Madden NFL: Discontent Among the Masses
Madden NFL: Discontent Among the Masses
Think of American football games and one game rises head and shoulders above the rest: “Madden NFL.” This popular franchise has been around since the 1980s but used to be called “John Madden Football.” Developers EA Games have delivered a new edition each season.
One of the reasons the game became so popular is that it gave fans the chance to create and manage an NFL franchise, design a stadium and assemble a playbook. The late John Madden wanted the game to be as close to American football as possible. As technology advanced, the players’ movements became even more like you’d see on the grid, helping the franchise to cement a further place in gaming fans’ hearts.
However, in recent years, there seems to have been discontent among gaming fans with the franchise, which the legendary late player and coach would not have wanted to see. Below is a look at fans’ unhappiness with the franchise; where EA Games is going wrong; and whether there’s hope for the franchise. Or is it all over?
Fans are not happy
Read on the forums such as Reddit and it would certainly seem that way. Not only are some fans criticizing the game, but they’re also criticizing fans who defend it. Part of fans’ discontent stems from the fact they feel it has become less of an NFL simulation game and more of an arcade game.
Others have even gone as far as to say that EA Games are ruining Madden’s legacy. Again, some fans have come out on the forums and defended the games, stating that this is a statement too far… that it’s not possible to ruin a legacy with a video game.
Admittedly, some of the criticism is emotionally driven, but fans have other, more practical complaints. Some have found the games buggy and glitchy, spoiling their enjoyment of the game. Problems with player movement is one issue they’ve stated, with players not even being able to commit to tackles in some instances.
Then there are what some see as general failures to keep up with the NFL’s evolution. The lack of updates is a major gripe. In one version, in the earlier part of the season, players even had the wrong jerseys, which riled a lot of franchise fans. On Reddit, some even suggested boycotting the game to force developers to update it.
Where is EA going wrong?
Take a look at some of the blogs and video game journalism out there and you’ll still find criticism, though not in quite such scathing terms. According to some writers, one of the biggest problems is that despite being enjoyable, “Madden NFL” is basically the same game each year with a few tweaks. They’re getting bored of it, which might see them one day turn to other forms of gaming, such as casino gaming at Golden Nugget Online Casino or other igaming operators.
In terms of gameplay, some echo the complaints about movement and the abilities of players. Some abilities of the players do little or nothing for the team or the game, and EA, from the journalists’ point of view, have done nothing to improve the weaker abilities of players and reflect the real-life players’ work on their own weaknesses.
Could things get better for the franchise?
Despite the harsh words of fans and reviewers, it doesn’t look all over for “Madden NFL.” Reviewers suggest newer editions have improved on previous ones. Graphics have improved, with faces bearing more detail, and the whole game feels more realistic, just as Madden himself would have wanted. Player movement is better than in previous versions, especially the movement of defensive players so that gamers can control the defense across the grid.
In spite of the improvements, fans and reviewers still feel the franchise is lacking something, and not everyone would agree player movement is good. EA Games would do well to take on board feedback in communities, on social media and other corners of the internet. Fans feel EA is ignoring them.
“Madden NFL” is a legendary franchise started by a legendary player. There may be discontent with the game, but not all is lost. Plenty of fans still enjoy it and defend it, and the developers have made some useful improvements to the game. Tuning in to what fans are saying and acting on the feedback could bring the franchise back to its brilliant best.