If You Could Change One Thing - Madden NFL 12

Feature Article

Submitted on: 02/24/2012 by

It seems like every year Madden is shipped with flaw after flaw, causing an uproar in the OS community. We see lists of forgotten features, underwhelming commentary and even missing players. But what if you could only choose one fix? What if you had to choose the single, most important problem in the game to change in your opinion.

What would that be?

Chris Sanner: The commentary. Now don't get me wrong, I'd love to have the gameplay fixed as well, but there are so many invdividual problems with gameplay that I can't name just one that'd have as big of an effect on how the game feels as just fixing the commentary. If I could take Madden's horrendous commentary and turn it into the best commentary in our genre, the game would have been perceived as a much better game. There would still be the gameplay quirks that we all know and hate/love, but we'd feel a lot more into the game with an immersive experience with great commentary.

Caley Roark: Broadcast elements. I know they added transitional scenes and real camera placement, but Madden 12's presentation still has a long way to go to match leaders like NBA 2K11 and NFL 2K5. I want to see more stat overlays, graphical drive summaries, timely and engaging replays, on-screen performance analysis, a halftime show, etc. Even though football is the game that seems to push broadcast technology, Madden is years behind.

Phil Varckette: Player weight. Players need to have more weight to them. It seems like every player, regardless of size, can cut on a dime. I can pretty much zig-zag down the field gaining yards at will. This especially hurts on sideline catches. When a player catches the ball and his momentum should clearly carry him out of bounds, he is able to turn and burn to the endzone. Until this is fixed, player ratings will continue to mean absolutely nothing.

Bo McCready: Scouting in Franchise Mode. The new approach to scouting was interesting, but there's no reason we shouldn't be able to see things like 40 times and bench presses for every last prospect. We need more than height, weight, school and position before the scouting process starts. I shouldn't have to scout a quarterback during a specific time period to know obvious things like if he's a scrambler or a pocket passer. It kills the realism and immersion of Franchise Mode.

Jayson Young: An online franchise mode that has all the same features as Madden's offline franchise mode. Online franchise hasn't received any upgrades since the feature debuted in 2009. With no salary cap, limited stat tracking and no support for gameplay sliders, online franchise is arguably the weakest mode in Madden.

Bishop Tart: In-Game Shows. A few years ago, EA tried to implement a pre-game and halftime show with several NFL Network personalities. That did not go over well and was poorly executed. They don't have to do exactly what 2K did with NFL 2K5, but if EA wants us to play an authentic NFL game, give us a better pre-game, halftime and post-game show. Also, Chris Berman is not required, Mike Tirico would work just fine (use the ESPN license you have).

Mike Kilroy: I wish it still had the rewind feature. That way when a crazy play that would never, ever happen in real life happened, I could rewind and pretend it didn't.

Dustin Toms: The commentary (Sanner and I are on the same page, as usual). If I hear how agressive Cortland Finnegan is agressive one more time, I might do something illegal.

What about you, OS? If you could change just one thing about Madden, what would it be?

Madden NFL 12 Videos

Member Comments

# 41 iAM-IncReDiBLe- @ 02/25/12 12:11 AM

Wat???

Sent from Jesus EVO

# 42 jupebox @ 02/25/12 01:08 AM

Without. A. Doubt. the COMMENTARY. The rumor is that next year's might be more like Fifa's commentary. That would be a dream come true.

# 43 johnnyg713 @ 02/25/12 01:54 AM

If madden only changed one thing from 12 - 13 it would have to be player movement/animations. I absolutely love the thread "the photographic side of NCAA", the screenshots make the game look absolutely incredible. Even madden looks beautiful graphics-wise. Too bad the same can't be said when you actually see it in motion...

# 44 johnnyg713 @ 02/25/12 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Lo-Z-Ro


	COMPETITION!!!! there is none between players,, its basically run through the dummies & a game of 500 with passing.. we need options on defense against the run & pass like certain buttons do certain things.. go for the interception, strip the ball, block the pass, arm tackle, shoulder hit, etc.. give the defense options against the offense.. same can be done with the offense. but there is too much that either needs to be changed, added or fixed to be just one...

Not trying to sound like a wise-*** but there ARE buttons for those things.
Y-intercept the ball
RB - strip the ball
X- tackle (for the most part arm/wrap up tackle)
RS - hit stick (big hit or shoulder tackle)

I listed them so if you really didn't know about these (Took me a while to fig out ball strip) then maybe you can have more fun playing

# 45 Cardot @ 02/25/12 02:02 AM

I want all the plays to have a realistic success/fail rate (based upon factors like the oppositions play-call & players involved etc).

I feel guilty running slants, but I am scared to run an out pattern. I'll never run a play-action play in a critical situation....been sacked a few too many times before my QB gets out of his animation for that. The playbooks are loaded with End Arounds...those never work for me. These are just a few examples, but the end result is that there just aren't many different plays I end up calling, and the game gets kind of boring.

# 46 johnnyg713 @ 02/25/12 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cardot


	I want all the plays to have a realistic success/fail rate (based upon factors like the oppositions play-call & players involved etc). I feel guilty running slants, but I am scared to run an out pattern. I'll never run a play-action play in a critical situation....been sacked a few too many times before my QB gets out of his animation for that. The playbooks are loaded with End Arounds...those never work for me. These are just a few examples, but the end result is that there just aren't many different plays I end up calling, and the game gets kind of boring.

Completely agree with you. There is a reason many people choose the same 20 or 30 plays, we know those ones work. All the one's I would love to run simply dont work and even worse result in loss of yards.

# 47 CoreySmall @ 02/25/12 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by assclown25


	def commentary! brutal- i want to punch my tv everytime i hear Collinsworth speak

# 48 AussieChiefsFan @ 02/25/12 04:28 AM

Well it'd be nice to have different commentators. Like Al Michaels and John Madden.

But I wish it never froze

# 49 B-Lo-Z-Ro @ 02/25/12 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyg713


	Not trying to sound like a wise-*** but there ARE buttons for those things. Y-intercept the ball RB - strip the ball X- tackle (for the most part arm/wrap up tackle) RS - hit stick (big hit or shoulder tackle) I listed them so if you really didn't know about these (Took me a while to fig out ball strip) then maybe you can have more fun playing

lol, ididnt mean for it to come out like that...I meant for example in 2k5 you can either have the choice to block the pass or go for the INT & the WR should have the option to make a play on the ball or bat it away also if the DB has the advantage.. Just to say we need competition on both sides of the ball with the buttons/hitstick with the more options like to push off also on both sides under 5 yrds or after including more pass interference calls which werent in the game at all this year that ihave noticed... hope I cleared that up some

# 50 CRIP4LIFE @ 02/25/12 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnin0


	I would change the NFL license deal so it was no longer exclusive.

^^ this is the only correct answer.

when big companies fight for our dollars, we consumers win.

if this ONE thing were changed regarding madden, then every other complaint/issue in this thread would be immediately rectified.

EA has no one to compete with... so we madden consumers lose big time.

you know, EA sports' nba live used to dominate the nba video gaming market. look what healthy competition did there.

# 51 Bulls321974 @ 02/25/12 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charter04


	I like you "one thing" list.

I couldn't just pick out one thing that needs to be changed because there are so many other areas needing improvement. To me, "Madden" is just a mediocre football simulation that could only survive yet because of its exclusive NFL license. I couldn't be more disappointed of this game.

# 52 Philthephlame @ 02/25/12 11:29 AM

Create-a-team. It's such a stale game feature. It needs to be updated worse than anything IMO.

# 53 tanchl @ 02/25/12 11:29 AM

One thing! and I assume that one thing would make the game tolerable until more improvements are made...well, the one thing I would change would be what charter04 mentioned and that is realistic implementation of penalties. Penalties are what gives football its uniqueness. The outcome of games hinge on the overall effect of penalties; this game not implementing penalties leaves a hollowness and unimportantness, IN MY OPINION.

# 54 MrBawsT @ 02/25/12 12:56 PM

The Superstar Mode and Gameplay.

# 55 johnnyg713 @ 02/25/12 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Lo-Z-Ro


	lol, ididnt mean for it to come out like that...I meant for example in 2k5 you can either have the choice to block the pass or go for the INT & the WR should have the option to make a play on the ball or bat it away also if the DB has the advantage.. Just to say we need competition on both sides of the ball with the buttons/hitstick with the more options like to push off also on both sides under 5 yrds or after including more pass interference calls which werent in the game at all this year that ihave noticed... hope I cleared that up some

haha ya i see where you are going now. I agree, especially if you like playing as DB. I made a post about this in another thread not too long ago. I feel we should have specific buttons for things like jamming a receiver and fighting for position if the WR has a step on the guy I'm controlling (much like fifa uses the A button). Also a button to counter a block. I hate seeing a OLman 2 seconds before he's gonna block me and have no way to avoid it. These things shouldn't automatically trigger like they do now. If they're based on user input instead of just triggering because "they're close to each other" then there is the opportunity to add penalties. And honestly I wouldn't mind seeing an actual block button for offensive players (idk if thats in the game or not lol). One of my issues is that animations should not trigger unless there is some sort of input.

# 56 Dazraz @ 02/25/12 01:26 PM

Give the NFL franchise to 2K & see what they can do with it.

# 57 bobtrain @ 02/25/12 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmik58


	Change the programming logic for gameplay to a read-and-react system. Currently it appears that the gameplay is set up in a way that incoporates an "A happens and C is going to be the result, so we fill in the gap with B". That means we get super linebackers and psychic DBs. The quarterback throws the ball (A) and the game decides it's going to get batted down or intercepted (C) so the game initiates an animation to connect the dots (B) resulting in odd gameplay. Instead, attach a chain of events using "keys" that each player (especially on defense) focuses on. Depending on what that "key" does will determine the reaction of the player. This is how it's done in real life. There should be several options for reactions and several variances of success as you incorporate each player's attributes. Instead of the A then C so B example, you get something like this: Linebacker reads key (offensive guard) and sees him stand up in pass blocking stance. LB reacts by dropping to his zone. Linebacker then looks for his next key (depending on the coverage and offensive formation this would vary). He then reacts to the routes accordingly. Notice how none of that determines if the ball is swatted, tackle is made, etc. It would let the attributes work, so Mr. Linebacker wouldn't execute his assignment as mentioned to the same success rate as a player with different attribute ratings. But most importantly is the point that it gets the players to act and react more like they do in the real game. If you want to revolutionize the game and make it dynamic...this is what you do.

but that would be simulation football and we haven't had that in years.... LOL I agree man. This is my biggest frustration, so If there was only ONE thing to fix, I'd say this would be it. BUT that's not to say there are a handful of other BIG issues that need to be fixed such as player weight attributes actually meaning anything, ball trajectory, commentary, lack of depth to online franchise, etc

# 58 bobtrain @ 02/25/12 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwolchock


	the challenge system...I want to be able to choose to challenge the spot of the ball or challenge a complete/incomplete pass....not hope and pray the computer reviews what I want it to.

lol I agree. I once had a fumble returned by the other team. I stopped them short of the goal line and you know what the CPU challenged? Not the actual fumble, but the spot where I tackled the dude who recovered it. Now that's whack dude.

# 59 bobtrain @ 02/25/12 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshoop3


	The Developers

LOL touche dude

# 60 bobtrain @ 02/25/12 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wat3


	I just want something new and innovative instead of clay looking morphing robots playing body bumper cars while ice skating on a flat green plain infront of emotionless pixals and brian dead commentators calling names buy numbers while shotgun sounds go of when the same animated collision occurs after a DB just read the mind of my WR or a super human LB jetpacks 20 feet to bat a ball I intended to throw to a rocket man WR leaping over 5 defenders for a completion I threw across by body while rolling 20 yards away from my throwing arm. There you go Devs. I just gave you the description for the back cover of your next Madden game.

LOL awesome dude. Let's get that on the cover! Man I feel your pain

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