Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

[Steve_OS]

ESPN's Jon Robinson and Madden NFL 12 Producer, Phil Frazier cleared the air on the specifics of the new Madden NFL 12 concussion system.

"We're treating the injury more in line to how they do in the NFL," Frazier explained as we played an early build of the game. "It's not based on the Hit Stick, though. It's based on the area of the collision. So you have to actually hit a guy in the head as part of a tackle for it to even be considered for a concussion, but causing a concussion in the game is rare.

"I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but there were over 25,000 plays called last season in the NFL, and out of all those plays there were only about 200 concussions. So in "Madden," on any play, there is a .59 percent chance of a concussion happening. It's a very rare injury and it will be rare in the game."

Frazier also said that defenders will not be suspended in franchise mode for causing too many of these hits as gamers can't aim their tackles specifically at their opponent's head. "We don't have a mechanic in the game that causes a concussion," added Frazier. "There's nothing you can do to increase the likelihood of a concussion. We're not going there."

[iva-chargers-fan]

Nice to see you guys are making inuries realer

[ven0m43]

I just hate when i go through multiple season and everyone on my team is healthy. I hope they fix it so there are more injures and my team is not injury free season after season.

[Double C]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

It would have been awesome if they had put flags and suspensions for helmet to helmet hits.

[Cre8]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

Nice to see you guys are making inuries realer

This is sarcastic, right?

Ever since (and even before) they decided to take late hits out of the game (thanks mostly to the NFL Commish) - Madden has completely lacked any sort of realistic injury or player interaction system.

While I think there is something to be said for marketing the sport as a sport and not as a violent game of collisions. It is also a nice ploy for parents that are scared to let their kids play.... there is something inherently wrong about taking away the realism that should automatically be a part of a violent game.

You should be able to aim for the head in the game and get suspended for it - if for no other reason than to teach that it is a reprehensible act on the football field.

PS - I have yet to hear if the the TACKLER gets concussions as well or if it is just offensive players getting lit up...

[Step2001]

I have questions about a player getting a concussion and how it affects him for the rest of his career in Madden. Will the "Wear & Tear Injury System be used in Madden 12? A Yes answer scratches rest of questions.

[HeavyHitter55]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

0.59% chance of having a concussion happen I can understand, but I have a feeling that concussions are going to appear to be too rare. The article says that 200 concussions occurred out of over 25,000 plays, yet 200 concussions means nearly 12 a week (regular season) or 10 a week (regular season and playoffs). So I only hope that the 0.59% likelihood plays out to those kinds of numbers week to week.

[extremeskins04]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

There's an aggression rating for each player right? If not there should be because it would be nice to see a player with a high aggression rating sometimes go for helmet to helmet hits or do some other lethal hits and get penalized for it.

Then maybe have the league fine the player the following week for the hit. Would just be more realism for the game. People will probably disagree though.

[mjhyankees]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

There's an aggression rating for each player right? If not there should be because it would be nice to see a player with a high aggression rating sometimes go for helmet to helmet hits or do some other lethal hits and get penalized for it.

Then maybe have the league fine the player the following week for the hit. Would just be more realism for the game. People will probably disagree though.

I don't disagree, just wouldn't add that much to the game for me. Although the idea of players being suspended for policy violations (substance abuse, dwi etc.) would be intriguing. Imagine losing your QB the day before the superbowl because he tested positive for a banned substance? Ah, on second thought, never mind.

[berad88]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

For some wierd reason I think suspensions would of been cool. Glad to see the user has no control of it. That would of been stupid and I think most helmet to helmet contact is accidental anyhow.

[D-Hiatus]

I like this addition....definitely moving towards a more realistic aspect. Good thing that concussions aren't triggered by the user! Folks would be filling up the IR! But yea definite thumbs up for this addition!

[blklightning]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

I just hate when i go through multiple season and everyone on my team is healthy. I hope they fix it so there are more injures and my team is not injury free season after season.

true. that's been the case since i began playing madden with madden '03. which is sad when you type it out loud.

[falconfansince81]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

i am relieved to see him make note on the ratio of plays to concussions so it doesn't become the broken collarbone or M12.

[khaliib]

The part I don't like is that there is a forced limitation on the Tackling/Hit Stick.

That means that to avoid head-to-to head etc.., they've programmed the tackling to decide for us.
The question is when and what instance will the AI take over the tackling? And how often?

This is a Major problem because the history of EA's AI is not good.
Especially in their Football Series (NFL, College)

Skynet has killed their games, and just as they start to make strides, they program to limit the occurances.
This means that we can expect to see alot of force fields/warping to force this piece of code/animation to play.

Madden/NCAA has always been "TOO" restrictive as it is.
So if they have to program to take control from the gamer, I would rather they not inject it into the game at all.

Another forced gamer limitation with "Player Interaction" is not good no matter how they try and spin it.

[mjhyankees]

Re: Madden NFL 12 Concussions Rare, No Defensive Suspensions, Not Based on Hit Stick

true. that's been the case since i began playing madden with madden '03. which is sad when you type it out loud.

You could fix this with sliders. I had to up mine from default to get realistic injuries. But QB's never get hurt for any period of time unless you sim the game.