MUST HAVE Options for Madden 09

[jsou4646]

madden is improving, but the player models and gang tackling are still lacking as well as fluid control of the players. But it is getting better I have to say

[Oldschool17]

Quote: Originally Posted by cleanheart

Let's face it, the majority of Madden loyalists love the NFL and the excitement it produces both on and off the field. While little frills like Superstar Mode are nice and cute, they aren't what most people are looking for when it comes to buying and playing Madden year in and year out. Maddenites are looking for REALISM and PRESENTATION. 2K5 had it right in a couple of areas, mainly in their presentation. My experience with 2K5, my observations while playing Madden since the days of the Sega Genesis, and my love of the NFL have prompted me to create the following list of MUST HAVE options for Madden 2009 and CONSISTENTLY beyond: Accelerated Clock - Where did this go? Why was it taken away? Has EA noticed that many slider threads comment on the difference in quarter length due to shifts at the line of scrimmage, watching cut scenes, etc.? Bring back the accelerated clock and this is fixed! People can enjoy the cut scenes, take their time picking plays, etc. without worrying about if they're going to have between 120 and 140 plays per game. Challenges - 2K5 was spot-on when they allowed you to challenge a play, but then gave you options on what exactly you were challenging. For example, I was playing Madden yesterday and I completed a pass to my WR. He didn't even take two steps before he was hit and fumbled. I wanted to challenge that he didn't have possession of the ball and it wasn't a catch, but all I could do was challenge the fumble itself. You would think that these next-gen consoles would be smart enough to handle anything and more that the old consoles could. Let's wake up, EA. Automatic Replays - What is up with the static look, fast pace, and poor angles of the replays? These can be much, much better. Clear up the pictures and slow down the action so we can enjoy (or despise) the previous play. See the Field When Passing - I forgot what year had this option, but it was cool when you could select the camera to zoom out when passing. This allowed you to see sideline to sideline and then you could tell if a DB was dropping back in zone, or pressing towards the flats. As it is, I almost always have to roll out of the pocket just to see if my WR is covered on a curl route, or my RB is covered in the flats. So, obviously, every time I roll out I'm increasing the risk of a sack. It's simply not realistic to limit the QB vision like that. Fix the Presentation - I don't know if it's pride or laziness or both, but EA, fix your presentation! Take a page from 2K5! The halftime highlights with Chris Berman were awesome, the interviews at the end of each game got old but were fun, and the off season interaction with Mel Kiper was cool for the upcoming draft. You guys have the NFL license; go out and get Rich Eisen to do the pre-game and halftime shows, and get Mike Mayock to cover the draft. Maybe even pull lines from actual coach press conferences the year before for the post game. Please, do SOMETHING. Better Announcer - I agree that Madden and Michaels were getting stale, but this new guy in a home team radio format just doesn't work. I actually turn off the announcer when I play. He's just terrible, in my opinion. Go get a legitimate, big-name play-by-play and color guy for Madden 09. This is one of the things that makes NCAA football so great is the trio of Nessler, Corso, and Herbstreit. The comments are smart, witty, and make you feel more like you're part of a real college game. Off Season - Have you noticed in recent years the booming popularity of free agency, the draft, and the scouting combine? Maybe allow the user to send his scouts and actually watch a prospect go through drills without controlling the prospect. Pick what you want to see and who you want to see do it, and then judge the prospect in action. Figure out a way to make free agency more exciting! The top tier players in free agency every year are being worked at 12:01 AM every year on the day of free agency. Make a sense of urgency early! Lastly, make the draft itself more realistic. Give use the option to have the commissioner go up to the podium after each selection and announce it. I understand you might not get Roger Goodell to do the voiceover, but get his approval and find a voice impersonator or something. Another angle that made the draft fun that you used to have was the background noise of phones and chatter. Trades and discussions, baby! THAT'S realism! Wow...If these issues were addressed, we would have the ultimate game of NFL football ever released. Why does EA think that a new gimmick each year will sell more copies? JUST MAKE THE GAME REALISTIC IN AS MANY AREAS AS YOU CAN AND YOU WILL SATISFY YOUR CUSTOMERS MORE THAN YOU EVER HAVE IN THE PAST.

All that and none of it addresses actual gameplay (Scratches head)

[jeetaa6]

I fully agree with the original list but I'm to the point where I have no faith that EA will come through for us in these areas. Jaded, you might say.

Anyway, I'll add a few more things I'd like to see in future releases of Madden next gen-STARTING THIS YEAR:

1. Like in NCAA, the roster option to quickly put in your 2nd string players all at once, instead of one by one if it's a blowout...or pre-season.
2. Replay frequency choice - 2K5 had this and I always set mine on "Frequent" replays. Hell, you can always hit A to blow past a replay of a field goal if you want. But I love the replays with the associated commentary.
3. Get rid of the damn "fire in the hole-explosion" tackle animations. That's the prime reason I sold my copy of '08. Ridiculous animations...defying all kinds of physics!
4. In Franchise mode, have CPU managed teams make more moves during the season ie. initiate and make actual trades (instead of just having friggin' Kelly Holcomb on the Trade Block all year long-yay-exciting!), FA pickups, IR moves, maybe discipline. Again, see 2K5. 2K5 CPU managed teams even made counter offers to me when I offered an unacceptable trade. Geez, EA...what the heck is the deal??
5. I MUST REPEAT - MULTIPLE CAMERA ANGLES, MULTIPLE CAMERA ANGLES, MULTIPLE CAMERA ANGLES...SPORTS VIDEO GAMING 101.
6. ESPN Presentation...zero excuses anymore!! You are insulting us by not including this in your next gen offers. Yes, the Draft coverage, halftime, postgame.
7. And...this just in, the Super Bowl is the mother of all Championships, so please make it look something like that!! Again, see 2K5 if you need ideas.

OK, I'm too pissed again to continue. Writing this has brought "it all back"!!

We can only hope...THIS is the year.
But again, jaded.

Later.

[BezO]

Quote: Originally Posted by CowherPower

It's almost like their heading in this direction now.... 1)Sim-Head Coach 2)Arcade-NFL Tour 3)Tournament play- Madden

Unfortunately for my sim self, I want to control the players.

[Kramer5150]

Quote: Originally Posted by BezO

Unfortunately for my sim self, I want to control the players.

Oh yea,I fully agree. I'm just wondering how much more "franchise" stuff they'll put in Madden,when it sounds like "Headcoach" has all the "sim" stuff that we would like to see in Madden as far as franchise mode goes.

[Gleebo]

A must have for me would be to HAVE the ability to return the game if its a dissapointing release.

I would love EA to give a weeks grace period on returns worldwide.

Thats a real selling point.

[BigL]

I dont know if this has been mentioned, but they M-U-S-T- bring back the formation subs. That made the game so much fun for me because I was able to use so many different combination of players on O and D

The package sub that was 08 is NOT the same and it does not allow you to do nearly as much as you were able to do with the formation sub.

[kmart2180]

1) CO-OP- It's nuts that we gotta do a whole routine in order to play with 4 people on the same team. Why can't we just push 4 controllers to one side,like we always have?

1a) GAMEPLAY- Does it really matter if they add better presentation, announcers, atmosphere ,ect.... but the game still plays the way it currently does?

They need to rework the animations, player movements. The roboticness needs to go. And we need the control back like in the PS2 years.