What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

[RaychelSnr]

Madden has always been a game that deals each year in incremental improvements rather than growing by leaps in bounds. And while there may be much to like about the fine-tuned AI in Madden 17, that doesn’t mean there aren’t areas that could still use some work for next year.

Though the running game may have earned a large portion of the developers’ attention on the offensive side of the ball -- resulting in linemen being more trustworthy than they’ve ever been -- there are logic issues in blocking that remain unresolved. These become especially apparent on pitch plays, where a pulling lineman will frequently get confused about who he should be attacking on the outside to best spring a back for big yardage.

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[sebennayx]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

It's not an issue with blocking logic, it's the entire foundation of blocking and the OL/DL interactions being fundamentally incorrect.

In it's current format, Madden will never achieve more than a win/loss patty-cake battle limiting the capabilities of the user to fit within the restrictions of the system. If the line has realistic responsibilities, keys, etc., and can play both as an individual and as a unit, then you can make the physical, technique, and intangible ratings all matter.

To date, Madden has never had any of this, which holds the entire game back. Build the trenches first, do it right - the rest will follow. A house without a foundation will not stand, no matter how fresh the paint job...make no mistake, the trenches are the foundation of everything that is football.

[Hooe]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

I'd like to see the CPU be more personnel-aware with respect to play-calling / game-day team management.

Things like rolling a safety towards a weaker CB in Cover 1 (which the CPU appears to love on this game), motioning receiving running backs like Danny Woodhead out of the backfield to the slot to create mismatches (and also NOT doing this for power backs like LeGarrette Blount), or avoiding putting weak MCV safeties against great receiving tight ends and slot receivers.

I the user can and will do all of these things because I'm deploying my personnel intelligently. I'd like to see the CPU do a better job of matching me.

[DeuceDouglas]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

All three of these I'd say are the main ones I'd hit on. As a whole I'd say the AI just needs to have significantly better situational awareness and reacting like you'd expect players to react.

Playcalling. Not calling Cover 1 and Zero Blitzes in third and longs, etc. Constantly calling Curl Flats, Four Verticals, etc. This is more of a fundamental flaw with how the CPU chooses their plays more than anything though so I'm not sure it really applies.

Blocking. Probably the most frustrating aspect of the game. Throwing a WR or HB screen and having your blockers run out and do nothing with defenders right in front of them, watching your OL just let blitzers run right past them while they waddle in place, watching your FB run right past the LB to try and block the safety 15 yards downfield, it's just horrible.

QB AI is one of the biggest for me. Playing the CPU virtually every QB feels exactly the same with the exception of maybe a slight increase in errant passes for a worse QB. Pocket awareness is virtually non-existent. You don't ever feel things like a Brady or Manning's pocket awareness or pre-snap reads, Russell Wilson's mobility, Alex Smith's propensity to check down or any intricacies that make QB's unique.

The pursuit angles is another one that isn't too common but whenever I've seen it happen, it always results in huge plays. I had a punt return where the punter had the angle and was running towards the sideline and then inexplicably ran forward and then back to the sideline completely eliminating the angle he had and allowing me to score.

Basically the AI needs to improve in all those areas that make you truly say "WTF?!?" and where there is no good explanation as to why a player would be doing what he is doing.

[49UNCFan]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

1. Recognize mismatches and opponents weaknesses.
2.Learn who they're go to players are on offense.
3. Late game situations
4. Learn when to and when not to run out of bounce and field awareness in general
5.Pursuit angles
6.QB play is a major one. Qbs dont evade the defense or try to buy time.
7.Sometimes they kick field goals at the 45-50
8. Recognize the stars on defense( defensive players should shadow a star player when they are in a zone or simple strategy.

[MizzCincyGamer513]

I would like for the AI to have better play calling in certain situations. I'm in a PLAYERS ONLY CFM I play RB but a lot of times the CPU specials team does fake field goals instead of taking the easy chip shot. Instead it's turnover on downs and I'm jus forced to watch on the sideline.

[The JareBear]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

The biggest and main thing for me is play calling-playbook utilization and QB behavior/logic

I think it is weird that the game plays significantly better with custom PB or generic PBs assigned to each CPU team, that seams like an easy fix on EA's side to figure out what is causing team PBs to cause less dynamic gameplay experiences in game.

[SolidSquid]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

Call plays, utilize formation subs to get there best guys on the field in certain situations, understand team needs based on things like attributes and age, draft better/more realistically, understand situational football(stop running out of bounds an inch before the marker on 3rd down, now when they should just try to get the first instead of trying to make a big play).

[newtay]

I think a major flaw in Madden related to A.I. pursuit and tackling is defensive players running physics(specifically cpu controlled). Because of a lack of true running physics, Cpu defenders don't need slow down to make a takle. They just run full steam, with no weight to their movements like a heat seeking missle into the defender. In real football, if a runner is running towards them, defenders actually need to stop before they make a tackle. Its called "breaking down". Its a major flaw in terms of realistic pursuits, and tackling which impact offensive runners ability to realistically break or shake a tackle... Madden should grab a page from FIFA and NBA2K for this.

[newtay]

AI pursuit and tackling continued'

It would also make affect smarter players from one another. Great defenders are sound and discipline in their timing to breakq down to make tackles. Weaker defenders aren't as smart to in recognize how and when to break down. That's why players would switch to make the tackle with weaker defensive players. This would revolutionize Madden man!!

[Keontab]

OL - DL Needs to controlled with L3 R3if only they could adapt some of 2K Sports Controlls - armes, shoulders ,stance, techniques should all have a effect

[cjallure24]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

Playcalling. After experiencing custom playbooks for the A.I. makes a world of difference.

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[Fist Of Kings]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

The biggest issue for me are the robo qbs. There is one streamlined way that they all play, regardless of their ratings. I'm in year 3 of my franchise, yet I can count the number of times they've scrambled on one hand.

I'd like to see qbs with high awareness ratings pick on scrub dbs like in real life, then me as the user, tries to counter this with double teams. I want dual threat qbs to take off and scramble and really put pressure of the defense(I have yet to call a qb spy in this game), I want gunslinger qbs to be aggressive throwing the ball, and I want average/scrub qbs to play like neither of the above.

The game lets you know if you knock out the ai's starting qb, but the backup plays with the exact same effectiveness with no drop off.

They rarely throw the ball away, and a lot of my sacks are coverage sacks. And it's not like I have a great secondary, but it's the ai qbs holding on to the ball for so long. I wouldn't mind the vision cone back, though I'm guessing I'm the only person that liked it lol.




I also think the ai is poor at running the ball still. I'm not sure how they can fix this, but the issue is that they run the ball 100% to the script, without trying to evade defenders. The only time I give up 50+ yards rushing is when they break a few lucky tackles and have a couple of massive runs.

[rich8682]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

The biggest issue for me are the robo qbs. There is one streamlined way that they all play, regardless of their ratings. I'm in year 3 of my franchise, yet I can count the number of times they've scrambled on one hand.

I'd like to see qbs with high awareness ratings pick on scrub dbs like in real life, then me as the user, tries to counter this with double teams. I want dual threat qbs to take off and scramble and really put pressure of the defense(I have yet to call a qb spy in this game), I want gunslinger qbs to be aggressive throwing the ball, and I want average/scrub qbs to play like neither of the above.

The game lets you know if you knock out the ai's starting qb, but the backup plays with the exact same effectiveness with no drop off.

They rarely throw the ball away, and a lot of my sacks are coverage sacks. And it's not like I have a great secondary, but it's the ai qbs holding on to the ball for so long. I wouldn't mind the vision cone back, though I'm guessing I'm the only person that liked it lol.




I also think the ai is poor at running the ball still. I'm not sure how they can fix this, but the issue is that they run the ball 100% to the script, without trying to evade defenders. The only time I give up 50+ yards rushing is when they break a few lucky tackles and have a couple of massive runs.

Yeah we need tendencies. Would fix so much.

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[GrayDawg]

Re: What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

Playcalling as well as varying degrees of coach aggressiveness, running backs going out of bounds, improve QB scramble decision making, draft prospect decision making as well as draft trades. Also wouldn't mind difficulty levels applied to the draft and scouting. Make it hard for those of us who want a real challenge.