Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

[Bootzilla]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Videos: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

What would be really cool is if seeing your opponents plays and stats depending on your scouting rating in franchise. For example if you had really good scouting you would be able to see mostly everything the other team runs. If you had just okay you only say half of what the other teams runs etc.

Vs. the cpu you can do this it seems by going through other teams default gameplans. On 3rd and short the Dolphins may be likely to go to the Wildcat, the Ravens may be likely to go with a jumbo package, and the Broncos may look to spread you out and throw a bubble screen. In the default gameplan, the plays they're morelikely to call will have more stars next to it I would imagine.

[Purple28Pedestrian]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Videos: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

This is awesome. I'm totally using this feature to it's fullest! Gameplanning each week of my online franchise will be a lot lot lot of fun!

I'd much rather plan my strategy before the game and execute during it. I've had dozens of times in practice mode where I found something I loved and forgot about it the next day. Now, I can instantly adjust my base gameplan and simply execute on game day.

Awesome feature, EA. Gameplan will turn gameflow into a beast.

Is it just plays? or is it the mentality behind the players, will I be able to dictate whether they should play run more or pass more, depending on the team or is it just setting certain plays for certain situations?

[InSainn]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

I think before it's all said and done this feature will be the best thing that ever happened to Madden. It's true to how a coach actually calls and plans for a game with the option of going in and switching it up if adjustments need to be made. I see everyone here saying that coaches call their plays based on what the other team is doing. Not true at all. To an extent they do but always within the guidelines of that weeks gameplan, thus why teams make HALFTIME adjustments. Coaches don't adjust their gameplan on the fly, if something needs serious adjustment they do it at halftime. Also, I'm hoping that with every situation we'll have a different set of audibles to choose from at the line if we see something in the defense we can exploit. This, along with the new locomotion has me excited for Madden again for the first time in, well, ever, as I've always felt Madden was a subpar game compared to the football games released by Sega/2K and 989/SCEA. But I think this year they may finally be giving us a real football game and not some arcadish and dull pseudo-sim. Watching the locomotion videos really takes me back to NFL 94 Starring Joe Montana for the Sega Genesis, which to this day is still the best football game ever made when compared to the technology available in it's day. Just the way the movements look so fluid...

[johnnyg713]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Videos: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

Vs. the cpu you can do this it seems by going through other teams default gameplans. On 3rd and short the Dolphins may be likely to go to the Wildcat, the Ravens may be likely to go with a jumbo package, and the Broncos may look to spread you out and throw a bubble screen. In the default gameplan, the plays they're morelikely to call will have more stars next to it I would imagine.

Right.. what I was getting at was they should sort of restrict how much you see depending on your scouting level

[at23steelers]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

I really like this feature. Now, I can stick to the gameplan, and not shy away from it, when I get too lazy to have to scroll through all the plays and find a good one. I really hope they do add a lot more formations and plays to the playbooks specifically designed for that team. The Steelers D playbook is so generic and pretty much the same as any other 3-4 playbook in the game. I know Dick Lebeau likes to blitz a lot, but most of the plays in the playbook don't reflect that. I am all for Lebeau now calling the plays for me, if they are similar to the ones he runs in real life.

[granddogg]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

this looks like a good thing......p.s. why are people coming in these treads just to hate..lmao

[beastwork]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

this looks like a good thing......p.s. why are people coming in these treads just to hate..lmao

nothing better to do i guess.

this is a pretty solid upgrade. its not a gameplay improvement but quite honestly, i will use the heck out of this. I won't let the computer call my plays but having my favorite plays at arms length without sifting through hundreds of plays is a God send.

that said, this addition does not justify a purchase for me

[PVarck31]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

this looks like a good thing......p.s. why are people coming in these treads just to hate..lmao

You've been here for 3 years and you have to ask that question.

[Valdarez]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Videos: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

Can't believe I'm saying this but I agree with Valdarez.

Online especially, people tend to attack the same section of the field or run certain patterns until you stop it. That's actually how a real NFL team would call plays, depending on your school of thought. A team will constantly run crossing routes if you can't stop it. If I see a team doing that I'll probably stop using man coverage. How does Game Plan take any of this into account? This Game Plan (as far as we know) is not taking the actual plays that occur in a game into consideration. It's nice that it takes down and distance into account, but because it doesn't factor in the routes they run this actually takes away our ability to strategize and you could end up getting beat anyway.

So what if the game knows the Packers run out of Shotgun on 1st downs? What's important is, does the game know that they run slants and then more importantly if you're on the opposing team, will the Game Plan suggestion on defense recognize that and call a play that might stop that? Gameplanning for a 3 receiver set means nothing imo...that's too general.

Odds of probability were in my favor.

It's a good question though. If a team is running the ball, does your OC know to make the appropriate adjustments? I was thinking of it more from an offensive standpoint. For example, if my opponent is showing man/bump all game long, I'm going to start throwing some screen plays, throw arrow routes that break the bump coverage, use motion to get off the coverage, or try to run it on him from unexpected formations. I don't see how the game can take that into account as it's not a situation. Conversely, if I see a particular type of zone coverage being called, Cover 2, Cover 3, or Cover 4 repeatedly, I'm going to shred the zones with appropriate passing routes. Those aren't situations, those are reacting to the player and their defense. That's how I would play online.

I could give the examples for the defense as well. The situation is part of how you call a game, but taking advantage of what your opponent is showing you is just as integral to effective play calling.

[lolfalconsbeatu]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Videos: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

Odds of probability were in my favor.

It's a good question though. If a team is running the ball, does your OC know to make the appropriate adjustments? I was thinking of it more from an offensive standpoint. For example, if my opponent is showing man/bump all game long, I'm going to start throwing some screen plays, throw arrow routes that break the bump coverage, use motion to get off the coverage, or try to run it on him from unexpected formations. I don't see how the game can take that into account as it's not a situation. Conversely, if I see a particular type of zone coverage being called, Cover 2, Cover 3, or Cover 4 repeatedly, I'm going to shred the zones with appropriate passing routes. Those aren't situations, those are reacting to the player and their defense. That's how I would play online.

I could give the examples for the defense as well. The situation is part of how you call a game, but taking advantage of what your opponent is showing you is just as integral to effective play calling.

This how I play online, and I think all games should be played like this -- football is a chess match.

[ofdman]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

Don't want to derail the thread but YES..I have followed most of what EA plans for Madden this year and it was this thread that kinda led me to that post...I don't post much...I recall the threads and videos about running animations last year that actually had the game looking quite promising but at the end of the day it was much ado about nothing because those things did not make it into the game.

In a nutshell most of what EA hypes is not even worthy of discussing when the vast majority of the game is in shambles...I'm not a Madden Novice...I've bought every game for 20+ years, played heavy on the tournament scene and ran many online leagues...I'm Madden's biggest fan but at some point you literally have to start wondering...How many years are we going to have to wait???...The biggest problem I see is the game is actually as good as its ever been but in the context of where a next gen sports game like Madden Should be...It has not even come close to where many of us thought it might be at the inception of next gen.

I've actually resigned myself to believe we will likely never see Football game that will "WOW" us until exclusivity is over and somebody else gives us a different interpretation of NFL Football...Just my .02

Well said. And you're right, until the exclusivity is over we will continue getting these lame "new" features in Madden which do nothing to improve the AI, animations and atmosphere of their game.

What freaks me out more than anything is just how many hardcore Madden fans STILL hang on to this game year after year believing EA's hype. It's just... bizarre.

It was Madden's first game on the Sega Genesis that got me back into gaming all those years ago so I have EA to thank for that.

So long Madden NFL. It was fun for awhile but now... now it is over.

Ah... who am I kiddin'? I'll buy it again this year like I ALWAYS DO!!

DAMN YOU EA!! DAAAAAMN YOOOOOOOU!

[PlatooN]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

i love this feature already

[Valdarez]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

We don't see eye to eye on the gameflow/gameplan game play addition, which is fine, doesn't make us right or wrong, just opinionated.

...

It might cater to the casual crowd, but I'm sure it will appeal to the sim/veteran crowd, such as myself, based on the feedback from the CD folks.

Agreed, we all have our different opinions. Doesn't make one right or the other wrong.

I can see studying the film to provide proper play calling and better coaching AI s realistic, but GameFlow itself feels too much like Ask Madden with customization to me.

It could be that the Madden team wants to provide better coaching AI and they simply can't tout it as a feature, as many would think that's something that should be in the game after 20 years of development. I know that when I want to get something in from a design standpoint, that many times I have to find a way that engages management, or the business, such that they take a vested interest in it. This allows me to get the technical changes in that I need, while giving the business a bell and whistle to tout to the customers. I can definitely see where GameFlow/GamePlan can be used as a stepping stone to better coaching AI. I don't think it gets us 100% there, but definitely a step in that direction. I definitely want better coaching AI, but I want to be the one calling the plays, not my computer / coordinator (offensive/defensive).

[johnnyg713]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

What is sim about game flow is the fact the we as hardcore gamers can spend all the time we want altering and changing our game plan. Because of this I am very excited to make different game plans that cater to each of my friends' play style. This is what is very in-depth and casual gamers will prob not even touch this.

However like Val states and what concerns me as well is how does game flow adjust to someone running the ball to the right 5 plays in a row. We'll have to wait and see but I am positive the CD guys have mentioned this to the devs.

[Valdarez]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

What is sim about game flow is the fact the we as hardcore gamers can spend all the time we want altering and changing our game plan. Because of this I am very excited to make different game plans that cater to each of my friends' play style. This is what is very in-depth and casual gamers will prob not even touch this.

However like Val states and what concerns me as well is how does game flow adjust to someone running the ball to the right 5 plays in a row. We'll have to wait and see but I am positive the CD guys have mentioned this to the devs.

I sent Ian a tweet asking that they give gamers the ability to rate a play after it's been run. That would allow gamers to dynamically adjust the GamePlans as they play the game, and require less time in the GamePlan editing screen. No reply back from him yet.