Improvements for Madden and NCAA - Gotmadskillzson's Blog

Gotmadskillzson's Blog

Improvements for Madden and NCAA

Posted on September 14, 2010 at 04:48 PM.

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Got some time on my hands so therefore I thought I would write about the improvements NCAA and Madden should make to their games. I am more of a fan of the actual sport then a fan of all the fluff these 2 games have in it. Solid game play to me is more important then Road to Glory or Madden Moments.

1st off I am going to talk about QB AI in Madden and NCAA. For the past two years, the QB AI in these games have been very one dimensional. They all play as pocket passers despite their ratings or labels of being scrambler or dual threat. The QBs in these 2 games don't scramble, don't roll out, don't throw on the since they don't run.

The most you will get out of the QB is them side stepping. These needs to be changed. EA should program into the QB AI logic a countdown clock.

For pocket passers - 8 seconds, if nobody is open, scramble for as many yards as you can get.

For balanced passers - 6 seconds, if nobody is open, scramble for as many yards as you can get.

For mobile passers - 4 seconds, if nobody is open, scramble for as many yards as you can get. Also if you see a wide open running lane, run for it.

I also want to see mobile passers roll out more and throw on the run more. Mobile passers shouldn't be sitting in the pocket all day. They should be constantly moving around.

All QBs should have some type of WR priority passing logic. They should look at their go to guy, then 2nd option, then check down option. That throwing out of the sack animation needs to go. It robs people of sacks.

You should be able to assign double team blocking. Why this isn't in football videogames is beyond me since it teams in real life do it every week against good D linemen.

For NCAA......commentary needs a MAJOR over haul. Lines are stale and severely outdated. Needs to be more fluid and be talking about what is actually is going in the present game. And during franchise mode, talk about what has been going on during the season.

Also RB's in NCAA need better ball carrier vision. They run up the middle way too much instead of bouncing it to the outside when it is more room to the outside. Powerful backs need to use stiff arms more. Smaller backs should use juke moves and spins more instead of trying to truck over everybody as if they are Brandon Jacobs.

College game needs blocked punts. I have yet to see a blocked punt. Makes no sense considering some schools are known for their blocked punts ability. How is it possible to come out in a regular punt formation and the cpu come out in an all block formation and they still don't even come close to blocking your punt is beyond me.

Both games need a better pre-game show, a halftime show and post game show. EA needs to get the core game play right 1st before they get work on FLUFF.

I consider Madden Moments fluff...........

Madden coins.......fluff....

ESPN news.....fluff

Road to Glory.....fluff

Mascot games.......fluff

Season Showdown......fluff

Nothing is wrong with having it in, but that shouldn't be your main focus. Main focus should be getting all the aspects of football right. Game play is more important.

And both games really need to eliminate linebackers that have 80 inch verticals that bat down passes over the middle of the field. That is so unrealistic how high they jump.

Another thing both games need to put in is some penalties for performing bad. If a QB throws 2 interceptions in a row, I would like to see the cpu coach bench the QB for a quarter or 2. Coaches do it real life, so therefore it should be in the game.

Both games also need more user control over tackling. Should be shoulder tackles, wrap tackles, high tackles, low tackles, power tackles. Also should be able to finish tackles on a player that your cpu teammate is trying to tackle.

Also injury animations should relate to the type of injury. I shouldn't see a player grab their ankle when they have a shoulder injury. Also would like to see more diving catches by WRs, more body catches too because not every WR catch balls with their hands 100% of the time.

Better crowd and sideline animations too. When a team makes a big play, I want to see the head coach and sideline get pumped up. And when a team makes a bone headed mistake, I want to see the head coach throw their playbook or headset down. See the QB yell at a lineman for missing a block that got him sacked or yell at a WR for dropping the ball.

Comments

# 1 DJ @ Sep 14

Some good points there and the ideas for the QBs is interesting. I also agree with you about benching players if they aren't playing well; EA's NHL series does a pretty good job of this in relation to the goalies. I've had several games where the CPU yanks its starter for the backup after 3-4 goals.

# 2 Beastly Wayz @ Sep 14

Good Read man, I have been saying this for years " Mobility in QB's " EA had it right in Madden when Vick was the cover guy, but never the NCAA Series. I love the Fluffs that you mentioned, they suck, come on EA just fix the gameplay, don't give me some lame *** game mode. Animations you hit the nail on the head, Overall good sugestions - guy you read my mind.....

# 3 Dazraz @ Sep 15

Too true. EA love bringing out new, unessential features that they can give a fancy name too. Gameflow for example. As you say nothing wrong with these modes but they are not the priorities. Get the gameday experience & the franchise modes right first.