Madden NFL 12 Screenshot - DeMarcus Ware

[Future]

For $70/year there's not a whole lot of evolution there.

$60...

Maybe one year to the next there aren't huge changes, but how can you seriously look at the games and say there isn't evolution over the last ten years?

 

[Shinywalrus]

My favorite part is that 20-some odd years into this whole thing, we can't get a modicum of realism from the simulation engine or any sensibility to player progressions, much less a well thought out draftable player system. Even the integration with NCAA is a joke - imported drafts simply put the "best" players at the very top, with zero variability in player potential. Top picks are ALWAYS better when imported.

I mean, for God's sake, a 3-4 defense barely functions right, and changing defensive plays to rotate OLBs to DE in 4-down lineman nickel sets is like pulling teeth.

If the 40 people programming better threads in jerseys could work on making player progression and simulation stats work even a little bit, I'd be happy. Alas. As with everything else in this industry, the strategy and gameplay take a backseat to making sure the glass windows on the Jerrydome reflect light the right way.

Wow, didn't mean for that to go that direction. Do appreciate the post...I think we just need football.

 

[SDCowboy]

$60...

Maybe one year to the next there aren't huge changes, but how can you seriously look at the games and say there isn't evolution over the last ten years?

I was factoring in tax. Other than graphics (which haven't much improved since they hit the next gen consoles) the core gameplay isn't wildly different that Madden 99 I had on the Saturn.

 

[Rogah]

I already own a copy of Madden 2012. It's called Madden 2009.

 

[Rogah]

I gotta admit, I havent played/bought a Madden game in years.

One thing that always bugged me was how they never got the fonts(numbers and letters) on the Cowboys jerseys right.

They are almost perfect now.

These promotional types of pictures rarely represent the final product. I highly doubt the detail we see in the actual game is as high quality as this photo.

 

[Rogah]

Tecmo Super Bowl remains the best football video game of all time. In terms of pure enjoyment and playability, Madden doesn't even come close. I wish they would make a game that fun for a current platform.

 

[danielofthesaints]

My favorite part is that 20-some odd years into this whole thing, we can't get a modicum of realism from the simulation engine or any sensibility to player progressions, much less a well thought out draftable player system. Even the integration with NCAA is a joke - imported drafts simply put the "best" players at the very top, with zero variability in player potential. Top picks are ALWAYS better when imported.

I mean, for God's sake, a 3-4 defense barely functions right, and changing defensive plays to rotate OLBs to DE in 4-down lineman nickel sets is like pulling teeth.

If the 40 people programming better threads in jerseys could work on making player progression and simulation stats work even a little bit, I'd be happy. Alas. As with everything else in this industry, the strategy and gameplay take a backseat to making sure the glass windows on the Jerrydome reflect light the right way.

Wow, didn't mean for that to go that direction. Do appreciate the post...I think we just need football.

You forgot the rain inside cowboys stadium

 

[casmith07]

Ive preferred NCAA football over madden the past few years.

I absolutely cannot wait for NCAA Football '12. Greatest football video game series ever.

 

[brucekr]

I'm just curious how grass stains got on D Ware's back?

 

[tupperware]

One thing I've never liked is how they'll remove features and then add features, it's like the complete game cannot come together at once. I'm also very bothered that they don't release it for the PC any more.

I also think the simulation aspect is lacking in the Madden games. I want to be able to control an entire franchise similar to how the Head Coach series did it, with the newest Madden engine.

 

[casmith07]

I'm just curious how grass stains got on D Ware's back?

He got pancaked. Come on don't you know D Ware is overrated and can never be as intense or long-haired as Clay Matthews?

 

[Teren_Kanan]

Will we ever live to see the day that EA doesn't have the exclusive rights to NFL games?

ESPN NFL 2K5 > any Madden to date

As far as gameplay goes.

Uh.. No? Madden was always superior to the 2k Series. But in 2k5 the 2k series made GREAT Improvements and actually set a fire under EA. It was the first year they even resembled real competition. Some aspects of 2k5 were actually improvements over Madden, but it certainly wasn't gameplay heh.

So instead of working harder to put 2k back in it's place.. they bought the rights. Sad day for all of us.

The last 2k game with legends or whatever was a massive piece of crap in every department except names of players you could use.

 

[CATCH17]

Exactly why I won't be getting another Madden title for at least another year, maybe two.

Im not buying it either.

This is the 1st year I won't buy in forever. I just don't like it anymore.

 

[Ren]

I was hoping that somehow there would be a loophole in the gaming contract and CBA deals that would make the EA contract void. Competition = better experience for gamers.


Someone who probably hasn't played 2K5. 2K Sports is light years ahead of EA Sports. Just look at what 2K Sports NBA2k11 did to the EA's NBA Elite 11. The product from EA was so inferior that it was scrapped! And before anyone chimes in with any fanboy remarks, I am a fan of whatever product is best. I honestly believe that if 2K was still allowed to produce an official NFL game, it would force EA to make more improvements to its Madden series, and in the end, everyone wins.

That's pretty much a fact, look at some of EA's other titles like Fifa, PES/Winning 11 was about to make Fifa which was stale for year obsolete.
In order to compete they had to really put some effort into FIFA and the end result was a game that challenges for best sports game ever annually

Same with their NHL games 2k really put the pressure on EA for a while and the end result has been some of the best sports games to date bearing the NHL tag

The only sport where EA's complacency is painfully obvious anymore is their football games, Madden and NCAA is light years behind the rest of their sports lineup

 

[Cowboy Brian]

May 16th they release info on franchise mode & superstar mode.

 

[Nightshade]

You forgot the rain inside cowboys stadium

No kidding! That happened to me too!??!

 

[Nightshade]

That's pretty much a fact, look at some of EA's other titles like Fifa, PES/Winning 11 was about to make Fifa which was stale for year obsolete.
In order to compete they had to really put some effort into FIFA and the end result was a game that challenges for best sports game ever annually

Same with their NHL games 2k really put the pressure on EA for a while and the end result has been some of the best sports games to date bearing the NHL tag

The only sport where EA's complacency is painfully obvious anymore is their football games, Madden and NCAA is light years behind the rest of their sports lineup

You can't blame EA for trying to get a monopoly. The real villain is the NFL for agreeing to giving EA the exclusive contract effectively killing competition in football gaming. Why'd they do it?

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

How do they rank his ferociousness?

 

[Ren]

You can't blame EA for trying to get a monopoly. The real villain is the NFL for agreeing to giving EA the exclusive contract effectively killing competition in football gaming. Why'd they do it?

I don't blame EA for the monopoly, i blame them for how stale Madden has gotten.

 

[JonJon]

One thing I've never liked is how they'll remove features and then add features, it's like the complete game cannot come together at once. I'm also very bothered that they don't release it for the PC any more.

I also think the simulation aspect is lacking in the Madden games. I want to be able to control an entire franchise similar to how the Head Coach series did it, with the newest Madden engine.

Because EA knows that if they released a PC version, script writers would be able to modify the game significantly to more closely resemble the game that people really want, much like what script writers currently do with the "Grand Theft Auto" PC series. EA feels this would put them at a disadvantage with future games because PC gamers would just rely on script editing of rosters in the same game for future years instead of paying full price for updated rosters and minor graphic changes in future releases.

You can't blame EA for trying to get a monopoly. The real villain is the NFL for agreeing to giving EA the exclusive contract effectively killing competition in football gaming. Why'd they do it?

Greed. Plain and simple. The NFL would make money for the exclusive rights as well as a percentage of total sales of the product. I found this interesting, yet old, article stating that the EA/NFL license has been extended through 2013 because of the impending lockout. The contract was originally set to expire in 2012.

As strife grows between National Football League players and owners, the video game business is already feeling sidelined.
The NFL and Electronic Arts have restructured their deal over the famed Madden franchise, the Sports Business Daily reported yesterday, citing unnamed sources. According to the publication, the NFL has agreed to "significantly" cut down on EA's "contractual obligations" and has extended the agreement for one year beyond the original 2012 end date.
Sports Business Daily wasn't able to track down how much less EA will pay the NFL this year, but Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver, who is also chairman of the league's business ventures committee, told the publication that the dispute between owners and players has caused the NFL to "give our partner some relief in the short term, but gain something on the backend."
Electronic Arts holds the exclusive right to use NFL logos, team names, and player likenesses in its Madden NFL franchise. Back in 2008, the company signed a multiyear deal with the NFL believed to be valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, though no exact numbers were released. The game developer signed a separate agreement with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) at the same time that runs through 2012.
The future is somewhat uncertain for EA, which relies upon the release of Madden every year to boost its revenue. On March 4, the collective-bargaining agreement between the NFLPA and the league ends. If there is no 2011-12 season, it's possible there will be no new Madden game. Moreover, there is speculation that as of March 4, the NFLPA will no longer allow EA to use player likenesses in its games until an agreement between the association and the NFL is reached.
EA has been tight-lipped about the possibility of an NFL lockout. But it acknowledged in an earnings call with investors earlier this month that it is planning for the worst--"no season."
EA did not immediately respond to request for comment.


Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20031965-17.html#ixzz1LIZmvRkh