What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

[FOREST007]

I tried something similar to this in another post, but it's just as the title says.

But please lets not try and think BIG, because it's the little things that count. We all know Gameplay and AI difficulty would help a lot.

But for me, something as simple as generic faces for rookies will help me out. Team Stats / Rankings on the load up page before the game and a lot of stats during the game (I wouldn't care if they pulled out a stat that said "RB Name only averages 6 carries a game") and when browsing the menus.

I know most of those things was on last-gen, but do we really need load up screens that tell us "a canon-arm QB can throw the ball far" or "speed players are some of the fastest in the NFL"

[cubsball899]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

there are far far far far far FAR too many star players in these drafts added to the fact that older players do not degress right and the talent pool is way to high a few years into the franchise.

[BamaBoy88]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

The ability to switch teams without having to completely start over.

[FOREST007]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

there are far far far far far FAR too many star players in these drafts added to the fact that older players do not degress right and the talent pool is way to high a few years into the franchise.

i agree, but i think that was a big problem this year because every draft was scripted and players got really good really fast. Now that i think about it, it would be better for us not to see potential at all. It'll be fun if you have multiple users in your franchise

The ability to switch teams without having to completely start over.

i always controlled one team, but my cousin used to switch. he hated snow games, but thats when weather didnt affect anything tho lol

[DoubleIt5]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

Adding more of the things that make the NFL the NFL.

Free Agency needs to be accurate, include RFA and UFA.

Some sort of training camp system where you would have to cut players (this means adding a practice squad and allowing a larger roster in the offseason).

Team tendencies matter, no more of the almost identical play calling no matter the team (I know coaching sliders help this but it's not enough).

Have teams draft and sign players according to tendencies. Revamp the system entirely so teams make logical decisions, don't have the Titans take a RB in the 1st, or the Packers take a QB in the first (the Raiders of course could keep making poor 1st round decisions). Obviously there are exceptions, like Rodgers being drafted by the Packers, a lot of people thought they should have taken someone else.

To follow up the last point CPU teams need GM personalities (a GM who builds through the draft vs. a GM who signs big name FAs).

Make it so you cannot see potential for any player, including rookies.

Rookies either need to be randomly generated (with a fixed system so you don't have 92 SPD 76 ACC) or randomize the names so you don't know who the best players are.

More intricate scouting of rookies and players. Pick which things you are scouting, you want a speed back you focus on that, you want a hard hitting LB you focus on that.

With comment to the last statement in the offseason you could invite rookies to participate in drills.

I could go on longer but this is already way too long. Curious what else you guys think because if anyone from EA is reading this it would go a long way in adding loyalty to the game, something that has been slipping quickly the last few years (I will say Madden 10 was a great improvement, although I see it more as a foundation to build upon) Sorry for the hijack.

[LSX]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

The ability to switch teams without having to completely start over.

+ 1 million

I was extremely disappointed when I realized you couldn't do this in Madden 10. I ALWAYS did this in past franchises. I'd build a crappy team into a dynasty, then jump ship to one of the worst teams in the league and start all over again. This was always so much fun, building up a losing team into a winner. I could usually play for at least 10-15 seasons and not get bored.

Also, if teams had more of a personality, it would be kind of cool (although it would help a lot more if CPU logic improved quite a bit). The newspaper front pages that they used in past versions of Madden and NCAA were a good idea. If they built on that idea, I think it would add a lot to the presentation. If the Steelers become the laughingstock of the league, I want to see a headline. If the Jaguars build a truly dominant defense, if the Rams go 10 seasons without a consistent QB, if the Dolphins draft the next Barry Sanders #1 overall, if the Raiders fire their coach in the middle of the season, if the Ravens want a youth movement and decide to rebuild, if Randy Moss is unhappy and requests a trade, if the Saints offense is setting records, etc....I want to see a headline about it.

[LSX]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

I could go on longer but this is already way too long. Curious what else you guys think because if anyone from EA is reading this it would go a long way in adding loyalty to the game, something that has been slipping quickly the last few years (I will say Madden 10 was a great improvement, although I see it more as a foundation to build upon) Sorry for the hijack.

Keep going on as long as you want. You're right on the money! I couldn't agree more with everything you've said.

[deaduck]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

Transfering most of the features of the last Head Coach would pretty much take care of it for me.

[CreatineKasey]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

As long as online franchise is available... I'd never touch offline franchise ever in the future unless the internet explodes.

[MrHeffalump]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

If it were up to me, they would scrap potential. The argument seems to be for hiding potential but I know if my defensive end who gets 15 sacks doesn't progress, he might as well be traded for someone who will.

The last gen systems may have had some over inflated performance based progression, but the concept is valid. Everyone says, "feeding your 70 overall back thirty carries a game should not progress him!" I still think that's better than having your 70 overall back progress on the bench because an A was next to his name, whether the user can see it or not.

[FOREST007]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

Team tendencies matter, no more of the almost identical play calling no matter the team (I know coaching sliders help this but it's not enough).

Have teams draft and sign players according to tendencies. Revamp the system entirely so teams make logical decisions, don't have the Titans take a RB in the 1st, or the Packers take a QB in the first (the Raiders of course could keep making poor 1st round decisions). Obviously there are exceptions, like Rodgers being drafted by the Packers, a lot of people thought they should have taken someone else.

in madden, i think they need to have progressive coaching that determines coaching sliders...and that should be based off the team personnel. if u have 2 shutdown corners then the defense should be aggressive w/ blitzes. Good QB/Sub-par RB, then pretty much a passing offense. of course, every position on the team should be looked at. interesting things could occur, poor pass blocking line w/ good QB...great run blocking line w/ sub-par RB

this could also help out with the drafts, teams would know exactly what they need to work on.

But the biggest problem with the draft is the number of skilled positions. There is always a Top-5 QB or RB. Also overalls are way too high coming in. If you look at the rookie database made with the top rookies, you will see there are a lot of 80+ overall rookies. I think NBA 2k does a good job with their rookie ratings, but almost every rating means something in their games

[LSX]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

If it were up to me, they would scrap potential. The argument seems to be for hiding potential but I know if my defensive end who gets 15 sacks doesn't progress, he might as well be traded for someone who will.

The last gen systems may have had some over inflated performance based progression, but the concept is valid. Everyone says, "feeding your 70 overall back thirty carries a game should not progress him!" I still think that's better than having your 70 overall back progress on the bench because an A was next to his name, whether the user can see it or not.

Agreed. There are many different opinions on the way progression should work, but I look at it this way: if a 70 overall HB in Madden '08 (Matt Forte? LeRon McClain? Michael Turner?) ends up having a breakout season in 2008 (real life), you can bet he'll have a much higher rating when Madden '09 comes out next year. Same deal with the roster updates and the constantly changing ratings between each update. That alone makes a pretty decent argument for performance and game-time experience at least having SOME accountability in player progression.

[Steeler99]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

#1 The ability to change teams without starting a new franchise!

I always consider myself to be the head coach of whatever team I take over. Once I develop them into a champion (or fail to), it gets boring running the same team after a few years. It would be nice to have the ability of switching teams at that point and start over at rebuidling a new team ... just like coaches do in the real NFL!

IE: Shanahan, Parcells, Phillips, Turner, etc, etc ... numerous coaches leave one team only to re-surface with another NFL team. In Madden we are forced to completely restart a new franchise to take over a new team which eliminates all progress from previous franchise ... just not as much fun from a draft/off-season perspective.

#2 The ability to create a new stadium or modify existing one without moving a team. I'd love to be able to turn a team like the lions or Vikings back into an outdoor team like they were in their glory days.

#3 Get "formation subs" out of the in-game play calling screen!!! This should be something that can be accomplished outside of the game, much like depth chart adjustments.

[foolish813]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

To start off, the past 2 years have been the least i've ever played franchise mode. Here you will find somethings old and new. OK now to my points!

1- The ability to switch teams. I used to love to build a power house, leave and build another to eventually challenge them.

2- The ability to create alternate uniforms without moving my team.

3- One or two legendary prone rookies who seem to play forever, and degrade slowly, ala Farve.

4- PLay creator and editor.

5- Create a package. This was boss!

6- Formation subs outside of an ongoing game.

7- Practice with my franchise team.

8- Weekly keys to victory.

9- Tony Bruno. This helped to tell a story.

10- BOUNTY!! Before each game let us put a bounty on 1 player from the oppossing team. During the game all of your players will try to hit stick that player more often than not. This creates that "beat up Farve effect". Maybe you could also choose "strip ball" instead of hitstick for that player. Maybe this pays off, maybe not

[DoubleIt5]

Re: What Would Help You Play Offline Franchise Mode Longer?

10- BOUNTY!! Before each game let us put a bounty on 1 player from the oppossing team. During the game all of your players will try to hit stick that player more often than not. This creates that "beat up Farve effect". Maybe you could also choose "strip ball" instead of hitstick for that player. Maybe this pays off, maybe not

Although this is technically illegal in the NFL, every team does it. Great idea.

The ability to change teams without starting a new franchise!

This to me should be a no brainer, taking it out was as pointless a removal as in game saves.

The last gen systems may have had some over inflated performance based progression, but the concept is valid. Everyone says, "feeding your 70 overall back thirty carries a game should not progress him!" I still think that's better than having your 70 overall back progress on the bench because an A was next to his name, whether the user can see it or not.

I think they need to blend the two somehow. I read on here someone using the example of Cedric Benson and how he progressed in real life. High 1st round pick who everyone thinks will be great (say 79 OVR). He doesn't live up to expectations for a few years and declines (say 70 OVR). Then somehow a light goes off and he jumps huge (say to 88 OVR). Potential shouldn't be just a single letter grade for an entire career. It should somehow be set, like for Benson, year 1 C, year 2 C, year 3 C, year 4 C, year 5 A. All in all it can't just be linear, although I do think Madden 10 has a good start in combining both potential and production based progression.