Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

[PRAY IV M3RCY]

As of right now all the players are just robots going to their designated spots on the field. Doesn't the immersion stop when you see the wide receivers shuffle into their stance on the field? Every single one of them has the same animation when they line up on the the outside. Its the same with defensive backs too. I also hate seeing the lack of interaction between defensive players before the snap. You don't see linebackers directing where thè ball may go or defensive backs interacting with each other about who is covering who. How about defensive lineman with various stances at the line? Each one pointing to where the ball may go. I haven't even discussed the amount of taunting that goes on as well.

How about the offensive line. The center does a lot of things before the snap. That should show in madden. We still need more qb animations pre snap as well. What do y'all think?

[Datninja619]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

I feel like I need to revisit M15 and look a the pre-snap slowed down. I do recall the linebacker animation though. When he is shuffling towards the line and back to his spot. Usually I'm like "HURRY UP AND GET BACK!!!" lol. And of-course the QB points.

More pre-snap animations would be nice, but needs to be limited imo. I can already see players getting pissed because their safety walked into the box like he was going to get blitz, then gets beat deep.

Adding pointing for each position doesn't seem like a huge impact unless they tie the pointing to a adjustments (similar to QB hot routes).

Hey for all we know, M16 could have what your talking about.

[DeuceDouglas]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

I definitely think so. They just need more general animations when it comes to breaking from the huddle and lining up. Stuff like a WR/TE going to one side and the QB making him go to the correct side is stuff that would be huge. And then when you see the players go to line up and then you can see the transition where they kind of hunch over and get locked into the spot where they line up looks really odd. More variation could go a long way.

Same goes for defense. Less static, on your heels type line up. Doesn't look good when you've got 6-7 guys all in the exact same stance prior to the snap. Stuff like DB's communicating and just moving pre-snap would add a lot.

[pantherfan_forever17]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

I don't really care. Sure, it would be cool to see for the first time a mlb pointing/adjusting his helmet giving that vibe that maybe he is called out coverage schemes to the cbs/safeties. But really after the first i won't even bother looking for it. Same goes for cut scenes, just skip them after a while. Same old song and dance. Having said that though it would be cool to see after you score a td that a player leaps into the stands to have fans pat him on the helmet/shoulder pads or a player to toss a football into the stands for a lucky fan and you see their reaction. Id like create a fan feature. Create yourself, picking what your fav team is. Have it so that your creation pops up in other players online/offline franchise mode (either as the fav team your playing as or the opponent for that week) so you don't see the same "fan" twice. So say i made me and pick the panthers. If someone is playing against the panthers in game, they may see me in the stands or during a td. Probobly too hard as the quality on the field would suffer. Game would have to load alot of people in the crowd. or perhaps the game could load 3 "fans" per drive and the rest of the crowd being like it is now?

[SageInfinite]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

It definitely does, too stale, stiff and robotic. Especially the qb calling audibles. That **** looks terrible. Defensive players still sliding and clipping and shuffling their feet. The QB walkups are still disjointed. Just kills all the immersion. Just not enough variety and lifelike animation.

[Rashad19]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

It definitely does, too stale, stiff and robotic. Especially the qb calling audibles. That **** looks terrible. Defensive players still sliding and clipping and shuffling their feet. The QB walkups are still disjointed. Just kills all the immersion. Just not enough variety and lifelike animation.

Well said Sage! Post and pre-play animations need tons of work. Watching the hurry up offense being ran is a major eye sore to say the least.

[adub88]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

It definitely does, too stale, stiff and robotic. Especially the qb calling audibles. That **** looks terrible. Defensive players still sliding and clipping and shuffling their feet. Just kills all the immersion. Just not enough variety and lifelike animation.

Biggest pet peeve in this regard is the QB audible animation. The same stiff animations have been in for years. I want preface this by saying props to the dev team, Larry Rihart. My only issue is why do so much work with QB loco etc, but why not work on new throwing animations and audible animations to make everything complete?

[The JareBear]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

Good post and yes I agree

NCAA 14 had good no huddle animations, QB looking to sideline and communicating the call, o line heads are up and looking around, WRs looking for the signal. It would b cool to see madden take that and add in more and more

I also loved NCAA personnel based no huddle play calling.

[Datninja619]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

I really think they should take a look at how NCCA devs handled the pre-snap. When the crowd was loud and you called an audible the WRs would come closer to the QB to hear the play. Along with the HB and QB communication. The play-art shaking was a nice touch also.

I don't recall much defensive movements though

Edit: Jarebear beat me to it while I was typing lol

[The JareBear]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

Great minds think alike good buddy

NCAA had a few good things that Madden would be smart to carry over, for sure

[SageInfinite]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

Biggest pet peeve in this regard is the QB audible animation. The same stiff animations have been in for years. I want preface this by saying props to the dev team, Larry Rihart. My only issue is why do so much work with QB loco etc, but why not work on new throwing animations and audible animations to make everything complete?

This is my biggest problem with Tiburon as a whole. Even when they focus on something, they never go all in. It's always something missing or something ignored. If you work on QB stuff, work on EVERYTHING involving the QB. Throws, audibles, walkups, footwork, stances, ect. I just don't get it. I know time is limited, but if that's a focus, everything should be addressed.

Of course I appreciate the work they do, but they really just need to complete the package, especially when the area is a focus.

[PRAY IV M3RCY]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

I don't really care. Sure, it would be cool to see for the first time a mlb pointing/adjusting his helmet giving that vibe that maybe he is called out coverage schemes to the cbs/safeties. But really after the first i won't even bother looking for it. Same goes for cut scenes, just skip them after a while. Same old song and dance. Having said that though it would be cool to see after you score a td that a player leaps into the stands to have fans pat him on the helmet/shoulder pads or a player to toss a football into the stands for a lucky fan and you see their reaction. Id like create a fan feature. Create yourself, picking what your fav team is. Have it so that your creation pops up in other players online/offline franchise mode (either as the fav team your playing as or the opponent for that week) so you don't see the same "fan" twice. So say i made me and pick the panthers. If someone is playing against the panthers in game, they may see me in the stands or during a td. Probobly too hard as the quality on the field would suffer. Game would have to load alot of people in the crowd. or perhaps the game could load 3 "fans" per drive and the rest of the crowd being like it is now?

IMO gameplay is more than just about how it plays. Let's face it the game is looking very stale. Say for instance if they added everything I just mentioned I am positive that you would see a big enough difference to not go back to the older iterations. Other games have done well in this area yet madden is still far behind in this aspect of the game. I am confident that they don't even realize it. I don't expect these things to tie into AI behavior at first. It's about time these fevs started looking at the little details instead of the highlight reel plays.

[PRAY IV M3RCY]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

This is my biggest problem with Tiburon as a whole. Even when they focus on something, they never go all in. It's always something missing or something ignored. If you work on QB stuff, work on EVERYTHING involving the QB. Throws, audibles, walkups, footwork, stances, ect. I just don't get it. I know time is limited, but if that's a focus, everything should be addressed.

Of course I appreciate the work they do, but they really just need to complete the package, especially when the area is a focus.

Exactly! With wr/db interactions there is much more technique involved than just fighting for the ball in the air.

[Kanobi]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

For a more immersive gameplay experience, yes Madden is in desperate need of more pre/post snap and away-from-the ball interaction animations that do away with the current robotic look and feel of the onfield action.

If the mods don't mind, I'd like to submit this footage of APF2k8 as an example. The 4:00 mark all but sums up how far behind Madden is in that regard.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K47yMIVkTAU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Graphically, Madden is very impressive. But once everything is in motion, the look/feel of the game takes a hit.

APFk28's graphics are understandably dated in comparison but the movement and subtle interactions are superior on every level and that should NOT be the case. Really there exist no excuse for it.

[SageInfinite]

Re: Does Madden need more pre snap animations?

For a more immersive gameplay experience, yes Madden is in desperate need of more pre/post snap and away-from-the ball interaction animations that do away with the current robotic look and feel of the onfield action.

If the mods don't mind, I'd like to submit this footage of APF2k8 as an example. The 4:00 mark all but sums up how far behind Madden is in that regard.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K47yMIVkTAU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Graphically, Madden is very impressive. But once everything is in motion, the look/feel of the game takes a hit.

APFk28's graphics are understandably dated in comparison but the movement and subtle interactions are superior on every level and that should NOT be the case. Really there exist no excuse for it.

Totally agree. Nothing looks disjointed as much as Madden. It's all fluid. I really wish the devs would sit down and try to emulate this to a T. Even the way the line gets set. They all don't go down at the same time in the same manner like Madden. The way the receivers get set, it looks so much more truer to life. Animations are still my biggest problem with Madden, and it seems like Rex gets that as well, but I need him to get his team in order to really fix this once and for all. Next year Madden HAS to take that leap. It's only right.