Gridiron for everyone with Madden NFL Arcade

Danny Doeberling, Associate Designer of Madden NFL Arcade, tells eu.playstation.com about the new American Football title coming to PlayStation Store.

3 on 3 NHL Arcade made ice hockey more accessible to those not so familiar with it; is Madden NFL Arcade trying to do something similar with American football?

Yes, NHL Arcade did a great job of breaking down barriers for making a quick, pick up and play sports experience. Football can be overwhelming for newcomers so we eliminated that steep learning curve by simplifying playcalling. You don't need to know entire playbooks or formations any more. All you do is pick a type of pass or run and the game calls the play for you.

Which aspects of gridiron have you focused on?

We tried to balance arcade gameplay with the traditional Madden experience. The hits are harder, catches can be spectacular, and big plays can happen at any moment.

How do the controls work?

We have two types of controls in Madden NFL Arcade. There is a simplified version with everything you need in a convenient place. If you are familiar with the standard Madden controls, we give you that option as well.

Why five members per team?

The number of players on the field is always a balancing act. When there are too many, it decreases the chances of a big play and it looks crowded on our condensed field. On the flip side, too few players on the field and defence becomes frustrating due to too much open field. I think we found a great balance with 5 on 5, as it is fun to play on both sides of the ball.

How else have you changed the traditional rules?

You have four downs to progress up the field and score, and if you can't then the ball turns over to the other team. After a touchdown, you can choose to take the extra point or try to go for the two point conversion.

If you're not happy with that, you can customise the rules however you want.

What were you trying to achieve with the art style?

We took a more stylised view of each of the different player positions. Wide receivers have that tall speedy look; the quarterback is a typical hero figure; and the big guys... well, they are some big guys!  We really wanted to inject the larger than life personality of the NFL.

How do you earn Game Changers and what do they do?

Game Changers are given to the user throughout the course of the game and can be used for one play. We have some crazy ones too - speed up or slow down the game; freeze a player, or use Entourage and your entire offensive line shows up as a convoy to the end zone.

We look forward to seeing the strategy used once players start earning them. Guaranteed, you'll be constantly hoping you get one to use on the next play.

Can we expect to see arcade versions of other sports, such as football or golf?

I really don't have an answer for that. If people like the gridiron and hockey games then maybe there will be a need to make others. Until then, the next game I'll be pitching is 7 on 7 Extreme Rugby Curling. Cross your fingers for that one!