Some random topics and poll for today

by
Posted May 13th, 2008 at 8:15 am

Here are some random things I wanted to throw out there but wouldn’t have made for much of a full posting on their own. Feel free to leave your comments in response to any of these. I’ve also added a poll if you continue on asking which of the three football games you are anticipating the most.

  • There were more areas of confusion coming out of the media event held by EA last week than just the Fantasy Football which was cleared up through my producer interview. Apparently some media outlets have reported that Madden 09 will have in-game saves. Operation Sports sought out confirmation and found out that it will not.
  • EA Gameshow has made a major change by turning off the power-ups. I was never a huge fan of the power-ups from the start although once I understood them it added a fun element to the game. I would probably enjoy rounds more where it was just knowledge and speed that determined the winner rather than taking advantage of power-ups which in some cases could simply come down to luck. Not to mention there was only one that was worth using negating the whole idea behind creating strategies (6X Chicken). It also made for a difficult first time experience. Thinking you are doing well but then seeing you got blown out because you didn’t know about power-ups or didn’t use the right ones would be frustrating and confusing. The plan is to bring power-ups back in the future but in a way that is more balanced and easy to understand.
  • Who else is more impressed with the feature set for NCAA Football 09 than the one for Madden 09 at this point? Granted there are many more features to come for Madden and it has received a huge lift in presentation. But the features that are known thus far definitely seem stronger for NCAA. While Madden’s Online Leagues sound as though they’ll turn out well it is nothing compared to the interest behind the Online Dynasty. Add in other significant additions such as Home Field Advantage, roster sharing, and customizable music. Compare that to the BackTrack/Rewind and the Virtual Trainer (of which they should probably be seen in action before judging) that are aimed at making Madden more accessible. The screenshots/videos for EA Sports World being added to Madden is exciting but that was in NCAA last year. I highly suspect though as more becomes known about Madden this feeling may shift. They’re not going to hold back in the anniversary year.
  • The transition to the full NCAA Football 09 website (which should launch in the near future) has caused some issues and prevented them from posting up the daily alternate screenshots. If you have missed any over the last few days (Clemson, Colorado) because of that they are included in the screenshot gallery.
  • I’ve been more excited in general with gaming over the past days than I have in a long time. First came GTA IV but that was even topped by Boom Blox. Lego Indiana Jones is coming in a few weeks. Now news that Viva Pinata 2 is on the way. The original VP along with Crackdown are my two favorite games of this generation.

{democracy:23}
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  • John

    Pasta, what about Backbreaker??? I am more excited about that then Madden or NCAA combined. It is going to revolutionize the way we play sports video games and it could potentially be one of the best football games to date.

  • John

    Pasta, what about Backbreaker??? I am more excited about that then Madden or NCAA combined. It is going to revolutionize the way we play sports video games and it could potentially be one of the best football games to date.

  • http://www.maddenwars.com/ Dan (Moostache)

    [quote comment="21150"]Pasta, what about Backbreaker??? I am more excited about that then Madden or NCAA combined. It is going to revolutionize the way we play sports video games and it could potentially be one of the best football games to date.[/quote]

    Until I see some actual football PLAYS on the Backbreaker demo I will definitely withhold final judgement, BUT right now all I have seen about Backbreaker is a very enticing graphics and physics engine (Euphoria) and absolutely NOTHING regarding AI, gameplay or features.

    Don’t get me wrong…I believe and have believed for years now that EA should have brought the Euphoria engine to Madden and NCAA already, but when I see the tech demo video I immediately noticed something – defenders had a VERY annoying tendancy to dive at the runner and miss, a lot. I know its just a tech demo meant to show off the different and unique animations and tackling physics, but graphics and animations alone do make a killer 11-on-11 football sim or game for that matter.

    I hope that Backbreaker takes all the best features and AI and functionality of both EA and 2K games and wraps it up in that pretty little Euphoria bow, but until I see hands-on footage of people actually PLAYING it, it remains vaporware for now…

  • http://www.maddenwars.com/ Dan (Moostache)

    [quote comment="21150"]Pasta, what about Backbreaker??? I am more excited about that then Madden or NCAA combined. It is going to revolutionize the way we play sports video games and it could potentially be one of the best football games to date.[/quote]

    Until I see some actual football PLAYS on the Backbreaker demo I will definitely withhold final judgement, BUT right now all I have seen about Backbreaker is a very enticing graphics and physics engine (Euphoria) and absolutely NOTHING regarding AI, gameplay or features.

    Don’t get me wrong…I believe and have believed for years now that EA should have brought the Euphoria engine to Madden and NCAA already, but when I see the tech demo video I immediately noticed something – defenders had a VERY annoying tendancy to dive at the runner and miss, a lot. I know its just a tech demo meant to show off the different and unique animations and tackling physics, but graphics and animations alone do make a killer 11-on-11 football sim or game for that matter.

    I hope that Backbreaker takes all the best features and AI and functionality of both EA and 2K games and wraps it up in that pretty little Euphoria bow, but until I see hands-on footage of people actually PLAYING it, it remains vaporware for now…

  • http://www.maddenwars.com Dan (Moostache)

    [quote comment="21150"]Pasta, what about Backbreaker??? I am more excited about that then Madden or NCAA combined. It is going to revolutionize the way we play sports video games and it could potentially be one of the best football games to date.[/quote]

    Until I see some actual football PLAYS on the Backbreaker demo I will definitely withhold final judgement, BUT right now all I have seen about Backbreaker is a very enticing graphics and physics engine (Euphoria) and absolutely NOTHING regarding AI, gameplay or features.

    Don’t get me wrong…I believe and have believed for years now that EA should have brought the Euphoria engine to Madden and NCAA already, but when I see the tech demo video I immediately noticed something – defenders had a VERY annoying tendancy to dive at the runner and miss, a lot. I know its just a tech demo meant to show off the different and unique animations and tackling physics, but graphics and animations alone do make a killer 11-on-11 football sim or game for that matter.

    I hope that Backbreaker takes all the best features and AI and functionality of both EA and 2K games and wraps it up in that pretty little Euphoria bow, but until I see hands-on footage of people actually PLAYING it, it remains vaporware for now…

  • EA Fan boy Too

    Boom Blox over GTA4, im a fanboy but damn…

    LOL, wow.

  • EA Fan boy Too

    Boom Blox over GTA4, im a fanboy but damn…

    LOL, wow.

  • EA Fan boy Too

    Boom Blox over GTA4, im a fanboy but damn…

    LOL, wow.

  • the n9n3rs

    Madden has sucked the last 5 years. Why do they keep taking out features that no one complains about and keep adding crappy new features. No one complained about slide protection and yet they removed it in 08. Now they are going to re-introduce it as a new feature in 09. What a bunch of BS. People that are buying this recycled game every year are morons. I don’t care if you’re a billionaire, $60 is $60.

  • the n9n3rs

    Madden has sucked the last 5 years. Why do they keep taking out features that no one complains about and keep adding crappy new features. No one complained about slide protection and yet they removed it in 08. Now they are going to re-introduce it as a new feature in 09. What a bunch of BS. People that are buying this recycled game every year are morons. I don’t care if you’re a billionaire, $60 is $60.

  • the n9n3rs

    Madden has sucked the last 5 years. Why do they keep taking out features that no one complains about and keep adding crappy new features. No one complained about slide protection and yet they removed it in 08. Now they are going to re-introduce it as a new feature in 09. What a bunch of BS. People that are buying this recycled game every year are morons. I don’t care if you’re a billionaire, $60 is $60.

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