Football is back and it’s better than ever. Last night the NFL held its annual Hall of Fame, but tomorrow, EA Sports is releasing Madden 11. The good folks over at EA Sports gave me a copy of the game and the game does not disappoint.
EA Sports refined the Madden game with two major changes: GameFlow and Game Planning.
GameFlow
The mantra for Madden 11 is “Simpler. Quicker. Deeper.” and with GameFlow, it allows full games to be played in half the time. GameFlow allows players to pick plays based on situational, authentic game plans. Ever wondered what play a true NFL Coach would call in your situation? Game Flow plays can be tailor-picked automatically for each down setting the player up for a dramatic experience. GameFlow is set for both offensive and defensive possessions allowing the game to be played quicker without having to look through hundreds of plays in the playbook.
Game Planning
Game Planning is an extension to GameFlow where you can use game plans to control the type of plays your coach calls when you play Madden 11. When in the My Madden mode, players can create offensive and defensive game plans that can be used with any team, and any situation.
You can add, remove, and rate plays based on situations that include: 3rd and long, 2nd and short, etc.
Controls
Madden 11 has truly brought better controls to its ball-carriers. The Dual-Stick controls allow players to control their ball carriers motion at a higher level. The left stick allows players to guide the ball carrier’s lower torso and running direction while the right stick guides the upper body.
In Madden 11, when running with the ball carrier, you can protect the ball with the left stick and move at the direction of the stick. This allows the player to better handle player movements by shielding the ball, Twisting to Shield from Contact or trucking people on your way to a 1st down. With the right stick, the player can use the ball carrier’s quickness to juke, and spin to evade defenders.
EA Sports have taken the movements of the ball carrier to a whole new level while maintaining functionality and easy controls. The Juke to Juke and Juke to Spin controls respond smoothly for better in-game transitions.
Auto-Turbo
The first thing I asked myself when I ran a HB-Dive was, “where is the Turbo Button?” In my opinion, the Turbo button is an essential button to running plays where the player can control the timing of evading a tackle or taking advantage of a player’s speed to gain additional yards on any given play.
The developers decided to go with Auto-Turbo and give running-backs an all new Collision Detection. When a ball carrier goes through a hole, it hits the running hole harder and faster just like Adrian Peterson would do. On any running play, it gives the ball carriers prioritized running lanes for an advantage in the offensive end. Players also have the ability to choose moves based on attributes of the ball carrier making for better game-play.
Presentation
Madden 11 has brought Gus Johnson into the commentary booth to complement Chris Collinsworth for an added game-like feel. EA Sports did a good job recording over 10,000 new lines of original dialogue and a variety of authentic custom audio setups for situational plays, 4th downs, touchdowns, kick-offs, etc.
The developers even added custom audio for appropriate Stadiums. You can now hear “Who Dat” when playing with the Saints and the Panther roar when playing with the Panthers.
The graphics have been refined to include a more life-like feel to the game. Stadiums have been improved by adding more realistic glass in stadiums, and a very noticeable improved crowd.
A couple of important improvements to the visuals of Madden 11 are the higher resolution grass, improved player skin both in resolution and realism-fine details like arm hair- and authentic apparel like Nike shows, authentic uniforms, and Gatorade towels.
Online Team Play
Madden 11 has added a new online team play where you can choose to play with up to three teammates. Each teammate is assigned responsibilities including: audibles, substitutes, play- calling, and hot routes.
Overall, Madden 11 creates a new gaming experience for new and old fans of the Madden Franchise. The only problem I experienced throughout the whole game was the advertisements. After touchdowns, during the half-time, and in between quarters, you will find yourself hearing out Verizon, Gatorade, and Old Spice mentions. Though, with refined graphics, authentic play calling, better Franchise and Online team play, Madden 11 is definitely a game to check out. Madden 11 comes out August 10th.
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Paul, who is a psychic octopus, has just predicted the winner of the 2010 World Cup Final. Drum roll please..... SPAIN!!!!
I went to see Edison Arantes do Nascimento or Pele as you might know him when I was about 3 years old and he was a member of the New York Cosmos and I went to 1 practice in 4th grade before the coach made us do laps. (I quit midway through the 1st lap) Other than that I truly had or have no interest in Soccer. Unfortunately for soccer, most Americans feel the same way. Don’t feel terrible for soccer, we hate hockey too. Although I think things might be changing!
Honduras will make their second appearance in the 2010 World Cup, the first since 1982 where they shockingly held host Spain to a draw but failed to get out of their group.
After forty four years without the taste of victory in a major international tournament, Spain, which boasts a top league containing two of the biggest clubs in the world, finally triumphed in Vienna at the 2008 European Championship.
Although Chile are not well publicized, the Chileans should be one of the more exciting teams in the World Cup, as they play an attractive attacking style under the direction of their tactically astute manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Playing an industrious style which lacks any sort of artistry, Switzerland are unlikely to entertain but stand a fair chance to achieve the results that will bring advancement to the knockout round.
Despite challenges from some federations regarding their politics, FIFA has allowed North Korea to participate in the 2010 World Cup, which will be their second appearance in the tournament, the first coming in 1966, where they reached quarterfinals after upsetting Italy.
