Madden has a serious player vs CPU problem

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by GisherJohn24

I’m not saying all the games on madden 20 are rigged but sometimes I get the feel an advantage or disadvantage algorithm happens more prevalently than I’ve seen in awhile . Mind you I’ve seen this before on past sports games. In nba2k12 there is a little problem . It’s nearly impossible to win a game on the road. I noticed it more playing friends than cpu . Sliders was the only solution for me. I remember playing 20 games against a friend and we played 10 games at home and 10 games on the road. I only managed 1 win on the road. The point I’m making is that the game can be altered behind the scenes without you knowing specifically what is causing it. As I look back at NBA 2K 12 I can’t even tell you why I lost all those games but I basically the rim and the net was a lot more friendly to the home court user. Thats basically what it is...

This would describe the disparity that you notice more vs friends vs CPU.

I'm always stating things from a user vs CPU perspective and I notice this less and less each year in that mode.

[oneamongthefence]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonesta78

So I employ a house rule that I've found has solved this problem, and massively improved my enjoyment of the game......which is essentially that in play selection, I only allow myself to choose from one of the first three 'Coach Suggestions' each play. Most of the time, on first and second down, there are two runs (or options) and only one pass play available. So if I want to pass it, then I have to be able to run the play that's selected for me. I find this rule stops me from exploiting the AI weaknesses too much. Every now and again, a nice drag route will pop up on 3rd and 3, and I'll know I'm golden. But the easy play won't always be there, so I have to be able to execute a range of plays in any given situation. I only have two exceptions - when the AI insists that I try a field goal, against the wind, with a low powered kicker from the 42 yard line, I allow myself to check out of it. And when the AI insists that I punt on a 4th and 1 from the opposition 40, then I allow myself to scroll through to the next offensive play as well. I even find that I can justify this otherwise artificial constraint narratively - after all, our virtual teams have Offensive/Defensive coordinators, right? Why wouldn't we hire them to call the plays? Since I stopped doing all the play-calling myself, and therefore stopped worrying that I was just exploiting loopholes in the AI constantly, I've started enjoying the games even more.....

I don't want to play checkers though. I want the CPU to identify certain patterns and plays and be better prepared for them. I want to be punished for using the same plays over and over again. I want to be forced to mix up my playcalling. Not just because there's certain routes or plays that i know will work in certain situations.

I remember in Madden 12 I think it was where throwing to running backs out of the backfield was pretty much money. So I lost a huge amount of my offense because it was essentially cheese. Even to this day I have to remind myself that's an option instead of ignoring that route all together. It'll be the same with stretch plays where I just won't use them out of instinct because the cpu will not adjust to it. Artificially limiting myself of certain plays makes bad habits that can persist for a long time at least for me.

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[Tonesta78]

Quote: Originally Posted by oneamongthefence

I don't want to play checkers though. I want the CPU to identify certain patterns and plays and be better prepared for them. I want to be punished for using the same plays over and over again. I want to be forced to mix up my playcalling. Not just because there's certain routes or plays that i know will work in certain situations.

So basically, you just want the AI to be better than it's currently programmed?


I hear you, and don't disagree. But, as you say, there's been issues with the AI in every release of Madden, as long as it's existed.


Frankly, the problem is that they release a game every year and are always trying to add new features, and new presentation. Improving the AI so that it not only tries to simulate the real life NFL as well as it can, but is also fully adaptive and reactive to the user's play style is a step change - that's a much bigger, deeper and longer project.


I would love to think that they have some engineers working on this in the background. But I fear that something like this with a longer term development cycle is not in their current business model, and that all we're likely to see is incremental improvements on an annual basis.


So for the time being, we're stuck with implementing house rules to make the game enjoyable. The one I wrote about is one that has made the game a lot of fun for me......

[ForUntoOblivionSoar∞]

Quote: Originally Posted by GisherJohn24

I’m not saying all the games on madden 20 are rigged but sometimes I get the feel an advantage or disadvantage algorithm happens more prevalently than I’ve seen in awhile . Mind you I’ve seen this before on past sports games. In nba2k12 there is a little problem . It’s nearly impossible to win a game on the road. I noticed it more playing friends than cpu . Sliders was the only solution for me. I remember playing 20 games against a friend and we played 10 games at home and 10 games on the road. I only managed 1 win on the road. The point I’m making is that the game can be altered behind the scenes without you knowing specifically what is causing it. As I look back at NBA 2K 12 I can’t even tell you why I lost all those games but I basically the rim and the net was a lot more friendly to the home court user. Thats basically what it is...

I wonder how much the clutch rating plays in this.