A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

[Hamburgerpimp97]

Just saw Madden's Lead Developer confirm refs will not be included in the game. From a gameplay standpoint it might not be an issue, but from an aesthetics standpoint in 2021 it is a big miss as I feel like I'm in a scrimmage versus a live game. Not to mention the fact that this game has produced 30+ annual versions and cannot figure out how to include refs when the other sports gaming companies have not seemed to have any issue for the past 2+ decades?

To me since the argument by EA is that refs interfere with player movement, why not just have the ref appear at the line of scrimmage then when the ball is hiked/play in motion they disappear? Seems like a reasonable fix to me that preserves the true simulation feel of how an NFL video game should be.

[TheBleedingRed21]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

Just to get people fuss and call them lazy cause they’re not there during gameplay, I think they’d rather not bother until they can overhaul it all to include them properly.

[Reed1417]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

Just to get people fuss and call them lazy cause they’re not there during gameplay, I think they’d rather not bother until they get overhaul it all to include them properly.

Yup cause that's EXACTLY what would happen I can hear the internet now.

"Billion dollar company can't figure out how to get referees to stay on the field during gameplay. What's the point of even having them in if they just disappear?"

I'm with a lot of you in the respect that it's so weird not seeing them on the field, but in the past few years since taking them out I haven't really noticed or paid much attention to that.

But here's the kicker, if they bring them back and they do it the way they want to (example making them part of the field of play) and players run into them and that stuff....I could see people losing their MINDS over that stuff. Especially if it costs someone a game because "the ref got in my way and I tripped over him/her! EA sucks blah blah blah".

So we'll see how/when/if they bring them back.

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[segarr]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

How exactly would they interfere with player movement though? There have been many driving games where you can't run over the pedestrians walking around so they dodge the cars. There's no collision detection on them either just incase. They can't put animations in the game where they move out the way of the players?

[Hooe]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

Madden 22 was internally feature-complete at least two months ago, has likely gone gold by now, and the post-launch support roadmap was in all likelihood already set in stone well before now as well (example: we have known what’s coming in the September update - the new scouting feature - since E3).

There is no reasonable quick fix to get referees in the game this year. Nothing in large enterprise software projects or AAA live service video games is ever built quickly. Don’t hold your breath waiting for on-field officials in Madden 22.

[Sphinx]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

Yeah refs not being on the field doesn't bother me. When they first did it back in 20 or 19 whatever it was, I thought it would annoy me. However I don't even notice they're not there. I prefer it now actually.

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[jfsolo]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

Yeah refs not being on the field doesn't bother me. When they first did it back in 20 or 19 whatever it was, I thought it would annoy me. However I don't even notice they're not there. I prefer it now actually.

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Yeah, the only reason I want them back is so that there will be one less bash EA talking point that gets brought up every year.

[ForUntoOblivionSoar∞]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

Put me in the camp that wants the refs back but it doesn’t really bother me that they are gone. What I’d really like back is the walk to the line of scrimmage.

I don’t miss that at all, but a half way would be nice. Let us see a second or two earlier, which more closely resembles a broadcast cut.

[TheWalkingCash]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

Just to get people fuss and call them lazy cause they’re not there during gameplay, I think they’d rather not bother until they can overhaul it all to include them properly.

It’s the fact Clint said EA “couldn’t afford” to put refs back into the game.


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[mestevo]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

It’s the fact Clint said EA “couldn’t afford” to put refs back into the game.


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Well, he'd know. It's not free to add this stuff. More animations, textures, mocap work and logic for the altered positioning on the field during certain points of the game.

The 'quick fix' is what we already have.

[ForUntoOblivionSoar∞]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

Well, he'd know. It's not free to add this stuff. More animations, textures, mocap work and logic for the altered positioning on the field during certain points of the game.

The 'quick fix' is what we already have.

Not sure why they couldn’t for PC — if they felt like spending the resources. But even if they could it’s embarrassingly low bang for your buck.

[oneamongthefence]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

One other thing to consider, I wish they were in, is that with the zoomed out view refs can blend in with the players especially on a low res TV. I remember playing Madden 09 on a crt and kept mistaking refs as defenders. Now obviously most people have at least a 720p tv this is less likely to happen but I can see a world where some people have trouble separating refs from on field players. So i could also see it being an accessibility issue for some players. Just a thought.

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[Playmakers]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

I don't care what anyone says not having refs on the field in a NFL game is kind of silly.

Now I might not complain about it on here but that doesn't mean it's ok not having them on the field especially when they have been apart of the actual sport forever.

If you turn on your tv for any football game on any level and didn't see refs on the field it would immediately catch your attention and cause some concern.

Every other sports video game has them so I can't give Madden a pass like some are doing because I've yet to see any threads or post saying the refs get in the way of player movement in their basketball, hockey, soccer or baseball games.

Hopefully in the near future they make good on their promise to bring the refs back because you can't call a game authentic if your missing something that has been in the game forever.

[The Kid 24]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

I don't care what anyone says not having refs on the field in a NFL game is kind of silly.

Now I might not complain about it on here but that doesn't mean it's ok not having them on the field especially when they have been apart of the actual sport forever.

If you turn on your tv for any football game on any level and didn't see refs on the field it would immediately catch your attention and cause some concern.

Every other sports video game has them so I can't give Madden a pass like some are doing because I've yet to see any threads or post saying the refs get in the way of player movement in their basketball, hockey, soccer or baseball games.

Hopefully in the near future they make good on their promise to bring the refs back because you can't call a game authentic if your missing something that has been in the game forever.

Exactly!! This would be like The Show not having umps on the field or 2k not having refs on the court.

[kennylc321]

Re: A Reasonable Quick Fix By EA to Include Refs in Madden 22

Threads like this just proves my point. There is LITERALLY (and no this is not a misuse of the word literally) 500,000 "little things" that should be in the game and no matter how hard EA tries, they are not going to get them all, so someone will be hurt.

They put the refs in the game then we'll be mad because there are no female refs. Then we'll be mad because we don't like the way their whistle looks. Then we'll be mad because we can't create our own refs. It will never end.

But as I said.... y'all can fight this battle.