Madden NFL 12 and beyond... priorities - adembroski's Blog

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adembroski's Blog

Madden NFL 12 and beyond... priorities Stuck

Posted on August 12, 2010 at 02:46 AM.

(31)

Let me start by saying Franchise mode is of immense importance to me. I still play NFL Head Coach because its such a deep and engaging franchise mode despite gameplay flaws. I will probably continue to play it until Madden meets or exceeds it. That said, there are things that have to come first.

I'll go down my top ten here. These are the ten most important things that Madden has to address in the coming years. I believe firmly that the team in place can accomplish this; Real Assignment AI has proven they are capable to me.

1.) Expand Real Assignment AI to every position on the field.
This would be a true revolution in football gaming. To really see players executing assignments as they would in the NFL. They got a great start with run blocking... expanding this to cover run fits and gap assignments, zone and man coverage, pass blocking, route running, and quarterback reads is truly the holy grail of football gaming.

If you can give Madden 11 credit nowhere else, it's hard to deny that it has the most realistic run blocking assignments in football gaming history.

2. Physics based blocking
Yes, I know, we all want physics based tackling, and that would be the next logical step for Madden. But I contend that the blocking is a bigger roadblock to a "perfect sim" than tackling.

As it stands, there is nothing about Pro-Tak that can't create sim-like results. It's not perfect, but it works. Engage/Disengage system Madden has used since its inception for blocking, however, is fatally flawed and will never quite replicate real life blocking either in the run game or in pass rush. Being physics based... with true impact and anchoring, would be the next revolution in football gaming.

3. NFL Head Coach Career Mode 2.0
I have a challenge for Ian and company; don't just match NFL Head Coach, exceed it. Destroy it. Make it obsolete. You are capable. You are capable because you already made NFL Head Coach 09 and already know what mistakes you made. You can bring the whole thing over wholesale and improve on it. It would instantly make Madden NFL 12 a must-buy for hardcore sim players, even if the gameplay is flawed. This is so high on so many wish lists many of us will overlook what gameplay is lacking for it. I'm not saying bypass gameplay in favor of it... clearly with the number of online only folks, that's not fair or wise... but make it great.

More importantly, be careful. Be methodical and mathematical. There is no reason progression, importation, and stats can't be perfect because it's all math, and math is predictable. Take the time to crunch your numbers and ensure the integrity of the roster is maintained in the long haul. I get the distinct sense hardly anybody in the sports gaming industry does this, as every sports game I've ever played is flawed in this area.

4. Physics based tackling
I have derided Backbreaker for its poor execution of fundamental football concepts. Backbreaker is flawed in more ways than I can mention, and if you replace its revolutionary tackling system with any other tackling system ever, it wouldn't get a batted eyelash from this community. It would be a laughing stalk, period.

But the power of physics based tackling is amazing. I have played the game and I honestly do enjoy it despite hating so much of it. I love seeing the tackles, I love the natural flow of contact. I never skip a replay. Ever. I wince at the throwing animation. The AI nearly makes me cry. But the tackles are sublime.

5. Rebuild the playbook system on both sides of the ball
As it stands, I am limited to about 250 offensive plays. I can run my favorite running play from one formation (Niners Zone), my favorite passing play from about 3 (Flanker Drive). Flanker drive was originally designed by Bill Walsh to be run from a base set (2 backs, 1 te, 2 wr) but it does not appear in Strong Pro, the 49ers base set. Strictly speaking, Niners Zone should be able to be run from any formation will a fullback and a flanker, while Flanker drive should be able to be run from any formation with a flanker, a split end, and at least one more receiver within a yard of the line of scrimmage.

While the presentation of the plays would have to remain the same (choose formation, then play), the system should be processed in the opposite direction. Flanker Drive should be added to a playbook, and it should automatically appear within any formation it is available for. By saving "Flanker Drive" with a list of formations it works in and adjustments necessary to work in those formations, you would save memory budget for playbooks, allowing either more playbooks, more plays in playbooks, or memory elsewhere.

This is even more critical on defense. Cover 2 is cover 2, and it can be run by any formation or personnel package. A basic 2 deep 5 under zone coverage requires only that there are 4 or fewer pass rushers... in the same way that players currently adjust man coverage based on where receivers move, zone coverage assignments should adjust based on what players are rushing, allowing me to combine virtually any coverage with virtually any rush scheme and front.

6. Playbook Editor
In the past, it made sense for 'system' plays to be locked away in 'system' playbooks. Bill Walsh's West Coast play schematics didn't appear in Joe Gibbs's One Back playbook or Marv Levy's K-Gun. The '99 Rams blew that out of the water by taking those three systems and combining them into one, creating the hybrid spread/west coast that virtually every team in the NFL runs a variation of today.

There is no reason we shouldn't be able to mix and match plays within a playbook. This is a higher priority than a play editor because Madden actually does a fairly decent job of making sure the major NFL concepts are represented. The ability to personally decide which of those concepts I want to make use of the most would go a long way toward personalizing the Madden experience.

7. Show Us Your Presentation
Stop hiding presentation. You've put a lot of work into it. No, its not perfect. Yes, we still complain, but it doesn't help when every cut scene is covered up by the playcall screen. Let me decide when I'm tired of watching Wade Phillips waddle up and down the sideline. Certainly let me button through the cutscene, but don't button through it for me!

8. All Sunday Long Presentation
That's right- pregame, halftime, post game, and evening highlight shows. I want it all. I want to see James Brown introduce the game, send it over to Gus and Chris in the booth, who later send it back to James in the studio at both halftime and after the game, then Boomer on the highlights when the week is over, along with analysis from the college season from Mel Kiper. The whole nine yards. I grabbed the names out of a hat, it doesn't have to be them, just using as an example (though i guess I'm in the minority on this, but to me Chris Berman is Mr. NFL. A lot of people hate him, but I love his passion for the game.)

PS: Wouldn't it be cool to have Rush Limbaugh and Keith Olbermann on the same pregame show?

9. The Ultimate Play Editor
Go download a copy of Front Page/Sierra Sports Football Pro to see what I'm talking about. Take a look at the game planning features as well

10. Hire Bioware to rebuild Superstar Mode
Its about time a company admit that Be A Pro mode isn't a sports mode at heart, it's an RPG, and should be treated as one. Interacting with teammates, dealing with real-life situations off the field, dealing with the media, working to expand your marketability, cultivating relationships... maybe even becoming a locker room distraction a la Terrell Owens... should be the core of Superstar Mode. Otherwise, it's just playing Madden on player lock.

Well, there you have it folks. The roadmap to the perfect Madden. Now that we know how, I'm sure EA will get right on that and deliver the whole nine for Madden NFL 12, Right?

Right?

[DISCLAIMER: I'm well aware there is no way on God's green Earth this could be done in one, or even two, years. I wasn't being serious with that ending. I do, however, believe that Phil Frazier, Ian Cummings, Josh Looman, Donny Moore, and everyone else at Tiburon are capable of accomplishing these things, so I don't want to sell them sort and say "well, if you could just, you know, be OK in a couple years, I'll be happy." These guys are capable of delivering the best, and thus, in the long run, that is what I expect of them.]

Comments

# 16 jWILL253 @ Aug 12

As far as the PS3 is concerned, FIFA, NHL, Tiger Woods, and FNR4 both play exceptionally well on the PS3, and that's WITHOUT taking full advantage of the hardware. So, it's really on the devs part to make both versions playable. However, I do think it's time for them to stop leaving the PS3 out to dry all the time.

As with the rest of this article, I couldn't agree more. That said, if you read Ian's interview regarding RTP, I don't think we're gonna see it in Madden 12; he just doesn't seem too enthusiastic about it.

Regarding the playbook issues you brought up, I would like to see more drawn-out versions of the offensive styles. Just because the entire league runs pretty much a hybrid of all the styles, Tiburon shouldn't handicap the user to just the NFL playbooks. That's one thing I loved about APF2K8: the playbook was immense, and I could develop a true old-school West Coast Offense.

But, that's just me...

# 17 adembroski @ Aug 13

Interesting... my feeling regarding the rtp interview is that he wants to create something HC09 like, not that he wants to ignore FR

# 18 AgustusM @ Aug 13

excellent article - I agree with almost everything you said here. Especially about fixing franchise mode. I still buy madden every year, but it will take a franchise mode overhaul to get me wait in line at midnight again.

# 19 shadthedad @ Aug 13

Not to stray too much from Adam's read, but Sony is going to have to pony the money up and get EA to develop a ground up PS3 exclusive. Like Tre mentioned, I'm curious to see how what kind of changes are implemented when you triple the storage space. In regards to the post, when Ian announced he was making changes- I gave him 3 years to prove his talk. By the looks of things, I am locked and loaded for Madden 2012. I guarantee that will be the best football game in history....and it all started with 2011. It kinda reminds me of how madden vick was the perfect stepping stone for madden Ray Lewis.

# 20 Step2001 @ Aug 14

Heck yeah the Madden team has the talent to take Franchise mode beyond Head Coach 09! That's what has been so frustrating....

Going back and forth with Josh Looman, Donny Moore & Chris Staymates on Head Coach 09 was awesome. To hear them talk what they wanted to add to the game and listening to our feedback was top notch. Set the bar, those guys were great.

Glad to see your name in the credits of Madden 11 and that your opinion is valued by the dev team.

We'll all keep cranking out the wishlist ideas.....

I know they read'em because I see things in the game this year that I (and along with others) have mentioned.

# 21 angrynewyorker @ Aug 14

When I think of games with great presentation, I think of The Show, or NBA 2K. The thing they do there is add variety. In The Show you have 3 commentators, in NBA 2K you have the main commentator, a color guy and a sideline reporter. And there's actually progression to what they say, in The Show when someone comes into the game off an injury, they touch on it for a second. Or when someone has a hitting streak, something like that. Just details. And the commentary isn't choppy. "Fastball on 2-1, Wright drives it deep and over the wall", stuff like that. It just makes the whole game more dynamic. Anyway, everyone's already touched on the real-time physics based blocking, REAL procedural awareness and all that, so I'll resort to nitpicking like crazy. The pregame chant is pretty cool..But they all say the same thing. "Who are we? JETS! Who are we? BENGALS! Who are we? RAVENS!" Add some variety, have Ray Lewis stand in a circle of 35 players screaming "WHAT TIME IS IT?" and have them roar back "GAME TIME". Hell, they don't even have to record the audio for it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwXtZ4zn6bo

# 22 tnchance94 @ Aug 14

the superstar mode is such a dissapointment to the game. i mean come on!

# 23 rooney8 @ Aug 14

I just wrote my first blog on #3 (dynasty mode) and what I think would make it better then HC09. Love to here what you think Adembroski. This was a good read.

# 24 rooney8 @ Aug 14

Hard to tell but the word blog in the above post is a link to the blog.

# 25 Step2001 @ Aug 15

They are rebuilding franchise mode. EA has to be laying that foundation on the PS3 and the blu ray discs......
Then port what they can over to the 360!

# 26 Step2001 @ Aug 15

That is my opinion....

# 27 EmmittSmithx22x @ Aug 22

Very solid points. Ia agree that blocking is probably one of the most important fixes they can make to create a more true sim experience

# 28 Coach Espy @ Jun 13

@Tengo: I am glad that you mentioned assignment AI for 22 positions (as opposed to merely 11). As someone who has played and coached the game as well as being a big fan, I would love to be able to play players at their real positions, e.g. Sam linebacker and have the computer AI make the strength call adjustment prior to the snap. Such distinctions between defensive ends, defensive tackles (based on a strength call), and cornerbacks and safties (field v. boundary) would be great as well.

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