Home
Feature Article
Five Essential Fixes for Madden NFL 11

After five long years, we were finally given a next-gen Madden this year. However, there are still flaws and certain things missing that should have been implemented long ago.

So here are five things to change in Madden NFL 11.

5. Replace Tom Hammond


Personally, I don’t like Cris Collinsworth either, but at least he isn’t completely monotone. Either way, Tom Hammond’s game calling is terrible. Half the time I don’t understand him because he is making me fall asleep. The other half of the time he is not making any sense. I’m not trying to be picky here, but the truth of the matter is Hammond does not belong anywhere near this sports game. If he wants to be in Madden 11, he better bring his A game.

4. Custom playbooks


For the last few years, we have heard plenty of talk about custom playbooks. But it really comes down to this: We want custom playbooks. In a league that is embracing the Wildcat formation and more and more trick plays, custom playbooks are needed in Madden 11.

If custom playbooks are added, tons of hardcore Madden fans will log many hours creating plays. I know this because I am one of the hardcore fans. I would love nothing more than a flea flicker play where Brian Westbrook tosses the football back to Donovan McNabb, who then throws it in the flats to DeSean Jackson, who then throws a deep ball to Jeremy Maclin for an 80-yard touchdown. Custom playbooks would create endless possibilities in Madden, and endless possibilities means more time spent playing Madden.

But please don’t let us take custom playbooks online (at least not in ranked matches). They are bound to create nothing but havoc.

3. Advanced depth charts


I love the Tennessee Titans, always have always will. Therefore, I use them almost every time I play Madden 10. I also never play Kerry Collins because I have always been a huge Vince Young fan. Collins is my backup and I’m fine with that -- until I’m trying to fake out my opponent.

When I set up for a fake field goal run play, Collins is the holder since he is the backup QB. Of course if I forget that the backup QB is always the holder, I have to blow a timeout, and I hate wasting them. Why not just give the user the option to select who is the holder? We can choose who is going to be the long snapper, so why can’t we choose the holder or anything else for that matter?

Advanced depth charts would be amazing. A few options stick out in my mind, including the holder mentioned above, as well as the Wildcat QB, Wildcat TE and pretty much anything else associated with the Wildcat formation. But advanced depth charts would also apply to the defense. How about having the ability to select your pass rushers on third downs or being able to choose who you want as your nickel back?

And if the developers put custom playbooks together with advanced depth charts, those unlimited possibilities I was talking about would be multiplied by a factor of 10.


Who would run your Wildcat?


2. Atmosphere


Maddenites across the world have been begging for improved atmosphere since Michael Vick was the most overpowered sports player in history. We want it. We need it.

I’m a franchise guy, so I love taking my team to the playoffs. But when I get there and the game gives me the same feel as a preseason game, I'm inevitably disappointed.

But even regular season games need more atmosphere. There are big rivalries and big games with huge playoff implications every season. So I want to feel like those games mean something.

Another thing that needs to be conveyed is the fact that Sunday nights and Monday nights are huge. I want to hear Cris Collinsworth and whoever -- please let it happen -- replaces Tom Hammond talk about Monday night and have it mean something. I’m ready to feel like I’m playing Monday Night Football, which leads me to number one…

1. Telecast Integration


I never thought it would be a possibility since it had yet to happen with an EA game, but telecast integration is more possible than ever thanks to EA’s new title, NCAA Basketball 10. In NCAA Basketball, the developers have included both ESPN and CBS integration. Imagine playing Madden with Fox, CBS, NFL Network, NBC and ESPN integration. I know all of those networks in one game would cost a fortune, but EA could clearly nab at least ESPN and CBS.


Wouldn't this be amazing?


With the new broadcast camera angle that is in the game, it would make telecast integration even better. Simply put, let us play a game that looks like a real telecast.


Madden NFL 11 Videos
Member Comments
# 41 Enasmalakas @ 11/13/09 02:00 PM
I don't think there is a rule in the nfl so how about being able to trade kickers and punters
 
# 42 JoeMimic @ 11/13/09 02:23 PM
I'd like a more realistic pre season experience. Bring back the position battles, Expand the preseason rosters with fringe players trying to make the team and add cut down days. I'm tired of the same format in games where the CPU plays the starters the first half of every preseason game and put in the backups in the 2nd half. I think there should be a different look to that as in when you add all these extra players you have enough guys to where you can setup a more realistic preseason game.

Preseason Game 1 - Starters play 1 or two snaps. 2nd string plays out until the half and then the game is finished up by 3rd and 4th string scrubs

Preseason Game 2 - Starters play 1st half. 3rd quarter and part of the 4th for backups and then the rest of the time is 3rd and 4th stringers.

Preseason Game 3 - Starters play most if not all the game.

Preseason Game 4 - Starters play maybe a series.
 
# 43 econoodle @ 11/13/09 02:56 PM
heck, even the wii madden has the 1st & ten graphic ON THE FIELD


i think ea will put out a bunch of new presentation things for 11
 
# 44 iamcool @ 11/13/09 06:51 PM
Here are the improvements I'd love to see:
1. Gameplay
2. Gameplay
3. Gameplay
4. Gameplay
5. Gameplay
 
# 45 MeanMrMustard @ 11/13/09 07:16 PM
Great post — especially Nos. 3-5. Telecast is a low priority for me, but I realize others are really into that sort of thing. If we get everything on this list, we'd have a lot of happy campers. I miss being able to make formation subs in the franchise menu like we could last gen.
 
# 46 BlackRome @ 11/14/09 03:06 AM
Custom Playbooks would be nice but I wouldn't want them to be used in ranked games. I would like to take my own playbook of selected plays form the Madden plays and play in a ranked game.
 
# 47 Big Will @ 11/14/09 04:37 AM
I agree with following; 5. Replace Tom Hammond, 3. Advanced depth charts, 2. Atmosphere, 1. Telecast Integration. I want to add a few more. Correct cut scene timing. ( Quarter Back ) on the phone etc. Cut scenes to frequent and out of place. Sideline awareness and Sideline collision or reaction. If APF can do it with a small budget why not EA sports.
 
# 48 kjcheezhead @ 11/14/09 05:19 AM
The only one of those five for me is Hammond. On the rare occasions I find myself having a good time playing this game he puts me to sleep.

The other areas are all gameplay problems or unfinished business.

2. Finish online franchise mode likes caps, contracts, maybe let us do schedules, realign divisions n stuff and IR type stuff in offline franchise mode that don't work as well.

3. The trenches. There were entire blogs dedicated to blocking and how it was emphasized and it is still awful. The spinning guards or lineman running right past lbs, lineman that turn traitor and block your fgs , lineman ratings, everything about that part of the game is terrible.

4. Analog running with more speeds than "high gear" and "low gear",

5. Tone down the glitchy animations if you can't remove them. Guys sliding,morphing, turbo boosting to the ball. Crazy animations where guys are knocked to within a foot of the ground only to find a way to stand back up and run over dlineman.

Those are 5 absolutes for me, and I'll have to see them work in my rental copy before the thought of a purchase ever crosses my mind.
 
# 49 LuGer33 @ 11/14/09 05:52 AM
Definitely agree on the Telecast integration. Would love to see that!
 
# 50 Falcons11497 @ 11/14/09 10:59 AM
how about update each teams stadiums alsospecifically the georgia dome...we got rid of the blue seats like 2 years ago
 
# 51 Blkcanes @ 11/14/09 03:08 PM
Madden should add some sort of zip rating for Qb's. It would let us be able to actually feel the difference between a qb with a rocket for an arm and a qb that has a normal arm. But the FIRST thing they need to work on before for anything in Madden 11 is the battles in the trenches, Madden isn't a football game if the OL and DL do not work correctly. No matter how good things look if that isn't working they way it needs to be then Madden 11 is a fail. How Cb's plays the Wr is another thing that should be work on.
 
# 52 GaryT531 @ 11/14/09 03:11 PM
I would like to see more animations. Seeing most of the same ones over and over each game is unacceptable. NCAA Football devs, I hope you're reading this too...
 
# 53 ChubbyBanana @ 11/15/09 05:47 PM
This would make me love Madden again.
 
# 54 mwjr @ 11/15/09 07:26 PM
Good ideas, but in my opinion, you're missing the most important feature: a functional, in-depth franchise mode, one that incorporates many of the features in Head Coach 08.

But I'm not holding my breath.
 
# 55 superstarshad @ 11/15/09 08:46 PM
My top five:
1. Sensitive precision passing- stick skills should mean something

2. The ability to save online games- I want to asses myself and my previous opponent

3. Upload Ncaa football roster to online franchise-Duh...

4. Football IQ quizes-Madden football players should be the smartest football faction in the nation.

5 Rebuilt on the PS3- Blu ray has way more space...
 
# 56 Cryolemon @ 11/15/09 09:10 PM
I think all 5 of the suggestions are needed. Whether any of them will happen s a different question.
 
# 57 dhlord64 @ 11/15/09 09:13 PM
How about actually making the game not look like a bunch of robots running around on ice? REDO the TERRIBLE game engine PLEASE! The game is unplayable and laughable at the moment. Those top 5 are very minor things compared to the REAL issues with the franchise...ugh
 
# 58 alali24 @ 11/16/09 03:22 AM
awesome, and one thing they should add to the players is a composer attribute. This way when you play in those big games(rivalrys, playoffs, playoff effecting regular season games) if you have a low composer rating your player won't play as well if he gets rattled.
 
# 59 SteelCityChamp @ 11/16/09 07:39 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by rgiles36
That's why some are mentioning to do both the NFL Network and ESPN.

Maybe I misunderstood the devs when they addressed this. I thought the NFL Network simply did not want all of the presentation devoted to ESPN or any other network besides it's own. I didn't get the impression it had anything to do with it's other television partners. I could very well be incorrect though.

To be honest though, I sometimes wonder if the 'dont-want-to-piss-off-the-NFL' thing is overblown. I'm not one of the guys who labels the devs as liars or anything to that extent. I just personally find it hard to believe that a NFL rep was in a Madden planning meeting and said, "Where the hell does the NFL Network come in? Scrap these ESPN and FOX ideas immediately!" And if it is an issue, marry the two networks like NCAA is doing. Easier said than done obviously, just lending my opinions.

P.S. from what I understand, Madden was subjected to bland presentation [read radio guy] because of a design decision, the NFL didn't impact that. Apparently, they wanted to go with a on-the-field feel for the game.
As far as telecast intergration is concerned, they should emulate all of the games in franchise mode as closely as possible. You know, AFC home games on CBS, NFC home games on Fox, Sunday Night games on NBC, Monday Night games on ESPN and after week 8 or 9, Thursday night games on NFL Network. And some of the playoff games would be on ABC too, just like in real life. They can leave the pre-game, halftime show, post game and weekly review shows done by the NFL Network and that would satisfy the NFL as far as realism. Oh yeah, fix the bradcast cam also. It's way too far away and doesn't move like it would during an actual broadcast.

In addidtion Ian Cummings and crew should design a better animation engine and improve the AI. Maybe come up with some sort of Realism mode and do away with those silly rookie, pro, all-pro and all-madden levels. Ick! Ridiculous. Just make a realism mode and an arcade mode and man, EA would be ahead of the game at that point. Simulation for all of the sim heads out there who love realistic football and arcade mode for all the kids and those who just wanna have fun and play like most people online play anyway.

Now combine all of these things into one game and OMG! we all could finally stop updating rosters for NFL 2k5 and move on to the future. EA has a chance to make the best NFL football game in history when it comes to patching Madden NFL 10 or it can just come out fresh for Madden NFL 11 and knock our socks off with an awesome friggen football game. I really don't care which software company can get this done, I just want it done. But since EA Sports is in the driver's seat right now, show some leadership and foresight and make an attempt at pleasing both sim heads and casual football gamers with one game. I know it can be done, you just have to want to do it. I guarantee that sales would be ridiculous if EA made a game like this. My 2 cents!
 
# 60 steelersfan7 @ 11/16/09 09:09 AM
One other thing they need to address is how the CPU calls plays. Down by 14 late in the fourth they still run the ball and should be passing it all out shotgun formation. 4th and inches, less then 5:00 left, and down by 10 and the CPU punts???? Also I use the ask madden on offense and defense and its seems that all the plays are not being used with the ask madden feature, I see some plays again and again and others I do not. God bless
 


Post A Comment
Only OS members can post comments
Please login or register to post a comment.