With the NFL season about to begin, it also means we're just around the corner fromMadden season.This year EA Sports unleashes Madden 17 on August 23, though those with an EA Access subscription can get the new release Thursday, August 18.A new year means new features and improvements, with this month's release much more than a simple roster update with graphical improvements.Fans who love to run the ball and have sought after improved pass defense over the years need look no further. Madden 17 has arrived.Notable Newest FeaturesRe-worked Franchise ModeFranchise mode is one of the most critical pieces of theMaddenseries.Anyone who has ever told friends they can run a team better than real-life general managers eat franchise mode up, or at least would if they could.Franchise mode in this series has come a long way, from being a barebones feature upon the game's arrival on next-generation consoles to the full-blown experience dropping this month.The usual good stuff is still here: free agency, draft and trades. But EA Sports has implemented something called "big decisions" into the mode, delivering strategic decisions owners must make in areas such as the following:InjuriesAcquisitionsRe-SigningFree-Agent BiddingSo, what the folks in control in real life face. Whether an owner performs these like the Cleveland Browns or New England Patriots will have similar results.Franchise mode also gets plenty of help from its community, with EA Sports going out of its way to listen to fans and implement quality-of-life changes. There's now an in-season ticker on the bottom of the screen, as well as full-player editing.Franchise mode is more realistic andcustomizable than ever, giving fans the best experience in the mode to date.Presentation ChangesIt wouldn't be another year of Madden without an upgrade in the presentation department.This has already mentioned the scoreboard ticker in franchise mode, but overall presentation has received strong upgrades as well.Out are Jim Nantz and Phil Simms in the broadcast booth, meaning fans will wave goodbye to some of the tried and true repeated lines. In is the lower-profile duo of Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis, which is superb news because Davis is one of the best minds in the business.EA Sports has saved the biggest presentation changes for on the field, though, bringing the game closer to a real broadcast than ever thanks to new camera angles. The coveted pylon angle has made it into the game, as have dramatic replays like those shown on television, as an EA Sports blog post explained:In Madden NFL 17 we have introduced new cameras as well as speed ramping into the shots we capture on field. We will now show off that amazing user catch with an impactful super slow motion moment to represent what you see on NFL Broadcasts. See the play from every angle and relive your games top moments. Additionally we've extended our broadcast graphics package into replays highlighting the playmakers delivering the games biggest moments.To top it all off, the development team has worked hard to make sure coaches on the sideline react in a realistic manner to what's happening on the field. Gone are the days of the camera cutting to the coach after a touchdown only to see said coach standing still, emotionless. Well, except for maybe Bill Belichick.Humor aside, presentation feature changes promise a more broadcast-esque experience.Improved Running GameNow for the big fish.Alongside improved A.I. in the trenches to make running lanes materialize in a more timing-based, realistic manner, EA Sports has gifted ball-carriers with a new arsenal of moves.Ball-carrier special moves provide countless options based on the type of running back with the ball. Smaller backs have better jukes and spins than ever, while lumbering backs get more bowling-over potential and stiff armsall on a nifty timing-based reaction system.Those running with the ball can also toggle a new projected path indicator, which slaps an arrow on the ground in front of the runner and helps navigate through the traffic, especially at the line of scrimmage.Finally, new tackle battles mimic real life. Those plays folks see on television where a back keeps his legs moving and pushes four or five defenders on his own and it counts because the referee didn't blow a whistle' That's in the game now and applicable, provided players use a bigger back.These seem like small additions, but improved play in the trenches makes for a more seamless experience, and one football fans will want to play for themselves.
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