People have been playing Madden head-to- head for more than 20 years.  In that time, nothing has turned the line between gamesmanship and sportsmanship on its ear more than online play.  Before Madden ’03, console players needed to be in the same room to play head-to-head.  Friends played friends.  Blow outs caused embarrassment and shame, but everyone would feel it with enough games.   Taking a loss became part of the Madden experience partially because of the investment required to gather competitors in the same room.  Head-to-head Madden games were truly a social engagement. 

The post-online head-to-head Madden world is very different.  Anyone can play anyone – and usually does.  Neophyte strangers to the game often square off against grizzled Madden vets.  Sometimes opponents don’t even speak and the results aren’t always pretty.  Without the friendships and commitments that used to bring Madden players together, blowouts don’t cause the same embarrassment and shame.  They cause more frustration and anger.  Neither is taking a loss the learning lesson it once was nor is Madden the true social engagement it used to be. 

Cheating doesn’t have the same meaning either.  Long ago, using a glitch in a fun game with friends might get a few laughs.  Using that same glitch in a ‘wager game,’ might get a player smacked.  The outcome was simple, easy to predict, and the rules of engagement were clearly established.  Not anymore.  Online play has removed the reward of glitching friends for fun and the punishment of glitching enemies for reward in a way that has warped our views of gamesmanship and sportsmanship.

Madden, like real life football, has players with a diverse level of competitiveness and experience. Pitting players of varied levels together in a single arena immediately presents a challenge that developers seek solutions for every year. How can the game be an enjoyable experience for new and old players without alienating either? How much of a player's enjoyment relies on his own development? And finally, how can we play together in harmony?

In our last article, titled "Madden 11 - Chess or Cheese?" we discussed the types of players seeking to play competitively and placed them in 4 categories. Now that we have an idea of what types of players there are, the next step is trying to figure out what these players expect from one another.

Anyone making a quick scan of several Madden communities will no doubt find references to terms that are foreign to football. Whether it's Rocket Catching, Nano Blitzing, Jetpacking, or Making it Rain even football savvy players may have trouble making out what these terms mean. The effect of the odd nomenclature skews the perception of some of football's most basic concepts. The nicknames associated with Madden may make some of the age old football techniques and tactics of the game seem cheap and unethical. The phenomenon of giving the most basic actions kooky names leads communities to adopt even more potentially confusing terms like STR8, SIM, TOURNEY, and FREESTYLE that befuddle the masses to describe players and styles that utilize basic football techniques that have funny names.

Over the years, many discussions regarding various aspects of Madden ethics have began and ended without reaching a viable conclusion. Some say quitting is NEVER the proper path, others disagree. The resulting fog surrounding players can lead them to believe not only that there is honor in quitting, but that players have a duty to quit in some situations. When Madden players base their sportsmanship values on the contents of these discussions, the resulting values of entire communities can change. So what are the 'rules' about quitting games and when is it OK to do so?

There's a difference between conceding defeat and quitting. One is honorable, the other is not. Quitting means abandoning effort. Concession is merely recognizing when bested. Madden players that deal with the highest ideals and the starkest realities: Madden games can get lopsided. QUICK. It can become difficult to maintain a desire to remain competitive in match ups that obviously are not. Once a game gets out of hand or worse, only a strong value system can keep players in games that they are out of. So the question beckons:

When is it OK to quit a Madden game?

When I heard that Madden NFL 11 contained 3v3 Online Multiplayer, I wanted to get excited and scream "Hallelujah" through the streets. Then I thought of my Madden 10 experience and decided to wait until I played the mode before celebrating. I'm pleased to announce that OTP is not only all I thought it would be, but it's actually more fun than basic head-to-head play.

In my first game, I wasn't aware of the level of strategy that I'd need to employ. Even so, I was playing with someone that I didn't know from Adam so my expectations were low. We lucked out. I played with someone who not only communicated well, but had obviously mastered some of the finer points of playing his position.

 

 

Of all the reasons to play Madden, the sheer numbers of competitors may be one of the most attractive. Bragging rights and the shame of losing are both functions of the how many people play Madden. Think about it, what good would it be to brag about being the best at something no one else plays? There's no glory in that, but there is glory in being the best at the most popular video game series in history.

And so it goes... When choosing opponent's it's not always possible to determine the best match-up to ensure a fun time. Anytime you have so many people playing a game, there are bound to be ranking degrees in the skill level of those seeking to participate. When two opponents are equally matched, it stands to reason that their experience with Madden will be a pleasant one. When two players are not equally matched, the lesser skilled player is likely to have the less pleasant experience.

Skill level of opponent's may be one factor in the 'fun' equation, but it's not the only factor. Players should also consider these thoughts before entering a game.

Since online play was introduced for Madden in August of 2002, the Madden community has been split on the subject of philosophy. There are those who seek the "chess match" that fervent football fans term SIM to illustrate a likeness of real NFL football. On the other side of the fence are those with a competitive drive so high they will do whatever it takes to win, even if it blurs the lines of football convention. Tactics that seemed overwhelming to some have been considered heavy on the antics and light on the strategy, while others purposely build these frustrating tactics into their game plan.

Many factors combine to determine a player's stance on the subject including, but not limited to; football experience, Madden experience, awareness, decisiveness, and mental fortitude. With all the swirling opinions, accusations, and rationalization someone must be right, right? Whom, among ethical Madden players, remains to be the question with which we wrestle.