New York Times has published an article examining the potential of virtual sports as a means for understanding the intricacies of success in real world sports. Using Madden as an example, NYTimes suggests that the future of EA's franchise "may lie in a renewed emphasis on teamwork and a new appreciation for careful preparation before the big game."This year's cover athlete, Seahawk's running back Shaun Alexander, has pressed the development team to consider transforming Madden from a one-on-one experience to a team game. Imagine the emergence of Madden clans, each player dedicated to a skill position, all are working together to win. EA hasn't yet dedicated itself to this task, but with gaming headed online, it's certainly a direction the developers should pursue.
And, with games like the recently released NFL Head Coach, the Steelers' Bill Cowher reminds us that video games are already teaching us far more about the grueling process of success in the NFL than we could ever gather from watching 60 minutes of game time on Sunday.
[Note: NYTimes article requires registration to access online.]
