Tradition is a massive part of college football, as Saturdays in the fall are filled with rivalries between universities that consider football to be part of their core identity go back as many as 100 years. EA Sports has identified school traditions as a huge component of college football, and its commitment to make the idea a central part of the game whenEA Sports College Footballreleases could be a game changer that stands out fromMaddenin a big way.
In the days of theNCAA Footballseries, each year’s entry released about a month prior to EA’sMadden NFL, making it a challenge to offer a unique experience. Until its cancellation followingNCAA Football 14, the college football series was widely recognized as more innovative, featuring a wider variety of modes likeRoad to Glory and Online Dynastyas theMaddenseries often played it safe. Now thatEA Sports College Footballis bringing the college-level experience back, EA is finding ways to make the game not just a carbon copy ofMadden, with embracing school tradition being a great answer.
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Tradition Defines College Football
Elements like the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” playing at the University of Georgia are as much a part of the college football experience as the games themselves, and EA Sports would do well to incorporate as many unique traditions as they can into the presentation ofEA Sports College Football. Including school-specific items and actions within the individual stadiums will help EA avoid a more generic, corporate presentation, and ultimately giveEA Sports College Footballa chance to be among thebest football video games.
Universities with a long history of winning like Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Notre Dame, and more should have that traditional success represented by making it easier for them to recruit thebest players available inEA Sports College Football. Players looking for a bit of an “easy mode” can play with one of those teams in the Dynasty career mode, while those looking for more of a challenge could convert a school like Arizona or Vanderbilt into a college football powerhouse. All the while, they could be building a tradition of their own that would be reflected in the game.
Among the differentfeatures included inEA Sports College Football, like Road to Glory and Dynasty, is the inclusion of playbooks that are authentic to each individual school. Unlike the NFL, where head coaches tend to have a short shelf life with each team, successful college coaches stay at the same school for longer - sometimes decades. As a result, certain styles of offense or defense become synonymous with that specific team. Players may be able to use Navy’s triple-option offense, Louisiana Monroe’s two quarterback scheme, or Oregon’s high-octane offensive attack.
The same is true on the defensive side, with playbooks that set schools apart making big matchups even more unique. Facing Alabama’s blitz-heavy attack or Penn State’s defense using dominant linebackers, even fans of Missouri should be able to recognize the dominant defense that is the team’s historic strength. Given one of the manyissues inMadden 23is the sameness of play styles among all players, distinct playbooks that represent the variety of identities on offense and defense at the university level will be a welcome addition toEA Sports College Football.
EA Sports College Footballis currently in development.
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