Madden 13 Features Voices of Phil Simms & Jim Nantz



Madden fans are very critical towards change. Each year EA sports tries to perfect one of the most anticipated video games of summer by adding enhancements to what is arguably the greatest sports game to ever be created. With yearly record sales, massive online play, tournaments, and even a reality show, Madden 13 has a loyal fan base eager to get their hands on this years version. –Release Date August 28th.

One of the biggest changes to Madden 13 is happening in the sound-booth. Phil Simms & Jim Nantz, CBS’s number-one commentary crew, are taking over to lend their voices to the game. Together they may not have the same classic catch-phrases as John Madden himself, nor do they have that insane moment voice like Gus Johnson, but overall they are far less annoying than Chris Collinsworth.

What does concern me is when play by play tries to get too cute in the color commentary. I for one am a terrible loser in Madden (at everything, who am I kidding), and don’t need funny anecdotes after failed passing plays or recycled jokes late in the fourth quarter of a blow out. Even watching the video above I felt my blood boil a little when they got off-topic. Throw in some trash talk from a 10 year old punk kid over my PS3 headset, and it might be time to purchase a new controller…and lamp. I’m old school and fall into the “hate change” demographic, let’s hope that these noobs don’t mess things up too bad.

Check out some of the other changes:

Halftime features a new stats overlay, and no halftime show. –Which I never knew they had to begin with.

The game contains all the new Nike uniforms and alternates on the disc. Some of the uniforms may have to be unlocked via a code as they are released in real life.

Lighting changes based on the time of day occur per play instead of just at quarter breaks.

Madden NFL 13 features the improved high dynamic range lighting and motion blur of NCAA Football 13.

Passing Game

EA improved the left-analog stick passing controls so you can place the ball on a receiver’s back shoulder, out toward the sideline, up high, down low, and other places where only your receiver can get it.

Madden 13 integrates new pass trajectories and ball speeds to open up more areas of the field in the passing game.

New pass animations speed up the time in which quarterbacks get rid of the ball, including a new shovel pass and specific set-ups for throws on the run.

Pump fakes are now directed toward specific receivers, occur faster, and contain specific animations when performed outside of the pocket.

Like NCAA 13, Madden features more than 20 new quarterback dropbacks, including those for 1/3/5/7-step variations, screens, and plays with auto-pump fake dropbacks. QBs even drop back automatically and set-up in the pocket if you don’t touch the left analog stick after the snap.

To improve the receiving, EA is including more than 430 new catch animations, some of which are fueled in part by the changes made to the left-analog passing stick. EA Tiburon says it also wants to make user catches easier to do by slowing down players when they select a receiver.

The quarterbacks have new moves for avoiding the pass rush. A slowed down pocket speed give you more control when you’re trying to not get sacked.

EA tweaked play-action to include an abort command that cancels the animation for those situations where a defender busts through the line. The play-action also unravels faster in general. Running backs should be better in blocking after the fake (as well as release for passes) and defenders will be faked out more by play-action.

Receivers have timing windows in their routes. When they expect the ball they’ll turn their head to the quarterback. Until this time, their passing icons are grayed out. Passing to a receiver who isn’t expecting the ball will often result in an incompletion. However, receivers will sometimes look for the ball earlier if the cornerback across the line of scrimmage blitzes or the receiver beats the jam at the line. -Pretty cool!

AI

Neither receivers nor defensive backs react to a ball unless they are expecting it (like in the case of a quick slant for receivers) or they have their heads turned and are looking at it. This should hopefully do away with the psychic defensive backs from past Madden games.

Defenses line-up opposite receivers in a best-on-best designation. This prevents your linebacker from matching up against an elite wide receiver lined up in the slot, for instance.

Defenses disguise their man or zone coverage before the snap so offenses can’t try to use motion to uncover the defense’s plans.

Defenders use different coverage techniques such as off coverage (where they start seven or so yards off the line of scrimmage and attempt to read the ball), trail techniques (including hand fighting), and split techniques (where the linebacker stands between the tight end and slot receiver).

New animations allow for simultaneous tackles while the ball is being caught (including being able to knock out the ball in mid-air), and in general the development team says it’s been working on the interplay between players while the ball is in the air.

EA promises enhanced AI playcalling for two-minute drill, goal line, clock draining, and red zone situations.

Audio

Check out the original score in Madden 13 that plays as the game enters the break between quarters.

Over 82 hours of commentary from Nantz and Simms, to keep the audio new and different each time, with over 9,000 unique lines. Most of the lines are ad-libbed and Nantz and Simms regularly have interactions and comment on what is actually happening on the field.

A new “Madden NFL 13 Theme”, composed by Colin O’Malley, to be played at the beginning of the game as well as variations heard at quarter breaks, halftime, and postgame. In addition, an approx. 15-16 track, fully orchestrated soundtrack, also composed by O’Malley, will replace EA Trax for the music on the menu screens and other game modes.

Partnership with NFL Films to get exclusive sound clips, such as QB cadences, hits/tackles, and group chatter, only available in Madden NFL 13.

New crowd noise, recorded with 24 microphones, opposed to 4 microphones in previous years.