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EA Reveals Madden For Revolution 72

Posted by Zonk from the might-actually-play-that dept.
simoniker writes "Electronic Arts has officially revealed that it's working on a standalone version of its Madden football franchise for Nintendo Revolution, made by a new Revolution-specific internal studio within Electronic Arts Canada. EA's John Schappert explained the gameplay: 'You grab the controller, and you pull it up. And you snap the ball, without pushing a button. To throw, you take your hand and you gesture a throw motion. ... I don't think a winning approach on the Revolution is to port games to it, and I don't think you'll see us taking that approach. I think that approach will yield inferior software for the Revolution, and I don't think publishers will be rewarded for that.'"
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EA Reveals Madden For Revolution More

EA Reveals Madden For Revolution

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  • If I wanted to make snapping, passing or any other football related motions then I'd grab the Nerf and go out in the yard with the kids. When I play a game I want to veg out on the couch in the AC and relax.

    -JM

    • Re:I'll pass on this... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by timster ( 32400 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @11:10AM (#15212398)
      It's not as if moving your arm is frickin' hard. Next you'll be complaining that you have to push a button to fire the standard cannon in Metroid -- "it has unlimited ammo anyway, so why doesn't the computer just push the button for me?"

      Also, what's with this notion that video games are supposed to be "relaxing"? If you want to "veg out", why not just watch TV? Is this the idea that's responsible for unplayable semi-interactive fiction like FFX?
      • Also, what's with this notion that video games are supposed to be "relaxing"? If you want to "veg out", why not just watch TV? Is this the idea that's responsible for unplayable semi-interactive fiction like FFX?

        Brainwave patterns for video gamers are about the same as those for watching TV, or other "veg out" activities.

        • There have been many different experiments involving brain waves and video games, and as far as I know there is not a scientific consensus on what they all mean. The brain waves we measure today are only simplistic gross observations of what is actually a subtle and complex process, so it's difficult to support a claim that brain wave measurements prove anything much.

          Of course, I'm not a neuroscientist.
      • What makes you think you'll have to move your arm? I doubt this will take much more wrist movement than using a mouse.

  • With the good news comes the bad... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Erwos ( 553607 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @10:49AM (#15212185)
    While it's great that the Revolution seems to be prompting some new and interesting gameplay, this could be a warning signal that third-party support might not be as extensive as hoped, since they're apparently unable to port the 360/PS3 version over without making it "inferior".

    -Erwos

    • Re:With the good news comes the bad... (Score:4, Insightful)

      by THotze ( 5028 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @10:53AM (#15212224) Homepage
      Well, it looks like its still very possible to port other games to the Revolution without many modifications - EA's point is that you can't have a top-selling title like that on the Revolution. Its a big sign of support for what Nintendo's trying to push here - a new gaming experience. Nintendo's greatest hope, I think, is that EA and other publishers would produce innovative titles for the Revolution exclusively that do things that just can't be done on other platforms. Nintendo's greatest fear is that the Revolution would just receive the occaisional port of games like Madden, etc., which would certainly relegate it to the 'also ran' position in the upcoming console wars. Whether the strategy will pay off - that is to say, whether people will think that the innovative titles from Nintendo, EA ando thers make the Revolution the console of choice - is still to be seen, but its a good step for Nintendo that EA's doing this.

      Tim
      • The problem for Nintendo comes when everyone comes up with gimmick games that you don't want to play for more than five minutes. Games like the one described sound very shallow and focus on gameplay that's not engaging. I guess kids that like playing Feel the Magic will like it, but isn't this a step backwards with an aging market?
        • Did the FPS genre materialize as soon as the mouse was invented? No. Might it take game makers a little while to experiment with a wide range of games, before narrowing down on a few specific types, the games that are the most engaging when using the controller?
          • THIS JUST IN...
            Nintendo has announced a new controller shaped like the inside surface of a spindle torus. By grasping the object and applying directional thrust, you can control your game in all three dimensions, wirelessly. Additionally, the controller appears to be user sensitive, allowing the current holder to control the direction of the game in their favor. As an added feature, the controller detects compression and applies the equal and opposite amount of force feedback to the compressee to produce
            • This just in... Nerf has released a new product that lets you stealthily sneak into an enemy base on the other side of the world using realistic graphics and textures, lets you play with friends and strangers at any time of the night over the network, lets you play "hot coffee" with decent-looking graphics, and lets you play engrosing concept games like Katamari Damacy, and is so engrosing that some people sit there and do the same action over and over just to slightly increase numbers labeled STR and INT
          • "Did the FPS genre materialize as soon as the mouse was invented? "

            Laughably, no. Computers couldn't have done FPS games when the mouse was invented. Bad example, plain and simple.

            Yes, it could take a bit for game devs to come up to speed, but the optimist might point in the DS's direction with regards to that.
        • I fail to see how Madden based on the Revolution controller constitutes a "gimmick game." To my mind, a gimmick game would be something like DDR that is based on a very unusual premise of hitting 4 buttons in time with the music... with your feet. Madden Revolution, on the other hand, takes an established line of games and attempts to give it more intuitive controls; it's like the progression of controls for FPSs on consoles, except a 100 times more effective.
    • It seems he's not referring to ported games being inferior to their original platforms, but rather that they'll be inferior to other games on the Revolution that take full advantage of the new control scheme. As long as the Revolution supports the original Gamecube controller, only processor power will limit its ability to run ported games.
    • Right, they can't port the same game to the revolution without it being inferior to the other games on the revolution that fully use the controller's capabilities.

      Which would you want to play? The Madden where you get to use the new controller in all sort of new and nifty ways or the same Madden that you've been playing for the past five years?

      I, for one, welcome our Revolution embracing game companies and would like to remind them that as a trusted /. commenter I could be useful in rounding up others to to
      • I'm worried because I would like the choice.

        Does getting a revolution mean I will have no access to standard versions of games?

        I wouldnt mind exclusives (which I guess this is), but if ALL of the 3rd party support are unique games a lot is going to be missed on the revolution (just like N64 and GC)
    • Major third-party developer reveals that, instead of producing an "inferior" port of one of their existing games (ahem! 360 Madden with pretty images but half the game play! cough!), they have dedicated a special team at their publishing house specifically to developing superior (as opposed to inferior) products for the new system. That team is actively using the new controller to create a game unlike the others it produces.

      The big question about the Revolution is whether 3rd parties will support it, yeah

    • since they're apparently unable to port the 360/PS3 version over without making it "inferior".

      That's one interpretation.

      The other interpretation is that a port would automatically be inferior to other games on the Revolution. In which case, this is one logic step away from out-and-out admitting that the Revolution is the superior next-gen system, if a straight port of a top-selling XBox360 or PS3 game would be considered "inferior" on the Rev.

      (Unless graphics is your absolute and only concern, in which case
    • They won't necessarily be inferior.

      You have to remember that the key to the Revolution is the controller - something that can easily be added to other systems in the future. Remember when the PS got analog sticks? Well, that's the Revolution's downfall - that all these amazing new games rely on the controller. So what's to stop Microsoft and Sony coming out with - not a copy - but something similar?
    • ...even the best 360 game will look "inferior" next to the kind of innovative games the Revolution will make possible.

      Spin it how you want it.
      • Is there any game that is so good that people will go out and buy a 360?
        From what I have seen none of them are all that special. The funny thing is I know a few people have have just went out and bought a PS2 just to play Tourist Trophy.

  • Touchdown dances (Score:5, Funny)

    by scolby ( 838499 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @10:50AM (#15212195) Journal
    Does this mean if I score a touchdown and move the remote in a writing motion, the player will autograph the football and give it to his agent in the stands? Otherwise, I don't give a crap.

    • Not likely (Score:5, Funny)

      by Mille Mots ( 865955 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @11:00AM (#15212287)
      Does this mean if I score a touchdown and move the remote in a writing motion, the player will autograph the football and give it to his agent in the stands? Otherwise, I don't give a crap.

      No, if you do that, your avatar takes a leak all over the goal post , splashing any nearby fans (and/or photographers) in the process.

      The fans then collect your 'sample' and put it up on eBay and make a killing when GoldenPalaceCasino(tm)(r)(c) bids and wins just for the publicity it brings. Of course, that happens in the background, so you don't really get to see it play out on screen. But, the reason that the game randomly locks up (just like the Xbox360 and PSP versions) is that all that background sim-sniping is using too many cycles.

      On the other hand (heh), if you make rowing motions with the controller, you get a trip on a boat with a bunch of the hookers from GTA, but only if you're playing as the Vikings.

      --
      Worst. Sig. Evah.

  • Innovation from EA? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by TheSpoom ( 715771 ) * <{ten.00mrebu} {ta} {todhsals}> on Thursday April 27, 2006 @10:51AM (#15212202) Homepage Journal
    Before I read it, I was going to tag this article 'whoopdedoo' because who really gives a shit if Madden is ported to another system, but this actually looks kinda interesting. Obvious, given the controller's capabilities, but interesting nonetheless. Kudos to EA for actually thinking of a sports game idea I might actually want to play. Now, whether it actually pans out to a playable game or not, that's a different story.
    • Actually, I'm glad about the news that a company like EA has setup a Revolution-specific studio. Perhaps Nintendo's claims of 3rd party support might actually be true? Who knows.

  • I wonder... (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    How long it'll be before someone crashes their TV with the controller?

  • I wonder... (Score:4, Funny)

    by gEvil (beta) ( 945888 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @10:54AM (#15212229)
    I wonder what the motion for patting a player on the ass after a good play is going to be...

  • Gestures (Score:1, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Honestly, I'm not too sure about using 'gestures' will work well with most games on the revolution; personally, I think a point and click (or possibly point and shoot) approach for reciever selection is a far better approach than goofy throwing motion. Just because you can be more expressive with the controller doesn't mean that you should be more expressive with the controller.

  • I play football games... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by johnfink ( 810028 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @11:03AM (#15212317)

    Because I can't play actual football very well. If the game is sophisticated enough to judge where I'm aiming my no-button-pressing-controller-throw, then I (and a great many others) will largely suck at this game.

    If, however, the throwing motion is just a signal in general to throw the ball to a pre-designated receiver, then isn't it just a glorified button press? If that's the case, then it smacks of Power-Glove-ness, replacing a simple thumb motion with a large and complicated maneuver in an attempt to impress people.

    Or do they just want to see me "accidently" smack my opponent in the back of the head with my controller?

    I'm standing on the left this time!
    • The way I personally visualize this is that you could move the controller in a "scanning" motion across the field, and as you scan past a receiver, your target will "lock on" to that receiver. (This could be disabled for advanced players.) As long as you start your throwing motion while pointed somewhat near your target, it would recognize it as a throw to that player - which should make it easy enough for those without any football skill to play.

    • If the game is sophisticated enough to judge where I'm aiming my no-button-pressing-controller-throw, then I (and a great many others) will largely suck at this game.

      You sucked at Super Mario 64 when it first came out, didn't you? You sucked at the first keyboard-and-mouse first-person shooter you played, didn't you? It always takes time to learn a new controller.

    • Theres a lot more to throwing a real football. The way you grip the ball, your arm throwing motion, the spin you put on the ball, the strength at which you can throw the ball, the accuracy of your throws.

      With the Revolution controller you'll swing your wrist in the direction of the reciever. It's not even as complicated as playing FPS games with a mouse. It's more comparable to playing a game of darts but with less throwing motion. (From what I've read the Revolution remote is very sensative and you can con

  • Sounds great (Score:2, Funny)

    by joshlake ( 841594 )
    Something like this might actually get me interested in sports video games. It's an exciting direction to go in. I find myself looking more forward to the revolution. I just don't want to looks like too much of an idiot in my livingroom, dancing around like a retarded mime with a remote control in my hand. Thats where curtains com in.
  • "Because I can't play actual football very well. If the game is sophisticated enough to judge where I'm aiming my no-button-pressing-controller-throw, then I (and a great many others) will largely suck at this game. If, however, the throwing motion is just a signal in general to throw the ball to a pre-designated receiver, then isn't it just a glorified button press?"

    Most likely you will pre-select a receiver with a button, then have the throwing motion to actually toss it. A slower throwing motion wo

  • Nintendo's Next Project (Score:3, Funny)

    by Digital Vomit ( 891734 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @11:10AM (#15212389) Homepage Journal
    I've seen a prototype of Nintendo's next project. They are collaborating closely with EA on this one to bring an even more realistic gaming experience to the customer. The game has a custom controller with a pointed ovoid shape. You snap the ball in the game by taking the controller and pulling it up and back between your legs. You throw the ball in the game by making a throwing motion with the controller. It's really supposed to simulate the feel of playing football.

    Also, it's going to support a multiplayer mode where you actually throw the controller to the other players! It's going to be awesome!

  • Big profits (Score:4, Funny)

    by k-sound ( 718684 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @11:14AM (#15212432)
    I finally understand how Nintendo is gonna make killer profits with the Revolution:
    Image a football game with their motion detacting controller.
    Now imagine how many controllers they are going to sell when people accidentally "spike the ball" for real.

  • In other news (Score:4, Funny)

    by drsquare ( 530038 ) on Thursday April 27, 2006 @11:31AM (#15212606)
    EA are set to release a version of Fifa to the Revolution which involves kicking the controller around your living room floor.
  • As long as they give me the option of using a button, making a throwing gesture is such hard work..
  • I heard impressionist Frank Caliendo [frankcaliendo.com] (whose John Madden impression has to be better than the original!) on a local Houston radio station this morning on my drive into work.

    I'd LOVE to hear him say "EA Madden for Revolution, uh-huh, yeah..." (The guy seriously cracks me up!)

  • If I wanted to play football I would go out buy a football...and find some friends.

    I actually think this is really cool. I like Madden but it has gotten stale over the last few years, this may actually motivate me to go out and buy a new copy. I wonder, if EA makes a hockey game for the Revolution will I have to hit my opponent over the head with the controller to check him? or would that be high sticking? Could be interesting.
  • When the ref's make a bogus call you can throw your hands into the air and get 15 yards on unsportsman-like conduct!

    Now, throwing the ball to your recievers sounds strange... but I suppose if all you have to do is point it, dagger like, at the right reciever, that would be pretty cool!

    I just hope they think about people who can't perform actions like that. I'm sure they want to try out the system one way or another. Maybe multiple control schemes for each game.

  • So how long before someone gets a concussion and sues Nintendo after getting cracked in the head? Better watch spiking the "ball" into the hardwood floor too. No more greasy chips while playing video games I guess.
  • Madden on Wii. This is going to make my football experience just a little too weird.
  • What all of the comments so far really seem to be missing is THE MOST CRUCIAL POINT:

    People who've never played Madden or other football videogames will be able to play this game and do relatively well right away.

    When I play madden, I have a hard time remembering all of the button combinations. Every time I sit down to play again, I have to have the manual handy to refresh my memory... "Let's see, juke is square, stiff arm is circle, spin move is triangle..." Obviously, these are wrong, which kind of ill
  • There's been a lot of talk about what the motion-sensitive controls might or might not be used for with the revolution, but I think everyone's missing the obvious.

    Wii need a remake of Desert Bus [turbulence.org] for the revolution!

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