The Fumble Pile has me Worried.... - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

The Fumble Pile has me Worried.... Stuck

Posted on May 4, 2009 at 03:24 PM.

(14)

I have gone on record saying Madden looks like it is going to have a banner year this year. However, I am pretty worried about one feature, the fumble pile.

So take this short blog post as a plea to the Madden guys at EA, and take it as being written from a concerned fan of NFL football video games. Please do not over-do the fumble pile. I'm worried that every single fumble will become a button mashing festival. Worse, I'm worried that some fumbles which could realistically be picked up and ran for a touchdown will become a button mashing festival.

Basically, I'm worried the feature will be thrown in our faces in an obnoxious "hey look at me" way. So please, do not overdo the fumble pile. It's a cool feature, but if it starts taking away control from the player in certain situations, expect Madden fans across the country to be scorning the feature.

What do you think OSers? Are you worried about the fumble pile being overdone or am I alone in my concern?

Comments

# 1 DubTrey1 @ May 4

Agree 100%. If implemented in a sensible way, it will be a nice feature. If overdone, it could be a serious pain and possible gameplay killer.

# 2 shawnhobs @ May 4

I just hope that they didn't spend an overwhelming amount of time on this feature to the detriment of game play. Through the years I have yet to be impressed with Madden game play. Prior to the unveiling of the fumble pile it seemed to me that they were focusing in the right areas this year. The pro-tak feature for example seems like it can really make a huge difference and is a step in the right direction. I think EA should spend more focus on pro-tak and over game play and less time adding bells and whistles like a fumble pile.

If EA has extra time to focus on a fumble pile maybe they can spend a little on the online experience… specifically in online league/dynasty play. If they don’t implement a dynasty or season online experience similar to what NCAA did I think it would be a huge mistake. They keep saying if it’s in the game it’s in the game but when I play online I don’t have conferences and divisions or even the ability have schedules that resemble real life. It is time for EA to step up and deliver in this area. I for one would forgive minor game play issue in lieu of a true to life online league experience and I can certainly go without any added bells and whistles such as a fumble pile.

# 3 jsquigg @ May 4

Ian has already said that the button mashing for the pile ups can be turned off. He also said that pile ups would only happen in situations where a pile up would happen in real life, not when possession is clear. Another case of misplaced pre-release worry.......

# 4 stlstudios189 @ May 4

I believe that jsquigg is right. Ian has said that it would be a very random occurance that would not happen on every football. I am excited to see this feature in action. Madden 10 could be a very good game if all these additions work with the game.

# 5 rspencer86 @ May 4

I'm not very concerned about it. Ian shared some information that put my mind at ease:

Quote:


	1. Add a on/off option to the settings screens for the button masher. If it's off, the fumble is recovered through some CPU logic of which players get there first 3. Add support for the meter to disappear at a specified time based on skill level. Meaning, that on All-Pro or All-Madden, the button callout will still stay on screen to show you how to fight for the fumble, but the "meter" will disappear to give more suspense. On lower skill levels, the meter can stay up the whole time. 4. Give bonuses to make sure that the first person on the ball starts out 'winning' the meter 5. Tune all the animations to make sure that the pileup only triggers in the obvious situation where multiple people dove on it at once. If you fall on it and it looks like you have possession, then you should retain possession with no fumble pileup.

Looks like they have made the necessary adjustments to make this feature work well.

# 6 raidersbball20 @ May 4

this could be a horrible feature online if it is like what you said

# 7 TreyIM2 @ May 5

# 2 shawnhobs - The fumble pileup is considered bells and whistles to u, eh? Dude, you're joking, right? THAT IS AN EQUAL PART OF THE GAME OF FOOTBALL!! Yet, u want an online dynasty league similar to NCAA and don't consider that bells and whistles. To me, that is considered extras and is not necessarily football yet I do understand that can enhance the online gameplay.

I will say that, personally, I don't really care for the tapping the buttons to try to recover the fumble but I understand that they are trying to make it interactive, most likely for onliners, as well. I would rather just wait and see which direction the ref signals, myself, but that's just me. If they make it optional on the button press, I'll try it out but if I don't like it, still, I'll switch it off.

MMCHRISS - I don't think EA is going to make it happen too much. Just like Ian said, it will most likely be once a game but, realistically, it can happen multiple times in a real football game. I think weather should play into it, and, sometimes, it just happens a couple times on a great weather day or in an indoor stadium.

# 8 XFLOutLaw @ May 5

Actually Trey....a fumble pile in every football game is high unlikely. Fumble piles do not happen every game IRL.

# 9 TreyIM2 @ May 5

XFLOutlaw - It CAN and HAS happened more than once in a game but I think it should definitely be kept to a minimum yet it would not be unrealistic for it happen more than once in game.

# 10 XFLOutLaw @ May 5

i didnt say it happens more than once a game, i said it doesnt happen every game

# 11 shawnhobs @ May 5

Trey - I don't consider a fumble pile bells and whistles but I do consider a button mashing mini game just that. Reading the reply's from others gives me confidence that it will be done right though.

My point in regards to spending more time on the online experience was that I would rather have them spend time there then on a fumble mini-game. Ultimately I want a football game that is realistic, that is number one on my priority list. For me the next thing on the list would be online league play done with some level of authenticity. As of Madden 09 the online league support is weak at best.

# 12 TreyIM2 @ May 5

shawnhobs - Yea, I getcha now. That the online part, I don't really mess with. I play friends and family, time to time, online. I can't mess with the rest of the online world like that. I just feel like if they can fix a bunch of the issues, get to the core of what football is about, add new things to the game itself, I am more than a happy camper.

# 13 prettyrik @ May 7

This is just a thought, but I was playing the legends of wrestlemania demo the other day and their concept of who presses a face button( circle, triangle, X, and square) first that randomly appears on the screen wins battle and is able to execute their move or reverse their opponents move. Although this may sound simple, it's now a battle of quick reactions which is a key factor to getting a fumble. I think the same idea could be implemented somehow in the fumble pile on for madden 10. What do you guys think?