Making Virtual Sports More Like the Real Thing

The New York Times has an article today with an unexpected source of game criticism: Seattle Seahawks football player Sean Alexander. The athlete made the EA execs nervous at a press conference this week, where he offered up some insightful comments about the Madden series of games. From the article: "Madden has always been great, but it's always been one-on-one, just you and another person, and real football is a team game. You should be able to make a team and play together with your friends. Like if you have 10 friends, you could all play different positions and be in 10 different houses and play together over the Internet. Or maybe you just have like five people, and you control the skill positions and the program controls the other guys."

Comments

Ah, I was taking the piss about "realism".

[Colin Smith]

Oh no, my point is about realism. There is no realism in any games, never mind sports games. Until we get Star Trek holodecks in our homes talking about realism in computer games is bullshit. At best you are exercising a finger or two.

In terms of training in class, the idea there is to make it as realistic as is possible[1] without getting hurt, mainly because it bloody hurts to breathe, never mind laugh, sneeze or train while you wait 6 weeks for your ribs to heal.

[1] Actually this idea was abandoned decades ago by many sport based martial arts, so, don't expect your head height spinning reverse round house to connect with anything but thin air and land you on your arse when you actually get cornered in an unlit parking lot. Movies (and games) are fantasy and have no basis in reality.