Madden 2010 News Post

350,000 Played Madden NFL 10 Online Once, Then Never Went Online Again

04:17 PM - April 26, 2010 by Steve_OS

According to Kotaku and Ian Cummings, 350,000 people played Madden NFL 10 online once, to never return to another Madden 10 online game again. That is a crazy number, don't you think?

Quote:


	"An estimated 350,000 people played last year's Madden NFL 10 once online and never played it online again, series creative director Ian Cummings recently told Kotaku. He and publisher EA are mum on online multiplayer details for this summer's Madden NFL 11, but that's a number the creators of one of gaming's biggest franchises clearly wants to reduce. More than a third of a million people dare to go online with a game and never try it a second time? Something or somethings are scaring them away."

Game: Madden NFL 10Reader Score: 7.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 76 - View All

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Member Comments

# 61 Rocky @ 04/27/10 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grunt


	I am in the monority because I enjoyed my online experience both online franchise and random opponents. I love beating cheese with sim solutions.

I did at one point, but after awhile, I'm just like "Why am I wasting my time?"

The fact of the matter is that online has limited replay value....especially when you play ranked opponent. At least in a franchise mode, you can build new teams, draft players, trade players, etc. Plus you don't have to deal with cheese, play on your own time, etc.

# 62 Critical Kills @ 04/27/10 10:22 AM

I completely disagree, online has unlimited replay value because everyone plays the game much differently unlike playing vs. the CPU AI which is mostly the same experience every game.

# 63 Rocky @ 04/27/10 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg


	I completely disagree, online has unlimited replay value because everyone plays the game much differently unlike playing vs. the CPU AI which is mostly the same experience every game.

What game have you been playing? 75% of Madden 10 randoms I have played uses variants of the same type cheese tactics, money plays, nanos, etc. It gets tiring and stale after awhile.

If you can find a group of sim gamers to play with, I get your point. But most people don't do that. Most people go online and get bombarded with cheese and exploits.

# 64 RoyalBoyle78 @ 04/27/10 10:29 AM

maybe there just not that many online players that people think there are, example" Myself, I love playing franchise offline, always have.

# 65 Critical Kills @ 04/27/10 11:07 AM

I play a mixture of random folks with mics and friends. If you want to play random online folks you need to find someone with a mic. People are not as cheesy when you're actually conversing with them and they can't hide behind the screen.

As for you guys who are against online and only play offline, sorry to say but that's the future, you will have to accept that sooner or later. It reminds me of guys who only played Madden with the digital pad and railed against the analog stick...

# 66 Rashad19 @ 04/27/10 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg


	I play a mixture of random folks with mics and friends. If you want to play random online folks you need to find someone with a mic. People are not as cheesy when you're actually conversing with them and they can't hide behind the screen. As for you guys who are against online and only play offline, sorry to say but that's the future, you will have to accept that sooner or later. It reminds me of guys who only played Madden with the digital pad and railed against the analog stick...

I have to agree with ODogg on this one! I too get discouraged when I run into someone who cheeses or DC's during the middle of the game. For the most part once I play a game against someone who is a 'Sim' guy I send an immediate friend request so we can play again at some point. If all else fails I usually look at a guy's DC% and will only play guys 10% and below. So you learn to build some relationships with guys online that play your style of ball.

As much as some of you try to fight it online gaming is the way of the future.

# 67 Goffs @ 04/27/10 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Details


	Seems a lot of people would go online simply for the roster updates.

thats what i do...i played 3 games online against a friend and never played again...

i just found it boring...

# 68 Critical Kills @ 04/27/10 12:05 PM

Sounds like your friend is boring more like it, LOL

# 69 Only1LT @ 04/27/10 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rashad19


	I have to agree with ODogg on this one! I too get discouraged when I run into someone who cheeses or DC's during the middle of the game. For the most part once I play a game against someone who is a 'Sim' guy I send an immediate friend request so we can play again at some point. If all else fails I usually look at a guy's DC% and will only play guys 10% and below. So you learn to build some relationships with guys online that play your style of ball. As much as some of you try to fight it online gaming is the way of the future.

Online gaming isn't the way of the future, it's the way of the right now.

In my youth I would travel to friend's houses or they would come to mine, or I would play my family members, and we would play game after game of Madden. Between going to school full time and working full time, who has time to do that? I know I don't.

People are complaining about playing people online. Do you have friends that you play offline? What is stopping you from playing against them online? You don't have to leave your house. You have your own screen and you don't have to worry about someone stealing plays or looking at your play art. It is just so much better than playing offline.

If you have friends that have the game and have internet, I don't see why in the world you would want to play offline. Even if you don't have friends that Madden, you're on OS. If you don't want to play cheesers, there are plenty of people on here that you could swap screen names with and play.

I played exactly zero online games of Madden 10, but it has nothing to do with the online experience and everything to do with the game itself. I am a huge online gamer and rarely buy a game that doesn't have an online component. Again, I think these numbers point are more commentary on the quality of the game itself, as cheesers and lag have always been there. To think it's anything else, I just don't see how you could make that claim.

This wasn't directed towards you Rashad. Just using your response as an example.

# 70 Rocky @ 04/27/10 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rashad19


	I have to agree with ODogg on this one! I too get discouraged when I run into someone who cheeses or DC's during the middle of the game. For the most part once I play a game against someone who is a 'Sim' guy I send an immediate friend request so we can play again at some point. If all else fails I usually look at a guy's DC% and will only play guys 10% and below. So you learn to build some relationships with guys online that play your style of ball. As much as some of you try to fight it online gaming is the way of the future.

Evidently, it's not. It simply isn't catching on and EA are trying to use gimmicks (even though I don't think its the appropriate word for Gameflow) to try to get people to stay online.

Watching a football game is an investment. I would figure that playing one would be an investment as well. Instead of catering to longtime fans and NFL maniacs with the ability to lead their team to glory, their focus is in another direction.

# 71 Only1LT @ 04/27/10 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky


	Evidently, it's not. It simply isn't catching on and EA are trying to use gimmicks (even though I don't think its the appropriate word for Gameflow) to try to get people to stay online. Watching a football game is an investment. I would figure that playing one would be an investment as well. Instead of catering to longtime fans and NFL maniacs with the ability to lead their team to glory, their focus is in another direction.

I know you meant this comment in the context of Madden, but let's not go overboard here. One of the biggest selling games of all time was Modern Warfare 2. Yes I know that it is listed as THE best selling game of all time, but they use the total dollar amount as the measuring stick and since games cost more than they used to, it actually didn't sell as many copies as some older, less expensive games. Kind of like how Avatar has the top box office title without them factoring in increased ticket prices and the fact that IMAX 3D is even more than a regular movie ticket today, but I digress.

The fact is that most top games today have competitive online at the forefront. Don't confuse these numbers with people not caring about playing Madden online. Plenty do. Even more would if Madden was a better game, so I don't think that they are focusing attention in the wrong area. Like it or not, online is where it is at. Period.

# 72 Valdarez @ 04/27/10 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	Online gaming isn't the way of the future, it's the way of the right now.

They want to get you online, because they can make more $$$ that way. They make $$$ from Madden Ultimate Team, they can make money from online advertisements (huge untapped revenue stream there). They WANT the casual fan to get online, they want those revenue streams. One thing I'll say about Peter Moore, he's turned EA Sports from a gaming company, into a business company. So far the results for the gamer are an extremely mixed bag.

# 73 Rocky @ 04/27/10 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	I know you meant this comment in the context of Madden, but let's not go overboard here. One of the biggest selling games of all time was Modern Warfare 2. Yes I know that it is listed as THE best selling game of all time, but they use the total dollar amount as the measuring stick and since games cost more than they used to, it actually didn't sell as many copies as some older, less expensive games. Kind of like how Avatar has the top box office title without them factoring in increased ticket prices and the fact that IMAX 3D is even more than a regular movie ticket today, but I digress. The fact is that most top games today have competitive online at the forefront. Don't confuse these numbers with people not caring about playing Madden online. Plenty do. Even more would if Madden was a better game, so I don't think that they are focusing attention in the wrong area. Like it or not, online is where it is at. Period.

No. Evidently not. If it was where it's at, than a large part of Madden's mantra this year wouldn't be dedicated help to getting gamers to stay online.

Like I said, the top selling online games are subject to 2 or 3 genres. Sports games online have a nice niche, but to alot of people, sports games have been about winning the championship with your favorite team...and have been that way for 25 years.

# 74 Only1LT @ 04/27/10 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	They want to get you online, because they can make more $$$ that way. They make $$$ from Madden Ultimate Team, they can make money from online advertisements (huge untapped revenue stream there). They WANT the casual fan to get online, they want those revenue streams. One thing I'll say about Peter Moore, he's turned EA Sports from a gaming company, into a business company. So far the results for the gamer are an extremely mixed bag.

True and not true. There is a difference between going online and playing online.

I think that more of the offline players would be more interested in the online downloadable content. It is mostly geared towards franchise players and would be of little interest to an avid online gamer.

I think they focus on online because they see that online games sell more copies than offline games generally. Not that they don't want to get online content dollars, but to say that this is why they want their game to be an online powerhouse is only partially the truth.

Afterall, the amount of people that buy map packs for a shooter like COD is only a fraction of the number of people that buy the game. Extra money never hurts, but it is the online component that moves the games, more than the online content that they sell that lines their pockets.

# 75 Only1LT @ 04/27/10 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky


	No. Evidently not. If it was where it's at, than a large part of Madden's mantra this year wouldn't be dedicated help to getting gamers to stay online. Like I said, the top selling online games are subject to 2 or 3 genres. Sports games online have a nice niche, but to alot of people, sports games have been about winning the championship with your favorite team...and have been that way for 25 years.

Again, don't confuse people not playing a game online, with the quality of the product. There are many games in the genres that are known for being online that people don't play online because the game just isn't any good. Haze is a shooter. You won't find anyone playing it online. Are you telling me that's because people don't like to play shooters online?

No matter what you think, online IS where the videogame market is trending. That goes for all genres. You can choose not to believe that if you want. Ask yourself this though. If no one wants to play Madden online, why is this the first time we are hearing this stat?

If they build it, they will come.

# 76 Critical Kills @ 04/27/10 01:54 PM

sois - I completely disagree, online will always be better than offline despite the cheesers due to the fact that we are so far away from ever having AI that can effectively mimic a human being's playcalling and play style. Offline you don't get the true nature of the beast IMO UNLESS you are playing a friend who is sitting beside you.

The issues you speak of are not flaws in the online experience, it's a flaw in the people that you are playing. You do not have to join a league to play others in a simulation style, you simply have to take some time to find friends who play sim style and add them to your friends list. You're at OS, there are a wealth of them here.

# 77 Rashad19 @ 04/27/10 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	Online gaming isn't the way of the future, it's the way of the right now. In my youth I would travel to friend's houses or they would come to mine, or I would play my family members, and we would play game after game of Madden. Between going to school full time and working full time, who has time to do that? I know I don't. People are complaining about playing people online. Do you have friends that you play offline? What is stopping you from playing against them online? You don't have to leave your house. You have your own screen and you don't have to worry about someone stealing plays or looking at your play art. It is just so much better than playing offline. If you have friends that have the game and have Internet, I don't see why in the world you would want to play offline. Even if you don't have friends that Madden, you're on OS. If you don't want to play cheesers, there are plenty of people on here that you could swap screen names with and play. I played exactly zero online games of Madden 10, but it has nothing to do with the online experience and everything to do with the game itself. I am a huge online gamer and rarely buy a game that doesn't have an online component. Again, I think these numbers point are more commentary on the quality of the game itself, as cheesers and lag have always been there. To think it's anything else, I just don't see how you could make that claim. This wasn't directed towards you Rashad. Just using your response as an example.

No offense taken Only1LT! You made your reasoning quite clear and I completely agree with you. In a nutshell human vs. human games which allows you to play against competition worldwide is what competitive gamers clamor for. Too me nothing is more satisfying than defeating a 'Sim' gamer who made me fight for a victory.

As for the casual gamer I truly feel sorry for the EA team. They don't want to take the time to learn and delve into the game but want a satisfying experience every time they boot it up. How can EA make someone like that truly happy when football in it's pure essence is a very in depth and detailed game? I just don't get it.

I agree with Valdarez that getting more people online further bolsters potential revenue gain by EA. I simply choose not to mess with Ultimate Team and AFL DLC. There just not my cup of tea but to each their own. I go online to test my skill set and schemes against others across the world. Not only does it help with my competitive juices but it gives the game longevity when played in it's proper form.

# 78 ehh @ 04/27/10 02:07 PM

Yeah, I'm sure this is a combination of people who rented/gamefly'd the game and those who went online just for a roster update.

# 79 Only1LT @ 04/27/10 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sois


	I disagree. Football fans want simulation. If they didn't, Madden arcade would be flooded with players. Online, you don't get simulation due to the nature of the beast. Time constraints, anonymity, glitches, ragequits ... etc ruin the simulation experience. Online will never work for football. I will never play simulation football online again unless there is a guarantee I'm not throwing an hour down the drain against someone who will just glitch disconnect me and give me a loss and not save any of my stats. The only option now is to join a league which requires commitment and skill. For a casual simulation gamer, online is a wasteland and will always be. EDIT: This isn't a Madden specific issue. I got the same crap on APF. I want sim football, but I am a casual gamer. I don't want to master the sticks. Offline is what I want.

Do they? I know I do. I'm sure you do, but can you say with absolute certainty that that is what the majority of Madden customers want?

Online is a different animal. A huge component of online is about ranking. This is where the cheesing comes into play. People want the ranking. They don't care how they get it. This isn't exclusive to Madden by any stretch. Whether you are talking about glitching in a shooter like COD or cheesing in a fighting game like Tekken or Street Fighter, people will do whatever it takes online to win.

If online doesn't work for Football then it doesn't work for any genre. Football is no different than any other game. There will always be those that want to play online "fairly" and there will always be those that want to "abuse" the game to get the win. I don't care what game you are talking about.

In the end, the glitcher can only glitch as much as the game allows. At the end of the day, most online players want to successful and If the game didn't allow you to be successful by doing un-sim like things, then everyone online would play sim style. There is no doubt in my mind about that.

# 80 Valdarez @ 04/27/10 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	True and not true. There is a difference between going online and playing online.

Flashbacks of Clinton... it all depends on what the meaning of is, is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	I think that more of the offline players would be more interested in the online downloadable content. It is mostly geared towards franchise players and would be of little interest to an avid online gamer.

Nah, one does not exclude the other. Their biggest DLC hit, MUT, was geared towards both.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	I think they focus on online because they see that online games sell more copies than offline games generally. Not that they don't want to get online content dollars, but to say that this is why they want their game to be an online powerhouse is only partially the truth.

There are plenty of games that have sold very well without online capabilities. Online provides the opportunity for additional sales. All you have to is look at DLC and MUT for proof.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	Afterall, the amount of people that buy map packs for a shooter like COD is only a fraction of the number of people that buy the game. Extra money never hurts, but it is the online component that moves the games, more than the online content that they sell that lines their pockets.

For COD, agree. For something like DragonAge, Assassin's Creed, BioShock, or Unchartered, definitely not the case. Even these games want the gamer to be online, so they can push DLC.

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