Madden NFL 15: Why The Presentation Hasn't Quite Arrived into Primetime

[JazzMan]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Presentation is One Step Forward, Four Steps Back

They need to hire a dozen no name (see: cheap) voice actors and record a TON of commentary. No one buys Madden because Simms and Nance are in it.

This. I think 2k5 had fictional commentators and that game is still the standard for football presentation. Imagine if EA just went out and recorded 4 or 5 pairs or trios of guys for commentary and give the player variety.

[JKSportsGamer1984]

They're halfway there on presentation. Some things are awesome, some are head scratchers. Madden is hit or miss in every area, and even with the hits, they aren't consistent. There's always something that makes me say "damn that was pretty awesome" then the very next moment I'm like "WTF!?!?". Never fails. Tiburon hates me.

Lol that pretty much sums up Madden in a nutshell. EA does just enough to keep us coming back & they do just enough to always keep us "waiting til next year" lol. Gotta love that exclusive license

[Fist Of Kings]

It's easy to see who the sheep are when they're grasping at straws like belittling the OP's opinion and criticizing a couple of spelling errors, then issuing their yearly defense of why this version of Madden is so much better than last years....we get it.

No, it's not 'cool' to rip Madden, but it's not 'cool' to overate an average game with the same legacy problems as before, especially when you'd most likely like whatever EA gives us anyway.

[TreyIM2]

Definitely believe that this title is exaggerated but like someone mentioned earlier, one thing about presentation is the repalys showing such zoomed in shots most times. Need varying broadcast can angles thrown in. The qb intro needs variations with the qb 'trot in' animation cuz they all do the same exact thing with the trot and hand clap. Overall, with the presentation, I just want more variation in everything so we don't see the same animations and cuts so frequently.

The commentary just needs a whole new system or lesser known voice actors so they can pay them less and work them more to give more commentary that far varied than what's there, now. Otherwise, I'm good with this Madden. Great step in right direction.

[FaceMask]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Presentation is One Step Forward, Four Steps Back

Definitely believe that this title is exaggerated but like someone mentioned earlier, one thing about presentation is the repalys showing such zoomed in shots most times. Need varying broadcast can angles thrown in. The qb intro needs variations with the qb 'trot in' animation cuz they all do the same exact thing with the trot and hand clap. Overall, with the presentation, I just want more variation in everything so we don't see the same animations and cuts so frequently.

I agree with all of that.

With the QB run-outs, it's: run funny; put your head down and start shaking your head halfway to the huddle; clap your hands; hunch of over.

No variety.

The commentary just needs a whole new system or lesser known voice actors so they can pay them less and work them more to give more commentary that far varied than what's there, now. Otherwise, I'm good with this Madden. Great step in right direction.

The biggest issue with commentary is how it's being written and programmed, and that's evidenced by all of the strange generic lines. They've recorded tons of last names and all the team names, yet in situations where they should be said a generic line is spoken instead. Here are some examples:

"The defense lines up in..." = wrong

"The Cowboys line up in..." = right

Kicker comes out to kick a 47 yard field goal, nothing is said = wrong

"Smith in to attempt a 47 yard field goal" = right

"The quarterback made an excellent throw there" = wrong

"Manning made an excellent throw there" = right (2K football had great system in place to handle this exact type of line and it was smooth)

There are all sorts of spots like that. Bringing in full-time guys will get you more lines, but it won't fix the script-writing or the programming that's holding a lot of things back.

[statum71]

They need to hire a dozen no name (see: cheap) voice actors and record a TON of commentary. No one buys Madden because Simms and Nance are in it.

I disagree.

They just need to do it correctly. I don't wanna hear make-believe announcers on my NFL game. I actually like Nantz and Simms.

[statum71]

This! I know I'm probably in the minority but I miss the radio guy from Madden 06 - 08. He was energetic & made me feel like I was in the game as opposed to watching it. EA needs to scrap the Sims & Nantz experiment. Sims is ok but Nantz makes my ears bleed lol. The main problem is how EA puts the commentary together. I thought Gus Johnson was a wasted opportunity because EA doesn't seem to know how to program commentary to be seemless ala NBA 2K basketball. They should just hire some generic guys that they wouldn't have to pay as much & use those resources to improve other parts of the game.

You miss the radio guy? Are you drinking??

We don't EVER want that again. Don't even get that started.

And by the way.....he was ATROCIOUS!! The worst ever, easily.

[Steelers4190]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Presentation is One Step Forward, Four Steps Back

I'm all for getting no names if it means having multiple personalities and flavors in the booth..........

[sheredia]

it makes no sense that ncaa 14 integrated the espn presentation with commentators and halftime show while this is nowhere to be found in madden. they could go the monday night football route (with tirico and gruden) for night games and add simms and nantz for sunday games. it would really be a nice touch. it irks me that they can do this with the college games and not the professional games. even nhl 15 has NBC presentation now. it's a shame the flagship title for EA doesn't have the best presentation of all sports games.

[dazzelle]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Presentation is One Step Forward, Four Steps Back

I wouldn't mind being able to read the stat overlay's that pop up before they disappear, whats the point even having them if they can't be read.

[robo3687]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Presentation is One Step Forward, Four Steps Back

i made it through one drive before I turned the commentary off...and there were several repeated lines in that one drive.

Jim Nantz is fine but I just cannot stand Phil "Captain Obvious" Simms. Even when he's calling an actual game I switch to some other commentary option so I don't have to listen to him.

I would rather have Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth back....Hell, I'd rather listen to Buck and Aikman than another line out of Phil Simms' mouth...

Actually to take it further...I'd rather have Ian Eagle (the worst NFL commentator ever) do solo commentary on Madden than listen to Simms again.

right....that's out of my system now...lol...

[jaynral]

Madden is Madden......I usually turn off commentary, throw my headphones and dive into the game.. I love hearing the crowd, the players on, etc....BUT the one thing, and i mean the one of many things that i think is pure *uckery is the stadium announcer not saying the player names...this is too many has me that the point of no words....To the point that i have a bad disc and that they do say the names...NO excuse for this stuff.......and also, Im already tired of the 6-8 different defensive after play celebrations....Im so tried especially the stupid basketball shot!!...hate it now

[TexasFan2005]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Presentation is One Step Forward, Four Steps Back

For the 10th year in a row, I'll ask EA nicely to please change the stadium PA Announcer. I don't care who they put, or if they remove him altogether, but his voice is so bad.

I seriously might be the only person who really hates this guy's voice, so I don't think it'll ever change.

"Number 28 on the carry..............

5 yard run.....on the play"

[Trick13]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Why The Presentation Hasn't Quite Arrived into Primetime

I am fairly certain that it would be cheaper - and give EA much more material to work with if they just used their NFL films license agreement and used the tape of previous game commentary.


In truth most people don't care if they "personalities" are real or not cause it is extremely unrealistic or Simms/Nance to commentate every game on your schedule anyhow. It doesn't matter how thy do it, just do it right already...


Perhaps the biggest issue in my mind is that they can't seem to properly "key" the commentary to the field action in a way that makes sense. Big hits get little or no commentary response and drag down tackles result in big hit "lines". Lob passes get "raves" about arm strength and the only time a ball carrier move is mentioned - is right when 5 more tacklers arrive to finish you off- stiff arm commentary only occurs when the move it self fails - t is really bush league...

[mnuccio]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Why The Presentation Hasn't Quite Arrived into Primetime

So not only is the title hilariously false and not even an accurate representation of the article, the author can't even spell the announcer's names right and we're supposed to take this article seriously? Nope.

If you're going to nitpick the article's spelling, at least use proper grammar (apostrophe should be after the s, not before).

We wouldn't want you not to be taken seriously, now.