Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

[smokeyvol]

Very lame excuse.

[jerryrice4949]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

JerryRice4949,

Once again, my point is missed... All throughout this post I've mentioned two things:

1) Numbers are incredibly low for usage of Online Franchise
2) EA uses those numbers to determine where to allot their resources

If communities is indeed less expensive, it requires less resources. Time, money, equipment, and developers are all resources that are used in accordance with the decisions EA makes early in the development cycle - all based on how we play the game.

What we tell EA and have told EA since Online Franchise was added is that collectively, WE DON'T PLAY IT.

For those fans that still want to point to NCAA as proof that the mode would get used seem to overlook that fact that Madden and NCAA have different target markets and VERY LITTLE OVERLAP of 10%.

I also find that much of this argument for more people playing Madden's Online Franchise depends on what we imagine to be gamer habits while numbers - which are concrete - tell us otherwise.

Given our actual gaming habits (not the "what if" numbers) it makes perfectly logical business sense to add communities to improve the mode millions of gamers play while tabling the other modes until later.

Besides... According to your post, Communities seems to require less resources to improve the mode and it's usage exponentially by eliminating the most common objections to online play and offline franchise. Any theoretical increase in Online Franchise participation would be just that - THEORY.

No one really knows how many Madden players will flock to Online Franchise once it gets the dev time it needs. But even if there are 5x as many games played as now, it's still probably going to be less than 10% of the total games played because the 3% we were quoted combines the three least used modes usage together...

Too many resources + too few playing the mode = Update other things.

Simple... But only when there's no emotional connection. I can't be the only one that sees the correlation... So dare I say again - If you like the idea of online franchise PLAY IT. Otherwise, it's painfully low usage numbers might be seen as a reason to pull the plug entirely...

Personally, I'd rather have online PRACTICE mode 10x more than Online Franchise. Dare I say, it might get more play in it's 1st year than the past 3 years of online franchise combine (since we're throwing out baseless numbers and ignoring the real ones).

Later

Actually it is you who are missing the point, as well as the guy shilling for the league manager software. Numbers for OF are not low. THE MODE DOES NOT EXIST. There is nothing in what EA calls OF to actually make it a franchise mode. EA knows it and everyone else who enjoys franchise play knows it. IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A MULTI SEASON LEAGUE.

[jeremym480]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

As I've always said... "if you build it, they will come". Just look at little brother for the perfect example.

As much as I hate the word, online team play and online communites are both straight gimmick's , IMO. The fact that they ignored franchise over those two is a downright disgrace.

[jpdavis82]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

Watch the Ustream event from last week, they talked about this in detail. They didn't choose online communities over online franchise, they chose not to work on online franchise this year because they felt like they would rather wait a year like they did with offline franchise last year in order to give us a fully featured online franchise next year. I know even with that being said there are some of you that will still complain, but honestly you guys expect way too much to be added in a one year cycle. There's only so much they can add in one year and with all the additions they made this year, that means they can focus on these other things like online franchise, footplanting, and other minor additions(new halftime show, new weekly show for franchise, new commentary) next year. I know for a fact those presentation features are on their minds for next year, they talked about it in the Ustream event last week with Mike Young. I also know they are looking at some physics related stuff for gameplay, so just chill guys. We're going to get a greatly improved game this year and even more so next year, so just chill and enjoy the great game that Madden 12 will be, and by this time next year we'll have an even better game to play in Madden 13, until then we'll all be enjoying Madden 12.

There's much more to life than video games so everyone needs to calm down and enjoy the product that EA genuinely is trying to give us and improve for us.

[jpdavis82]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

As I've always said... "if you build it, they will come". Just look at little brother for the perfect example.

As much as I hate the word, online team play and online communites are both straight gimmick's , IMO. The fact that they ignored franchise over those two is a downright disgrace.

How is giving us the best online gaming experience outside of online franchise mode a gimmick? Online communities is far from a gimmick, I don't think most people really understand what online communities even is. The only thing better for online gaming than communities would be tying it in with online franchise, other than that you can't get a better online gaming experience.

[jpdavis82]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

This whole feature merits no respect. Cheaters will always be around in every forum and room. People will cheat at all costs to get the satisfaction of a win. I'm thoroughly upset with EA, but we will make Online Franchise work regardless. My question is. How many people can be in a Community at once? Are they going to take away the 50 person restriction?

Yes they changed it from 50 to 2000, you can have up to 2000 people in a community and you can join up to 5 communities

[jpdavis82]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

By the way am I the only person on here who never plays Online Dynasty or Online Franchise? I really don't understand the big fuss about this. I play online head to head, offline franchise, and MUT and that has been more than enough to keep me busy with Madden.

I understand how potentially great Online Dynasty/Franchise could be but to me it just sounds way too time consuming and I don't have that much time to invest in it with work, college and other stuff going on.

[TNT713]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

Actually it is you who are missing the point, as well as the guy shilling for the league manager software. Numbers for OF are not low. THE MODE DOES NOT EXIST. There is nothing in what EA calls OF to actually make it a franchise mode. EA knows it and everyone else who enjoys franchise play knows it. IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A MULTI SEASON LEAGUE.

Um... The mode exists and very few people are playing it - just as the numbers suggest. They may not play because it doesn't operate like a Franchise Mode is expected to function.

Regardless of whether it's a fully functional Franchise mode or not - it rarely gets played. We could talk about the semantics of what Online Franchise means - but there's still not many people playing it.

We could talk about how much it missing - still not many people are playing it. We could talk about the merits of EA decision to table Online Franchise for another year - still very few people playing it. We could talk about what would make the mode better - still... Almost NOBODY PLAYS IT. So while it seems I'm missing the point on the semantic end, some of you are missing my point on the reality end.

OF can't lay claim to a full 3% because it shares that tiny percentage with 2 other modes to COMBINE for 3%. The idea that this mode would have vast appeal if this or that matters not - the reality is not many people play it.

That is and has been my only point...

[CRMosier_LM]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

Actually it is you who are missing the point, as well as the guy shilling for the league manager software. Numbers for OF are not low. THE MODE DOES NOT EXIST. There is nothing in what EA calls OF to actually make it a franchise mode. EA knows it and everyone else who enjoys franchise play knows it. IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A MULTI SEASON LEAGUE.

I understand you are upset but you are making assumptions that are way out of left field. Your previous post said it was about money... That is 100% false. As DAvis stated above and others have stated in here, it is about time constraints. It took more than 1 dev cycle to get offline franchise to what you will see this year. Do you really think it is that easy? How do you know they haven't already started on online franchise for Madden 13? You don't know that and neither do I. Online franchise was not the priority this year due to lack of usage...end of story. I want it upgraded as much as anyone but I'm not going to act like a child about it like some others are. I will make do with what is there and probably be happily playing well into our 6th season when the next version comes out just like I did this year. And yes I will be doing plenty of Online Community stuff too. I'm very excited about the possibilities for it. If you want some, come get some cuz I plan on joining the os community if they will have me.

[MMurda]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

I understand you are upset but you are making assumptions that are way out of left field. Your previous post said it was about money... That is 100% false. As DAvis stated above and others have stated in here, it is about time constraints. It took more than 1 dev cycle to get offline franchise to what you will see this year. Do you really think it is that easy? How do you know they haven't already started on online franchise for Madden 13? You don't know that and neither do I. Online franchise was not the priority this year due to lack of usage...end of story.

have u forgotten that EA put their own foot in their mouth when they stated in madden 10 that it was easier to update due to being server based? you're right it wasnt a priority this yr('12)....but ur forgetting that it wasnt a priority in last yr('11) or the yr before that either('10). we know it cant be done in 1 dev cycle...but we're looking at 3 right now...2 of which theyve already had the tracks laid. NO EXCUSE!

now take that 3 yrs of development time, look at them tell us from their own mouths how easy it is to update, look at how they have added 3 new modes from scratch since then(MUT, online community, and 3vs3), look how they already have a good base to start with in ofranch and still skipped it, then realize why ppl are mad before you be so quick to blow ppls frustration off.

i havent bought madden since 10. im holding out this yr as well. offline franch fix is great, but im waiting to experience the fun im getting in a fully featured and completed online dynasty. until madden can deliver what it's lil brother ncaa can, ill buy the more thorough and fully featured title of football.

[Clonefan84]

Not sure if this was said or not, but I find it comical that they won't improve online franchise mode because no one is playing it....

Hello...no one is playing it because it needs to be improved! If EA could make online franchise as deep as offline franchise, I'd be willing to bet that online franchise would be the most used online feature in the game.

[Clonefan84]

Um... The mode exists and very few people are playing it - just as the numbers suggest. They may not play because it doesn't operate like a Franchise Mode is expected to function.

Regardless of whether it's a fully functional Franchise mode or not - it rarely gets played. We could talk about the semantics of what Online Franchise means - but there's still not many people playing it.

We could talk about how much it missing - still not many people are playing it. We could talk about the merits of EA decision to table Online Franchise for another year - still very few people playing it. We could talk about what would make the mode better - still... Almost NOBODY PLAYS IT. So while it seems I'm missing the point on the semantic end, some of you are missing my point on the reality end.

OF can't lay claim to a full 3% because it shares that tiny percentage with 2 other modes to COMBINE for 3%. The idea that this mode would have vast appeal if this or that matters not - the reality is not many people play it.

That is and has been my only point...

I just don't understand why you would be making that "one and only point"

People are not playing online franchise mode not because it's not popular. People aren't playing it because it's not good. Jerryrice is right, it has become nothing more than a multi-season league. There is absolutely nothing in there that even makes it worth calling a franchise. No salaries, no pre-season, nothing. It's just a league that follows the real life schedule that has rosters that users are free to do with whatever they please.

Guess my point it sure, no one was playing online franchise last year, I understand that. But maybe if they actually made it deep and much like the offline version, then people would play it. It's really why hardly anyone played online franchises here on OS. Because no one wanted to do all that crazy extra work. It's something EA needs to have done in game. NCAA was able to do it, I just don't understand why Madden can't either.

[CRMosier_LM]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

have u forgotten that EA put their own foot in their mouth when they stated in madden 10 that it was easier to update due to being server based? you're right it wasnt a priority this yr('12)....but ur forgetting that it wasnt a priority in last yr('11) or the yr before that either('10). we know it cant be done in 1 dev cycle...but we're looking at 3 right now...2 of which theyve already had the tracks laid. NO EXCUSE!

now take that 3 yrs of development time, look at them tell us from their own mouths how easy it is to update, look at how they have added 3 new modes from scratch since then(MUT, online community, and 3vs3), look how they already have a good base to start with in ofranch and still skipped it, then realize why ppl are mad before you be so quick to blow ppls frustration off.

i havent bought madden since 10. im holding out this yr as well. offline franch fix is great, but im waiting to experience the fun im getting in a fully featured and completed online dynasty. until madden can deliver what it's lil brother ncaa can, ill buy the more thorough and fully featured title of football.

To each their own man. I know what you are saying but your logic is flawed... "They won't update the game mode because no one plays it so therefore I won't purchase or play it", seems like you are part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

[HoardKing]

That is a complete BS arguement. Plenty of people play Online franchise and schedueling has nothing to do with adding a salary, being able customize players or any of the other things that need to be addressed in the online franchise. Just more EA laziness b/c they have know competition. 2k Please get it together the Gamers sake.

[jyoung]

Re: Online Communities Took Precedence Over Online Franchise in Madden NFL 12

online franchise is NOT broken. It works just fine with what is there, it is not unplayable or bug filled. It may not be up to your standards but the game mode itself works just fine.

Incorrect.

Playoff tiebreakers are broken. This is a major problem that can cause people to have an entire season go down the tubes because the game couldn't figure out how to break a tie properly.

The issue has been around since Madden 10 and still hasn't been addressed.