Recreating Madden - "If its in the GAME" - Part I

Virtual Reality:

“If it’s in the game, it’s in the game”, a quote most famously used by the electronics entertainment giant, Electronic Arts. This single catchphrase has been the staple of sports video-gaming for the past 15 years. EA Sports through the years have worked hard to recreate the sports experience in their games for the past 15 years. Whether it is baseball, football, soccer, or dare I say Rugby, “If it’s in the game, it’s in the game”.

Has the electronic giant gotten so big that it has forgotten its mission statement? Through the years, Electronic Arts have engulfed many up and coming companies. There is nothing wrong with this since it is the company that sells itself to EA. EA is just doing what every other bottom-line business would do. The idea is to get big and then become bigger. Where does the bubble burst? Obviously, there is always a level of equilibrium for anything, even companies. In Economics, we teach the principles of boom and bust. With every boom, there is a bust. So, I ask the question, “What is wrong with EA Sports”. I’m specifically targeting EA Sports and not Electronic Arts.

As a casual, sports gamer, the biggest thing to me as I play a representation of the real life sport is its replication. How close is it to real life? Does it capture the look, feel, and atmosphere of real sports? I don’t really look at the bells and whistles. It’s rather an afterthought compared to the core gaming experience.

What is a core sports gaming experience? I know that’s a lot of adjectives but lets break it down. The word ‘core’ represents basics; sports of course are sports; gaming is implicitly video-gaming; and experience is interaction between you the user and the game. I would like to specifically address core in this article with respect to football.

Core is catching a 20 yard pass. Core is running for a 10 yard gain. Core is tackling. Core is intercepting a ball. Core is the basic of basic football principles. Now, principles are a lot different than rules. Rules are the constraints of the game while principles are what define the game. You could equate these rules to commandments. Let’s label some of the commandments of a football game

• You must be able to pass
• You must be able to catch
• You must have an equal number of players per side
• You must have a way to keep score
• You must have a way to win a game

Now, what about blocking or tackling? Is that absolutely necessary? What happens when you are playing flag football? Is football constrained to tackling and blocking?

What I call terms like tackling and blocking are level 1 variables of a type of football game. A game of ‘flag football’ is defined completely differently than ‘tackle football’. In the NFL, a tackle is as common as a pass.

With regards to variables, we can break it down even further. What happens when I block? Do I block the linebacker or the free safety that is blitzing? When I block, do I block the backer away from the play of the ball? For these situations, I would like refer to them as level 2 variables. In this case, it would be the variables of blocking.

A core football game, coupled with definitions, and detailed through variables will make or break the game. I would like to use Madden NFL 07 as an example on the Xbox 360. All in all, it does portray the core football game experience but there are some things that are left to be desired along with things that are notably missing. Being from company that deals with software and releases, I understand the need to not put all your eggs into one basket. You have to leave room for the desert. The only problem is putting out something that is half-baked.

The release of Madden NFL 06 was understandable from a product stand point. With the release of software, especially if you are in a transitional period (current generation to next generation), you need to get the basics down. What were people actually expecting? I expect this type of release by any software company irregardless of the industry. The problem that EA faced is creating an ‘uncontrollable monster’. Owner mode, Hit Stick, QB Vision, etc were great additions to the previous generation of Madden. I will admit that I cared for none of them but they were great addition nevertheless. It helped the series progress with time and with this progression it yielded a following that was and still is unprecedented. Millions flock to the next release of Madden like the pilgrimage to Mecca even if the game was rated poorly by the press. Madden NFL 06 is what it is. It’s a transitional game. I’m sure the producers of the Madden series have a product roadmap and it starts with Madden NFL 06. I’m not sure when this roadmap will end but from a product standpoint, it will continue until Madden is redesigned for the next, next generation.

Now, getting back to ‘core’, I think Madden NFL 2007 does a good, not great, job of getting basics down. You will need to get the basics down so your building blocks are setup. Madden 07 has a good passing game with emphasis on QB vision, an improved momentum based running game, and the ability to choose your lead blocker. Will a right-handed QB complete a pass to a tide end while he is off centered and throwing with his right leg leading forward? Now, if Madden NFL 2008 allows me to complete this pass 100% of the time, we have problems. In fact, I don’t even think Madden NFL 2007 will ever let a QB pass the ball off centered while using the wrong leg. However, if you’ve ever seen Brett Favre pass the ball, you’ll notice that he’ll try to do it while he’s upside down, let alone off centered. Obviously you’ll have to take the probability of completing the pass given these variables into consideration. The core aspect of passing the ball is covered. It’s the level 1 and 2 variables that are ‘key’ to the realism of the game.

This concludes the first half of this article. EA Sports has done a good job of retaining the core aspects of NFL football through this transitional period of next generation gaming. They will need to start worrying about level 1 and level 2 variables. To stay on top, you’ll need to start concentrating on more details of the game. What makes NFL football exciting? What makes grown men and women watch this sport with passion. How can EA Sports capture this passion?