Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

[Steve_OS]

EA Sports posted a Madden NFL 15 tackling mechanic video last week. Today they posted some more details in a blog, as well as released some more screenshots.

We broke the tackling problems down into several main categories:

1. Defenders were at a movement disadvantage vs. ball carriers
2. Inability for users to understand direction and spatial distances between defender and ball carrier, and how that affected tackling
3. Lack of UI feedback to help the user understand how the tackle mechanics work
4. Poor risk/reward component in the tackling mechanics
5. Forcing defenders to physically collide with ball carriers before initiating tackles resulted in too many missed tackles

To solve the movement disadvantage and the collision requirement, we made the decision to allow user-controlled defenders to 'match' tackles if they get close enough (ball carrier inside tackling cone). This eliminates the need to actually collide with the ball carrier before triggering a tackle. Any tackles performed with the ball carrier inside the cone will have heat seeker steering if this option is turned on.

Source - EA Sports

[canes21]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

I like the way the tackling sounds this year. The main issue now is just getting better looking animations in there. The system seems to be set up a lot better than previous years and is another good step by this team.

Can't wait to try the demo.

[Big FN Deal]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

"To solve the movement disadvantage and the collision requirement, we made the decision to allow user-controlled defenders to 'match' tackles if they get close enough (ball carrier inside tackling cone). This eliminates the need to actually collide with the ball carrier before triggering a tackle."

If the above quoted part works as intended, that will be a game changer, whether people realize it or not. One of the core problems with Madden for several years has been the issue with ball carriers being able to slide off and essentially be escorted by defenders instead of being tackled, due to the defenders not having a proper angle to trigger a tackle animation.

I think many of us have been in the situation of trying to User tackle a ball carrier and they slide right by or behind you. True step was part of changing that, now having the defender not needing to actually collide with the ball carrier to trigger a tackle seems like another piece. That said, once again I hope CPU/AI teammates use it too when pursuing a ball carrier.

[Sparkles]

This game just looks beautiful. It finally sounds like madden is fun, and that is a biggest part for a video game

[drlw322]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

"To solve the movement disadvantage and the collision requirement, we made the decision to allow user-controlled defenders to 'match' tackles if they get close enough (ball carrier inside tackling cone). This eliminates the need to actually collide with the ball carrier before triggering a tackle."

If the above quoted part works as intended, that will be a game changer, whether people realize it or not. One of the core problems with Madden for several years has been the issue with ball carriers being able to slide off and essentially be escorted by defenders instead of being tackled, due to the defenders not having a proper angle to trigger a tackle animation.

I think many of us have been in the situation of trying to User tackle a ball carrier and they slide right by or behind you. True step was part of changing that, now having the defender not needing to actually collide with the ball carrier to trigger a tackle seems like another piece. That said, once again I hope CPU/AI teammates use it too when pursuing a ball carrier.

I would have to say I disagree, the problem with that is now the CPU has to match tackles base in animation and we all know how repetitive that can get with madden. It takes the physic out at least on the 1st tackler engaged. It also creates warping when the CPU can't match the angle with the right animation. At the end of the day I don't want animation to determine my tackle I want real life physic. That's what the community wanted like the last 8 years and now that we are bored with the physic engine lets bring back the animation base tackle.

It's like a guy that said that madden 08 is the best game ever because they are sick of playing the new game. When this Same guy b$it$& to no end about madden 08 the year it came out.

I just think it's backwards, instead of fixing the issue by reverting back to animation. Why not advance on infinity engine by creating dive and reach animation that would actually effect the ball carrier to cause them to fall using physic and the great ball carrier would run through a arm tackles ( not all the time but base on physic and momentum)

[Jakeness23]

Jerseys still look like plastic, not like cloth. This is EAs problem, always has been, they cannot create a photo realistic game like other companies can.

[Jakeness23]

They stand up too straight going in for tackles too, when they come running in from 5 yards away with their arms all spread eagle. It looks bad, it's not realistic, it's just bad. Pretty sure I'll be skipping year after year until we get another company in there.

[Cowboy008]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

The team logos on the big screen look nice.

[Big FN Deal]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

I would have to say I disagree, the problem with that is now the CPU has to match tackles base in animation and we all know how repetitive that can get with madden. It takes the physic out at least on the 1st tackler engaged. It also creates warping when the CPU can't match the angle with the right animation. At the end of the day I don't want animation to determine my tackle I want real life physic. That's what the community wanted like the last 8 years and now that we are bored with the physic engine lets bring back the animation base tackle.

It's like a guy that said that madden 08 is the best game ever because they are sick of playing the new game. When this Same guy b$it$& to no end about madden 08 the year it came out.

I just think it's backwards, instead of fixing the issue by reverting back to animation. Why not advance on infinity engine by creating dive and reach animation that would actually effect the ball carrier to cause them to fall using physic and the great ball carrier would run through a arm tackles ( not all the time but base on physic and momentum)

It's cool we disagree and I'm trying to understand exactly what is you believe this does, opposed to what I do. Considering you think it regresses the game back to warping tackles , whereas I just see it as allowing for the defender to automatically pursuit and transition into a tackle attempt, according to their proximity to the ball carrier. To be clear, I have no idea if this will work as advertised but going by the few tackles they have shown of it, I like the concept.

In earlier Maddens, even when they had warp tackling, the ball carrier could still slide off defenders if they weren't at a proper angle to trigger a tackle animation. The way I understand this is that, unlike back then, defenders won't warp into position but the defender will automatically pursuit and attempt to tackle versus just whiffing. I'm thinking "ball hawk" for tackling, with that mechanic pass defenders don't warp, they switch to autopilot to make a play on the ball.

[jmik58]

"2. Inability for users to understand direction and spatial distances between defender and ball carrier, and how that affected tackling"

I read that as "We're going to take away dynamic gameplay and make more canned animation sequences to make up for the fact that the core fanbase of Madden aren't very good on the sticks."

[NicVirtue]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

I'm worried about the animations triggering before contact part. I'm having flash backs of my ball carrier freezing in place only to be sucked into an animation. I don't want my ball carrier to react to a tackle that has not even happened yet. I hope it's nothing like that.

[drlw322]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

It's cool we disagree and I'm trying to understand exactly what is you believe this does, opposed to what I do. Considering you think it regresses the game back to warping tackles , whereas I just see it as allowing for the defender to automatically pursuit and transition into a tackle attempt, according to their proximity to the ball carrier. To be clear, I have no idea if this will work as advertised but going by the few tackles they have shown of it, I like the concept.

In earlier Maddens, even when they had warp tackling, the ball carrier could still slide off defenders if they weren't at a proper angle to trigger a tackle animation. The way I understand this is that, unlike back then, defenders won't warp into position but the defender will automatically pursuit and attempt to tackle versus just whiffing. I'm thinking "ball hawk" for tackling, with that mechanic pass defenders don't warp, they switch to autopilot to make a play on the ball.

I get where you are coming from. I just feel that they are slowly going back to what we had before physic. Each year we are losing more and more physic. Now I'm saying this base off my experience with 13 and 25 and what they are saying now. I haven't play 15 I'm just basing it on what they are saying and what Rex said in the press row podcast. He said that they had tester working out as much warping or awkward suction tackle as possible which mean we are reverting back.

I just hope that EA has enough talent to innovate not revert back to old tech splash with some infinity engine. It's next gen now time to think big.

[iloveparkmin]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

why does Easports alway talk about gameplay are tackling, defense, offense ? i want read full information about CFM .. they gave me bad patience

[OhioCub]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

"2. Inability for users to understand direction and spatial distances between defender and ball carrier, and how that affected tackling"

I read that as "We're going to take away dynamic gameplay and make more canned animation sequences to make up for the fact that the core fanbase of Madden aren't very good on the sticks."

And to that I say, so what? I want a football sim and realistic gameplay. I want to play against people and let the deciding factor be our knowledge of the game of football and not decided by who's better on the sticks. Yes, I want to control my team but if a mechanic is there to make sure I don't dive at thin air then I'm all for it. My reactions aren't as good as they were when I was in my teens and twenties but I still wanna play a good game of football. What sports game out there doesn't have these types of helper mechanics? And just like in those games, you can turn off the tackle cone and all the helpers if you so desire. Personally, I'd rather not whiff on my tackles.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Blog & Screenshots - Tackling Mechanic

Looks pretty nice to me.
August hurry up...