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by
Joe - jgand@pcfootball.net
8-16-04
Well,
we have some answers as to what to expect for Madden 2005.
If
you’ve read our interview with Jeremy Strauser, you already
know what to expect in Madden 2005. Some of you are probably
saying that the new features are pretty cool, some of you are
probably tearing your hair out because Owner Mode can’t be
turned off. Some of you are probably saying “What, no online
franchise again?” Others are saying “the weather effects
aren’t video card dependant?”
So,
where to start with my feelings…
First
of all allow me to thank Jeremy and Damion Banks, Assistant
Producer on Madden PC for responding to our questions.
Especially at a time when they are probably still picking the
palm fraunds out of their keyboards. Remember, Tiburon is based
in
Florida
folks, and Hurricane Charley just paid them a visit. My thoughts
and prayers go out to all the staff at Tiburon as well as their
friends and families.
Now,
on to the game…
As far as I see it, it is a good news/bad news situation all the
way around. True, we won’t be able to use created teams in
Franchise mode, so that means that I won’t be able to plug the
PCF Instigators, MM Maniacs, and the new BlindSideBlitz team
into any new leagues. So what does that mean for the Instigators
next year? Does that mean that the team dies without another
season? Nope. It just means that they will continue to play on
Madden 2004. It also means that BigBaldBen can start assembling
his team right away, along with all of the artwork that is
needed to create such a team. It means that after this season is
concluded, I will be starting another franchise file with the
new BSB team included in whatever division Ben would like to
enter.
Then
once that file has been saved, I will simply simulate the season
through so that we will then come to the next season with a new
schedule. There’s no reason for us to have to play the same
schedule two years in a row, don’t you agree? The stats from
this sim-season will not be counted, so that we are all picking
up from where we left off. Hopefully this will be agreeable to
everyone involved.
Now,
as to roster creation itself…
He
didn’t say that we wouldn’t be able to create custom
rosters, just that we wouldn’t be able to use them in
Franchise Mode. So we should still be able to create custom
teams in Madden 2005. We just won’t be able to insert them
into a league. To that end I will continue to create teams for
Madden 2004 since they can still be used in Franchise Mode, and
I will take my time getting to Madden 2005. I figure that Madden
2005 will work the same way as MVP Baseball 2004 does where you
can’t have custom teams playing with Major League teams. Which
meant I couldn’t have my Long Beach Breakers featuring the
Peanuts gang tearing up the National League in Schultz Stadium
anytime soon.
But
we should still be able to alter the teams we do have so that
they become classic or All-Time teams. What I have been doing is
editing players in MVP Baseball 2004 to create all-time teams
for each baseball franchise. From what I can gather, maybe we
can do the same thing in Madden 2005. I mean assuming the roster
editor works on the same principal, right? Just rename the
players and give them the attributes that they had in Madden
2004. Either that or just continue to play the classic and
all-time teams in Madden 2004, while simultaneously proving that
you are a better coach than Mike Martz in Madden 2005.
I
will however make two rosters for Madden 2005 as soon as I can
figure out the system, and those are the rosters for the FDNY
Bravest and the NYPD Finest Football Teams. My annual Sept. 11th
tribute will happen, and if it isn’t possible, then I will
update the rosters for Madden 2004 instead.
It’s
good to hear that the new weather features will be available and
supported in the PC version. But they won’t be video card
dependant? Whoa, does that mean they will be software dependant,
and if that’s the case, how much physical memory will this
thing eat up anyway? I am so glad that I’ve got 2GB of RAM in
my Alienware Area-51 rig, it sounds like I might need every bit
of it.
It’s
good to hear that the PC version will be coming out, and that
the lockout of the PC page on EA Sports’ website doesn’t
mean anything. I’ll keep looking for it to pop up from now
until the game is ready to ship.
If
you’re looking for something like the sanctions feature that
NCAA FB has in Madden, don’t hold your breath. Since they do
work so closely with the NFL and Players INC I’m guessing that
they wouldn’t take too kindly to random incidents coming up to
effect them in the game. Even if they didn’t engage in such
behavior in real life I would imagine that a DUI on their video
counterpart would not sit too well with them considering what
Leonard Little is going through.
All
in all it is a mixed bag for everyone. Even though we can’t
have custom teams in franchise mode it is not the end of the
world. Remember, Madden 2004 is a very good game in it’s own
right and we can still utilize it for our own needs. Hey, some
people still play Madden 2002 for the Online Franchise feature,
so we can still play Madden 2004 for the Custom Franchise
feature. That’s what I plan on doing.
But
don’t get me wrong, I still plan on picking up Madden 2005 as
soon as it comes out and seeing what this new toy can do.
Judging from what we have seen in previous years, we should be
in for one hell of a ride.
Now,
if only they can replace Tony Bruno with Jim Rome for Madden
2006…
Until
next time…
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