Re: Madden 09 Preview, Screenshots and Video: GameSpot
 

It's kinda weird how one play will look like "man that was a great block." And then in the same vid or another you're like WTF was that? I have the same problem with Fifa's vaunted 35 point decision engine. (which I have a feeling is somehow involved in the coding for this game,too.) In that game the AI is really hit or miss. Sometimes the game flows so smooth and all of the decisions make sense. Then you'll have the AI seemingly get confused as to what it's supposed to be doing. And then it either doesn't do anything or does something stupid. I really think it's just a matter of tuning a work in progress of new tech. The whole Procedural Awareness seems to work well in single 1 on 1 scenarios, but gets "confused"sometimes in situations where there are multiple decisions to be made in regards to multiple player interactions. Or a more advanced decision like " I blocked my man, what do I do now?"

It'll come in time. Maybe there just needs to be a further evolving of the code to factor in those decision variables. But I have seen in vids where the OL tries to go find another man to block. It just seems to be late, awkward and really kills the experience because it was a fundimental decision that ended up messing up the play...

Re: Madden 09 Preview, Screenshots and Video: GameSpot
 

That play was a screen pass to the HB. It was not 100% correct but the QB also did not dump it. The OG should of gave the blitz a push before moving in to block for the screen but it could have been turned into a gain. Just poor play management on the player.

Re: Madden 09 Preview, Screenshots and Video: GameSpot
 

Yeah the defensive lineplay in most if not all of the passing videos seems bad to horrid. It's a problem in the NCAA vids too if you look - so I'm thinking it's something inherent in the engine. It's almost as if the game is trying to render a "cool-looking" animation instead of what should occur naturally if ratings are truly being taken into account on OL/DL matchups. It's interesting that IGN and Gamespot got the memo not to drop the QB back 30yds, but it seems easily doable if people choose to. And I can't believe the QB animations look like they're going to be horrible another year - that's ridiculous. Also have seen next to no player interaction between defenders (LBs/DBs) and receivers (WRs/RBs) in the secondary.

It's definitely a pretty game though. A few weeks ago I thought NCAA looked better, but I think Madden will have it beat. Since they first debuted the analog running I've loved it/it's potential - I was saying last year I wanted to see something similar in APF, and it seems Tiburon has managed to implement it well in Madden (if combined appropriately w/momentum and player ratings). The game still has a certain hollow-ness to it because it's lacking certain little details. But it's looking to have definitely progressed from what Madden '08 was. Guessing TeamXBox will have to give the gameplay a 11.3 this year since they said it was damn near perfect (9.8) last year

Re: Madden 09 Preview, Screenshots and Video: GameSpot
 

at the :50 second mark the O-Line was flat out pathetic. Then again, that play may have worked best as a screen play, and those guys may have went out there to protect the screen. Madden still needs to make the defense less powerful and/or the O-line smarter for the user who doesn't realize that.

the 1:00 mark. I hate those after-sack and after-INT motions that the titantron does. They're not bad, but they remind me of 08... and oh yea.. 07 too. EA should do everything to separate from those games.

Re: Madden 09 Preview, Screenshots and Video: GameSpot
 

Yeah, I never want to see the Jumbotron again. Those animations were played out in 06. Show a replay on them for Pete's sake....Or at least have it be a transtioanl gateway for the Cris Collinsworth breakdown. Start out in replay and then zoom into the screen transitioning to that mode. Something. You could even have it showing the ref. That was just a failed attempt to cover for really blah presentation. And just added to the "blah." And still grates on the nerves this year.....

Re: Madden 09 Preview, Screenshots and Video: GameSpot
 

I'm sure they will over time - kind of hard not to when you play a franchise.
I'm hoping I can last out to Halloween before I turn the announcers off. Last year I didn't make it to Opening Day.

Re: Madden 09 Preview, Screenshots and Video: GameSpot
 

Next year, just get Stephen Hawking to do the PBP :spit:

Re: Madden 09 Preview, Screenshots and Video: GameSpot
 

:spit: