I’m a hardcore gamer who knows nothing about football — here’s what I thought playing Madden the first time

Like a lot of shy, introverted nerds, I don't know anything about football.

So when publisher EA Sports sent us a review copy of Madden NFL 16, the latest entry in its juggernaut annual football game franchise, I experienced a roller-coaster ride of emotions: fear, shame, and anxiety. 

Here's a sense of my experience with the sport:

1. I got talked into playing in a fantasy-football league with friends last year, where I drafted six kickers. I figured the more kickers the better, because ... you know. "Foot"-ball. I still don't fully understand why I was wrong.
2. I played NFL 2K for the Sega Dreamcast at a friend's house once. I somehow managed to call a field goal on the first play. It did not work out, and we quickly switched back to Sonic Adventure. 
3. A lot of people are mad at Tom Brady, for either inflating balls that were deflated, or deflating balls that were inflated. It is not clear to me. 

But a friend of mine made a good point: I may not know anything about football, but I do know a lot about video games.

Lots of games, from Mario to Assassin's Creed, start from the assumption that you've never played before, and gradually introduce you to the core concepts and mechanics as you go. 

So I can't tell you if Madden NFL 16 is an accurate representation of professional football, though our friends at Tech Insider say it's the most realistic portrayal yet. But can I tell you if it's any good, especially for new players?

It turns out that I can, and that Madden is a legitimately fun game. Plus, it gave me a whole new respect for the sport.

Here's how it went down: 

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When you first turn on Madden NFL 16 for Xbox One, it drops you straight into a simulated, cinematic version of next February's Super Bowl 50, which it apparently guesses will be between Pittsburgh and Arizona, with no warning. This is the video-game version of that dream where you're back in high school, and there's an exam that you didn't study for, and also you're naked.

After that, it prompts you to choose a team. I went with my hometown San Francisco 49ers, because Levi's Stadium is down the street from this place where I once got an amazing Belgian waffle that was fried and sugared like a churro. Sadly, that place is not simulated in this game.

Fortunately, Madden offers a series of tutorials that introduce even the novice player to some fundamentals. Unfortunately, they assume you already have a working knowledge of basic stuff, like how many points a touchdown is worth, or what a "down" is. (It's how many tries you have to move the ball 10 yards. You're welcome.)

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