Madden NFL 10: Updated Running Animation

[CapnKill]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

WOW. Look at the difference the shoulder movement makes. As others have said though, this doesn't appear to be a sufficient animation for top speed guys. It needs a little more quickness for them and the right arm needs to be closer to the body and pumping up and down more if that makes sense.. But again...WOW does it look more natural and this is the direction the rest of the animations should be in.

Great job Simon.

Yeah, I'd say its not an efficient running motion at all. He looks like he's gassed if anything. Also a full sprint should have no forward body lean at all.

[drlw322]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

man i don't think Ian can win with everyone. The mcfadden 40 yard dash looks like the 09 run animation. Look at his knee level. As sprinter you are taught to bring your knees high to generate power on your drive. Most of the speed guys in the NFL have decent height level on the knee level and the bigger backs and lineman all run with lower knee level. really both animation can work, just needs to be tweaked

[Blooz17]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

I think the new animation looks more natural than then old one, however I don't think it's quite there yet. I think some of the goofiness with maddens animations stem from player models and joint placement but that is an issue for another thread. It is nice to see the devs taking time out of their day to post stuff for the community and we really do appreciate it.

I would suggest using the new animation as the intro into a sprint and as the player hits top speed, lean the torso to 90 degree angle as well as speed up the feet about 140%. That might help a little.

[DONF]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

WOW. Look at the difference the shoulder movement makes. As others have said though, this doesn't appear to be a sufficient animation for top speed guys, but oviously it's not a sprinting animation. But again...WOW does it look more natural and this is the direction the rest of the animations should be in.

Great job Simon.

Edit: Look at the 40 yard dash videos for some of the speed guys.

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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KfGjFKCuv2M&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e 9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></object>

I actually think the old one is pretty close for the sprinting. Not sure what Simon is going to fix up but I'm sure it'll be great .

remember he is sprinting/running the 40 yard dash for NFL time (no obstacles to avoid). So he is more prone (from practice) to run a more track like style. On the field running with guys coming at you is a bit different. That was the problem with the old Madden running style. Looked like cartoony world class sprinters no matter what the running situation was.

I actually like the new running animation. Looks more realistic than the fast high stepping motion.

[NYyankz225]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

Yeah, I'd say its not an efficient running motion at all. He looks like he's gassed if anything. Also a full sprint should have no forward body lean at all.

It's not a full sprint. At first I thought it was but read Ian's comments again. I think it is a little exaggerated and it seems to hitch a bit which makes it look like he's limping but it's early and I'm sure it will be adjusted.

I think a lot of the APF fans like the exaggerated motions and assume it's realistic. But when you look at the 40 yard dash video you'll see Madden really wasn't too far off . For the regular running while gaining speed I think there could be some more shoulder movement as shown in the first video. But in open space the current 09 sprint animation ain't bad at all. I think the problem is that since players can hold sprint at all time you get those track-like animations even when you're cutting in traffic.

[Moshood]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

The new animation is great.

[crackdownjr]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

We're having some export problems today - the ball keeps showing up rotated 90 degrees in the guys hands. In the meantime, I can show one run style that was slightly adjusted by Simon...this one is still in progress but I figured people would like to see it and give feedback. <object width="600" height="338">


<embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4432145&server=vimeo.com&sho w_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00AD EF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="600" height="338"></object>Slightly adjusted run style from easports on Vimeo.


Thoughts?




Also to compare, I uploaded the sprinter style (that no one seems to like)...this is the 09 version so hopefully I'll have a comparison video of the new one soon once we sort out Simon's export problems.
<object width="600" height="338">


<embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4432136&server=vimeo.com&sho w_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00AD EF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="600" height="338"></object>Madden NFL 09 run style from easports on Vimeo.

well of course no one likes the unrealistic sprinter style of 09 but i like improved running style, not perfect but it does look realistic which is of course a +1... im sure the improved sprinter style looks jus as realistic, if not more realistic

[Valdarez]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

I think a lot of the APF fans like the exaggerated motions and assume it's realistic. But when you look at the 40 yard dash video you'll see Madden really wasn't too far off . For the regular running while gaining speed I think there could be some more shoulder movement as shown in the first video. But in open space the current 09 sprint animation ain't bad at all

I agree the APF fans enjoy the exaggerated motions more (being one myself). However, I think running styles vary. Someone posted a video of guys running who had a ton of shoulder movement. The question is, which running style makes the game feel more alive, and to me, that answer will always be the one that makes the avatar appear more animated.

[Blooz17]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

I also want to point out something interesting with madden 09. It seems that the animations in the game look worse when onfield compared to the virtual simulator. We all know it's the same animations but for some reason the simulator looks more fluid take a look:

Standard 09 gameplay:
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Simulator gameplay:
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or maybe im just crazy.

[red butler]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

I actually like the second one better for breakaway runs. The right arm in the first video looks like he's trying to swim. It's too bad you cant use the first set of animations for running in traffic then trigger the second set of animations with the sprint button for breakaway runs

[Big_Mig_11]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

Hmmm...IDK. The first video looks LESS robot-isc than the 09 vid, but the player is hunched over (or so it seems like to me). I do agree that he looks to running at a less speed with more weight. Maybe there is a different animation for faster players?? I dont mean to sound "needy" or "ungrateful"...

[Valdarez]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

I also want to point out something interesting with madden 09. It seems that the animations in the game look worse when onfield compared to the virtual simulator. We all know it's the same animations but for some reason the simulator looks more fluid take a look:

Standard 09 gameplay:
<object width="425" height="344">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5y96mR0J_Qw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></object>

Simulator gameplay:
<object width="425" height="344">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4O7ylvCtqOQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></object>

or maybe im just crazy.

It's funny you said that, I always thought that as well when I played Madden '09. I think they blur the animations on the virtual simulator which makes them look more fluid. That's why I suggested they blur the Madden animations a little to make them appear more fluid.

[NYyankz225]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

I actually like the second one better for breakaway runs. The right arm in the first video looks like he's trying to swim. It's too bad you cant use the first set of animations for running in traffic then trigger the second set of animations with the sprint button for breakaway runs

I think it's confusing the way Ian phrased it but as far as I believe, the first one is definitely not a sprinting animation. In the second one he is showing an example of a sprint animation from 09 and later he will compare it to the new one. Those two videos weren't meant to be compared because they are not replacing the second one with the first one. Hopefully Ian can clarify.

[jimbo1215]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

i think the second vid is better. as far as the legs not moving fast keep in mind that Dustin Keller is a TE

[winreaper]

Re: Ians Twitter: Possible updated running animation vid today!

Heard you on kfan in minneapolis last night. I waited on hold, but never made it through to talk to you. I have three beefs with madden 09' and the madden series in general.

#1 The passing was terrible on both sides of the ball. There was no touch to the passes and defending passes was simply an awkward mess. We all know certain passing situations require touch and Madden failed to have the slightest bit last season. Defensively it was a crap shoot. If I am in position I should at a minimum knock down the ball. Holding coverage and position is another nightmare.

#2 Madden 08" I played literally hundreds of games. In Madden 09' I played dozens. I know know why. I felt the controls to be very loose. Almost like there was a lag in the game. It felt deliberate. Perhaps to make the online game play feel much closer to the game play at home. It makes for a frustrating and ultimately boring experience. I found myself playing Blitz 2 like a mad man. The controls were tight and I felt as though I was actually controlling my players. I can sum up all of the game play in madden with on situation that pretty much sums up the game play as a whole. Defensive line moves. I have wondered for years if they actually do anything. They are slow, none reactive and useless. I particular enjoy when your line man is stuck engaged at the line as the qb sits near the side line and I can't get to him due to the massive holding. Just a frustrating programing desicion that is designed to hide other game play problems. I by no means intend to underscore the countless hours of work you put into the game, but it was not your best offering. I hope 10' is much better.

#3 I have read the list of improvements, but so help me god if there is another glitch play online I will lose it and never buy Madden again. I will embrace backbreaker football like no other. Keep in mind this is coming from a Madden player since atari. I have hosted annual madden tourny's, I own a copy of every madden in every format from every year (just cause I liked collecting them) playing yeas of my life away, and can't get enough of it. When I see a company as big as EA that fails to put a patch out to fix a serious game flaw I am beside myself and spitting mad. I FEEL RIPPED OFF AND NEGLECTED!

There is something to be said for simulation vs arcade. Arcade is pure fun and simulation is an attempt at imitating life like circumstances. Leaning more one direction than an other can have undesirable effects. Madden may not have been perfect, but the best years of the game were balanced. You felt like the games was not going to beat you. You could react to what was happening on the field and the guy holding the controller was going to have to bring you down, not glitchy, flashy play. Not realistic animation that comes at the cost of tight controls and a responsive interface. Pure controls and situations that require skill. Not a vanilla field goal meter so simplified my grandma can hit a fifty yarder.

I never heard any of these things addressed last night on the radio. THAT IN ITSELF IS DISCOURAGING!!!! And although it is cute that you are changing how they run, why not try and fix how quickly you sucked all the fun from Madden over the years ultimately ending up with a snooze fest product like Madden 09"!