Lost newbie trying to get started

[lordbah]

I'm just getting started with Madden 09 (a year behind, so sue me) and am very confused.

It starts with the test. When there's a symbol over the player's head, that's pretty trivial to understand, but "R"? In other games that means right joystick, but that doesn't seem to do anything in this game. I thought it might mean "run to his right", but it never says "L", so I doubt it. In spite of not understanding this, it tests me out as "All-Pro" at run offense and pass offense. Very doubtful. Whatever.

On defense I'm hopeless. Why can't I look at the screen from my own point of view instead of the offense's? I get that I'm the player circled. Why am I never as fast as the ball carrier? And again with the "R", what does it mean? Pass defense ... I stopped 1 pass, all the other plays I couldn't seem to get my player to go where he needed to be.

In spite of all this I decided to try a practice session. Thought maybe it would be instructive. It shows me a play but doesn't tell me which player I will be or what I am expected to do. It never offered any suggestions about how to do anything.

To sum it up I am pretty lost as to how to get started.

(If I do wind up playing this a fair amount I expect my left thumb will be killing me as it seems to always be in use moving a player. Sound right?)

[stlstudios189]

On offense you are always the QB or the person with the ball. I think that on defense the R is for the Right trigger to perform a power move. (not sure) keep plugging at it and you will get the hang of it.

On defense I suggest playing as a D-line man untill you get more of a handle on the game and the controls.

[rickywal]

Quote: Originally Posted by lordbah

I'm just getting started with Madden 09 (a year behind, so sue me) and am very confused. It starts with the test. When there's a symbol over the player's head, that's pretty trivial to understand, but "R"? In other games that means right joystick, but that doesn't seem to do anything in this game. I thought it might mean "run to his right", but it never says "L", so I doubt it. In spite of not understanding this, it tests me out as "All-Pro" at run offense and pass offense. Very doubtful. Whatever. On defense I'm hopeless. Why can't I look at the screen from my own point of view instead of the offense's? I get that I'm the player circled. Why am I never as fast as the ball carrier? And again with the "R", what does it mean? Pass defense ... I stopped 1 pass, all the other plays I couldn't seem to get my player to go where he needed to be. In spite of all this I decided to try a practice session. Thought maybe it would be instructive. It shows me a play but doesn't tell me which player I will be or what I am expected to do. It never offered any suggestions about how to do anything. To sum it up I am pretty lost as to how to get started. (If I do wind up playing this a fair amount I expect my left thumb will be killing me as it seems to always be in use moving a player. Sound right?)

My advice - go get madden 10. Madden 09 is not so great and the Madden IQ - the test thingy - is only really efficient after you've played about 50 games. The only way I was able to enjoy Madden 09 was to manually change the difficulty sliders (custom difficulty), it took a fair bit of tweaking. Madden 10 for the most part I am pretty happy with without changing the difficulty and just playing Pro to get used to it then moving up to All-Pro as I get better. Plus franchise is a lot better in 10, especially the drafting etc.

If you stick with Madden 09, my advice is to play a lot of zone defense and if you are going to try run the ball learn to use the lead block.