Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

[JayBruce32]

Ok, so the game is too hard on All-Madden difficulty, but MUCH too easy on All-Pro and it allows me to basically do whatever I want and go undefeated. On All-Madden I can't even win a game. There are picks in abundance and certain pass plays might as well be thrown out of the playbook because they are impossible to even work.... and the running game, there is NO semblance of a running game. I'm talking 1-2 yard gains every single carry up the middle for 15-20 carries a game.

Without mentioning sliders, does anyone realize what I'm talking about or can anyone tell anything to help me?

[miaturne]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

There is no single answer, because there is no single problem.

The problems begin with the engine and AI coaching.

Gameplay

issue: The gameplay, animation, and physics engine has not undergone a top to bottom overhaul in years; but instead, has been tweaked and revamped in piecemeal relentlessly. It is to the point where animations are so out of whack that there is a legion of youtuber's who catalog the source of many of the gameplay quirks to ugly animation sequences.

AI Coaching

issue: The difficulty in Madden has always, and I believe incorrectly, based not on the intelligence of the coaching, playcalling, and awareness; but instead, on AI player skills and attributes. As difficulty is increased from the out-of-box default "Pro", the AI's skills begin to dramatically increase to ridiculous levels.

Much of your frustration (justified) comes from wanting to naturally have the AI play you more and more like a smarter HUMAN player as the difficulty goes up. At All Madden, the AI team should play like it is coached by a great HUMAN player; instead, when you turn M10's setting to All-Madden, the game turns every team into the Patriots in the Super Bowl. A REAL great Human player is extraordinarily aware of nuances in how his opponent call his plays, selects formations, subs players, audibles, etc. A great Human player can play intelligently even with a poor team, and even without juicing ratings. Sadly this game is designed to juice ratings as the difficulty goes up.

What are you left with...

Sadly, but true, (1) the engine is fatally flawed and relies on canned animations; (2) the game difficulty relies on juicing ratings instead of improving coaching tactics. I am no expert, but from what I experience and learn, the player's ratings play most naturally on Pro or All-Pro; however, the coaching tactics do not change (in an fair way) regardless of the difficulty. This leaves human players, who can outcoach and outsmart the AI, able to clean the CPU's clocks; therefore, they go to All-Madden to seek a higher challenge. However, those same Human players are eventually frustrated when they feel cheated because the CPU has only juiced the ratings of opponents.

How to solve it. (1) replace the physics engine; (2) remove difficulty settings based on ratings and attributes; (3) build a genuine AI engine that adapts play to play, audible to audible, game to game, and season to season, and is aware of player/coaching transactions.

Can sliders solve Madden's problems.. ABSOLUTELY NOT

Ian, I hope you are reading this.

[fjccommish]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

Here's a solution. When people play at ALL Madden in an offline franchise, let the CPU team be coached by a human.

It would be a human control vs. human coach game. The human coach of the CPU team could call the plays, adjust players and their assignments (such as blitz) before the snap, and even call the snap on offense. But once the ball snaps it's CPU control.

The next step would be to get the CPU to learn from human coaches. Watch what they run in certain situations against certain plays and adjustments, then learn from it. We'd all be downloading updated CPU coaching files every day.

That's what it's going to take. We need coach DNA the same way NBA Live has player DNA.

[Jm0ney2001]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

Gonna have to go with "step your game up" on this one. Last night I had 131 yrds rushing on 12 carries with ap. Although I lost to the eagles 20-19 I think the all madden lvl is the best expierence this year.

[salbowski]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

I agree... best fix i've found is to have the Human sliders on All-pro (I use 11's on all of them) but then boost the CPU sliders alot.

Try that and test it out... I play as the Lions against the Steelers while testing... as soon as it gets to the point that I'm getting destroyed consistently, I'll flip it and play as the Steelers V the lions... If i win comfortably consistently and I feel I've found the best dichotomy I then play as other teams v other teams from there.

It's a long winded process if it means that much to you and I can post my sliders if you want but my level is pretty difficult right now but i certainly don't feel like the CPU is making crazy cheating plays to beat me anymore (I do get the odd invincible HB that breaks 19 tackles on route to a 70 yard TD though) as I didl when playing on All-Madden.

[JayBruce32]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

This is proving to be a game ruiner quickly fellas. I set all the player skills to "14" one below the All-Madden level of "15" and I was able to do whatever I wanted to the CPU. It was no different and just as easy as "all-pro". So Then after building a 28-6 lead I got frustrated/bored with the stale gameplay and put it back on All-Madden, same issues resumed. Their fullback falls for 5 yards at the least, they find open receivers all over the field, and I cannot even get 2 yards running the ball and 85% of the pass plays in the playbook have 0% chance of working against the CPU.

What is going on? This was the same problem with MLB2k9. There was no gameplay level that was "just right". I can live with everything else glitch wise. EVERYTHING. But this is glaring in this year's issue of the game and I really want to find something to help it or for the first time in my life I'm going to have an unplayable version of Madden football. I can't believe this. I was always safe with Madden. It never was like this. It was always at least enjoyable. This is just terrible. Someone help me out.

[JayBruce32]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

tap

[ridemooses]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

Gonna have to go with "step your game up" on this one. Last night I had 131 yrds rushing on 12 carries with ap. Although I lost to the eagles 20-19 I think the all madden lvl is the best expierence this year.

You could have easily had 20 carries for 20 yards with AP, you probably got a few nice broken tackles that helped you out. All-Madden is still broken because it doesn't play into match-ups at all if you were playing against the Lions AP wouldn't dominate for sure like he would in real life. Also it's almost impossible to stop the opposing team, their run game is solid but they pass all over you with ANY team.

[Ny5tat3ofMIND]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

I thought i was the only one who felt like this,players drop open passes that they usually make whenever im playing a friend or online

[bigdfan76]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

Play on My Skill. It's better than any sliders or difficulty level. Plus it's harder than all madden if you are good. I'm talking 17s- 18s. On madden 09 I got to all 20s except pass D, which is very hard. It makes for better seasons. in offline franchise. Oh and I was struggling with the run alot also. Something that I read somwhere around here that REALLY helped me out was to hot route your TE and FB. So basically You hit the hot route button(y on 360) and then hit the left or right trigger to tell him to block to the side you are running, even dives and hb iso. It seems to tell your FB or TE to go find somone to block and actually hit him, don't just run around and miss with that stupid animation. It also really helps the TE to seal that DE or OLB on inside OR outside runs. I combined that with slide protection( usuallly right or left) and Bam! Felix Jones and Barber are doing great. Don't get me wrong I struggle when the cpu stacks the box but I should. Next on my list is improving my pass D, wish me luck. Any suggestions?

[Faizon]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

I could not agree with your more miaturne.

Instead of adding a new gimmick to next year's game, I'd rather them spend the whole year re-working the AI to be more intelligent and make adaptive decisions.

I would enjoy this 100x more than some new move set, because honestly, I can live with the gameplay as it is.

[Deegeezy]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

It is definitely possible to win. You just have to step your game up and treat every play as if the game is on the line.

You have to play very smart football.

I went 2-14 in year 1 (winning my last two games) with the Bengals and thought the same as you. After a great off-season, I am 3-3 so far and starting to get on a roll. It just took some getting used to.

[JaymeeAwesome]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

Am I the only one that plays on "My Skill"? I find this to be the best experience for me...

[bigdfan76]

Re: Problem with XBOX360 All Madden difficulty

I aslo play on my skill. I think it's great. But I had a game recently against the Colts were I was struggling to stay in the game, which I should. I mean Manning was carving me up! It was ok because I was playing great on offense. I was running the ball very well and had already thrown for 3 TDs with Romo. It was hard to stay in the game down by 1 or 2 scores but it was cool because it was Peyton Manning and he is very good. I mean if I can complete 10 passes in a row the so should Peyton. Then came the fumbles! OMG! It was ridiculous. Like 4 fumbles with in a few minutes, RBs, punt returns, WRs. So I quit, yes I quit. I mean come on I can't control that! At least I can control picks. So I check My Skill sliders and my run slider is all the way up to 20, harder than all Madden. That's fine but the 3 sub sliders (fumbles, run blocking)are turned all the way down to 0(as hard as it gets), most importantly fumbles. So I customed my sliders and turned fumbles to 50, 50/50 shot, that's cool imo. Then I had a great game vs Peyton and the Colts. I kicked a go ahead field goal with 50 secs left and had to stop em, I did. 2 pt victory. At least I had a "fighting chance" to win instead of 28 points by the Colts in the 1st qtr! Or instead of 5 fumbles in a row! Point is find your happy medium with my skill( usually around 680-720) 800 being the highest(all 20s) and custom from there. Fumbles turned to 0 is ridiculous not challenging. Rant over lol.