Why is it that EA Sports releases a new entry to the Madden series every year? I mean, some people say that the developer could simply release roster updates to keep the teams current. Releasing yearly roster updates could be a viable option, but there are certain issues that would arise after time.
One of the issues with only releasing roster updates is that the developers would not be able to provide some much-needed improvements to the game. Granted, the "improvements" on Madden 2010 were absolute rubbish. The new character models resembled Shrek more than they resembled the actual players. The worst example of the character models was probably Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers, who looked like Sloth from "The Goonies". I would not have been surprised if the audible plays involved Rodgers yelling "Baby Ruth!", but I digress. Thankfully, EA Sports improved the character models in Madden 2011. Now, the players and coaches actually resemble their real-life counterparts.
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| Peyton Manning and Joseph Addai actually look like human beings. |
Another issue of only releasing roster updates is that the graphics and animations would not be fixed. In Madden 2010, the animation related to catching a pass was actually quite scary. The ball would travel towards the receiver and suddenly appear in his hands. Sometimes, the ball would travel through the bodies of opposing players en route to being caught. In Madden 11, the animation is more fluid and life-like. When I was playing the demo, I threw a pass to Reggie Wayne on a crossing route who reached out and caught the ball with one hand. I went to the instant replay option to examine the animation on this play because I wanted to see if they had actually improved it. Much to my surprise and delight, the instant replay legitimately looked real. Reggie Wayne had slowed the trajectory of the ball with his fingertips before drawing it towards his body and making the catch.I was so shocked by the animation that I watched the replay about 15 times.
At this current time, I do believe that yearly releases are the proper way to handle the Madden franchise, but I hope that EA Sports will also find a way to incorporate the download systems into their business model. Perhaps there is a way for EA Sports to send out yearly patches that update the key components of the current games. I would be willing to pay a fee for these patches, but I can't speak for the rest of the Madden fan base. We will just have to wait and see.
