MADDEN 24 A “MAKE OR BREAK” RELEASE FOR MANAGEMENT

[khaliib]

Quote: Originally Posted by poulka

That is exactly I why posted the key components they need to focus on. For the last several years it has been let’s focus on gameplay. Then last year came and they made a whole spectacle of let’s make more improvements to gameplay. I was like gameplay does not need attention right now let’s build other things. But that has been their MO hoping we will say we need better gameplay to also give them another excuse not flesh other neglected areas of the game that really could set it to a new level. But as it is right now we have been stuck in this cycle since that Madden 25 aka Madden 13 debacle.

All the Franchise trinkets in the world are useless if the Gameplay is not there to give purpose to them.

Gameplay to me isn’t just an on-field experience without bugs/glitches, but where players are differentiated. which leads to Teams being differentiated, along with AI Logic that uses/applies those differentiations to compete on & off the field.

Now all the additions will have a purpose & reason for Franchise gamers to invest time into aspects.
- Contracts
- Coach/Coord’s
- Draft
- Trade/FA
- Playbooks
etc, etc…

To me M23 Beta had Gameplay in the best state for a Franchise bandaid (since nothing was added or expanded upon), because for once “defense” applied impacts that finally balanced the offensive centric gameplay Madden typically is.

M24 Beta will market the game as intended, but immediately the Dev team will tweak/tune the game back to Maddenball under the false guise of “Balancing”

Then down the rabbit whole we go of waiting on Title Updates to fix something, as what was liked in the Beta is watered down or basically becomes non-existent.

Wait-n-see, that’s all we can do TBH.

[UtahUtes32]

I like the gameplay in Madden 23. Player movement is really nice.

[warren_playa]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

Agreed with everything you said except I draw a line in the sand with multiple patches. I know what you meant, but title updates has a tendency sometimes to mess up game play. Not a fan of that at all.

I thought about this with madden 19, I had to relearn to play that game at least 3 times that year, it was frustrating smh

[poulka]

Quote: Originally Posted by khaliib

All the Franchise trinkets in the world are useless if the Gameplay is not there to give purpose to them. Gameplay to me isn’t just an on-field experience without bugs/glitches, but where players are differentiated. which leads to Teams being differentiated, along with AI Logic that uses/applies those differentiations to compete on & off the field. Now all the additions will have a purpose & reason for Franchise gamers to invest time into aspects. - Contracts - Coach/Coord’s - Draft - Trade/FA - Playbooks etc, etc… To me M23 Beta had Gameplay in the best state for a Franchise bandaid (since nothing was added or expanded upon), because for once “defense” applied impacts that finally balanced the offensive centric gameplay Madden typically is. M24 Beta will market the game as intended, but immediately the Dev team will tweak/tune the game back to Maddenball under the false guise of “Balancing” Then down the rabbit whole we go of waiting on Title Updates to fix something, as what was liked in the Beta is watered down or basically becomes non-existent. Wait-n-see, that’s all we can do TBH.

While I get what you are saying, but sometimes the trinkets can bring life into a product that is on life support right now. Look at NBA2k, now it is a different sport, but 2k works on gameplay quite a bit. At the same you get that one year where gameplay takes a back except for a few minor tweaks.

Key trinkets that franchise added, are unique ball bouncing sounds in different arenas, commentary expansion that is still king today over ten years later. Last year each arenas PA announcer to give that true road feel. This year the ERAs came out. Now given the gameplay was also looked into during the years of these innovations. But that is where the Madden team falls on its face they only look at gameplay and add nothing else. All I am saying let’s get some game changing material in Madden. As good as the gameplay is in Madden right now, the whole experience even with new gameplay is getting stale.

Each game in the season feels the same, nothing separates a week one opening season game from a week 18 except for a few words of the same repeated commentary. NBA 2k is far from perfect but it has enough customization and other features to give you a fresh experience smithing Madden has not done for me sine Madden 05.

[kingsofthevalley]

Quote: Originally Posted by pimpycraig

I like the gameplay in Madden 23. Player movement is really nice.

23s player movement trumps every football game ever released man. We're at the pinnacle of how football video games play "on the field" and it's only getting better from here I'm figuring.

Physics can still use a bit of tweaking, ie. how do we solve the problem of allowing every player to interact with tackles, true player weight having a consistent effect on interactions, etc, but overall, best football title I've touched in years no doubt.

[kingsofthevalley]

Quote: Originally Posted by CM Hooe

I'm pretty sure that's Power-O based on the pulling guard, and also that it's being run against a blitz. It's hard to tell from a single still and without knowing the front the defense was in pre-snap exactly what each blocker is supposed to be doing; the front obviously affects how the play is blocked. The main thrust of my "run blocking is better than it has ever been" assertion is that the blocking schemes on offer are authentic, predictable, and repeatable (player ratings notwithstanding). I am routinely and consistently able to set up my run plays. I have entire packages of run plays from I-Formation and Singleback YY formations that I audible in and out of based on the front and coverage the defense presents me pre-snap. I've never been able to set up any facet of my rushing offense with such attention to detail in literally any other football game. I am able to do so in PS5 Madden because the run blocking AI actually works. I agree that Madden still has too much "physics jank" which detracts from the overall experience. I disagree that stuff like the spun-around lineman in your screenshot is "the norm". That simply hasn't been my experience with run blocking in Madden 23 at all.

Exactly. I can cherry pick replays and still shots where everything looks great. My WTF moments in regards to issues similar to the screen shot are very few and far between.

[Madden08PCgmr]

Quote:

For Franchise mode, sources say that the developers feel the mode is almost there with smaller additions

Can't help but beat this dead horse....

There is practically nothing that make franchise a living breathing thing. Rebrand it season mode. Thats really all it is.

It might be 'make or break'.. if they can't overcome the bugs, and if public outcry keeps raging, they could just throw in the towel. Its not a moneymaker so the stockholders certainly aren't going to care.

'Make or break' for the title itself? No chance.

The owners don't see this as a vehicle to grow their brand. Too many owners asleep at the wheel, happy to take the fat check for doing nothing.

It would take YEARS for a viable contender to make a competitive product, and as we've seen, it doesn't look like its worth the investment.

This is what we're stuck with.... its a complete and total shame.