EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

[threattonature]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

I agree with you, but the truth of the matter is that Franchise mode mainly needs updated menus and player cards, proper use of editing draft classes, and subtle changes to the presentation if there is no commitment to making big changes. It makes ZERO sense to leave a mode like franchise virtually "untouched" for the last few games. We know where the focus is for those in charge at EA, but doing cosmetic changes to Franchise mode can go a long way.

I'm not going to pay full price for this game and I have other games in my library anyway that needs to be played. Improving the cutscenes and giving us proper celebrations for winning the conference title, SB MVP, and the Lombardi Trophy, can go a long way with making Madden 20 feel like a legit new game. Right now, it is entirely too close to Madden 19, except with improvements in gameplay. They splashed a little bit of paint, but they hid behind the Pro Bowl game as being the reason for other content being not done and it makes no damn sense. The Pro Bowl is fine, but the truth of the matter is that the real life game ISN'T really a game. It is a joke and it would have better if they simply simulated the game in Madden and we could check out the stats and see who got MVP.

Franchise needs so much more cosmetic work and it should take a page from NBA 2K19 MyLeague. That is what a Madden franchise mode should look like. That is how a Madden game needs to implement roster and draft class editing. They are spending less money in order to maximize profits and it is pretty obvious to see it. There have been too many Madden games that have passed where we have seen slight changes to significant game modes like Franchise.

This may sound crazy but I think in most cases lack of in-game information in CFM is due to there being bugs present. Little things like the lack of stats when viewing the yearly award races is crazy to me and I think it's not shown as they know the formula for calculating awards is likely broken.

But yes things such as keeping preexisting draft picks in place for fantasy drafts, lack of information on the fantasy draft screen when starting a CFM already has me shaking my head because it seems like such obvious small changes that would go a long way.

[ForUntoOblivionSoar∞]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

I couldn't agree more about the really simple things mentioned in the first post - mainly the simple things that always used to exist that showed team name/stats properly from previous seasons in a player card.

I couldn't care less about watching CPU games though (surely you have better things to do with your time??)



Why would marketing people have anything to do with something like player stats from previous year in franchise mode not being shown? I don't understand that logic at all.

I agree with you on that last thing. If they can get contracts somewhat right, they could do this.


But roadman is right: Rex said in not so many words that MUT siphoned off resources from Franchise. He said, essentially, that he was forced to prioritized the online monetized mode.



This would not be possible with a second NFL game, because they'd lose sales big time. But sadly we don't live in that world. If there was a way to harass the corporate fat cats making these decisions, I'd do it, but even then I doubt it would work. Such people are nearly without scruples or morals when it comes to making money.

[Spitfirex007]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

As I've said a 1000 times before. Until EA finds a way to make money off franchise mode, changes aren't going to happen. People who are franchise people drop $60 on the game (EA get a % of that) and that's it. People who are MUT players will drop $60 on the game and then $5, $10, $50 dollars a week on upgrading their teams.



I mean look at this game every single year. MUT always gets updated. New look, new game modes new everything. Updates through the year. Franchise has been the exact same thing for years. You want change? Quit buying the game. And until enough people do so... nothing will change. EA and all the people at the top are greedy as all hell. They could careless want you want, because what they are doing is making them money.

[Incendiary]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

As I've said a 1000 times before. Until EA finds a way to make money off franchise mode, changes aren't going to happen. People who are franchise people drop $60 on the game (EA get a % of that) and that's it. People who are MUT players will drop $60 on the game and then $5, $10, $50 dollars a week on upgrading their teams.



I mean look at this game every single year. MUT always gets updated. New look, new game modes new everything. Updates through the year. Franchise has been the exact same thing for years. You want change? Quit buying the game. And until enough people do so... nothing will change. EA and all the people at the top are greedy as all hell. They could careless want you want, because what they are doing is making them money.

They could easily make money off Fran Mode, they just need to come up with some items to help with the mode like they had for dynasty mode in NCAA. Example: NCAA had the extra pipeline state bonus you could buy.

[Spitfirex007]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

If they don't do 'back of the box features' and just adjust things under the hood many others would say "this is just a glorified roster update". They literally cannot win around here with whatever direction they go with this game.



The fact is, they need 'back of the box' features to sell the game to the millions of casual NFL fans out there. The people of OS are in the EXTREME minority of players with this game. 99% of NFL fans are going to look at a Madden commercial during their favorite teams game and say "Wow that looks awesome! Mahomes has a BAZOOKA!" and go buy the game. Meanwhile, the small few of you guys on OS that want realistic trades, a 100% correct salary cap and in-depth historical stats are basically just yelling at a wall because none of it is being heard by anyone who matters. You can't go on TV and say "Madden now has CORRECT HISTORICAL STATS" and expect anyone but about 750 people to care.



This is AAA sports video game philosophy now: Make a fun looking game that casual fans will enjoy and be able to lure them in with a flashy new 'back of the box' item. Then try and direct them into Ultimate Team (or MyPlayer in 2k and The Show) so they'll spend more money.



This is how it is now and it will never, ever change until people stop buying these games. There is no extra money to be made in Franchise mode. And as much as we like that mode, we are not a priority and not even close to being one. I know some of you guys think you're more important and your opinion has more weight because you come to OS and play "sim franchise", but in the eyes of EA you're not someone who they can get any extra money out of because you're going to buy the game no matter what and not going to spend any extra than the flat game price.

LOL this is not true at all. Your theory works if this game was a new series. Or a once every couple years thing. People who buy this game based on box of the back features are nowhere near the people who buy it yearly. It's a staple in the industry.



And the people who don't know about Madden or just casual football fans, aren't spending $60 on a game when they can get last years copy for $10.

[Spitfirex007]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

They could easily make money off Fran Mode, they just need to come up with some items to help with the mode like they had for dynasty mode in NCAA. Example: NCAA had the extra pipeline state bonus you could buy.

And those sales would be nowhere near what they make on MUT. People are dropping hundreds of dollars on this mode. So why waste time and resources trying to build up the mode and find gimmick ways to nickle and dime franchise players, when they can keep making the mode boring as hell. Knowing damn well at some point most players are going to go play MUT because they are tired of playing a glorified play now mode.



Quit buying the game. If enough people do so, then maybe EA takes Franchise people serious. Maybe.

[aholbert32]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

Two Developers, Ian and the recently departed Rex, both mentioned in interviews after they left that marketing and the higher ups make the decisions on what is implemented in the game.

So, two former Developers that were several years apart both had the same answer.

Coincidence, I think not.

Also, I took this from another thread, but a former Designer that worked on Franchise and CFM had said this in general, about a year agonot verbatim)


AJ was a Designer for franchise mode in Madden during the 12 and 13 years of Madden, which was when they did the switch over to CFM.

Last year, AJ mentioned that old stuff from the good ole days, (mini camp, Bruno, hot dog prices, etc....) didn't bode well with the new technology(CFM) and would break other parts of the game.

I'm not a coder or programmer, but that is why the older features didn't make it into CFM.(this is my quote)

That is a valid excuse for big features like QB1 or heavily promoted features. Adding something like player info cards is more likely a decision made by the dev team. Either they decided that the amount of work that it would take to add this back isnt worth the benefit or its something they want to do but considered it low priority.

[mlb61]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

I couldn't care less about watching CPU games though (surely you have better things to do with your time??)

That's exactly how I feel about playing Madden as a player. It's not football; it's not even close. Playing as a GM and especially as a coach where you build a playbook and a roster whose strengths are well matched, and calling plays to exploit the weaknesses of your opponent. That gets close to being football.

[IcedCoffee1983]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

They don’t care about CFM. They care about money and MUT and their focus has been this way near a decade.

It is not going to change. Improving CFM and making it engaging and good stat tracking and generating is just not going to happen. It has been this way near a decade.

As long as EA has this despicable and downright un-American monopoly, a good franchise mode for football video games is extinct.

This is why I never buy a new copy of Madden. I can’t financially support their greed. This is why I always wait a month or two after release and buy a used copy from a 3rd party retailer for like $20-$30.

Gone are the days of good franchise mode in football video games. You will get the same stale regurgitated franchise mode, with a little lipstick on the pig, and you like it.

[feeq14]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

I'm a franchise player and literally, none of the things in the OP are things I care about at all...

[ForUntoOblivionSoar∞]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

I'm a franchise player and literally, none of the things in the OP are things I care about at all...

Then what DO you care about? And if you're happy with Franchise as it is today then I have to question how much you really play Franchise mode.


Especially when the ENTIRE POINT of Franchise mode is YEAR TO YEAR PROGRESSION. If you're missing the records of how you FRANCHISE has developed, you're missing the heart and soul of the mode.

[4thQtrStre5S]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

I agree with you on that last thing. If they can get contracts somewhat right, they could do this.


But roadman is right: Rex said in not so many words that MUT siphoned off resources from Franchise. He said, essentially, that he was forced to prioritized the online monetized mode.



This would not be possible with a second NFL game, because they'd lose sales big time. But sadly we don't live in that world. If there was a way to harass the corporate fat cats making these decisions, I'd do it, but even then I doubt it would work. Such people are nearly without scruples or morals when it comes to making money.

If MUT is such a poor gameplay mode, and microtransactions are such a bad business model, then the masses would stop purchasing them, and the game would evolve to something the masses did desire, or it would fail as a business.

You might be confusing how business works.

Seems the best model is microtransactions and a free base game.

[ChiefKeef300]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

If they don't do 'back of the box features' and just adjust things under the hood many others would say "this is just a glorified roster update". They literally cannot win around here with whatever direction they go with this game.



The fact is, they need 'back of the box' features to sell the game to the millions of casual NFL fans out there. The people of OS are in the EXTREME minority of players with this game. 99% of NFL fans are going to look at a Madden commercial during their favorite teams game and say "Wow that looks awesome! Mahomes has a BAZOOKA!" and go buy the game. Meanwhile, the small few of you guys on OS that want realistic trades, a 100% correct salary cap and in-depth historical stats are basically just yelling at a wall because none of it is being heard by anyone who matters. You can't go on TV and say "Madden now has CORRECT HISTORICAL STATS" and expect anyone but about 750 people to care.



This is AAA sports video game philosophy now: Make a fun looking game that casual fans will enjoy and be able to lure them in with a flashy new 'back of the box' item. Then try and direct them into Ultimate Team (or MyPlayer in 2k and The Show) so they'll spend more money.



This is how it is now and it will never, ever change until people stop buying these games. There is no extra money to be made in Franchise mode. And as much as we like that mode, we are not a priority and not even close to being one. I know some of you guys think you're more important and your opinion has more weight because you come to OS and play "sim franchise", but in the eyes of EA you're not someone who they can get any extra money out of because you're going to buy the game no matter what and not going to spend any extra than the flat game price.

I wouldn't say that...Madden is increasingly gaining a reputation of being the same game every year. Even among casuals reason why sales for the game has been declining every year since 2015.

[ForUntoOblivionSoar∞]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

If MUT is such a poor gameplay mode, and microtransactions are such a bad business model, then the masses would stop purchasing them, and the game would evolve to something the masses did desire, or it would fail as a business.

That is absolutely false. Quality is a relative concept. Moreover, the market niche that Madden fills is filled alone by Madden. There is no competition for its particular niche, which means its quality each year is only competing with previous iterations of itself. This applies to one degree or another with all modes in the game.


As for MUT, what EA is selling to them is not NFL football. It's bling and swag. And the NFL logo brings about half of that.

You might be confusing how business works.

Apparently you are, since you don't seem to understand the concept of elasticity of demand, and how it is related to the availability of similar products that fill the same market niche. Pro tip: when the NFL is the most popular sport in America, and there is only one video game company that can make NFL games, the elasticity of demand for that product relative to other products in the same market is low. That means that neither changes in price nor relative quality will have much of an effect, because (a) there is only one NFL game, so price becomes less important for the consumer than with other titles, and (b) as there is no competition for the NFL gaming fix, Madden is only competing with previous iterations of itself when it comes to quality.




I mean, please do not start talking about "business" when Madden is a relatively inelastic product given that its biggest selling point is the NFL logo, and there are literally ZERO substitute goods in the marketplace of NFL games.

Seems the best model is microtransactions and a free base game.

The best model for WHAT? For making money... NOT for making QUALITY. Quality and profit are not one and the same like you seem to be suggesting. For an INELASTIC good, the degree to which drops in quality affect profit is a lot smaller than an ELASTIC one, and given that there is no other NFL game, Madden is relatively inelastic.

[JoshC1977]

Re: EA devs need to understand Franchise Mode......

Then what DO you care about? And if you're happy with Franchise as it is today then I have to question how much you really play Franchise mode.


Especially when the ENTIRE POINT of Franchise mode is YEAR TO YEAR PROGRESSION. If you're missing the records of how you FRANCHISE has developed, you're missing the heart and soul of the mode.

First, my sentiments echo feeq's. My idea of interesting and immersion is not staring at a stat screen. Second, he never said that he was happy with the mode as it was today....he said that he didn't care for that particular list of items.

Speaking for myself, I play franchise for the story of MY coach, MY team...franchise mode is an RPG. I want to see how the team performs ON THE FIELD. I don't need to stare at some stat screen to see how my story has unfolded, because I've been involved in every game....I know who "my guys" are, I know how they've played. I'm WAY more interested in seeing compelling storylines that play out ON THE FIELD than I am by having a bunch of stuff happen in menu mode.

I'm not saying that they shouldn't add these things...but we ALL have these lists of "things they should add".

As a wise man once said, "It'll never be enough....".