Can Backbreaker survive without the NFL license

"Come June 1st, Madden again has a rival in the form Backbreaker, which will be launching on both the Xbox 360 and PS3. Developed by Natural Motion, the Backbreaker team is looking to shake the formula up by focusing on realistic physics by implementing the Euphoria engine. This allows the team to create more life- like and realistic movement and reactions by the players. If you played Star Wars the Force Unleashed, you’ve seen the engine in action.

Now, this sounds great, and I for one would be pretty excited if I heard this was a bullet point on the list of improvements to this year’s madden; however, like many, I’m little wary to give my unwavering support to new sports game before I can actually get my hands on it. So, I really can’t comment as to the quality of the game. Obviously, if Natural Motion can deliver an experience that rivals or even complements Madden, they’ll probably do ok for themselves. But will most gamers even give it a shot without the NFL License?"

[cain141]

The demo will have to impress me for me to give this a shot...

[presto717]

Is Ed-Too-Tall Jones too tall?
Does a ten pound bag of flour make a really big biscuit?

I think we have our answer folks.

[shoinan]

Shouldn't be, but it is.

[nnotdead]

i agree, but i think the Madden name is even more important. 2K5 was the best football game ever, and Madden still out sold it on name alone.

[iceman06]

Madden had a pedigree that stretched as far as most sports gamers could remember. Even if games weren't great every year, most people felt that they knew what they were getting into when purchasing Madden (for better or for worse). 2k, on the other hand, was a relative newcomer to the field. Those that didn't own a Dreamcast might have never played it. Those that DID should have realized that the game changed from Dreamcast to the iterations on PS2 and Xbox. It was almost like starting over for them (Visual Concepts).

[Nykamari]

It was nothing real about it, c'mon bro how could it be any good if you could charge your player and run through the entire defense. Don't get me wrong I loved the presentation but the gameplay well it SUCKED! That's why it lost the NFL Lisences

[karlowma]

The NFL2Kx games were superior to Madden, at a time when the Madden series was growing stale, little more than a yearly roster update. These days, there seem to be a lot more enhancements made to the Madden games with the yearly revisions, something for which I think we can thank 2K Sports and the competition they provided. I think it's complete BS, though, that someone can have exclusivity to the NFL/PA licenses. Anti-competition at it's finest.

[midi]

Always meant to play Madden but as a Brit, the whole sport is pretty impenetrable. Maybe stripping the game of the NHL license would be a good thing for folks like us?

[cain141]

It's a UK developer making the game. They are using regulation and deregulation in one of the carear type modes...

Those are very foreign to us US people...

[va_bank]

It has similarities to rugby. Plus lots of info on the internet - take the time to learn and you wont regret it. Plus I think there's one NFL game every year that's played in London - not sure how that started or what it's about, but last year the Patriots & Buccaneers were there.

[Ziriux]

No, just like other football competitors.

[johnbknight]

I think it sounds lame... I liked 2k's version a lot... But a competitor without NFL players, that sounds so boring...

[orange-skittle]

That would make you a name whore. A true fan wants a great football game. If you need player names and team colors to make you play a great football, then you might as well stick to being a Maddenite

[frankymv]

Will be tough for this game to survive w/o an NFL license. Pricing the game at $10 less than madden is a step in the right direction, however, I don't think it offers anything that compelling that requires a purchase. Who knows..though.

[cain141]

I agree. Even if the game is just exceptional, it's going to have a hard time getting that mainsteam appeal...

[rbluetank]

i have been playing ALOT of MAG lately... i just picked up fear2 from a store closing for $8 bucks... and ReddeadR is comming out soon... i do not know if i will have time to pay/play backbreakers.... i hope the beta convinces me to make time for this game... i do like it and i want it....

[qwertyuiopasdfghjkl]

Awhile back I posted about this game, and as a long term, mutual development standpoint, it would have made more sense to sign a deal with the Arena Football league. Heres why...

1. It would have been a real license. Which means real teams and real players.
2. It would have injected a new audience into the already growing sport.
3 It would have been a win-win for all parties involved. On one side, you have the newly merged AFL with a huge boost in fanbase and ratings, while the other side is a newly cemented video game franchise rivaling its NFL counterpart.

So whats better... "Generic football with no-ties to any real world sports game aka BackBreaker" ... or "ARENA™ Football 2011"

with a caption on the box that says *Madden Eat Your Heart Out! -GameInformer*

[iceman06]

I was just wondering if the mighty EA still has the license to the AFL as well? Or, did the reconstitution of the league free up the AFL for new deals?

[orange-skittle]

EA bought the license to the AFL, NCAA, NFL, and ESPN to stop any football game from being made. Try reading more, it helps you not like a moron when you speak. Maybe you should also know that NFL Network broadcasts AFL games which means there's a bargaining agreement there. Can you say Partnership. Arena(AFL) needed exposure and it gets it from the NFL.

[divideby0]

as much as the videos look kewl.... I got to play a demo (not a crap 1 min quarter demo) and be convinced this is work the $$.
bring on a good demo

[AutoCad]

I dont know why so many people hate EA for releasing Madden...
Every year they add something different to the game..

But , the physics on this game are really superior to madden.

[iceman06]

They DO add something...whether it is truly a NEW concept is really about perception. There are this "bulletpoints" that Madden drops on us every year. However, if you have been playing Madden throughout the years you will realize that some of those "new" concepts were in Madden games that were long forgotten. Plus, let's just be honest, there hasn't been a true evolution in Madden (at least for me) since the early 2000's. There have been gameplay tweaks that make it "better", but no leap that makes the gamers (aside from Madden die hards) get excited.

[AutoCad]

You have a point, but its just the best football game out still..
Maybe thats due to its exclusive nfl license,but i think the game is really enjoyable every year.

[cpuchess]

The thing that bothers me is the lack of info. What about career mode, franchise mode, half time show etc etc

[well_damn]

Isnt this the last last year for EA's exclusive NFL license?

[donscrillinger]

e.a. has the nfl till 2013 and 2k ive heard will be biding and they have espn till 2015

[HungPHAT]

Ya I think Backreaker can be a AWESOME game ! why ? because it's new , fresh , innovationg Madden is the same overall broken Glitchie , laggie and boring Madden year after year ! EA bought out the NFL name so that kills all NFL licensed Football games.

[voice_of_ reason]

I really hoped, nay wished, that Backbreaker would be able to dethrone Madden. If the gameplay was great then the lack of an NFL license wouldn't matter too much. However, after watching the recent videos, I have a feeling the game will be just mediocre. I hope I'm wrong because Madden is such a horrible video game. From a technical standpoint, Madden is broken--it has the most glitches and inconsistencies I've ever seen in a game. Also, the devs of Madden will not address the glitches (the ball still flys through people's hands, head, body, etc. and this has been a glitch since Madden on the ps2) because they rather add gimmicky features. If it wasn't for the NFL license, Madden would be obsolete.

[donscrillinger]

im hopeing that i wont be eatin my own words with this game ,ive been riding this horse every since i first seen this game .it looks really good im just hopeing that the controls are very polished and the camera angle is str8 they'll have a winner

[Funky Town_TX]

I have played Madden for the past 20 years. This year, Madden 10 was the first Madden that I skipped. I hope BB turns out to be good. I don't need an NFL license. There is a team creation tool and if there is a file share then all will be good. It's the gameplay and the play options that will matter. Now the lack of a franchise mode could be a problem.

[VoicesInMyHead]

sucks