Franchise Mode concerns for M10 (main concern-FREEZING!)

[THUG-Z]

So far so good regarding Madden 10, but I have my reservations.

I’ve been around watching/reading a few threads by Ian Cummings and others at EA, but I haven’t heard anything about the FRANCHISE MODE, the most important feature in the game to me. The reason I bring this up is because the obvious: Franchise Mode has been BROKEN in every single MADDEN via FREEZING. Again Franchise FREEZING has hurt Madden ever since the launch of the new console: Madden 06, 07, 08, and 09 was the worst.


I am trying to be optimistic about Madden 10, because the updates that I’ve seen so far looks promising, but every single time I try to stay positive, something in my mind tells me, “Don’t be fooled by what you see, for the FRANCHSIE MODE has failed since Madden 06 via FREEZING.”


Madden 09 is when I had my last straw and decided to address the whole Franchise Mode in an article and reviewed the game via a 10-page article as a whole – to point out every single faults. I posted the piece on EA Sports’ forum, which made its way to Operation Sports (I wasn’t signed up at the time, but was viewing). Surprisingly, Ian took offense and claimed I had no clue what I was talking about, which was all good because the facts could not be denied.

Realizing the issue with Franchise Mode due to hundreds of complaints on EA Sports’ Forum and elsewhere, a patch was released to fix the franchise and it was fruitless (like many people know). This is what concerns me the most, because something tells me the same thing may happen with Madden 10. Why do I think this? Well, simple, because previous Maddens suffered from the same problems. Madden 06 had a freezing issue which was known by EA, and the issue was said to be fixed for Madden 07 and it was not, because that, too, had the same FREEZING bug. Madden 08 was the same exact thing, the Franchise would constantly freeze for no reason at all. And Madden 09 was the winner and stood in a class of its own, due to freezing in every aspect of Franchise (e.g., trading players, training players, off-season, gameplay, viewing stats, and many more).

When it comes to Madden Franchise, I have never completed a 10-year season by way of playing, only through simulation. My Franchise in Madden 09 actually stopped on the third season for some reason. For this reason (and more other issues with the game), I had no interest anymore and quickly got my 1,000 achievement points and divorced the game entirely, selling it on Amazon in a month in a half after struggling through the Franchise.

Therefore, I really hope, REALLY HOPE, that developers at EA go through a detailed scrutiny (if not done already) of the FRANCHISE issues from every aspect, every angle, to find if it has the same lingering FREEZING BUG from the previous four Maddens to ensure that gamers have a trouble-free game experience. Fixing any problems now would be advantageous because no patches would be necessary when the game hits stores’ shelves. Some people may say “hell with Franchise because they don’t play it as much,” but in all honesty, Franchise Mode is what makes Madden what it is. Without Franchise mode, the game loses its value and long-term play value.

I, personally, wouldn’t support Madden for the last few years (9 plus years or so) if it had no Franchise – because that’s what I play 95% of the time (including most people I know).

The strange thing however is this: after being disgusted with Madden 09, I made the decision and came to a firm conclusion that I’d never buy a Madden again the first day (or support a Madden game period – but something about playing with NFL teams just keeps pulling me in). And plus, I like taking my Dolphins to the Super Bowl and this year is no different. (I gotta get J. Taylor and C. Pennington that ring.)

Like I said earlier, from what I’ve seen so far, Madden 10 looks promising (so buying it will likely happen due to NFL teams) and a step-up from Madden 09, but the freezing Franchise it what scares me to death. So this year, I hope that Madden 10 breaks that cycle of Freezing Franchise because it’s a killer. I’m surprised the other Maddens didn’t have a 25-point Achievement called FRANCHISE FREEZE since it was so prominent from 06 to 09. That’s basically it about the freezing issue.

Miscellaneous Issues: Not as important as the Freezing Franchise but important, nonetheless.

Speaking of Franchise, I hope the other areas are improved such as stats and real commentary that remembers past events. For example, ever since I’ve played Madden the score ALWAYS stops at 255 (not every game). Yes, I play 15 minute quarters on All-Pro and score that much (never accomplished such feat on All-Madden).

The sack totals for a season always stops at 63 or 65, I believe it’s the former.

The QB’s TDs in a season always stops at 163 or somewhere in that range -- but not sure.


There are other stats that stop at a certain numbers but can’t recall any now.

In regard to the commentary, I hope the players’ stats from previous seasons are recognized by the announcers. For example, if Jason Taylor records 45 sacks in season 1, the announcers in Season 2 should acknowledge that and say, something like, “JT had a great season last year and recorded 45 sacks,” and so on – and show the numbers from the previous year. ESPN 2k5 had a similar system and acknowledged the players’ past season via stats, etc.

Moreover, an ESPN halftime show that mirrors that of 2k5 would be advantageous. It doesn’t even have to be like 2k5, it just needs something interesting, but a halftime show that shows the ACTUAL PLAYS that occurred in the game. Before someone claims that I’m a 2k fanboy or some other fatuous garbage simply because I’m making comparisons, I just want to make it clear that I first played 2k5 and APF 2k8 in 08 after selling my Madden 09. And I’m happy I made those purchases, for 2k5 was a breath of fresh air and left me in AWE – best football game ever.

Nonetheless, I hope the MAIN issue of this piece – FREZING FRANCHISE – is free from fault when it gets released in August. Besides the franchise issue (and lack of info), what I've seen thus far is good to impressive.

[Big_Mig_11]

WOW!!! Your franchise stats are RIDICLOUS!!! With the new acc. clock, I want to start playing 15 min quarters, but if im able to put up over 70 a games i will cut down.

Well,it is a good read and freezing is what turned me off to 08. The issue was not AS bad in 09. 09's franchise as a whole was not working for me (couldn't stand Crabtree having dreads).

With that being sad, the blog on SOME franchise improvements looks promising IMO, but it is still nothing to write home about just yet. Ian and Co. are FULLY aware of the concerns regarding franchise and I want to say it will be addressed. All I can say is wait and see...

[tooldude79]

nice thread,
im a franchise nut as well, at least I was from around '94-'05. I never had a problem with freezing. This was only because once i got to the progressions, free agency, and draft i found there was absolutely no reason to keep going when its completely broken. I hope it ALL gets fixed this year.

[Exonerated]

For some reason, franchise never froze for me in M09. And I completed over 50 seasons over various franchises.

[xblake16x]

i know it was probably a copy/paste problem, but you sure had alot of unnecessary smiley's...

with that being said, franchise is the best mode, no doubt about it. im glad the draft logic was fixed, and the salary cap issue might be the most important to me. in madden i felt like i could have the same amazing team for 15 years without having to release anyone, it was really terrible!

[PantherBeast_OS]

Well dude for one thing there has already been a franchise blog done about 3 months back. But we have been promised more blogs to come. Yes that was 3 months ago. But alot of the franchise info should be coming at the E3 conference that is going to on june 2-4. So just chill out. I am sure Ian knows all about the franchise freezing problems and is working on it at this time are it had already been address. There will be more blogs bout franchise mode so enough. Just chill out.

[THUG-Z]

Quote: Originally Posted by xblake16x

i know it was probably a copy/paste problem, but you sure had alot of unnecessary smiley's... with that being said, franchise is the best mode, no doubt about it. im glad the draft logic was fixed, and the salary cap issue might be the most important to me. in madden i felt like i could have the same amazing team for 15 years without having to release anyone, it was really terrible!

Strangely, when I copied and pasted from Microsoft Words, I realized all those smileys and other signs too. But I quickly fixed them by taking them out, so I don't how you still see them.

[THUG-Z]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pantherbeast

Well dude for one thing there has already been a franchise blog done about 3 months back. But we have been promised more blogs to come. Yes that was 3 months ago. But alot of the franchise info should be coming at the E3 conference that is going to on june 2-4. So just chill out. I am sure Ian knows all about the franchise freezing problems and is working on it at this time are it had already been address. There will be more blogs bout franchise mode so enough. Just chill out.

I've been chilling for quite sometime; it's not like I'm speaking nonsense. I just felt the need to address this since the past years it's been a problem. Like many, I hope you're right about the Franchise.