I Wish Madden 21 Stadiums Were Following The NFL’s Real-Life Safety Protocols
Empty stadiums would be more “true-to-life” for the 2020 season, at least.
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My previous piece on wearing face masks in video games was a (mostly) satirical take on why adding them in as vanity pieces isn’t an entirely outlandish idea. World of Warcraft is, of course, a fantasy game set in a make-believe world where, although diseases and plagues are a thing, COVID-19 doesn’t exist. Despite its in-game nods to the real world, with that kind of separation from real life, it makes sense that face masks and social awareness don’t need to be featured in-game.
It’s a bit different in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2, which features more real world-type of dynamics, such as actual skateboarding brands and real-life locations. The inclusion of a customizable facemask for player-created skaters is something that should be applauded. Of course, there is still an element of fantasy in THPS 1 & 2 with some of the ridiculously over-the-top special moves that are available. The nod to masking up is just an added bonus.
And then there’s Madden. Essentially every yearly release is touted as an immersive and realistic NFL football experience – understandably so given the amount of work that goes into making each release better than the last. Madden 21 takes things to an entirely different level, specifically on the next-gen consoles of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Not only do dynamic lighting effects and visual upgrades elevate the Madden experience, gameplay and overall player movements are also more true-to-life thanks to NFL Next-Gen Stats data. What’s not true-to-life, though? The stadiums. Each game shows off a stadium that’s filled to the brim with fans ready to take in all of the NFL action on a Thursday, Sunday, or Monday. Or a Saturday. Or… Wednesday.
It’s been an unprecedented NFL season this year. The NFL Draft was fully virtual. There were no preseason games. Games have been postponed and rescheduled due to COVID-19 related concerns (except for the Denver Broncos-New Orleans Saints game in which an undrafted rookie wide receiver from the practice squad was thrust into the quarterback role at the last-second). It’s almost as if the 2020 NFL season shouldn’t have happened. Alas, it did. NFL owners have to make ends meet, after all. Even if it comes at the expense of the players… I digress. At least the NFL has restricted stadiums from allowing fans into games at full capacity – something that Madden 21 does not take into account.
I get it. You’re not playing Madden for the crowd participation – though your players are able to jump up into the stands to celebrate with fans after scoring a touchdown. But if Madden 21 is trying to be the quintessential immersive experience for the 2020 NFL season, then shouldn’t stadiums be empty or shown with fans socially distanced in the stands of stadiums where allowed per NFL safety protocols? Players definitely wouldn’t be jumping up into the stands, in that case. I would imagine that adding masks on sidelined players would be tricky to implement from a development standpoint, but why not offer up the option of a customizable facemask for my custom-created player, or even just the coaches – many of whom have been fined by the NFL for failing to wear a mask on game day?
I fully admit that it’s a weird thing to be hung-up on. There are, after all, fantasy-like elements featured in Madden 21, such as Colin Kapernick rightfully being included among the NFL player roster – something the NFL and its owners refused to make a reality. I suppose it could boil down to the question of: can video games be more than just a game? Could Madden 21 have been equally as fun with a portrayal of league-mandated 2020 safety measures? Of course, it could.
Video games don’t necessarily need to hold themselves responsible for their representation of the real-world – most cherry-pick in that regard anyway. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to escape the reality of a global pandemic, either. But COVID-19 regulated stadiums, in my mind, would have been a pretty cool feature. It would be more “true-to-life” for the 2020 season, at least.
Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/madden-21-stadium-safety-protocols/