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

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 ShowMadden 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?


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Member Comments
# 101 romschomp @ 01/27/12 08:43 PM
Other than gameplay I hope to see much more improvements to the franchise mode. I want CPU to make interesting moves, decisions to their teams, improved trade logic, wider range of injuries, suspensions? player personalities, more in depth contract signings etc. etc.
 
# 102 bobneil @ 01/27/12 08:49 PM
Madden does not live up to its its slogan, "If it's in the game, it's in the game". Rocca kicking off for the Redskins???? It infuriates me every time.
 
# 103 VonRye @ 01/27/12 10:35 PM
Same common complaints that we who play NCAA Football have. Funny...I wonder why... oh, they're made by the same jokers
 
# 104 jagsrock95 @ 01/28/12 02:38 AM
along with all the gameplay fixes stated above id love to see better player interaction post-play and not the mindless zombie thing we got going on right now.
 
# 105 ridemooses @ 01/28/12 03:13 AM
Big thing for me: AI. People call the same plays over and over and the computer should be able to recognize that better and react appropriately. Likewise, running the same play over and over successfully would open up other plays. Maybe I'm just dreaming but this is huge.
 
# 106 Eagles1fan89 @ 01/28/12 07:33 AM
1. wr jump up to get the ball
2.dymanic blocking
3. double team pass blocking
4. better accuracy
 
# 107 AndyP @ 01/28/12 08:07 AM
I agree with the suggestions in this article but I've truly given up hope with Madden. EA and Tiburon are far too comfortable releasing essentially the same product with minor updates each year. There is zero incentive to do anything. The first 360 release was Madden 06. If they were going to add these things in this generation of consoles, they would have by now. It won't be long before a whole new game is developed for the next gen consoles and we go around the block again. Like I said, I've given up all hope.
 
# 108 Skyboxer @ 01/28/12 09:52 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TNT713
I'm with you on some of this... Not so much on the rest.

First, NFL Fever sucked. It wasn't the worst football game I've ever played (that was Gameday 99) - but it was close. What you deem as "X for X" isn't a fault with the passing interface in Madden - it is the beauty.

When Madden launched on consoles with only 3 eligible players (because there weren't enough buttons for 5) there it was still never just a simple "X for X." Even then the game had a built in option to throw a bullet or a lob. Ever since, we've had more options added to give us more variety. Now we can lead passes with the stick high, low, left, and right of a receiver. We can throw balls away several ways too - either with the R3 or by purposely over/underthrowing a receiver in a variety of directions. To consider all the possibilities that have been added without changing the basic "X for X" interface is nothing short of mind boggling...

Regarding players running on and off the field when they are subbed - I'd LOVE THAT. Haven't seen it since Madden '92 (or was it 93?). IT needs to return in place of the cut scenes that usually play out while were in the playcall screen... Heck, I'd be cool if they ran the ACCELERATED CLOCK down while players trotted out at time lapsed speeds...

And real ball physics are LONG overdue... The ball physics on 12 are as good as they have ever been, but they still aren't quite right. They need to be drastically improved - but it's the first year it's been a focus so I'll cut the devs some slack. I expect the ball physics to be much better on Madden 13 and beyond.
I never said Fever was a great game. I was simply referencing the new passing system. It was a step towards giving us OPTIONS instead of being forced to continually using the Hit X for X system. I want to be able to throw anywhere on the field. Again when playing Fever's read and lead you felt good when you had a good passing day. It was far more rewarding than just pushing a button. I just think we're long overdue to have some variety in the games options.

I still play fever for that alone. Just a change of pace.
We are in 2012 and we still have the same passing system. Again not saying remove X for X but for the love of God step out of the box a bit and try to advance the game.
X for X is "ok" at best IMO but we should have options by now.
That's all I'm saying. Options for those that are tired of the same system year after year.

Even Madden on the Apple IIe was a ton more fun than the current system.
 
# 109 roadman @ 01/28/12 10:31 AM
^^^

Stopped reading after "when Madden first came out" perfect balance of graphics and realistic gameplay.

Ambulances on the field, less commentary and very choppy, running around the ends and gaining 400 yds rushing, chucking the ball in the air for 500 yds passing. That wasn't realistic and that's when I first started playing Madden.

No one isn't saying Madden doesn't have issues, they do and they need to right the ship towards more realistic NFL football.
 
# 110 Skyboxer @ 01/28/12 10:40 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobneil
Madden does not live up to its its slogan, "If it's in the game, it's in the game". Rocca kicking off for the Redskins???? It infuriates me every time.
Don't believe they've used "If it's in the game, it's in the game" for quite a while.
It's now just "It's In the Game".
At least that's all I ever see anymore. Could be wrong though.
 
# 111 fcboiler87 @ 01/28/12 11:11 AM
I have not purchased Madden in over 5 years. Madden 11 was given to me as a gift. I played it a handful of times before shelving it. Online franchise was a joke. They shouldn't have been allowed to even release it as it was. There are just too many basic things in the NFL that aren't in the game? Why? I don't know. But I have been making my point with my wallet.
 
# 112 steelcurtainrox @ 01/28/12 04:36 PM
Someone probably already said this, but I hate when I throw a perfect pass across the middle, my receiver just doesn't go for it. So they need to fix that. But if it's something I'm doing wrong, can someone tell me?
 
# 113 dorian813 @ 01/28/12 04:36 PM
please fix the A.I. as well. I hate throwing to ball to a receiver and then a player with his back turned that's not even covering the guy I threw the ball to turns around and makes the int.
fix the blocking again, yes it got better but it still needs to be better.
fix the defense, the front 7 have gap assignments they just don't chase the ball after it's hiked.
make the pre-snap reads harder. football is chess it should be harder to see man from zone. in real life the corners don't always chase the man in motion to the other side of the field they sometimes hand them off to other players. also bring the safeties up closer to the line on some plays. include more run stopping style of defense other then all out blitz like gap assignments, again.
figure out how to get the ball over a linebackers head.
bring back smart qb's and lb's that can read a certain formation but instead of showing that they know the play just give the option to change to a new play that can better challenge the play call or simply have one of the receivers change routes to sit in the zone.
add the little things.
make it feel more like a real broadcast and not some cheese fest. think 2k but better. Chris Berman was great at half time.
 
# 114 eye guy @ 01/28/12 05:08 PM
Can you move everything on your list down a spot... Number one should be not renewing the licence they have with the NFL.

Have a look at what it did to the MLB2K series...
 
# 115 Pete1210 @ 01/28/12 05:37 PM
Full featured Online Franchise mode
 
# 116 RynoAid @ 01/28/12 05:39 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete1210
Full featured Online Franchise mode
this is what is holding the game back more than anything... for me anyways. I want a hybrid of Madden and Head Coach, online with 32 coach/gm's
 
# 117 Dazraz @ 01/28/12 06:49 PM
The awful sound quality & repetitive commenatry/cutscenes frustrate me. EA need to make each game feel different & fresh.
 
# 118 pf8363 @ 01/28/12 07:09 PM
Please give us custom music. It adds so much to the immersion.
 
# 119 hhpanther2926 @ 01/28/12 10:22 PM
Agreed, also it does a terrible job on using import NCAA rosters (granted we as fellow operation sports alum) know how to change it but seriously why should we spend time doing something that EA sports should have taken care of years ago ???? Also the new way of signing free agents is terrible I mean the system/game picks the length of the contract and you only get to choose front or back load or even contract ??? So many issues with madden 12 it is a joke and EA will not fix them in the 2013 installment still I will buy of course !
 
# 120 huskerwr38 @ 01/28/12 11:06 PM
Here is a video of why foot planting needs to be fixed. This pass was called incomplete, but he definitely should have gotten both feet down on the ground. His feet just sort of glide across the ground, never really making contact. So frustrating!

 


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