Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

[RaychelSnr]

I tend to get into arguments. I'm not entirely sure why, or how, but they seem to follow me wherever I go. Sometimes it's politics and sometimes it's music. I'll go on for hours about the merits of the Stones and the failings of Jim Morrison. And sometimes, in my lamer moments, I'm not at all above having a dust up about video games.

A buddy of mine was none too pleased about the column I wrote last week about what I feel is a stagnant Madden franchise. He said I was just another one of those NFL 2K5 acolytes, and I couldn't appreciate the game because of my own preconceptions. He even said that I have totally ignored the major leaps forward the Madden franchise has brought to the table.

That's tough but fair. I have, after all, enjoyed a few Madden games over the years. I played the ever living hell out of the 1999 edition. I've owned and/or rented almost every incarnation of the franchise. My experience goes all the way back to the Sega Genesis days where the players were all identical sprites running oddly about the field. I have, honestly, been a cautious fan for as long as there's been a Madden.

So I've decided to honor the franchise and its innovations with a quick countdown of what I feel are the best improvements over the years. As always, feel free to disagree.

Read More - Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

[rooney8]

Re: Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

I am not sure honoring the franchise is listing great features they have either done away with or let go down the toilet. Think you just made your buddy more . Not me though and I agree with most of the features selected. Franchise was definately huge. Wasn't crazy about the vision cone but was more of a casual Madden player back then.

[wheelman990]

Re: Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

Just tell your buddy you overated Madden 11 in your review with a 9 rating to please him. Thats gotta count for something.

[kpkpkp]

Re: Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

Just tell your buddy you overated Madden 11 in your review with a 9 rating to please him. Thats gotta count for something.

lol .

[kjcheezhead]

Re: Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

Couldn't think of one more recent that 5 years ago??!!

How about the ones gamers are always begging to see return?

WR shading, individual bump n run, formation shifts, audibles on the fly, the Ps2 mini games.....

[roadman]

Re: Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

Just tell your buddy you overated Madden 11 in your review with a 9 rating to please him. Thats gotta count for something.

That was another reviewer, he just posted the review.

[Dazraz]

I think EA have bought a lot of innovation to franchise/dynasty/career modes not only in Madden but across a number of different titles. Where EA persistently frustrate however is the way in which they always strip their games down to the bare bones whenever a new piece of hardware is released rather than transfer the features across.

How often do EA make big noises about a new feature with a brand new name that is basically a reincarnation of a feature seen on a previous generation console.

[spankdatazz22]

Re: Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

Just tell your buddy you overated Madden 11 in your review with a 9 rating to please him. Thats gotta count for something.

LOL - although I see now he didn't do the review. Still, a week in and the OS review seems like a joke. Think it's pretty noticeable that the list doesn't contain any innovations from this generation, when pretty much every other sports game can point to something they've innovated with (and many have several innovations under their belt).

[Rocky]

Re: Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

I don't know if this is more ironic or sad, but I would list Madden's commentary back in Madden '93 and '94 as a major innovation for it's time.

[roadman]

Re: Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

Passing windows, ambulance, spin move, Madden/Summerall talking on screen, etc.....

By the way, the Atari 2600 had 3 v 3 football.

[Rashad19]

Re: Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

I would have to say branching animations or the ability to control how you breakout of a tackle was a great innovative feature.

[7stringking]

the new zoom camera is great

[Silas Barnaby]

In the very first John Madden Football game played on my Laser 128 (Apple II knockoff) back in the day, you were able to design your own plays! Something that regretfully never made it back.

[goatriderhorde]

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I enjoyed the vision cone. I know it's effects on the offensive side of the ball were debated ad naseum, but I loved it defensively as well. It gave the feeling of reading the QB's eyes. Great for someone who generally plays safety.

Also, the training camps before the season on the last gen versions. Turning busts like Joey Harrington into great players was always fun for me. I know they had drills in 09, but having to do the drill three weeks in a row to raise your player's attribute 1 point just didn't feel worth it.

[Agame]

CONE of SHAME! Ha- I thought it was a great idea. Still think that Madden should have a SIM setting, where the sliders are tuned to be "NFL football" and the QB has to go through his progressions to throw the football. Lot's of idea's on how that could be implemented in Madden. Ball U, Great school(my son a senior this year)
Thank GOD.