Let's talk online "Fair Play"

[Ian_Cummings]

I've seen this posted quite a few times...people wanting the online "Fair Play" option from PS2 brought over to next-gen.

For those that aren't familiar, it did things like force you to not be able to go for it on 4th downs when it didn't make sense. This was an online mode...to encourage people to play a little "less cheese".

So, I wanted to open a thread...what were your favorite things and biggest complaints about Fair Play? What would you like to see added or changed?

Thanks,
Ian

[maddeninyoeye]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

4th down and more than inches in your own territory should be punt all the way. In opponents territory should be optional. 4th and 4 or more inside opponents territory should be special teams no matter what. Shorter than that should be player's decision.

Inside own 20 4th and anything and going for it is ridiculous. Unless inches I think punt should be mandatory.

[mastershake88]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

If I know what I remember about that if that is used online? all power to you...please impliment it.

[otis_coole]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

I dont think anybody would have a problem with having the "option" for fair play. So please implement it. It was frustrating in some situations to not be able to go for it on 4th and 1 on the opposing 37 (too far for a fg, too close to punt). But I would still like it to be in online play, take the good with the bad yada yada yada.

[mvb34]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

Their was nothing negative about fair play. It made people online play real football. This needs to be in NCAA as well.

[cdon2k]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

Love fairplay, with it implemented online, I got far fewer disconnects overall. Without it, a game against a "noob", or cheeser goes like this... first series they get the ball, 4th and 4 or so comes up, they go for it, get stopped and disconnect because they realize they just put themselves down 7 points. So many games on PS2 at least went to the 3rd quarter before people would quit because the game was a back and forth struggle (fair play made it hard for the hardcore as well because we couldn't just convert or 4th and 4 either lol).

I also remember that it limited the no huddle offense to teams that actually run it or game specific situations. It punished people who ran no huddle all game with a false start. Again, awesome feature. I remember in an interview Madden himself even said he wanted to end players always going for it on forth down, so this is definetely in the spirit of his original vision.

As to what needs to be tweaked, I remember fair play being a little rigid at times. There were a few situations where teams may have gone for it, in enemy teritory, but too far for a FG for example. That did bug me a bit...

All in all, this was the most amazing feature ever in Madden. Acutally having to play 3 down football made the game closer to sim than anything, as I mentioned, even hardcore guys like myself would have to punt because 3 down football is tough.

Let me put it in the simplist of terms for everyone:

Let's say I run a FB dive or RB iso and dive forward an average of 3 yrds per carry each play (kinda hard to do this year tho). Take 3 yards x 4 downs and what do you get? 12 yards = first down. We need 3 down football, I rest my case

[o 99 PROBL3MS o]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

I'm glad you decided to open this thread Ian. I have a few suggestions to improve upon "fair play" online. One thing I would like to see implemented would be the ability for opposing players to block the no huddle. One annoying and unfair thing about online now is when you run into an opponent that choses to run the "hurry up no-huddle" offense the entire game.

In past games I believe, you could block the no-huddle by pressing/holding the A button. This year you can not block it at all. My suggestion would be to allow people to run a no huddle offense inside the 2-minute warning of the 2nd quarter and inside the 2-minute warning of the 4th quarter. This would keep things alot more realistic.

One more thing I really would like to see added to "fair play" would be accelerated clock. I have run into opponents who will bleed the playclock all the way down to 1 second before snapping. These may not seem like a problem but as John Michael Montgomery mentioned in the Online Forum today:

NFL Teams have 40 seconds for 15 minute quarters

Madden Teams have 40 seconds for 5 minute quarters

The accelerated clock could maybe make the 40 second playclock actually be 30 seconds. Its only a 10 second difference per play but on a ten play drive that would save opponents an extra 1:40 seconds or so. Not to sure but you get my drift. I'll post more opinions if I think of them but those two along with the stopping of ridiculous 4th down attempts would go along way in cleaning up online play. Thanks!

[SteelerSpartan]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

I Loved not having to worry about an onside kick every freaking time

This(Fair Play) not being included is a big reason why I don't play much online anymore

[Maynard]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

i have been playing madden and ncaa online since madden 2003 on the ps2......i honestly think fair play is a good "concept" but the reality is that its just not a good feature.

Cheaters are cheaters and your never gonna stop people from finding glitches to exploit the game.....the online rules are designed to prevent cheating, but all they do is penalize people who play str8 up games......

for example, in 2003 any game length was allowed for ranked games.....so i could play my friends in a 6 or 7 minute quarter game and it would count for my win loss record.....well, the rank whores decided to play a bunch of 1 min quarter games to boost theyre rank......so in 2004 EA combated this flaw by making ranked games a standard of (i think) 4 min quarters......so the str8 ballers that like to keep track of theyre record get punished because of the cheaters.......i can no longer play 6 or 7 min quarters if i want to track my record......and im sorry, but thats just not right......your catering to the cheaters........
so to resolve this we have to create our own tracker for games

http://mmwfl.com/tracker/PS3.php

here is another example......i have a 4th and 2 from my opponents 33 yardline......i have 15 MHP wind in my face......so my choice is to kick a 50 yard FG, punt, or go for it......the obvious choice to me is to go for it......im not making a 50 yard FG with all that wind......im not punting from the opponents 33 yardline......so on 4th and 2 you go for it......well, fair play forces you to punt or kick a FG.......this is in place to combat the cheaters who go for it in unrealistic situations......so again who gets penalized?? the str8 baller.......

this is why fair play didnt work then and wont work now......

my suggestion, promote online community and online firendships......boost online play with giving the people the option to play any skill level with 5 to 10 min quarters,......create a rank system based on each level of play and the mins for your game......it would mean multiple leaderboards, but so what......its do-able........implement a real online league system.....the very basics of a core league are a must.....
the option to do the following: up to all 32 teams, full nfl schedule and playoff system, custom schedules for leagues under 32 teams, online trades and Free Agency, GM abilities to sim and advance each week, Flex schedules, dropping and adding owners mid season, a complete stat system......

i hope my suggestions and thoughts help.....but to tell you the truth, your asking this question in the wrong community......

[cdon2k]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

It's situations like this that's why it just needs to be tweaked a bit. Even so, I'll take that one bad aspect every blue moon in comparison to having "Little Timmy" run a 4 down offense the entire game

I win

[Taken83oveR]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

Its a good option if implemented correctly.

But ideally people want to play freely, without restriction. Even if this does result in a little cheese, it comes down to "Risk vs Reward", just like in the NFL. Whats more realistic then that? After all, no team in the actual NFL is forced to punt or field goal, so I think this should hold true in Madden.

[cdon2k]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

The "risk" is your opponent disconnecting when he fails his attempt. The "reward" is not being able to stop him when he's playing 4down football.

And teams are "forced" to punt as it's an unwritten coaches rule in the NFL.

[VidGaminMachine476]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

I think Fair Play is a must in online.

However, I understand the 10 year old Timmys that like to go for it on every down, etc.. so would it be possible to make a Fair Play lobby and then a non-Fair Play lobby?

[o 99 PROBL3MS o]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

It's situations like this that's why it just needs to be tweaked a bit. Even so, I'll take that one bad aspect every blue moon in comparison to having "Little Timmy" run a 4 down offense the entire game

I win

I agree. Fair Play would definitely Help more than it would hurt. I honestly believe that.

[Taken83oveR]

Re: Let's talk online "Fair Play"

The "risk" is your opponent disconnecting when he fails his attempt. The "reward" is not being able to stop him when he's playing 4down football.

And teams are "forced" to punt as it's an unwritten coaches rule in the NFL.

Risk = Failing and giving your opponent great field position.
Reward = Keeping the ball

No need to make up stuff. No one is forced to punt. I remember the Steelers going for two 2-point conversions (was it last year or the year before?). I think they failed on both attempts. But, it was shown later in the game, they would of atleast tied if they would of just kicked the extra points. Is there a unwritten rule here too that was broken? No, coaches are free to do as they please, and so should Madden gamers.

But like I said. It could be a great option if done correctly. I surely don't want the exact same system as in previous years. It needs to be improved.