Perfecting Broadcast Presentation in Madden - johnprestonevans's Blog

johnprestonevans's Blog

Perfecting Broadcast Presentation in Madden

Posted on September 2, 2011 at 08:12 AM.

Lots of great work was done with the presentation of Madden this year. But there is still a ways to go to make this really look and feel like an NFL broadcast.
1) Sportscenter/NFL Network or some kind of true Network precence. Games need to be introduced properly, starting at the desk with a panel of analysts who break down the game. Go through each team's recent performance, standings, injuries, hot and cold players, predictions and possible playoff implications. This needs to be DYNAMIC so that we're not bored hearing the exact same dialogue every week. Make this analysis based on what is really happening in the league.
2) Halftime Show. Post Game Show. Weekly NFL Network/Sportscenter Show. That's right, I want shows!

Have the game cut away to the desk at halftime and after the game to show highlights, not only from our own game, but to show us all the big plays from other games taking place in our league. TALK about them. Nothing says "broadcast" like a smart, or at least, aware commentary that accompanies what we are seeing. Copy exactly the kind of quick 2 minute drill wrap-up network format to illustrate the big plays from each game that sums up the scores around the league.
3) Out of Town Tickers and Game Breaks. I dont know about you, but I want my franchise to feel alive and a part of a bigger picture. Put league scores and stats on a 2nd ticker that continues to update what else is happening in our leagues. Give us the option to watch Game Breaks between possessions, or quarters, that show something happening in an out of town game. This happens in every NFL telecast I've ever seen. This feature existed in EA Sports games back in the day and should absolutely make its return.
4) Natural sounding, dynamic Commentary. Last but certainly not least, if you really want a Madden to sell you the "broadcast" feel, you have to fix that sorry excuse for commentary that currently plagues the series. It needs to be aware, smart, have proper inflection, use player and team names when talking about them, avoid repetition and sound as if all the guys in the booth are working together.

If EA can do these 4 things correctly, we would have a new benchmark for sports game presentation.