Madden Companion App

Game Intro

Madden NFL is one of the top video game franchises in the world.

EA Sports partnered with Double Coconut to help build a Companion app because of our expertise at mobile User Experience and expertise at Web engineering for games.

Gallery

Timing

6 months initial work plus ongoing maintenance

Team composition

Project Manager
Art Director
UX Designer
Senior UI Artist
Lead Web Engineer / Tech Director
Senior HTML/CSS Engineers x2
Senior Angular / Web Engineer
Mid Angular / Web Engineer
QA Analyst

Our Contribution

The Problem

There were a few key challenges:

Redesigning some fan favorite features such as sets, card opening, and franchise management for mobile.
Working off an outdated legacy Haxe codebase for prior versions
Making everything performant and feel 'native', not like a web site.
The Madden console game had a highly secure and limited set of back-end services to tap into
Creating a wrapped web app that could work on any popular Android or iOS device
Porting a number of legacy C++ libraries (for Analytics, Push Notifications, Authentication, etc.) to iOS and Android native libs

Our Solution

Our team worked closely with the EA Sports Team to create the Companion App without disrupting development of the main console game.

UI/UX Concepts: We drew on our years of mobile game development experience to simplify the flows and make each feature as intuitive as possible.

Mobile Engine: Using a combination of Angular and well-templated HTML/CSS we were able to create a fast and dynamic interface that allowed for different screen resolutions and devices.

Mobile Wrapper: We wrapped the screens with Ionic to allow us to bridge to native iOS and Android libraries and keep screens cached and feeling lightning-fast to load.

Overview of the Madden Companion App

The Madden Companion App serves as a vital tool for fans of the Madden NFL franchise, providing them with a seamless experience to engage with the game outside of traditional console play. This app enhances user interaction by allowing players to manage their teams, track stats, and access exclusive content directly from their mobile devices.

With features like live updates, player management, and community engagement tools, the Madden Companion App not only enriches the gaming experience but also keeps players connected to the Madden community. This integration of mobile technology into gaming reflects the growing trend of mobile-first solutions in the gaming industry.

Key Features of the Madden Companion App

The app is designed with several core features that cater to the needs of Madden NFL fans. Key functionalities include team management, real-time notifications, and access to exclusive in-game content, allowing users to stay updated and engaged.

Additionally, the app offers interactive features such as live score updates and the ability to customize team rosters. This level of engagement ensures that players can enhance their gaming experience while on the go, making it a crucial companion for any Madden enthusiast.

Development Challenges Faced

During the development of the Madden Companion App, Double Coconut encountered several challenges that needed to be addressed to ensure a high-quality user experience. These included redesigning beloved features from previous versions and adapting them for mobile use, which required a careful balance between performance and usability.

Moreover, the team had to work with an outdated legacy codebase, which posed additional hurdles in terms of performance optimization and feature integration. By overcoming these challenges, Double Coconut was able to create a robust application that meets the demands of modern mobile users.

Collaboration with EA Sports

The partnership between Double Coconut and EA Sports played a crucial role in the successful development of the Madden Companion App. This collaboration allowed for direct access to EA's extensive knowledge of the Madden franchise, ensuring that the app aligned closely with the game's core mechanics and user expectations.

Through this collaboration, Double Coconut was able to leverage EA Sports' resources and insights, resulting in an application that not only meets technical specifications but also resonates with the Madden community. This synergy highlights the importance of collaboration in the gaming development process.