Madden Ultimate Team News Post

Madden Ultimate Team Hands-On with Videos

11:26 PM - December 11, 2009 by Steve_OS

IGN has posted their hands-on preview of Madden Ultimate Team, along with a couple of videos here.

Quote:


	"Okay, so it is true that you don't technically need to spend any of your own cash to build up your team, but it sure does make it easier. After every game you play you're awarded a certain number of coins which you can then spend on Ultimate Team cards. The problem is that the most coins that I've seen anyone get is around 100 and the cost of buying worthwhile card packs is insanely higher than that. For 9000 coins you can get a platinum pack (the best players in the game), for 3000 coins you can get a gold pack, for 1500 you can get a silver pack and then there's the lowly bronze which you should just steer clear of. If you play 15 games and do extremely well in all of them then you'll be able to buy one silver pack. That's a lot of Madden to play for a mid-level card pack. Of course you can always take the easy (and clearly more encouraged) way out and purchase the packs for Microsoft Points or money on PSN. The platinum pack will run you 240 Microsoft Points or about three bucks. It's also a bit strange to see the cards that work their way into some of the packs. I bought three platinum packs with Microsoft Points on the debug online service known as PartnerNet (where there is no real money being spent) and found that my core of receivers featured a classic version of Randy Moss and three other homers rated in the 50s and 60s. It's clear that skill position players are a bit tougher to come by than an awesome right tackle; I had five or six of those."

Game: Madden Ultimate TeamReader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 3 - View All

Madden Ultimate Team Videos

Member Comments

# 1 Shinyhubcaps @ 12/12/09 12:43 AM

Why are some of the team cards with such outdated pictures? Charles Woodson one is with him in a Raiders jersey.

Anyway, sounds really expensive if you want to level up...

# 2 Valdarez @ 12/12/09 04:41 AM

Will we be forced to download this onto our 360? Or will it be an optional DLC?

It's funny that EA spun this as giving it away for free. Just knew there had to be a catch, nothing is ever 'free', especially if EA Sports is in the mix. It's a good business model though, you give the core away for free and then have a PaYG model with the potential for reoccurring revenue. Sadly I believe we are going to see this more and more with EA games. Reoccuring revenue is the golden chalice for software companies, and Peter Moore has clearly indicated that's one of his goals for EA Sports. *sigh*

Still looking forward to this as it reminds me of APF2K8, but if you can't get a decent team together without paying real $$$ or playing Madden for 6 months, I'm not sure if I'll actually have the opportunity to enjoy it.

EA would have had a better chance of getting $$$ out of me by offering it as a real DLC at a reasonable price of 400 MS points, and then releasing player packs every so often to generate news items for Madden, as a way of maintaining interest in the game & this feature, and as a way of keeping sales of the Madden Ultimate Team DLC going. This is what I would have done based on the customer base who play the game. As it stands, I think fans are going to be unhappy about not being able to 'earn' their favorite players, and are not going to be happy about having to pay real $$$ multiple times to purchase various packs.

My .02 cents.

# 3 Exonerated @ 12/12/09 10:13 AM

This concept is a good idea. But 15 games for 1 silver pack is a lot of time. And these players have 'contracts' so they can only last for 3 or 4 games.

They need to make players permanent.

# 4 pointNumberOne @ 12/12/09 10:16 AM

Play 90 games before you can get a *single* top-notch player, who you can only use for 4 games? That's ridiculous.

# 5 Exonerated @ 12/12/09 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointNumberOne


	Play 90 games before you can get a single* top-notch player, who you can only use for 4 games? That's ridiculous.*

Agreed. I'd understand if it was play 90 games, and have a topnotch player that you can use forever and progress. LIKE FIFA.

But this. I dunno. I simply do not understand.

# 6 CreatineKasey @ 12/12/09 10:32 AM

Yeah I could understand like 30 games... but 90 is excessive. Most players will not reach 90 games total in this system and therefore will not ever get to use some of the better players available unless they pay.

I hope there's a leaderboard, though. That could be a lot of fun building your team and playing other built teams. I may like that a lot.

# 7 boxboy99 @ 12/12/09 12:41 PM

I think this looks fun but bump up the coin a little bit. I love the general idea because your not playing Steelers vs Vikings every game online. It mixes up the online scene which is awesome. I think it should be hard to build up a good team but the amount of game needed is insane.

# 8 Valdarez @ 12/12/09 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by granddogg


	valdarez .. dont you think it would be smart to play it first your skill level may be better and can get more coins faster.

If you read the review, 100 coins is the most you can get. And it takes 15 games of 100 (perfect) games to get enough for a silver pack, and then 90 games of 100 (perfect) games to get a platinum. Then, the players that you receive are only available for 3 or 4 games based on their 'contract'. There's no way you will be able to play this game and be competitive online without paying $$$ on an ongoing, and consistent basis.

That's why I said that I would have been more willing to pay a reasonable 400 ($5) for this game feature. As it stands you could spend a ton of $$$ just to play Madden Ultimate Team (MUT?) month after month.

# 9 TJdaSportsGuy @ 12/12/09 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	If you read the review, 100 coins is the most you can get.

The hands-on preview said the most he'd seen someone get was "around 100". It never said 100 was the max. And knowing IGN and their history with sports games, I wouldn't be surprised if most of us here on OS were vastly superior in terms of Madden skills, and were able to earn much more than 100 points per game.

Why can't we just get our hands on this feature before we pass judgement on it?

# 10 Valdarez @ 12/12/09 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJdaSportsGuy


	Why can't we just get our hands on this feature before we pass judgement on it?

So you don't want us sharing our perception of the preview of the game on the forums? I thought that was the whole point of a message board? ;p I'm always skeptical when someone offers something for free. That's always a catch, but maybe that's just me.

Agreed that the max coins that can be earned will affect how much $$$ a person must spend on a monthly basis in order to play, enjoy, and compete on an ongoing basis. Wasn't there going to be an EA question / answer interview on OS? Can you see if you can have the question regarding the max coins that can be earned added to the interview for us TJ so we don't have to speculate?

# 11 Valdarez @ 12/14/09 12:17 AM

Ian said that he thinks it's possible to earn up to 600 coins, so instead of 90 games at 100 coins each to get a platinum pack, you'll have to play 15. Still a lot to play for one pack, but not nearly as bad as 90 games (I'd never play that many personally).

# 12 CreatineKasey @ 12/14/09 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	Ian said that he thinks it's possible to earn up to 600 coins, so instead of 90 games at 100 coins each to get a platinum pack, you'll have to play 15. Still a lot to play for one pack, but not nearly as bad as 90 games (I'd never play that many personally).

That's completely reasonable. Glad to hear that! I really wish this mode was coming out during the Christmas break so I could dig into it. I have a feeling that by the time it comes out I may be knee deep in school again.

# 13 Pappy Knuckles @ 12/14/09 08:37 AM

Sounds interesting. I enjoy the concept of building a team. Not sure how well this point thing is gonna pan out though...

# 14 Exonerated @ 12/14/09 09:14 AM

Why contracts!? That was incredibly dumb on Ea's part.

Play 15 games, so I can use somebody for 4 games? How does that sound sensible at all?

# 15 jvaccaro @ 12/14/09 09:44 AM

when talking about how many games it takes... what is this based on?

would I get more points for 15 min Qs than 5 min Qs? how are the points awarded?

# 16 countryboy @ 12/14/09 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	EA would have had a better chance of getting $$$ out of me by offering it as a real DLC at a reasonable price of 400 MS points, and then releasing player packs every so often to generate news items for Madden, as a way of maintaining interest in the game & this feature, and as a way of keeping sales of the Madden Ultimate Team DLC going. This is what I would have done based on the customer base who play the game. As it stands, I think fans are going to be unhappy about not being able to 'earn' their favorite players, and are not going to be happy about having to pay real $$$ multiple times to purchase various packs.

If EA had released this for a price, people would be in here bitching up a storm about how EA is once again just being greedy and seeking money.

Now they release it for free and people are upset because they have to actually earn the chance to play with their "favorite" players or to play with the great players.

Its a damned if you do damned if you don't situation it seems.

# 17 DeuceZeroz @ 12/14/09 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboy


	If EA had released this for a price, people would be in here bitching up a storm about how EA is once again just being greedy and seeking money. Now they release it for free and people are upset because they have to actually earn the chance to play with their "favorite" players or to play with the great players. Its a damned if you do damned if you don't situation it seems.

# 18 oregonelite @ 12/14/09 12:26 PM

I am not sure how many of you played FIFA 09 UT, but attaining more coins through gameplay became easier as you spent more time in the game.

I am basing this on the assumption that Madden 10 UT will be very similar to FIFA 09 UT. When I started playing FIFA 09 UT it was difficult to get enough coins for one bronze pack. I thought that I would never be able to buy a Gold pack(there were no platinum packs). But I soon found out that certain cards held value on the auction block and I could make coins easier in games as my team got better. After a bit of a learning curve I was able to make coins without playing games! By using the auction block and collecting valuable cards, I always had more coins when I woke up, then I had the previous night.

I wouldn't let the "hands-on" review scare you. In my experience with FIFA 09 UT, winning coins in game became a secondary source of income.

# 19 boxboy99 @ 12/14/09 12:57 PM

Good to hear. Ya I think 15 to 20 game for the best pack is reasonable. There are other packs and chances to trade/sell cards. Sounds like a blast. I can't wait to dig into this mode. It gives online something to play for that makes the game more intersting. I like the contract system and I think there are cards that add to contracts.

# 20 Tengo Juego @ 12/14/09 01:10 PM

When does Madden 11 come out? Same day as last year? August 14th?

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