Madden Planet interviews EA Sports new community leader

[TrickyD]

http://www.ncaastrategies.com/images/ncaafootball08/20070312_1.jpgMadden Planet has conducted an interview with the new EA Sports community leader where he discusses what it is like to go from a community participant like us to a member of the team.

He has also extended the offer of an interview to the members of Utopia and I'd love to see us take advantage of it.

Read over the interview he gave Madden Planet and if you have any additional questions for him submit those comments to this post. Keep in mind, he is not directly coding NCAA 08, but he is intricately involved with the team down at Tiburon.

I'm also available right now to give you guys interviews if you like. I'd be happy to answer any questions about what the new program entails, what I do at EA, or what it's like to work here.

EA Sports community leader interview at Madden Planet. (http://www.madden04.com/forums/blog/damon/index.php?showentry=349)

[cdj]

Tricky - if Utopians have questions for Will, should they post them here or hold on to them for the time-being?

[greenbayrocks567]

Well I'm happy for Will. I knew him well from Madden Nation (if you were a member there he was RAC) and although he at times made it seem like EA could to no wrong, he was always there to talk to me about the game and what not. I'm happy he's enjoying his new job, and I'm sure doing an interview here at Utopia with him would be something great for our "community."

[cdj]

Well I'm happy for Will. I knew him well from Madden Nation (if you were a member there he was RAC) and although he at times made it seem like EA could to no wrong, he was always there to talk to me about the game and what not. I'm happy he's enjoying his new job, and I'm sure doing an interview here at Utopia with him would be something great for our "community."

I'm not much of a Madden NFL fan, but the Madden Nation site was very well run and did provide great coverage of NCAA FB the last few years. More so than many other sites, in fact. Will seems like the right guy for the job. I was always impressed with the work he and Fred did at MN.

He may not realize it, but he has a tough job in front of him. EA started out as 'just another company' putting out sports games and has quickly grown into the worldwide leader. Like a small company that becomes a national (or global) power, the perception from their consumer base changes. The bigger they get, the more the fans expect from them and the less they will tolerate perceived shortcomings. There are going to be days when he surfs the web reading comments and loves his job, and there are going to be days where he'll need thick skin. However, after running a Madden site for years, he's probably used to the hot and cold attitude from gamers.

One of the biggest complaints towards EA in recent times is that many fans have begun to feel that EA doesn't listen to their customers. It sounds like Will realizes that and is doing what he can to alleviate the problem. Should he prove successful, a Nobel Peace Prize may be in order. ;) I'm very pleased with the open communication he has established early on with fan sites and communities. For being new at EA, he's already miles ahead of previous community leaders, IMO.

My only concern is how much time and resources he is given from EA in regards to Madden sites and NCAA FB sites. I know Madden is EA Sports' flagship title, but NCAA FB has a huge fanbase that likes feeling the love as well. Last year it certainly appeared that only Madden sites were considered part of the 'NCAA Community,' which was baffling and upsetting at the same time.

[TrickyD]

Tricky - if Utopians have questions for Will, should they post them here or hold on to them for the time-being?

Maybe we should go the route of having people PM them to you or I and establish an interview that way.

So lets go that route. If you have a interview type question for Will, private message cdj or myself and we'll come together and send off an interview.

[CFR-116]

First off....congrats to RAC on landing what I would think is his dream job. I've "lurked" on Madden Nation several times over the last few years, and guys like RAC and Fred seemed to be very level headed and respectful of the members of Madden Nation. Also, they seemed more than willing to go way out of their way close to release time to answer any questions that gamers had....and of course, there were quite afew.;) RAC and Fred seemed to really enjoy the, what I can only imagine unreal amount of time it has to take to respond to any and all questions that were sent there way.

I would have to say that, this deal is not only a blessing for RAC....but also for us as well. It's my impression that RAC is one of "us", vs just some stuffed suit that has no real idea of what the loyal customers of EA Sports want as far as Madden and Ncaa go. We now have someone who really cares about how the football games turnout, and if people are pleased, vs just the bottom line.[smile]

[raczilla]

Maybe we should go the route of having people PM them to you or I and establish an interview that way.

So lets go that route. If you have a interview type question for Will, private message cdj or myself and we'll come together and send off an interview.

Sounds like a good idea. I'm definitely available to do this. I'll even try and take a better picture than the one of my messy desk that ended up on Madden Planet. :D Thanks for all of the comments. I read this board every day and I'm excited about some of my plans this year to create a true and honest dialogue between EA SPORTS and the fans. You'll be hearing from me a lot more in the future. This is the most dedicated college sports community I know of, so you guys are a huge part of the picture.

[pavel_quad]

wow.

[Mr. Tennessee]

Well good maybe seeing how someone works there read this site, please do me a favor and help us coach moders out. The Coach Mode Community will thank you for it.

[Estes]

Well good maybe seeing how someone works there read this site.

I was thinking that as well. Maybe he'll see an idea someone comes up with and talk the "higher ups" into using it.

[CFR-116]

I read this board every day and I'm excited about some of my plans this year to create a true and honest dialogue between EA SPORTS and the fans. You'll be hearing from me a lot more in the future. This is the most dedicated college sports community I know of, so you guys are a huge part of the picture.

Sounds to me like Utopia at long last really has a voice now.

[gschwendt]

So these questions that we're putting together aren't actually game specific questions, ie how many stadiums will be in next gen, can we turn off impact players, etc. Rather they should be about RAC, what he does, how the new program will benefit us (Utopia), etc.?

[TrickyD]

So these questions that we're putting together aren't actually game specific questions, ie how many stadiums will be in next gen, can we turn off impact players, etc. Rather they should be about RAC, what he does, how the new program will benefit us (Utopia), etc.?

Exactly. Hopefully we'll have a chance for those other types of questions at a later date.

[JackRyanWMU]

Well good maybe seeing how someone works there read this site, please do me a favor and help us coach moders out. The Coach Mode Community will thank you for it.

Indeed. With the 360 version of '07 not having coach mode, I almost feel like us coach moders should be on the endangered species list.

[raczilla]

Exactly. Hopefully we'll have a chance for those other types of questions at a later date.

We'll definitely do that moving forward. Even though it may be a little while, it wouldn't hurt to start thinking about some of those questions now. It's never too early to start putting together questions on what you'd like to know about the game.

[MightyBruin]

Pull some strings and see if Utopia can get a few early copies this year. ;)

[collegesports]

Pull some strings and see if Utopia can get a few early copies this year. ;)

yea, like 160 of em. :D

Utopia would become very rich if all donors got an early copy.

[fried rice]

yea, like 160 of em. :D

Utopia would become very rich if all donors got an early copy.

i'd settle for getting the tiniest bit of input on next year's game. utopians, any utopians, being able to beta-test next year's game would bring about ejaculation.

[MaizeNBlue2]

yea, like 160 of em. :D

Utopia would become very rich if all donors got an early copy.

Haha, I like that idea!

[collegesports]

i'd settle for getting the tiniest bit of input on next year's game. utopians, any utopians, being able to beta-test next year's game would bring about ejaculation.
Somebody on this board will die of a heart attack if that ever happens. Hell, we all might.

[gschwendt]

I propose if multiple early copies are received, rhombic receive at least one of those copies... well, after myself of course.

[westsidetide]

I think this represents an excellent opportunity to establish some level of communication to the EA people that actually do have control over what does and doesn't go into new development.

If this process can lead to EA understanding that there is a group of 'hard core' college football fans over the age of 15, then that in and of itself, is a huge step forward.

[CFR-116]

I think this represents an excellent opportunity to establish some level of communication to the EA people that actually do have control over what does and doesn't go into new development.

If this process can lead to EA understanding that there is a group of 'hard core' college football fans over the age of 15, then that in and of itself, is a huge step forward.

Exactly Westsidetide. While I don't want to get too carried away with what this all means....but I do believe it's the best chance we've ever had to be heard.