It’s older than I am. It has stood the test of time, getting better with each passing year, depending on who you ask. Guys around the country find a new best friend each August. It’s Madden. The game that has been the source of accomplishment, defeat, increased wealth, and lost earnings. Ever play your friends for money? Me, neither. I’m not as intense as some. Anyway, the widely popular namesake of Hall of Fame coach and commentator John Madden, recently turned 25 years old. Some fans are satisfied with product this year. Others? Well, we won’t worry about them.
Now, this article was supposed to be about how Madden presents its football product to viewers and users and if the NFL and real life television broadcasts can take anything from that. I actually saw ways in which Madden took things from the NFL and real life television broadcasts. You know, the typical “art imitating life”. Now before I begin, I want to provide a caveat and say what I saw on the 25th anniversary of the American football sports video game may have been present in games from past years. It’s been a few months since I’ve played Madden ’13. However, if they were present, EA Sports did a tremendous job bringing more attention to them this time around.
In dynasty/owner mode, users are allowed to set prices for tickets, concessions, and merchandise. In owner mode, users are also allowed to perform stadium upgrades, spending money that will lead to more revenue for the team. If you thought prices were already high, you probably wouldn’t like what users are charging for their products with this capability at their disposal.
I like how actual sponsors are used in the graphics as the broadcast of the game begins. For example, the aerial coverage of the football venue for the day, is presented by Snickers, their logo very much visible to the viewing public or users for this matter. Another aspect I noticed was, and really liked, was the visual of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms at the beginning of the broadcast. Nantz hits you with his well-known “Hello friends” line, introducing himself and Phil Simms, instantly making you think of a Sunday afternoon game on CBS. And even though she isn’t shown, the sideline reporter is introduced as well by Nantz, with her name, picture, and job title appearing on screen.
Much like in a real broadcast, Madden takes the user into the “locker room”, as cameras show footage of players making their way from down the hallway towards the field, with members of the team staff, lining the hallways. Coaches have increased theatrics and interaction with each other and players on the sideline. They are visibly calling timeouts, sometimes adamantly, inching onto the field like coaches in real life do, giving players encouraging taps on the shoulder, something that seemed absent in last year’s edition. After a play is over, the camera sits over the top of the offense, providing a view of the huddle being formed. I really like this change of scenery, so to speak. By far, one of the changes I absolutely love is how the training staff checks on players who were injured on the previous plays, much like what really happens on Sundays.
I watched a simulated Madden game on YouTube that featured the Philadelphia Eagles against the San Francisco 49ers. Vick was named Gatorade Thirst Quencher Impact Performer of the game as he lit the Niners secondary up. LeSean McCoy could be seen in a post-game highlight breaking a big run down the sideline for a touchdown, deemed as the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Game. Oddly, Kaepernick would lead the Niners to a 24-14 win that left a dejected Trent Cole hanging his head in disappointment, another display of art imitating life. Nnamdi, now calling San Francisco home, can be seen shaking hands with two of his former Eagles teammates after the game. The last shot shows the Niners squad, led by Jim Harbaugh, making their way back into the locker room after a big win.
These moments stand out to me. Of course there will be hits and misses with a major video game release like this. After all, how could there not be in 25 years of existence? I’ll let everyone critique the negative. But the hits are worth noting. The way Madden has incorporated many aspects of a real life broadcast is remarkable. Whatever you think of the gameplay on the field, you have to at least give them credit for making strides in other ways and learning from the real life sport that they emulate so well. So enjoy the game for what it is. An increasingly impressive simulation of America’s most popular sport. And judging by Madden’s ability to become more realistic every year it is exciting to try and imagine where it will be in another 25 years.