Video walkthrough of Madden Wii
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Aug 30th 2006 at 6:25PM }
For those curious about Madden NFL 07 on the Wii and how the controls (and graphics) will look, there's a new and fairly lengthy video up on YouTube that gives a good walkthrough of the basics.
If you weren't lucky enough to get your hands on a version at E3, handling the game was actually quite intuitive and fun. It even went so far as to make us want to actually buy and play Madden again.
[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bv @ Aug 30th 2006 6:39PM
I never thought trying to select "Play Game" could be so f'ing frustrating. Overall, the gameplay looks gimmicky and too simple. Flicking my wrist to throw the ball seems prone to innacurate passes and friendly fire bitch slaps on the couch.
tactics @ Aug 30th 2006 6:40PM
can anyone say, "best madden ever!"? maybe i'm not like... the #1 madden badass in my circle of friends, but i can't even COUNT how many times i've accidentally thrown to the wrong reciever in the heat of the moment by pressing the wrong button.
seems to me... pointing at a reciever is going to be infinitely better than looking at a symbol and pressing a corresponding button.
the kicking system seems lame, though.
-"superfan" tactics.
Jeremy @ Aug 30th 2006 6:41PM
"It even went so far as to make us want to actually buy and play Madden again."
That's pushing it a bit, don't you think?
Touch My Box @ Aug 30th 2006 6:42PM
Graphics don't look bad at all.
DBX00 @ Aug 30th 2006 6:45PM
tactics
Pointing at a receiver seems cool until you have two receivers in the same area or you're using a small television. It seems like they are forcing the controls to make it work and the game might be a little too complicated at this point to make it work correctly, but we'll see.
Ndric @ Aug 30th 2006 6:46PM
"z0mg, the graphics looks like its from the 90s!!!!"
:P
Looks fun, can't wait til I can try that controller
reebo @ Aug 30th 2006 6:45PM
This'll be the first Madden I've bought. Ever.
Fulnelson @ Aug 30th 2006 6:49PM
Let's hope the defense controls are better
Art Vandelay @ Aug 30th 2006 6:51PM
Looks pretty cool. I know the vid is not exactly HD but the graphics look like they haven't gotten a boost at all. That's disappointing.
Robert Summa @ Aug 30th 2006 6:52PM
You don't "point" at a reciever, you hold down the directional pad in the direction of the receiver you want. You can faintly see it in the video, but it's clearer when you're actually playing.
And Jeremy, no, I'm no pushing it. Madden has become stale and boring to me. Once you get a hold of this game with these controls, it's a totally different and more rewarding experience then just pushing buttons.
KingOfGods @ Aug 30th 2006 6:54PM
I don't like having only one choice of reciever after the ball is snapped. They kind of dumbed down the game.
Todd @ Aug 30th 2006 6:57PM
I can't stand sport games much less anything from EA. However, what I do find exciting about this video is the potential for the remote to make complex menus a snap to navigate. Point and a couple of clicks versus a lot of thumb movements to get a certain item highlighted. RPGs with a lot of items and menus will be a breeze.
? @ Aug 30th 2006 7:02PM
that cheese looks like it stinks
botox salesman @ Aug 30th 2006 7:04PM
isnt it ironic that the only decent franchise that EA had, and the only one that would naturally utalise a wii-mote has been lost (MVP Baseball) instead of swinging for the fences and whipping the controller to your right to pickoff 3rd, we get Wii Sports where you either swing or dont :(
bounce @ Aug 30th 2006 7:08PM
thumb movements are... yet limb jerks are...wuh?
required name here @ Aug 30th 2006 7:08PM
those graphics are really horrible. is that really how bad stuff looks and animates on the wii? yuck!
Nmaster @ Aug 30th 2006 7:16PM
This may be the first Madden game I buy since the Super Nintendo days...
All Your Lost Socks @ Aug 30th 2006 7:16PM
xxashxx, I thought of the same thing the moment I heard they were keeping the rumble. :D *heart*
Todd, I'm with you about the menus. I hate sports games, personally. But I watched that video to get a non-shaky-cam view of how the control scheme actually operates from a functional perspective. It looks very simple, intuitive and responsive! I'm excited. It gives a pretty good representation of what I think we can expect from Wii game interfaces and how much motion is expected of us.
All you complaining about the graphics - they really don't look half bad. It's a frickin' YouTube video, lol. Just wait.
Martin @ Aug 30th 2006 7:27PM
"1. I never thought trying to select "Play Game" could be so f'ing frustrating. Overall, the gameplay looks gimmicky and too simple. Flicking my wrist to throw the ball seems prone to innacurate passes and friendly fire bitch slaps on the couch."
Oh my god, god forbid a game mimics actual football!!!! NO!!!!!!! You might have to move more than your thumb!!! unless your a parapalegic, get over it. And it won't be prone to innacurate passes because you press the reciever you want (just like old madden) then flick the wrist fast or slow to do a type of pass!!!
If there is online, this will be the first madden I buy, if not, I will wait for the first online with this control scheme!!!!
darryl @ Aug 30th 2006 7:22PM
Seems too watered down to me. Graphics look like current gen. A revolution? I think not.
Dr.Swiss @ Aug 30th 2006 7:22PM
xxashxx, or ash, or xxx or x or whatever "name of the day" you're using, no matter how many times you make sexual wii jokes here and on wiifanboy you will never seduce me into clicking on your name and giving you my credit card. I will resist!
On a serious note, I thought this kind of advertising died with ICQ.
-------------
Back on topic, the only football game I ever enjoy was Blitz 2000 for ps1. No, wait!! Scratch that. The only football game I REALLY enjoyed was Mutant League Football. God I hope that comes to the VC.
JimmyHACK @ Aug 30th 2006 7:23PM
well get the graphics out of the way first, they aren't bad, bt they surly aren't thng betterthan madden on GC/PS2.
However i'll stick to madden on other consoles(360/ps3) jst because now in order to pass it's basically two steps instead of one... kinda dumb...
good thing there are better launch titles than maden to pick up @ wii lauch (not graphically, but better control schemes)
Runciter @ Aug 30th 2006 7:25PM
Wow, that looks so gimmicky and dumbed down. And that game screams current gen port. All the menus and graphics appear to be from current gen and they still have Madden yappin his trap. Seems like GameCube 1.5 with new controller. If you have to push the dpad on the Wiimote while you do the passing motion...that's intuitive? Just seems lame. I agree about the baseball comment, that seems more natural.
bv @ Aug 30th 2006 7:37PM
Martin,
Have you ever given a half hour long presentation where you used a laser pointer on a projector screen? It's frustrating, especially when your standing and constantly "circling" or "underlining" objects on the screen. I just don't like the idea that you cant rest your arms on your lap like you normally would playing with a standard controller. To me, the controller just seems like an unecessary added level of difficulty that I don't want anything to do with.
DBX00 @ Aug 30th 2006 7:41PM
Let me get this straight. I have to press a directional button to select the receiver I want to throw the ball to and then make the motion to throw the ball? Sounds like an additional step than the current versions of the game.
If not, I have to throw the remote in the direction of the receiver I want to pass to which essentially takes away precision passing from the game, which is critical to your passing game. I think EA will either dumb down the controls and slowly make it more precise over the next couple years or screw them up entirely for serious football gamers. I just can't imagine serious Madden fans getting the accuracy that they have become used to in the series.
James @ Aug 30th 2006 7:44PM
The only thing that video was good for was to remind me how stupid a game American Football really is.
Oh and the menu navigation controls looked nice.
stantheman @ Aug 30th 2006 7:49PM
it seems like most of you consider graphics what makes a game good, and I know some people think that's the only thing that makes it next gen....first of all, graphics don't make the game. yes, it's allways good when you don't have to squint at your screen to see whether or not your blob like thing is pwning the other blob like thing, but that doesn't make the game bad. for instance, there was one game that had crappy ass graphics (baseball game), but the gameplay was som much fun, that I totally ignored the graphics, and still play the game now, even though it's like 18 years old. if people are relying on graphics alone to figure out if a game is good, then they need to rethink what they're doing.
Cage @ Aug 30th 2006 7:55PM
Robert Summa -
"And Jeremy, no, I'm no pushing it. Madden has become stale and boring to me. Once you get a hold of this game with these controls, it's a totally different and more rewarding experience then just pushing buttons."
For players that truly enjoy Madden it goes a lot further than just gameplay. Controlling your franchise, getting new rosters, and following your players progression are just some of the things that bring the game new life. Its about football, a fun game that most people love. Sounds like you stopped playing in 1997...
stantheman @ Aug 30th 2006 7:56PM
prescision passing is not critical to your passing game, in fact, most people I know who played 06 hated prescision passing and never used it, and still kill at it.
Steve @ Aug 30th 2006 8:06PM
I haven't been here long, but I still know not to feed the darryl troll. Rucinter, however... here's a newsflash: IT IS A CURRENT GEN PORT!! In a rush to get a game ready for the Wii, it is based on the XBox version, but one that's improved (obviously). It doesn't look half bad... certainly not as good as the "XBox 1.6" version, but who cares? Having tried the demo at E3, like Robert Summa, this particular iteration of this horribly tired franchise may actually drive me to pick it up! Could you imagine how much of a blast 4-player couch matches would be, where we all actually get to play a more realistic version of football? It's not about the visuals, it's about the fact that your control of each player is *FAR* more realistic than the other platforms.
intension @ Aug 30th 2006 8:08PM
if anyone thinks that the graphics for this system will suck, just look at Disaster, day of crisis.
Robert Summa @ Aug 30th 2006 8:11PM
Look, guys, for everyone complaining about "motions" or "gimmick" or this doesn't work, blah blah blah. Wait till you try it out for yourself.
I'm sorry, but the Wii is not really something that can full be understood until you stand there with a remote and nun chuck in your hand. Stuff like this Madden video and other Wii info doesn't translate too well to the actual experience you have playing it.
Why do you think the Wii was so highly regarded after E3? Because people got to actually play it for themselves. When they first heard about the Wii and what it did, everyone said it wouldn't work, that it was just a gimmick.
But let me tell you, once you actually have a system in front of you and are doing these things, you won't be having the same gripes most of you are having now. Let's save that "my hand gets tired" and "this is stupid" comments for after the system comes out and we ALL get to actually play it for ourselves.
Then, and only then, should someone be here complaining that it sux.
Same thing applies to the PS3.
LedRush @ Aug 30th 2006 9:00PM
I just got finished playing Madden for the 360, and these graphics look closer to those than they do to the Madden for the GC, which is good news for us. Also, the passing scheme looks great with four options that are easy to change.
I am not sold on the Wiimote for sports games that aren't baseball, golf, and tennis, but this video is doing a good job convincing me. Also, it shows that the graphics could be closer to next-gen than current gen. All around, this is very encouraging.
Dr.Swiss @ Aug 30th 2006 8:20PM
I agree, Robert.
You can't rag on the Wii because even Nintendo themselves say that playing equals believing.
And you can't rag on the PS3 because from what I hear it's going to have a (or near to) 10 year life span. If it's actually out for around 10 years then that's going to be the deal of the century. Even more if/when the price drops.
Jeff @ Aug 30th 2006 8:33PM
"Oh my god, god forbid a game mimics actual football!!!!
...
And it won't be prone to innacurate passes because you press the reciever you want (just like old madden) then flick the wrist fast or slow to do a type of pass!!!"
Yeah, because this is just like how you play ACTUAL FOOTBALL. Ah, those days of my youth outside on crisp autumn Saturday evenings with my high school football team, pressing the receiver I want and then flicking my wrist fast or slow...
Guys, you need to drop the whole "just like actual (insert real activity here)" thing. This is a different way of playing, but it is no closer to the real thing than the old way of playing. If you think otherwise, you have obviously never actually tried any of these real activities. Throwing a football isn't just flicking your wrist fast or slow.
I'm not saying it won't be fun, but it's got nothing to do with reality so there's no point trying to point out its superiority on that basis. In fact, it appears the new buzzword with the Wii is "gestures", and the definition of a gesture is "a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea, opinion, emotion, etc." In other words, it's a movement that represents something else. Developers are not using the Wii to try to replicate *actual* movements that you would use in these various activities.
I honestly think some people are going to be pretty disappointed when they realize this. Look at the reaction to Red Steel, which is just never gonna be the game people want it to be. Look at what happened when people realized that position didn't matter in Wii Sports - all you need to do is flick at the right time; it's a timing game. I think most Wii titles are going to be like this; they'll use gestures that represent real movements but aren't real movements. How much fun that is will largely depend on the game, but I'm so far pretty unconvinced with Madden - there are still so many button presses and other things going on, it actually seems *less* intuitive to play with gestures.
DBX00 @ Aug 30th 2006 8:37PM
stantheman
Precision passing doesn't equal QB vision from Madden 06.
Precision passing has been in Madden for awhile now. It allows you to throw the ball to the left/right, over throw/under throw, loft of the ball, hard/soft and etc. I'm sure they've taken this into account, but we'll see how it plays soon.
Dr.Swiss @ Aug 30th 2006 8:39PM
"Ah, those days of my youth outside on crisp autumn Saturday evenings with my high school football team, pressing the receiver I want and then flicking my wrist fast or slow..."
Actually, the sport in my college residence is Fooseball, so flicking the wrists actually (for once) could mimick real life play.
Oh man...the Wii can measure depth, right? WiiFooseball with wifi must be created. It must.
bv @ Aug 30th 2006 8:45PM
I give thee Jeff an honorary 12th star for agreeing with me. I too feel that in order to successfully duplicate a real world activity in a virtual world, the game needs to be extremely forgiving and dumbed down. Now I don't think EA was trying to create a 1 to 1 football simulation, but if you can't get the throwing of the ball down in a realistic manner, what is the use? Is flicking the ball with my wrist going to suddenly make me sport wood for the Madden series? Maybe, but for now I'm not seeing the point. And to Robert Summa, I can bitch all I want about the wii, I'm sorry. I didn't have the privilege of early wii access like yourself and am left to my own ideas of what the system will be like. I think you should appreciate the opinions of everyone negative or positive as long as it's well thought out and not written by darryl.
Huginn @ Aug 30th 2006 9:00PM
Just watching this game me a headache.
I don't want to have to read a SimCity sized book to get the 'intutive feel' of the Wii.
Suddenly that 360 is looking alot better.
Oh and nice kick L.L
Robert Summa @ Aug 30th 2006 8:49PM
BV,
I'm not saying I don't value yours or anyone else's opinion. I think what I was really trying to hammer home was that the Wii is something to be experienced. I know PR hype is largely just that, but in Nintendo's case with the Wii, it really is something to be experienced, not seen.
If you get your hands on a Wii and still feel the same way, then I'll value your opinion even more.
bv @ Aug 30th 2006 8:57PM
Robert,
I respect that. I'll be sure to write my opinions once I get a chance to play one too.
striderhayasa @ Aug 30th 2006 9:05PM
I didn't think the graphics were bad at all especially for a port. I, personally, don't care for Madden. I was a big ESPN fan but I have to admit that I'm curious about what EA is doing with the Wii version. Also, my understanding was you hold down the corresponding button to decide which receiver to throw to and the motion used with your wrist determined the pass ie: under throw, over throw, bullet etc.
This is very interesting and makes me curious to see what EA does with SSX on Wii.
Jake @ Aug 30th 2006 9:07PM
"If you weren't lucky enough to get your hands on a version at E3, handling the game was actually quite intuitive and fun."
If I remember correctly, Madden was the main Wii title people were complaining about at E3 saying the controls were awkward and what-not.
AC @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:35AM
They're not trying to replicate real life - by any means. Nothing can replicate real life but real life. Even advanced NASA simulators are just that, SIMULATORS.
The control tries to enhance the gaming experience by using new movements, new 'buttons' that before didn't exist.
Yes it might looked dumb'd down, yes the movements don't replicate throwing a ball... but neither does our 360.
I'm glad somebody has the balls to do something different at last.... To comprehend the Wii, just look back at what happened when the ugly, childish, brickish looking DS came out, and think of what you thought then comparing it to the PSP, and that'll more less get you to where Nintendo will be with their new system in a few months time.
Epic @ Aug 30th 2006 9:18PM
Developers are having to go out of their way to squeeze their game within the confines of the Wii hardware and control scheme. An arbitrary hand motion to substitute for the hike button is pointless. Likewise, a canned "gesture" to substitute for throwing buttons is pointless, especially when you have to press a button anyway during the throw. It was much easier to determine lob versus bullet by using pressure sensitive buttons -- holding versus tapping.
So far, the Wii is unfolding exactly as I predicted. The controller doesn't simplify anything, contrary to their promises. Instead, it requires you to study an entire alphabet of sign language to play a game. So far, there are very few applications where you actually have a free movement with the Wiimote. You're just pulling off canned gestures to execute scripted animations. In other words, it's a dressed up button press.
I have a feeling Nintendo will have to show some extremely impressive first-party apps that utilize the motion sensitivity. Otherwise, developers will still be porting the same old software and dumbing it down for the Wiimote.
Embassy @ Aug 30th 2006 9:23PM
i dont see how anyone could find this game remotely intersting except for the people who buy into anythng with " nintendo" written on it...this looks more confusing than the current control scheme...and wrist flicking to throw..???AFTER u select a receiver...??..this is prolly gonna turn out to be dumbed down blitz-like football...which im sure wud be fine for the * buzzword alert* " casual gamer"...the wii has the potential to be viery intuitive..but not for games like madden..or other "complex" sports games...and if they DO they need to market this edition of Madden accordingly so people who want a footbal sim dont go running to pick this up with thier wii...
[-Z-] @ Aug 30th 2006 9:41PM
While the controller looks fun and innovative, It's a good thing that Wii does not have online capable function yet. To play against 360/PS3/PS2/XBOX madden 07 controllers, be prepare to get your ass whoop. Gestures are always slower than clicks of a button, I can see how EA actually added unnesassary complication into Madden 07. Now instead of memorizing the buttons, you have to memorize the gestures as well.
georgedakota @ Aug 30th 2006 9:43PM
madden for 360 has poor graphics which is why sega should be able to release the 2k6 football series. so if anyone looks at this and says wii has same power as 360 is way off and you need to look at other games on 360 not just madden. but this controller thing is going to be a hard sell for nintendo. some of us have hard jobs and when we come home and want to relax and play games we dont want to have to flick our wrists and swing our wii remotes. maybe we just want to relax and this is coming from a very thin and very active person. its not for me.
KingOfGods @ Aug 30th 2006 10:05PM
Watch the video again and the guy states that you can only pass to the default reciever in the game unless you change it to a different reciever before the ball is snapped.
I'm looking forward to he Wii....but not for Madden.
JoseMiguel @ Aug 30th 2006 10:01PM
"that you cant rest your arms on your lap like you normally would playing with a standard controller"
Bahahahah stop crying and watch the MP:C video on google videos. The guy hardly moves his wrist and accomplishes the task just fine. No BS exagerations there like the advertisements. Just the ammount of movement you'd do by moving a mouse, even less than that.
God, wait for the thing and stop acting like idiots. It's not as if it's mandatory that you flail your arms like you're having an epileptic seizure.