Well maybe not so much of a paradox, but I found it interesting to say the least. Some of you may remember my thread the other day about EA bitchin about...Wii (DAMNIT I HATE THAT NAME)...development and how it was so hard to make innovative games or present new ideas. Here's the quote for the ones who missed it:
SourceEA Says Revolution Challenging
Lack of HD, high-end hardware causing roadblocks.
by Patrick Klepek
Nintendo has stressed Revolution is meant to provide a kick in the pants to the videogame industry in terms of innovation, something the average message board cynic loves to claim Electronic Arts lacks (cue rant about the latest Madden release).
The company has already pledged support for Revolution, though the only next-generation projects we've heard about have been PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360-related. EA Los Angeles VP and general manager Neil Young chatted with Gamasutra during last month's GDC and discussed the challenges of working on Nintendo's hardware.
"One of the challenges for the Revolution is that it's not HD," he said. "If you think about RTS games, one element is the control scheme, but the other is the distance from the TV screen when you're playing a console game versus a PC game."
When Nintendo's VP of sales and marketing Reggie Fils-Aime originally revealed EA was on board for Revolution at the recent 33rd Annual UBS Global Media Conference in December of last year, IGN noted the company's statement was more positive, saying the controller was "brilliant" and they "can credit Nintendo with being innovative and neat and fresh and fun."
Young went on to describe an issue with the power behind Revolution, too, as companies in possession of development kids have suggested to expect visuals on par with a jazzed up GameCube. "I mean, EA is building stuff for it, but I kind of prefer the DS. It makes the most sense to me," he said to Gamasutra.
EA developing games for Revolution is expected. What the company has in mind for Revolution outside of retrofitting their already established with Revolution hooks, however, is the bigger question. Next month should reveal more.
And here's what was revealed today...
Source with interviewElectronic Arts hasn't unveiled its full lineup of games for next month's Electronic Entertainment Expo yet, but one title that the publisher has confirmed will make its debut at the show in playable demo form is that of it flagship franchise on a new console. The ever-popular Madden franchise gets the call for Nintendo's next-gen console and is tentatively titled Madden Revolution. It's important to note that the game isn't simply titled Madden NFL 2007 for the Revolution--that's because no gamer has seen a Madden quite like this one.
For the first time in years, development on a major console version of EA's marquee franchise football series is being taken outside the doors of the company's Orlando, Florida-based EA Tiburon studio. The game is instead being handled north of the border, by a special Revolution-focused development group within EA's Burnaby, British Columbia studio.
Given that EA has dedicated a specific group to Revolution development, it stands to reason that the game will take advantage of the console's unique capabilities. While many details will have to wait until E3 kicks off, GameSpot was given an advanced scouting report that said that the gameplay will make extensive use of the Revolution controller's motion-sensing capabilities.
Players will hike the ball by mimicking a quarterback receiving the ball from the center, and then pass it to a receiver by making a throwing gesture with the free-hand controller. The faster the passing motion, the more of a bullet pass it becomes (in previous Madden editions, bullet passes were made by holding the passing button down longer).
Kicking the ball will be accomplished by sweeping the controller up as if it were a kicker's leg striking the ball. A fast, level swing will make for a hard, straight kick.
The Revolution controller will also come into play when running the ball, as jerking the controller left or right will make the ball-carrier juke to either side, while shoving it straight ahead will make him stiff-arm the opposition.
And the highlight of it all:
Exec says EA Rev games won't be straight ports.
I don't even know what to think anymore. I'm glad they won't do straight ports, as that's something I'm always worried about with that company, but outsourcing is hardly the best strategy. We'll see in less than 2 weeks though I suppose...
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Originally Posted by red_dog007
