Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

[StormJH1]

This article kind of misses the elephant in the room, which is ProTak and the way the game PLAYS. Much, much improved in Madden 10, but I think it's also fair to say that with all the hype from Ian and the devs, it didn't quite live up to community expectations (or hopes).

ProTak is a great narrative about how an ideal football game should control, but when you actually went to play it, people found that they were still either locked into animations with minimal control, or seeing absurd results, like four tacklers bunching into a cluster, as the ball carrier breaks free of everybody and easily runs for a TD. I'm not saying it was a failure, but I really hope that they continue to work with it, and that they listened to people who felt that if fell a bit short in some areas.

[dfos81]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

I expect them to improve upon Pro-Tak and that should go w/o saying, I'm just saying it anyway

[kjcheezhead]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

This article kind of misses the elephant in the room, which is ProTak and the way the game PLAYS. Much, much improved in Madden 10, but I think it's also fair to say that with all the hype from Ian and the devs, it didn't quite live up to community expectations (or hopes).

ProTak is a great narrative about how an ideal football game should control, but when you actually went to play it, people found that they were still either locked into animations with minimal control, or seeing absurd results, like four tacklers bunching into a cluster, as the ball carrier breaks free of everybody and easily runs for a TD. I'm not saying it was a failure, but I really hope that they continue to work with it, and that they listened to people who felt that if fell a bit short in some areas.

I agree with you about Pro-tak. I won't speak for what it allowed with branching animations, forming a pocket, what ever else it was supposed to do because I don't know, but as far as gang tackling, I think it's a terrible design.

What it did basically, is put 8 imaginary handles on your player like so.



The problem is, the defenders are often coming from the same point and can't latch on to handle #1 if another defender is there. The game has to move him over to handle #2 or #8 to get involved. The sliding that happens is just ugly and makes you feel cheated as a player.

I'm sure every other football game has some sort tackle points like this, but when you know its there and can watch the game moving the pieces into place like that, it kills any sense of realism.

[Tito78]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

Anyone else think the best way to improve Madden is to NOT making any big changes and additions and just spend all the time and effort improving what already exists in the game?

It seems like every year EA comes up with new additions to the game which only causes new problems for everyone to complain about and neglects other smaller issues which could really improve the game.

Also, it seems like anytime EA adds something new to the game, it is exaggerated in the game play. Animations such as 1-handed catches, and tackles that have WRs doing flips happen multiple times every game when they should be rare. One of the suggestions by the article is a QB rating for throwing off the back foot. It wouldn't surprise me if QBs with high ratings for that would start throwing a ridiculous amounts of their throws off their back foot and being un-sackable in every game.

If Madden 11 has everything that Madden 10 was supposed to have, and I mean things like: adaptive AI that actually adapts, ratings that actually separate the elite from the mediocre(most ratings meant nothing), presentation that surpasses 2k5, a deeper franchise mode with extended rosters in the preseason/off-season and a working IR, we will have a great football game.

I doubt that will happen though.

[Chabaca2]

if you ask me, i wish the running animations didnt suck ***

[stylezgwhite]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

If Madden 11 has everything that Madden 10 was supposed to have, and I mean things like: adaptive AI that actually adapts, ratings that actually separate the elite from the mediocre(most ratings meant nothing), presentation that surpasses 2k5, a deeper franchise mode with extended rosters in the preseason/off-season and a working IR, we will have a great football game.

I doubt that will happen though.

I think they have widened the gap between the superstars and the rest of the league. At least compared to previous games.

Another thing that annoys me is there is no feature that enables us to look into next years finances. Why can't I look ahead a year to see who is on the books for next year and beyond?

[Coach Bryant]

I've had a great time playing Madden this year. This is just my opinion, but I think its the best game in the series so far.

[carnalnirvana]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

i have preached getting of the OVR rating for yrs.

also if tendencies made it into the game that would further seperate players as it stands manning is the same as brady more seperate characteristics are still needed.

also new plays are a must these plays we have been using since madden 03 at least

[PantherBeast_OS]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

Well for the most part I love madden this year. Best ever. But will be even better come madden11. There is still work that need sto be done to madden 11 to make it much better then 10. But Ian and his crew will do it.

[jyoung]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

If they added the Bronze/Silver/Gold tiers from Madden: Ultimate Team and brought back the weapons system from Madden 08, then we could finally say goodbye to the overall rating system.

With there being something like 40-50 different rating categories in this game, there is no reason to try to compress all that data into one magic "overall" formula.

Just let us know the player's skill set via "weapons" icons and his overall tier based on the bronze/silver/gold system and you'd simplify the scouting process a ton.

[mburke2]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

If they added the Bronze/Silver/Gold tiers from Madden: Ultimate Team and brought back the weapons system from Madden 08, then we could finally say goodbye to the overall rating system.

With there being something like 40-50 different rating categories in this game, there is no reason to try to compress all that data into one magic "overall" formula.

Just let us know the player's skill set via "weapons" icons and his overall tier based on the bronze/silver/gold system and you'd simplify the scouting process a ton.

Overall ratings are definitely outdated and just plain useless at this point. The weapons system is the best way to go to identify which players you want to sign/draft, as the overall rating tells you very little if anything. I'm sure that most people who are veterans at this game know how to check for attributes on players that identify what their skill sets are and match what they're looking for on their team. But the AI does not do this and only signs players based on an overall rating, which leads to computer teams signing players that don't fit teams' systems, making the outcomes unrealistic. Reintroducing the weapons system and programming the AI to have teams sign the right players would make the game much more realistic, particularly in franchise mode.

[Mofficial]

The annual "What I want in Madden" thread.

Let me tell you how it ends........they ignore everything you ask for.

They simply take a feature already in this years game and give it a catchy name like:

Madden 11: "Field General" - make pre-snap adjustments.

or

Madden 11: "Become a Dynasty" - Play as the same team over and over and over again.

or

Madden 11: "Own the League" - Control every aspect of your team except for the ******* stadium music.

LMAOOOOOOOO exactly.

Really, I just want them to fix the gameplay. After a while, this game stunk. Not trying to simply hate, but they just don't get it. Look at backbreaker's dev diary #1 on Gamespot. They have the correct concept: momentum (and for them, realtime animations) is the predominant factor. Ratings are simply INFLUENCERS on the game. What madden fails to do is having the ratings influence how the AI and players play. Instead, EA has ratings determine what happens on the field...no, momentum, animations, AI and the play call are the main factor that affects what happens on the field. Ratings come second.Once they finally understand that, and actually use animations that you see in real life in the NFL, then they'll have a good game. Until then...no dice.

Till this day, 2k5 is more fun and more realistic than Madden. Madden doesn't have to switch to Euphoria, they can keep their motion-capped animations, but just have them realistic and smooth so that they can capture what happens on an NFL field! If 2k5 was blown up into HD and had all the features of Madden, it'd be a great game!

Madden needs to focus on 3 main things:
1. Momentum, physics and animations ... and having ratings affect HOW players play
2. CPU AI
3. Football IQ and structure... how players play the flats, the difference between man and zone blocking, the NT being double teamed, etc. Fundamental aspects of football that affect the whole dynamic of play.

Go back to basics EA, go back to basics. Fix these issues, and you have a good game... jeez.

[creed200569]

This game is terrible on next gen. How can they make something so great on last gen,yet so bad on next gen. The graphics are great and the presentation is better,but still needs work,but the gameplay is a joke. I've never seen a game where the AI is so clueless especially on the OL. They need to stop worrying about adding in all these stupid features like fight for the fumble,hand towels,rewind,etc.. and focus on fixing the gameplay.

Pro Tak RUINED this game and if people cant see that then they are just dumb fanboys. While it looked good in the videos,playing the game made this feature EXTREMELY frustrating cuz of the ridiculous amount of times you get sucked into someone. Many times I had a clear view of the QB for a big sack and I got sucked into the blocker. I'm so glad I didnt waste my money on this garbage and I look forward to BB ruining Madden 11 sales. Not that BB will sell better,but it will definately turn ppl away from Madden

[stux]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

I think Offline franchise still needs a lot of attention. Like Rocky said it should be a big focus as a lot of us don't play online.

I don't ever plan on playing Madden online. It is funny though every other game I have I only play online while Madden is a game that I just don't like online.

Hopefull, it gets its attention this year but my feeling is it won't. I don't think the people making decision at EA currently believe it is the direction they want to head.

I think eventually you will see more Madden Shop and online. Plus more purchase DL content. I think making more money via extra add-ons online will be the direction this game takes in years to come. Maybe even a subsciption based option for you online franchise guys ($10/mo. or something like that).

[Segagendude]

Re: Madden NFL 10: The Game Which Almost Was

Pro Tak RUINED this game and if people cant see that then they are just dumb fanboys. While it looked good in the videos,playing the game made this feature EXTREMELY frustrating cuz of the ridiculous amount of times you get sucked into someone. Many times I had a clear view of the QB for a big sack and I got sucked into the blocker. I'm so glad I didnt waste my money on this garbage and I look forward to BB ruining Madden 11 sales. Not that BB will sell better,but it will definately turn ppl away from Madden

That's harsh. I personally like Pro-Tak, but I'm no fanboy. I've played all the NFL titles in the past, not just Madden.
It needs work, sure, but it doesn't ruin the game for me.

In fact, this is the longest I've played a Madden title in quite some time. Usually, I play a season, then trade it in. I'm in year two of franchise, and still enjoying it.

As for BB-----doubt it will ruin Madden sales. It'll probably do well in sales in the beginning, but after the initial excitement wanes and the bugs start showing up, it'll be a different story. JMO.