[gmf1369]

EA Sports's long-running Madden franchise has a pair of new announcers for this summer's edition of the game, just two years removed from changing the announcers again. And those new announcers... are Jim Nantz and Phil Simms of CBS, replacing the duo of Gus Johnson and Cris Collinsworth that did the in-game commentary over the last two editions of the game.

While Nantz and Simms are a solid commentary duo, I have to question the wisdom of using them in a video game, especially one that's mainly played by younger fans. Both are older voices who don't connect much with the younger crowd, and I can't imagine that they'd really add too much to the overall game's presentation. There wouldn't be more excitement like there was with Johnson doing the play by play, so my only guess is that EA went with the Nantz/Simms duo in order to gain a little more legitimacy among older games and because of the fact they already work together.

Don't panic too much though, video game fans. EA's NCAA Football '13 will still feature the excellent commentary of Kirk Herbstreit and Brad Nessler. Personally, I enjoy the NCAA game a lot more than Madden, which has become so bogged down with minute details that I can't get into the game too much anymore.

Madden 13's new announcers

[Kilkenny]

Sounds like a major upgrade to me. I would rather jam flaming pencils in my ears than listen to Gus Johnson. Phil Simms is only slightly irritating to me.

Jim Nantz on the other hand is quite simply awesome.