The buzz on Madden Wii's multiplayer
by Ross Miller 
{ Sep 13th 2006 at 12:55PM }
Speaking to IGN, Madden NFL 07 for Wii Producer Jason Armenise revealed the football title's two-on-two multiplayer mode. Schoolyard rules apply, including the five-Mississippi rush (also known as bananas or steamboats, apparently). Drumming the controller up and down causes the defensive end on screen to count "one Mississippi, two Mississippi, ..." -- drum faster and the count speeds up.The most intriguing addition, however, is the buzz communication system. While on the offense, players can tap the A button on their Wii remote and cause their partner's controller to vibrate accordingly -- it's up to the partners to decide ahead of time what each rumbled message means. Devious usages aside, why hasn't anyone every thought of this before? We like the idea, but fear the ramifications of confusing Morse code transmissions:
"You buzzed once!"
"I know, dude. One buzz means go left!"
"No, it means I'm going run so you gotta cover me!"
"No, dude, that's two short buzzes, a long buzz, and another short buzz!"
"Aww, [buzz] off!"
See Also:
Wii impressions: Madden NFL 07
Video walkthrough of Madden Wii
[Thanks, Sam]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chris Taran @ Sep 13th 2006 1:00PM
Wow, why has no one thought of this before indeed. That is a brilliant idea.
I hope other multiplayer Wii games take advantage of a feature like this.
And here I thought EA was incapable of thinking up cool things like this!
Z @ Sep 13th 2006 1:03PM
haha. This Madden actually looks worth buying, and I'm a longtime 2k gamer. There is actually innovation here and it all looks fun. Of course, helps that EA Canada is making it and not Tiburon.
Vash the Stampede @ Sep 13th 2006 1:09PM
I don't even know if this has been annunced or addressed in the past, but does the Wii even have a microphone/ headset for nintendo wi-fi communication through games... becuase that that is the one feature that makes xbox live do it for me... minus all the 5 12 year olds spouting f-bombs, owned, and all other diceminating clichetic crap.
Paul P. @ Sep 13th 2006 1:09PM
Also of note it has all the features that seem to have been oddly split amongst the other console versions. It actually ends up being the most feature-rich madden there is.
FSK405K @ Sep 13th 2006 1:10PM
As much as I look forward to many Wii games, there's a reason I bought the PS2 version (weeks?) before the release of the Wii.
Fuzz @ Sep 13th 2006 2:25PM
I just read through the thing. Now, I hate EA(numerous reasons), Football is not my thing, and the whole Madden thing rubs me the wrong way, but after reading the interview, I could actually see myself getting this game if the reviews were good. It just sounds like alot of fun. If the Wii can get me to buy an EA football game, I would say that that is one powerful machine.
aZn_1080p @ Sep 13th 2006 1:14PM
interesting gimmick... I wonder if it will make up for the last gen graphics or awkward-sounding gesture control?
MosquitoControl @ Sep 13th 2006 1:14PM
Considering everyone on the couch will hear the buzzing... is this really changing anything? Couldn't you just make up a code to say verbally and put that A button to better use?
Zediker @ Sep 13th 2006 5:35PM
Well, now at least i can get my girlfriend to play with me... -_o
Clarity @ Sep 13th 2006 1:28PM
Dude, awesome.
djsyndrome @ Sep 13th 2006 1:16PM
So does this finally lay to rest the debate on whether or not the Wiimote has rumble capabilities?
Enzo @ Sep 13th 2006 1:16PM
That is a terrible, horrible idea.
Headset, idiots.
Steve @ Sep 13th 2006 1:18PM
Yep, the graphics even fall somewhere between the XBox version (this certainly looks better) and the 360 version, which clearly looks better. And it still has time to be polished further! It's funny, that so far EA (of all developers!) is the only third party that is proving, at launch, that the Wii is certainly more powerful than the current gen crop of machines, and that its power certainly lies in between current gen, and the PS3/360. Though, of interest, unlike the 360 version's 30fps, this is said to be running at 60. Very impressed, EA! You're shutting up the "repackaged Gamecube" crowd.
XBox version:
http://media.xbox.ign.com/media/811/811805/img_3781766.html
Gamecube version:
http://media.cube.ign.com/media/811/811800/img_3578116.html
Wii version:
http://media.wii.ign.com/media/825/825443/img_3910005.html
Leave it to the Canadians to put some effort into their third party developments. This may be the only Madden I purchase, and it even includes all the features that were missing from the other versions - with a couch-multiplayer mode that sounds awesome. October 29th can't come soon enough!
Martin @ Sep 13th 2006 1:32PM
"6. interesting gimmick... I wonder if it will make up for the last gen graphics or awkward-sounding gesture control?"
How is gesture control awkward sounding? If you mean unnatural or weird... When you go play football in real life, do you tap the A button to pass it to someone, and tap R2 to juke to the right, When you tackle someone, do you lunge forward, or do you actually hit X or A or whatever?
The way Madden controls is awkward, the way they make Madden Wii control sounds more natural.
Now if you mean that the control lacks grace and precision (in the true definition of awkward) How the hell do you know. Did you get to play it? Amazing all these people who have apparently used the WiiMote with their criticisms against it!!!
Agent MOO @ Sep 13th 2006 1:27PM
Wait till it gets into rap videos...
BUZZ MOTHERBUZZER, BUZZ, YAYUH!
aZn_1080p @ Sep 13th 2006 1:59PM
@ Agent MOO "Its buzzin son, its buzzin!!!" or "We be buzzin, we be buzzin!" could be new club hits. But, I don't think its likely, the rapper crowd is pretty much exclusively playstation fans in my experience.
Jeff @ Sep 13th 2006 1:31PM
"I don't even know if this has been annunced or addressed in the past, but does the Wii even have a microphone/ headset for nintendo wi-fi communication through games... becuase that that is the one feature that makes xbox live do it for me..."
Interesting - it's the main reason why I cancelled my XBL account.
I tried just playing without it, but people will actually kick you out of games (or not let you in at all) if you're playing without the headset. There's that little icon that tells people who's got a headset on and who doesn't, so this is easy to do.
Then for a while I just connected it and left it on the floor. But a) this is just a stupid thing to have to do, and b) half the time I'd get kicked out anyway as people tried to talk to me and realized I wasn't listening.
The bottom line is while I would like to play games online, I can do without listening to a bunch of 12 year old morons and their idea of "trash-talking", which commonly involves various racial and ethnic slurs and nearly endless references to various parts of the male anatomy (which makes you wonder).
I don't really think I'm alone in this.
RP @ Sep 13th 2006 1:35PM
"That is a terrible, horrible idea.
Headset, idiots."
A headset won't help you when you're in the same room as your opponent.
Epic @ Sep 13th 2006 1:37PM
This sounds ridiculous. This is a perfect example of awkwardly forcing the use of a controller feature. The Wii-mote should allow for simplification of gaming, not the opposite. This first batch of Wii games doesn't make them any more accessible. Instead of learning how to work a gamepad, you have to memorize dozens of gestures to get the same result. Where is the free-form movement that the controller is supposed to offer? If you're just using canned gestures to trigger canned animations, you're wasting your energy, since a button press can do the same thing.
Subnet6 @ Sep 13th 2006 1:36PM
While I have little to no interest in Madden on any console, this is just the type of innovative approach to gameplay I was hoping would come of the Wii-mote capabilities. Rumble is nothing new but the Wii has developers thinking out of the box (I hate that phrase) which is a good thing. I hope we see more interesting ideas come from this as well as all consoles based on their strengths. Obviously MS has done much the same thing pushing devs to rethink what can be done with online. We are all better off for it.
I am however surprised EA is behind this. Hmm.....
DBX00 @ Sep 13th 2006 1:36PM
Martin
Most people haven't used the controller, but there are videos of people attempting to use it and it being akward for certain games. That's a pretty good reference point if you ask me.
bet @ Sep 13th 2006 1:56PM
"You buzzed once!"
"I know, dude. One buzz means go left!"
"No, it means I'm going run so you gotta cover me!"
"No, dude, that's two short buzzes, a long buzz, and another short buzz!"
"Aww, [buzz] off!"
hahahaha... it's very funny...
FSK405K @ Sep 13th 2006 1:38PM
Multiplayer....no headset necessary, because local multi- only; is there anyone who doesn't read his statement, "You know, we really haven't talked about online too much. At this point, we're not talking about it," as meaning "No online capability" ?
Martin @ Sep 13th 2006 1:40PM
Oh I must have been mistaken by responses from people who played Madden
Jason Armenise: So, have you played Madden Wii before?
IGN Wii: Yeah. We played it at E3 2006 and liked it.
Jose @ Sep 13th 2006 1:42PM
Looks like this is the firs time I'll be playing Madden since 95
Subnet6 @ Sep 13th 2006 1:42PM
"there are videos of people attempting to use it and it being akward for certain games. That's a pretty good reference point if you ask me."
Based on this logic, if you watched people play baseball for the first time you might think the entire sport is awkward. However if you watch even a 10 year old who is familiar with the sport, the motions are all fluid and efficient. The same can be said for most any activity. Ever seen a first timer on roller blades? Its one of the most awkward things I have ever seen. That does not make it a valid reference for claiming that roller blading in general is an awkward means of movement. Unless of course you are against roller blading from the outset, in which case, a comment like that would make sense.
Zertoss @ Sep 13th 2006 1:48PM
I'm thinking the first 6 - 12 months after the Wii launches are going to be filled with mostly gimmicky games, much like how the DS kicked off. It was like with the DS, devs were experimenting with the touch screen and how to make the most out of having 2 screens, and now we're getting all sorts of great games for that handheld. The Wii will probably be the same way.
That said, these features for Madden sound unique and interesting. Kudos to the Madden devs for thinking outside the box. We'll see how the game plays when it's launched.
Jake @ Sep 13th 2006 4:39PM
The Madden Wii controls are not that difficult. The nunchuk is your body, the wiimote is your hand/arms.
Juke left, jut nunchuk left. Dive forward, push arm forward. Spin, spin nunchuk.
This is opposed to L1 (not L2 idiot), Circle, Triangle (no that's square, you friken noob! Geez dad, you suck)
Crosswayboy @ Sep 13th 2006 2:00PM
As someone who doesn't like football and hasn't played and enjoyed a football game since Tecmo Bowl back on the NES, I have to say that after reading this article I am genuinely interested in trying this one out. It actually sounds like a unique and fun experience that could be a blast to play with a bunch of people.
That's one of the best endorsements I can give to a genre I never paid attention to in over 15 years.
MSaccarello @ Sep 13th 2006 2:07PM
@21
same here broseph... Madden '95 for Genesis
Subnet6 @ Sep 13th 2006 2:15PM
@Zertoss,
I am in complete agreement with you. However, I would substitute the word "gimmicky" for "experimental".
Admittedly many of the initial utilizations of the wii-mote will be poor and failed experiments, but I really believe there will be some great new gaming conventions to come out of this, just like the DS. I think this cool new use of rumble is just the start.
And anyone who refers to making a passing motion in Madden to represent a pass as a "canned gestures" is completely ignoring reality. Obviously there is not much possibility for a controller to have a 1 to 1 motion control that represents "tackle", but I think the designers are working to get it as intuitive as possible. Once we get our hands on the games, we will know if they have been successful.
Kuu2 @ Sep 13th 2006 2:22PM
No Wii for me please. I love my DS but, the more I hear about stupid things like this the less I want to buy a Wii.
s @ Sep 13th 2006 2:20PM
to #18, it sounds like you didn't read the article. he said there are simplified methods of playing, such as the default receiver mode where the ball goes whichever receiver the play was designed for.
basically making football for a beginner as easy as flick your wrist up to hike and throwing motion to hit the go-to guy.
basically making it a motion sensitive tecmo bowl if you ask me. that works well for someone who doesn't know much about madden. my four year old can do that I'm sure. I can't say that'd be true if I hand him the 360 controller. he'll lose every time.
for a reference point, my son is actually pretty good at a lot of games for his age. football is just one of those things that is too complicated as it stands in the videogame world.
vidGuy @ Sep 13th 2006 2:21PM
I LOVE the passing control! You select your receiver with the button, then throw. "it feels a little slower than passing in the other versions of the product, but it also makes you think a little more about where you're throwing." I think that's pretty neat.
Fake snaps are awesome. "But in order to do a hard count, or a fake snap, what you do is hold the B button on the trigger of the Wii remote and then you do the snap. And so to somebody who is sitting on the couch watching you, it looks like you've just snapped the ball."
So I'm not sure if all games are going to achieve the "simple" control Nintendo is looking for, but look how many actions Madden has.
The buzzing is a neat idea, but I doubt it'll be used very often.
This control method is definitely looking like a lot of fun. And with more features and play modes than the 360 version of Madden 06/07, I'll take the moderate graphical downgrade. I'll probably be picking this up at launch.
Fuji @ Sep 13th 2006 2:34PM
so how is snapping a controller back not simple? gestures are more natural form of movement than hitting a button. i stopped playing sports games because i have to hit z to hike, x,y,ab to throw the ball, r1 to shake someone off, r2 to dive, or was it L2? this is going to be the easiest game of video game football to play since Tecom bowl with A to hike, B to slecet the passer and A to throw.
i really think that people are scared about how this will all work. but i can say that myself and my two roommates are planning on buying a Wii, one for each of us.
J B Cougar @ Sep 13th 2006 2:52PM
I like Martin. He read the article in its entirety and was therefore able to dismiss the silly fanboy with the old Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V trick that showed he was basing his opinion on facts. While Martin's approach may not be as fun as simply producing crap from one's ass and stating it as fact, it is the proper course of action.
striderhayasa @ Sep 13th 2006 2:58PM
@ Zertross
I have to disagree. The Wii will have a Zelda, a metroid, a Mario a Smash Brothers, Tony hawk, FarCry etc etc etc from launch through to the six month period. These few games alone destroy any comparison to the DS launch window.
Back on topic, I'm seriously considering picking up Madden and I, too, am a big fan of 2K. The controls make it more interesting and inspire at least giving it a try. Also, it still kills me how people can write off the control scheme and haven't tried it yet.
greg @ Sep 13th 2006 5:48PM
I have to use this wii remote for myself, it doesnt look that some say that its more natural than hitting buttons Thats like saying were doing away with QWERTY cause voice recognition is more natural. That excuse just dosent sound tight to me. when i play a game i want the character im playing to move naturally NOT ME...I dont want to move Damnit! I think im the only idiot that thinks that the wii will be like The GC because of its controller. Dont get me wrong im not hating neither am I anti NINTY but to me a bad idea is just a bad idea. And this controller is just a bad idea... and yes in all the videos people did look ackward...and no not in that 1st time playing baseball or 1st time rollerblading....This was different it just looks aggreivating
Nmaster @ Sep 13th 2006 3:23PM
Now I just have to get this for me and my girlfriend!
(I leave any innapropriate conjecture to you...)
cringer8 @ Sep 13th 2006 3:23PM
Finally! All those years of being a Boy Scout are going to pay off (since I never made Eagle Scout). I can use my antiquated morse code skills to send elaborate "secret" messages to...to...well crap, I would need to play with someone who knows morse code, too. My advantage has gone as quickly as it came.
..-. ..- -.-. -.- .. -
Brian @ Sep 13th 2006 3:38PM
Umm, am I going to have to be the one to say this?
Yeah looks like it. How the fuck do you run or play defense in this game? There is no, none, zero, zip, nada, no fucking way that the wiimote can make the running game or defense feel intuitive or natural.
aZn_1080p @ Sep 13th 2006 3:52PM
Yeah its going to be sooooo cool! draw a figure 8 with the wiimote to tackle! Make an x in the air to kick! wave your arms like a pansy to dive!
FSK405K @ Sep 13th 2006 3:51PM
Adapted from #22, turned into ad lib...think dirty!
"Based on that logic, if you watched people ______ for the first time you might think the entire ______ is awkward. However if you watch even a 10 year old who is familiar with ______, the motions are all fluid and efficient. The same can be said for most any activity."
FSK405K @ Sep 13th 2006 3:53PM
oops...forgot half of it:
"Based on that logic, if you watched people ______ for the first time you might think the entire ______ is awkward. However if you watch even a 10 year old who is familiar with ______, the motions are all fluid and efficient. The same can be said for most any activity. Ever seen a first timer on ______ ? It's one of the most awkward things I have ever seen. That does not make it a valid reference for claiming that ______ in general is an awkward means of ______ . Unless of course you are against ______ from the outset, in which case, a comment like that would make sense."
jcmschwa @ Sep 13th 2006 3:54PM
i really wish my future ps3 had rumble capabilities right about now... :'(
FSK405K @ Sep 13th 2006 3:59PM
Speaking of inuendo, I'm impressed, Nmaster, that we got all the way to #37 before anyone made any vibration references.
Steve @ Sep 13th 2006 4:04PM
40. On the PS3 version, you push the "home" button to rumble the other player's controller, right? Oh wait... maybe they'll replace that with a "shake your controller into your partner's arm left-to-right".
ThornedVenom @ Sep 16th 2006 5:00PM
I assume that if they included this feature, that'd mean that the rumble doesn't make much sound.
I congratulate them for innovating the gaming experience.
Russell Carroll @ Sep 13th 2006 4:22PM
The E3 version of Madden was the most difficult of the Wii games I played from a physical standpoint. When playing I had a tendancy to move my wrist instead of my arm. Doing so ended up being quite painful. For example, reaching up with my thumb to press 'up' on the control-pad while also moving the Wiimote forward was a painful gesture. After a single set of downs I was in enough pain I couldn't imagine playing further.
Since that experience I've considered how I might have moved my arm (elbow up) instead of my wrist as I think it would give a much less painful experience. I think it will be interesting to see the reviews on this game as it comes out as the personal experience will likely factor into the review scores more than on traditional games. For my part I want to give it another try, perhaps rent it. I have been excited about what I've read, but have that lingering memory of heading out to the car after leaving the Wii booth and having my wrist in a lot of pain from this one game.
Paul P. @ Sep 13th 2006 4:22PM
Brian, how do you run defense or running plays? How about you read the damn interview. It's voered extensively. Obviously the joystick moves you. The remote represents your arms for stiff arming and stuff and the nunchuck represents your body for juking. I think you use a button for diving. There are even new actions not in the previous madden if you use both your arms and body at the same time, and you can "power through" some tackles by shaking the controller to pump your legs.
Defense has some similar controls and perfect timing with a push will allow you to increase your tackling ability.