ORLANDO, Florida -- The production director of a video game often gets to play in fictional realms and fantastical worlds, unbound by the restrictions of reality.

Clint Oldenburg does not have that luxury. The former NFL lineman leads EA Sports' American football department, which works with (and creates digital versions of) on-field stars at both the collegiate and professional levels. Oldenburg and his EA Sports colleagues must operate within the confines of human limitation and, ultimately, realism.

And yet, the pursuit of a truly lifelike NFL experience seems to have opened their minds to a new level of potential.

"Gosh, the possibilities are endless," Oldenburg said, when contemplating the future of the Madden NFL video game series.

On Aug. 14, the latest iteration of the titl

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