Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

[Gagnon39]

Re: Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

This is truly sad to me. I used to absolutely love Madden and NCAA Football. They were my most anticipated games of the year. I would play them together, alternating between NCAA and Madden. I would usually complete 5-6 seasons and sometimes maybe more, importing my draft classes and having an absolute blast.

If I was to think, back in 2005, that I would be at a point where I did not even buy Madden anymore, I would have had to question my own sanity. However, that day is definitely here. I haven't bought a Madden in a while, let alone play it for more than a week or two.

As far as the article, I thought it was interesting for a couple reasons. Number one, I agree Madden has not been a success. However, I don't think that a sports series must be "innovative" to be a success. I'd be perfectly happy with a company developing a stellar core engine and simply building on it year, after year, after year. There was no need to scrap the Madden 2005 engine that already existed. EA did it anyway and started over from scratch. Good idea, in theory I guess but it didn't work.

I think the best example of a solid core (in gameplay) and consistent anual improvements in MLB The Show. That game has gone from average to superb without HUGE changes in gameplay. I say that with an understanding that there has definitely been improvements, don't get me wrong. But there's not been (at least that I remember) any kind of ground-breaking improvement in gameplay over the past 3-4 years. All the changes and improvements have been subtle. Ironically this year is the first tiem I can remember SCEA incorporating a major change with their anolog controls. However, the user will still have the old options for hitting, leaving what wasn't broken, in tact.

Whatever the case may be, football fans have suffered enough. It's time for NFL games to be worth purchasing again. I don't know what exactly needs to change but getting rid of exclusive licenses would be a start.

[K the Q]

I'm gonna keep it short and simple. I want two things in any given video game.

1. I want to be able to play with and against my friends.
2. I want it to be fun.

I feel like EA has attempted to make the GAME too real and its not as FUN to play as previous versions. I honestly don't care if there are a couple hilarious glitches. As long as they don't happen every other snap I find that sort of thing to be entertaining. I also feel like EA doesn't have enough multiplayer modes. I had an online dynasty in NCAA 11 this year and it was the greatest thing ever. Why not more modes like this??

[simfballcritic]

No competition means no innovation, its as simple as that. Some people might ask why NCAA has improved without competition? The answer is because Madden is NCAA's competition. In years past the game was always considered the little brother and a lot of people would wait for Madden to spend there money on.

Why would EA spend money on new developments if they know the cash cow will rake in the bucks anyway. Thats the real issue folks. Every other game EA Sports offers has received major gameplay innovations except Madden. Whether you are a Madden lover or a Madden ***** you have to acknowledge that.

[LingeringRegime]

I remember that trailer in 2006 for next gen Maddens. SMH.

[RedZoneD25]

Re: Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

I'm gonna keep it short and simple. I want two things in any given video game.

1. I want to be able to play with and against my friends.
2. I want it to be fun.

I feel like EA has attempted to make the GAME too real and its not as FUN to play as previous versions. I honestly don't care if there are a couple hilarious glitches. As long as they don't happen every other snap I find that sort of thing to be entertaining. I also feel like EA doesn't have enough multiplayer modes. I had an online dynasty in NCAA 11 this year and it was the greatest thing ever. Why not more modes like this??

Well I respect your opinion, but let me run this by you.

If Madden NFL calls itself a "simulation", it needs to be real. Off the record, I don't even begin to think for a second Madden plays like a true NFL game, whether it be in gameplay, franchise, online, superstar, anywhere. I rarely see a complaint that it is too real. This is where the exclusive license may have hurt Madden more than anyone realizes. Now instead of deciding to make a sim or arcade version of the game, they have to combine everyone into one $60 disc. This is near impossible, as the two sides want what they want and that's that. So you either make the people who just want to have fun mad, or the people who want total realism and authenticity mad. They've done a pretty good job including the basics of both concepts, but where my issue lies is:

-We are in year 3 of this dev team. I don't like hearing about "visions" anymore. Show me the money, so to say. Not even for M12, just in general. Andy Reid had a 5 year plan in 1999 that would win the Super Bowl for Philadelphia. He got to the game in 04, but he's still here in 2011 (year 12, going on 13 if there is football next season)

-With 2011's technologies, a development team with the prior 2 games of the same core, should be (IMO) FAR past the "basic concepts" of ANYTHING. That's why you have a year one, which leads me to my final point.

-Madden needs to find their identity BADLY. Whether they want to be arcade, sim, or a weird mixture of the two, take a sharp right turn in that direction and make it known worldwide that MADDEN NFL IS A ____ FOOTBALL GAME! Even though it would alienate fans of the other option, you could no longer fault EA for not looking in a certain direction if they came out and say it.

As of right now, Madden NFL says they want to be the best simulation sports game out there. I say, prove it. Show the world you can take Madden back to the top.

[Nab_Impervious_XII]

Re: Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

I rarely see a complaint that it is too real.

Yea, that's the first time I've seen that complaint too. If anything, Madden caters to the "casual fun" crowd profusely. You can't go through a game without seeing a David Tyree-like reception or a goofy interception. It's actually pretty fun to watch when you're playing against a human player (I'll admit). But when it comes to realistically simulating tackles and player interaction, it just falls short.

Bigger risks have to be made with the tackling engine to get Madden anywhere near "too real". Pro-Tak was just a sloppy band-aid.

[KyGamerLT]

Re: Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

I'm gonna keep it short and simple. I want two things in any given video game.

1. I want to be able to play with and against my friends.
2. I want it to be fun.

I feel like EA has attempted to make the GAME too real and its not as FUN to play as previous versions. I honestly don't care if there are a couple hilarious glitches. As long as they don't happen every other snap I find that sort of thing to be entertaining. I also feel like EA doesn't have enough multiplayer modes. I had an online dynasty in NCAA 11 this year and it was the greatest thing ever. Why not more modes like this??

This game is far from being To real. Nothing in madden works like it does in real life. Nanos that can't be blocked. RBs who don't step up and into their blocks. No gap discipline. Simple things that make football players great ( good technique ). Madden is closer to a Arcade game. Slants burning man everytime in Bunch formations. Simple things like flipping a play can change how it works. Madden is built around an arcade base instead of realism.

[KyGamerLT]

Re: Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

No competition means no innovation, its as simple as that. Some people might ask why NCAA has improved without competition? The answer is because Madden is NCAA's competition. In years past the game was always considered the little brother and a lot of people would wait for Madden to spend there money on.

Why would EA spend money on new developments if they know the cash cow will rake in the bucks anyway. Thats the real issue folks. Every other game EA Sports offers has received major gameplay innovations except Madden. Whether you are a Madden lover or a Madden ***** you have to acknowledge that.

This is why we the gamers need to voice this and get something done. I'm done buying this waterdown crap EA calls Madden. Madden is like Jordan shoes always the same, bring back the old features and present them as new Bells. The whole speed and stop glitch destroys madden in so many ways and I bet EA knows nothing about it.

[Vikes1]

Re: Madden's Current Gen has not Been a Success

Unfortunately, I have all but given up on Madden for this generation. I have not played "The Show" much but I play NHL 11 all the time. The gameplay in NHL 11 is LIGHT YEARS ahead of where Madden is at the moment. Other sports games like "The Show", FIFA, NBA 2k11, and NHL are absoulely amazing when compared with Madden.

Yep Ch46647...this is pretty much my opinion too.

My interest in this gen of Madden has waned badly. To the point where I haven't bought the game the last two years. Imo...Madden has been over hyped, and has underperformed this entire generation.

I agree with you that several other sports games [even some of EA's own] have simply surpassed Madden in nearly every important way. Game play, AI, franchise modes, simulation of the sport they represent, etc... And in the biggest way possible...just simply more fun and interesting to play. Again...this is Jmo.

For me personally, I think the best way to express my feelings about things would be...even as a huge lifelong football fan, and purchaser of Madden for years...since playing NHL '08'-'11'...I haven't touched Madden since. Not meaning to bash, just speaking the facts.

[trufootball]

this has to the biggest failure of a franchise. Still unbelievable

[illwill10]

Re: Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

The one thing I noticed current gen for most games made for both Xbox/PS3 is the Xbox's graphics is superior to PS3, besides Sony exclusive games. PS3 and Xbox should be equal when it comes to graphics.

[cowboysfan440]

Re: Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

i remember when i never had to worry if madden was gonna be amazing and even after the next gen 06 game i gave them the benifit of the doubt cause they rushed it after 07 i was aggravated and 08 i lost hope..then finally in 09 it started improving and has slowly since but its just mind boggling that we're here now 5 maddens deep on next gen and nowhere near where we were 5 or even 4 maddens deep on the old ps2/xbox as far as gameplay or fanchise esp. idk if i will ever has as much fun playing madden as i did back in 05

i hope 2k returns asap cause i for one enjoyed both game i was always more of a madden guy but they each offered something different to me and the competition brought out the best in both

[cowboysfan440]

Re: Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

funniest thing now looking back on it i remember seeing that commercial and thinking theres no way madden can be like this..and i remember an ea rep answering a qa about it..it may be on ign not sure they asked him did he think they may have set the bar to high for the next gen systems and he responded by saying he thinks we may have set it to low...crazy that ps2 madden 2005 or 04 are still much deeper in just about every aspect

fact is the madden and 2k hardcore fans are probly the most punished gamers in the world because we lost both of our games after 05

[RedZoneD25]

Re: Madden's Current Gen Has Not Been a Success

funniest thing now looking back on it i remember seeing that commercial and thinking theres no way madden can be like this..and i remember an ea rep answering a qa about it..it may be on ign not sure they asked him did he think they may have set the bar to high for the next gen systems and he responded by saying he thinks we may have set it to low...crazy that ps2 madden 2005 or 04 are still much deeper in just about every aspect

fact is the madden and 2k hardcore fans are probly the most punished gamers in the world because we lost both of our games after 05

I only beg to differ because IMO 05 was the START of greatness on PS2. It continued through the next two iterations and improved even more.

Now if you're talking next gen, I wholeheartedly agree.

[simfballcritic]

Well I respect your opinion, but let me run this by you.

If Madden NFL calls itself a "simulation", it needs to be real. Off the record, I don't even begin to think for a second Madden plays like a true NFL game, whether it be in gameplay, franchise, online, superstar, anywhere. I rarely see a complaint that it is too real. This is where the exclusive license may have hurt Madden more than anyone realizes. Now instead of deciding to make a sim or arcade version of the game, they have to combine everyone into one $60 disc. This is near impossible, as the two sides want what they want and that's that. So you either make the people who just want to have fun mad, or the people who want total realism and authenticity mad. They've done a pretty good job including the basics of both concepts, but where my issue lies is:

-We are in year 3 of this dev team. I don't like hearing about "visions" anymore. Show me the money, so to say. Not even for M12, just in general. Andy Reid had a 5 year plan in 1999 that would win the Super Bowl for Philadelphia. He got to the game in 04, but he's still here in 2011 (year 12, going on 13 if there is football next season)

-With 2011's technologies, a development team with the prior 2 games of the same core, should be (IMO) FAR past the "basic concepts" of ANYTHING. That's why you have a year one, which leads me to my final point.

-Madden needs to find their identity BADLY. Whether they want to be arcade, sim, or a weird mixture of the two, take a sharp right turn in that direction and make it known worldwide that MADDEN NFL IS A ____ FOOTBALL GAME! Even though it would alienate fans of the other option, you could no longer fault EA for not looking in a certain direction if they came out and say it.

As of right now, Madden NFL says they want to be the best simulation sports game out there. I say, prove it. Show the world you can take Madden back to the top.

I fully agree with you man.