Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
in reading reviews of
Madden NFL
11
,
we weren't satisfi ed with '
Mad-
den
looks good as ever,' we wanted to give you those big time 'wow'
moments. Everything we focused on is true to the NFL and what YOU
the fans have been begging for! We believe Madden NFL
12
is our
biggest leap forward ever, and I think you will agree once you've seen
what we have in store.
36
Combining a potpourri of the reasons why gamers should upgrade each
year, the contention that this year is the best ever is established with an
argument about pre-game presentation, better lighting and graphic art for
player models, and
3D
grass that moves more like it would in a real game
of football. Even though the games have a relatively short time frame for
development, the ability to build and work from an already established
product enables a game with incremental changes to make a clear case as
to why it is the best version of the franchise anyone has ever seen. The
notion of building on the past and adding as they go helps make annual
franchises best sellers, which enables EA Sports games to continue to
build their cultural impact and franchise value and start the cycle on the
next 'necessary' upgrade.
EA's annual franchises have worked to build the presumption that there
is a reason to buy the new game, even though there is far less dif erence
between each version of a sports game than there is in an action-adventure
or platform title. EA Sports has to make the case each year about why gam-
ers should buy a newer version of a game they already own, which is a key
piece of the production of words surrounding sports games. Complement-
ing the arguments about why the discs themselves warrant upgrade from
one year to the next is another key aspect of the design and play established
for sports games, the growing importance of online access.
ONLINE ACCESS AND CONTROL
The increasing integration of online access into sports titles is a fascinating
piece of what makes contemporary sports titles popular. Combining a vast
array of options for players, which dramatically expand how they are able
to play their games, with a massive amount of control turned over to the
game developer, online integration is a key piece of how sports games are
constructed discursively. Online content expands the bounds of the game,
enabling roster updates and online competition, but also requires authenti-
cation and access checks that enable game companies to impede used game
sales or ef ectively require upgrading to the newest version of a game to be
able to compete with friends. Furthermore, online interaction enables EA
Sports to reach beyond the traditional bounds of their games to more com-
pletely integrate players into the process of constructing what these games
are culturally.
