Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

Madden, for me, is only offline franchise mode. Me vs the CPU. I pay zero attention to anything else that the game might offer. I played a little online in the PS2 days, around 2003-04. It was awful.

I basically want the game to be a great NFL GM/President of football ops simulator.

[Brooke2011]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

Offline for the simple reason that I can pause and look at replays, play true sim and not have to talk into a headset

[Dj_MyTime]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

Offline for the simple reason that I can pause and look at replays, play true sim and not have to talk into a headset

1)Replays are available after H2H in a SIM league (clips, stream archives, etc)
2)You can play true to SIM in SIM leagues
3)Headsets are not required in most leagues

I'm not downing the OFFLINE ONLY guys but it almost seems like you won't play vs real competition to a fault. No A.I. is ever (Madden related) gonna compare to battling vs a knowledgeable like minded SIM player in a league, or even unranked in scrimmages.

Growing up (ages 15-19) I always played 2K, and Madden offline franchise modes, but when I played a human opponent online the first time back in 2K8 it changed EVERYTHING. The human element from a competitive stand point can't EVEN begin to be compared to the A.I.

So to those that say things like''strictly, or only'' OFFLINE, you're really missing out on something that really brings the game to life, and that's H2H competition.

And I'm not talking about MUT aka ''they forgot about us'', I'm talking about a mode that requires no more than your time, football IQ and team building skills. Online CFM vs users is the best game mode there is if you can find yourself a quality league that fits your schedule.

There are SIM leagues that literally advance once per week, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find one hour inside of one hundred and sixty eight.

[jfsolo]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

I play basketball a few times a week, that is where I experience "real" competition. With video games, I don't want to have that mentality that comes with wanting to beat another person.

Playing against the CPU, I build my roster the way I want to, drafting, trading, signing players who may be less effective than some others for narrative reasons instead of min/maxing my team because I have to beat these other Users.

It's like using certain weapons and armor in the campaign of a shooter because you just like it better, instead of just using the equipment with the best stats like you would if you were playing multiplayer.

Even in the best of environments, ruthless utility most often ends up being the cornerstone of Multiplayer leagues. For example, offensive linemen couldn't get hurt in CFM, but I still always built my teams as if they could. I would imagine that even in sim leagues, players were cutting corners on the oline to get an advantage against other Users.

[roadman]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

1)Replays are available after H2H in a SIM league (clips, stream archives, etc)
2)You can play true to SIM in SIM leagues
3)Headsets are not required in most leagues

I'm not downing the OFFLINE ONLY guys but it almost seems like you won't play vs real competition to a fault. No A.I. is ever (Madden related) gonna compare to battling vs a knowledgeable like minded SIM player in a league, or even unranked in scrimmages.

Growing up (ages 15-19) I always played 2K, and Madden offline franchise modes, but when I played a human opponent online the first time back in 2K8 it changed EVERYTHING. The human element from a competitive stand point can't EVEN begin to be compared to the A.I.

So to those that say things like''strictly, or only'' OFFLINE, you're really missing out on something that really brings the game to life, and that's H2H competition.

And I'm not talking about MUT aka ''they forgot about us'', I'm talking about a mode that requires no more than your time, football IQ and team building skills. Online CFM vs users is the best game mode there is if you can find yourself a quality league that fits your schedule.

There are SIM leagues that literally advance once per week, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find one hour inside of one hundred and sixty eight.

Why are you taking things personally when someone says, only/strictly offline without personally knowing the person? This isn't the first time in this thread you responded similar to above.

I really don't care how someone enjoy's the game they spend their money on and I would expect the same respect on the other end.

I am strictly a offline player and I don't care how that is interpreted, no explanations needed.

I have tried it before and it didn't suit my needs and certainly doesn't now, either.

[ODogg]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

Why are you taking things personally when someone says, only/strictly offline without personally knowing the person? This isn't the first time in this thread you responded similar to above.

I really don't care how someone enjoy's the game they spend their money on and I would expect the same respect on the other end.

I am strictly a offline player and I don't care how that is interpreted, no explanations needed.

I have tried it before and it didn't suit my needs and certainly doesn't now, either.

I really don't like to play online for one simple reason: I don't like to have to wonder about how what I'm doing is affecting another person.

It's the simple interaction with another person I want to avoid.

When I game I game for fun and part of that is the isolation that not having to deal with people brings.

I do game online btw, but this is why I often game offline and I'm sure many others here share the sentiment.

Who cares about the competition or how much better it plays, I don't want to play people the majority of the time because I just don't want to deal with a person.

[ig0easy]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

Just a question I was wondering about. The older I get I prefer offline and with a good slider set. I am getting tired of all the cheese online.

Online in a sim league with a crap ton of rules and good sliders...only reason I still buy Madden.

[NDAlum]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

I play basketball a few times a week, that is where I experience "real" competition. With video games, I don't want to have that mentality that comes with wanting to beat another person.

This is where I'm at. I don't view a video game as real competition and I take no pride in saying I'm good at a video game.

Now if we step on a field of any type, my entire mindset changes. Maybe when I'm physically unable to perform at a decent level athletically I'll take gaming more seriously and competitively. For now it's just a fun hobby that I don't really care if I win or lose, as long as I have a good time vs a good opponent.

I'd prefer to play Madden strictly offline or maybe with like 2-3 other like minded people who play almost exactly the way I do. In a league of 32 it's super fun but also super frustrating. Trying to keep 32 guys happy and on schedule is a huge task and the drama that can unfold is just embarrassing.

C'mon EA give the CPU AI a brain this year...

[NDAlum]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

I'm talking about a mode that requires no more than your time, football IQ and team building skills. Online CFM vs users is the best game mode there is if you can find yourself a quality league that fits your schedule.

Man I'm a pretty seasoned vet in the online CFM crowd and the league generally goes towards those who can live in the grey area of the rules and play kinda cheap but not cheap enough to warrant removal from the league. Then the league starts to gravitate towards that style of play and most guys end up playing the same way after seeing what is successful. Then the same guys tend to win because they are the best at exploiting the game to find success. They are able to still stay narrowly within the rule sets and piss off other members because they all see what is happening.

[Godgers12]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

Man I'm a pretty seasoned vet in the online CFM crowd and the league generally goes towards those who can live in the grey area of the rules and play kinda cheap but not cheap enough to warrant removal from the league. Then the league starts to gravitate towards that style of play and most guys end up playing the same way after seeing what is successful. Then the same guys tend to win because they are the best at exploiting the game to find success. They are able to still stay narrowly within the rule sets and piss off other members because they all see what is happening.

Couldn't agree more. Even though I'm guilty of most of the things you outlined. But I've only won 3 SB's in my online franchise career since M10. Due to the fact that when the playoffs start I turn into Tony Romo. Went 15-1 one season and lost my 1st playoff game to someone who went 9-7. Anyway, there is a lot of gamesmanship that goes on. If I find something that works against someone, I will run that same concept till they stop it. Different plays but similar concept. I do mix it up, but when I need a big play I revert to what works. The same can be said for the majority of online gamers. But that's part of the fun, devising a scheme that stops your opponent.

[timhere1970]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

I really don't like to play online for one simple reason: I don't like to have to wonder about how what I'm doing is affecting another person.

It's the simple interaction with another person I want to avoid.

When I game I game for fun and part of that is the isolation that not having to deal with people brings.

I do game online btw, but this is why I often game offline and I'm sure many others here share the sentiment.

Who cares about the competition or how much better it plays, I don't want to play people the majority of the time because I just don't want to deal with a person.

If I ain't shooting someone, stabbing them, mauling them or otherwise making them die somehow I have no interest in them in an online game. I may be an online serial killer. Then again I die a lot too.

[deu22ces]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

Man I'm a pretty seasoned vet in the online CFM crowd and the league generally goes towards those who can live in the grey area of the rules and play kinda cheap but not cheap enough to warrant removal from the league. Then the league starts to gravitate towards that style of play and most guys end up playing the same way after seeing what is successful. Then the same guys tend to win because they are the best at exploiting the game to find success. They are able to still stay narrowly within the rule sets and piss off other members because they all see what is happening.

LOL, sorry but your post made me think Patriots the whole time. Live in the gray until they make it black and white. You're not breaking a rule if it doesn't explicitly exist yet...you're only pushing boundaries. Love to hate it...and can't help but respect and admire it.

[deu22ces]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

I'm in the same camp of the offline guys. Perhaps it's not as bad anymore, but when I used to play online, I'd eventually come across someone who obviously spent their waking hours finding exploits in the game. It was very hard to find people to consistently play true strategic football against. Offline, the computer AI has flaws but at least those flaws stay the same. I can control my Franchise the way I personally want to. As some said, finding 32 like-minded people has to be challenging, at least consistently anyway.

I'd consider a smaller group to play online with. But then you have the CPU AI to deal with for the other teams and less control to intervene.

And the original post was "prefer", not the "versus" that some have derailed it to. I get why others like online, I just have my reasons to prefer staying away.

[NDAlum]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

I don't think it's fair to compare Madden to the actual NFL

I can only take full control of 1 player during a play and I have to live with the AI of the 10 others. I can't coach them up to do specifically what I want. Many times I'll know a play is coming but I can only cover one of the routes. Let's say I'm taking away the PA TE corner route with a LB or safety and there's a slant underneath it.

If the defense was given more options to counter the offensive attack I might change my tune.

As it stands there are certain concepts in the game that screw over the AI and people exploit it. There are YouTube channels dedicated to finding these exploits and marketing them to the masses for widespread use.

We all know that some plays work better than others. It's just how the game is.

[UtahUtes32]

Re: Which do you prefer Offline or Online?

Offline only.