Madden 08 Preview

[WVUFAN]

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/784/784284p1.html

Looks like Madden may be finally stepping up due to the new competition.

[Kodos]

If you could believe a word EA says, it would sound promising...

[SFL Cat]

^^^What he said.

[MizzouRah]

The "hype" machine is in full swing.

[WVUFAN]

Maybe I'm not getting it, but for the most part I've not had a whole lot of issues with Madden. 07 wasn't the best, but earlier editions have been better than other games I've played. The fact that they're working on the exact things alot of you have been saying you wanted improved should be a good thing.

I just don't get the EA hate around here. They've put out some great games.

[DaddyTorgo]

i'll say it...i generally enjoy madden. I don't use it for "serious" gaming...but it's nice on a Sunday after the games are over, or during the offseason when I want to fire it up and "see" a little more, get a little more "hands on."

maybe i'm unusual, but I don't really let the statistical issues (pancake blocks, etc) bother me, because of the pace I play it at and the fact that I don't EXPECT it to give me realistic stats or have realistic player progression. I use FOF if I am looking for that. But Madden has its niche in my life, and I am usually quite comfortable paying for it somewhere close to it's release and getting my money's worth out of it.

it's not perfect, but no game is.

[Logan]

i'll say it...i generally enjoy madden. I don't use it for "serious" gaming...but it's nice on a Sunday after the games are over, or during the offseason when I want to fire it up and "see" a little more, get a little more "hands on."

maybe i'm unusual, but I don't really let the statistical issues (pancake blocks, etc) bother me, because of the pace I play it at and the fact that I don't EXPECT it to give me realistic stats or have realistic player progression. I use FOF if I am looking for that. But Madden has its niche in my life, and I am usually quite comfortable paying for it somewhere close to it's release and getting my money's worth out of it.

it's not perfect, but no game is.

Pretty much exactly how I feel. I play Madden purely for entertainment...when I want to see if I can turn Alex Smith into a great QB by actually playing with him, and having an impact on what he does...not by devising a game plan that will best suit his known and unknown abilities.

[Eaglesfan27]

If you could believe a word EA says, it would sound promising...


Ditto. Seeing is believing.



Also, I doubt these improvements if they exist have anything to do with All Pro 2k8. No one knew for sure that was coming out until the last few months.

[Eaglesfan27]

Maybe I'm not getting it, but for the most part I've not had a whole lot of issues with Madden. 07 wasn't the best, but earlier editions have been better than other games I've played. The fact that they're working on the exact things alot of you have been saying you wanted improved should be a good thing.

I just don't get the EA hate around here. They've put out some great games.


Let's see...


Interceptions in simmed games counted twice.

Fatigue completed bugged.

20 DE's routinely being drafted in the 1st round.

Mario running forever.

Players running out of bounds unrealistically on several pass routes.


The list goes on, but Madden 07 had a lot of problems, as did 06 on the 360.

[RainMaker]

One of the gameplay issues that always bothered me (and something 2K did well) was QB sacks and fumbles. A good percent of the fumbles in the NFL come when the QB gets blindsided or stripped. The QBs in Madden never seemed to fumble unless they were running. I hope if a QB gets blindsided, he'll fumble accordingly.

[DaddyTorgo]

wow. What someone else said...if they can get even...75% of those things implemented 75% well, I will be a very happy man.

actual fatigue? actual differences in receivers? new blocking? no "skating" ?

Madden's new moves are made possible to a new animation system borrowed from the FIFA franchise

Me likely. Say what you want about the FIFA-franchise, but the animation on it looks very realistic.

EA is also rewriting the defensive zone AI to eliminate money plays, especially deep balls and corner routes.

[DaddyTorgo]

Fatigue completed bugged.

20 DE's routinely being drafted in the 1st round.

Mario running forever.

Players running out of bounds unrealistically on several pass routes.


3/4 of those claimed fixes just from the preview article. Note that I did say "claimed" as EA can surely promise the moon and deliver a hunk of rock

[Eaglesfan27]

If everything in the preview article is true... I'll be very happy to buy Madden this year. I'd even control all 32 teams if the franchise AI is still messed up.

[sabotai]

This is the 3rd time in the last 6 or 7 years that EA has made it a point to mention "new defensive AI to eliminate money plays". Maybe 3rd time's a charm?

[EagleFan]

Maybe I'm not getting it, but for the most part I've not had a whole lot of issues with Madden. 07 wasn't the best, but earlier editions have been better than other games I've played. The fact that they're working on the exact things alot of you have been saying you wanted improved should be a good thing.

I just don't get the EA hate around here. They've put out some great games.

I think it all stems from what people are expecting in the games. I kind of agree with you on Madden as I enjoy it just as an arcade type fun game. IF I want stats and management I fire up FOF 2007.

Now I agree with the hate they get for the NFL Head Coach game. That was just putrid for what it was supposed to be.

[Anthony]

If everything in the preview article is true... I'll be very happy to buy Madden this year.


need you even make an announcement anymore? i think we can all just assume at this point if it can be played with a console controller, a joystick or a keyboard - you're on it. quite impressive, actually.

[Eaglesfan27]

No more impressive than your ability to really pound a hot sub.

[cartman]

need you even make an announcement anymore? i think we can all just assume at this point if it can be played with a console controller, a joystick or a keyboard - you're on it. quite impressive, actually.

EF27 is to console games as HA is to midgets wearing sombreros.

[RainMaker]

This is the 3rd time in the last 6 or 7 years that EA has made it a point to mention "new defensive AI to eliminate money plays". Maybe 3rd time's a charm?

Improving DB AI for EA just means increasing the ratings of the defensive backs.

[Anthony]

This is the 3rd time in the last 6 or 7 years that EA has made it a point to mention "new defensive AI to eliminate money plays". Maybe 3rd time's a charm?

yeah, they really need to pull something else out of their bag of oft-used cliche's.

i can just picture the ad wizards sitting around the table trying to conjure up some new hook, and they get to the guy who's been with them for the last 8 years and he says "listen, i got a hot date tonight that i have dinner plans with, why don't we just cut this shit out and go with 'new defensive AI to eliminate money plays' and get the fuck out of there" and they all look at each other and shrug their shoulders and move on.

[MizzouRah]

I will say, they did get MVP 2005 and NHL 07 right.. so anythings possible.

[DaddyTorgo]

mizzou...nhl 07 is right? really? I hadn't heard that...and I can prolly snag it really cheap at this point

[sabotai]

mizzou...nhl 07 is right? really? I hadn't heard that...and I can prolly snag it really cheap at this point

From what I heard, NHL 07's AI is still not that good, but their new control system is really fun. Now that you mention it, if I can find it for a bargin bin price, I might pick it up as well.

[MizzouRah]

NHL 07 on the Xbox 360, I can't speak for any other platform. I played a full season and although the game is far from perfect (the defensive part of the game needs work), it was FUN, VERY FUN to play due to the shot stick control scheme.

[Maple Leafs]

Wow, you mean EA is saying that they're aware of all the AI problems in the last version of a game, but that the new version will fix all of those issues? Really? Great, where do I pre-order?

[Eaglesfan27]

Gamespot has a preview up as well now. Mostly similar stuff to the IGN preview with a few additional bits of information.


http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/madden08/news.html?sid=6169878&om_act=convert&om_clk=multimodule&tag=multimodule;picks;story;1

[WVUFAN]

That Gamespot preview says co-op is back. That's good news.

[DaddyTorgo]

figure at this point in the hockey (and basketball) seasons you can usually find those EA games for 9.99, 19.99, stuff like that. But I might wait till they're down to 9.99 since I don't have a pressing need for them.

[RainMaker]

That Gamespot preview says co-op is back. That's good news.
Nothing beats removing a feature, adding it back, and the boasting about a new feature in the game. :) EA never changes.

Still, if they really stopped with all the crap mini-games, soundtracks, and other useless crap in the game, and focused on the AI, it could be a good game. Like a pathetic video game fan, I'll be giddy with excitement for this game. Hope I'm not disappointed.

[mrsimperless]

In related news EA is removing all coaching aspects of NFL Head Coach for this year's release due to bugs. They are slated for return as new features in 2012.

[Mike Lowe]

Hopefully the game is better than the grammar in that review. YIKES!

[TroyF]

I'm going to get burned again on NCAA and Madden. It isn't even in question. I'll buy em hoping against hope that this is the year they get it right and they'll screw me. I'm a moron.

[Kodos]

Another preview. Sadly, I am getting my hopes up, which is always a big mistake...

hxxp://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1593/Madden-NFL-08/p1/

Madden 08 First Impressions (Xbox 360)

By: Nate Ahearn - "NateDog"
April 29th, 2007
Madden NFL 08 (Xbox 360)

EA cares, they really do. Despite their public perception of being a money grabbing, fan hating, bunch of micro-transaction addicts, they really do care about what consumers think. They made this very clear to a group of journalists who had been invited to tour EA Sports’ Tiburon Studios in Orlando. The beginning of their Madden 08 presentation featured comments gathered from message boards. It was flush with gripes about gameplay mechanics, graphical shortcomings, and other clamors for a better Madden experience. Oddly enough, any mention of micro-transactions was omitted. Go figure.

Granted these comments could have been gathered from a few hours spent on any of the hundreds of gaming message boards, but it’s the thought that counts, right? Throughout our first viewing of Madden 08 one thing was made very clear, EA understands that what gamers have been playing is not next-gen football.

This is next-gen football.

First things first: we weren’t shown anything about the franchise mode, superstar mode, or any kind of new fangled mode that they may or may not be putting in the game, so stop reading now if you’re in it for those type of specifics. What we were shown was how EA is hoping to change the core gameplay of Madden to deliver a much more realistic, and ultimately, a much more pleasing football experience.

Remember in last year’s game, when you’d throw an out-route to Terrell Owens and he’d be caught in the catch animation, thus leading him right out of bounds, even though there was plenty of open real estate up the sideline? It happened way too often, and it was infuriating every single time.

Well, no more of that bull hunky. We were shown a video that showed what last year’s version did, and then a clip of what this year’s version will bring. The days of being constrained by the current animation are gone, and players can now take advantage of their God-given athletic ability and turn that three-yard out into a twenty-yard scamper up the sideline.

On top of that, the actual act of running now looks much more true to life thanks to some refined foot pinning. No more running like robots, and that’s partly because of the fact that Tiburon will have access to the vault of FIFA animations so the ebb and flow should be greatly enhanced over past years.

The running game is also undergoing a bit of a reality check. Gone are the days of being handed the ball, running into the back of your lineman, and seeing absolutely no reaction other than running in place like the Wiley Coyote about to rundown Road Runner. Now LT (or whoever your back of choice may be) will actually maneuver his way through the gaps in the line. Sidestepping, lowering the shoulder, and pushing his way through the line now make it look much, much better. Once you get through the line though, things can get a little hairy thanks to Hit Stick 2.0.

Need a three-yard gain to score the last-second touchdown in a key game? Mike Alstott or T.J. Duckett used to be your man. There was no stopping it. Now there is a way thanks to the new and improved Hit Stick. Flick the stick down and you’ll take out his knees, stopping the back dead in his tracks. Flick it up and you’ll go for the big hit that we all love to see when it lands properly. In fact, tackling in general has been ratcheted up a notch from the solo-tackling world of yesteryear. Gang tackles are now in the game, and looking very nice, even at the game’s early stage in development.

Not only are gang tackles making their first appearance on the Xbox 360, but now defenders can actually knock each other off of an impending tackle. Say Zach Thomas has your running back all wrapped up in the backfield, when all of a sudden a blitzing corner dives in to help. But instead of hitting the ball carrier he collides with the Dolphin’s massive linebacker. In last year’s game there would have been no response whatsoever. In this year’s game, you’ll break free and continue on. Couple the new tackling with gang, zone, reach, and double-team blocking and the bruisers on both sides of the ball will be moving better than ever.

Simple game of pass and catch.

Of course it’s not just the running game that’s seeing improvements, the passing game is also getting its helping of improvements. First there’s the opponent AI tuning so now Peyton Manning will actually play like Peyton Manning, not just calling out audibles left and right before the snap then playing like every other quarterback in the league.

Once the ball is in the air things are changing a good bit as well. There won’t be anymore “jetpack catches” where players could take control of the receiver and leap above everyone else to make a miraculous – albeit impossible – catch. You can still jump for a catch, but now mid-air collisions are a reality. We saw a few of these impressive tackles in person, and there were a few that had the crowd cringing. The same goes for hurdling, which used to be a kind of god mode in the world of Madden. Now defenders will wrap and drive you straight into the Astroturf.

When Liquid AI first broke onto the scene on the original Playstation, gamers were wowed with the way a defense could adapt to play calling. But that was years ago, and there really haven’t been many huge advances since. This time around Tiburon is rewriting their deep coverage AI so that streak routes are no longer the money plays they once were. They’ve also retuned the AI of ball carriers, so when there’s thirty seconds on the clock, he won’t stay in bounds and let the time tick down. Now he’ll actually act like he has half a brain and duck out of bounds. In fact, the AI’s entire clock management routines have been retooled to deliver some much needed realism. Oh, and defensive hot routes are back too.

As if that wasn’t enough – and it should be by now – player ratings are being expanded quite a bit. Ball carrier vision, hit power, and route running are just a few of the additions that you’ll find. As always, these ratings will change with your performance, but there’s an old favorite that’s being reshaped a bit for Madden 08, and that’s fatigue. Now, playing in Mile High Stadium will affect your boys. Same goes for a humid day in Miami. You’ll see your players gasping for air, and their performance will suffer because of it.

One of the many focal points of EA’s presentation was taking old features that gamers were used to in the Xbox versions, and bringing them into the next-generation (a place they should have been all along). Of course, our first question for the boys at Tiburon was “What about my fantasy draft?!” To which they sheepishly replied, “We love fantasy draft too, but we’re not talking about that right now.” Fishy to say the least.

What they were able to tell us – and this is a reward for those of you who made it this far into the preview – was that cooperative play is back. Finally, you and a buddy will be able to play together on the same team. If someone had told me it would take EA Sports three years to include this feature I’d have had them committed. Needless to say, we were happy to see it finally making its way into the game.


The Outlook

A reoccurring theme in EA Sports’ presentation was delivering a sense of cohesive locomotion. For as much brutality and as many 300 pound ogres as there are in the NFL, there’s still a remarkable amount of fluidity and grace, something that the current offering of next-gen Madden games have certainly lacked. We can honestly say that after seeing the game firsthand, and witnessing several comparison videos of last year’s game to this year’s, that EA finally has their head in the right place, the place that it should have been all along, firmly on the gameplay.

We’ll have plenty more Madden goodness as soon as humanly possible, or as soon as EA Sports decides to send us a build of the game. For now, just head on over to our forums and discuss all things to do with Madden 08.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

For a second there, I thought I read a couple of posts where people expected EA to deliver a good game. Either my vision is failing me or there are some gluttons for punishment on this board.

[nilodor]

NHL 07 on the Xbox 360, I can't speak for any other platform. I played a full season and although the game is far from perfect (the defensive part of the game needs work), it was FUN, VERY FUN to play due to the shot stick control scheme.

That shot stick is only on the 360 version, the current gen systems get its bastardized little brother, which isn't very good at all.

[Anthony]

man, EA has some impressive hype machines. i want this game and i don't even have any next-gen consoles yet.

[MizzouRah]

That shot stick is only on the 360 version, the current gen systems get its bastardized little brother, which isn't very good at all.

That stinks, without that I don't think I would have been interested.

[Eaglesfan27]

New IGN preview up that has some cool sounding features, such as smart QB's that can see the defense's play art if a play is called too many times and defensive players who can do the same.

http://sports.ign.com/articles/789/789781p1.html

[Kodos]

Must. Not. Get. Expectation. Up....

[sabotai]

New IGN preview up that has some cool sounding features, such as smart QB's that can see the defense's play art if a play is called too many times and defensive players who can do the same.

http://sports.ign.com/articles/789/789781p1.html

I'm extremely worried about balancing game play with the "Weapons". I can see some of them being unbalanced, causing the game to be very arcade-y. That preview made me less likely to buy Madden, at least less likely to buy right away.

[WVUFAN]

I'm extremely worried about balancing game play with the "Weapons". I can see some of them being unbalanced, causing the game to be very arcade-y. That preview made me less likely to buy Madden, at least less likely to buy right away.

I'm not sure how they could unbalance the game. Personally, I like the "weapons" idea -- gives each player more distinction from the rest of the crowd.

[nilodor]

I'm not sure how they could unbalance the game. Personally, I like the "weapons" idea -- gives each player more distinction from the rest of the crowd.

I think I would have liked to see them make the average player worse, instead of the stars better. But any widening of the gap should help the game.

[sabotai]

I'm not sure how they could unbalance the game.

If Stiff Arm is too powerful, if Big Hitter causes way too many fumbles, if Cannon Arm makes it really easy to complete bomb after bomb, if Possession Receiver makes it impossible to prevent a catch, if Shutdown Corner produces way too many interceptions....

And I think that "Smart" Weapons are a terrible idea. The player should be recognizing patterns and predicting the play called, not having the game just hand them the enitre play if it's called too many times. What if the AI doesn't vary the play call enough, and by the 3rd quarter, you're seeing every play they call? Or, what if it varies it too much, and you never see it at all?

The more I think about the "Weapons", the more I hope they can be turned off.

[BrianD]

The weapons could unbalance the game, but they don't necessarily have to. We would expect to big hitters cause more fumbles, or stiff-arm specialists be more successful with a stiff-arm than a regular player. If these "weapons" are just visual indicators of higher ratings which are a bit more successful than lower rated guys, that won't be so bad.

The weapons I worry about are the ones which identify the play on the other side of the line. Don't people run multiple plays out of the same formation just to hide this very situation? If I like to run an I-formation off-tackle blast, an I-formation toss sweep, and an I-formation tight-end seam pass, how is a smart defender going to know which is coming just by the formation? Even if I run just those three plays all game, the defender will never know which one is coming.

[Eaglesfan27]

Another preview on IGN is up. The talk of the Marshall minute where Faulk analyzes the stars and predicts the scores is the first presentation improvement I've heard. I'm interested in seeing the "new direction that Franchise mode" will take as well.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/789/789850p1.html

[DaddyTorgo]

better not axe the fantasy draft!

there's nothing more fun than drafting an "all name team" or an "all rookie team" or an "all hair team" or whatever other random crap you wanna make up

[Crapshoot]

need you even make an announcement anymore? i think we can all just assume at this point if it can be played with a console controller, a joystick or a keyboard - you're on it. quite impressive, actually.

I hate to say, but I laughed out loud at this. No offense intended EF - it seems like you purchase a lot of games. :D

[WVUFAN]

The weapons I worry about are the ones which identify the play on the other side of the line. Don't people run multiple plays out of the same formation just to hide this very situation? If I like to run an I-formation off-tackle blast, an I-formation toss sweep, and an I-formation tight-end seam pass, how is a smart defender going to know which is coming just by the formation? Even if I run just those three plays all game, the defender will never know which one is coming.

Honestly, I think they're doing the "Smart" weapons thing as one of the means to stop people from using "money plays". I look at it as the quarterback's ability to read a defensive scheme that he's seen time and time again during the course of the game, which is reasonable. Same with predictable runs/passes from a 'backer's perception. Yeah, the coach(ie the person playing the game) should be able to read tendencies, but so should the player in the game be able to do the same thing, and possible moreso since they're IN the game.

[Kodos]

Okay. After successfully avoiding buying Madden 2007, I have to say I'm getting excited about '08. It's sounding like they are focusing on gameplay and on bringing back all the stuff they've been leaving out.

[Chubby]

I'm extremely worried about balancing game play with the "Weapons". I can see some of them being unbalanced, causing the game to be very arcade-y. That preview made me less likely to buy Madden, at least less likely to buy right away.


Madden, acarde-y? nooooooooooooooo, never!

[Kodos]

hxxp://www.gamespot.com/pages/gamespace/updates.php?pid=938343&sid=6171097&tag=topslot;title;1

New GameStop preview:

Madden NFL 08 Hands-On

Weapons are engaged. Madden 08 is putting the focus on the NFL's best players, and we've got a hands-on look at the game.

By Brian Ekberg, GameSpot
Posted May 19, 2007 12:01 pm PT

The Chicago Bears are down by two scores to, of all teams, the Oakland Raiders. Needless to say, things are getting desperate. So far, Bears quarterback Rex Grossman has been on one of his "bad Rex" stints, having tossed two straight interceptions to Fabian Washington, and the running game powered by Cedric Benson has been anything but powerful. From out of nowhere, Rex drops back and lands a pass directly into the hands of receiver Mushin Muhammad, who is streaking toward the sidelines with a Raiders defensive back draped on him like an ugly fur coat. Instead of running out of bounds after grabbing the ball, Mush manages to not only stay in bounds, but shed the tackler and take the ball all the way to the promised land.

You might not have seen that kind of play in previous years of the Madden NFL series. More than likely, Mush would have been pushed out of bounds or, worse yet, simply ran himself past the sidelines after catching the ball. With the upcoming Madden NFL 08, things are changing, as we discovered today after getting some hands-on time with a work-in-progress build of the game.

This season, it's all about weapons, that is the superstars on each NFL team that can turn the tide of a game single-handedly. Practically all of the gameplay tweaks in Madden 08 revolve around the concept of the weapons on each team, from presentation to animations, and the result is a game that feels markedly different from last year.

Regardless of your thoughts on parity in the NFL, it's still true that there are haves and have-nots when it comes to talent in the league, and that will be mirrored in Madden 08. Unlike the NCAA series and its impact-player system, there's no minimum or maximum number of star players on an NFL team. Some teams (like the San Diego Chargers) are flush with talent, while others (like the Cleveland Browns) will only have a handful of game changers on their roster. That said, any player designated as a "weapon" will be someone you'll want to watch out for.

To that point, the development team behind Madden 08 is striving to make sure that you're always aware of who the weapons are on the field, and that they feel different from your standard NFL player. The visual cues for weapons are extensive--from the player introductions on the field that highlight a handful of star players to multiple icons that indicate each star player's different abilities. The player icon is a bit reminiscent of the system used in previous years' versions of EA's NBA Live series, except that instead of five player roles, Madden NFL 08 will define 24 different types of weapons on the field. Examples include big hitters, finesse or power defensive linemen, elusive running backs, power backs, possession receivers, spectacular catch receivers, and many more.

To the game's credit, players aren't too narrowly defined by their weapon categorization. In other words, the truly elite NFL players can be noted as multiple-threat weapons. In fact, if you back out to the player menu screen in a game, you can see a player's top attributes and get a feel for how strong he is within each of these weapon categories. In the game, for example, San Diego QB Philip Rivers is known for his arm power, accuracy, and intelligence, all of which he can use to his advantage on the field. As you progress through a season, you'll receive scouting reports from week to week, indicating your next opponent, that team's star players, and how you can go about counteracting their best players.

The best way to take advantage of a weapon in Madden 08 is, obviously, to play to his strengths. You don't want to use an elusive runner like Brian Westbrook as a power back--his strength is getting between the tackles and slipping through the hands of defenders. That said, no matter how powerful a "weapon" a player is, the game is being balanced to ensure that he can be brought down. Every weapon will have a counter weapon that you can use to minimize his effectiveness. In the case of Westbrook, putting a big hit on him with the new hit stick (where you can choose to hit either high or low by pressing up or down on the right stick) will often cause him to drop the ball; he's also more susceptible to the ball being stripped out of his hands.

Similarly, players who aren't playing to their strengths might fall into traps of their own making--running too many jukes and spins with a power guy like Lamont Jordan, for example, is a surefire way to get him to cough up the ball. Even linemen are in on the weapon/counterweapon fun; to counter a offensive lineman known as a "crushing run blocker," for example, you throw a power move defensive lineman at him and knock him on his tail.

To give you a quick glance of your team's (and your opponent's) abilities on the gridiron, you can press the left trigger before the snap; the camera will pull back, and you'll see all the different weapons on the field, with icons indicating their specific specialty. In a nice presentation tweak, the right trigger will now pull back the camera to show you your receiver button assignments but not the specific patterns your receivers will be running. To see the receiver patterns, you simply move the analog stick--a handy tool when you don't want your opponent to see your play before the snap.

Thanks to some extremely responsive controls, the gameplay in Madden is already feeling like an improvement over previous years. When running the ball, for instance, our natural inclination in the past has been to bounce outside and try to get around the corner--thanks to shoddy inside blocking. In Madden 08, you can feel free to run those inside routes, and especially with the more elusive runners, you'll usually be good for a positive gain. New animations, such as a running back turning sideways to slip between defenders or would-be tacklers bouncing off the big bruisers, make the experience that much more compelling. Similarly, the passing game makes a clear distinction between possession receivers--those guys who make the catch and keep the ball even after a big hit--and spectacular play guys who can go up for a ball you've intentionally thrown high and come down with it. On defense, gang tackles bring the pain against the ball carrier, and the secondary is more responsive than ever when breaking to the ball. In all, star players feel like stars in Madden 08 (we're thinking of the Bears' Devin Hester and his blistering 100 speed rating, which really feels like something special in the game).

While players have their roles in the game, there's no saying that you can't improve upon or even change their skill set when in franchise or owner mode in Madden 08. To do so, you'll need to spend some time in the upgraded minigames, which feature slightly tweaked variations on familiar minigames such as the quarterback challenge, running back challenge, coverage challenge, and so on. We had a chance to try the QB and RB challenges in our time with the game. In the QB challenge, you first choose the kinds of weapons you wish to throw to (hands guys, possession receivers, and so on), then try to nail as many completions as you can during the time allotted. The most apparent change for the quarterback challenge is the addition of blitzing defenseman, which adds a degree of challenge, especially in two-player matches.

For the running back challenge, you're given a different type of back on each successive play (a power back, for example, followed by a stiff-arm specialist), and your goal is to get to the end zone as many times as you can or, if on defense, to try and prevent the other team from finding pay dirt. Especially when playing defense, the type of back you're going up against makes a difference, as you want to approach a power back in a different way from, say, an elusive back, who's able to skitter out of your reach. In addition to the aforementioned minigames, there will be offensive- and defensive-line challenges, as well as the bench press and 40-yard dash from last year's Madden. As you progress in the minigames, your players' abilities will improve throughout the season.

Previous next-gen versions of Madden included the "gamer level" system to indicate your progress through the game. That will change a bit in Madden 08, as the team is introducing the concept of championship rings, which you will build and earn as you make your way through the game. A "shrine"--decked out with the logo, colors, and highlight videos of your favorite NFL team--will show you all of the different rings you've built over time, as well as a multitude of in-game trophies for things like rushing and passing records. There will even be a trophy case for the head-to-head trophies you've won against other players online. You'll be able to create and name new trophies as you go, and the game will keep track of each head-to-head trophy you possess, complete with stats such as overall record in the "trophy competitions," the score of the last game played for a trophy, and more.

Graphically, the game seems to be coming along nicely, with lots of new tackle, catch, and run animations visible straight away. The crowds, too, seem to have benefited from some tweaks, as they seem more animated than in previous versions of the game. Of course, you can expect all the new uniform tweaks, such as the Chargers new-look unis, to be in the game (no downloads required).

In all, Madden 08's focus on the best players in the NFL, coupled with tightened gameplay, seems to be paying dividends already, even in this relatively early look at the game. Of course, the ultimate success or failure of this system will be in gameplay balance, both on an individual player and team basis. One could imagine online Madden fans simply gravitating more than ever to the strongest teams in the sport under this weapons system, but here's hoping that the game remains fun for everyone to play, regardless of their favorite team. We'll be bringing you much more on the game in the coming months, so stay tuned.

[MizzouRah]

Talk is cheap. ;)

[Kodos]

It's at least encouraging that multiple sources with hands-on experience are saying it plays better. :)

[Eaglesfan27]

It's at least encouraging that multiple sources with hands-on experience are saying it plays better. :)


It is encouraging. Despite my attempts to prevent it, my hopes are rising as well. The programmer's blog where he talks about how flawed the franchise mode has been and how he is fixing it up this year is also encouraging.

[Surtt]

The programmer's blog where he talks about how flawed the franchise mode has been and how he is fixing it up this year is also encouraging.

I would feel better if his idea of fixing the franchise mode was more then: "All of the classic features that allowed us to tweak the game to our liking need to make their way back into this title." While getting back what you previously lost is an improvement, it is not much of a goal to get very excited about.

[MizzouRah]

It's at least encouraging that multiple sources with hands-on experience are saying it plays better. :)

I suppose next you want me to buy another Xbox 360 and a Dell 24" widescreen monitor because my 20" monitor is too small now? HUH??

Damn you Kodos!

[Groundhog]

As per usual I fully expect Madden 2008 to play and look great, with mostly positive reviews coming from FOFC posters within the first 24 hours of release.

Then, 25-48 hours after release, we will see the first complaints, probably quoted from operationsports.com, due to a particular 'feature' not working as intended. Doom'n'gloom will begin to set in.

The 48-72 hour period will see those people who have embarked on franchise careers to begin to notice quirks in the draft/FA/player development phase, and the EA bashing will begin.

The 73 hour mark will signal the "Oh well, maybe it'll be fixed by next year" phase, while we all drool over the screenshots and neat sounding features fed to us by the EA PR men.

Such is the vicious circle of the Madden gamer.

[Anthony]

As per usual I fully expect Madden 2008 to play and look great, with mostly positive reviews coming from FOFC posters within the first 24 hours of release.

Then, 25-48 hours after release, we will see the first complaints, probably quoted from operationsports.com, due to a particular 'feature' not working as intended. Doom'n'gloom will begin to set in.

The 48-72 hour period will see those people who have embarked on franchise careers to begin to notice quirks in the draft/FA/player development phase, and the EA bashing will begin.

The 73 hour mark will signal the "Oh well, maybe it'll be fixed by next year" phase, while we all drool over the screenshots and neat sounding features fed to us by the EA PR men.

Such is the vicious circle of the Madden gamer.


yup, that's it right there.

[DaddyTorgo]

It is encouraging. Despite my attempts to prevent it, my hopes are rising as well. The programmer's blog where he talks about how flawed the franchise mode has been and how he is fixing it up this year is also encouraging.


linky mc-link?

[Emiliano]

linky mc-link?

Go! (http://www.easports.com/maddennfl/blogs.jsp)

[Eaglesfan27]

http://blogs.ign.com/EA_Madden/2007/05/18/55102/

Not a lot of information, yet.

[RawIsDan]

Now I agree with the hate they get for the NFL Head Coach game. That was just putrid for what it was supposed to be.

Agreed. Since they make no mention of the title this year I take it they pulled the plug on it ?

[sabotai]

Agreed. Since they make no mention of the title this year I take it they pulled the plug on it ?

Which would kind of be unfortunate. I know it's EA so that chances of this happening are slim, but if they just used the current engine, got the on field AI right, and streamlined the off-the-field head coach stuff, it seems like it would have been a pretty good game.

[SunDevil]

As per usual I fully expect Madden 2008 to play and look great, with mostly positive reviews coming from FOFC posters within the first 24 hours of release.

Then, 25-48 hours after release, we will see the first complaints, probably quoted from operationsports.com, due to a particular 'feature' not working as intended. Doom'n'gloom will begin to set in.

The 48-72 hour period will see those people who have embarked on franchise careers to begin to notice quirks in the draft/FA/player development phase, and the EA bashing will begin.

The 73 hour mark will signal the "Oh well, maybe it'll be fixed by next year" phase, while we all drool over the screenshots and neat sounding features fed to us by the EA PR men.

Such is the vicious circle of the Madden gamer.

Sounds about right for ootp 2007 as well. :D

[Eaglesfan27]

Agreed. Since they make no mention of the title this year I take it they pulled the plug on it ?

There are some rumors that it will be back, but it will be on a 2 year development cycle. *shurg*

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

There are some rumors that it will be back, but it will be on a 2 year development cycle. *shurg*

One could argue that all EA games are on a 2 year development cycle and you just hope you get something other than a roster update in the off-year.

[Eaglesfan27]

This (developer?) blog makes it sound like they are working on important franchise considerations such as player development and draft class balancing with classes varying in strengths and weaknesses from year to year:


http://maddenfb.com/blogs/game/archive/2007/05/25/franchise-update-ronnie-morales.aspx

[Kodos]

hxxp://blogs.ign.com/EA_Madden/2007/06/11/

More updated info on the Madden blog at IGN.

[Eaglesfan27]

Ian Cummings seems to be a great marketer.. I hope he is as good of a programmer/developer. This week's entry has my favorite video, yet. The last catch looks great:

http://www.easports.com/maddennfl/blogs.jsp?url=blogs%2Fgame%2Farchive%2F2007%2F06%2F15%2Fsideline-catches-a-return-to-greatness.aspx

[sabotai]

It's about time they started to try to keep their feet in bounds. That's been one of the most annoying/frustrating things in Madden and NCAA.

[MizzouRah]

I agree, that last catch looks great.

[Emiliano]

Good stuff.

[Maple Leafs]

It's a little worrisome that the first catch has a guy "dotting the i" about a yard from the sideline, isn't it?

[sabotai]

It's a little worrisome that the first catch has a guy "dotting the i" about a yard from the sideline, isn't it?

Not really considering it's Antonio Gates. ;) (And much less so when you see the second guy miss)

[Maple Leafs]

Not really considering it's Antonio Gates.
I guess. But given that this is EA's own hand-picked promo video, it's not a good sign. I could see a season full of sideline patterns getting snapped off because the toe-step animation kicks in as soon as a guy gets anywhere near the chalk.

[WVUFAN]

There's some new gameplay footage and some more comments from a Producer on IGN:

http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/868/868499/vids_1.html

I love how smooth the animations look.

[BigMak]

Madden always looks good at this time of year. Its when the release comes that we see the true game.

[Mota]

It's at least encouraging that multiple sources with hands-on experience are saying it plays better. :)

And all of these sources were flown out to EA's studios to watch the game in a controlled environment, and were wined and dined while they were there.

Unfortunately it is VERY rare that you see a preview that exposes any flaws or shows a lack of enthusiasm for a title. It's the usual "BEST GAME EVAH!" thing every time.

I do plan on picking up NCAA and Madden this year so I'm really hoping that they'll be good this year, it's been 3 years since I've bought NCAA and I'm going insane.

[MizzouRah]

If NCAA truly plays at 60 fps, it should finally hold my interest since 2004.

[gstelmack]

I'm always amused at the focus on graphics and animations. Frankly, I want in-game saves, receivers that can actually get open, DBs that don't have some magical burst to knock the ball away whenever a receiver DOES get open, offensive linemen that can actually block, defensive linemen that can get off a block when I'm controlling them, etc.

[MizzouRah]

http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=4680

Gameplay footage.

I will say, the game does look good.

[TroyF]

I'm always amused at the focus on graphics and animations. Frankly, I want in-game saves, receivers that can actually get open, DBs that don't have some magical burst to knock the ball away whenever a receiver DOES get open, offensive linemen that can actually block, defensive linemen that can get off a block when I'm controlling them, etc.


The only thing I really care about graphics on are making things believable. Things like the out of bounds thing have hurt the EA series of football games for years now.

As for Mizzou, I don't know where it turned for him. I remember him being concerned about gameplay and realism. At some point he turned into a graphics whore.

Next time you come to CO, we really need to talk about that man. :)

[SackAttack]

And all of these sources were flown out to EA's studios to watch the game in a controlled environment, and were wined and dined while they were there.

Unfortunately it is VERY rare that you see a preview that exposes any flaws or shows a lack of enthusiasm for a title. It's the usual "BEST GAME EVAH!" thing every time.

It's more like, "You have a demo to play in which quarters last two minutes, so you can't really pound on the thing to see where it breaks."

Which is why sports games are so difficult to read at events like E3. It can look like the greatest thing ever and easily be trash 3-6 months later. It can also look unimpressive and have a total turnaround, because all you're seeing is a fraction of what's actually there.

[Eaglesfan27]

Another producer's blog is up. This week the focus is on blocking and it seems like the new producer really knows his stuff. This is testing my resolve of my pledge to my self not to pick Madden up for at least a few days after release to wait for impressions from multiple sources:

http://www.easports.com/maddennfl/blogs.jsp?url=blogs%2Fgame%2Farchive%2F2007%2F06%2F22%2Fmadden-nfl-08-next-gen-blocking.aspx


Edit: I also saw a post on OS that summarizes an article in ESPN the magazine in which they claim the franchise mode now has 1st round busts late round gems and players will progress and regress more realistically..

[sabotai]

Another producer's blog is up. This week the focus is on blocking and it seems like the new producer really knows his stuff. This is testing my resolve of my pledge to my self not to pick Madden up for at least a few days after release to wait for impressions from multiple sources:

http://www.easports.com/maddennfl/blogs.jsp?url=blogs%2Fgame%2Farchive%2F2007%2F06%2F22%2Fmadden-nfl-08-next-gen-blocking.aspx


The video is very nice but the image worries me. The LT should not be going to double team a DT lined up in the A gap, on any kind of zone blocking scheme, nor would the center double team a player in the B gap. Maybe the image is taken before any of the pre-snap AI logic is ran. I hope that's the case since the LT going to block that DT ensures that play is going fail miserably every time (except the times the RB can juke the LB since the LB will be coming clean each time)

[DaddyTorgo]

The video is very nice but the image worries me. The LT should not be going to double team a DT lined up in the A gap, on any kind of zone blocking scheme, nor would the center double team a player in the B gap. Maybe the image is taken before any of the pre-snap AI logic is ran. I hope that's the case since the LT going to block that DT ensures that play is going fail miserably every time (except the times the RB can juke the LB since the LB will be coming clean each time)

maybe it's a shitty run-blocking LT?

[sabotai]

maybe it's a shitty run-blocking LT?

On a zone blocking scheme, that LT is responsible for the C or B gaps, depending on scheme, direction of the play, etc. The A gap is something he should never, ever be thinking about. This goes far beyond a player just simply missing a block.

But maybe it's a shitty coach. :)

[Anthony]

On a zone blocking scheme, that LT is responsible for the C or B gaps, depending on scheme, direction of the play, etc. The A gap is something he should never, ever be thinking about. This goes far beyond a player just simply missing a block.

But maybe it's a shitty coach. :)

this is what you're expecting out of a video game? i don't even know what you're talking about, so if this is it's major flaw i'll be happy with it.

[RedKingGold]

From the July 2nd edition of ESPN the Magazine, so take it for what it's worth:

"But no matter how amazing your first-rounders look on paper, draft day is really a gamble and this is reflected through draft "busts" and "gems." For the first time in Madden, a top rookie won't automatically become the best player at his position. In fact, players can start out looking like studs, then slip into ratings hell."

Pretty much everything else in the Page 2 section of the gamer is worthless fluff, but this little comment caught my eye. Whether or not this is properly implemented remains to be seen, but it could be a step in the right direction to make franchise mode a little harder.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

From the Sports Gamer blog. An impression from someone at the Madden event.....

When I got to the event, I fired up a game of my beloved Seahawks against division rival, St. Louis Rams and tried out the new Weapons feature that I’ve been reading about. I tried a couple plays controlling Walter Jones and used the Pass Blocker Weapon.

I'm sorry, did he just say 'weapons'?????? Thank God they're trying to reduce the cheese..........

[Kodos]

I think weapons is EA's way of trying to make sure that only elite players can make elite plays.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I think weapons is EA's way of trying to make sure that only elite players can make elite plays.

Too much to program in that players between ratings of 50 and 85 can't make elite plays? Or too much thought needed to actually rate a player lower than 50?

[WVUFAN]

this is what you're expecting out of a video game? i don't even know what you're talking about, so if this is it's major flaw i'll be happy with it.

It goes to the blocking AI, which was an issue in past years' games. It's like this, if I remember my old football days (which was a long time ago)


CBAABC
TGCGT
Q

The top letters(rather poor, so forgive me) indicate gaps, so if the Left Tackle is looking towards or protecting an "A" gap in zone blocking, then it usally leaves a blitzing linebacker free into the backfield. It leaves a gaping hole in the left side (which is usually the blind side of a right-handed QB).

In other words, it's an possible issue with the blocking AI.

Y'all probably know this stuff better than me, just wanted to basically agree with Sabotai on this. :)

[Emiliano]

New trailer (http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/868/868499/vids_1.html) up on IGN.

[WVUFAN]

Operation Sports is reporting that the PS3 version of Madden 08, NCAA 08 and All Pro Football will all be at 30 fps and the 360 versions of all 3 games will run at 60 fps.

Linkage: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3160709

[Eaglesfan27]

That could hurt PS3 sales significantly. I know a few people who are taking the plunge to next gen because of these football games.


Edit: Just read the article.

[Ironhead]

That could hurt PS3 sales significantly. I know a few people who are taking the plunge to next gen because of these football games.


Edit: Just read the article.


Count me in the boat that is finally taking the plunge for a 360 because of the football games. I watched the NCAA 08 trailer and whimpered, and then watched the highlights of All Pro and made up my mind. I'm buying the damned thing.

[CraigSca]

Operation Sports is reporting that the PS3 version of Madden 08, NCAA 08 and All Pro Football will all be at 30 fps and the 360 versions of all 3 games will run at 60 fps.

Linkage: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3160709

I guess that explains why all the trailers you see are from the 360.

[MizzouRah]

Wow, glad I have an Xbox 360.