Madden 14 Wishlist

While Madden 14 might not be released until August 2013, sports gamers are already thinking ahead with a wish list of features missing in Madden 13 (read the Madden 13 Review for PS3 here) that we want to see in next year’s game. Certainly the addition of features such as the new physics engine and the Connected Career modes has added up to a huge leap for the EA Sports NFL video game. Nevertheless, this article will produce a preliminary wish list for Madden 14‘s new features.

1. Madden 14: Return to Windows PCs

This might be one of the more controversial wish list items because most gamers that play sports games stick strictly to the PS3 or Xbox 360. But with this year’s release of FIFA 13 for PC, the industry was reminded by EA Sports that sports games on the PC can and will be relevant and fun to play. There are no better graphics capabilities than on a PC and when coupled with an Xbox 360 controller, it’s definitely debatable whether console or PC is the better gaming experience for a sports game, especially Madden 14. That said, imagining the graphics capability of a mid-range gaming rig coupled with the bleeding-edge graphics and physics of what should be in Madden 14 brings thoughts of an NFL video game experience like never before.

2. Improved Play by Play

The new commentator team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms plus all new play-by-play logic and tons of new lines was a welcome one in Madden 13. Given the bloody disaster that was the play-by-play in Madden 12, most Madden gamers were satisfied (barely) with the upgrades given in this year’s edition. However, we’re looking for another huge leap in Madden 14 to the point where after playing one season in Connected Career all voice lines haven’t been exhausted. Phil Simms tends to repeat a ton of his lines over and over which eventually will probably force you to turn off this feature, something that never happens in FIFA or NHL games. Improvement in this area is really key as it remains the Madden series’ biggest weakness.

3. Smoother / Faster Gameplay in Online Mode

While most gamers don’t have the 15+Mbps connection that others might enjoy, it’s high time that the games are smoother and faster when played 1v1 in online mode. The games have always historically played not just one, but a full two notches below what you would experience offline and the difference is almost jarring if you go back and forth on a regular basis. With all of the compression technologies available plus increased bandwidth for most of the United States, there’s no reason EA Sports can’t put more time into this and make the Madden 14 online gaming experience crisper, smoother and more like what one experiences in offline mode.

4. Better Highlight Packages

Last year’s edition had a decent highlight package, but this feature seems to have regressed in this year’s edition. In Madden 14 gamers should demand a much better highlight package for before the game, at halftime and after the game. The pre-game package is barely existent and doesn’t make much sense, with players (sans helmets) in studio standing around and trying to look tough. At halftime there are no highlights as the presentation package in Madden 13 simply shows players high-fiving during the pre-game festivities and closeups of impact players and coaches. Finally, Madden 13 gives a true highlight package at the end of the game, although it’s nowhere near what it should be considering the contest has been decided. A fully updated post-game highlight package should definitely be on the list of upgrades for Madden 14 and for brownie points, gamers should be able to upload their highlight packages to YouTube or Facebook to share with friends.