I want to start out by saying I am a huge football and Madden fan. I am very excited for the start of the football season next week, and I have purchased a Madden game every year for the past 10.

For Madden fans, August is not just the last month before school starts but also the time to start thinking about football. Not only does August mark the start of the NFL pre-season but the release of the newest installment of the Madden franchise.  I cannot think of a video game franchise that has been more successful than Madden in selling million of copies each and every year. The question has been raised before. Do we really need a new Madden game every year?

Like I stated earlier I have purchased a Madden game, every year, for the last 10 years or so. I finally think this year may be the first time I may go without purchasing the new installment. Besides the big system jumps for Madden, GC to Wii, Madden games normally see very little changes when it comes to game play. Each year EA takes the time to re-rate each player and update rosters. Each year they hype up some new feature that either no one really cares about or makes you wonder why this was not already in the game. Half the time that “big feature” is dumbed down or taken out by the time the next Madden game is released. The only reason to buy a new Madden game is for the roster update, but does that really matter?

When playing Madden most people choose a team they are fans of in real life. For me that is the Atlanta Falcons. I am fully aware of the Falcons’ mis-givings on defense. I am not a loyalist to players when I play Madden. My only goal is to win and if that means cutting and moving players around to give me a better chance to win, I will do just that. When I start a season I normally have, at least, 5-8 players that are different than the real life Falcons’ roster. If I think I need another receiver, I will pick one up, If I think I need another corner back, I will pick one up. To me I am playing to win and like real life I will make the needed changes to win. The same could be said for teams that I play. I do not care who I defeat as long as I win. Isn’t that the whole point of Madden, winning?

I can hear it now, all those hardcore Madden fans yelling at their computer screens. “What about the rookies who come in next year?! My favorite QB proved himself better than his last Madden rating?! What about……ahhhhhhhhhhh!?!?!” Ok, is that out of your system now? Good, let’s move on. I agree each year the landscape of the NFL changes drastically, players move around, teams and players get better or worse, but do we need to pay $60 for something that could be done with a quick download from EA? Yes, it is nice to have all the new players on a team, or play with the number one pick in the draft, but most of the other players on the team are disposable to me. Also, the only time Madden games make a big leap with actual game experience will be the first two games of a new system. Now that we are reaching the half-decade mark in all the systems, EA has pretty much reached the climax of what can be accomplished for this generation. Yes I know there is a few tweaks that, to some, make the game experience better, but once again is that worth $60?

For EA making a Madden game each year comes down to money. As long as a new Madden game comes out each year, people will buy it. In all honesty EA could make just as much money or more by charging $10-20 for a patch that adds roster updates. I can hear you screaming again. “How is charging $20 equal to $60?” Simple, my angry friends, it will take a heck of lot less man power and resources to release a patch, lets say every other year instead of a new game, which will create a different profit margin that could equal or surpass that of releasing an actual game. Also, those, extra developers could be moved over to create a new IP or something more profitable.   EA could benefit by spending an extra year on games to really make that next game better. Plus, with a year off the hype for the next Madden game would make every fan crazy and probably blow a blood vessel with their excitement.