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[DMczaf]

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200507/N05.0701.1706.05697.htm

GI: So you mention moving forward. Will that encompass the Xbox 360 version to come out later on?

Frasier: Sure, yeah. I sit literally right across the hall from the 360 guys and even though we’re focused on current-gen, we’re still very aware and active in what’s in the 360 realm of things. They are looking at the exact same access as we’re looking at.

GI: Will the 360 version be identical to the current-gen version, besides obviously the graphics?

Frasier: At this point I am not supposed to be discussing the 360 version.

GI: Did you guys try and get in on the PlayStation 3 demo at E3? Or was that sort of given to the Fight Night team? Can you talk about Tiburon and EA, and were you guys going to present at E3?

Frasier: That’s kind of above and beyond my role here on Madden.

GI: I know EA and Sony in particular like to support the older consoles once the new ones come out. I know you guys have come out with a PlayStation version of Madden for a number of years. Do you expect you make further strides in the PS2 version of Madden once the PS3 comes out?

Frasier: Yeah. Like I said, we’re already working on Madden 2007. And when I said that, I’m talking specifically current-gen. We’re taking 2007 very seriously even though the Xbox 360, the Playstation 3 and the Revolution even are just on the horizon. The current-gen systems will still be very popular with people. It takes time for the next-gen stuff to become mainstream. So we’re going to be supporting this stuff for years and years.

GI: To back up for a second. From a preproduction standpoint, is there a general pool of ideas that you guys grab from or will the current-gen lead the ideas? And then is the 360 something that you guys have to plan around otherwise?

Frasier: We have different meetings that kind of do all of the above. Sometimes, we’ll have current-gen and next-gen guys sit and talk or sometimes its just current-gen. Right now, we’re looking at some things that will be shared. We do look to share some stuff. We will still have a full team for next year on current-gen so it’s not just a roster update, it’s like this year, a big product.

GI: I’m going to pick up the Xbox version of Madden in August and I’m going to start my season and create my guy. I’ll do all that. But then obviously the 360 version will come out at launch. Are you guys thinking of anything so you can carry that stuff over?

Frasier: That’s more of a next-gen question because they would be doing a lot of the work on their side. I don’t think I should be answering even if I knew. But the reality is I don’t know.

GI: Another thing you guys did last year for the online play was to get the full features set, you had to put in your credit card information. Are you guys doing that again this year?

Frasier: We’re doing something similar. We have a deal with ESPN. I think last year, we had Dodge as our sponsor. To be honest, I’m not 100% sure what info you will need to provide in order to get that full feature set, but I do believe you will need to provide something. As a result, you will get a free trail subscription to ESPN Magazine and an ESPN Insider account for a trial period as well. You’re getting all the online features plus some ESPN stuff. That part is still being worked out and will actually be provided by a separate group.

GI: I heard that some of the online virtual locker will be scaled back a bit. Can you talk about some of that?

Frasier: The clubs concept was scaled back because of some scheduling issues. Everything else is actually being done as planned. So locker is still around. Matchmaking stuff is still around. The way the locker works is like a virtual memory card in the sky. You can share any Madden card files with anyone on your friends list. The locker is still 100% functional. The only thing we lost was clubs.

GI: Are there any gameplay tweaks to accommodate for any exploits people have found online?

Frasier: We solved all known exploits at this point. As soon as the game comes out, all of our gameplay guys and all of our designers are basically trying to have fun with because we work on it for so long that it becomes more work than fun, and then once we’re done we really get to have fun with it. We’re watching message boards. We’re watching the way people play. We’re watching stats online. We’re also going to Madden Challenge events and looking at all the glitches people are finding. At this point I think we have solved all known glitches that were in the game. And we have been testing the game for the last two months. We have been solving glitches we found internally as well. So at this point, we have none that we need to act on. Based on the amount of people that play Madden online, a glitch is bound to pop up. We gave ourselves a little more control on the server side of things so we could disable certain features. I know with the formation audible bug you could repeatedly do that to fatigue the entire defense. Our only solution to that last year was to basically hack out fatigue from online games. This year we have more control over the games so if things are found we may be able to address them.

 

[Slo]

Based on the amount of people that play Madden online, a glitch is bound to pop up. We gave ourselves a little more control on the server side of things so we could disable certain features. I know with the formation audible bug you could repeatedly do that to fatigue the entire defense. Our only solution to that last year was to basically hack out fatigue from online games. This year we have more control over the games so if things are found we may be able to address them.

Great news.

 

[Mrbob]

More like lack of next gen stuff, flakie!

 

[DMczaf]

More like lack of next gen stuff, flakie!

I said SOME! Don't blame me, blame yourself!

 

[Truelize]

The more I read about this game the more excited I get. I can't wait to play with fatigue on in our online games. That's gonna be awesome. Seeing as I have TWO amazing running backs.

Truck Stick baby. Truck Stick

 

[DMczaf]

GI: So Madden will always be named Madden?

Frasier: That’s what I would predict, yes.

GI: Have you guys had renewal contracts with Madden?

Frasier: I think we’re locked up with Madden.

GI: Can you say a length of that contract?

Frasier: No, I cannot.

Haha, EA locked him up for good!

 

[Spectral Glider]

GI: Is there new Madden audio this year?

Frasier: There is, we got new audio from Al [Michaels] and John [Madden]. We also got some new stuff from Tony Bruno. I’ll admit that the audio presentation will feel very similar to what it felt like before, we just spruced up some of the commentary that felt repetitive and we added some new events and some new stuff to talk about. But the overall flow and format of the game will be like what it was before.

Translation: It still blows and I'll have to turn it off after about 2 or 3 games like always.

 

[Catchpenny]

GI: Is there new Madden audio this year?

Frasier: There is, we got new audio from Al [Michaels] and John [Madden]. We also got some new stuff from Tony Bruno. I’ll admit that the audio presentation will feel very similar to what it felt like before, we just spruced up some of the commentary that felt repetitive and we added some new events and some new stuff to talk about. But the overall flow and format of the game will be like what it was before.

"Whoa, he looked like he was hit by a truck! A...SIX...ton truck hauling a trailer!"