I just bought Madden today and...

[DOSMedia4SC]

After 2 hours of playing it I had to stand up, get a glass of water, get some chips in salsa, and pop NCAA 10 back in just to wake me up.
I literally was Yawning and falling asleep after playing that game for less than 2 hours!
Im going to keep giving it a chance for a week or so, but if nothing changes Im definitely returning it. The gameplay is awful, slow (I know can be changed), and extremely boring in my mind. The camera is also pitiful.
The presentation is okay I guess. Adds some realism to it and I dont really mind it, but seems rather pointless to me if the gameplay is as boring as it is.

Also they pretty much took out all of the GM style features. I bought this game mainly to try to take a team and make some money with them. I wanted to control ticket sales, market the team, track my attendance, see how good my fan base is doing, try to get people to come to games, ect. But nope, no longer in the game (I havent had madden since the first next gen game). Sure you can get stadium upgrades, but who knows what that does besides cost money. Unless me and a couple other people are missing something HUGE then im pretty sure its all been taken out. For what reason, I will never know.
Also, I had to turn off the menu music. I never thought I would prefer hearing the same fight songs over a soundtrack, but I was literally getting a headache. Thats more personal preference though then anything and cant judge a game because of that.

/rant

My point. If you like NCAA, dont even waste your money on renting or buying Madden.

[fsufan4423]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

Madden does lack some excitement, but I stop playing NCAA weeks ago. I'm a bigger College fan than Pro, so down the line when college starts up, I'll probably jump back to NCAA

[nighttrain32]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

if you like quarterbacks that lob balls 10 yards in the air and 1 yard in front of the line of scrimmage EVERY TiME they get hit, yeah ncaa is better.

if you like a game where ANY AND EVERY ROUTE run gets run better on the defensive side than the offensive side, yeah ncaa is the ish.

if you love being inches from the ground and then popping back up for a broken tackle then ncaa is game of the year.

if you feel like a challenge is having the cpu force your players to fumble multiple times with multiple players consistently throughout the season, ncaa is GGGGRRRRRREEEAAAATTTT!!!!

if you like the cpu offensive line picking up ALL legit blitzes while your line can barely handle 4 defensive linemen, yeah ncaa is much better.
speaking of blocking why is it that the ALL of cpu backs are going at it with linebackers and d-linemen. it doesn't matter what back's tendency is either. joe mcknight is a good runners but he isn't blocking any college linebackers the way he does in the game. on top of that, if by some reason you get within the cpu's personal bubble, with is maybe 3 yards, he throws a rocket off his back foot to a receiver and since you get caught in a blitz, you get burned.

madden does suffer from problems but when you compare the 2 this year, how can you not pick madden? ncaa was better than madden last year in my opinion but its all good because next year ncaa with have a lot of the same gameplay elements...

[billysims]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

Both games appear to have issues. Madden, as the op said, to me is a little boring, but very, very pretty to look at (player graphics, good game speed, camera).

NCAA is much more exciting with stadium sounds and the crowd noise. Graphics are good but not as good as madden, imo. More teams, more variety. If they would improve on the game speed, camera angles, playbook choices, and presentation it would be extremely solid imo.

I havent played madden enough to really judge it, but i cant see playing it nearly as long as i play ncaa.

[MrOctober430]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

I was exactly like you OP, bought Madden, rushed home and played for hours and I was bored and I thought NCAA was better. But after adjusting a few things to my liking, I thought NCAA sucks compared to Madden. Even tho I love college football more than the NFL, I'd rather play Madden.

I'm just waiting for Patch #2 and for the college football season to start so maybe I could get back into the game.

[FunkDockta27]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

Normally I just love NCAA, especially being a college football fan over the pros...

but this is the first year since i can remember both games having their advantadges, and of course their disadvantadges...im playing Madden currently, but i think thats cuz of preseason and games being broadcast and stuff, once the college football season starts im sure ill get back on an NCAA kick...

[ReeseChiarlo]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

I said this in another thread, but I made an analogy that Madden is that banging blond that makes that a great first impression and shows up in a sexy outfit on your first date, but by the end of the date you cant wait to get rid of her, she tells the same stories over and over, her voice is annoying, and frankly despite being hot with all glitz and glam of make up and sexy clothes, she is just boring.

NCAA is that girl who maybe didnt make the best first impression, and certainly she has her flaws, but by the end of the first date she proves to be interesting and you cant wait to take her out again and find out more about her.

[stlstudios189]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

I said this in another thread, but I made an analogy that Madden is that banging blond that makes that a great first impression and shows up in a sexy outfit on your first date, but by the end of the date you cant wait to get rid of her, she tells the same stories over and over, her voice is annoying, and frankly despite being hot with all glitz and glam of make up and sexy clothes, she is just boring.

NCAA is that girl who maybe didnt make the best first impression, and certainly she has her flaws, but by the end of the first date she proves to be interesting and you cant wait to take her out again and find out more about her.

I like this theroy.

[DOSMedia4SC]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

So I have read what a lot of you have had to say. Well Ive read all of it and the girl metaphor (or is it a simile? I failed english) gave me a chuckle.
I know its all about person preference, and some people are going to like one over the other, but I was kinda just wondering if anyone else found madden just flat out boring like I did. Apparently Im not the only one, which is nice, and I understand the people that like it. If I was a hardcore NFL fan I would probably like it too. I remember reading someone make a comment on how NCAA is lacking atmosphere and someone said to just pop in Madden 10, so I was excited to see that, but it was definitely not the case. Madden just has some nice presentation things, but sometimes I feel that it is legitimately too much.
Heres a question I have for people that have both... Am I the only one that finds a game in Madden to almost be choppy to an extent? I feel like with all of the cut scenes and crap that the game doesnt flow smoothly. Its like there is too much of it and the cut scenes are not necessarily at an appropriate time. The flow to the NCAA game is much much better in my mind.

I have found a good slider set and get realistic stats and scores, which is fun. Ill have to try that more with Madden but I might just return it. Im really disappointed they took out all the GM/Owner mode type features.

Lastly Ill say I dont have an HD TV, so the graphics to me pretty much look the exact same.

[DOSMedia4SC]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

if you like quarterbacks that lob balls 10 yards in the air and 1 yard in front of the line of scrimmage EVERY TiME they get hit, yeah ncaa is better.

if you like a game where ANY AND EVERY ROUTE run gets run better on the defensive side than the offensive side, yeah ncaa is the ish.

if you love being inches from the ground and then popping back up for a broken tackle then ncaa is game of the year.

if you feel like a challenge is having the cpu force your players to fumble multiple times with multiple players consistently throughout the season, ncaa is GGGGRRRRRREEEAAAATTTT!!!!

if you like the cpu offensive line picking up ALL legit blitzes while your line can barely handle 4 defensive linemen, yeah ncaa is much better.
speaking of blocking why is it that the ALL of cpu backs are going at it with linebackers and d-linemen. it doesn't matter what back's tendency is either. joe mcknight is a good runners but he isn't blocking any college linebackers the way he does in the game. on top of that, if by some reason you get within the cpu's personal bubble, with is maybe 3 yards, he throws a rocket off his back foot to a receiver and since you get caught in a blitz, you get burned.

madden does suffer from problems but when you compare the 2 this year, how can you not pick madden? ncaa was better than madden last year in my opinion but its all good because next year ncaa with have a lot of the same gameplay elements...

Ill respond to each of those in order...

Im pretty sure Madden has the exact same problem. I have been on the Madden boards and what you just said about NCAA is the number 1 complaint coming from Madden owners.

Number 2 is not entirely true, but yes you see it. Honestly, I do not have a problem with it, because if you knew football, you would know this pretty much happens. DBs pick up on certain routes and can jump them. Yes, it is a little much in NCAA, but it finally made man coverage not completely worthless like its been in the past. You can still beat man, but sometimes the DB will actually cover his defender.

Ill agree with the lame breaking tackles thing. Thats very easy to avoid though. You know its a bug and a problem, so why exploit it? If im going to get tackled then I let my guy get tackled and dont have that problem anymore.

Im sorry I dont have the fumble problem. I probably fumble well under once a game. If you set your settings to aggressive run and you keep trying to fight for extra yardage with the truck stick, then yeah your going to have your problem, but thats the risk in trying to do that.

And lastly... blocking is very very easy quick fix with sliders. I actually havent had the problem your having, but I understand others have. I do have adjusted sliders slightly to fix that.
Cant explain Joe making some blocks. Thats Stafon and Stanley's job. Although it makes it tough to utilize that with no Formation Subs .
Ive actually seen him make a block a few times, but I see what your saying there.

Sorry I just like NCAA a lot better. I feel like the game play is superior and the nice presentation in Madden almost makes the game less smooth to play. As in its too much at times. I will say Im a HUGE college football fan and Im not big on the NFL, although I do follow and watch quite a bit. If I were to give the games ratings it would be NCAA 8/10 and madden a 7 or even 6.5. I just dont have fun with it, and I guess I understand how some people can.

[Roggie]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

Ill respond to each of those in order...

Im pretty sure Madden has the exact same problem. I have been on the Madden boards and what you just said about NCAA is the number 1 complaint coming from Madden owners.

Number 2 is not entirely true, but yes you see it. Honestly, I do not have a problem with it, because if you knew football, you would know this pretty much happens. DBs pick up on certain routes and can jump them. Yes, it is a little much in NCAA, but it finally made man coverage not completely worthless like its been in the past. You can still beat man, but sometimes the DB will actually cover his defender.

Ill agree with the lame breaking tackles thing. Thats very easy to avoid though. You know its a bug and a problem, so why exploit it? If im going to get tackled then I let my guy get tackled and dont have that problem anymore.

Im sorry I dont have the fumble problem. I probably fumble well under once a game. If you set your settings to aggressive run and you keep trying to fight for extra yardage with the truck stick, then yeah your going to have your problem, but thats the risk in trying to do that.

And lastly... blocking is very very easy quick fix with sliders. I actually havent had the problem your having, but I understand others have. I do have adjusted sliders slightly to fix that.
Cant explain Joe making some blocks. Thats Stafon and Stanley's job. Although it makes it tough to utilize that with no Formation Subs .
Ive actually seen him make a block a few times, but I see what your saying there.

Sorry I just like NCAA a lot better. I feel like the game play is superior and the nice presentation in Madden almost makes the game less smooth to play. As in its too much at times. I will say Im a HUGE college football fan and Im not big on the NFL, although I do follow and watch quite a bit. If I were to give the games ratings it would be NCAA 8/10 and madden a 7 or even 6.5. I just dont have fun with it, and I guess I understand how some people can.

Sums up my thoughts. And on Madden, the blitz/pass blocking for PC/User is the exact same as on NCAA (but, that might be the fact that I play as the Lions, so it might be realistic). But as of now, NCAA gets a better rating than Madden. I get bored playing Madden. Once I get 3 or 4 Online Franchises going, that may change, because I get bored on either game if it isn't in a OD/OF, but as of now, my thoughts stand as stated.

But, it's a simile, not a metaphor, just to straighten that question out.

[Aggies7]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

The way I look at it these games are completely different from each other and I enjoy both

[stewaat]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

I bought Madden after a two year hold out and the game is pretty good, but so is NCAA.

Personally, I like the gameplay of NCAA better. To me Madden is wide-open this year.

I'll still play Madden some but I'm going back to NCAA as my game of choice.

I have no bias towards either game, I really wanted to get into a Madden franchise! I would love the Madden presentation mixed with the atmosphere of NCAA because in Madden it is boring as hell.

[DOSMedia4SC]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

Sums up my thoughts. And on Madden, the blitz/pass blocking for PC/User is the exact same as on NCAA (but, that might be the fact that I play as the Lions, so it might be realistic). But as of now, NCAA gets a better rating than Madden. I get bored playing Madden. Once I get 3 or 4 Online Franchises going, that may change, because I get bored on either game if it isn't in a OD/OF, but as of now, my thoughts stand as stated.

But, it's a simile, not a metaphor, just to straighten that question out.

I cant see myself playing online Madden. I just read that they changed the online play to have the default game speed set to "slow," which for me, would make it unplayable online.

I wont give up on the game. Ill keep giving it a chance. Im not that close minded of a person.

Thanks. I knew a simile and metaphor are similar, but just couldnt remember the reason why.

[OMT]

Re: I just bought Madden today and...

But, it's a simile, not a metaphor, just to straighten that question out.

You sure? He said "Madden is" and "NCAA is". If it was a simile, he would have said "Madden is like" and "NCAA is like".

Well... that's what I remember from high school.