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EA: Madden Wii U "real, deal HD simulation football", Smart Glass concepts

B

BD1

Banned
In the shocking news department...

But at least we can cancel out a Wii-style cartoon version:

"I can't really talk about it much, but I think what we're doing is really cool," Weber said. "Maybe we're not hearing a lot about [Wii U] today or in this week, but I certainly believe it's going to be a product we're going to be proud of.

"Here's what I will say, and she," Weber added pointing to a publicist sitting in on the interview, "may not want to hear me say this, but it's the truth: Whatever we release on the Wii U will not be a cartoony, dumbed-down, arcade football experience. It will be the real deal, HD simulation football."
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"Conceptually we look at it in the same kind of way," Weber said, of SmartGlass and Wii U's tablet. "I think our designers are trying to solve problems around, 'How do you take advantage of the smart glass, on either device, and what kind of functionality does that unlock? And I think it'll benefit both."

"To be more specific, we have Wii U in development now [for Madden], we'll learn from it and it'll take us further in terms of delivering on the SmartGlass," Weber added.
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Kotaku interview with EA's Cam Weber
 
"Cartoony" and "arcade" sound like wonderful descriptors for a videogame. Moreso than "simulation" by a wide margin.

But I suppose it's more a matter of the quality of the Wii titles vs the WiiU ones than their styles.
 
Now this is something I could see working out well with Wii U/Smartglass.

You could craft your own plays using the touchscreen, or hell, even go all Madden-crazy with replays. And thats just after thinking about the possibilities for a few seconds.
 
I'll believe it when I see it.

And this nod nod wink wink with EA and Activision with Wii U is just bizarre.
 
Since Madden is lame IMO and since Nintendo is now good buddies with Tecmo Koei, they should ask to make a real Tecmo Super Bowl sequel. Tecmo Bowl Throwback on XBLA sucked if you're asking me.
 
Its like every interview when 3rd party guys mention the Wii U, you get a Stonecutters "Shuuuut uuuuup" vibe lol.

What are Nintendo hiding things for still?
 
So, basically what was shown of Madden SmartGlass at Microsofts E3 show really was the Wii U concept, since he’s saying that they’re doing Wii U first, then figuring out how to port that to SmartGlass...
 
chris3116 said:
Since Madden is lame IMO and since Nintendo is now good buddies with Tecmo Koei, they should ask to make a real Tecmo Super Bowl sequel. Tecmo Bowl Throwback on XBLA sucked if you're asking me.
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There was a real one that was coming to Wii that was tossed in favor for the cartoony one we actually got IIRC.

Hopefully Nintendo can ask nicely (like they actually did with SW3 lol) for them to make a real Tecmo Bowl for Wii U.
 
I hope they make the Wii U version of Madden compatible with two gamepad controllers. It'd be nice to have for multiplayer so that each person can use their gamepad to select plays (a la NFL 2K and the Dreamcast's VMU). But since the Xbox 360 version is guaranteed to come out first in August and it'll probably have the same features as the Wii U version because of Smart Glass, I'll probably buy it for the 360.
 
Tutomos said:
How about Vita. As long as transfarring is there, I'm good to go.
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There's no transfarring in any of EA's 2012 sports lineup for Vita. Word on the street is that EA might be having some massive balls, and is porting the iPad version to Vita.
 
Takao said:
There's no transfarring in any of EA's 2012 sports lineup for Vita. Word on the street is that EA might be having some massive balls, and is porting the iPad version to Vita.
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I think they are just taking the Fifa Vita approach. It used Fifa 11's game engine for gameplay, but the inferface and presentation is similar to Fifa 12.

So Madden Vita is suppose to have Madden 12's gameplay engine (but at 30fps) but with Madden 13's presentation with its new commentary.

As far as EA's 2012 sports line up not having transfering....I don't think that is confirmed. In fact I believe EA Canada said they had to rush Fifa Vita and couldn't use Fifa's 12 engine....to which they even had the curdoiusy to not name the game Fifa 12, but instead just Fifa. They said they expect their 13 version to be the same with their console version. So i think there is a pretty good chance it might have transfering.
 
Slamtastic said:
"Cartoony" and "arcade" sound like wonderful descriptors for a videogame. Moreso than "simulation" by a wide margin.

But I suppose it's more a matter of the quality of the Wii titles vs the WiiU ones than their styles.
Click to expand...

That's kind of off. There are a large section of gamers looking for 'simulation' and that's since the dawn of video games. Advancing the sim side of things has been around forever and there has always been an audience for that. And while I agree that there's nothing wrong with 'arcadey' gameplay, it's not why people buy Madden. So when your only option as a Nintendo only gamer is to either play or ignore your arcade cartoon NFL game knowing that the other 2 consoles have the "real deal" it sucks. Not that I play a lot of Madden or have had only one console since the early 90s but I do understand how important that franchise is.
 
Afrikan said:
I think they are just taking the Fifa Vita approach. It used Fifa 11's game engine for gameplay, but the inferface and presentation is similar to Fifa 12.

So Madden Vita is suppose to have Madden 12's gameplay engine (but at 30fps) but with Madden 13's presentation with its new commentary.

As far as EA's 2012 sports line up not having transfering....I don't think that is confirmed. In fact I believe EA Canada said they had to rush Fifa Vita and couldn't use Fifa's 12 engine....to which they even had the curdoiusy to not name the game Fifa 12, but instead just Fifa. They said they expect their 13 version to be the same with their console version. So i think there is a pretty good chance it might have transfering.
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EA confirmed to IGN that Madden wouldn't have it, and if FIFA 13 had it, I'm sure EA would've touted it.
 
So how exactly does the SmartGlass app communicate with Xbox 360?

It’s [SmartGlass device] ∞ internet ∞ [Xbox 360 console] right? No direct communication tablet/phone-to-console. That means no lag-free game control. No dual screen views. No switching between screens. It will all be strategy selections and small data transfers like map position and stuff like that.

Xbox SmartGlass is available with select games and Xbox LIVE content and requires internet connectivity
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Or?
 
boyshine said:
So how exactly does the SmartGlass app communicate with Xbox 360?

It’s [SmartGlass device] ∞ internet ∞ [Xbox 360 console] right? No direct communication tablet/phone-to-console. That means no lag-free game control. No dual screen views. No switching between screens. It will all be strategy selections and small data transfers like map position and stuff like that.



Or?
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I assumed it used WiFi but who knows?
 
Well, porting your HD version is ostensibly cheaper than a unique version with different assets art styles etc.
 
Takao said:
EA confirmed to IGN that Madden wouldn't have it, and if FIFA 13 had it, I'm sure EA would've touted it.
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I didn't disagree with you about save transfering regarding Madden. I just said i don't think they will use the IPAD version. I believe i read somewhere that it uses the Madden 12 engine. As far as Fifa, I'm just going based off what the devs saidawhile back...sure things good have changed as developement went along. As far as not touting it, they might just be trying to make sure it makes it in and works before announcing it.
 
Afrikan said:
I didn't disagree with you about save transfering regarding Madden. I just said i don't think they will use the IPAD version. I believe i read somewhere that it uses the Madden 12 engine
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http://vita.ign.com/articles/122/1223705p1.html\

"Selling a bajillion copies of Madden NFL 13 on the PlayStation Vita seems like it would be easy. Take the console game, fit as much as you can on the handheld, and allow for franchise/season saves to go back and forth from the Vita to the PlayStation 3. Make one unified Madden experience users can play wherever they are -- like MLB 12: The Show.

Madden NFL 13 on the PlayStation Vita isn't doing that.

It's understandable -- EA said that the franchise mode in PS3 Madden is too crazy to bring to Vita at the moment -- but that doesn't make the news any less disappointing. Instead of that unified experience, the Vita gets Madden NFL 12's engine with the sheen, presentation and commentary of Madden NFL 13 running at 30 frames per second'
 
This made me laugh:

"To be more specific, we have Wii U in development now [for Madden], we'll learn from it and it'll take us further in terms of delivering on the SmartGlass," Weber added.
Click to expand...

So basically they are using the Wii U as a guinea pig to make the smart glass version for the 360 even better, instead of trying to make them equally good. Unless of course they mean for Smartglass to encompass any controller with a screen on it.
 
aparisi2274 said:
This made me laugh:



So basically they are using the Wii U as a guinea pig to make the smart glass version for the 360 even better, instead of trying to make them equally good. Unless of course they mean for Smartglass to encompass any controller with a screen on it.
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That's how I read it too. I'm sure Nintendo likes to hear that......

And fuck me, they should just keep their mouths shut about the Vita game. Why not just come out and say: Don't buy this?
 
as a dream brake, I should point out 2 game support is almost certainly out of the question; Reggie specifically said that support for it will not be for the first year or so

---
That suggests to me that even though EA Sports has a third high-definition console to build on, if they can't think of a way to use the Wii U tablet in a game they're not going to bother with a straight-up port that makes no use of it. That's as opposed to SmartGlass, which by virtue of being an application on a mobile or tablet device someone already owns, can be an entirely optional feature set.
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Sometimes I wonder if video game journalists have brain facilities developed for an adult... please don't think, don't analyse!

Also, I want to see how they want to solve the latency problem on SmarGlass
 
If there is a true coaching mode where you can completely diagram plays and defenses and use them online EA should build a new vault for the money they will make Scrooge McDuck style.

I'm designing all kinds of fucked up trickery.
 
walking fiend said:
as a dream brake, I should point out 2 game support is almost certainly out of the question; Reggie specifically said that support for it will not be for the first year or so
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Unless he clarified his statement, I could have sworn he only said the launch window games wouldn't utilize 2 game pads. I don't remember him saying anything longer than that.
 
Shick Brithouse said:
Unless he clarified his statement, I could have sworn he only said the launch window games wouldn't utilize 2 game pads. I don't remember him saying anything longer than that.
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iirc, he then said for the first year we will focus on the asymmetric play.

but at least for this specific case, either Madden is not launch window or probably it will not support it.
 
walking fiend said:
iirc, he then said for the first year we will focus on the asymmetric play.

but at least for this specific case, either Madden is not launch window or probably it will not support it.
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I took that as Nintendo themselves will focus on asymmetrical gaming to foster ideas to third parties just like they did with the Wii. Only difference is that the WiiU isn't as immediately obvious to see what it can do to expand gaming to the average consumer. I doubt they will not allow big franchises to make use of 2 gamepads. But then again, this is Nintendo after all
 
aparisi2274 said:
This made me laugh:



So basically they are using the Wii U as a guinea pig to make the smart glass version for the 360 even better, instead of trying to make them equally good. Unless of course they mean for Smartglass to encompass any controller with a screen on it.
Click to expand...

I read it as "Smartglass" referring to all touch interfaces, not specifically that Microsoft Smart Glass is the high end target platform.

But I also understand that from EA's perspective, sports games have been a losing proposition on Nintendo's consoles for two generations. Having the ability to "port" the GamePad features developed for Wii U to Smart Glass or Vita, mitigates some of the risk.

And you'd imagine they'll always work better on Wii U, because its zero latency and the interfaces are built together.
 
So basically they are using the Wii U as a guinea pig to make the smart glass version for the 360 even better, instead of trying to make them equally good.
Click to expand...

His quote is a nice way of saying that there is no Smart Glass version of the game currently in the works while still dangling the carrot of an eventual Smart Glass version.
 
Indyana said:
I don't understand what the hell they are doing. It's beyond ridiculous.
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It's clear that:

1. Microsoft had a deal with EA Sports and for CoD at E3
2. Nintendo wants online-heavy game reveals to be saved for later
 
The Wii U only needs three sports games: Super Baseball Simulator 1.000, Tecmo Super Bowl, and NBA Jam. Well, and Nintendo should bring back Ice Hockey and Pro Wrestling.
 
Gamecube versions of Madden were the same as PS2 and Xbox, but nobody played on it because the controller was, to put it kindly, not ideal for Madden.
 
OverHeat said:
Good to know that wii u is the test ground for xbox :p
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This scares me. As if the Wii U isn't troubled enough, this blurb seems to suggest publishers will be looking to make the secondary screen work cross platform with Xbox and SmartGlass... which would be fine if it weren't for the latency discrepancy between the SmartGlass and WiiU.

Ironically it seems like the implementation of Wii U's second screen might be dumbed down to fit in line with the lowest common denominator latency wise, which will really hurt the only true appeal of the Wii U - inventive real time use of the controller.

To me that means instead of using the controller to do really cool real-time live things (like catch a ball by moving your hands in real space to the right location or tap on receivers real time) it could instead be relegated to less interesting, more static information (play selection options, stats).

Doesn't bode well for Ninty in my eyes. Microsoft could have really thrown a wrench into the Wii U's appeal if publishers aren't interested in doing more with it than can be done on SmartGlass.
 
jonezer4 said:
This scares me. As if the Wii U isn't troubled enough, this blurb seems to suggest publishers will be looking to make the secondary screen work cross platform with Xbox and SmartGlass... which would be fine if it weren't for the latency discrepancy between the SmartGlass and WiiU.

Ironically it seems like the implementation of Wii U's second screen might be dumbed down to fit in line with the lowest common denominator latency wise, which will really hurt the only true appeal of the Wii U - inventive real time use of the controller.

To me that means instead of using the controller to do really cool real-time live things (like catch a ball by moving your hands in real space to the right location or tap on receivers real time) it could instead be relegated to less interesting, more static information (play selection options, stats).

Doesn't bode well for Ninty in my eyes. Microsoft could have really thrown a wrench into the Wii U's appeal if publishers aren't interested in doing more with it than can be done on SmartGlass.
Click to expand...

If it was SmartGlass alone 3rd parties might not be as hesitant to make Wii U specific features. Instead it's SmartGlass and Vita. Its just too easy for 3rd parties to make a lowest common denominator tablet screen feature that is entirely optional and workable on all three platform options.

To that end, consider the marketing dilemma this puts Nintendo in as well. The Wii U is already being mistaken for a Wii accessory in the mainstream media. SmartGlass and the Vita are effectively Xbox 360 and PS3 "accessories" in addition to their core purpose. If Nintendo can't take control of the branding we're going to hear a lot of complaints about the Wii U being the same price as the Vita with fewer features, or not nearly as versatile as SmartGlass, from people who don't realize it's an entirely new system.

Which doesn't even solve the "why you should buy this instead of just keep your Wii" argument Nintendo also needs to make.

Sad thing is that Sony of all companies has shown the most forward thinking ideas with second screen enabled controls with the upcoming LittleBigPlanet patch.
 
jonezer4 said:
This scares me. As if the Wii U isn't troubled enough, this blurb seems to suggest publishers will be looking to make the secondary screen work cross platform with Xbox and SmartGlass... which would be fine if it weren't for the latency discrepancy between the SmartGlass and WiiU.

Ironically it seems like the implementation of Wii U's second screen might be dumbed down to fit in line with the lowest common denominator latency wise, which will really hurt the only true appeal of the Wii U - inventive real time use of the controller.

To me that means instead of using the controller to do really cool real-time live things (like catch a ball by moving your hands in real space to the right location or tap on receivers real time) it could instead be relegated to less interesting, more static information (play selection options, stats).

Doesn't bode well for Ninty in my eyes. Microsoft could have really thrown a wrench into the Wii U's appeal if publishers aren't interested in doing more with it than can be done on SmartGlass.
Click to expand...
I think this "prototype status" could actually be a very good thing. Research takes actual effort, much more so than uninspired ports. If they test ideas on Wii U first, then see what can be "downported" to Smart Glass, Nintendo wins. Would be much more worrisome if developers did it the other way around.
 
wsippel said:
I think this "prototype status" could actually be a very good thing. Research takes actual effort, much more so than uninspired ports. If they test ideas on Wii U first, then see what can be "downported" to Smart Glass, Nintendo wins. Would be much more worrisome if developers did it the other way around.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I read this more as a positive myself as in: Wii U Gamepad which has no latency gets lots of ideas first to see what features will still work on Smartglass later which does have latency.
 
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