By: Sarju Shah, GameSpot - Posted on August 19, 2009

Madden NFL is one of the longest running game franchises, and to stay fresh, it keeps evolving in terms of gameplay and graphics. With each passing year, the developers discover new techniques to improve the feel and look of the game. You'd think that a single year couldn't possibly do all that much for a franchise that's been in play for more than 20 years, but you'd be wrong. Madden NFL 10 brings an impressive array of new graphical elements to the fore that help make the game seem more realistic and at the same time more TV-like.

Two of the biggest graphical improvements made to Madden NFL 10 are depth of field and lighting. Depth of field effects (oddly enough) give the game focus. Whenever a play is completed, the major players involved get treated to a special camera view that brings them into focus while everything else gets a little blurrier. The effect is similar to when a camera zooms in on a particular object.

Accurate lighting and shadowing give players realistic shadows, and they even provide self-shadowing. It doesn't sound like much, but when you see it in action, you'll wonder how the game did without it. Other minor improvements include better weather effects during cutscenes.

Depth of field

Depth of field gives the game a sense of agency by bringing the key players to the forefront. The effect works well most of the time, although you can expect to see some strange blurry characters when a figure who is not a key player steps into the scene in front of the important players. It's especially weird when the fuzzy player is only a foot or two away.

Madden 10       Madden 09      

Lighting

It's a subtle effect, but when you see it in action, it's hard to go back to shadowless characters. It just looks right, even if the shadows are on the low-resolution side at times. Note how a player's hands shadow onto his pants and how a character's shadow interacts with other players.

Madden 10       Madden 09      

Weather Effects

Weather effects didn't seem all that different between the two versions when actually playing the game. But during the cutscenes and between plays, the camera would get raindrops and snowflakes on it.

All of it       Underside      
Madden 10 Rain       Madden 10 Snow      

93 Comments

  • papavicio

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 9:45 am PT

    if only sony would make a nfl and nba game as good as the baseball MLB -09 the show , they really nailed it

  • 360pauly

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 1:27 pm PT

    the older games looked better on the 360, but now the ps3 is superior, most of the time

  • kelkimble2k4

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 7:22 pm PT

    PS3 seems better.

  • joevit

    Posted Nov 11, 2009 9:38 pm PT

    They look the same. One is just darker than the other. If this was made from the ground up for both systems and not ports, the 360 would have looked better. Whats really cool, A game in the works is coming out and they will not port it. It will be made from the ground up on both systems and the 360 has the led in a big way. Look for it. It's made by Epic.

  • xophaser

    Posted Nov 11, 2009 9:09 pm PT

    the ps3 looks better or more realist. What's is with the fog or haze on the 360 version.

  • coaltango

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 9:29 pm PT

    is it me or the ps3 is getting better n better in terms or graphics compared to X360. this & dragon age origins the ps3 is better. i wonder when was the last time the X360 beat the PS3 in graphics.

  • bootsgame

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 7:13 pm PT

    well madden 10 graphics looks better then 09 soo yer

  • Rygarr

    Posted Sep 21, 2009 9:30 pm PT

    PS3 looks better but both PS3 and Xblow get raped by PC

  • Ardrius

    Posted Sep 18, 2009 2:14 am PT

    Or... you'd realize these comparisons aren't real. Just as bad as GameTrailers.

  • NuKkU

    Posted Sep 12, 2009 9:35 am PT

    The PS3 version looks a tad bit better but not by much but who really cares these differences are so unnoticeable you would NEVER notice them in-game

  • maverick_76

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 10:40 pm PT

    Fog or haze, could be either.

  • maverick_76

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 10:38 pm PT

    The PS3 looks a little less foggy, the 360 has a tad more sharpness but the PS3 has better lighting IMO.

  • mpg

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 1:28 pm PT

    ps3 definitely shaper and much more in clarity.

  • aravindh007

    Posted Sep 1, 2009 3:19 am PT

    PS3 version is better

  • trw534

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 9:32 pm PT

    personally i cant tell much of a difference, but thats just me.

  • BenBenBen93

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 11:51 am PT

    Not much yu can do about the lightness of the pictures. but 360 does edge the ps3 by the smallest of margines but would be unrecognisable during game

  • x360owna

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 8:04 pm PT

    hmm. The field and stands defintaly look better in the 360 version, but other then that they look more or less the same, the difference being 360 is lighter.

  • sourcerah

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 6:19 pm PT

    Why is it that the 360 version looks so much "lighter" than the ps3 version? I don't know the technical names/terms for it, but the 360 version looks as if there's a white tint to it compared to the ps3's. I am a 360 owner, but i think the ps3's looks better.

  • Dimtri

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 1:56 pm PT

    i am going to say that the ps3 version is better looking

  • Dimtri

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 1:56 pm PT

    it seems to me that the 360 version is a little blurrier than the ps3 version.

  • superbuickm3xii

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 5:23 pm PT

    yeah wooow...i'll spend \$60 on that...wait let me get the vasoline!

  • Sweendrix

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 1:25 pm PT

    The only difference in these screens is the white balance. Who ever captured these photos did not properly check the white balance or contrast ratios.

    You can view a properly balanced comparison here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVbjYvdysWM

  • Sweendrix

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 1:23 pm PT

    @ jago8089

    Actually... I used my custom built professional edition "AVID ADRENALINE HD" workstation. Since I work in live and offline broadcast as a director/editor I immediately noticed that the white balance of the pics displayed in the "Madden 2010" "Xbox 360 versus PS3" was obviously done by an amateur. It does not matter whether or not they used the same tv...THEY DONT TAKE PICTURES OF THE TV. There are several things that could have affected the white balance of the screens that they published (Which I assure you...were not properly checked for white balance or contrast ratios). I did not use photoshop. I used a Hollywood standard color temperature of 6500k as a standard reference and noted that the Xbox 360 pics were seemingly washed out...(obvious error by the person who captured the photos). So when you say "you just blah blah blah..." I hear you...but I'm not listening.

    Sweendrix

  • THA-TODD-BEAST

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 10:25 pm PT

    PS3 has better color clarity from what is shown in these screenshots, whereas the 360 shots look slightly more washed out in comparison. I fail to see how Gamespot concludes that the 360 version has a slight edge.

  • Maverick82102

    Posted Aug 21, 2009 8:44 pm PT

    @ LordReithgar

    Why is Gamespot biased? Because their op differs from your own? I suppose that Bill Gates is paying them too?

    If they are biased then why are you here huh?

  • LordReithgar

    Posted Aug 21, 2009 2:33 pm PT

    lol Gamespot is so biased, how cna they say the x360 has better coloring around the names? I can see them better with the Ps3 graphics!!!

  • RealOG615

    Posted Aug 21, 2009 2:01 pm PT

    Ps3 got da better graphics

  • Bahgahyahduh

    Posted Aug 21, 2009 7:51 am PT

    @crazyshooter93
    hahah... yes, indeed they are

  • gangster480

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 7:11 pm PT

    im noticing deeper color on the playstation 3.

  • qetuonz

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 4:59 pm PT

    I have a 360, but do have to admit the PS3 looks a tad better. I hadnt noticed the refs socks, but the black stripes are a nice touch.
    Either way, both systems are pretty pretty

  • triple6e1999

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 2:43 pm PT

    looks much better on the ps3, every 360 screen has a haze to it

  • memphisg

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 2:33 pm PT

    I own both systems but the ps3 overall looks just seem better to me.

  • heatfanman101

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 2:24 pm PT

    PS3 has slighly richer colors IMO, but both still look great

  • JoeVaulter

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 1:20 pm PT

    graphics aren't the deciding factor in how real a game looks. i think graphics are mainly a perception trick. either system can look better depending on how you see it. Also neither games are meant to be seen in a still frame, so a picture doesn't give the games realistic look justice.

    what i think makes the game realistic is the AI, how the characters move/interact, and mainly how it feels. they should make a ps3 version with more content because of blue ray. The wii, psp, ds, etc versions aren't the same why should xbox and ps3 be the same.

    ps i wish xbox ps3 could play each other online.

  • patrick5152003

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 12:27 pm PT

    so when you play the ps3 version the white people turn black, awesome

  • TheSteelest

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 12:23 pm PT

    Serisously, in this day and age, why is EA still fooling around with portovers? The graphics are an upgrade, no question, but you're going to tell me that this is as good as it gets? With the graphics coming out on games like Killzone 2, MGS 4, Resistance 2, etc... you're going to tell me that this is top of the line stuff, which EA is putting out? Come on, man... who are you guys trying to kid?!!

    See, this is what happens when a company monolopolizes a franchise... you get half assed shh..err-stuff...

    Certainly EA has yet to tap the potential of the 50GB ceiling that Bluray has to offer, so any limitations are the fault of the XBOX 360 which leads me to my second question...

    Is it not true that the reason why EA won't tap into the true potential of the PS3 is because they don't want to upset Xbox 360 fans. PS3 has pretty much established itself as the superior gaming console, especially sports. Take one look at MLB 09: The Show. If EA continues to hamstring the PS3 by not utilizing the 50gb space afforded by Bluray and give us PS3 owners the game we deserve, then please have the decency to allow Sony to produce a Football game for us PS3 owners.

    I for one am tired of having to play portovers from an inferior console in that of Xbox 360.

  • Titans747

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 12:22 pm PT

    Xbox fanboy says: "look how much better black level and how sharper the 360 is"
    PS3 fanboy says: "No way we have much deeper contrast"

    Really? u all are arguing over which game has deeper black contrasts? who really cares about this except u losers arguing with each other?

  • AlphaTrojan

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 12:01 pm PT

    Only thing I notice is that the PS3 is a little darker.

  • ph1nn

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 11:57 am PT

    They are nearly identical but 2 things I noticed...
    1) The PS3 version seems to have better contrast and looks less washed out in some shots
    2) The refs socks are different in one screenshot, the PS3 version doesn't have the black stripe, lol.

    I think the PS3 version looks nicer on the 1st shot on page 3 though. Overall they are almost the same though.

  • WarChief19

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 11:29 am PT

    Definitely looks better on the PS3 from those screenshots. The 360 version is way too hard and blurry.

  • Paul2005

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 11:09 am PT

    lol i like this kind of stuff cause i like watching people argue . when there is actually no difference at all.

  • JK731

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 10:55 am PT

    I think the "WHO CARES" looks better.

  • DiscipleGD posted Aug 20, 2009 10:25 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    DiscipleGD

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 10:25 am PT (hide)

    Its seems like the 360 has better contrast and deeper blacks than ps3.Ps3 always looks to bright and the games look like the shapeness is tuned all the way up.Fuzzy and jaggy not detailed.Fanboys will allways say there systems better.I have both and the games really do look better on 360.They could look the best on ps3 but the dev cant get the most out of the complicated system.Plus cost to much.Sonys losing billions.Its a shame i had high hopes for it.Now i never play the ps3.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 9:37 am PT

    ps3 looks better, more detail, however these pictures don't really tell the story. the 360 has a 2 year advantage over the ps3 so thats why its probably better.

  • con87 posted Aug 20, 2009 9:31 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    con87

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 9:31 am PT (hide)

    X box 360 is better.

  • Excedra

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 9:21 am PT

    Ps3's brighter, but its not a bad thing, for me, its kind of a good thing. I dont know whats better seriously.

  • Limp_Laky

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 9:20 am PT

    lol other than a little color variation I didnt see anything different, so Gamespot can talk about player names but I dont agree at all they are the SAME hahahaha

  • claykenobi

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 9:06 am PT

    They are both very similar this year although I think by now Madden should seriously look better on both systems. The crowd is still a blobbed together mess close up and the graphics are still a bit cartoonish for 2010! I'm a PS3 owner but I almost like the grittier, less bright look of the xbox version. Makes it look a bit more realistic. The gameplay is better but the commentating/presentation is still close to terrible!

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