Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

[ChaseB]

There has been an onslaught of previews popping up across the Net following the EA Sports press event in Vancouver last week. At the event most of EA Sports’ big hitters for this year were shown, none bigger than the behemoth that is Madden NFL 09. However, the Madden media fallout has led to a few inconsistencies in the various previews which now need to be cleared up. Operation Sports recently contacted EA Sports to hopefully clear up some of the confusion, and today Madden NFL Executive Producer Dale Jackson responded to the request.

Following the event some outlets wrote that in-game saves would be in the game this year, but Jackson said that the team was not able to include in-game saves this year.

"We won't have in game saves this year. We hear the feedback, but we are focusing our remaining time on bug fixing, tuning, and polishing the game in the short time remaining this year. We keep a list of requests we see and will make sure this is added."

Another point of contention dealt with what was said at the press event. Madden NFL Senior Producer Phil Frazier said at one point that presentation and online leagues were the two biggest focuses for Madden 09. While that may be true, Dale Jackson wanted to clarify Mr. Frazier’s statement:

"I also want to clarify that Game play is our number one priority this year and has a group of developers specifically devoted to it. Presentation and on-line leagues were the top 2 user requested features coming out of last year, and we wanted to make sure that we addressed them."

Operation Sports’ Executive News Editor Steve Noah attended the event in Vancouver but he doesn’t remember hearing Mr. Frazier specify if it was EA’s or the users’ number one request.

[BlackRome]

If you want to play a complete version of Madden the original Xbox version is still the best. I have purchased Madden for 3 years on my 360 only to return it for the Xbox version. I have no doubt this will be the case again this year.

[BlackRome]

I wonder if they fixed the Submission feature. When your online and go up by 21 in the 3rd or 17 in the 4th and a person quits you are allowed to quit and gain the win on the Xbox version.

Somehow this simple feature which has been on the Xbox version for years did not make it to the 360.

It was one of the main reasons I returned madden for the 360. You have to sit and play the Computer the entire game if someone quits.

[yamabushi]

[sad trombone]

[bulls23]

Re: Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

This sucks. Everything that was in the PS2\XBOX versions should be implemented by the 4th next gen game. You wonder if we'll ever get everything from those versions. 2006,2007,2008, and now 2009 with no in game saves, accel clock, user defined cameras and on screen referees. Not to mention chain gang and the ambulance. I can't believe how hard it is to get basic features.

[bkrich83]

Re: Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Imo, in-game saves should be in every sports game. This is a major disappointment for me personally.

I could care less about Chain gangs, and refs on the field, but in game saves are huge for me. There is no, and I mean no excuse for Madden in the year 2008 to not have something as basic as in-game saves.

[JRod]

Re: Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

It's not that they didn't have time, they've made this design decision for a very long time now.

Probably has to do with points or something. EA hates people that have other things to do and can't play a full game every time.

[spit_bubble]

Re: Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

[sad trombone]

[laugh track]

[Steeler99]

Re: Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Imo, in-game saves should be in every sports game. This is a major disappointment for me personally.

I could care less about Chain gangs, and refs on the field, but in game saves are huge for me. There is no, and I mean no excuse for Madden in the year 2008 to not have something as basic as in-game saves.

I agree 100%. Other than eliminating the obvious glitches of 08' this is one feature I definitely expected to have again. Not getting this in is inexcuseable!!! For adult gamers no in-game saves makes the game much less playable as many of us just don't have time to play complete games in one sitting. So much for all the 09' hype ... I was starting to get excited about 09' but once again it appears EA will fall short of expectations ....

[dbrandon]

Truly unbelievable we have been asking for this for more then 10 years. Thank Goodness we can play as mascots thought. Proof AGAIN how out of touch ea really is.

[Hammerhunker]

Re: Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

I could care less about Chain gangs, and refs on the field, but in game saves are huge for me.

Others have preferences, are just as important, and most don't tell other people that their's aren't important. I want user camera angle, but that isn't anymore important than someone else's wish, nor do I vocalize it.

Well sir, you should care more about chain gangs and refs, and every other little nuance that is left out. This is the 4th version on the new gen. and we consumers are shortchanged continually. When the little things are not going to be addressed, how can we expect anything big.

[callmetaternuts]

Re: Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

If this isnt in there, but they fix all glitches, throw in presentation and basically complete the game, im fine with it. We will never have everything that we want.

[Hammerhunker]

Re: Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

We will never have everything that we want.

We can at least expect what was once in the older versions, for crying out loud.

[edubbs]

Re: Madden NFL 09, No In-Game Saves

What's even more interesting is this quote from the producer:

"We won't have in game saves this year. We hear the feedback, but we are focusing our remaining time on bug fixing, tuning, and polishing the game in the short time remaining this year."

I always knew the retail version of Madden was finished around the end of June every year.

His response kinda suggests that it will be finished even earlier this year, or around the same time.

They have already initiated the Quality Assurance (QA) phase, for this year's game. Which means they are already in the Final process of completing Madden09.

Hopefully, they catch the game killing bugs before they complete this title by the end of next month.

[DJ]

I agree 100%. Other than eliminating the obvious glitches of 08' this is one feature I definitely expected to have again. Not getting this in is inexcuseable!!! For adult gamers no in-game saves makes the game much less playable as many of us just don't have time to play complete games in one sitting. So much for all the 09' hype ... I was starting to get excited about 09' but once again it appears EA will fall short of expectations ....

Well said. There's no reason to not have in-game saves at this point...especially when they had it BACK IN 2004!