Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

[4thQtrStre5S]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

Does anyone really think the rating or system are going to change without him? The ratings in this game are just as much marketing as they are anything else. The casual fanbase wants to see their favorite players rated as high as possible.

The fans do want to see their favorite players rated high, and that is a huge issue to getting anything effective in the game, such as more logical ratings.

[msdm27]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

The fans do want to see their favorite players rated high, and that is a huge issue to getting anything effective in the game, such as more logical ratings.

As some have mentioned, it is probably unlikely to expect a dramatic change in the ratings themselves. We'll probably still have an overflow of 90+ rated players.

And if they indeed decide to stay with that "marketing based" approach to ratings then the real fix should be to modify the scale that differentiates ratings; make a 95 play and feel different than a 93, for example.

[4thQtrStre5S]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

As some have mentioned, it is probably unlikely to expect a dramatic change in the ratings themselves. We'll probably still have an overflow of 90+ rated players.

And if they indeed decide to stay with that "marketing based" approach to ratings then the real fix should be to modify the scale that differentiates ratings; make a 95 play and feel different than a 93, for example.

I agree with that idea..It needs to be the hidden mechanics of the game itself that needs to change while leaving the window dressing of high ratings available for the fans to swoon over..Hell, even NFL players have discussed their ratings, even disagreeing with how they were rated..

It has already been noted by EA that there have been some adjustments to how speed will be worked for M16..SO I assume ratings won't change for speed, but behind the scenes it is going to be calculated differently to some degree...

[msdm27]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

I agree with that idea..It needs to be the hidden mechanics of the game itself that needs to change while leaving the window dressing of high ratings available for the fans to swoon over..Hell, even NFL players have discussed their ratings, even disagreeing with how they were rated..

It has already been noted by EA that there have been some adjustments to how speed will be worked for M16..SO I assume ratings won't change for speed, but behind the scenes it is going to be calculated differently to some degree...

Jepp, the solution has to be that (internal adjustments to the scale)

I honestly don't care if a player like Matt Ryan is a 87 or a 91, as long as there is a noticeable difference between that 91 and player rated above that number, even if it's only a 93.

[barsoffury]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

I know it won't happen but now would be a good time to try something new with the ratings system and other sports titles have discussed it for a few years now (The Show, I've seen it talked, hoped for but it still has never been tried) and that is to eliminate "overall" numbers ratings and use things like statistics, performance, and maybe some numbers like 40 times, bench reps, cone drills, etc. to determine a player's value and ability.
Things like the scouting combine would be that much more beneficial to have. Scouts in general would be more important. You would have to use your head more by looking at a player's production and how it compares to the rest of the league.

[poster]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

First the development team needs to incorporate full editing of players in any of the game modes at any time.

Second, if marketing wants to have a hand in ratings, they can write up a manual that comes with the game or a blog post that is visible anywhere on the Madden website that explains in detail how to edit the rating of your players to whatever you think it should be.

I know, I know. Wishful thinking.

Best of luck, Dan! Hope things work out for you, whatever comes of it. Glad to hear you won't compromise and hopefully you can make a difference in improving the game if a partnership materializes.

[TDKing]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

Maybe they can make it an option. Default Ratings/FBG Ratings.

[AP 17]

Just go back in time to Madden 2004 and NCAA Football 2004, u only need 20 ratings not 50. The 40-99 scale works fine, just eliminate the arbitrary ratings like run block footwork. I understand what tiburon was going for, but it's unnecessary.

[BleedGreen710]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

and NFL 2k5's rating system,

lets be real 2k5 is a great game but their ratings were wacky as hell

john abraham 92 speed and brian westbrook 83 speed?

[DCEBB2001]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

I know it won't happen but now would be a good time to try something new with the ratings system and other sports titles have discussed it for a few years now (The Show, I've seen it talked, hoped for but it still has never been tried) and that is to eliminate "overall" numbers ratings and use things like statistics, performance, and maybe some numbers like 40 times, bench reps, cone drills, etc. to determine a player's value and ability.
Things like the scouting combine would be that much more beneficial to have. Scouts in general would be more important. You would have to use your head more by looking at a player's production and how it compares to the rest of the league.

If they bring me in to do their ratings, one of the first things I would do is suggest to do away with the overall rating. Let the users "scout" their team like real GMs and coaches do based upon the TRAITS and PRODUCTION of their players. If you have a WR who has 1500 yards and 10 TDs a season, who cares if he is only a 61 OVR right? Start that guy based on what allowed him to produce, not his overall rating! Common sense here!

[BleedGreen710]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

i always wished madden had an option to just turn off player ratings or turn them all to question marks. it would be so neat to play with no ratings. you would have to like actually practice with your team to see whos best. scout your own players. have intense position battles. performance on the field would matter! breakout games would have you thinking maybe that player is better then you thought. and with rookies they could let you run drills with them or bring back the college all star game. it would be so awesome. i've actually tried using a cardboard cutout to block the ratings whenever i went into rosters but it was just too damn annoying.

[gr18]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

lets be real 2k5 is a great game but their ratings were wacky as hell

john abraham 92 speed and brian westbrook 83 speed?

I know it's hard to believe but Abraham's 40 time was clocked as low as 4.41 in 2001,while Westbrook is listed at 4.57.

[sir psycho]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

i always wished madden had an option to just turn off player ratings or turn them all to question marks. it would be so neat to play with no ratings. you would have to like actually practice with your team to see whos best. scout your own players. have intense position battles. performance on the field would matter! breakout games would have you thinking maybe that player is better then you thought. and with rookies they could let you run drills with them or bring back the college all star game. it would be so awesome. i've actually tried using a cardboard cutout to block the ratings whenever i went into rosters but it was just too damn annoying.

Agreed. The option to hide ratings in franchise mode is something I've wanted for a long time. It would make roster/depth chart management so much more realistic. Having to actually evaluate players based on on-field performance as opposed to looking at a set of numbers would be one of the best(and most sim) improvements they could make to the mode.

[BleedGreen710]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

lets be real 2k5 is a great game but their ratings were wacky as hell

john abraham 92 speed and brian westbrook 83 speed?

I know it's hard to believe but Abraham's 40 time was clocked as low as 4.41 in 2001,while Westbrook is listed at 4.57.

[crenk]

Re: Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

First the development team needs to incorporate full editing of players in any of the game modes at any time.

Second, if marketing wants to have a hand in ratings, they can write up a manual that comes with the game or a blog post that is visible anywhere on the Madden website that explains in detail how to edit the rating of your players to whatever you think it should be.

I know, I know. Wishful thinking.

Best of luck, Dan! Hope things work out for you, whatever comes of it. Glad to hear you won't compromise and hopefully you can make a difference in improving the game if a partnership materializes.

Hell I would be thrilled if they left the numbers jacked up but allowed us to do the grunt work of editing ratings down.

Im now solidly in the camp that full customization is the most important need in Madden