Sorry, 
New York Giants fans: Big Blue isn’t going to make it to Super Bowl XLVII. Heck, they won’t even make it to the playoffs.
That’s the prediction, at least, of the latest incarnation of EA’s venerable Madden football franchise.
Tag Archives: football
FIFA producer predicts women’s soccer video game
The 
saga of the U.S. women’s soccer team during this year’s Olympics may have been as captivating as the “Fab Five” or Michael Phelps’ quest to set an Olympic medal record, but when it comes to the world of video games, soccer is strictly a sport for men.
It’s a frustrating reality — and one that excludes a wide swath of potential players. And now the executive producer of EA’s immensely popular FIFA franchise is acknowledging the problem.In a conversation with Kotaku, EA’s David Rutter noted that while women’s soccer won’t be a feature in this year’s installment of the game (it’s too late to add it), it’s something the team is considering.
In Videogames, Even Football Isn’t Without Controversy
While 
football is a pretty family-friendly sport, it’s not always benign in the videogame world.
The NFL has been a part of the landscape for about as long as videogames have been around — and anything with such longevity tends to ruffle some feathers among both players and publishers.
Videogame Football Fights and Furors
While the 
videogame industry courts its share of controversy, you might expect sports games to generally avoid ruffling feathers. Uh-uh.
Some of the industry’s biggest controversies have involved football videogames.
While they have fallen short of the furor that surrounded the hidden sex in the “Hot Coffee” minigame in “Grand Theft Auto,” football games have had their share of head-scratching moments for investors and fans over the years.
Playing Field Shifting for Football Video Game Industry
Long 
before “Call of Duty” was dominating the video-game sales charts, there was football.
Though shooters might be the hottest games around these days, sports games are still big sellers — and the virtual gridiron is a perennial favorite. And, more importantly to console makers, it’s a genre that helps sales.
10 Timeless Football Video Games
There aren’t 
many video games upon which the mass market consumer and core gamer can agree, but when it comes to football, there’s plenty of love on both sides.
Madden (based on legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden) is the undisputed king of the video game football hill, but there are plenty of other titles that have captivated players throughout the years. Most of them are no longer around, due to industry consolidation, licensing deals or pure bad luck. But each of them can still bring a smile to the face of virtual gridiron fans.
App Review: First Touch Soccer
Soccer sims on iDevices 
have been so-so so far, but First Touch Soccer offers almost everything the true fan could ask for. The game is challenging and well-paced, with terrific AI, impressive graphics, and (amazingly) a play-by-play/color commentating system that doesn’t get annoying. It’s as close to a console experience as we’ve seen on an iOS system. Additionally, there’s a headline feed of soccer-themed stories (which, sometimes, can be a bit much for younger players). There are also several customization options and a ton of teams, game modes, and other gameplay options. The interface is a bit busy, but in the end, this is a game that truly feels like a team experience — which makes it stand above most of its competition.
Is EA the next victim of the Madden Curse?
It’s too early to know whether the infamous Madden 
Curse will hit this year’s cover athlete, but if the wave of recent troubles related to the football franchise is any indication, the hex might be working its mojo on Electronic Arts itself.
Already concerned with how the seemingly unavoidable lockout of the real NFL season will affect sales of the upcoming Madden 12, the company has seen a number of key personnel depart Madden maker EA Tiburon in the past few days, which raises some questions about what fans can expect in 2013.
Game Review: Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
Konami hasn’t put out a Pro Evolution game for a 
Nintendo handheld for a few years and its developers seem to have gotten a bit rusty in that time. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D is a so-so title, at best, offering a decent game of soccer once people figure out the controls, but forcing players to choose between an impressive-but-restricting view or a functional-but-boring view. Players who want to experience the 3D functionality of the 3DS are likely to choose the former — and will have a harder time playing because of it. The lack of the series’ “Become a Legend” mode as well as online multiplayer is a bit baffling, as well. If you’re a long-time fan of the series you’ll be more likely to find something to enjoy than newcomers, but both sets will feel a bit disappointed.
Next Madden to address NFL concussions
Historically, injuries haven’t really been a big part 
of video game sports. Showing the real-world effects of the devastating hits from an NFL linebacker tend to remove players from the fantasy environment.
With the next installment of its flagship Madden franchise, however, Electronic Arts plans to emphasize the seriousness of player concussions by preventing in-game players who suffer the head injury from returning to the virtual field.
Chris Morris: Journalist 