Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

[Jkgrindz]

1st off thank God they're giving us an option to use turbo because I would personally rather use the turbo button. It gives you more control over when you want to speed burst.

As far as the Game Flow, when the coach calls in the play is it just audio are is it both audio & text? I hope it's just audio because I don't want messeges popping up on screen when I'm playing. That would be lame. Hopefully we'll get an option.

Is the playcalling screen different from 10? I thought Madden 10's playcall screens were dull. NCAA 11's playcall screens look awesome. Hopefully Madden will follow suit.

Did they finally bring back Progressive Lighting? If not I'll be disappointed.

Will Madden have all the Accessories & Equipment that NCAA has (especially FLAK JACKETS & RUNNING BACK PLATES)? No excuse not to.

Will Field Degradation be improved? Will we see chunks of grass popping up when players make sharp cuts like in Last Gen?

My biggest concern with the new locomotion is that most RB's will be run the same & have the same animations (I don't want to see Brandon Jacobs doing the same spin move that Reggie Bush does). We really need signature running styles & most of all PLAYER TENDENCIES.

Overall the preview sounds good. I'm interested to see what other presentation improvements they've made.

[moneal2001]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

Are you saying that NCAA has been confirmed to have subs for each and every formation???

My problem with the sub system in Madden is that certain special team formations do not allow subs, because you can't get to them with the on the fly subs (which I like, just wish they would add a reset formation sub button).

KOs is the big one for me - I don't want certain players covering kicks, that is why I have depth at certain positions so that my starters are not risking injury or wasting their fatigue covering kicks!

The formation subs in NCAA allowed subs on all formations including special teams. That was in the first NCAA blog, I think

[Valdarez]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

Even if one believes that APF's kicking mechanics are superior (and I couldn't disagree more on that point), one cannot deny that a meter based system is more in line with the "Quicker, Simpler, Deeper" mantra of M11.

How is it in line with the mantra? I really don't see any difference over what we had last year, except now the movement isn't mapped to the motion.

[Jkgrindz]

Will fatigue actually matter this year? We need progressive fatigue in the game. For example if I'm pounding the rock with a big back like Brandon Jacobs, I want to see the opposing defensive line warn down by the 4th quarter.

[roadman]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

Will fatigue actually matter this year? We need progressive fatigue in the game. For example if I'm pounding the rock with a big back like Brandon Jacobs, I want to see the opposing defensive line warn down by the 4th quarter.

Slider adjustments for fatigue helped out with Madden 10. On long drives, I would see backup defensive lines come in.

Same thing for WR's as well if I was having a long drive. I would see backup RB's as WR's towards the end of a long drive.

That was my experience, at least.

[parrothead]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

Thanks for the impressons, everything sounds really positive and hopeful. Since there is no play call screen, what goes on on the field during what used to be the play call time? Like is there a huddle? Does the camera cut away to the sideline, anything like that?

[creed200569]

This game looks like crap. I cant believe people still fall for the same crap every year. All the animations still look the same,ugly and robotic.

[roadman]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

This game looks like crap. I cant believe people still fall for the same crap every year. All the animations still look the same,ugly and robotic.

I'm waiting till August to see if they are tuned better before I make proclamations like that.

[coogrfan]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

How is it in line with the mantra? I really don't see any difference over what we had last year, except now the movement isn't mapped to the motion.

It's quicker and simpler than kicking in previous next-gen Maddens because it's button-based, while at the same time it's deeper because it will allow subtle differences in kicker ability to be easily represented by changing the size of the meter's "sweet spots".

Imo this is a simple and elegant design solution, and one that is far superior to APF's unnecessarily difficult to master kicking mechanics.

[Flamehead]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

The gameflow thing really just doesn't do much for me. I don't fit the average madden gamer that only runs 3-4 plays tho. When I played I tried to never use the same play more than 3-4 times a game at most. I also really don't like having the cpu select my plays even if it's choosing from my selection because I still wouldn't trust it to be the play I wanted to run.

It's not a bad feature I guess, it just does nothing to address any of the issues I have with the game either.

+1. No disrespect, but I'm surprised at the number of sim-oriented players here who like the idea of plays being called for them, even if it is from a pre-defined list established in advance, or tendecies, i.e., the "gameplan".

Unless I'm misunderstanding it. Doesn't gameflow by it's definition = plays being called for you regardless?

Trying to see through the smoke and mirrors, it almost seems like a glorified "favorites" list. I can see how that might be helpful in cutting down on time navigating to the desired play, but making the decision for you?

Most every article mentions the genesis of the idea stemming from the fact that they want to appeal to the casual gamer--no surprise there, that's the de-facto mission statement for Madden now. So it's easy to see how Gameflow stemmed from that.

Then it's said that it will also appeal to the experienced player because of the "Gameplan" aspect, i.e., the establishment of your pre-selected plays. Then, the cpu selects from your selected plays based on where you set those plays in the down and distance scenario. But it's still calling plays for you.

Are the sim-oriented players who like this idea favoring it because it relieves them of the in-game playcalling itself and would rather focus on the execution of the play?

Not knocking anyone, just trying to understand it myself.

I'll give it an honest go, but if it's what I think it might be, I'll most likely turn it off altogether. Props to EA for making it optional though.

[RGiles36]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

Will fatigue actually matter this year? We need progressive fatigue in the game. For example if I'm pounding the rock with a big back like Brandon Jacobs, I want to see the opposing defensive line warn down by the 4th quarter.

Did you play M10 last year my friend? Or at least offline? Fatigue worked fine and was customizeable (sp). Plus, it was progressive in that heavily used players would not recoup their full energy later in the game.

[Boregard]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

The formation subs in NCAA allowed subs on all formations including special teams. That was in the first NCAA blog, I think

Thanks for that, did not catch that and that would be a huge plus in my book!

Thank you

[roadman]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

+1. No disrespect, but I'm surprised at the number of sim-oriented players here who like the idea of plays being called for them, even if it is from a pre-defined list established in advance, or tendecies, i.e., the "gameplan".

Unless I'm misunderstanding it. Doesn't gameflow by it's definition = plays being called for you regardless?

Trying to see through the smoke and mirrors, it almost seems like a glorified "favorites" list. I can see how that might be helpful in cutting down on time navigating to the desired play, but making the decision for you?

Most every article mentions the genesis of the idea stemming from the fact that they want to appeal to the casual gamer--no surprise there, that's the de-facto mission statement for Madden now. So it's easy to see how Gameflow stemmed from that.

Then it's said that it will also appeal to the experienced player because of the "Gameplan" aspect, i.e., the establishment of your pre-selected plays. Then, the cpu selects from your selected plays based on where you set those plays in the down and distance scenario. But it's still calling plays for you.

Are the sim-oriented players who like this idea favoring it because it relieves them of the in-game playcalling itself and would rather focus on the execution of the play?

Not knocking anyone, just trying to understand it myself.

I'll give it an honest go, but if it's what I think it might be, I'll most likely turn it off altogether. Props to EA for making it optional though.

Currently, I'm going off the advice of the CD folks. So far, everyone has liked the feature that has commented on it and these folks play a sim style game like I do.

I'm liking at this stage because I feel I can choose the plays that I want to run prior to playing the game. To me, that's similar to studying and game planning for your opponent the week prior to you play them.

I'm not saying that this feature is going to be great and like you, I will be trying it and not killing it 4 months before the game arrives on the shelves.

[Dawsons_Creek]

Madden 11 is looking real good right now, lets just hope for a deeper franchise mode and it will be perfect!

[Boregard]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

I have a question for anyone who may be able to comment;

Did anyone who has seen the game, or got to get their hands on it, notice if the WRs/DBs actually fight for the ball?

Does the way you hit the button effect which type of animation you get?

Tap = in stride animation
Press =quick jump attempt
Hold = try to get ball at highest point

That is one thing I absolutely hate about this gen - the way I press the buttons, outside of lob or bullet pass and QB slides, does nothing in the game!!!