[JoshC1977]

If I were running Madden, my five year plan would be:

• Complete overhaul of the gameplay engine. In a series where main menu settings impact CFM, where fatigue settings, autosub settings, penalty sliders etc. have a dramatic impact on gameplay, everything needs to be gutted. There is legacy code on legacy code here....nothing positive can happen till the entire thing has been gutted and rebuilt....which is likely a 2 year project.
• Development of an animation system that doesn't rely on canned animations. It's certainly better than it has been, but dramatic improvements are still needed.
• Re-done ratings system. Basically, build it so that the overall rating is based on a handful of key ratings based on the player type. So, if a player is a power RB, high trucking/stiff arm will greatly bump up his overall (even if he has crappy elusiveness, spin move, etc.). Right now, the only way to get the overall rating up there would be to boost those other ratings which take away from his identity as a power back.
• Creation of an ultimate sim experience gameplay-wise. Passing into windows (not to the "open guy"), real pass rush with no artificial timers, a game where ratings matter. I can write a novel here...
• Enhancements to the franchise mode to add better fidelity for multi-team control, to add greater immersion into the league, and to add more authentic NFL rules. Resist the urge to mimic NBA 2k's awful franchise "starter kit" and do something truly fun and immersive. Deuce's thread isn't far off the mark.
• Addition of a true "season mode" to the game. Many people just want to play a season with "their team" without the hassle of franchise.
• Total overhaul to Ultimate Team. Add deeper User v CPU modes that encourage use of a full range of cards in building your team (not just the upgrade, upgrade, upgrade paradigm seen now). Adding of a full season mode where your UT plays against a full NFL schedule (including playoffs). All games will be full sim and the option to use a realistic quarter length and difficulty level for all offline games will be granted (with online matches locked-in at 8 minute quarters). Creation of a F2P mode where you cannot purchase anything or play against anyone who has purchased anything; everything else would be exactly the same as the "pay mode"...which many people will still do to serve their desires for instant gratification.
• Creation of an 7v7 or 8v8 competitive mode. Competitive sports will never work long-term for true sim-style NFL football. So, using all the licenses, create something different, something that can greatly magnify stick skills, and when something goes awry, it isn't automatically compared to the real thing.

Gameplay engine would be the highest priority as that impacts all modes. The new sim style would roll out at the same time and would be used for all game modes (with tourneys played on reduced penalty settings).

Mode enhancements would follow (franchise and MUT) and then the additional modes (new comp mode and new season mode) added.