An Open Letter to EA Sports (RE: Madden franchise)

The single best sports video game is, without a doubt, the Madden NFL franchise. This game franchise, created by divisions at Electronic Arts, have been produced yearly since 1991 (as John Madden Football '92). The 1991 game was not the first of the franchise, just the beginning of the yearly version of the game. Previous versions were released in 1985, 1988, and 1990 (all known as John Madden Football). The 1993 installment (Madden NFL '94) marked the first year the game had rights for the NFL teams and logos and with the NFL Players Association for player names and numbers. The Madden franchise rose in popularity every year and broke out big with the release of Xbox and Playstation 2. The games for these platforms from 2003 through 2005 (Madden NFL 2004, 2005, and 06) were considered the best ever by many gamers. The 06 version eventually debuted on the Xbox 360 but was quite empty due to the newer technology of next-gen engines. The visuals in the next-gen versions are outstanding. But the game is missing many components and options that were present when the series what at its best. The 07 and 08 installments added a few things that gamers were craving for but, unfortunately, not everything is back. Here is a list of a few things gamers, including myself, want back or created for the 2009 version...

• It's My Game, Let Me Change What I Want! - This category contains many adjustments/additions. Some people may consider them small and insignificant; nuances that won't prevent people from buying the game. They're right. If these aren't in the game I will still buy it. But if they are in the game, it'll be better.
• Player Editing - Positions
• There are players that are out of position when the game is delivered. But player's also change positions during the year. You can't edit a player's position. This must be possible.

• Player Editing - Equipment
• Visors - Black and orange? Where is the clear visor?!?!?!? Also, could we get different companies visors. Under Armour? Nike? Can we add the sticker on the tabs above the helmet that hold the visor in place? Thanks.
  

• Player Editing - Jersey Numbers
• OK. I know you can do this for the normal roster. And you can do this for your own roster in franchise mode. But what about every other team in franchise mode? I hate when lineman are number 1 or linebackers are wearing 37. That doesn't happen.
• If you don't want to make this an option, then create default code for the player's to go to the right set. This is a problem when signing free agents and importing draft classes. In the NFL, certain position's have to wear certain numbers. They are as follows:
• Punters/Kickers: 1-19
• Quarterbacks: 1-19
• Running Backs/Full Backs: 20-49
• Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: 10-19, 80-89 (80-89 preferred)
  
• Offensive Linemen: 50-79 (60-79 preferred)
  
• Defensive Linemen: 50-79, 90-99 (90-99 preferred)
• Linebackers: 50-59, 90-99 (50-59 preferred)
• Defensive Backs: 20-49

• Like I said, if you don't want to write code for this that could get messy, allow the user to edit EVERY PLAYERS jersey number. That's all. I'm not asking to edit the player's ratings and equipment from opposing teams. Just their jersey numbers. Remember, franchise mode only. All this is possible for the regular rosters.

• Importing Draft Classes from NCAA
• Absolutely awesome feature; has been around since the 04 game I think. But in the 2008 version for 360, only a player's likeness, name, alma mater, and number are imported. Sound like a problem? Not really. Unless you're picky about jersey numbers. See, the roster importing doesn't bring in the date of birth of the college players. And if you need to change an imported rookies jersey number (like when I draft Dan Connor and he becomes #40 if no one has it, that bothers me, he's a LB, he needs to be between 50-59!) on your own team you can. But then after you do, you'll notice that your once 21 or 22 year old rookie is now 26. Yeah, you lost 4 years of talent because you changed his jersey number. This is because a players DOB is not imported from NCAA (if it even exists there) to Madden. So saving the edited player has him being born in the early 1980s (the Madden default) instead of the mid 80s. Now he is 26. Good by Hall of Fame. WTF! Stop this. Stop this now.

• Gameplay Changes
• Turnovers must be limited. Every two drives I either throw an INT or fumble. It seems that INTs are more problematic than fumbles. But the number of times they happen is too much. Defenders make up ground on my WRs faster than possible. Defenders catch the ball THROUGH THEIR BACK. Come on.
• More spectacular catch animations.
• Fewer injuries (5+/game is ridiculous, even if they are all minor).

• New Features (or ones to bring back)!
• A cool feature that could be included is a jersey patch/helmet sticker maker. Want to celebrate a team's super bowl championship or a 50th anniversary? Make a patch! Want to mourn a player's/owner's death? Make a helmet sticker.
• Laterals!
• Better player progression (especially for rookies).
• Restricted free agency.
• Roster limits (or unlimits?). The 55 player rosters aren't big enough and roster updates aren't weekly. One of those has to change, I propose making rosters 60 players but only 53 active players. Or make it 53, add a Practice Squad, and players on IR don't count as being on the roster, ya know, like in real life. This way you could keep the players that are rightfully yours and still reach the necessary requirements per position.
• Better/more options in create-a-team (for the stadium as well).
  
• Create-a-stadium without having to create-a-team.
• NFL Draft needs to be better. Add Mel Kiper, Scouts Inc., and Todd McShay. Add a virtual Goodell with the first pick. And STOP ACCEPTING DUMB TRADE PROPOSALS WHEN I SIM TO MY NEXT PICK!!!!! How ridiculous.
• Add owner mode.
• Remove the bug that switches my settings in Franchise Mode form User to CPU. There is a reason I released or didn't sign a player. I know what I'm doing. So keep it on USER.
• And possibly the most important change, commentating. We need Madden and Michaels. The radio guy is terrible. We need real play-by-play and color commentary. I wanna hear John Madden say something blatantly obvious. Even bring back Tony Bruno and newspaper stuff. Add a cool introduction while the game is loading.

Well I think that is everything for now. I may think of more later. These are some things that bother me. Whether they are missing or need to be fixed. Madden makes millions of dollars. Each year the game changes. Hopefully a vast majority of these complaints will be fixed for the Madden NFL 09 (on the 360). Thanks EA Sports!


Sincerely,
Joseph W. Mays
Madden Gamer