What's up with EA Sports this year?

[JayBee74]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

Just wait for FIFA. Heads will turn

I don't know if I can get into a soccer game.

I bought NCAA this year, and the early download for Madden. Same games, another year. Where is the "obvious innovation" that sets this game apart from ten years ago? (Madden 2002)

[HealyMonster]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

This doesn't jibe with my EA experiences (1999-2006) at all. Devs are given a budget (always smaller), a timeline (always shorter), and a demand for new features (always dumber) to put on the back of the box. I'm guessing your lifeguards weren't already working 70-80 hours a week (with no paid OT).



When I see things like that, I can't help but wonder what kind of resources (recording time, sound artists, programmers, testers) were allocated to Madden's audio team. Every single game I've ever worked on (14 to date), I've been well aware of the quality of the game - some good, some mediocre, some bad. Do you know how soul-crushing it is to work non-stop for months on end on a crappy project, knowing that there's a good chance you're going to be laid off at the end of it? It ain't fun.

Thanks for the feedback man, and if anyone would know more than me about this, it would be you lol. I just wanted to point out the impression I get and truthfully the last thing I would have thought would be an issue would be "resources" within such a huge company that basically invented video game football.

[Skyboxer]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

I think Madden 12 is the best in the series, by far.
I agree however that the engine is waaay overdue to be scrapped and hopefully we don't have another generation of 4-5 years of wasted games.

Just my opinion but a lot of people (including myself at times) has the "fond memories syndrom" and nothing will top them.
I still have had the most fun ever with FPSFB. Was it better? probably not as it had it's fair share of issues and patches... but back then it was 99% about fun and not about analyzing the realism to death.

[roadman]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

We understand that. It's taking almost TWO(2) full months for a an announced patch to come out that frustrates people. With no communication or updates on when it might be coming out either.

I know sports games are some of the hardest to make because there are so many moving parts and it all has to play perfect or the entire game is ruined, but when you release a patch to fix one issue and it completely breaks something entirely unrelated and it's so OBVIOUS(referring to no huddle being completely broken in NCAA now). You have wonder what the **** people are thinking.

Only 2 months? I recall in Madden 08 the fumbling patch didn't arrive until December. That was 4 months total. If I recall correctly, there was communication in early August regarding the patch. Isn't that considered communication? Has our patience run that thin over the last 4 years?

Just looking over the NCAA forums, seems like people are very very pleased with the results of the patch. Even some of the loudest critics for 60 days have a totally changed mind and attitude about NCAA.

With Madden, the last few years have been much louder with the criticism than this year. Outside of commentary(if anyone follows Madden we knew what was coming before the purchase as Phil said at E3 they now have Fifa's sound tech, but didn't have time to implement,mmmm, there's Dr. Jones time element creeping in), the game play hasn't been much criticism at all. The loudest criticism seems to be the errors in franchise mode.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

I think the issue is that last year, when it came to NCAA and Madden, it was a lot more communication. And Patches were coming out pretty much every month.

But nevertheless you knew pretty quick that a patch was on it's way. This year.......took them a long time before they even said they were working on a patch, then 2 months for it to come out.

And finally, the most bigger problem is the fact both Madden and NCAA have tuners that don't even require approval. So a lot of people are upset over the fact that most of the game play AI problems and progression problems could have been fixed MONTHS ago via tuner.

But for some reason the NCAA and Madden team treat tuners like patches.

Unlike the NHL team, where as if a game play concern was noted, they released a tuner by the end of the day or week, to fix the game play related problem.

I mean honestly, there is no reason why can't fix the lack of blocking on kick off returns and punt returns via tuner file TODAY. Same thing with the lack of FG and punt blocks.

Also why is it for 2 years in a row now, they got to release a tuner file to fix dynasty progression ?

Plus this year, they are way more vocal of what they are doing on twitter then they are on the forums. So that kind of pisses people off too. Since not everybody uses twitter or Facebook and shouldn't be forced to join those things just to know what is going on.

[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

I have no insight on the tuners, but I am going to go out on a limb and say maybe there is a bug or issue where the ones you want to be used are not working properly, thus why it is taking so long?

[JohnDoe8865]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

I can only speak about NCAA 12, since that is the only new EA Sports game I've bought this year. NCAA 12 feels, rushed, untested, almost throw-together. I can't get through 2 games without an in-game freeze. That is truly a bug to me, if I can't complete a game. I've sat and waited on the patch that promised to fix freezing and instability issues.

Now that it's out and the game is still freezing I'm out of patience with the NCAA 12 team. I'm out of patience with EA Sports, fair or not.

[Behindshadows]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

I've been enjoying Madden and NCAA, we have both games at my job and we play them daily.

I honestly don't get too critical on them like I did in the past, because that was just my hatred for the company talking.

I think the 12 series on Madden and NCAA are both solid titles, both a lot of fun! I play on harder difficulties because pro, all-American etc are sometimes just too easy...Try Heisman or All-Madden and really test your own skills.

I get my consoles back in 2 weeks and will bring these baby's home to test out the franchise modes and online. But just on single player / Exhibition I'm not disliking either one...I'm a sports fan and these are two sports I love and so far, no complaints. Every game has bugs and I go into it thinking that way, so I know they will occur.

We had a overtime bug on Madden already that wouldn't end, drove us crazy...

[Brian_OS]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

Well you're probably right though at least we can agree that QC is an area that needs improving.

They prioritize bug fixes and move some to a patch if they run out of time.They are patching an old engine over and over again. Each cycle after any patch has to be tested ... This pushes all bugs out... They are aware of all of the bugs. OS and other sites do a great job finding them before they patch them. That's the bottom line. I have worked in software development field before and know the routine. I have also may send software testing offshore which brings it's own challenges.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

I have no insight on the tuners, but I am going to go out on a limb and say maybe there is a bug or issue where the ones you want to be used are not working properly, thus why it is taking so long?

No it just they don't pay attention to special teams period. Been this way in 10, 11 and now 12. Same problems with special teams.

Frustrating really to kick the ball to the cpu and see him get 3 yards down the field before he is swarmed because he get no blocking what so ever on kick offs or punts. Even worse for punts, the gunners get down the field way too fast to the point as soon as the guy catch the ball, they are in his face already literally. Be an instant tackle for no gain.

And don't ge me started on the lack of FG and punt blocks in a college football game. Especially when Madden 12 the cpu blocks FGs every game. But yet in NCAA 12 they don't block any kick at all.

[Hooe]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

Where is the "obvious innovation" that sets this game apart from ten years ago? (Madden 2002)

It's unfair to apply this standard to Madden and NCAA and not also apply it to every other simulation sports game series that exists.

The games are supposed to be representative of their respective sports, they will only change so much year-over-year.

I also sincerely challenge you to play Madden 2002 and then play Madden 2012 and convincingly argue that there has been no innovation in the game in that timespan.

[DaveDQ]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

I think what's up with EA Sports is they have a huge challenge in making sports games every year. The games tend to be the same and some of the improvements some times flop. I'm enjoying Madden, still play Fight Night Champion.

I know a lot of guys will say they need competition, but they had it in several areas with 2K Sports. 2K has stopped production on several titles because of how difficult it is to produce year in and year out and get sales. Their only true bread and butter game is NBA 2K. They completely lost this generation in terms of MLB.

It just goes to show how tough it is to keep things "new" when you have to release the next game only a year later. There's too much to do and very little time to do it. I think Madden is ok but has been hurt bad by past releases because they filled the game with so much fluff. M12 is really what we should have seen in M8. But I think overall the last year has been tough for EA. NBA Elite was a huge blow to their basketball rep. But at the same time, their games are on the right track.

[JohnDoe8865]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

It's unfair to apply this standard to Madden and NCAA and not also apply it to every other simulation sports game series that exists.

The games are supposed to be representative of their respective sports, they will only change so much year-over-year.

I also sincerely challenge you to play Madden 2002 and then play Madden 2012 and convincingly argue that there has been no innovation in the game in that timespan.

Not to make this a comparison thread, but good grief, look at the jump in quality and innovation in MLB:The Show and NBA 2K since the 2001/2002 iterations. It's staggering.

[Hooe]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

Not to make this a comparison thread, but good grief, look at the jump in quality and innovation in MLB:The Show and NBA 2K since the 2001/2002 iterations. It's staggering.

It's not so much a difference in innovation as much as quality, IMO.

Both have on-field gameplay that at-least-somewhat closely represents what we see in real life. Both have multi-season team management modes. Both have single-player be-a-player modes (admittedly Madden's is in a rather sad state of affairs, but that's not necessarily indicative of not being innovative). Both have a robust set of online features (and arguably EA's games take the cake in this regard over other sports games with their ultimate team features and multiple-season online leagues, say what you want about the details of the feature itself).

I don't deny that these games have their faults and I argue they all can improve, but I do think that in some ways they get a really bad rep.

[Hooe]

Re: What's up with EA Sports this year?

I think what's up with EA Sports is they have a huge challenge in making sports games every year. The games tend to be the same and some of the improvements some times flop. I'm enjoying Madden, still play Fight Night Champion.

I know a lot of guys will say they need competition, but they had it in several areas with 2K Sports. 2K has stopped production on several titles because of how difficult it is to produce year in and year out and get sales. Their only true bread and butter game is NBA 2K. They completely lost this generation in terms of MLB.

It just goes to show how tough it is to keep things "new" when you have to release the next game only a year later. There's too much to do and very little time to do it. I think Madden is ok but has been hurt bad by past releases because they filled the game with so much fluff. M12 is really what we should have seen in M8. But I think overall the last year has been tough for EA. NBA Elite was a huge blow to their basketball rep. But at the same time, their games are on the right track.

I take issue with the bolded statement because there is no way for anyone to say what we "should have had" in previous years. The only concrete thing is what we got at that time, and there's no way any sports game can win against this argument. We should instead be judging the current game in a series by is if it is fun NOW.