Five Things EA Sports must do for Success in Madden NFL 13

Feature Article

Submitted on: 01/25/2012 by Phil Varckette

Ever since Madden landed on next-gen consoles, there has been a plethora of issues that seem to go unfixed every year. As gamers, we cannot seem to get an answer one way or another as to why these issues persist -- Is it just not possible to fix these issues given with what the developers have to work with? No matter the answer, the issues remain. With Madden 13 possibly being the last Madden to be exclusively on the current-gen systems, will we see some of the fixes we have been clamoring for, or do we simply have to put this generation behind us and hope for best on the upcoming new systems?

Without further adieu, here is the top five fixes EA must make for Madden NFL 13.

Newton throws over the middle and it's...blocked by a linebacker leaping 11 feet into the air?

1. Pass Trajectory

Look, it’s a bird, no, it’s a plane, wait…It’s a SUPER LINEBACKER!! Well actually it isn’t. Its not that the linebackers jump too high, it’s how the ball does not arc properly over the second level of the defense. Its like the ball travels on a single plane without variation. Sure, the ball can still be high or low, its just that there is no middle ground. If you are trying to throw the ball over the middle of the field, and if there is anyone within five yards they can easily bat the pass down.

This is an issue that has plagued the series since its debut on the current systems. My fear is that there is simply no way to fix it with the current game engine. I think as Madden fans we have made our voices heard for long enough to reasonable expect a fix this year. If not, then we surely must chalk it up to the unfortunate fact that it is unable to be fixed

2. Revamped Foot planting/Momentum engine

One of the single biggest complaints from Madden detractors and fans alike, is how the current foot planting engine needs a huge upgrade. Since the inception of Madden on our current generation consoles player movements seem to lack momentum. It also seems like a player can zig and zag to avoid contact way to easily, along with being able to turn on a dime. I should not be able to be running towards the sideline as I catch a pass and turn it up the line on a dime. My momentum should carry me out of bounds.

If only this were rendered in real-time...if only.

3. Real Time Physics

The mother of all wish list items. Real time physics could be a game changer if done right. Canned animations, or canimations as the community affectionately likes to call them, are getting old in most gamers eyes. The fact that Madden doesn’t seem to have a large number of them anyway is enough to make you want to pull your hair out. Real time physics could make every tackle, block and interaction unique.

4. The Little Things

Like MLB: The Show, Madden needs the little things. To be blunt, there is no excuse for some things being left out. I want all the penalties. I mean heck, we waited untilMadden 10 to have officials on the field. I want to see an illegal block in the back call on a punt or a kickoff return; I want illegal motion, defensive holding, illegal contact, and for the love of all that is football, make pass interference work. Basically, every penalty in football should be in the game. The challenge system also needs redone. Too many times it doesn’t challenge what you want it to. These are all things that should have been in the game since day one.

Totally willing to settle for less of the same, and more variety too. Deal? DEAL!

5. Animations

Madden suffers greatly from lack of animations. It takes away from the immersion factor. A football game needs to have enough animations where you don’t see the same things over and over. For example, catching animations are so few that you can pretty much see all of them in one game; the same could be said about blocking animations. What might be the biggest area where improvement is needed is tackling. Simply put, there needs to be a ton more tacking animations.

I shouldn’t see the same animations over and over. This, however, brings us to improvement No. 3, real time physics, and the ultimate problem solver to tackling. I want to see specialized animations as well. All 32 starting quarterbacks should have signature throwing animations, and at least most running backs should have their signature running animations, or as close to their real life movements as possible. Wonky running animations have been an issue for years.

Final Thoughts

If there is a negative tone to any of this, it is certainly not my intention. I am just a football game lover like all of us. These five improvements, while mostly gameplay based, are a very small amount of what we, as a community, want to see. I will be very interested to see where the Madden team takes us this year. With next-gen systems looming, will we even see real improvements, or will most of their focus being on the future. With the Super Bowl match up set, it shouldn’t be long before the first info starts to trickle out.

What are your top 5 keys to success for Madden NFL 13?

Madden NFL 13 Videos

Member Comments

# 81 Jarodd21 @ 01/26/12 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by at23steelers


	Ok, I will try and explain it better. WR's can jump vertically, but they can't outstretch their arms if throw is towards the sideline. Also, there is no fighting for position. There's no leverage or anything. All it is, is like I said before: a jump ball with no contact between the WR or DB. There's no fighting to get into position. It's either you jump infront or behind, but there isn't a battle. I have seen before plays where my WR should have made the catch but the DB slides forward with footplanting and gets there a few seconds earlier. When have you ever seen a play like this in Madden? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt53sK_5QRM

I would love to see an animation thrown on the game like that first INT T.Polomalu made where he made a toe taping INT by the sideline. I been throwing it out there for the last few years that you do not see INTs around 1 to 2 yards from the sideline or the back of the endzone where they keep there feet inbounds. This is something I've been thoroughly paying attention for the past few Maddens. It's always dropped or batted down. They'll make a grab around 3 to 4 yards from the sideline but nothing right by the sideline or back of the endzone in that 1 to 2 yard gap.

TNT713 also mentioned on another site that they also need to make it to where DBs have to come down with full possession of the catch before they call it an INT. If you haven't noticed defenders are in the air when they start calling the interception without coming down to there feet with full possession of the ball like WRs have to on offense making it impossible for a WR to become a defender and knock it out the DBs hands on the interception attempt. That's another gameplay issue I would love to see fine tuned..

# 82 Xoax34 @ 01/26/12 07:10 PM

NBA, NHL, AND MLB arent doing hot at all (or in NHL's case, even made). So....why not make a fictional football game!?

Ok so they got their rights taken away. They tried All-Pro. It didnt work. But here's the thing. Its 2012. We have now experienced multiple Madden Titles that make us wish for 2k back. I guess they worry about it not selling that well because they dont have the license. But im pretty sure that if they made a game, it would sell great. All they need to do is pull a Backbreaker and allow custom leagues, teams, stadiums, etc.

Now im not sure if they can just up and make a next-gen game, but a guy can always wish.

# 83 graygriff78 @ 01/26/12 07:24 PM

I used to look forward to Madden every year but not anymore, not since the last generation of Madden was I excited enough to pick up my copy of Madden on day one. EA has taken away one of my most beloved franchises. I'm still amazed at how last gen Madden (PS2/XBox) still handles gameplay much better then current gen Madden. About the only thing that current gen Madden handles better is graphics and that's not saying much, I still don't like the animations on the field of current gen. I still play last gen Madden for PS2 on my PS3 because of it's superior gameplay and unique features still not found on current gen. Franchise mode is so much deeper and addicting on last gen. I feel like Madden took a vacation on the current gen systems and maybe not be back till the next iteration of consoles and that's if we get lucky and a new developer can throw its hat in the game of football to create some healthy competition.

# 84 Skyboxer @ 01/26/12 07:43 PM

Until they come up with OPTIONS for the passing game, instead of Hit X for X (ala something LIKE NFL Fever read and lead passing) I won't be happy. I know many are happy and satisfied with X for X system but it's time to add some options.

Also how about realistic ball physics?

Players running on and off the field when you switch sets/formations?

There's soooo much needed I hoep we start seeing some soon.

LIFE! Sorry but after a few games it's back to "Seen that, done that" feeling. Just gets stale way too quick.

# 85 MeloJello @ 01/26/12 07:54 PM

Dude they are the only football game on the market they not going to listen. Why bother Rinse Recycle and Repeat. I thought people already know this by now. Why improve or listen when you know people going to buy game anyways. Its called business folks

# 86 packers312 @ 01/26/12 08:22 PM

Finally someone's wishlist is identical to mine. Who cares about franchise and all that stuff? I want some realistic simulation gameplay!!!

# 87 sportdan30 @ 01/26/12 08:51 PM

1. Commentary
2. Commentary
3. Commentary
4. Commentary
5. tons more tackling animations

# 88 packers312 @ 01/26/12 10:04 PM

1. physics
2. new animations for every situation (CATCHING, RUNNING, blocking, tackling, celebrations, taunts)
3. new player models (thinner, more detailed, different style dreads, tattoos)
4. more weather options (clouds, temperature, precipitation, wind)
5. new commentators, crowd reactions

# 89 Jarodd21 @ 01/26/12 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNT713


	Thanks for bringing this up because it's relevant to the topic and its something I can really get behind! Defensive catching: In 20+ years of Madden, I have seen exactly zero (0) combined sideline toe-tap catches and/or catches out of bounds by a defensive player. It's like defensive players have lose their ability to catch a ball near the sideline... Meanwhile, offensive players catch balls out of bounds all the time. On the flip side, offensive players require a moment to secure a catch indicated by a reverse reticule that expands and disappears as they bring the ball in. If a defender swats or hits the receiver during this small window of time, the ball can be knocked out for an incomplete pass. No such action occurs for defenders. By rule, it's not a catch until a player has clear control of the ball with two feet ("One Knee Equals Two Feet" is a great read by the way) down in the field of play. In Madden, interceptions are credited as soon as the ball touches a defenders hands (unless he's near the sidelines headed out of bounds). THIS MUST CHANGE!!! Hopefully the screen will not rotate until defenders have completed the EXACT SAME PROCESS required of offensive players. This will give offensive players the same exact opportunity that defensive players have to knock a ball out before the "catch" is made according to NFL rules.

Yeah I really hope they tweak this issue. This would be a great gameplay addition which is the only thing I care about right now.. I need stuff on the field to be fixed before all that extra stuff...

# 90 NFCastle @ 01/27/12 01:22 AM

They can put all of these in madden 13.

Unless I hear that the shoulder pad issues from madden 12 are NOT in it from draft classes, and that the UDFA logic gets fixed....then I will not be buying 13.

Franchise is the sole reason I play the game, and when you have to look at power ranger shoulder pads on all of your big name rookie players...it ruins it.

# 91 at23steelers @ 01/27/12 01:28 AM

@JaySmoov: Thank you for adding no insight while quoting a very long post. To make matters worse, you add a huge picture at the bottom of it! Thanks for the helpful criticism. At least if you're trying to be funny, do it in a clever, wise way and not this annoying nonsense to add clutter to this forum!

# 92 Aggies7 @ 01/27/12 01:45 AM

Obviously I like all 5 things you mentioned. But I am so happy you mentioned the little things. That what makes MLB The Show so enjoyable and realistic.

# 93 TheTodd84 @ 01/27/12 02:39 AM

Love the list. If, for whatever reason, real-time physics cannot be implemented on this generation of systems this year... then it MUST BE IMPLEMENTED in the FIRST ITERATION on the xbox 720 in the fall of 2013.

There is honestly no excuse for not having real-time physics in this gen or next gen. So, if they are still not using real-time physics for the xbox 720, then that is completely unacceptable, and Madden will go the way of the dodo bird. This HAS to happen... and it has to happen sooner or later.

# 94 JohnnyRu31 @ 01/27/12 08:06 AM

Alot of grammatical errors in this article

# 95 Herky @ 01/27/12 10:14 AM

Aside for the issues mentioned in the article, franchise needs to be re--vamped. NFL Head Coach still has a much better franchise mode and that game is several years old. I also want practice squads in Madden (been saying that since 2008), and better draft class importing from NCAA. Ratings need to matter and EA needs to explain what each rating means. I'm tired of the #3 QB coming into games and playing just like the starter did.

A new engine is also needed. It's been needed actually from some time. That would fix a lot of the current issues.

Tuners need to be utilized. NCAA uses them (even if they only did once this season), and it does help polish gameplay. Madden has them but won't use them. That needs to stop.

Madden has gotten better slowly but they really need to step up their game in 2013. Of course, seem to remember saying that in 2008, 2009, 2010.....ect.

# 96 jmood88 @ 01/27/12 11:48 AM

They also need to fix the presentation asap. The games aren't fundamentally sound and the lack of interesting presentation makes their problems stand out even more.

# 97 KBLover @ 01/27/12 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goodydog


	Now some of those same Madden supporters are expressing the same sentiment (or at least acknowledging that Madden has issues, long lasting issues that need to be addressed; long overdue).

Maybe these people knew they were playing a perfect game handed to them on a silver platter by a hot Valkyrie all along. I mean - what - Madden has issues? Really? *mind not blown*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goodydog


	Just get a copy of 2K5, replicate its core foundation (balanced gameplay - run/pass offense & defense, excellent commentary and presentation style) and incorporate EA's graphics with the NFL license. If they could accomplish this, everyone would be happy.

That's a solution?

Get this game, make your game like it (figure it out how, and it better be right), and then upgrade all the graphics?

Besides, if the BEST we can hope for is from something 7 years in the past (which had it's own set of issues), then this sub-genre is screwed and cloning a 2005 game isn't going to do much for it.

# 98 sportjames23 @ 01/27/12 12:54 PM

I wish we could get Legends/Classic Teams, to go along with everything everyone else mentioned. That was my main draw to NBA 2K11 and 2K12 (and hopefully 2K13).

I want to be able to play with players I grew up watching--Montana, Marino, Elway, Aikman, Rice, Smith, Sanders (Deion and Barry), etc.

Do that, and Madden is guaranteed my purchase.

# 99 jmik58 @ 01/27/12 04:27 PM

Pass trajectory may need an improvement, but super linebackers are a problem on their own. It has to do with canned animations that are triggered by a pass near the linebackers. Super linebackers are a product of animations that need to be nerfed big time.

# 100 jmik58 @ 01/27/12 04:29 PM

The single biggest improvement that could ever happen would be to incorporate a read-and-react "key" system for all players in regards to gameplay.

Every player has a "key" that tells them to react in a certain way. Depending on the players' attributes they execute said process in a variance of ways.

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