Madden 09 Will be Special

[DLaren]

I still don't understand the over-whelming amount of pessimism directed towards Madden'09; especially since we have so many reasons to look optimistically towards the future of the series. I've already posted why I'm looking forward to Madden'09, but to go along with that, the light seems to shine even brighter when you look at how Madden has grown each year and reflect that towards what we might expect for '09:


The most notable additions/features to each game:

Madden'06

Season mode
Optional vision-cone
Introduction of new ratings
Introduction of 'Radio Announcer'
Introduction of the new Madden engine.

Nothing special here, just a bare-bones, rushed for launch-day game.

Madden'07

SuperStar Mode
Franchise Mode
'Lead Blocking Control'
Defensive hot routes
The 'highlight stick'
Player specific animations/moves
HD stadium/player models.

Significant gameplay modes were added along with new (and old) gameplay elements.

Madden'08

Branching animations
Improved O-Line logic
Improved DB AI (post-patch)
Improved Franchise mode (post-patch)
Improved player models
Improved field textures
Improved crowd response
60 FPS
Weapons
New defensive controls (defensive spotlight and individual defensive hot-routes)
New plays added to the playbook.
New animation system which added numerous animations.
Playmaker Controls.
New ratings.
Precision passing.
(...So much was added/improved that I know I'm forgetting some things...)

Major gameplay additions/improvements to go along with improved game modes and an all-around better looking game on the field.


Madden'07 was two-times better than Madden'06 (not saying much), Madden'08 was two-times better than Madden'07 (again, not saying much), but if the pattern continues (which it almost certainly will) then Madden'09 will be two-times better than Madden'08 (which will be saying something because '08 is ok). Here is my optimisic view of what Madden'09 will look like based on developer blogs/interviews over the past year:




Madden'09

Improved Franchise/Superstar Mode (with the guys from the last-gen team now working on the next-gen game we should see everything that we're use to.)
Refinement of the Branching animation system.
Improved O-Line logic. (a new blocking system is pretty-much confirmed)
Improved CPU controlled QB AI.
Dozens of new ratings (this could potentially make each player play more like his real-life counter-part)
New animations.
The return of many last-gen features (Co-op, CPU vs. CPU, Coach mode, camera angles, and so on...)
Online leagues/franchise mode.
Re-vamped presentation.
Re-vamped playbooks.
More ESPN/NFL network integration.
New modes/mini-games.


If all of those promises/rumors can be achieved without breaking any of the existing features/gameplay elements then Madden'09 will indeed be "Special".

[Skyboxer]

If you think Madden has made much advancement in Next Gen then you must be thier target audience.
The bulk of thier "improvements" have been gimmicks, period.
Madden 06 was best used as a coaster.

Madden 07 was mainly gimick add-ons.

Madden 08 Improved blocking was not hard as the original blocking was terrible. Then they added more gimmicks. And even then there were things that made some of the add-ons useless. For example yes you had D adjustments this year. Too bad the CPU would snap the ball within 1-2 seconds of getting to the line making D adjustments a dead option.

You say they made advancements and I say too many people got used to the sub par game and just accepted it. So any minor improvements are looked at like they advanced the genre.

3 years into Next gen and there's more atmosphere at a funeral, all animations are canned and repetitive.

There's tons more than could have been done and wasn't. Here's hoping that Madden 09 and beyond make actual advancements and not repair work.

I know I sound like a ***** but I'm not. I love my football games almost as much as I love my baseball games but being mediocre for a few years while over promising and underdelivering get's frustrating. More so when you have no other Pro football option. We have to have Madden get to where it needs to be. I wish them all the luck in the world and hope they finally deliver.

[The GIGGAS]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

If you think Madden has made much advancement in Next Gen then you must be thier target audience. The bulk of thier "improvements" have been gimmicks, period. Madden 06 was best used as a coaster. Madden 07 was mainly gimick add-ons. Madden 08 Improved blocking was not hard as the original blocking was terrible. Then they added more gimmicks. And even then there were things that made some of the add-ons useless. For example yes you had D adjustments this year. Too bad the CPU would snap the ball within 1-2 seconds of getting to the line making D adjustments a dead option. You say they made advancements and I say too many people got used to the sub par game and just accepted it. So any minor improvements are looked at like they advanced the genre. 3 years into Next gen and there's more atmosphere at a funeral, all animations are canned and repetitive. There's tons more than could have been done and wasn't. Here's hoping that Madden 09 and beyond make actual advancements and not repair work. I know I sound like a ***** but I'm not. I love my football games almost as much as I love my baseball games but being mediocre for a few years while over promising and underdelivering get's frustrating. More so when you have no other Pro football option. We have to have Madden get to where it needs to be. I wish them all the luck in the world and hope they finally deliver.

Sky, you are the man... You summed up everything I feel about Madden in that post.

Bravo.

[Kramer5150]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

If you think Madden has made much advancement in Next Gen then you must be thier target audience. The bulk of thier "improvements" have been gimmicks, period. Madden 06 was best used as a coaster. Madden 07 was mainly gimick add-ons. Madden 08 Improved blocking was not hard as the original blocking was terrible. Then they added more gimmicks. And even then there were things that made some of the add-ons useless. For example yes you had D adjustments this year. Too bad the CPU would snap the ball within 1-2 seconds of getting to the line making D adjustments a dead option. You say they made advancements and I say too many people got used to the sub par game and just accepted it. So any minor improvements are looked at like they advanced the genre. 3 years into Next gen and there's more atmosphere at a funeral, all animations are canned and repetitive. There's tons more than could have been done and wasn't. Here's hoping that Madden 09 and beyond make actual advancements and not repair work. I know I sound like a ***** but I'm not. I love my football games almost as much as I love my baseball games but being mediocre for a few years while over promising and underdelivering get's frustrating. More so when you have no other Pro football option. We have to have Madden get to where it needs to be. I wish them all the luck in the world and hope they finally deliver.

Excellent post bro.Especially the last part. I know many here think I'm a "Madden *****",but that couldn't be farther from the truth.

I'm more frustrated than anything, but this comes off as "hating". I want the series to be great,I'm a die-hard football nut,but continuously getting mediocre releases tends to eat at one's patience.

[Ram209]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

If you think Madden has made much advancement in Next Gen then you must be thier target audience. The bulk of thier "improvements" have been gimmicks, period. Madden 06 was best used as a coaster. Madden 07 was mainly gimick add-ons. Madden 08 Improved blocking was not hard as the original blocking was terrible. Then they added more gimmicks. And even then there were things that made some of the add-ons useless. For example yes you had D adjustments this year. Too bad the CPU would snap the ball within 1-2 seconds of getting to the line making D adjustments a dead option. You say they made advancements and I say too many people got used to the sub par game and just accepted it. So any minor improvements are looked at like they advanced the genre. 3 years into Next gen and there's more atmosphere at a funeral, all animations are canned and repetitive. There's tons more than could have been done and wasn't. Here's hoping that Madden 09 and beyond make actual advancements and not repair work. I know I sound like a ***** but I'm not. I love my football games almost as much as I love my baseball games but being mediocre for a few years while over promising and underdelivering get's frustrating. More so when you have no other Pro football option. We have to have Madden get to where it needs to be. I wish them all the luck in the world and hope they finally deliver.

Im gonna go ahead and jump on your wagon!! And say DITTO DITTO BIG FREAKING DITTO

[squaremarker]

I haven't purchase Madden since 04. Loved it in 04. For me to buy madden this is what needs, absolutely needs, to happen.

1) No excuse for no halftime and end game highlights. As well as a weekly Sportscenter recapping EVERY game with video highlights as well as new weeks high profile matches, injury updates, and any other football related thing. Also, In-Game EA Sports Game breaks. Or whatever they want to call it. Show us some cool stuff going on in other games, make it more like actually watching tv.

2) 2 Commentators. I don't even care who they are, just get two people, make them say interesting stuff, and record a ton of crap. You got the space on the disk and the processing power with the next-gen, get it right already.

3) Completely revamp the physics. When I throw a deep ball in 08 it feels like i throw it 20 miles high and doesn't feel right at all. The gang tackling was a nice addition but rework it. Make it based on physics, not predetermined animations.

4) Overall presentation revamping. Just watch an NFL game on tv, and copy ****. 2k got to be the best in sports by copying what EA did well and improving their own stuff.

5) Include all NFL equipment and a much deeper player creation. If you put Kevin Jones and LT in plain jerseys, I should be able to note a difference in player modeling. For instance, being a detroit lions fan, Kevin Jones wears his pads rather lose on his body making him easily identifiable to anyone who watches the lions like i do. Make each player unique, you got the time, you got the man power, you certain have the damn money, and you better have the patience.

6) The atmosphere SUCKS! Seriously, it's not that freakin hard. Let's see, oh yea, try something as simple as this. When the sweet *** Lions get announced, cut to a music video of Lions highlights from games I've actually played in. Mix in some sweet hits, touchdowns, LB's celebrating, anything, and mix it to Ladies and Gentlemen by Saliva. Make it play right before the Lions come out, then when the video is finished, cut to the Lions coming out and make that look exciting. Make it so I can feel the roar of the crowd and like the players are actually excited. Not just 8 guys standing in a line, clapping like idiots as one of the players runs in the middle pumping his fist like a clown. THE PLAYERS DO NOT DO THAT IN THE REAL NFL.



SERIOUSLY, THIS IS A MESSAGE TO EA, HIRE ME AS A PRESENTATION SPECIALIST. SINCE YOU CANNOT FIND A HUMAN BEING WITH DECENT INTELLIGENCE ENOUGH TO TO ACTUALLY FIGURE THIS OUT BY COPYING WHAT THEY DO ON TV, HIRE ME. HONESTLY!


With that said, if those 6 key things are added to madden, I would buy it. Oh yea, and I swear to god, if you guys don't remove **** like Brett Favre doing the damn moonwalk, before the game is released, i'll kick the game testers in the head.

[Kramer5150]

Another thing I hope they add......custom soundtracks. That was such a cool feature on the "other game",and would really add alot as far as presentation goes as well.

[DLaren]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

If you think Madden has made much advancement in Next Gen then you must be thier target audience. .

Advancements and Improvements are two different things...Nowhere in my post did I say that the developers of Madden have advanced next-gen football...I detailed how the game has improved two-folds every year in comparison to its previous iteration to illustrate why there is a legitimate reason to be optimistic that Madden'09 will be twice as good as Madden'08.

I'm not trying to convince you or anyone else to run out grab the game at midnight this fall, I just strongly disagree with anyone who speaks as if Madden'09 has little chance of being a quality title; it's almost as if some people have become so bitter that they've lost the ability to view the Madden series objectively (to the point where Branching animations, improved O-Line logic, and enhanced DB AI are labeled as "gimmicks"). So I'm giving reasons as to why I have a more positive outlook on the game and sharing why I'm excited to see what Madden'09 has to offer; and based on the effort that the developers put forth in '08 (combined with the addition of Peter Moore, the last-gen developement team, and the 20th anniversary) I think everyone else should have a reason to be excited too .