Robert Flores Goes One-On-One With EA Sports Madden NFL 11 Game Designers (ESPN)

[REDRZA]

Quote: Originally Posted by Phil_Frazier_EA

Really enjoying this thread guys. Keep providing that constructive feedback! A couple of points based on some of the comments here... What interviewers ask in interviews is entirely up to them. Neither Donny or myself provided any direction on the types of questions. If you feel like the questions are too 'softball' like, I'd suggest that feedback goes directly to the show asking the questions. When we're doing interviews with more main-stream media, we are supposed to talk to that main-stream audience. If I was to go on and on about restricted free agents and the pro's and con's of that system, the host and a good amount of the audience, would get bored. We need to address the level of detail you guys want in a different way. That's exactly why we do blogs. Those blogs get very little main-stream pickup because they are too micro and built for a more hardcore audience. Not all communication is meant for all audiences. If the folks reading this site expect all interviews to contain some new nugget of information or some incredibly deep insight into certain decisions, then I think expectations may not be correct. I'll wrap this post up with this... We see the feedback about Franchise Mode and trust me when I say that this mode is a major priority for us. We were extremely honest with the community this year by announcing the fact that the mode saw no updates in Madden 11. We did that because we know the mode is important to you and we didn't want to keep you wondering. We're not going to get specific about the things we'd like to do but we are keeping an eye on the feedback provided by those that provide good feedback. I 100% stand by my comments about making some of the details of the mode more fun. Not everyone enjoys managing spreadsheet data as they are playing a game. Head Coach made many of the features we had in Madden 'fun' by designing them in different ways. We simply want as many people to enjoy our career modes as you all do, while still giving you all the features you want. That's good business folks. Good night and good luck. Phil

Phil, thanks for checking in. We know from a previous blog that you guys are working on franchise mode for next year. What about more dynamic player interaction like real time physics? Also, just much more dynamic tackles. We need the ability to initiate a true wrap tackle, and have other defenders "add on" or "clean up" tackles, but not a pre scripted, canned animation like pro-tak.

To me, there needs to be more options with tackling. True wraps, and true gand tackles, add on and pile on, and cleaning up with some realistic physics would go a LONG way toward better gameplay and much more realism.

[marktg30]

Quote: Originally Posted by Phil_Frazier_EA

We didn't want to get specific with that blog because Madden 11 wasn't even out yet. We're working hard to make meaningful changes to career modes as quickly as we can. It's a massive effort and I'm sure there will be immediate visibility to these changes in one product cycle. I'm not allowed to make promises at this early stage. Phil

Talk about a breath of fresh air!

Thanks for actually showing up this early into your Madden 12 cycle!

I, for one, am one of those guys that didn't buy Madden 11 because of the drastic focus on the casual gamer. I realize that many things may have been done with good/great intentions, but your non-blog about Franchise Mode killed my gaming soul.

To see you even somewhat active on the boards again gives me a LOT of hope that you guys are paying attention to what is NEEDED in Franchise Mode. Thanks for the community interaction and thanks for trying to make Madden into the great game we all want it to be.

Edit - One small thing I am really missing from NCAA in the Madden series is the ability to take pictures during instant replay. That is something that becomes very useful for people posting their Franchise Stories, etc.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Phil_Frazier_EA

We didn't want to get specific with that blog because Madden 11 wasn't even out yet. We're working hard to make meaningful changes to career modes as quickly as we can. It's a massive effort and I'm sure there will be immediate visibility to these changes in one product cycle. I'm not allowed to make promises at this early stage. Phil

I understand your position thoroughly and I want to thank you for commenting.

[udungoofed]

I have to admit I'm quite confused with how the Madden team and the NHL team seem to contradict one another. It just doesn't all add up to me.


On one hand, we have Phil stating how "very easy" these features would be to implement, but "spreadsheet management" is boring and needs to be done in other methods.

On the other hand, we have yesterday's NHL blog on this very same subject, Free Agency and what they've done with NHL 11. Direct quote from that blog "This year, for NHL 11, we worked hard to devote the time and resources to a feature that we know many of you have been clamoring for, for a couple of years now"

So Madden says it's easy to do, yet boring and NHL says it was hard to do and everyone is excited about it. Lets also not forget how much more COMPLEX the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement is, yet NHL decided to give it's fans this "spreadsheet manangement stuff" that Madden claims again, is so boring.


Now if you look at the VGChartz data, it's not definitive but it's certainly useable information, Madden has had declining opening week sales since 07 (I didn't look back further).

Madden 07 - 2.19M
Madden 08 - 1.64M
Madden 09 - 1.65M
Madden 10 - 1.26M
Madden 11 - 1.21M

Overall Sales (all platforms)

Madden 07 - 9.09M
Madden 08 - 7.70M
Madden 09 - 8.42M
Madden 10 - 6.81M
Madden 11 - ????
ChrisS posted a bit on how the industry and economy is slowing down for games in general and Madden is a reflection of that. However how has NHL fared with sales during the same time period?

NHL 07 - 870K
NHL 08 - 420K
NHL 09 - 900K
NHL 10 - 1.05M

Just for kicks'n'giggles, how about FIFA and NBA 2K, 2 more highly regarded sports titles like NHL.

FIFA 07 - 6.25M
FIFA 08 - 9.12M
FIFA 09 - 8.85M
FIFA 10 - 9.35M

NBA 2k7 - 1.54M
NBA 2k8 - 1.92M
NBA 2k9 - 2.06M
NBA 2k10 - 2.47M

Lets not forget about the sales records COD MW2 recently broke right when the economy news was everywhere. Video game sales are down overall, but fans are certainly not avoiding the "better titles".

So is it the economy, or are these development teams listening to the fans of the sports of the games being produced? The Madden guys have said many times, even in the ESPN peice in the OP, that they are trying to find ways to get more casual fans into the game. You don't see this from any other EA sports title that I've seen. NHL makes a hockey game for hockey fans, and they see it in the sales numbers.

Why is NHL winning every single Sports Game of the Year award if when it comes to Madden it's the economy and not the game that's dictating sales?


Somehow, this all doesn't add up to me. I realize it's not just FA that's the factor here, it's just an example. You have one EA sports title saying something is boring, and it's sales are dropping and you have another EA sports title that's the reigning sports game of the year with increased sales......by doing what's "boring".

[brza37]

Quote: Originally Posted by marktg30

Talk about a breath of fresh air! Thanks for actually showing up this early into your Madden 12 cycle! I, for one, am one of those guys that didn't buy Madden 11 because of the drastic focus on the casual gamer. I realize that many things may have been done with good/great intentions, but your non-blog about Franchise Mode killed my gaming soul. To see you even somewhat active on the boards again gives me a LOT of hope that you guys are paying attention to what is NEEDED in Franchise Mode. Thanks for the community interaction and thanks for trying to make Madden into the great game we all want it to be.

+1000

Hopefully franchise does get revamped so I'll have a reason to buy Madden 12.

[rooney8]

@udungoofed there are no denying the sales of Madden are going the wrong direction while other games are selling better even in this economy. I still think the biggest thing affecting sales is all the customers Madden 07/08/09 lost but I don't think this years effort helped either.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by udungoofed

I have to admit I'm quite confused with how the Madden team and the NHL team seem to contradict one another. It just doesn't all add up to me.

I don't know if you saw Phil's two's posts just before yours.

He did say Franchise Mode is a priority for them. I don't know anymore what he would have to say at this time.

[MAzing87]

Quote: Originally Posted by udungoofed

I have to admit I'm quite confused with how the Madden team and the NHL team seem to contradict one another. It just doesn't all add up to me. On one hand, we have Phil stating how "very easy" these features would be to implement, but "spreadsheet management" is boring and needs to be done in other methods. On the other hand, we have yesterday's NHL blog on this very same subject, Free Agency and what they've done with NHL 11. Direct quote from that blog "This year, for NHL 11, we worked hard to devote the time and resources to a feature that we know many of you have been clamoring for, for a couple of years now" So Madden says it's easy to do, yet boring and NHL says it was hard to do and everyone is excited about it. Lets also not forget how much more COMPLEX the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement is, yet NHL decided to give it's fans this "spreadsheet manangement stuff" that Madden claims again, is so boring. Now if you look at the VGChartz data, it's not definitive but it's certainly useable information, Madden has had declining opening week sales since 07 (I didn't look back further). Madden 07 - 2.19M Madden 08 - 1.64M Madden 09 - 1.65M Madden 10 - 1.26M Madden 11 - 1.21M Overall Sales (all platforms) Madden 07 - 9.09M Madden 08 - 7.70M Madden 09 - 8.42M Madden 10 - 6.81M Madden 11 - ???? ChrisS posted a bit on how the industry and economy is slowing down for games in general and Madden is a reflection of that. However how has NHL fared with sales during the same time period? NHL 07 - 870K NHL 08 - 420K NHL 09 - 900K NHL 10 - 1.05M Just for kicks'n'giggles, how about FIFA and NBA 2K, 2 more highly regarded sports titles like NHL. FIFA 07 - 6.25M FIFA 08 - 9.12M FIFA 09 - 8.85M FIFA 10 - 9.35M NBA 2k7 - 1.54M NBA 2k8 - 1.92M NBA 2k9 - 2.06M NBA 2k10 - 2.47M Lets not forget about the sales records COD MW2 recently broke right when the economy news was everywhere. Video game sales are down overall, but fans are certainly not avoiding the "better titles". So is it the economy, or are these development teams listening to the fans of the sports of the games being produced? The Madden guys have said many times, even in the ESPN peice in the OP, that they are trying to find ways to get more casual fans into the game. You don't see this from any other EA sports title that I've seen. NHL makes a hockey game for hockey fans, and they see it in the sales numbers. Why is NHL winning every single Sports Game of the Year award if when it comes to Madden it's the economy and not the game that's dictating sales? Somehow, this all doesn't add up to me. I realize it's not just FA that's the factor here, it's just an example. You have one EA sports title saying something is boring, and it's sales are dropping and you have another EA sports title that's the reigning sports game of the year with increased sales......by doing what's "boring".

Very interesting post.