Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

[PantherBeast_OS]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

This a good write up Chase. Overall I ain't to mad that they took out the halftime show and extra point show. Both shows needed a a major overhaul anyway. From what I'm seeing right now their main focus was more for ingame presentation this year. So hopefully for madden 13 they will add pregame,halftime, post game, and a good extra point shows next year that is much better. But overall this year presentation sounds good so far.

[ch46647]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

Along with commentary, I would also like to hear about CROWD noise and reaction. The crowd in Madden is so monotonous and boring it makes it almost painful to play the game. I am hoping the put a HUGE emphasis on crowd noise this year. I would also like them to add dynamic crowd noise as well so the crowd reacts to real time situations going on the field.

Almost every other sports game out now does a very good job with realistic crowd noise. Time for Madden/NCAA to step up in a big way in that department this year..

[ChaseB]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

Chase were there any improvements to the end of game recap?

I still have not made it to the end of a game, but if they didn't try to point it out then my educated guess would be to say no.

Chase, next time you play please pay attention to the "stadium atmosphere." What I mean by this is are the crowds finally dynamic? Are there ebs and swells in the crowd that sound like a real NFL stadium? Do they react to appropriate situations on the field?

I personally feel one of the bigger dissapointments as far as presentation goes in recent Madden's has been the crowd noise. It almost puts you to sleep with the same repetitive crowd sound cycling over and over....

As I have said before, sound is tough to gauge at these events. I will focus on this perhaps at E3, but for now I just don't have much to say on this front. I agree that this aspect is important.

I know you said you werent covering game play but can you just give us a thumbs up or thumbs down at least?......the anticipation is killing me!

What would be the fun of that? Gameplay preview early next week, though I can't say if I'll really be too high or low about gameplay.

Great write up chase. I'm really lookin 4ward to finding out more info bout da game. But I do have a question I don't know if u seen any footage of a game played n snow or rain but can u find out if u did not realize yet if the different type of weather will effect how da game is played in those conditions

Not sure how it affects the gameplay yet, but the snow looks really good, and the rain and snow both will affect the game visually quite a bit.

Chase I know you can't release all info because of EA's restrictions. Can you give a yes or no if online franchise has been touched at all? I've seen plenty of mention about 100+ additions to offline franchise mode. I just want to know if online franchise got any love whatsoever.

From what I've gathered, some time was spent on it. Not sure what improvements are being made yet or anything, but yeah.

I understand and I'm all for improved presentation, I'm just saying it will take more than new camera angles for cut scenes to keep the game fresh. I'm also wondering if all this new presentation stuff will be available in online games ?

I agree with this sentiment. And I would say their cuts are still not perfectly refined yet. They pointed out a couple broken cameras, and then other times the camera would not focus on the right players after a play etc. -- this is what bug fixing and so forth are for right now. I would assume these presentation elements are available online because it's not like the replays during a game or the halftime highlights in 2K11, which probably take up a lot more memory/bandwith and thus are not available online.

Chase do you think that the presentation upgrades made to madden 12 will finally put the LAST GEN football game comparisons to rest?

Secondly is it on par with nba 2k11 and mlb11 the show?

I think it is up to you guys to decide when you want to stop talking about last-gen games.

I think it would be really hard for Madden to catch those franchises in one year in the presentation department. I also think football games are at a disadvantage in this area because there are a lot more players on the field, and the pace of play is not really conducive to certain presentation elements that video game football can really highlight and keep fresh.

I can understand and appreciate this, NBA2k did the same thing basically and succeeded with it. But it begs the question, if the goal is to create a Madden broadcast as opposed to an ESPN one...why buy an ESPN license? Just a shame that they own the license and refuse to use it. Even the commentary is done by people who aren't affiliated with ESPN.

I think this is a valid point, but I would also say it's not like they don't use it. They do integrate it into the game via real-life scores and ESPN Radio updates and all that.

I agree. We don't want EA presentation! We want CBS/ESPN presentation. If EA's presentation ideas were so good, don't you think we would already be seeing them on Sundays. IMO, it is pretty arrogant to think a bunch of software engineers can come up with "better" presentation ideas then the people who do it for a living.

Finn, I'm going to let your lack of reading comprehension slide this time because of the All-Pro 2K8 editor you just put out.

[chen_sc]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

ticker with scores from other games during your game is in? did they improve the madden11 broadcast camera? is the field degradated during games and are there any snow/rain effects?

[blklightning]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

uniform degradation? dynamic lighting? dynamic weather? commentary that doesn't suck? a defense that you can depend on rather than know they're going to fail? animations that transition smoother than a 4 year old's first claymation short film?

[roadman]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

uniform degradation? dynamic lighting? dynamic weather? commentary that doesn't suck? a defense that you can depend on rather than know they're going to fail? animations that transition smoother than a 4 year old's first claymation short film?

1st two are already in, so is progressive lighting.

[Aggies7]

Elite Presentation keeps games fresh. Without it gets very boring and eventually gets muted.
Madden and NCAA just had play now presentation and commentary. Only good for exhibition games. Neither one was good for Dynasty/Franchise.
I really want to hear about Commentary. IT is not a gamebreaker for me, But is a big deal

I agree. I have noticed that if I keep the tv volume up then the presentation is good for me. But with Madden last year I would mute it and listen to iPod.

[RevolverOcelot]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

Just read it. Looks very promising. Hope EA will do us proud!

[illwill10]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

I agree. I have noticed that if I keep the tv volume up then the presentation is good for me. But with Madden last year I would mute it and listen to iPod.

Commentary too. I want to hear commentary like MLB 2k, Show, NBA 2k, even Fifa has good commentary. Sure any commentary gets stale after a while, but at least there's are different from Play now/exhibition games.
Both EA football games has okay play now commentary not franchise/dynasty commentary.
I played a franchise with the Rams every single game they said the same things about Steven Jackson. After a while I could mute it and still know what they were saying.

[jbd345]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

Are team theme songs back in the game?? there were a few in madden 11. Were any added for 12? And are there any additions to home teams scoring touchdowns i.e fireworks or player specific celebrations? other than the Aaron Rogers belt celebration??

[wheelman990]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwvDDdlDxyE

I just happened to come across this video on youtube....is it me or does this and Madden 12 sound like the same features being offered. Ea gives and takes away. I see a lot there Madden 12 is claiming to offer

[PVarck31]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwvDDdlDxyE


I just happened to come across this video on youtube....is it me or does this and Madden 12 sound like the same features being offered. Ea gives and takes away. I see a lot there Madden 12 is claiming to offer

I didn't see anything about a new collision based tackling and blocking system. I also didn't see beefed up zone defense, WR shading, expanded rosters, authentic camera angles, real team entrances, correct sized football, user diving catches, 3 man, and double hit tackles, ball physics improvement, speed rushing, and this what we know before May.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I really don't think you can compare Madden 09's features with 12.

I'm not saying 12 will be great because of these features, but it looks like they are putting a lot more effort in this time around.

[spankdatazz22]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

I think it is up to you guys to decide when you want to stop talking about last-gen games.

I think it would be really hard for Madden to catch those franchises in one year in the presentation department. I also think football games are at a disadvantage in this area because there are a lot more players on the field, and the pace of play is not really conducive to certain presentation elements that video game football can really highlight and keep fresh.

That's an unusual view to have. It's up to us to stop talking about last-gen games? Madden hasn't had "one year" to catch those franchises - they've had at least six. As well as more powerful hardware to work with. That they haven't taken advantage of the situation is their fault, not ours imo.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

I didn't see anything about a new collision based tackling and blocking system. I also didn't see beefed up zone defense, WR shading, expanded rosters, authentic camera angles, real team entrances, correct sized football, user diving catches, 3 man, and double hit tackles, ball physics improvement, speed rushing, and this what we know before May.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I really don't think you can compare Madden 09's features with 12.

I'm not saying 12 will be great because of these features, but it looks like they are putting a lot more effort in this time around.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I was about to post.

Wheelman, aside from increased uniform and field degradation being added back, majority of that other stuff from Madden 09 is still in Madden 11. If you were referring to the tackling, protak was added in Madden 10 and seems to have canceled out most of the two man tackles available in Madden 09. Now with protak out, two man tackles are available again and they also added the collision system which allows a third tackler to either knock over the strum or knock off another tackler to steal the tackle but risk freeing the runner. Also the tackle button and point of contact is new to this system.

Madden 09, heck even Madden 11 and the things they are describing to be in Madden 12, aren't even close, IMO.

[roadman]

Re: Madden NFL 12 First-Look Preview

That's an unusual view to have. It's up to us to stop talking about last-gen games? Madden hasn't had "one year" to catch those franchises - they've had at least six. As well as more powerful hardware to work with. That they haven't taken advantage of the situation is their fault, not ours imo.

I really don't think that was the angle Chase was trying to create. What I got out of it, was, he was referring to this year with all the presentation upgrades that appear to be transpiring with Madden. I thought he meant it will take more than this year to beat out the competition with presentation. I don't think he intended to hammer away at the 6yr issue like you did.

And my take on "It's up to us" is that whenever someone feels that presentation in Madden has beaten the competition, then it up to us to proclaim it.