GameCenter - Issue 65 - 50

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PARTING SHOTS

Michael Young
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MADDEN NFL 20

WGC: With Patrick Mahomes on the cover
of Madden NFL 20, what kinds of changes to
the quarterback position will he be bringing with him to the game?
Michael Young: Patrick was a huge inspiration
for our whole creative. This year was about
making superstars feel like superstars, so we
tried to separate the players with animations and abilities to make superstars feel like
game-changing stars. A lot of the quarterbacks
now have unique throwing animations. Aaron
Rodgers is known to be able to throw on the
run, and he has a very neat throwing style
where he tiptoes on one foot. We looked at
things like how Mahomes can throw perfect
accurate cross-body passes. The Chiefs run a
ton of plays like that. It's a skill that only he has
shown to be amazing at.

"This year was about
making superstars
feel like superstars,
so we tried to
separate the players
with animations and
abilities..."

VITAL SIGNS
OCCUPATION
CRE ATIVE DIREC TOR, E A TIBURON
GAME HIGHLIGHT S
MADDEN SERIE S (SINCE 2007)

WGC: The new Superstar X-Factors give the
best players in the game added perks that
give them the chance to have moments
where they shine. How many players in the
game have those perks, and what are a few
examples of your favorite X-Factors?
MY: There are 50 X-Factor players, and that list
will change throughout the year, so somebody
might play their way onto the list, somebody
might play their way off. It's about separating
players for what they're known for, so it's about
realism. For example, Tom Brady has the ability
where, if he's in the zone, we will highlight the
first open receiver. In Madden, you're the brain
of the quarterback, so this is our way of making you feel like Tom Brady.
WGC: The Run Pass Option is finally making
its debut in Madden. How did the team
bring RPO to the game?
MY: This was a cool year in that we had the
one primary feature for the gameplay team to
go after [with X-Factors], but there are so many
people on the team that were so passionate
about getting RPOs in because they're such a
staple of the league. So our team built the prototype using our triple-option technology and
figured it out. The prototype was compelling
and fun, and so we just worked to polish it.

ichael Young started with the Madden
team in 2007 as the art director for
Madden NFL 08. He became creative
director in 2012 and shortly after began writing what would become the WGA-nominated
"Longshot" story mode. Young spoke with us
about moving beyond "Longshot" and making
NFL superstars feel like superstars.

WGC: "Face of the Franchise - QB1" is replacing "Longshot" this year, letting players
take a created character from the College
Football Championship Game to superstardom. Why did the team decide to make a
change in this direction? Are the college
teams appearing in Madden NFL 20 teasing
a return of NCAA Football?
MY: We noticed that people want to personalize their experiences. So that was the emphasis: Let players make it feel like it was their
character, their name, their face, their voice,
and go through a fantasy. This isn't a tease for
the return of NCAA Football, but the big thing
I find is that when you play sports games, you
love to write your own story of getting there,
and a big part of that is playing in high school
and college. We thought it was important
not to fake that. Maybe we'll expand on this
experience, but it's about getting into the NFL
and writing your backstory instead of being
told your backstory.
WGC: Ultimate Team returns this year, adding new Challenges and Missions. How will
these new ideas and options improve the
Ultimate Team experience?
MY: Ultimate Team previously had a steep
learning curve, so missions basically give you
little subquests, where if you want to earn, say,
that T.J. Watt power-up card, this is the path
to do it. Missions help people understand all
the ways they can get what they want because
it's a very deep mode. When you give players
more of a crafted experience, it's just packaged
in a nice way that makes sense and doesn't
overwhelm you.
WGC: If you could have any one Superstar
X-Factor to improve your daily life, what
ability would you want to have, and what
would you use it for?
MY: Well, the easiest one is the Patrick Mahomes zone ability to throw the ball 80 yards
because you can just impress people. You know,
you get to tailgating, warm up your arm, and
go for it. That's the only one that's functional in
my life.

https://www.walmart.com/browse/video-game-titles/madden-nfl-20/2636_7899038_6075006_1874379

GameCenter - Issue 65

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GameCenter - Issue 65