Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

[roadman]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

He's didn't put in their legacy coding 20 years ago, either.

That's the thing with software, if you patch together one area, there is a chance to disrupt another area of the game, especially software with legacy coding all around.

Do you think they intentionally wanted to nerf the QB Acc/kicking game?

Also, appears Clint is trying to separate the sliders from offline/online for the near future.

[Charvalos]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

He's didn't put in their legacy coding 20 years ago, either.

That's the thing with software, if you patch together one area, there is a chance to disrupt another area of the game, especially software with legacy coding all around.

Do you think they intentionally wanted to nerf the QB Acc/kicking game?

Also, appears Clint is trying to separate the sliders from offline/online for the near future.

Yes, especially when they're saying since the patch there is no problem with the QB Acc. And for the kicking game, yes, they did that intentionally :

Kick-Meter Accuracy Range increased on All-Pro & All-Madden

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...-included.html

If that isn't a nerf, I don't know what is it.

[Rocket32]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

If they really care about us who want a simulation game, why they always patch Madden to make Robot QB, less drops, etc etc ? When I'm seeing so much differences between now and day one, it's hard to believe they care about sim gamers.

EA is only concerned about money and money mean "to please MUT players".

Maybe Clint is honest but he can't do anything alone.

Exactly. That's the thing that baffles me. They claim they want sim and then they do this. Say one thing and do another that is the total opposite makes no sense unless what you say isn't true. Clint may actually care and want sim play but like Charvalos said, if he's the only one then forget about it. The fact is he dosen't have the final say on everything and the power to make the game however he wants it to be. Dosen't really seem like the rest of EA and the madden dev team agree with him.

The fact that it's taken them so long to investigate this is shocking when it's been a problem in the game for so long. People here have been complaining about it forever and their has to be players who want realism who aren't on OS as well. I mean I geuss I can look past the kicking being too easy and pretty much automatic like I've always have but not this as well. So pretty much the NFL season (well the regular season of course) will have come and gone with this game still unplayable with sliders broken and QB accuracy broken as well combined with the normal issue of automatic kicking since these things are unlikely to be addressed in the next patch. Not sure how much faith I have in them getting them right the first time even if by some miracle these things are addressed in the next patch.

The frustrating thing is these things were fine for a bit when the game released.

[roadman]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

Yes, especially when they're saying since the patch there is no problem with the QB Acc. And for the kicking game, yes, they did that intentionally :



If that isn't a nerf, I don't know what is it.

Do you really think Clint and Rex got together and just said, ah, the heck with the offline sim crowd, we are just going to intentionally nerf fg's.

Not an intentional nerf, too many people were complaining about the online lag. Heck, I mentioned to something about the kicking game to Clint this week and he said, he doesn't disagree it's easier offline, but it's still tough online.

By the way, they said they are investigating the QB Acc and you knew that because you kept asking Clint. Investigating is > ignoring, isn't it?

That seems like it's delicate to balance and especially when you have Clint rallying to separate offline/online in the near future.

There is a fine line between intentionally nerfing a fix vs not knowing what the results would be offline.

Rocket, I've don't disagree with what some of the stuff you are saying, but to get your voice heard, you need to tweet them in a professional manner on Twitter. I am cordial on Twitter and most of the time, I get responses.

I just don't agree that Clint is the only one at EA that wants sim, I know Rex does too and I'm sure there are quite a few others clamoring for a sim game.

I'm sure it comes down to the suits/stockholders vs the developers sometimes.

Now, on that note, everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

[NDAlum]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

I think they catered to the online crowd and their complaints. I believe we're in a state of us vs them and at this point they probably look at metrics and business decisions to decide who they bend for.

I'm not saying that they don't personally want "sim". I'm saying I bet the external pressure from the online crowd outweighs the voice of the offline and "sim" crowds.

If I'm a business I go towards what financially benefits me more and with the micro-transactions it's hands down that online guys pay more overall for their experience.

[gametyme89]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

Like any game with micro transactions or some type of virtual currency, the offline experience will always take a back seat to the modes that make money.

It's the same in 2k as well.

Best we can hope for is that eventually these developers learn how to separate settings, sliders, tendencies, and everything else between the offline and online iterations.

Pleasing the online crowd (MUT, DC, Cap) is a whole different beast compared to trying to please #SimNation

Once the developers can implement settings for casual/hardcore that everyone can freely choose from or separate tunings/patches to only affect online and/or offline modes exclusively then we'll be in a better place.

[RogueHominid]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

I think they catered to the online crowd and their complaints. I believe we're in a state of us vs them and at this point they probably look at metrics and business decisions to decide who they bend for.

I'm not saying that they don't personally want "sim". I'm saying I bet the external pressure from the online crowd outweighs the voice of the offline and "sim" crowds.

If I'm a business I go towards what financially benefits me more and with the micro-transactions it's hands down that online guys pay more overall for their experience.

This is how I see it. I don't think the developers have some nefarious intention to neglect or frustrate sim offline gamers. I just think their online and tournament-style crowd represents a large enough portion of their user base that they decide to do what this crowd wants in pursuit of a higher bottom-line.

I wonder if there's a way forward where they make the core game on sim principles and then just give a set of massive boosts when you toggle from "sim" to "casual/tournament" mode, or whatever they might want to call it. Boosts for user controlled plays, boosts to accuracy, hit stick boosts--whatever that online/tourney crowd likes to see. But absent those boosts, the game would produce NFL averages, on balance, statistically.

Is that possible, or a total pipe dream?

[jfsolo]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

This is how I see it. I don't think the developers have some nefarious intention to neglect or frustrate sim offline gamers. I just think their online and tournament-style crowd represents a large enough portion of their user base that they decide to do what this crowd wants in pursuit of a higher bottom-line.

I wonder if there's a way forward where they make the core game on sim principles and then just give a set of massive boosts when you toggle from "sim" to "casual/tournament" mode, or whatever they might want to call it. Boosts for user controlled plays, boosts to accuracy, hit stick boosts--whatever that online/tourney crowd likes to see. But absent those boosts, the game would produce NFL averages, on balance, statistically.

Is that possible, or a total pipe dream?

I think it's possible, it is just a matter of how they market/present the different settings. Let the default setting have the label of "competitive" and with the flick of a D-pad others of us can switch over to "simulation" Sliders would still exist for the sim crowd, but the key would be getting a strong consensus from both camps about the the settings game would ship with on each of the playstyles from the peeps who visit them during the year.

Do we need back-of-the-box attention? In my opinion, no, just let A. White, J. White, and Clint blog about the sim stuff, and provide maximum customization for the CFM crowd.

[fistofrage]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

I think they catered to the online crowd and their complaints. I believe we're in a state of us vs them and at this point they probably look at metrics and business decisions to decide who they bend for.

I'm not saying that they don't personally want "sim". I'm saying I bet the external pressure from the online crowd outweighs the voice of the offline and "sim" crowds.

If I'm a business I go towards what financially benefits me more and with the micro-transactions it's hands down that online guys pay more overall for their experience.

I don't know. I agree that they cater to the online crowd because that is probably where their sales numbers tell them to go. However this year felt like a flat out bait and switch. They released a pretty sim game in regards to qb accuracy revamped kicking game and non qb fumble ratios. That was all nerfed out. They get the best of both worlds. Hook in the sim crowd and then completely alter the game. Like you said probably not some intentionally nefarious plot. However genius move to maximize profits. Only probably works in the short run though. I can't imagine buying on release again even if the reviews come in it's a perfect sim. Have to see how the patches shake out. They would have to market 2 distinct game modes to hook me in again.

[roadman]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

I don't know. I agree that they cater to the online crowd because that is probably where their sales numbers tell them to go. However this year felt like a flat out bait and switch. They released a pretty sim game in regards to qb accuracy revamped kicking game and non qb fumble ratios. That was all nerfed out. They get the best of both worlds. Hook in the sim crowd and then completely alter the game. Like you said probably not some intentionally nefarious plot. However genius move to maximize profits. Only probably works in the short run though. I can't imagine buying on release again even if the reviews come in it's a perfect sim. Have to see how the patches shake out. They would have to market 2 distinct game modes to hook me in again.

I don't even think the intention is to "hook in" any niche crowd, I think they try to cater to everyone. If I was a suit at EA, that is how I look at it. Therefore, I think they try to "hook in" everyone to maximize profits.

You need to look at everything when you sell stock to the public.

I agree with jfsolo, there needs to be no back of the box marketing of "most sim features ever" type marketing speak.

Just an acknowledgement from the folks mentioned above with blogs and what not.

[gametyme89]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

The problem right now with the major sports games (Madden, 2k) is that they can't seem to patch one thing for the online crowd without affecting the offline crowd so we are stuck with universal gameplay throughout all modes regardless of EA's intentions with just trying to please the online crowd without WANTING everyone else to suffer.

Once they can figure out how to optimize settings and separate between online/offline, competitive/sim and patch each individually without inadvertently affecting everyone else, we'll be better off. We just aren't there yet.

[Junior Moe]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

Like any game with micro transactions or some type of virtual currency, the offline experience will always take a back seat to the modes that make money.

It's the same in 2k as well.

Best we can hope for is that eventually these developers learn how to separate settings, sliders, tendencies, and everything else between the offline and online iterations.

Pleasing the online crowd (MUT, DC, Cap) is a whole different beast compared to trying to please #SimNation

Once the developers can implement settings for casual/hardcore that everyone can freely choose from or separate tunings/patches to only affect online and/or offline modes exclusively then we'll be in a better place.

Exactly! It's the nature of the beast in 2016 gaming, unfortunately. It's why I don't begrudge it even if I don't personally like the trend. As a gamer I hate it; as a person with a portfolio do more of it. That said, there's also something to throwing people a bone. I see the direction 2K has gone since VCs implementation. At the same rate hey have hired people from "our" community to do what they do. We have a dedicated "franchise" person. Offensive and defensive play book people who do things in that area. There's still the whole YouTubef twitter stuff. That's well and good but having people grinding away, even slowly and when it feels like "our" voice in gaming is being marginalized, goes a way in assuaging fear and anger I think.

[walls17]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

The difference between madden and 2k is that while 2k has the microtranscations/focus on the online crowd, they still have the most solid franchise mode out of all the major console sports games.

Also you can tell where maddens focus is right from the loading screens where all you see is one of the following:
"Play the November gauntlet to get a 90 overall Philip Rivers"
"Start your Ultimate Team with Tom Brady today!"
"This legend is now in Ultimate Team this week!"

[roadman]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

It's all part of marketing.

Also, agree that 2k has a more robust franchise mode and hopefully, Madden can get to that point soon.

[Grey_Osprey]

Re: Almost 4 months since launch, what do you all think about this game?

I just purchased the game via playstation store flash sale. My hope was to hold out until Christmas, but I caved at Thanksgiving. I did get Sniper Elite III (with all dlc) for 9.99 and utilized a 10% off code for the entire purchase, so I feel a little better about my pathetic lack of intestinal fortitude.

Back on topic. I delayed buying the game out of frustration with the lack of features and the implementation of those that are in the game, what the devs claim vs what they deliver, the lack of options/customization, the nerfing of the game via tuners/patches, and ALL the bugs/glitches, which I thought was "inexcusable", but maybe that just applied to last year.

So why buy it? The only "updated" football game available, misguided hope, wanting to believe (no matter how naïve that appears to be), and just plain old lack of intestinal fortitude. So, off to find a slider set and start shaking my head and rolling my eyes in disbelief. It's Madden ball time!