time, we're not in their thoughts. Luckily, they still only have one year left in their NFL license extension, so they want to "hear us out" if it's not too much effort.

[Clemsonpanther]

Re: What Affect Has The Madden Community Had On Substantially Changing Next-Gen Madde

Nada,zipa,zilch,none.