EA Response to Fatigue discussion

[Ian_Cummings]

Hey all - I thought I'd drop a line real quick to comment on the "defensive fatigue" discussion that we've been seeing. I sent a note over to Sean Bailey and he wanted to put together a post for everyone:

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Hi all, Sean Bailey here, Lead Gameplay Designer for Madden NFL 09.
As some of you may have noticed, players on defense do not fatigue as much as they did last year on Madden NFL 08. I wanted to state first and foremost that this is actually the intended result, and was done on purpose. This is not a bug or a glitch. I’m here to give you a little context on why this decision was made…

I’m sure most of you will agree that Madden gamers run the no-huddle offense way more often than teams do in real life. The frequency in which the average NFL offense ran no-huddle last year was significantly less than the frequency in which the average Madden gamer called no huddle – by a long shot. Last year on Madden NFL 08, offenses were actually able to unfairly “punish” defenses via no-huddle, due to the fact that when the no-huddle ended, several the players on the defense were subbed out unrealistically (i.e. backup WRs subbing in for CBs and safeties). Having drastic substitutions on defense due to fatigue from no-huddling was not fair to the gamer playing on defense (since no-huddle is initiated by the gamer on offense), and to add to that we have failed to see a single NFL game film where offensive players subbed in for defensive players due to fatigue. It was not fair nor realistic to ask a WR to cover Randy Moss, simply because the Patriots were no-huddling on offense. With this knowledge and imbalance from last year, we knew some changes had to be made. The main change was to tie fatigue into more strenuous events like performing hit sticks, getting impact blocked, getting run over, covering a WR on a deep route, etc. We felt that this was a much more realistic representation of how an NFL-caliber athlete “gets fatigued” as well.

We looked at it this way: In Madden NFL 08, no-huddling was the best way to fatigue a defense, which is not the case in the NFL. Long drives and pounding the ball behind a good offensive line is the best way to fatigue a defense…and that’s what we’ve implemented for Madden NFL 09. And just to drive the point home, defensive players DO fatigue this year. I even grabbed a screenshot to showcase this:

fatigue.jpg

Madden’s Lead Designer Ian Cummings has done a great job of staying in touch with you guys and when he told me that the community was concerned over fatigue on defense, I felt obligated to give you an explanation as to why and how fatigue changed in this year’s game. At the same time, I don’t want to give off the impression that I am completely 100% happy with fatigue. There is always room for improvement in a sports simulation video game like Madden. I really appreciate all of your feedback…we definitely listen to and read all of your suggestions, concerns, and comments. Keep it coming!
In the mean time, if any of you want to play Madden or NCAA against me online, shoot a friend request to “Vernon Maxwell.”

- Sean Bailey, Lead Gameplay Designer
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As an aside, please don't post about any issues other than fatigue in this thread. Again just know we are all over these forums and are hearing (err, reading) everything that has been brought up...

Thanks,
Ian

[CUTLER'S CANNON]

I didn't know this was an issue. My D definitely gets fatigued, especially after Robo QB completes 20 in a row on them. Actually, my DBs look fatigued throughout the whole game.

[RAZRr1275]

Well even if fatigue exists the players never sub out anyway. Players should be subbing in and out. I say you patch fatigue so it is how it was for madden 08 and just lock fatigue to off for online games. For sim guys this kind of screws the game up a bit. Thanks anyway though.

[DGuinta1]

Quote: Originally Posted by RAZRr1275

Well even if fatigue exists the players never sub out anyway. Players should be subbing in and out. I say you patch fatigue so it is how it was for madden 08 and just lock fatigue to off for online games. For sim guys this kind of screws the game up a bit. Thanks anyway though.

For sim and or us franchise folk, I would agree with this post.

[kwas676]

Quote: Originally Posted by RAZRr1275

Well even if fatigue exists the players never sub out anyway. Players should be subbing in and out. I say you patch fatigue so it is how it was for madden 08 and just lock fatigue to off for online games. For sim guys this kind of screws the game up a bit. Thanks anyway though.

god no madden 08 fatigue was to much.

[RAZRr1275]

Quote: Originally Posted by kwas676

god no madden 08 fatigue was to much.

That was just right to me. Perfect for getting everyone in like the nfl.

[HealyMonster]

my dline gets subbed enough. seems like there is a solid rotation of subs/starters in my games. i play 8 minute quarters though too. dont know why you would want that much subbing if your only playing 5 min quarters.

[muggins]

Great stuff. Thanks for the communications. I haven't played enough to notice this issue yet, but I do like the idea of combating constant no-huddle - that pisses me off so much.