Alternate Futures

I've talked a little about this before, but part of the reason I enjoy the Madden games is the franchise mode that allows you to take a GM-type role with a team, making personnel decisions as you take them through the season. Not only can you come up with your own narratives based around the decisions you make, but the choices made by the 31 teams being simulated by the game lead to some entertaining stories as well. Here are some of the scenarios that have played out in future seasons, according to Madden:

1. The 2018 (I believe) Packers hit 11-4 before Aaron Rodgers is out with an injury that will extend into the playoffs. Desperate, they sign Michael Vick, who had been a free agent all season after several years of bouncing between teams (rated a 68 at this point). But Vick comes through--he gets the Packers through the playoffs before letting Aaron Rodgers take back over for the Super Bowl, which they win. Vick retires afterwards with the only Super Bowl ring of his career.

2. After spending his entire career with the Colts, Peyton Manning is released as a free agent and picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have a solid receiving core and a strong O-line, but lack a reliable quarterback. Manning goes on to have his strongest season in several years, and faces his brother Eli in the NFC Championship. The Bucs win and go on to take the Super Bowl, allowing him to retire with one last ring.

3. Serious salary cap issues (before I learned how to manage it better) force the Packers to release two of their veterans, QB Aaron Rodgers and CB Tramon Williams. Rodgers goes to the Dolphins, where he stays for the duration of his career but unfortunately never makes it back to the playoffs. Williams goes to the Bears, who release him a season later. The Packers pick him back up and he proceeds to save the NFC championship game with a clutch interception late in the fourth quarter.

It's kind of silly and it's (if anything) a secondary concern for the developers, but the opportunity to come up with little stories is probably the reason I keep playing the game. People say that sport games lack depth, but the fact is, sports lack depth when you look at them as simple physical competitions. Passion in sports comes from the little stories--the loyal veterans, the player stories, the dedicated fans. You may have to work a little harder to find it in a video game, but I like to think it's still there.