Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

[Mbalmer]

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

I played 4 games last night and have a few things to say about this years Madden Demo. Keep in mind that I only played about 15 games of Madden last year and I didn't play NCAA 10 at all so I am anxious to play an HD NFL game. I have NCAA 11 and like it. I am a HUGE fan of the 2k series.

I am playing on a ps3 so yesterday while killing time at work I read alot of impressions on here and was pretty worried about the game. When I first started to play I thought "What is wrong with these people, this game plays great."

The graphics look good, I like the duel stick moves, passing is fun and can be a challenge, and wide receivers go up for the ball now instead of letting the cb knock it down. I had one catch where the wr dove (left to right on screen) and made the catch. It looked awesome. In short, I have never come away from playing a demo and been so impressed with a game. I can' t wait until Aug. 11 (taking family on vacation and won't be back until 11th) to sit down and play this game. Also, if you choose to spectate a game you can see the broadcast camera angle at work. This is going to be huge for me and a big reason why I play this more then NCAA. (1 camera angle? Really?)

Sure there are things wrong with the game, but I have come to terms with the fact that EA just doesn't know how to fix consecutive hits. I don't know why it is so hard or why 2k does this so well, but Ian and the gang just don't know how to do it or don't want to fix it. Also, I had trouble getting to the qb, but I had the same trouble with NCAA demo, but with sliders in the retail version it is not a problem at all. I am blindly going to tell myself that the same will happen here.

Real quick:

Gameflow is a horrible idea in my opinion, but I can turn it off so I really don't care either way about it.

Strategy pad seems to be getting alot of negative comments, but after 2 games I was making adjustments without even looking at which way to push the button. This is a non issue to me. It may take some people awhile to adjust, but it is not a game killer and anyone who doesn't buy this game because of it is crazy. It is EASY to use.

Kick meter is fine. I wish they would go to a "cross" kind of meter (like old ps1 live free throw.) + Get away from the arrow all together and make the up/down be the power and the left/right be accuracy. That would put a fun challenge into field goals.

Commentary is going to be okay in the long run. Gus is so excited sometimes that he can't even stand it. Really, I don't care that much about commentary and this, in general, is good. What I care more about is stat overlays and I saw a bunch pop up while playing. (something NCAA lacks, but hopefully will be fixed)

This is going to be the best year of football gaming for this gen, and I am on board and looking forward to it.

[navygoat1998]

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

Taste like chicken and plays like Madden. Another year of a good football, great no, good yes!


Mike

[GiantBlue76]

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.

I know the strat pad seems to be the biggest issue to most, but it wasn't for me. Yeah, I didn't really like it, but once again, it's the gameplay itself. Nothing feels alive at all. The players didn't look very good, the camera is too far away, the animations (albeit some additionals) start repeating again. Player movement does not look very real. When the play ends, everyone just stands up in a synchronized motion and does an about face still. The inability to come in and deliver the wood when there is a gang tackle is an absolute killer I also think the ball moves too fast when you pass it. A bullet pass looks like it was shot out of a cannon, even if I am throwing on the run. It's damn near impossible to sack the QB as he gets rid of it just as you get there no matter how effective your blitz was. The sideline catches were pretty good.

I just have a hard time believing that a year of work went into the gameplay, and in the case of locomotion, nearly 2 years. Really? My expectations were much higher after playing the NCAA demo, but IMHO, the gameplay doesn't measure up at all.

[ODogg]

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

Anyone that knows me knows I'm pretty EASY on EA's games. I'm usually able to overlook a lot of stuff. But due to the negatives I posted, especially this strategy pad thing, this is honestly the first year I've considered not buying Madden at all. If I can get a good deal on it and/or get it early then I probably still will just for the occasional time for when a buddy comes over but I really am not sure if I can get over the negatives I've seen from this demo.

I probably will end up wasting money on the game this year and not playing it much at all. I hope I'm wrong, maybe the retail will change my mind, but so far I'm very discouraged. At least I have a great NCAA 11 to enjoy though.

[ODogg]

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

tazdevil20 - very well said. Your post put into words what I was unable to do in my impressions. I 100% agree with everything you said.

[ryan36]

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

tazdevil20 - very well said. Your post put into words what I was unable to do in my impressions. I 100% agree with everything you said.

ODogg that was my point, too...that it wasn't just the strat pad that would have someone like you considering not buying...you're not one of those "shoelaces are a gamekiller" guys.

...with the new kick meter, I still haven't missed a FG!

[SA1NT401]

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

Taste like chicken and plays like Madden. Another year of a good football, great no, good yes!


Mike

Time will tell...I am on the other side of the fence at this point.

JUst too much of the same (good and bad) and not as much of a step forward loke M10....

More time with the DEMO and feedback 2-3 weeks after release will be the way i make my decison heading into late august.

Main reason for that thinking is this...You KNOW there will be new.old bugs and glitches that rear their ugly head at some point...Be it Franchise stat bugs...in game bugs etc....Just how many issues there will be is unknown at this point.

NCAA has the dynasty progession and player ratings issue that KILLS dynasty by yr 4 or 5...Madden will have something for sure. But who knows. Maybe they took the extra time this year and fixed some things.

[sportyguyfl31]

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

I just have a hard time believing that a year of work went into the gameplay, and in the case of locomotion, nearly 2 years. Really? My expectations were much higher after playing the NCAA demo, but IMHO, the gameplay doesn't measure up at all.

This is how I have been feeling for months now.

I'm in love with NCAA 11

Madden 11 is clearly inferior to it, and I do not understand why.

What was the development team doing all year?

Thank God for Online Franchise.

[Skyboxer]

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

I was bored and highly angered after one game.

Maybe I'm missing something, but how do I shade my safeties? How do I press? How do I shift linemen? How do I audible a route to a streak or a slant?

I believe its:
Pad then up to select DB's the pad for the direction
Pad then up to select DB's then down on pad
Pad then Lpad then either up/down/L or R
Pad then up then select which wr and then pick the route....


From work and I can remember what to do. Pad is simple.
I agree it should have been an option but I'm 44 and can remember from work after playing for about 1 hour yesterday what the controls are.

The scarey part is if the simple D-Pad configuration/change is this problematic for a lot of people then we can pretty much kiss any real innovation to, for example, the passing system. If EA ever gets rid of the brain dead system that been this way and stale for the last umpteen years (Hit X for X...Hit Y for Y) the world will collapse into itself.

[SuperDave21]

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

I'm somewhat new to the forums and I thought that I could post my perspectives from a casual Madden fan/player POV.

I read about 35 pages of this thread yesterday at work to get a feel for what the demo would be when I got home. Needless to say I surprised at the amount of negative reviews. The top 3 complaints were the Strategy Pad, run blocking, and players "skating" due to the new engine. After playing only one game, and being in the position I am in as far as the casual Madden crowd, I've got to say that I enjoyed playing the demo regardless of the supposed "flaws."

I grew up with the Madden franchise as a kid. My first video game (that I can remember anyways) was Madden '92 for the Sega Genesis. I played that game until I got sick of it and then came back an hour later to play it again. My family bought each Madden iteration year after year until about 2000 or so. I had a Dreamcast at the time, found the 2K series, and never looked back. The reason is because I found the 2K series much more fun to play. What's my point in all of this? Fun.

I enjoyed Madden 09 and 10, but they didn't have the lasting appeal for me that other sports games had. I'm a huge hockey fan and buy/play every version of the sport I can get my hands on, EA's NHL franchise being my favorite. I played 08 and 09 until I my hands bled raw because they were downright fun. NHL 10? Not so much. It didn't feel right and there were some things that were a little off. Madden was ok for a while but then I got bored and went onto something else, just like after NHL 10. Both games were not fun to play in my case.

After playing the demo last night, I can honestly say that I enjoyed my time and will be picking up the game on day 1 as always, but this time it might be different. This time I think I'll be playing Madden 11 for a while because it has something for me that I just find fun again. I have NCAA 11 as well and I haven't stopped playing the game until last night because of the Madden demo!

I guess my point is, instead of bickering and trying to find faults with the game, honestly ask yourself if you're having fun with the game despite the flaws you find. No game is perfect, especially sports games. That's probably why I like them so much. Just like in real sports, every game is different, good or bad. If you're not having fun with the game, then don't get it. If you can get past the flaws and still find yourself smiling after a huge run or defensive stop on the goal line, then get it. It's all about fun gents!

[SA1NT401]

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

ODogg that was my point, too...that it wasn't just the strat pad that would have someone like you considering not buying...you're not one of those "shoelaces are a gamekiller" guys.

...with the new kick meter, I still haven't missed a FG!

Unless we bring up O-Doggs DREADS issue with NCAA that is... j/k Dogg.

I have a similar obsession this year regarding dirty uniforms(or lack there of)...Ticks me off royally. So much so, that if its absent in madden11, i will pass 1000%.

Back to impressions....sorry.

[Mos1ted]

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

I've been on a EA boycott during this generation. Other than the early NCAA's of this console generation, I haven't purchased a single EA (sports or general) game since 2006. Actually, I take that back, I did pick up Madden 10...briefly.

I've been gaming for 20 years. Of course, over time my interests have changed a little. Before as long as the game sort of appeared to mimic its respective sport, I enjoyed it. I didn't care about realistic stats or things of that nature. Nowadays, I want games that I can get immersed in; I want to feel that the only way I can succeed is to use "real world" logic rather than "video game" logic. I think Madden 11 may finally be one step closer to that.

The problem I had with the NCAA 11 demo was that I was able to use the same strategy I used way back on NCAA 04, 05, and so on: get a fast QB, rollout, go for the strike if available or simply scramble for the first down. It worked almost all the time. While that demo was impressive to me visually, I couldn't see myself enjoying the game long term, so I passed on getting the retail.

After reading the Madden 11 demo impressions, I too was a bit skeptical about the game. But I decided to play and get a feel for the game myself. Visually, it's not that much different than last years game, but I am no longer the graphics whore I once was during my teen years, so I'm willing to let that go. Although, I do hope the jerseys get dirty. I always liked that little touch in sports games.

On the field, this game feels more confined than the NCAA demo. I feel like I have to nickel and dime my way down the field to put together and successful drive, rather than go for the long bomb every play. That's what I like most about it though. I like a game that forces me to slow the game down and exhibit patience rather than just lucking my way to victories. I like that I have to take my time, stay in the pocket, scan the field, look for the best opportunity for the completion, and oh yeah, avoid the pass rush. I feel like a real QB in this game, and that is the first time I've ever felt that way on an EA football game. The only other game this generation to replicate that feeling for me was APF 2K8.

As far as locomotion goes, I personally feel that it's another victim of the EA Hype Machine. It's not that game changing to me in my opinion. I still see plays and movement that defy momentum and the law of physics. I think it they were to implement the physics engine that Backbreaker has, this would really break it wide open then. But until then, I guess I have to deal with the canned tackling animations and such that has plagued Madden football for generations. Ultimately, it's not a game killer to me; moreso a nitpick at this point. It doesn't harm the progression on the field, and it still looks like football so I can deal with it.

I'm a fan of GameFlow. As a player who only called the same 10 or so plays in previous editions, GameFlow makes sense to me. No need in using the whole play book and wasting time sorting through plays. If anything, it forces me to try different plays that I otherwise would not have picked. And for gamers who dislike this feature, at least you still have the option to use the whole playbook before each play.

I also like the new kicking meter. In previous editions, I feel that I can always make any given field goal (inside of 60 yards) with any kicker in the game. With the new meter, your kicker's rating actually matters a bit more. I would have preferred it if they were able to keep the old mechanic but somehow make it more challenging as I do prefer that mechanic more, but if this is the way they have to go to make kicking something to actually concentrate on again, then I'm all for it.

Will I purchase the retail? I'm not sure. I'm yet to purchase the NCAA retail, and I do want to try that out to give it a fair shake. With the price of games being $60, I want to make sure that the game is going to be a good long term investment first. So I will rent both and decide if either game is worthy of a purchase for me. In other words, which game if any will make me still want to play it well into February and March of next year.

Based on the Madden 11 demo, I can say that the prospects of this game are promising to me.

[MarvellousOne]

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

Wasn't really that bad, gameflow is a decent feature strategy pad is really weird and I'm not completely a fan of it but it will take sometime to get used to. Overall Madden demo was alright locomotion really does help the game out, and I did enjoy coming from behind to beat the jets once I got a feel for the game 21-20 (was down 20-0 at halftime lol). I will pick up madden this year since I have NCAA Football, it's almost a bundle pack for me anytime I get NCAA.

[vch1212]

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

Just Report them.

We're trying to clean it up. Negativity is fine, however non-constructive criticism, telling a developer to "**** off", etc. is not.

And as a final warning to any other readers, TOS Violations won't be tolerated by any members in this thread.

I understand that being rude isn't right, but If someone have a gripe about EA and the development team, why can't a person voice those gripes? If a difference is backed up with facts, Like how the reason they can't expand that much on certain game modes is because their old code holds them back, or that they use the same commentating over and over instead of getting the team in the booth and recording fresh new stuff. Why cant I voice an opinion that might hurt their feelings. This is the business they chose and they know that they will get feedback whether good, bad or indifferent they will get feedback.

Most of the Madden core fans are smart and just feel shafted sometimes like I know Gameflow is just "ask madden" dressed up and I feel patronized by that. Why is this wrong? In my business I don't want people around me who only tell me good stuff. Sometimes I need to hear the blasts so I can progress and better myself as I know I don't know it all. Anyway Im just asking because I want to stay here cause I see there are real fans here but do I have to just praise EA even though they need to hear a little tough love.

[ODogg]

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

SA1NT401 - I think EA has given me a new cause to rage against aside from the dreadlocks - this little bundle of misery they call the Strategy Pad!