Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

[RaychelSnr]

Tuesday marked the beginning of what many would consider a secular holiday. While there were no trees, candles, or even aluminum poles and feats of strengths, Tuesday marks the beginning of many long, wasted nights filled with cans of downed cokes, missed meals and social engagements. It's an event that has grown so large that economists now chart its impact, which has grown into the billions.

Let's be honest here, you're probably going to buy Madden 11 if you're a football fan -- assuming you haven't already purchased it. I know I'm going to buy Madden 11. It's a cultural moment. A time in which you know anyone and everyone who cares the smallest iota about sports video games will be playing the same game. All other sports games pale in comparison to the type of influence the little football-game-that-could has exerted over the years.

Read More - Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

[turftickler]

This is a good read, but let's face it. There will be a lot of current and old fans of the Madden NFL series that will be passing on Madden 11. I, for one, will not be purchasing Madden 11.

I will be sticking with Backbreaker even though it does lack all of the real NFL stuff, we can still create our on NFL Rosters, Teams, and Logos. This is not a Backbreaker vs. Madden 11 post. This is a post about having a different choice even if it is not an NFL based game.

I am a true football fan and I will be 100% honest. Madden 11 did not deliver that experience for me, but Backbreaker has. I went through the training and learned how to play the game the way it was designed to be played and I love it.

Maybe next year, Madden 12 might be a purchase, but Madden 11 is not.

[therockstar2005]

Too true. It's not that Madden is bad, as (admittedly after one game) I like it. But the lack of competition does seem to be having an impact. Competition helps breed creativity. Look at NBA 2k vs NBA Live/Elite/Whatever it's called this week. They seem to go back and forth trying to innovate, and the competition seems to improve the overall games. NBA Live had improved by leaps and bounds last year, and it may surprise as Elite this year, but 2k also looks strong. Last year 2k had the NBA Today, by far one of the coolest features as far as presentation yet, and this year NBA Elite has upped its game with ESPN presentation (allegedly). It's just a shame to wonder what Madden might be like if NFL 2k was still around, or what both of them might be like.

[Triathlete_201]

Re: Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

Let's be honest here, you're probably going to buy Madden 11 if you're a football fan

Partially true, but for me, mainly because it's the only option for an NFL game out there.

It's just a shame to wonder what Madden might be like if NFL 2k was still around, or what both of them might be like.

I would LOVE it if that were the case..even better yet, NFL QB club, NFL Gameday, NFL fever to have even more choice and competition.

[joec63]

Re: Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

Still, though, this is not about Madden versus NFL 2K

lol, yes it is...It's about Madden vs blankety blank NFL11. Same thing.

[ryan36]

Re: Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

Partially true, but for me, mainly because it's the only option for an NFL game out there.

I think that's the point. They know by now about what the game's gonna sell every year, and that's all the innovation required.

[BezO]

Re: Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

Nice article! Less buying it every year and getting back to NCAA, you took the words right out of my mouth.

[7stringking]

i think Madden 11 will be the game that at long last delivers a semi realistic NFL experience from EA...and the funny thing is i haven't got it yet..NCAA is making me happy, and without the same expectations from a college game as i have for an NFL game, i am enjoying without feeling like i am being shortchanged..but if NCAA is any indication, then Madden 11 will probably be the best one yet...and will anyone notice???...EA has delivered too many unrealistic football games in the past and they may be paying for it this year......which is too bad as they may be on track now.hopefully 2k will be able to make an NCAA football game next year and we will have some choice again...i don't consider backbreaker a choice

[TreFacTor]

Re: Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

I refuse to buy Madden until I see what the first patch addresses. In it's current form it's not worth $60. Whit so much just copied and pasted I have a hard time trying to see why the game ships every year with the same issues, or even with issues regarding new features that they spent so much time implementing. For now BackBreaker has my support, but their first patch breaks more than it fixes so it's a no win situation right now.

[Keohane15]

For anyone saying that backbreaker is better, you have to be smoking something. The physics engine is great, but the game brings nothing to the table gameplay wise. The camera is awful and the patch completely broke the running game.

[Hova57]

Re: Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

Chris how is it you can post an article like this knowing its going to invoke who game is better or why _________game is garbage. honestly all that article was a to each his own write up. sure many people got madden and alot don't like it. but the same can be said bout backbreaker and ncaa . if you want the truth NCAA is the best out of all three games. There are things in backbreaker that could improve madden and ncaa greatly, but the same can be said of what madden and ncaa has to bring to the table. As far as the nfl debate that some are going with. Its out of the other companies hands its purely up to the NFL. If you want NFL on other companies they need to produce something that could prove to the NFL that it will make money. the NFL isn't interested in anything that's not going to make money. From a gamers perspective yeah competition would invoke innovation, but at this point we could keep wishing and hoping, but doubtful it will happen. Backbreaker is the only thing that could help which i think it has. its seems the physics cycle is making its way around EA so one would think there football games would be next up for 12 series of football games.

[DubTrey1]

In the end, it always comes down to consumer choice at the register - and we all only have the one choice, it's unfortunate but the only show is town has us all by the short hairs. However, at least for me, I am a fan of football first, and of the NFL second - so at least for me, I got my fix for the year with NCAA11. Thank goodness for that.

I will resign myself to just watching my team on Sundays instead of running with them on the virtual gridiron.

[SA1NT401]

Re: Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

Good Read....But, IF madden wasnt the ONLY NFL game in town...I wouldnt have bought it. Thats a fact for me as well as many many more.

But, it is what it is....

[AzureEffect]

Re: Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

NCAA 11 Online Dynasty = No purchase of Madden 11...especially since no Online Franchise updates were made.

Backbreaker= Physics with potential; another patch would be nice

2K8= Player abilities + 2Ks great Football engine..great game that lacks depth.

NFL 2K5 w/ Updated Rosters= Best total package NFL Football experience. It gets the big things right; while sweating the small details as well.

[Other Guy]

Re: Out of Bounds: The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room

Stagnant. That was the perfect word to describe the Madden franchise. It's unbelievable how many of the same reoccurring issues plague this franchise year after year after year. It's unbelievable how many features are still missing from last gen. It's unbelievable how many important items have been on the wishlist for years, and still have not been added. I'm not trying to bash the game in anyway, but I'm just stating it for what it is.

For me personally, I've felt less and less interest in each version of Madden since the switch to next gen. I bought Madden 10, and gave it away after 3 months. That was by far the least time I'd played any Madden. This year I haven't even purchased the game, and I don't plan to.

Again, I don't want to bash this game, or compare it to any other game. I'm just really disappointed with the lack of improvements over the years. It's to the point where I don't even play anymore.