Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

[charter04]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jet Sufferer

There is only one NFL branded game, hence it's the one that gets all the "complaints". I would love to praise the game, but sadly it gives me little opportunity. Can you tell me (in your opinion obviously) what gameplay elements in Madden are the best ever done in a football game? Categories, like player movement, animation, blocking, tackling, running game, passing game, special teams, kicking, or some other gameplay element.

Please don't let this thread turn into this. We have a nice thread about ratings going. We just don't need another thread that turns into this. There are literally 100's of them already. Lol.

Not trying to single you out. I just hope we can stay more on the ratings/simulation kind of discussion we have going on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jet Sufferer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

I'm not saying we shouldn't complain (Not sure why this is always the counter argument) when it's warranted. But complaining when someone is happy about something EA finally does that we've been wanting, is something totally different. Online play Madden has for the most part always done well. As far as gameplay I feel they've gotrten up to or surpassed games as far as running and IF the WR/DB is as advertised then they passing goes in that list. Other areas (Special teams) are waaaaay behind. And yes obviously this is just my opinion... What I do know is yes it's the only NFL game we have but that simply doesn't make me want to complain just for the sake of complaining. As long as EA is on the box some people will never be happy.. that's just the fact of life. Madden 15 was some of the best FB times I've had during the online league with humans. SP left a lot to be desired. And I'll say this again.. nostalgia is blind and has a bad memory. Not wanting to turn this into a 2k or Madden 05 vs thread but as good as those games were (I loved both) they also had issues (Money corner routes, tilt a whirl running etc..) Bottom line for me is we only have Madden, period. We can either choose to not like anything they do just because it's EA (Which I would think if that was the case people would have better things to do in life than hang around a game they know they'll never like) or give constructive criticism and enjoy the game for what it does bring. I simply don't get how some hate the game so much that it's not enough to say their peace and move on but they almost feel like you insult them if you like part of the game. I just don't get it.

I can only speak for myself, but I don't complain just to complain, and I don't complain just because it's EA. I also don't think it's fair for you to lay down that blanket assumption. Just as it wouldn't be fair for me to say that a lot of guys just like anything that has an EA logo on it.

So you feel one category, running is the best ever done in a football game. While I don't agree at least you gave me your opinion, which is good, and that maybe if WR/DB interaction will be best ever this year too. So going on 11 years of having this category all to themselves, you are saying they are doing one thing so far best in class, and maybe they can make it two this year.

Do you see now why so many people are unhappy with the progress of the GAME, not some irrational hatred for EA. I like EA's golf games, I have been bitterly disappointed with their NFL PRODUCT, not because it says "EA" on the box or that they shut out 2k from the NFL, College, Arena, and ESPN licenses. I'm disappointed in the game.

I do not suffer from nostalgia either, I can pop in all types of games from any era in minutes around here, and often do. This winter I did a little run of Madden and NHL games on the Genesis, lol.

I "hang around" the game because I'm a football fan and would JUST LOVE for the game to great, I really would. It looks better this year, but I'm sure some of the legacy issues that drive me nuts will be back.

You say online is good, I'm not calling that a gameplay element for the record. That's playing the game online. I'm just talking the football part/the nuts and bolts of the game.

I'm not hard on Madden because it's Madden. If anyone else would like to chime in on which gameplay elements Madden does better than any football game I'm all ears. Perhaps I've overlooked something or have been too harsh.

[Skyboxer]

Speaking of accel rating.. (Think I mentioned this before)...
When I was playing Gameday (05 I think) a few weeks ago before I was an idiot and ruined the power ribbon when I was putting cover back on...
One thing that jumped out at me right away was the visible of acceleration.
I had a back (I was controlling) that turned the corner and then he took off.
It was almost shocking how his speed was visibly progressing from a normal run to an all out sprint.

That is something I really haven't seen in Madden. Not saying there isn't a change is speed but rather not nearly as noticable as when I played Gameday.

[Jet Sufferer]

Quote: Originally Posted by charter04

Please don't let this thread turn into this. We have a nice thread about ratings going. We just don't need another thread that turns into this. There are literally 100's of them already. Lol. Not trying to single you out. I just hope we can stay more on the ratings/simulation kind of discussion we have going on. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That would be fine. If EVERYONE stayed rigidly on topic, not just me.

But from his conversation with the devs it sure seemed like a lot of cold water was thrown on his rating system and Rex telling him the focus is more on competitive play and not realistic sim stuff. Which is disappointing.

So if I got off topic I apologize.

[4thQtrStre5S]

Like I have pointed out already, the offensive line blocking is very much improved and follows some solid line blocking assignments with identifying the "mike." Realize, the "mike" is actually two things..It can be the middle linebacker and it is also the "mike" called out as the middle of the blocking assignment so the offensive line and backs know who to block, with the center taking the "mike" which can be the middle linebacker or a OLB or even a safety..

The importance of getting the line blocking correct, which madden is doing, was highlighted by Knute Rockne...

The story goes that "The Four Horsemen" of Notre Dame were getting so full of themselves of how great they thought they were, that Knute Rockne instructed his offensive line to miss their blocking assignments, and the great four horsemen got crushed; granted, this I believe was in a scrimmage/practice, but Rockne proved the great importance of proper blocking, and how much everything is dependent on proper blocking...

Madden, with Clint advising the blocking assignments, has greatly improved the game...

[charter04]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jet Sufferer

That would be fine. If EVERYONE stayed rigidly on topic, not just me. But from his conversation with the devs it sure seemed like a lot of cold water was thrown on his rating system and Rex telling him the focus is more on competitive play and not realistic sim stuff. Which is disappointing. So if I got off topic I apologize.

It's not really about staying rigidly on topic but, is this really the thread to start a discussion about 9 categories were Madden has or hasn't delivered the best ever in a football game? That horse has been beat to death. We all know the things it doesn't do good. Thread after thread has discussed it.

I was saying that at least the critique in this thread could just be about the ratings or ratings related stuff like progression and how ratings affect gameplay.

That's why I said that I wasn't trying to single you out i could just see were things are starting to go. I just find the ratings topic more interesting than the list of things madden doesn't do well.

[bcruise]

Quote: Originally Posted by charter04

It's not really about staying rigidly on topic but, is this really the thread to start a discussion about 9 categories were Madden has or hasn't delivered the best ever in a football game? That horse has been beat to death. We all know the things it doesn't do good. Thread after thread has discussed it. I was saying that at least the critique in this thread could just be about the ratings or ratings related stuff like progression and how ratings affect gameplay. That's why I said that I wasn't trying to single you out i could just see were things are starting to go. I just find the ratings topic more interesting than the list of things madden doesn't do well.

Agree....speaking only for myself, that chart about how the overall ratings are weighted was one of the most interesting things that I've seen come out of Madden blogs in years. Even if certain ratings tend to mean less in the actual gameplay than they do in the overall weighting, it still heavily influenced a lot of my decisions in the online CFM I was involved in - mostly for the better.

[vannwolfhawk]

Dan,

1st off they should try the rosters with your ratings. I saw no issues that broke gameplay. It only spread ratings out and separated superstars from average joe's. It made game 1000x more realistic and better. To hear they are skeptical I say they need to try them and see for themselves the difference.

Knowing your ratings produce low overalls (we all know that doesn't mean anything) and that people, fans, players will freak why not a simple solution of recalculating and coming up with a new formula for overalls? So we use lower spread out real data for ratings for areas such as speed, strength, acceleration, agility, etc. then with recalculated formulas that even with a 82 speed and 81 accel added with other specific positional ratings could still produce higher overalls? Couldn't this be a simple recalculation of formulas to produce this so everyone wins. It's probably harder than that but could this not be feasible? Then we have tom Brady with 98 overall but he has real ratings with the data backed up in the areas I mentioned above. Maybe even make speed, strength, accel, agility not even factor in for overall ratings? It's just spread out to separate players appropriately in key areas that in itself is a game changer. Idk just thinking outside of box...