Madden 2011----Innovative Thinking - Renegade44's Blog

Renegade44's Blog

Madden 2011----Innovative Thinking

Posted on August 31, 2009 at 02:15 PM.

(3)

Let me start this entry off by admitting I have been a little harsh on the Madden Developers since I have had Madden 10. I didnt really mean to "rip apart" Ian Cummings specifically and as it turns out, I feel as though that might be how I came off in my last blog. Needless to say, Ian is "the man" over there so the leader takes the rap for everyone but Im sure "in real life" hes a cool dude, I just know I have been completely unfulfilled and am fed up with the quality of Madden. Who else can I yell at?

Moving forward, I have some interesting ideas that I feel might not be "too much" for this development team to handle. My idea here are relatively simple additions that can realistically innovate the way sports games interpret presentation.

The first addition needed is Custom stadium sounds. While this feature is in a lot of games, it needs to be implemented properly in madden. Not only will there need to be slots for after a TD or after a FG, But there needs to be presentation cuts, IE game intro, after 1 st quarter, 2nd quarter,etc.
The idea here is for users to be able to add the Monday Night football intro,etc.

Going with the custom theme, I think it would be a mistake for the madden team to completely devote time to a "team builder" type feature for Madden. I feel as though if they add a bunch more uniforms, and correct the mistakes that are currently there, there will be no real reason to include a "team builder".

With that ebing said, I have a way for EA to continue innovationg while using the Teambuilder model.

I present to you, Presentation builder or Network Builder. Create your own broadcast.

The idea is to allow users to upload their logos and use custom overlays.

The development team can take 2 or 3 different types of presentation elements such as "bottom score bar". "Top score bar" and classic netowrk style such as something from madden PC used to have.

The object would be to have standard overlays that show the player stats,etc. those would all be the same. However, they can make it so that the colors can be changed to match the logo.

on each presentation element, there is a "logo" area that is blank, when the user uploads the logos to the game, they are applied to the blank areas and boom! snot bubbles. errrrr more like the end to "when are you going to use espn,etc,etc,etc". The catch to this feature would be that you probably wouldnt be able to let people share or download for copyright reasons, BUT since noone is paying for anything, just like teamsbuilder, copyright stuff is subjective.

I feel as though even if you cant share files through the ea team builder, the community will have tutorials or logos,etc with a walk through very quickly.

If you match this feature,with custom soundtracks, the only other presentation element there is to work on would be commentary, thats ALL. Madden will never agin be compared to another game presentation wise.

The last part of this feature would be the commentary for these custom networks. All it would take is the ability for the announcers to say letters and the words Network or station or channel. C-B-S, E-S-P-N, N-F-L Network, AWZ-Channel,

Could you imagine loading up Madden 11 and having the CBS intro while there is a panoramic of your teams stadium and they say Welcome to Indianapolic, home of the Colts, today the Colts take on the Patriots in the game of the week. If that wont make you forget about run blocking then I dont know what will lol.

For all Madden does bad, stuff like this, things that suck you into an NFL experience, would make up for it and more, it would move the genre forward by innovation.

I look forward to what madden does to Madden 11. Presentation is still very much lacking and I have maintained all along, you can have all the cut scenes and dumb facts that you want, but if its not implemented properly than youve got nothing. Its the same reason why movies with awesome plots and great actors still fail. Its because they are done poorly and the user doesnt buy off on the experience. Thats where we are in Madden 10, will they move forward, will they take that step that says "we here at EA Demand perfection?"

Time will tell, and my man Ian Cummings will get the credit, or he will get the heartache.

Comments

# 1 superstarshad @ Aug 31

Good suggestions! I hope EA takes this into consideration. With that said, it shouldn't be the players job to present the game. I pay EA to have their producers and lead designers execute on the presentation of the video game. In my opinion, EA's employing 3rd tier game designers, programmers, and producers. I'm curious to see Ian Cummings salary vs the previous lead designer's salary. I guarantee EA's saving a fortune. You get what you pay for.

# 2 Logic Doctor @ Aug 31

Interesting blog. I liked the idea of allowing presentation customization. Although I think something like that would probably take longer to fully implement and flesh out.

I personally have never played NFL 2k5, but I have watched youtube videos of their presentation elements. All EA has to do is replicate 2k's presentation and add depth. It really shouldn't be that hard as they seem to be headed in the right direction with the "extra point" etc...

I don't know though. I'll believe it when I see it.

# 3 Mayo32 @ Aug 31

i am too a little disappointed by madden 10 but i am every year lol but i see tht they are heading in the right direction but the extra point is more of a head ache than a feature to me as it is now. i think they should have said we promise great presentation but it wont be in madden 10 because it isnt at a satisfactory level and i would have been happy with tht so all i can do is hope they finish wat they started or at least improve the extra point