Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

[KCsFinest5]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

This strat. pad is a big problem. I really enjoy being able to audible on the fly very quickly. This limits me. Also, I'm undecided on the GameFlow feature because I don't think I will ever use it.

Will someone answer me one question; Why did Madden go "simple" this year? Have there been issues with people not getting the hang of things?

Thanks in advance!

[slick589]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

i still feel player interaction is lacking. besides all the pro-tak problems, i hardly see any wr/db interaction. there still needs to be more interaction after the a play. on sundays you see guys talking trash or joking around with each other, or trying to fire up teammates after the whistle blows

[ryan36]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Ok I played about 4 single player games and 1 two player game on the demo.
The S-Pad needs to be taken out and replaced with the old method. I think this will work better and allow more pre-adjustments before snap

I don't think NFL defenses make more than 2 or 3 adjustments per play...I also don't think that I play in the NFL ... I think it just means you have to call better D. I wish they'd have tiered defensive play-calling...tell your guys in the box to do one thing, and the secondary to do another...I'd like that a lot

[ODogg]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

My thoughts are that EA seems to believe there are a lot of non-football fans that they can get to buy the game if the game is simplified. However, I believe it's just the opposite. I believe that by simplifying things as they are that they are actually leaving sales on the table due to actual football fans choosing to pass.

They should re-think their strategy and go after more of the hardcore football fans. I mean look at the NHL series, when they were going after the casual sales they were getting trounced by 2K sports. When they switched to go after the hockey fans then their NHL series began destroying 2K sports game and has every since.

If they did the same thing for Madden I think they'd see a huge sales increase.

[ODogg]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

ryan36 - i'm lucky to get 1 adjustment in before the snap. Yes I know, I'll get more used to the strategy pad but it still won't help. Why? Well there are three reasons:

1. When I play other players they will snap the ball immediately most of the time, so saying the CPU in the retail version will delay the snap longer is a solution means nothing to me.

2. The actual interface of the strategy pad is slow and even after I memorize all of the options it is not responsive.

3. The Xbox d-pad is terribly unresponsive.

Combine #2 and #3 and I see a world of frustration ahead for a lot of us Xbox 360 players. And for #1 then it's frustration for online players and/or people who play head to head with other people. And lastly, if you're an online Xbox player then you get the best of both worlds of frustration!!!

[TLizChosen]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Everything has pretty much been said, so I will just say I can get used to the D-pad. I have already preordered and will play it, but I think NCAA is more fun at the moment.

[ThisIsReality]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

some ratings still dont matter. why is lowery from the jets with 68 man coverage locking down reggie wayne. smh

What difficulty are you playing?

All-Madden is a difficulty where the CPU does NOT play to their ratings at all.

I've heard All-Pro isn't either and Pro is the way to go with some adjusted sliders.

[ryan36]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

ODogg- I'm with you, I see what you're saying...but offensive players make those same adjustments to get the most out of their plays don't they? I always shift someone , flip a run, send a guy in motion , hot route, or slide protect. Usually 1 or sometimes 2 of those adjustments...I don't know about how horrible the 360 d-pad is, so I'll concede that point. I still think it'll be ok. I wish you didn't have to 'activate' it first...that extra step bugs me. If i could just hit down+down to adjust the line, that'd be easier. If they could remove that extra button map, I'd like it

[proud2bawesome]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

After playing the demo a few times, I am really disappointed. It feels like a huge step back from last year in most departments. Most grievances have already been aired here so I will resist the urge to completely bash it. But I have to say, even though I have bought Madden new every year, I will not this year. Why would I? It's just Madden 10 with crappy controls. I will try not to be too harsh, but in all reality if I were a higher up from EA auditing this team's development cycle, by the time I was done the entire staff would be fired. There is nothing in this game to justify the time and money that went into it for a full year.

[adembroski]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

I understand where people are coming from on this locomotion thing. I feel it more tightly in NCAA as well, but I wonder how much that has to do with there being a lot more open field running in NCAA. The NFL is effectively played on a "smaller field" due to the speed of the game, so there isn't as much cutting to be done.

I don't like the strat pad much either, I didn't like it at CD, though I'm growing accustom now. Still, I have a hard time seeing the benefit. Virtually every 2-button adjustment I made before is now a 3-button adjustment. Admittedly, there's one big benefit: It doesn't take up the entire damn screen anymore. Ian is insisting once people get used to it, they'll like it (and evidence thus far is proving him right... on twitter I constantly see converts who are liking it now after complaining a few hours ago.)

For the record, I heard from someone, and I think it was Ian, say that the QB doesn't quick snap so much in the retail game. That'll make a huge difference.

Everyone's raving about the sideline catches. Everyone I've seen has been executed 2 yards out of bounds, so I'm not seeing good things so far. I would assume this is actually a good sign, as the receivers don't automatically keep their feet in on every sideline catch. If I were going off of only what I've seen, however, I'd have an issue with it.

I concur with most people on the catch animations. I've seen some really good ones, especially on bad passes over the middle. Drops/incompletions always seem really realistic, and I've seen some great catches that didn't defy logic.

The blocking seems... inconsistent? Too many DLinemen getting off blocks too quickly for my taste.

Anyways, this is only 3 games, all on All-Pro... 1 as the Jets, 2 as the Colts. I'm 1-2, 1 close win, 1 close loss, and a blowout loss.

[ODogg]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Yeah, people who play serious usually do, the problem is a lot of more casual players don't do those things. So in effect the strategy pad is handicapping knowledgeable players and thus making the playing field more even. But now that I think about it, maybe that is the actual INTENT of EA by introducing the strategy pad.

OH and 100% agree about that nonsense of "activating" it. It's ridiculous and my fingers are trembling in anger as I type this just thinking about the entire thing.

[DaCarver13]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

I have to say I would give this demo a 9 out of 10.
I know a lot of people are upset and do not appreciate the game but I see the game much improved.

I was really upset to not see the Online Franchise not get any upgrades as that is the only mode I play. I was also thinking that the gameply was going to be almost the same as last year from seeing all the videos... Boy was I wrong!

Some people either did not play Madden last year or are just blind to see the improvements that make this game really good.

I played all my demo games on All-Madden and All-Pro

Imrovements:
1. Much improved blocking. My running backs actually pick up the blitz. Pass blocking linemen actually do better in pass blocking than run blocking. Their attributes show. When I played with the Jets, pass blocking was not so good as Mathis and Freeney were getting in consistently, but as I ran the ball the Jets O-line shined. Opposite with the Colts, I barely got sacked with Peyton Manning and had way more time to throw.

2. No more HIT STICK from 5 feet away and cause a fumble. I noticed that the hit stick is far more realistic. You actually have to be in the right position and is not as easy as past years.

3. The days were 50+ yard field goals were automatic are over. Although the kicking is not super hard, I do see guys missing a lot more.

4. No more last second throwing incompletions. I remember last year when you barely got the ball off without a full throwing motion it was called an incomplete pass... not this year, if that arm is not in a full throwing motion its a fumble.

5. Sideline catching is on point. Curl routes actually work. Now when you run a curl and the receiver catches the ball he turns and goes upfield instead of losing yards!

6. Defense finesse moves on block shed are not automatic anymore. I had a guy last year in my Online Franchise that would use the same Finesse move with Michael Johnson every time and get in the backfield with ease! He had 26 sacks in one season! Those days are over...

7. Locomotion is sick! I had guys in Online Franchise that could cover almost the entire field with their free safety. Now swticthing directions takes away speed, momentum, agility, acceleration, etc. Every player feels different. You can really feel the difference.

8. Cornerbacks hit the ball out of your receivers hands when they catch it.

9. QB throwing motions are sick! I also noticed when you pump fake sometimes the defender on that side gets faked out and sometimes he doesn't. Play action is no longer as effective as last year. I remember last year you didn't even have to establish a run and you were able to play action with ease and the defense ALWAYS bit. Heck guys would even play action on 3rd and 20 and get a first down.

10. Way more animations! No more same ol' jump in the air and get flipped animation. I have seen several different animations.

11. Realism, man I feel like I am actually playing with the Colts or Jets. The player faces are ridiculously sick. The crowd is much improved.

12. Gus Johnson is an uprade from Hammond. Game feels more exciting.



Dislikes:
1. Althought I do like Gus, I think they should add commentary about the current season. I heard NCCA does this. This would be great for online franchise.

2. Fight for the fumble. Hate it.

3. Tackling is still horrible.

4. Although not all the time, CB's tend to know the route your WR is running and make their cuts sometimes before your WR does.

5. Presentation is a bit weak. Could be way better. Halftime show, between quarters, and player of the game.

6. Strategy pad. Not a fan but I am not throwing a fit about it like most people are. I adjust easily.

[Ronnie brown23]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

What difficulty are you playing?

All-Madden is a difficulty where the CPU does NOT play to their ratings at all.

I've heard All-Pro isn't either and Pro is the way to go with some adjusted sliders.

all-pro but i like to play online

[ryan36]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Yeah, people who play serious usually do, the problem is a lot of more casual players don't do those things. So in effect the strategy pad is handicapping knowledgeable players and thus making the playing field more even. But now that I think about it, maybe that is the actual INTENT of EA by introducing the strategy pad.

OH and 100% agree about that nonsense of "activating" it. It's ridiculous and my fingers are trembling in anger as I type this just thinking about the entire thing.

Now ODogg, you are usually a very reasonable guy...and I get people will not like the game for other reasons...but as focused as EA is with online play, etc....I have to imagine they determined this would not break it for "sim" gamers. After last year, (and since I'm not looking for perfection)...I have faith that most decisions they make are the right one

[AUChase]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

Would I be a bastard if I said I was just flat out un-impressed ?

I'll go into detail when I can get some time to type it out.