My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

Just some impressions from a hopeful football fan . . .

What I liked:
--the injury
--the dropoff in quality from starter to backup
--the fact that the Bears' subpar WR made for an inconsistent passing game

What I want to know more about:
--completion percentages: Hasslebeck's 78% performance could happen, sure, but most of the games need to be in the 55% range, with a good number even below that. Marino, the best pure passer of all time (perhaps), finished with a career mark of 57%. I'd be very interested to see some other numbers on the passing game, both HUM vs. HUM and HUM vs. CPU.

I know that this is bonus information, not a request thread, but those are my impressions, and if more information were to come out, I'd like to hear some on that issue, given its prominence in '09 and the centrality of realistic QB play to a "sim" experience.

You gotta remember, though, that Hasselbeck was using the West Coast...short, high percentage throws...so I'm sure if you open up the passing game, his percentage would go down pretty drastically...or, at least I hope so.

Donny, very great to hear that the game is coming along together...it is a little bit frightening to hear that Josh is getting Franchise in its "final form" when we have heard next to nothing about it other than "it is enhanced"...any idea when we'll be hearing more from the franchise folks?

Again...thanks for sharing...it makes the wait even more unbearable.

[therizing02]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

Thanks for the info Donny. Like many others, I am also curious to hear more details vs. the CPU. USER vs. CPU.

-How does the CPU call plays?
-Is the adaptive AI being used by the CPU on the offensive AND defensive side of the ball?
-Does the CPU know how to manage the clock properly at the end of the half/game with no huddle, spikes, and time outs? (big gameplay killer in 09)?
-Does the CPU throw the deep ball? I STILL have not read any post that confirms this. I always thought that the reason the QB completion percentages were so high last year is because 95% of the passes were under 10 yards. IRL, QB percentages would be higher if all passes were under 10 yards.
-Do CPU teams play like their real life counterparts?

Those are a few of the issues that people want know if they've been addressed.

Thanks again.

[Nature_Boy]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

Thanks for the info Donny.

[backbreaker]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

Thanx for the update. What I would like to see you post is a 4 qts. 10 mins a qts vs the CPU on All pro.

[FootballSchemer]

Good stuff, is brett on the Vikings yet?

[FootballSchemer]

And crossing routes are a huge problem in Madden 09, Hope its fixed

[ShimSham]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

Please just tell me the Packers have black cleats like they're supposed to this time around.

[RogueHominid]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

Your a little off on your completion percentages. Many QB's are around 70% these days.

Actually, you're off bro. Hasselbeck's career mark is 60.1%, and this is a guy who plays in a WCO and is accurate.

Brady, arguably the most accurate QB in the game, is at 63% for his career.

Manning is at 64.4%

Cutler is at 62% and Mcnabb at 58%.

And those are the elite quarterbacks. The rest of the bunch is in the mid 50% range.

Players do have games in the 70% and 80% ranges, but not many of them, and they're career-type days when they happen, not just another day at the office.

The Madden system as implemented last year is 10-15% inflated. Montana's 70% year was historic, in the best offense of the decade and with some of the best talent in history around him. Anything above 65% is a very, very good year, and above 60% is nothing to sneeze at. In last year's game, you could put your punter at QB and easily meet these benchmarks.

Check profootballreference.com.

Anyway, that's just in the interest of accuracy. I did like some of the other stuff I heard, to reiterate the positives.

[g2thecore]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

Thanx for the update. What I would like to see you post is a 4 qts. 10 mins a qts vs the CPU on All pro.

Off topic, but that's an AWESOME avatar....

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

I understand what you're saying Autumn Wind...but you also have to think that this was human v human...maybe Donny checked down often because Josh had good coverage? I mean, it's not unheard of for QBs to have good games...and if Donny checked down to his TE or a runningback, then it's entirely plausible...if he had 78% completion in every game he played, I'll be concerned...but we don't have enough to go on to say that it wasn't addressed...although conversely we don't have enough to go on to say it was...

So...I guess we're at square one?

[RogueHominid]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

I understand what you're saying Autumn Wind...but you also have to think that this was human v human...maybe Donny checked down often because Josh had good coverage? I mean, it's not unheard of for QBs to have good games...and if Donny checked down to his TE or a runningback, then it's entirely plausible...if he had 78% completion in every game he played, I'll be concerned...but we don't have enough to go on to say that it wasn't addressed...although conversely we don't have enough to go on to say it was...

So...I guess we're at square one?

No doubt, that's why the initial post was about wanting more data. There's too much we don't know to make conclusions, but given that this is clearly an issue and that the numbers are so drastically inflated, I wonder about it.

The stats are just to provide context. I think many fans of the game and of real life football have an unrealistically high expectation of how many passes QBs should or actually do complete. 78% isn't a "good" game, it's an "incredible" game; 60% is a "good" game. I'm all for incredible games, and even lots of good ones. I just want a game that will also deliver a realistic proportion of average and below average ones such that QB's like Eli can have a 54% season like real life.

To me, it's like balls and strikes in The Show. I'm fine with the fact that strike percentages are inflated at default by a good 10% because there's a strike percentage slider that, when adjusted to 0, gives realistic strike ratios from 50% for marginal starters to low to mid 60% for good ones. If a similar option is in Madden, it's a win-win for everyone.

But I agree with the premise of your post, it's all wait and see for now .

Again, I really like the actual threat of injury, and the differences between starters and backups. That right there is huge. And I'm liking the ability of Pro Tak to help with line stuff too.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

Great read but why the hell did Josh go for two in the 4th quarter on the one touchdown? Is he a cheezer at heart?

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

By going for two, he put himself down 6, instead of 7...scoring on that Smith reception allowed him to nail the Point After and seal the game, instead of having it go to overtime...smart play to play for the win, not OT.

And it's great to see Josh playing with the Panthers and making Seattle fans everywhere sick of Steve Smith again.

[Flamehead]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

Actually, you're off bro. Hasselbeck's career mark is 60.1%, and this is a guy who plays in a WCO and is accurate.

Brady, arguably the most accurate QB in the game, is at 63% for his career.

Manning is at 64.4%

Cutler is at 62% and Mcnabb at 58%.

And those are the elite quarterbacks. The rest of the bunch is in the mid 50% range.

Players do have games in the 70% and 80% ranges, but not many of them, and they're career-type days when they happen, not just another day at the office.

The Madden system as implemented last year is 10-15% inflated. Montana's 70% year was historic, in the best offense of the decade and with some of the best talent in history around him. Anything above 65% is a very, very good year, and above 60% is nothing to sneeze at. In last year's game, you could put your punter at QB and easily meet these benchmarks.

Check profootballreference.com.

Anyway, that's just in the interest of accuracy. I did like some of the other stuff I heard, to reiterate the positives.

Yep. This, combined with the cpu NEVER passing long contributed to a very unsatisfying game last year--it was just too robotic and predictable. Who wants to play a cpu that plays a west coast version passing game every team and every game?

If fixed, this could be a "small" thing that goes a long way in making this a must-buy.

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: My Madden NFL 10 Game Experiences From Current Build

I think that a major reason why the CPU didn't attempt many long passes last year is because the logic wants them to make successful plays as often as possible...with curls and slants being so lethal last year (and downright uncoverable) the CPU could get first downs with these passes...couple that with the fact that there is no running game for the CPU last year so its a pass-happy offense, and you get huge completion percentages...if a Post was a sure-thing play (super-DB prevented that for the most part) then there would have been more long passes from the CPU I hypothesize.

But I agree...and they have said that teams will play like their Sunday counterparts more than ever...so here's hoping.