Let's Talk About Football Commentary

[RGiles36]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChaseB

What's your favorite football commentary ever? Why?

Easily NFL2K5. It's been a while since I've played it so I can't be too specific. But the commentary made sense. It seems they were always jawwing about something. I liked that they used a telestrator (spelling) on instant replays to highlight who's block sprung a big offensive play. I liked their pre-game spiel for the most part. They seemed engaged.

Quote: Originally Posted by ChaseB

What do you look for most with football commentary? Is it more real-life events about teams being discussed in the game (see: last year's storylines), or do you just care about the game knowing about how you're doing in career mode? (You can say "I WANT BOTH!" as well)

I want to hear both to be honest. I like to hear last year's storylines -- it makes the game feel more true-to-life. I feel like you can get some great lines from Collinsworth if you let him blabber about how awful the Colts were when Peyton Manning was out as an example.

But I also expect the commentary to be smart enough to recognize what's taking place in career mode. I'd like to hear them comment about last week's game, expectations, etc.

[at23steelers]

First and foremost, congrats on the job. I know it is tough one to do, and is what is holding Madden back from being a great game. Here are some suggestions:

Have Chris and Gus communicate with each other, and have them talk more like how they do in real life. It almost seems forced in the game:

If you listen to a Gus Johnson game, he only gets really excited at big moments in the game, which make the audience realize it's something special. If he's excited every play, then it gets downright annoying. Gus should have way more of his regular voice in the game.

Chris usually focuses on the line play and focuses on things the viewer typically doesn't pay attention or see (oline and dline interaction, wide open target at the other side of the field, if an olineman continuously gets badly beaten. Also, what causes the play to work: MLB stepped up on play action and the QB threw right behind him, FB made a great block on the run). In the game, he does the exact opposite. Says everything I already know and nothing new. Use the replays to your advantage. Have Chris circle on the replays why the play happened like it did. Why would anyone watch any replays they show, if I can just press pause and hit instant replay? Only if you show me something I don't already know!

Have the commentators keep up with the action. No one cares about the player to watch for if a long TD is happening at the same time.

Have Gus and Chris accurately call every play in the game, and not talk about giving up a big pass play on a kickoff.

Gus and Chris should show more stats about the game. Where the QB / RB like to pass / throw with the football (left, right, middle, deep, short). Also mention their percentages and yardage to each side.

Gus and Chris in franchise mode should talk about how a team is progressing, future games, past games, who is hot and cold coming into the game and throughout the game. Also, how this game impacts each teams season, their keys to the game. (The best advice I can give you is watch real life games exclusively for their commentary, and jot down notes of every stat that shows up, every thing the commentators bring up throughout the game. Every commentary is similar in that each one has similar talking points in the game of what is viewed as important to tell the viewers at home).

Gus and Chris should talk about the matchups in the game: if so and so keeps beating so and so on the line and down the field. For example, Dez Bryant is continuously beating Deangelo Hall down the field. Then show a stat of Bryant's receptions and yards or Hall's passes thrown at and catches allowed. Even oline play, if Suggs keep defeating Max Starks. Then show team pressures given up, or Suggs sacks.

Most of all, make the announcing informational, creative, and not repetitive. Good luck with it, and have fun!!

[bukktown]

One thing that I have noticed recently is a lot of color guys are constantly blabbing about what the team with the ball should do with their playcalls. Things like "I think on this drive they need to come out running the ball."

[turducken34]

The commentary on the old Madden's (PS1) were by far my favorite. I really miss hearing John and Pat together. That being said, I do think that the NBA 2K and MLB the Show series really nail it. And I've found myself wondering in recent years that if commentary could be that good in a hoops game that is fast-paced, why can't the commentary be better in a football game, where there are longer pauses in the action?

For instance- maybe as the Bears offense comes onto the field after a kickoff, the commentator might mention to keep an eye on their RB's ankle, after missing the 2nd half the previous game b/c he turned said ankle.

I like Chris Collinsworth, Gus is ok just don't think they flow well together. I wasn't much a fan of 2K5 in terms of gameplay, but presentation was great and I really looked forward to hearing Chris Berman. Just certain people, when I hear their voice, it screams NFL. Would LOVE to hear John Clayton incorporated into a Madden game somehow.
Thanks Chase for asking for the community's input.

[Supersonic_BR]

I might be in the minority, but i actually liked the Michaels-Madden duo on the madden games of the Ps2-Xbox.

At least it seemed like they were actually broadcasting along eachother, whereas in Gus and Chris case, it is rather obvious that they taped them sepparately, it just seems unnatural.

Moreover, it would be nice to have a sideline reporter to complement the broadcast.

Audio quality as well, the volume changes dramatically between lines, it is ridiculous.

[at23steelers]

^ The audio quality is a great point about what needs fixed.

Also, for the players to watch, have it be different players on the team depending upon the opposition and who has an important matchup for that game. Or, in franchise mode, it could be the player coming back from injury or one that is on a hot or cold streak. The same player every time makes the feature rather pointless. The announcers job is to inform the audience, but when I can recite everything their saying before it happens, then I am rather informing them!

Have them talk about the playoffs, rivalries, if it's Sunday-Thursday-Monday Night football. Also, for the holidays, have them talk about those. For the thanksgiving game, I didn't realize it until halfway through the 3rd quarter when I saw it on the field. Also, have them talk about how a playoff game for example, will affect the rest of the league.

Throughout the game, talk about the key matchups that they predicted in the beginning of the game, and improve the talk of the DPP. We saw Gus' ability in the Eli Manning Trailer.

Never have awkward pause moments. Have the announcers announce the whole time, and also have Gus announce right before the snap. Don't let him start announcing 3 seconds after, which contributes to the announcing always being 1 step behind.

[oneamongthefence]

In Madden 09 they had the Rewind where Tom would break down plays that didn't go well whether highlighting an open reciever on a short gain or to better understand what the defense did. They broke down the offense and defense and even gave a chance of success percentage based on offense and defense personnel. I liked it. It was immersive and specific.

What made commentary on ps1 so much better to me was that there was commentary during instant replays relating to that play. Now during replays its just silence.

[mm boost]

Thank you for this opportunity chase. Here are my ideas that I've been wanting for years!!!

• In-booth commentating recording. I believe having whatever commentators that you guys go with do all recording BESIDE each other in the exact same booth, in the exact same conditions, and into the same audio equipment would astronomically improve the commentator experience and would be a great starting point. I have full dolby digital surround sound wired in my home, and I can't tell you how weird it is hearing Collingsworth making an statement, and then Gus Johnson comes back with a comment to follow up and it sounds like he is in a different part of the stadium. This happens entirely too much. This would be my first thing to fix.

• Commentator interaction. I think the commentators should mingle. You guys made a step in the right direction this year have them talking about the same subjects, but mix it up some. Have them laugh here and there, have them say something that gives it a real life feel and not that animated/robotic/scripted sound. If you guys want the BEST model to hear commentary, although they were fake, spend hours playing/watching NFL 2k5. I know its been run into the ground, but their commentary model = flawless. Also, I highly suggest checking out MLB the Show's commentary. When I played that game, I was in near shock at how fluid and life-like.

• End of game commentary. My BIGGEST gripe of Madden 12 - end of the game commentary. In madden 12, the end of the game was the biggest let down for post game that I have seen in years. It seemed soooo scripted/awkward/not well thought out, and leaves a lot to be desired. Honestly, the biggest thing I have been waiting for for years has been commentary while we are at the end of the game, the game is wrapped up, and we are kneeling the ball. Instead of the commentators keep saying wow I can't believe they are going for it on 4th down!!!1!, have them say, "This kneel down right here should wrap up the game." I think it would also be awesome if you guys had end of game commentary start up a bit early, maybe triggered by the kneel downs in the 4th quarter. In sitting there in dead silence, have them talking about how the game was tough, or this team controlled the tempo and this quarterback played a solid game. Also, this would be the perfect time to start doing the Player of the Game awards, like after the first kneel down, have the commentators talk about how Tony Romo had an incredible game and threw for 4 tds and carried the team on his shoulders and show a pop up of a stat overlay. This = perfection

• Statistical commentary. Also, I believe for the commentary, instead of going off of storylines (which I don't get why the focus on this, because these get old/stale after the first season, because the storylines change from year to year), have commentary more tied to statistics. Have situational commentary about yards per carry, or how this running back is on pace to crush all NFL records, or how his completion percentage has been a big reason the Cowboys are on a losing streak, etc. I would definitely keep the rivalry game storylines though, because those are always going to be relevant.

• Improved Pre-Game Commentating. Pre-game, I would LOVE to see you guys introduce something like NCAA games do where they talk about the match-up and which players to look out for while showing them warming up. Also having the commentators talk about how its Thanksgiving, and the Cowboys have a tough game today at home coming off a short-week following the game against the Redskins. Things like this really add to this game. Also, when you guys introduce key players or offensive/defensive starters, please add some more randomness to these discussions and introductions. Right now, its the same exact player and same exact lines everytime, and its to the point where i can now fully recite what Collingsworth and Johnson say before they even say it. Mixing this up and spot-lighting a different player each team based off of the Hot/Cold streaks and DPP that you guys introduced would really bring pre-game to life.

• Commentary during replays. This is another huge gripe of mine. There is absolutely no talk about the play they are showing a replay for, and this absolutely kills the sweetness of a replay. If its a big touchdown pass, show Collingsworth use the teleprompter, and show the safety that was caught out of position or talk about how the corners were in man coverage and got beat by the double fake and go route. Stuff like this would go a long ways in this game. Another one of my big gripes. It seems like this was prevalent during the ps1 days, but not on next-gen. I think some sort of commentary interaction would vastly improve the replay experience.

• Injury commentary/sideline reporting. Another HUGE gripe of mine is the injury commentary/system. The commentators are psychics, and automatically know if the injury is severe or not before it is even revealed what the injury is. That leads me to my next point, and that is on Madden 12, we have to hit pause and go look at the opposing team's injury report to see what the injuries were on an opposing team. This really kills the immersion. I think a sideline reporter, Suzy Kobler, or Alex reports that the injury is a minor sprain in his foot and he is questionable for the rest of the game. Then have an update later on saying the coaches decide to keep him out the rest of the game to risk further injury. Also, if there is a severe injury on the field (broken leg, vertebrae, arm, torn acl, etc.), I believe there should be some commentary between the two commentators where they talk about how it looked to be pretty severe and that it could be a big blow to the team. But I think a sideline reporter would add to the mix, especially if you guys steal a page from NCAA's book where they have Erin Andrews reporting during the Gametrack montage. Things like this need to make their way into Madden for sure!

• Dead-zone banter. Watch a real NFL telecast, specifically Monday Night Football. Jaws and Gruden are the best tandem ever (IMO), because they analyze the game infront of them, and break it down as if they were in a film meeting session. You watch this telecast, and you see where there are NO deadspots in the broadcast. Play Madden 12, and you here more awkward silence and dead space in the broadcast than you actually do commentary. Fill these dead zones with some sort of banter, talk about the weather, talk about how the Cowboys are on a 6 game losing streak, or how the playoffs are approaching and the Cowboys need to win their next 4 games to have a chance at the division race. Anything like this would be an enormous improvement. I believe the commentary in franchise mode should be tied directly to stats, teams, standings, and other news around the league. Right now the franchise mode is sweet, but it is also dead and has no life because there is no storylines, no news, no talk from commentators, NOTHING about how we are currently in a season, or how we are in the playoff hunt entering December. Things like this would improve not only just a game experience, but the whole Franchise mode experience as well.

• Pre-season commentary. I think it would be awesome to have commentary during the pre-season games discussing that this team had the first overall draft choice in this April's draft after a miserable year last year, or talk about some of the new faces on the team how they built the o-line in the draft, or drafted a stud corner. Also talk about the back-ups getting extra reps and players trying to make the teams. Other than before the game it saying Pre-season Game 1, you can't tell if you're playing in a pre-season game or a regular season game.

• Play-off commentary. I would love, if my team fights all season and makes the playoffs that at certain points to the game, the commentators reference about fighting for the playoffs, how these games are important, and how much different the play-off atmosphere is in comparison to a regular season game. Give me some sort of recognition that we are in the play-offs and not just playing another game. Huge upgrade in this department would go a long ways as well.

These are just some of my ideas, but I will be sure to update if I can think of anything else I would love to see fixed. Thanks for the opportunity Chase!!