Periodically, columnist Kushmir Hassan, an avid gamer, reports on everything related to the discussion of the sports gaming. He is focused on, but not confined to, highlights, improvements, the past, criticisms and the future.

Now some of you are no doubt wondering, “Who is this clown and what’s his column about?” Here’s the long and short of it: I’m a gamer plain and simple. Specifically online -- you’ll never find a bigger SOCOM, Madden, Star Wars Battlefront or Splinter Cell fan. Formerly, I was one of the founders of MaddenWishlist.com, ran CFBWishlist and NBA2KWishlist, was an EA Community Leader and made regular appearances on the MaddenNation Internet radio show, which later became SportsGamer before becoming defunct. Titles like SOCOM, NBA 2K and Madden, as well as any other games with great online aspects, are games that I play religiously. So the guys over at Operation Sports have decided to let me contribute regularly.

Now, beyond the introduction, I want to talk about Madden today. How fitting is it that Madden’s theme this year is “Fight for Every Yard.” I wonder if the game’s producers know how truly close they are, I really do. This game is inches from competing for best sports game out (my personal favorite was NBA 2K last year). While I’ve given Madden a hard time for some time -- I even boycotted the game for two years (2007 and 2008) because I felt like it wasn’t up to par -- this year is different. The game is not only playable, it’s good. Real good. Now is it perfect? Nope. But I’ve been gaming long enough to know the perfect game doesn’t exist.

So I’ve decided to focus on a few gameplay elements that could be better, and even some issues that can hopefully be patched (don’t you just love living in the times of current-generation consoles?)

1. Fair Play Rules – This was easily one of the best features that Madden online ever devised. Some argue that it was too restraining, but that is not true. In the spirit of real football, fair play caused the game to have much less of an arcade feel. It’s almost funny, but another reason it was implemented was to save idiots from themselves. Anybody who has played Madden online knows what happens after one of the cheeseballs fails to convert fourth and 26 from his own 10-yard line (in the first quarter no less). Yep, you guessed it: “Your opponent has quit the game.”

How lame.

With fair play on, users were restricted from going for it on 4th down during certain periods in the game. And let’s be realistic, there are periods when no real NFL coach would take a chance turning the ball over on downs. Let’s see the return of fair play in Madden 10.

2. Eliminate CPU Online Games – Sigh, this one has been a thorn in the side of Madden players for some time. Easy question: Would I really be online if I wanted to play the CPU? Probably not. It “seems” so simple, and yet the people who struggle against the CPU after their opponent quits are punished. In the end, we’re sometimes left with a situation where the person who quits/disconnects gets a loss for being a quitter, and the gamer who sticks around gets a loss for...not being as good as the CPU?

Strange if I do say so myself. I’d like to propose a third option. Why not give us the option to get the win with no rating/leveling points involved. You would simply get another win on your record. This way we can please everyone, and at the same time we won’t have to worry about that creepy guy with two PS3’s whose life goal is to be rated number one in Madden online -- even if it means playing himself.

3. Full Rosters – We’ve wanted this for some time, but now it’s important. Before the days of players getting tired and subbing out regularly, this wasn’t such a big issue. But now it's absolutely essential. Now does this mean Donny Moore should get a raise since his job just got harder? Maybe. But here’s the thing, there is nothing worse than when a player who is playing “lights out” for someone's favorite team in real life does not exist in the Madden universe.

I also bet some people didn't realize that their wide receivers would sub in at defensive back if the starters were tired enough -- do full rosters make more sense now? And before any developer even thinks about it, yes, we want the long-snapper, too.

4. Man Lock On/Off – This is another last-gen feature we thought would make the next-gen transition, but sadly it still has not. This was a very useful and critical tool for players who wanted to disguise what they were doing defensively. And come on, who doesn’t like to get under the skin of that guy who runs motion on every play just to see if you’re in man coverage or not?

5. Receiver Shading – Another last-gen feature that still hasn’t made the transition yet. While we love the way man defenses play better based on matchups, this is the perfect tool for those players who employ the good ol’ “same play, all day” strategy. We should have the ability to have our players attempt to take away inside or outside position (with the appropriate consequences if we’re wrong of course).

6. Run/Pass Commit – Here’s another feature that hasn’t returned, but quite honestly I would like this one to be revamped a bit. This was an “after the snap” feature in the past, but the way gameplay is setup, shouldn’t this be more of a “presnap” feature? Say I just know my opponent is going to pass on third and 3, right? I commit to the pass and presto! We just created a situation where HB delays aren’t just taking up space in the playbook. Our defensive linemen would get up the field and our linebackers would get caught backpedaling and probably allow the first down.

We’ve also always been a proponent of “don’t fool the CPU, fool me.” We’ve all groaned in frustration as we watched our 90-rated defensive end tackle the RB on third and 20 while the QB sits in the pocket unmolested on a play-action fake, or when our opponent runs four screens in a row and for some reason our players forget how to defend it on fourth and 10. It's time to make those issues a thing of the past.

The R3 button (click in the right stick) could be used to commit, and then the D-pad could offer us choices like run (down) pass (up) screen (left) and play-action (right). Our players should have higher chances of success when we’re right, and suffer consequences if we guess wrong. And believe me, giving users more control over what their players do, and adding more of a “chess game” to Madden gameplay, can only be a good thing.

7. End of Half/Game Penalties – This one’s a little funny, but it all depends on where you sit. Playing an online game last week, I was leading 8-7 with three seconds left. My opponent was barely in field-goal range, but he still obviously kicked the field goal and made it, but alas! There was still hope because a flag was (predictably) thrown. It was obviously a holding call. As I laughed and prepared to call a pass defense, something funny happened -- the game ended. The CPU, seeing no time left on the clock, thought the game was over. Now, as a Philly fan (I was playing Dallas), seeing that happen to the cursed Cowboys was justified. The Cowboys are demon spawn. They are hated, evil and vile, and things like this should happen to them. But I doubt my opponent felt the same way. Let’s see the holding issue and the end-of-game issue get fixed with a patch much sooner than later.

8. Individual Coverage Audibles – Another last-gen feature that I'm shocked has not made the transition yet. This one’s easy though, press coverage against T.J. Houshmandzadeh? Sure, what’s he gonna do, stone me with his 9-yard average? But bump and run on Terrell Owens? Probably not a good idea, champ. And yes, I’d like the option to give Moss about five more yards -- you know, just in case.

9. Wildcat – Like most players, I was a little nervous about this being implemented, but “it’s in the game” right? Unfortunately it’s a little too effective and has turned into the early cheese of choice. To defend it effectively, you have to totally commit to the run and that shouldn’t be the case. The Wildcat is imbalanced enough to pose a serious threat to the most important aspect of the game: balance. Let’s see it toned down via patch if possible.

10. Formation Subs – How nice is it to have an online profile where we can save our depth charts? But do you know what would really be nice? If we could save our formation subs as well. That’s right, if I want Chris Clemons (who isn’t on the Eagles roster for some reason) to be my RE in Quarter, Dime and 3-3-5 formations, I should be able to save it on my online profile. What’s that you say? You want Andre Johnson in the slot in one of your three-receiver sets? Great idea.

Talk about a time saver. On a related note, some formations (Shotgun from my experience) sub your chosen players for some plays but not for others. Hopefully this can be rectified ASAP.


These are just a few of the issues that Madden can rectify to give us a much better playing experience. Don't forget to tune in for part two of "4th and Inches" when it hits the site.