To EA and Madden Consumers, Madden Is a Success

[GlennN]

I'm in the minority here that is playing Madden 11 and having a lot of fun with it. To me, it's the best football game I've played since 2k5. Granted, I have not bought Madden every year, since improvements seem incremental, but this year, to me, is a good one.

[khaliib]

Re: To EA and Madden Consumers, Madden Is a Success

NBA Elite was going to be basketball's version of Madden. It was arcadey, unrealistic, unpolished, and you know what else, it was cancelled.

Ooch!!!
That's a KicknDaPants with your church shoes on, bra

[SA1NT401]

The only succes Madden has achieved in my eyes....Is draw more casuals and give the faithful just another copy and pasted version of a once great franchise.

If the trend continues, and it will, then all madden is gonna become is just another game before it eventually just goes away, and at this point, wouldnt be a bad thing. The NFL really needs to look at the product and realize its not what should be representing the NFL....Its just not worthy in any way, shape or form....

The NFL itself pushes innovation in the actual sport, its constantly evolving. Why does the NFL want a game that does neither of those?

I have just HAD IT with the entire franchise as it is now. Its a shallow game and barely even where it should be at this stage. Visually it looks decent, but it plays and feels like a game thats 10 yrs old.

[bigsmallwood]

Madden has only been a success in the form of sales this gen and even that has slowed down dramatically because consumers have realized they have been playing the same game year after year. Nice article, but EA needs to step up the talent/product to a level that is respectable to all who play the game.

[kjcheezhead]

Re: To EA and Madden Consumers, Madden Is a Success

Maybe not Tecmo, but there is still a fairly large contigent of people that play Last Gen Madden/NFL2K5 and I can see why. Last gen Madden's fluidity, animations, feature set, and controls are arguably better than it's newer counterpart. In fact, you can make the argument that last gen is better in every aspect besides graphics and playbooks.

Exactly. I'm one of those people that still plays Madden 09 on ps2. I'm not gonna try and say Tecmo was the deeper game, but last gen madden has deeper franchise, superstar modes, better mingame drills, a play editor, custom playbooks and some small in game enhancements like individual bump and run. Overall, it is a deeper game that current gen and because of that I can't consider the new games a success.

[MAzing87]

St Chaos, I couldn't have said it any better myself. I am very interested to read all of the other posts but dont have the time to do so at the moment, but I really don't understand what real points this article is making.

It's quite clear that gamers love the NFL, love the teams and players. That seems to come first for many. And with EA being the only company to put out NFL games, the strong marketing push which included the NFL players in your commercials going door to door giving out copies of Madden, why wouldn't there be any kind of success? I love the NFL myself but I love the game of football, which means if there is a football videogame that simply works and is close to simulating the actual game of football, whether it's Jamaal Charles in the backfield or Cedric Moolafa (fake name), I'm all for it.

Madden is also successful because many gamers have no choice and simply succumb to buying it, since its a fact that they can't get any other NFL licensed game. Madden isn't perfect but I and many others don't want it to be. I don't want the game revolutionized. I just want the basic fundamentals of the game to be sound, with excellent physics, intelligent yet instinctive ai, and a deep franchise/career mode.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: To EA and Madden Consumers, Madden Is a Success

I really think the winners with the exclusive deal was EA. When the deal happened, there was a legitimate competitor in 2k. The fans of 2k lost out quite obviously, since that game ceased to exist. I feel consumers as a whole also lost, because it's either use an old game in ESPN NFL 2k5 that is not up-to-date, or play the newest Madden, which certainly hasn't been up to critical standards, from critics or from consumers.

I can talk about how disappointing how we haven't had a lot of post NFL games from 2k, but it's understandable from a financial standpoint. Backbreaker has a lot of interesting technical breakthroughs, but there's not much else in the game other than that.

I do think Ian has some good ideas for the game, but I'm a huge proponent of allowing competition. We'll just have to see on this regard.

[carvis.russell]

I love how Mr. Cummings uses a counterclaim with a nice thesis statement but I hate now none of this even matters. I wish he said a good game opposed to a successful game. There is a big difference. Listen to your fans that anticipate the game every year with hopes of you guys not screwing up like the previous years. We all know that this game is not even CLOSE to real football. To be blunt, it just sucks. I don't want to hear any thing about sales. Until I hear the fans saying the game is truly a pleasure to play...I do not want to hear a thing about your little profit gaining and non-people pleasing intentions. You have good ps2 game play by the way but as for Xbox 360 and ps3...it's just bad. You might as well just tranfer NCAA's gameplay over to Madden. It least that game seems "more" realistic.

[JerseySuave4]

the only people that consider Madden a success is EA, because they are the only ones that can make an NFL game so they will always sell because of the Shield and people wanting an NFL game, and casual Madden Tournament type players who like unrealistic gameplay. But the majority of consumers are tired of paying for minor updates and mediocre games.

[tabulaRasa]

Stock holders want increases revenue by each year, I don´t think EA can reach as many new consumers as 2 NFL products would. The drving force in sales to me is the NFL, the real game, people want a taste of it, with one product there isn´t much to choose from. If NFL licensed to more companies, people would by more NFL games, and would also secure the innovation by competetion to get more future sales of NFL products.

[tabulaRasa]

buy not by. Increased not increases

[kjcheezhead]

Re: To EA and Madden Consumers, Madden Is a Success

edit: wrong thread. : (

[bukktown]

Re: To EA and Madden Consumers, Madden Is a Success

I hate when people come on here and bitch and moan about how terrible a game is but I feel passionatley that Madden is just not a good game, or a fun game for that matter. I judge sucess on the other sports titles that are out and how well they represent the sport - The Show is a sucess, it captures the intricacies and the subtelties of the game - it is about attention to detail . .. .nba2k - another phenomonal sports title - madden is not even in the same ball park as these games, pun intended.

I will not buy another madden until the entire game engine is overhauled - because for me it is completely missing, from the way the players move to the core gameplay mechanics - it feels off and it's not even enjoyable. Sucess? with the technology available to them and the other sports titles I mentioned - I would say mediocrity is how I would describe Madden, and that's more credit than I should probably give this disgrace of a football game

Awesome post! Completely sums up my feelings. Except I probably will still keep buying it.

[SA1NT401]

Re: To EA and Madden Consumers, Madden Is a Success

As I eluded to in the article, I think the simple fact is that the game is being made for a certain audience and for better or worse -- that audience might not be hardcore sim/franchise fans like OSers. I'm not sure if that's fully the case or not, because people in this community (the sim gamer one) are probably 15% of the total potential customer base for Madden. Maybe 35% if you want to stretch the definition. Anyone running a smart business will cater towards the other 65% while throwing the 35% a few bones along the way.

Of course, one could make a very compelling argument that the more realistic a game, the better it will eventually sell given the success of titles like NBA 2K and The Show compared to their Peers.

and thats the main reason why madden will NEVER get back to where it was. It will continue to spin its wheels in the mud and stay stagnant. I have accepted that....Alot have. I got by without madden for 5 years now. I bought all of them yes (shame on me!) and thats how i draw my opinion...The final product....NOT WORTHY of an NFL license if you ask me, but it makes the NFL money and EA money, so they arent gonna complain.

Casuals and ONLINE is 95% of the focus now (And i HATE that). I dont buy madden to play online...No desire....I buy it for franchise OFFLINE and thats what i Used to look forward to.

Now, SOLO stuff is meaningless...Franchise is the worst in the sports industry BY FAR and casuals get their game. How bout us? Well sadly, we are no longer worth it to EA....And that was their intention all along when they released that pile in 05 (madden 06) on the 360.....From that point, EAs overall decision was made....old development team/ new team, no matter...EAs main goal was ALWAYS the casuals and eventually 100% online.

The stage was set then...We were already and afterthought....The decision was made....And what we have today is EXACTLY what EA has wanted all along....And it will 100% continue...Things we have been wanting for YEARS are still missing/broken and are never fixed...WHy? Cuz it was never the plan to ever really fix them as it would turn away their target audience....Casuals. You think little jimmy cares about any of the stuff we mention here? Heck No....He just want to throw 7 TDs and score points like the NBA....And thats who EA wants.

I am very grateful to the developers who still CARE about the product and the people who have been there al along, since we are to thank for getting gaming here in the 1st place. Without our support for all those years they would NEVER be where they are today. How would EA even exist if it wasnt for US buying the games from Day 1? They wouldnt exist (beautiful thought if you think about it now). but they do exist and its because of US buying what USED to be a quality product.

Now, we are just not worth any consideration.....And that makes me upset. And i am sure i am NOT ALONE.

[droopizzle34]

Re: To EA and Madden Consumers, Madden Is a Success

Now, we are just not worth any consideration.....And that makes me upset. And i am sure i am NOT ALONE.

no you're not alone bro....i am with you. to quote the late great MJ...'all i wanna say is that,they don't really care about us'.....