I remember back in the ’90s firing up my Sega Mega Drive and trying out an NFL video game.

Given that I live in New Zealand, a country that believes the forward pass is in fact an act of heresy, and given that my knowledge of the NFL was based on a few highlights packages, my newly installed Sky TV decoder and the original Longest Yard, I really didn't know what to expect from Madden.

So I smashed the cartridge in, as you had to do with the Mega Drive and began to play. I'll admit it now, I am a Bears' fan – born of Superbowl XX highlights – but back in ’93 the Bears were in the downward spiral of a truly awful 15 to 20 years. So there was no chance I would play them – no, I was the Cowboys with Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin absolutely tearing it up. I was hooked and the commentary even then was great.

‘So here is the point – you can't have Madden without Madden and for those simple souls such as me, it just needs to be about playing football.’


So fast forward to PlayStation and then PS2. The game-play improved, as did the features such as player creation, team creation (especially in the '02 version with the expansion Texans) and Madden Cards.

But all through it one thing remained the same – the name on the front was the voice of the game. Sure, his lead commentator changed from the Iconic Pat Summerall to the Monday Night Legend Al Michaels (shame on you Disney/ABC/ESPN!) but you still got Coach Madden with his superb commentary and insights.

In 2006, which I now believe is the best version, they brought the "Create a Superstar" feature,  which allowed you, the humble couch potato, to at last become the NFL player you always wanted. You started off with your skills which you could hone in workouts, and had the great Terrell Davis as your mentor. It was at that point that I said goodbye to franchise mode and stuck with Superstar mode. Every year additions were made, such as the truck stick and highlight stick – but the game was essentially the same.

Last year and this year, things changed. Last year, John Madden was nowhere to be seen. The only visible reference is on the cover. Everyone knows it's Madden, but no one sees or hears him.

There is now during the game a home radio announcer who may as well not be there for all the good he does. One of the essential elements to me of playing Madden, was having Madden in the game.

This year also features the "ring builder", for completing challenges and improving skills during the game. Here's a question – why? What Madden player thought, "You know, what they're missing is an imaginary ring that I can make during the game – that'll keep me hooked!"

While I have you, I need to make one more comment about all of the icons on the field. Players with certain abilities have icons beneath them on the playing field related to that skill. For instance a punishing tackler has a brick wall, a safe wide receiver has a pair of hands etc. Again, why? Does it honestly matter that Larry Johnson can "truck" through opponents or that Reggie Bush is really really fast? You will find that out anyway.

Now the disclaimer – I love this game. It is at the head of my to buy list every year without fail. But the key to this game has always been just to play football. That is why I Iove it. But like so many things in our modern world, the simple and best things are now gone and replaced with lots of shiny objects that really don't mean much. Like the Fedex Cup in golf (Don't get me started on that!)

So here is the point – you can't have Madden without Madden and for those simple souls such as me, it just needs to be about playing football. 

And if anyone from EA is reading, can you please, for the love of all that's good and holy, sort out the outside running game. Watching halfbacks getting smashed in the backfield on sweep and stretch plays is getting frustrating.