Will the Madden Franchise finally take a step forward in the new generation?

[Jaymun]

The whole franchise changed so little in it's life on PS3/360. Playing madden 09 and then Madden 13, there are obvious differences, but the game doesn't feel like it's gotten any better. If you ask around online, many people still hold Madden 05 as the best game of the whole series.

Do you think that they will finally put out a game that impresses everyone, and becomes the new "best madden" over the course of the PS4 era?

 

[Stigmatic Gamer]

I don't think we will see any major changes in Madden for awhile

 

[corporatenoun]

What is there left to introduce? There isn't much to do but make a few parameter tweaks and adjustments to make it more realistic. They can't fundamentally change what they've got, particularly since people will be asking for innovations on that scale year after year. There isn't a lot of design space out there. Perhaps they could introduce a new game mode? The NHL series seems to have no trouble coming up with new modes.

 

[amazingone]

I have read that madden 25 does not have significant improvements. They've brought a few functions back from previous versions of the game but that is not something to consider an "improvement". In terms of what they could add to the game that would be new, how about being able to challenge all the types of plays that a real NFL coach can challenge? How about deepening the franchise mode. Why can't we watch the CPU play out our games in case we don't want to play them? That is weak.

 

[BlackSolaris]

Short Answer: No.
Long Answer: Totally no.

It's just easier to update the rosters and go along with it. It might change to the next gen, in terms of graphics, but after the first one, they will keep doing the same they are doing right now.

 

[Jaymun]

What is there left to introduce? There isn't much to do but make a few parameter tweaks and adjustments to make it more realistic. They can't fundamentally change what they've got, particularly since people will be asking for innovations on that scale year after year. There isn't a lot of design space out there. Perhaps they could introduce a new game mode? The NHL series seems to have no trouble coming up with new modes.

They can't change the fundamentals, but the game modes lack a ton that other sports franchises have, and as someone who is a football-freak the gameplay is almost nothing like the way football really plays on teh field

 

[amazingone]

Everyone I talk to who has played the game on other consoles says it isn't worth buying. I am considering buying it in 6 months or so when the price is reduced. That might take more like 12 months though. I had a blast playing Madden 10 this weekend and watching football. Please post any differences that you find in the PS4 version compared to the other consoles. I wonder how much improved it really will be in comparison.

 

[Jaymun]

Everyone I talk to who has played the game on other consoles says it isn't worth buying. I am considering buying it in 6 months or so when the price is reduced. That might take more like 12 months though. I had a blast playing Madden 10 this weekend and watching football. Please post any differences that you find in the PS4 version compared to the other consoles. I wonder how much improved it really will be in comparison.

Honestly at this point until we know how the PS4 one is, I'd stick with Madden 10. I've bought 11, 13 and the new one, and I find that 10 is still the one I play the most often. If you are looking for a change though I'd consider buying an older one (either 12 or 13) unless you want the newest rosters, because theyll be much cheaper than the new one

 

[LuckyPupil]

I think there is but so much you can do. Besides up-ing graphics, updating rosters and smoothing out mechanics where can the Madden franchise go? I think adding a few new modes or challenges will be beneficial but it's never going to be groundbreaking.

 

[E.Honda]

I think at this point it comes down to the fine tuning aspects of the Madden franchise. The animations and the play control could be a little bit more responsive because the latest versions feel a little slow in the reaction time in response to button pressing. I really think the series peaked on the PS2 and have not enjoyed the newer versions on PS3 at all. I do hope that the Madden games will take the next step in being a tighter game play experience overall. It seems the formula obviously has already proved itself over and over again so it cannot be much more than a few changes here and there that can be made to make this game any better.

 

[dannyboy]

I don't really know what else you can do to upgrade the Madden series anymore. I think the series has been darn good over the years, but i do not get overly excited for the release of the games anymore. I am actually intrigued to see how many more years the series last.

 

[themarting]

The thing with Madden is, its never been the best. Ever. Sure it sells like crazy, but thats cause it sells like crazy. Last i checked they had bought up the rights to the nfl players names and team names, and so theyre the only ones who can really make a foot ball game with realistic names and teams and logos etc. Other games can and do use very close similarities, but at the end of the day, that feels cheap and people stop buying. NFL 2K was 10 times better than any madden game, but they didnt have the rights to the names, (and they were on dreamcast) so they didnt sell.

So basically what it comes down to is, they dont have any competition, and they sell like CRAZY. Why change it?

 

[hellsing006]

The answer is no because there is no incentive to change it. Madden has always been a huge seller and until that stops their not going to make any substantial changes. We can complain all we want about the sameness of the mechanics, how stale the gameplay is but they have no real competition so it's never going to change. At least not unless it's forced to.