Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

[2krunk4u]

Yeah they should have made it and option but I actually like the new system, but options are good.

This is also A really good reason why the exclusive deal is killing the genre.
If there was no deal then Madden could be Madden. Other companies could take more risks etc and if it were things that worked out great, then the Madden fans could start asking EA to replicate it etc...

As it stands right now Madden is Madden.. You here it all the time "It plays like Madden"...People are so used to the control scheme and gameplay that any major changes are going to ignite the flames and youtube vids.


A lot of people say Madden is stale and needs shook up but that's only if things don't change, IMO.

I started a thread so people could actually suggest what exactly they'd like to see upgraded and how'd they like to see it implemented...etc, since auto speed burst and strategy pad are widely hated.

... One post other than my own.

That just begs the question. Do people really want Madden to change or is it just the cool thing to say these days?

Who knows. I'm just going to do what I always do. Buy the video game and play and have fun with the video game.

Of course we want madden to change, but why change something that is perfectly fine?

Change the things that need changing. Revamp the AI instead of slowing people down.

[ODogg]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

Skyboxer - I hear you on that but control changes will always cause the biggest uproar over anything else.

Superrandy - That's a great way of capturing how I feel. It almost seems as if EA is daring us to quit buying the game. That was what I was trying to espouse in my views and you capture it perfectly in one line. I've been buying Madden since the first year it was out for the PC, for like 15 to 17 years, whatever it is, and moves like this make me honestly question if EA wants the veterans of the series, people like me, to go away so they can go to a new demographic completely.

[adembroski]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

If anyone is wondering what constructive criticism looks like, there it is. Brilliant video, one of the best I've seen related to Madden.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

Of course we want madden to change, but why change something that is perfectly fine?

Change the things that need changing. Revamp the AI instead of slowing people down.

Agree the AI among other things need worked on a lot. So why aren't we protesting that instead of a working(Yet un-needed waste of time change) strategy pad? That's my point.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

Skyboxer - I hear you on that but control changes will always cause the biggest uproar over anything else.

Superrandy - That's a great way of capturing how I feel. It almost seems as if EA is daring us to quit buying the game. That was what I was trying to espouse in my views and you capture it perfectly in one line. I've been buying Madden since the first year it was out for the PC, for like 15 to 17 years, whatever it is, and moves like this make me honestly question if EA wants the veterans of the series, people like me, to go away so they can go to a new demographic completely.

Problem is we are the minority. We all could bypass Madden this year and what would really change

[2krunk4u]

I really am trying to give this game a fair shot, but I just keep finding myself going back to Madden 10. Strategy Pad is the big ugly elephant in the room this year. It makes the game less enjoyable and too much of a hassle.

People want to complain about the things that EA does wrong all the time. Well this is one of them. Especially when there are SO many more issues wrong with Madden. You mean to tell me that the guys at EA actually spent time on this rather than something more problematic? That alone makes this a headscratcher. When has anybody ever said, "change the playmaker system, because it's too much of a weapon for cheesers?"

Keep the old system, fix the AI...that's a step in the right direction. This strategy pad feature is dysfunctional, clunky and truly embarrassing.

[2krunk4u]

Agree the AI among other things need worked on a lot. So why aren't we protesting that instead of a working(Yet un-needed waste of time change) strategy pad? That's my point.

Ok. I see what you're saying skyboxer. But I think we have complained and made enough videos posing the problems with AI, ProTak, momentum, etc. to the max. Those problems still haven't been tended to, yet they focus on putting in a useless and unneeded feature like Strategy Pad???

THAT'S the problem.

[FresnoST.]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

The Strategy Pad needs to be scraped plain and simple.. and I actually enjoy the gameplay in the demo.

[TNT713]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

Now I know some will say that they can't do a lot of hot routing which is correct. However the reason for needing a lot of hot routing (Although I don't do a lot) is the lack of a really good play design/play calling system.
Fix that and we no longer need the ability to redesign plays at the LOS.

Sounds like a call for a play editor that allows us to create plays and use them online. Seeing how that's what we do anyway...

I'm all for a play editor!!!

Later

[TNT713]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

Can I sue Atlus for headaches causes by Demon's Soul's? I've banged my head a few times due to that (Great) game...so I should be able to sue them correct?

Um... I don't know what you're talking about. Never heard of Altus or Demon Souls.

Later

[BlackRome]

EA doesn't learn form pass mistakes do they.

They did the same thing for Fight Night 4. They tried to force people to use the stick for punching.

Which never worked all that well.

I see a lot of people believing they won't post an update with the classic options.

Now that we have their attention I'm pretty sure they will do the right thing like they did with FF4 and make the classic stick options available.

Besides that. The pad is really not that bad. Once you know what you want to change it's actually faster.

I've got a couple of my switches down where as though I don't have to look at the screen and then the stick to know what I'm doing. The pad is actually faster than using the stick if you have the muscle memory.

I played 3 games and have my offensive line switches and show blitz down pack. I'm learning the pad is actually faster than stick once my muscle memory kicked in.

[BlackRome]

Excuse the double muscle memory statements. I meant to cut and paste it. Forgot to remove the first one.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

Ok. I see what you're saying skyboxer. But I think we have complained and made enough videos posing the problems with AI, ProTak, momentum, etc. to the max. Those problems still haven't been tended to, yet they focus on putting in a useless and unneeded feature like Strategy Pad???

THAT'S the problem.

Agree. The focus ,or lack there of, this year with a lot of things is a problem.

However I still had fun with the demo. Just wish EA knew themselves whaere they wanted to take Madden. If Madden had better AI/blocking and a better more detailed play deisgn/play call system, we wouldn't even need to hot route so much and make a ton of adjustments. Thats why once in an while I take that jab and say people are used to playing Madden and not Football...

We all want the same thing and I think we all are getting a bit frustrated with the direction they are going. Which seems in a circle most of the time.

Again it seems they are basing a heck of a lot of decisions on online players. NOT GOOD.

This is another reason why the exclusive deal sucks. They (EA ) could do whatever they want but at least we'd have other companies , maybe even ones not afraid of taking some risks, putting out some other choices.
EA and other would then feed off each others game and we the gamer win, period.

Also just to make it clear. I'm not slamming EA develops in any way. I honestly feel they are and have been at the mercy of some D.A. suit somewhere. For a brief few months it seemed they were all about making the most realistic game each year and Ian seemed very upbeat and excited.

Now he "seems" to be on a leash and very unhappy about it and Madden has done an about face and it's all about "The data says this and that is being used the most" etc... WTF?
Could be wrong though...just my take.

[ODogg]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

Skyboxer - My intent isn't to just abandon Madden, although that's an option. My intent is to squeal like a stuck pig and get others to do the same until they fix it. If they don't then we'll burn that bridge when we come to it.

[RaiderKtulu]

Re: Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

Yes. Seriously. This is the stuff class action suits are made of.

We aren't forced to buy the game, but if we do BUY the game, 360 users will be forced to use the strategy pad. As soon as people start going to the doctor with pain in their left wrist just below muscle the base of their palm, it's not going to take long before 'video games' are determined to be the biggest factor.

It won't be as debilitating on the PS3 where the motion doesn't go against the hand's design.

Later

There won't be any lawsuit over any hand injuries from using the d-pad on the 360 controller. It's in the same spot for your left hand that the right analog stick (which is used all the time in multiple games) is for the right hand. It isn't causing any injuries.