The EA team has done a great job with Madden 10 and I think it really shows in the replay value of the game. Replay value is the amount of time someone plays a game. Ususally sports games have great replay value because sports is 24/7 365 days. Madden 10’s Online Franchise adds big replay value to the game because this is something that people have been asking for and it’s something you and your friends can get involved in. Madden Co-Op is another replay added bonus to Madden 10 and it allows you to team up with a friend and play against the computer.
Another thing that I have been taking part in since 2004 that adds replay value to me is the Madden Wars League aka MW: The League. MW: The League is unlike any other Madden Football league that you’ve been a part of. The league is specifically geared for those who love Madden and can’t get enough of playing it online. Traditional leagues have up to 32 owners, with each one picking a team to represent and try to take to the Super Bowl. In most traditional leagues you can only play one or two league games a week as the commissioner tries to keep things moving. MW: The League has over 50 players and there is no limit to the amount of games you play. Like I said, it’s unlike any other league you’ve ever known.
MW: The League is comprised of 6 teams, The Shop, The Alliance, The Federation, The Agency, The Fraternity, The Syndicate, all with 8 players on each team. The object of each team is to get more points than the other team before the season is over and move on to the playoffs. You can earn points for your team in 4 ways.
1. Random Points – A random point is when you jump online and play anyone from the other team. The great thing about Madden Wars is you don’t have to be the best player to earn points for your team. If you win you get 2 points and if you lose you get 1 point. That right there gives you at least 40 other people you can play everyday, every week, every time you jump on. We are only 3 days in to our first season this year and we have already played a total of 150 games. That’s just awesome.
2. Flag Games – In Madden Wars we have what we call flag games. A flag game is a scheduled game against someone on another team at a particular stadium, in a particular battle mode. Battle modes are a specific way you play Madden against your opponent. There are 6 battle modes this year and each stadium has 5 battle modes in each. So for instance, FedEx Field (Was) has Home Security, Starless, Division, Disaster, and Switcheroo as the battle modes in that stadium. In a Starless battle mode (my favorite) each player picks their team and then they choose 3 players from the other team that their opponent can’t play with. You choose someone from the offense and someone from the defense and then any other player, but not a duplicate position. So let’s say it’s the Redskins vs. Cowboys. If I was the Skins, I would take out Romo, Felix Jones, and Demarcus Ware and my opponent would have to play the game without any of those players in the game. The other Battle modes are different but also provide a twist to playing the game. This is the main reason why I’ve played Madden year round. I hardly ever get the same matchups and you get used to playing with a teams you wouldn’t ordinarily play with. Each leader of a team submits a Flag schedule and those people have to play that week and the winner gets a flag for that battle mode in the assigned stadium. A flag win is worth 10 points, you get nothing if you lose.
3. Securing a Stadium – If a team is the first team to get all 5 flags at a stadium they secure that stadium and no other games can be played there. They also get 100 points for their team and a chance to use that stadium in the playoffs if they make it to the playoffs.
4. Tourney Wins – Every Friday we have two tournaments. If you win the tournament you get 5 points for your team, plus all the random wins you accumulate on your way while in the tournament.
I know it seems like a lot but it’s a lot of fun. MW: The League is for Str8/Sim players. We play to have fun and compete in a fun way.
Farm System
We also have a farm system for guys who want to be a part of the league and play guys in the league. Farm players can be signed to a 5-day contract to play for a team if one of the players on the team goes on IR. We also release players and sign players from the farm. A farm player can play anyone they want and they can enter into the tournaments.
Once you start playing in Madden Wars and you compete in the crazy battle modes we have, you’ll understand why guys there play Madden year around. Before the season started I saw the same 3 teams from my opponent online almost every time; Cowboys, Vikings, and Eagles. Now I see a different team almost every time I play, thanks to Madden Wars.
If you are looking for something a little different then head on over to MaddenWars.com and sign up to the farm.
