What Madden NFL Can Learn from Super Bowl XLV

When I first sat down to write this article earlier today, it was with the intention of churning out a list of desired improvements for the inevitable Madden 12. It probably would have included a few of the most common wishes:

• Fix the hit detection and the physics so that players aren't warping into one another on tackles

• Overhaul the franchise mode, beginning with adding in incentive-based goals ala NHL 11

• Create a more authentic television-style broadcast like the one found in NBA 2K11

And so on. Really, if you've played Madden at any time in the last five years, you know the rest.

What it all comes down to though is that Madden is probably well overdue for a comprehensive overhaul. Hell, Tiburon even admitted that the reason they didn't touch franchise mode going into Madden 11 was because it would have meant ripping out all of the code and starting over again. Most of the changes that people want simply can't be added in just one year.

I would be happier though if the Madden team made a change that has nothing to do with the game's nuts and bolts. I want them to stop thinking about how to further monetize the game with the"Madden Ultimate Team"mode, and I want them to stop thinking for a moment about how to make the game more accessible for newcomers (though I actually don't mind GameFlow too much).

As we get ready for the Super Bowl and the first Madden 12 info, all I want Tiburon to be thinking is,"How can we make the Madden experience that much more authentic?"

I think they would protest that they work hard to make sure that every player is rated properly while including touches like tiptoe catches. But if they were really thinking in terms of"authenticity,"I think we would already have a true ESPN-style broadcast complete with sideline reporters and (good) halftime shows. We would already have a franchise like the one in NHL 11, where completing certain goals will earn perks like a second phone for making trades, while failing others will simply get you fired.

And as someone with an actual online franchise team (Redskins, 5-2), I wouldn't have to use a third-party program like League Manager to see who's in the Pro Bowl, or get a comprehensive look at my team's stats.

Instead, their proudest accomplishment is the aforementioned Madden Ultimate Team, which basically turns Madden into a collectible card game. It's not a horrible idea, but it does little to address the issues that lay at the game's very foundation. The sort of issues that result in players running through walls after scoring touchdowns.

To Tiburon's credit, they've done quite a lot this year to tune Madden 11's gameplay throughout the year. Zone defenses have been a particular beneficiary of the fixes, as they have gone from"very useless"to"fairly dangerous"in order.

And yet, when EA inevitably predicts the Super Bowl with Madden 11, I won't be paying attention. There's an air of unreality to a game in which balls warp into the hands of players and Chris Collinsworth comments,"The defense recovers the ball ....AT MIDFIELD!."

In an ideal world, watching a game of Madden would be almost indistinguishable from watching a television broadcast. 2K Sports has already reached that point with NBA 2K11, but that's partly because they've had a very strong foundation to build from. Meanwhile, NFL 2K5 arguably has better nuts and bolts than Madden 11 (another common refrain among sports fans).

Seriously, even the 2010 Madden Moments use the wrong rosters. Is it that hard to set things up so that the 2010 Ravens don't suddenly have Anquan Boldin on their roster? It's time for Tiburon to put as much thought into the overall experience as they do their player ratings.

Based on a few recent tweets from EA's Ian Cumming, long overdue changes are in fact on the way to the game's franchise mode. With any luck, coaches, scouts and trainers will actually make a difference this time around, and I'll be able to practice with my own players in online franchise mode. It probably won't be the refresh that Madden really needs -- the series is simply too successful for EA to risk cooking the golden goose -- but it is a chance to lay down a solid foundation for the future.

If Tiburon really want to make their road to the Super Bowl something special though, all they have to do is watch the real thing this Sunday. All the answers they need are right there.

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