You all know I love head coach 09....

[Byron Yatch]

So trust me when I say madden 2013 doesnt disappoint. Prolly the greatest football game Ive ever played... I still enjoy watching coach but this game is so deep on so many levels in so many modes, its like a LABYRINTH! Ive never played a better football game... maybe 2k5 but at least for this generation.

[tarek]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

It seems like the consensus that Madden 13 is shaping up to be a very good (even great) game. So I want to ask what your opinion is on how good it is as a sports management game? How similar to HC09 is the connected careers mode?

Here is why I ask. I don't like 'playing' the game. Using the players and fancy moves, etc etc doesn't interest me. What interests me is what HC09 provides, in depth, engrossing, deep franchise/team/financial control. Structured draft paths. And a fun entertaining engine that portrays the game action whilst I coach and call plays.

So does madden deliver on that? Or is it still generally designed for 'players' rather than 'managers'? People who want to switch and pull off stiff arms or read a defence make passes with the QB and pulling off a move with a receiver, etc etc. Or can a person engross themselves in the management aspects in a similar fashion to HC09?

Hope all that makes sense and you don't mind giving an answer on these questions.

[Byron Yatch]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

either or, all though there have been some issues with coach mode in the franchise/superstar mode. But over all its extremely deep, in every facet. Every mode is armed to the teeth with new features. Its what you're looking for minus not wanting to play as much.

You can watch your rbs run, but passing will have to be thrown by you pretty much unless you're playing now or ultimate team. Still, very worth it and the physics make playing it more fun that its been in years. It has flaws like EVERY game, but its worth them. They arent big enough to mention to be honest...

But its ridiculous, best game Ive ever played really(at least sports). Maybe 2k5 had a LITTLE better presentation(boomer and what not) but theres no way that game could even compete with this one now with everything else...

[tarek]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

So are there draft paths like HC09 or are they completely randomly generated? I actually really like the way HC09 does it's draft paths because I can choose to use the great insights and analysis that others have done on this site through their draft guides.

Is coach mode fixable with sliders or is it a big problem?

At this point I think I'll either enjoy HC09 (because it's awesome) but keep my eye out on Madden and pick it up cheap or give it a skip and hope that 14 will build on this game and become even better.

[Mike3207]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

I was a bit curious about the CCC mode, so I read the Q&A thread and I have to admit there are a couple of things that concerned me:

1. CCC has replaced franchise mode, there is no franchise mode in 2013. I think that's a mistake IMO.

2. You can edit rosters, but not bring them into CCC mode. You can only bring them into Play Now games.

I did hear some things I liked about CCC mode, but I think I'll wait to pick it up until next year as well.

[Purplepower_NC]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

I don't think it could compete on an updated HC13 on either the franchise mode/draft mode or what ever they want to call it. They have left out coach mode...even if you become a coach....you are not allowed to coach. Could someone explain that? But that is for another time.

Also, I feel that the EA is now gearing the game for more of the online player vs the offline play the CPU type. Then, they will start charging for things much like the shooter game charges for maps updates. They will release roster updates (for online) for a price you got to have to continue to play online.

HC09 is still a great game...yes a dated...but offers so much in the way you GM/Coach a team. Once I had my number 1 pick sit out most of the preseason then got hurt and missed the rest of the year. So many things to worry about.

[RandomPerson]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

Meh, I'll just stick to APF 2K8.

[tarek]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

I was a bit curious about the CCC mode, so I read the Q&A thread and I have to admit there are a couple of things that concerned me:

1. CCC has replaced franchise mode, there is no franchise mode in 2013. I think that's a mistake IMO.

2. You can edit rosters, but not bring them into CCC mode. You can only bring them into Play Now games.

I did hear some things I liked about CCC mode, but I think I'll wait to pick it up until next year as well.

So what did you hear that you liked about it? And why don't you agree with the 'no franchise mode'? From what people have said the connected careers mode has replaced franchise but still retains the functions and features, is that not correct?

[Byron Yatch]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

You couldnt edit head coach rosters either, all you could do was switch peoples positions and it was limited.

as for no franchise, thats what ccm is. Its that and superstar mode in one, you choose how you want to play it. If you pick a coach its like you are playing franchise. If you pick a player its like superstar mode but you can pick the plays now.

You can play as legends you unlock or when they unlock them in september. You can do a lot of things honestly. Its a very well made game with a few flaws. Thats to be expected when you OVERHAUL the entire game adding in philosophies and new attributes(hc attributes). Ity has a new physics engine. I mean, for it being a remake, its pretty damn good.

They rebuilt it from the floor up pretty much. As for coaching, the only thing you cant expect is for your qb to THROW the ball. He will do the standard drop back for you or you can do the droback yourself(at your own peril). You throw the ball and then if it was a good pass the cpu will catch it for you and run,

You can also allow your running backs to run the ball for you and just watch on defense as well. As long as you dont move the left stick(or press anything after the hike really), the cpu will play for you.

So its coach - qbs passing for you, they'll fix it next year. They got an amazing amount done in one year. no other madden has improved THIS MUCH in one year, let alone completely change(for the better) like this one.

Ultimate team is a better mode anyways if you dont wanna progress players, you just get different cards of players who become the players on your team. I could talk about it for pages, but Im tired. But in this mode you can have FULL COACH MODE(qbs throw the ball by themselves) as well as a team of legends and all pros at every position, no salary cap, different kind of system. collecting cards meets playing madden with your favorite players ever all together(least the ones in the game)...

Buy the game, looman didnt let anyone down.

[Aurabolt127]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

Did they fix "create a team" or is it still the same lame 14 logos or whatever. That part drives me freakin crazy.... been broken for almost a decade.

[Byron Yatch]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

Wouldnt know, never cared... sorry, wish I could help you on that aura. I play to play, not to make unis or create teams. Any team Im gonna create will be through ultimate team or a franchise(playing as a coach in ccm)....

[Aurabolt127]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

Too bad, you've been missing out on a challenge. I'll check it out when I get it used. Stopped paying full price for madden years ago.

[tarek]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

Byron,
Your comments and thoughts on Madden are really good and helpful. Like you have mentioned there are still flaws, but they are minor.

A question I'd personally still like answered concerns the future drafts and prospects. I love the aspect of HC09 which has 4 defined draft paths. It means everyone works in parallel rather than completely separate. It means something when you tell someone 'X team drafted
Jack English' or 'Flash Gorden slipped and I got him in the 3rd round' or whatever variation on this. A parallel franchise with common elements. I personally believe that system is far more engrossing than randomly generated prospects each season that differ from game to game because they are plucked from random name generators and generic randomized player builds.

So, logins story short, are there common draft paths or completely random/different in Madden 13?

[Byron Yatch]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

No, it wont be the exact same thing as head coach with different paths. However, the characters that will be generated for drafts will be similar to the kinds of players on hc in which they are "based on someone" or play like them.

Just understand one thing, Josh looman was a big part of head coach 09's creation and now hes a senior producer for madden on this installment(his first so high up for madden) and the next couple at least for sure.

He has incorporated EVERYTHING you could have loved about hc THAT COULD BE Done in this first installement! So no, it wont be buying special skills for your coaches but you still buy something with them an rpg like experience system has been added to franchises. Its its own game, but it is HIGHLY INFLUENCED by HC09 and what that staff felt was missing from football games.

Of course it still has to be close enough to the game that just came out last year to appease most of your carryover audience. But this is the first step in the right direction. This is the first iteration of madden i have enjoyed so much in YEARS. Im talking since last generation.... 05 06 for both ncaa and madden were top of the line games....

So Ive been waiting for something like those to come back forever. it finally feels like were back on track to where football games should be going from now on. Finally reaching a point where we can keep continuity in what were adding and subtracting from the game to make the best football simulator possible instead of adding gimmicks that dont last.

As for not buying madden new "as soon as it drops", I know what you mean and how you feel. I did the same thing after 2007 until 2010 I think.... I skipped 11 cause I was unhappy with 2010, then got 2012 last year after all the hype and was kind of disappointed. I got hooked on ultimate team but it seemed limited and against the player to truly enjoy.

THIS YEAR? No where near the game it was last year, and thats a good thing. This game is like 10 madden 12s.... Thats about as clearly as I can explain it without you buying the game yourself or playing a friend on his system that has it. Set it to superbowl instead of exibition with a play now game and you will be VERY HAPPY with how the ending plays out(Best superbowl celerbration in years, since 2k5 really).... Actually felt like I won something important.

ALSO, one little extra bonus about this year? Every year before sounds have been flat and crowds have been weak. This year? They have a license with nfl films to use ANY SOUND FROM ANY FILM. That means tackles sound great. That means the crowd comes alive on a big gain instead of always sounding the same level...

And they even got the star wars song into the game after you start winning by enough at home.... You know the song Im talking about.... The imperial(dark side) song.... Yeah. Its pretty bad ***, worth the full price in my opinion, and not much has been worth that in my last 5 purchases. UFC 3 was the last game I anticipated so excitedly and kind of got let down. Id tell people to get that game used. I cant say the same thing about madden 2013. Its literally the deepest greatest football game IVE ever PLAYED.

When it comes to games Ive watched(like hc09) I dont know if it beats that yet but it might take its place in my heart after enough time enjoying it. I can honestly say that tackles dont always look the same. It actually feels like tackles are based on how that person would HAVE to based on physics. The laws seem like basic ones for now, but next year, could be 10x better now that they have the base set up of this infinity engine...

PS every career is 30 years long and you CAN(DONT HAVE TO IN THIS ORDER) go from playing as a hc of one team to playing as a star rb from the first rd in a draft 10 years later when he's drafted(you just retire CONTROL of your coach/other player you were controlling).... then go back to coaching after you no longer wanna play as him in 8 years or so.... Its ridiuclous what you can do in this new connected careers.... and you can do it online with 32 friends! Or you can do it offline if you have a terrible internet connection and just enjoy it by yourself. Its truly beautiful how good this game is....

My only hate of this game is post play balance, which can be tweaked. By this I mean after the play is over, random events can occur when people touch each other, like backing into eachother or moving to their side of the field. People can fall a lot in those sequences. Thats like the only gripe Ive come up with so far... and its post play, who the **** cares if people fall down after the play, whoopty ****in doooo

[tarek]

Re: You all know I love head coach 09....

Byron,

Once again your description and opinions on Madden are awesome. Seeing as I know how passionate you are about HC09, for you to praise Madden 13 so highly is really saying something.

I just hope you still pay us over here at HC09 some attention

I'm giving my full attention to HC09 for now, which is brilliant because I've learnt so much not just about the video game but about American football too!