Five Things Madden Could Do To Please Its Dissenters - RaychelSnr's Blog

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Five Things Madden Could Do To Please Its Dissenters Stuck

Posted on February 9, 2011 at 03:13 PM.

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It is no secret a huge mess of hardcore gamers heavily dislike Madden these days. As I pointed out in my half of the 'is Madden successful this generation' debate with Christian McLeod, Madden has played it pretty safe overall this generation, which has led to it falling behind some of it's peers in our genre.

When the game has tried to innovate and add new depths to its gameplay the features have failed to attract fans approval and thus, most have been toned down or taken completely out of the game. It is no surprise then, that the experimentation has largely been toned down as well, as the Madden team has redoubled their efforts to focus on the basic aspects of the gameplay which has largely led to big improvements in many areas.

However, the moves the past two years have yet to be enough to quell the dissension -- mainly because there are still so many problems which haven't been addressed. So what does Madden need to do? Here are five things I think could go a long way towards alleviating the negativity.

Take the AI to the next level. There are still some things which happen in Madden which would never happen on a real football field. A lot of it has to do with players not playing to their assignments like real football players would. Players don't react to what's going on around them like they should -- and in football it is not easy to mask those kind of problems. EA needs to redouble on how the defense reacts to what's going on and they also need to keep improving the play in the trenches. This year's game was better in that regard but more improvement is definitely needed. And let's just be honest, when it comes to playing the computer you can expect nothing short of predictability a lot of times. Playcalling seems to be the thorn in the Madden's team side. The game just needs to feel more advanced in how players react.
Stick to the Modes which are going to work. There have been several jaunts off the deep end in terms of modes for the game. Lots of bad ideas mixed with poorly executed ones have marred the games progress overall. The breadwinners for Madden into the future will be Franchise, Online Franchise, an Online Competition mode that isn't Ultimate Team that allows gamers to just pick up and play the game with a purpose. Superstar mode is something which I don't know is going to work all that well with Football as it is probably the least individual based sport in America. The concentration of fans is on the team, the franchise, and the aura around that. Madden needs to capture that magic and bring it home to roost.
The game needs a new presentation. Madden has been operating under the same formula for over a decade now in terms of its presentation. There have been shifts along the way, but you can see where the progression has been logical and steady -- but there haven't been any major shakeups. The bigger issue with Madden is that its Broadcast Presentation is really poorly executed. The game really went off the deep end for a few years starting with Madden NFL 06 on next-gen consoles -- and it is just now starting to get to a point where the in-game presentation is acceptable again. And let's be honest, most NFL fans experience a majority of games via the TV. If you want a game to 'feel' more realistic, the key isn't putting the players on the field, but make it seem like they are recreating a broadcast. How Madden cuts to the crowd and to the benches and whatnot are nothing short of amateur and need a complete overhaul by someone who produces NFL games for TV. The graphical stat overlays and displays are lacking and the commentary needs serious depth as well.
"Everything on Sunday?" Where are the.... There is so much still lacking from the in-game experience for Madden that are present each Sunday. Other games handle the finer aspects of their sport much better than Madden, which is where a lot of the gap comes from. For example, penalties are still not handled properly at all. Another lingering problem is that you don't see the AI adjusting to your play style all that effectively (see point #1). EA could easily set up a much more effective Coaching advice tool which could double as your coordinators letting you know how the other team is reacting to your moves and whatnot. As with all good game design, such a feature would be optional -- but you can make a game deep so long as you hold the users hand through the initial learning stages.
Most of all -- player interactions need to be improved a lot still. The biggest problem with Madden is that player to player interaction, even when the ball is snapped, feel generic. There is nothing really all that dynamic about it still, since you don't see players jockeying for position or pushing and shoving after a play. Using good broadcast angles, you could easily show players jawing a bit and whatnot. I'm sure the NFL has a hand in some of this, wanting to keep the sport's reputation clean -- but there are creative ways to show interactions between players that make the game feel more alive. It is like both teams aren't allowed to really react to one another after a play and they just quietly shuffle back to a huddle. That's not how it happens in the NFL, and that's one very huge reason why the game doesn't feel right to many users. Make the player interactions much more realistic before, during, and after plays and you'll see a lot of people's problem with Madden feeling stale or old go away pretty quickly.

So there is my list of five things. Now what do you think? Other than saying give up the exclusive license (yeah yeah yeah, we know that's what you think) what are some things Madden Developers could do to drastically improve the game in your eyes? Sound off!

Comments

# 1 RynoAid @ Feb 9

Don't forget Online Franchise. If they rolled out a TRUE representation of Offline Franchise onto the web with Salary Cap, Free Agency the whole ball of wax and give the commish's better tools to manage it you would get a lot of positive feedback.

# 2 RaychelSnr @ Feb 9

I mentioned online franchise in section #2 brotha

They need to definitely mirror Franchise and Online Franchise. No doubt.

# 3 MeinComp @ Feb 9

1. Get rid of Ian Cummings. Just irritates me how he can say Madden is a success in his podcast. That tells me right there that he is not determined to make it better, he's satisfied with how it is.

2. Since I don't think it is possible to create a whole new engine and start from scratch (in the time frame), CREATE NEW ANIMATIONS- if you are going to have a game based off of animations, you need to have a bunch. When I see the same animation two plays in a row, that is inexcusable.

3. And yes, what everyone else wants, presentation...Make me feel like I am truly watching/playing a football game...Commentators are dull and repetitive (FIFA's commentators are good, repetitive? maybe, but at least they give emotion and have things to talk about certain players).

Gameplay and Presentation will will make this game outstanding...I have little to no confidence that they will be able to achieve any of these this year.

# 4 Dazraz @ Feb 9

Good list MMCHRISS.
I like the way Madden plays but so much is left unchanged. What makes Madden so frustrating is year after year the same issues return irrespective of how much criticism these issues have received in the forums.
Commentary is poor & illogical, cut scenes are repetitive, Franchise Mode has been ignored for so long, The Extra Point show was a great idea comically executed, some penalties are called constantly while others never are, Injured Reserved players still count against your roster, lack of field/uniform degradation, weather should change throughout the game, AI still doesn't utilise clock management...the list goes on.
I enjoy playing Madden but with more attention to detail this could be a game revered in the same light as NBA 2K & The Show. Instead we wait in the hope of 2K releasing a Football game.

# 5 ebugaloo @ Feb 9

#5 would go a long way for me. I want to see teammates celebrating sacks, receivers pointing at QBs after good passes, and defenses signaling "our ball!" on fumble recoveries (even when the outcome is unknown). Team celebrations on TDs and sideline reactions to big plays would also be great. Football is an emotional game, and they need to bring that in the game (pun intended). Recent NBA games have come a long way towards achieving this with the crowd, but in football the onfield action is key.

# 6 SuperKyle @ Feb 9

I booted up Madden 11 the other day after playing MLB 10 in the morning and NBA 2k11 this weekend. Later that day, Madden 11 was traded back in to GameStop. The difference is night and day.

PS I got $20 for Madden 11, before any sort of bonus store credit.

# 7 a walrus @ Feb 9

3 , 4 , 5 = presentation..if their focus is on tuner sets and audibles ..they have already failed..The NFL is the most glossy of all the major sports..If this team can not come closer to duplicating what really happens on Sunday>>forget about it..McDonalds , Wallmart , EA sports. They could all provide a better product to their consumers , unfortunately profits get in the way.

# 8 bigsmallwood @ Feb 9

EXCELLENT article! I agree with everything said here, especially the presentation! It needs to be overhauled in the BEST way possible. We know it can be done, but will EA/Ian/Madden do it. The player interactions are in dire need of change too! Too many things missing in that regard!

# 9 khaliib @ Feb 9

I think what is killing Madden is the fear of duplicating something that is good.
Every team in a sports genre, is a duplication of each other with variations. Every now and then, a Wildcat or Pistol will inject a new twist, but for the most part, everything is the same.

Meaning, quite trying to be different through gimmicky injections.
Take what's out there getting the buzz, and build on it to make it better.

With that, here is what I say:
1) Take Backbreaker's physics and clean it up even more.

2) Take The Show's Graphical Presentation and duplicate.

3) Take NBA 2k11 Individual Player charateristic overlay and duplicate.

4) Take Broadcast overlay of NCAA Basketball with ESPN/CBS etc... and inject with a few more generic broadcast packages/stations/announcers.

5) Give Total Customization to tweak "Under the Hood" aspects that affect how the game plays (e.g. throw speed/arc, rating thresh-hold slider by position)

6) OMG, provide a Global Rating Editor by Position so gamers don't have to edit single players on 32 teams plus FA. C'mon, quite being tight in this area.

Unfortunately, EA's history has shown that no matter how many/long gamer wishlist are submitted, things so far from the communities desires are injected instead.

Well, you "Reap what you Sow".

When/if the NFL Brand is not there to use, what will they do?

# 10 statum71 @ Feb 9

I'm glad you put gameplay (A.I.) number one for the guys that always feel thats the ONLY thing Madden should focus on. But for goodness sake numer 3 and 5 are SO huge.

This is Madden's biggest gap with other games. I say this all the time. PRESENTATION.

# 11 jmo2278 @ Feb 9

You forgot one.......GET OFF THE POT and give up the license and give another company a chance to make a football simulation!

# 12 DJ @ Feb 9

Good blog, Chris. I agree 100%. I try and try to like Madden, but it's really tough, especially when you compare it (and let's face it, we do because they are all sports games) to games like NBA 2K11 and MLB The Show.

Heck, even Backbreaker, while very limited in a lot of areas, at least brings something DIFFERENT AND NEW to the table. You want player interaction? Go to Backbreaker. You want consecutive hit tackles? Go to Backbreaker. The things that game does puts Madden to shame.

# 13 mirrored32 @ Feb 9

it isn't the game madden.

it isn't the lack of franchise mode or the error in the game.

is the lack of a positive presence from the EASPORTS team.

Yes as stated those points are right on key, though the real heart of the issue i believe lives in 'trust' from us the fans.

The exclusive license is part of the truth of the issue with EASPORTS. I provides a anticompetitive agreement making us the consumer never know what could be elsewhere in the 'land of the free'.

TRUST.

I believe ever since they signed that exclusive agreement their product no matter how good, will never be respected.

comments from the staff are incorrect in providing 'trust' from the 'chained fans'.

"…so we decided to lead with something controversial to get people talking about the game." - Ian Cummings.

Ian is a smart guy (don't throw the first stone). I hold issue with this statement though as it shows exactly what i mean.

they claim a lot we are 'haters'. I think that they are right for the most part. but it comes from the top. that statement isn't a positive statement. controversy? do they need anymore? really?

positive. they need positive.

NCAA FOOTBALL seems to have a better trust with the community.

I really do believe it is in the 'trust' issue. things like Madden 12 being as silly as worrying about a surprise unside kick. really? that is so 2010.

focus. it seems they have little to focus. it is always little scraps of things that they can push as 'features' when they don't tell the public about what they have removed.

trust.

it really comes down to that. they need to provide a reason for us the community to trust that 'their best intentions' are there. as you all have experienced it feels very much like there isn't any. it feels like they don't care about fans, just whatever they want to do.

the podcast they put out is 'good' though again i feel that 'please don't hate us' talk. I don't hate them, i think we all don't hate them, we just want to be heard and understood. their talk is in 'why aren't people buying our game' it sounded like a plea to buy the game. for whatever reason, it feels like a pity fest when they talk.

they have a lot of good things to talk about and they do, but the overall feeling is 'we are the band of the hated'. then quit. move on. don't complain, do your job. no one like a pity party.

all in all I enjoy Madden, though i don't trust EA. make competition games (sports titles) under a exclusive contact breeds contempt.

# 14 ipman @ Feb 9

Blitzing linebackers Offensive and Defensive line are the root area of the game that needs to be improved b4 they touch anything else