EA Sportsʼ motto has always been “itʼs in the game.” Decades of gamers have heard this refrain as any one of dozens of games load in their gaming system. EA has strived as long as anyone can remember to not only give gamers the best available graphics or gameplay but also to make those elements as realistic as possible.

Unfortunately for EA, when it comes to “Madden ‘13,” it’s what the game lacks that has people talking.

This yearʼs edition of “Madden” presents the debut of the infinity engine. Infinity engine presents players with never-before-seen realism in the physical dimensions of the on screen athletes. Gone are the old video game physics many fans made fun of in the past. In “Madden ‘13” the players fall, jump, tackle and run in both realistic and ever-changing ways. No two tackles are alike. If your player gets hit from behind, he falls forward. This combines with a full stadium graphics overhaul, new online communities and improved commentary by the CBS NFL crew to render all previous Madden editions practically unplayable.

However, longtime staples of gameplay such as the fantasy draft are not in this yearʼs edition. Gone are the features of player editing, playing out seasons with created rosters, importing draft classes from NCAA 13 and the fabled Franchise Mode. “Madden ‘13” replaces those staples with a new concept called Connected Careers.

Connected Careers mode presents some intriguing twists such as re-creating the careers of legendary players or creating your own coach. Yet, many fans seem to be disappointed about the lack of control they are given in the initial setup of the new career mode. Fans arenʼt able to set up their rosters beforehand and play out careers with the teams as they would like them to look.

“Madden ‘13” is geared almost solely towards online play. The graphics, gameplay and connected careers mode are all cool when youʼre online. But if you just want to sit in your living room with some buddies and go head up with your own rosters, well, pop in “Madden ‘12.”

EA Sports has been overwhelmed with so much feedback and so many complaints about the lack of fantasy draft and franchise mode that they have promised to at least add fantasy draft to online play. As for Franchise Mode? Better luck next year. In fact, right on the “Madden ‘13” home page, the people at EA took the time to post the one question on every Madden gamer’s mind right now: Looking for Franchise Mode?

In some ways this is the most realistic thing in all of “Madden ‘13.” After all, in real life our teams donʼt always accomplish what weʼd hoped. Thatʼs why they invented the old refrain, “wait ‘til next year.”