Madden NFL 10 Franchise Mode Improvements: Part 2 Q&A

[marcoyk]

Nice information. The Franchise presentation looks so much better than last year and what could that guy be saying while he has the camera on him in The Extra Point show? I'm guessing it's just like an introduction to the Extra Point. I'm really liking what I'm seeing.

[Canadeion]

Quote: Originally Posted by MJenness

I get the feeling you are wrong on the 1st bolded part...read some of the devs replies to HONEST critical feedback, and I get the feeling many times they think we should be falling all over them for being here. 2nd part, I could not possibly agree more. But, many people here don't see it that way...I think many of them really think Ian and crew are here ONLY because they want to give the OS members this great favor of a good game. The truth is, especially after the debacle that was the previous crews game, Ian has heat on him to produce....to turn this franchise around, so he can keep his job, feed his family (if he has one), and pay his mortgage, period! And he is held accountable by the SALES numbers, they are what determine (for EA) how successfully he has done his job. Not bashing him, just telling it the way it is....business is business, period.

Haha, yeah, they may ACT like we should worship the ground they walk on for being here, and have an attitude about it, but I think they're smarter than to come right out and say it, because they know it would cost them customers.

I have not personally seen any EA rep act like that, thankfully, and I'm sure they know if they did say something along the lines of 'you're lucky we even talk to you', that would be the worst business decision EVER.

They are trying to re-establish a positive reputation by being involved in the community, and it would totally be counter-productive for them to then say 'you're lucky we're doing this'... Nobody here MADE them do this, they are doing it because it is smart for business.

The only people saying that kinda thing are EA fanboys who think if they defend EA in a thread, that Ian or someone will send them a PM saying 'oh gosh, thanks, I really want to say that but I can't...' and it just won't happen.

EA knows it would be suicide for them to say or do something like that, so what they're doing instead, is staying in the community JUST BARELY enough to stay in the spotlight, but they won't do anything above and beyond for us, the customer, because they know that 80% of people will be SATISFIED with a 15 (14, 13) question blog that shows us basically NOTHING about what we are going to pay for. They want us to pay BEFORE we realize that there is no substance and it's garbage. But we keep getting strung along by crappy little blogs about nothing.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Canadeion

Haha, yeah, they may ACT like we should worship the ground they walk on for being here, and have an attitude about it, but I think they're smarter than to come right out and say it, because they know it would cost them customers. I have not personally seen any EA rep act like that, thankfully, and I'm sure they know if they did say something along the lines of 'you're lucky we even talk to you', that would be the worst business decision EVER. They are trying to re-establish a positive reputation by being involved in the community, and it would totally be counter-productive for them to then say 'you're lucky we're doing this'... Nobody here MADE them do this, they are doing it because it is smart for business. The only people saying that kinda thing are EA fanboys who think if they defend EA in a thread, that Ian or someone will send them a PM saying 'oh gosh, thanks, I really want to say that but I can't...' and it just won't happen. EA knows it would be suicide for them to say or do something like that, so what they're doing instead, is staying in the community JUST BARELY enough to stay in the spotlight, but they won't do anything above and beyond for us, the customer, because they know that 80% of people will be SATISFIED with a 15 (14, 13) question blog that shows us basically NOTHING about what we are going to pay for. They want us to pay BEFORE we realize that there is no substance and it's garbage. But we keep getting strung along by crappy little blogs about nothing.

You would be more correct if we were a large portion of Madden customers, but the internet isn't even close.

[Canadeion]

This is the only part of that whole disaster of a blog that really makes me happy... the fact that he admits this year isn't going to be FANTASIC, but they are laying the ground work for future franchises.

Quote: Originally Posted by Josh Looman

I’ll repeat my favorite analogy for those of you who haven’t heard it before: If you found out you had termites in your house, would you build on another addition or clean up the foundation so that you could build on the house in the future?

Although it's the same song and dance as every year, the old 'wait-til-next-year' routine... I have a feeling that with this development team, it's actually legit...

Just a shame he couldn't take more time to honestly answer more than those bare-bones generic questions.

Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't have a question in there like 'Q: How many weeks are in an NFL season in Franchise Mode?'

[Canadeion]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

You would be more correct if we were a large portion of Madden customers, but the internet isn't even close.

You're right, but we ARE a large portion of the Madden customers who CARE, and enjoy the game enough to research it, and find out what's going on, and try to contribute. We are the ones EA SHOULD be catering to. The ones who are the dedicated customers. The ones who REALLY enjoy the work these guys do every year.

Not the ones who buy the game, play a season, then let it collect dust for the next 3 years until they want a new one.

If EA spent more time listening to the die-hards, and not throwing in cheesy crappy new game modes to try and attract borderline gamers, we'd have an awesome game buy now, and not so many hardcore Madden fans on the fence about buying it every year.

[afro_dogg20]

Nice blog, really looking foward to playing the game.

[K_GUN]

Quote: Originally Posted by MJenness

I get the feeling you are wrong on the 1st bolded part...read some of the devs replies to HONEST critical feedback, and I get the feeling many times they think we should be falling all over them for being here. 2nd part, I could not possibly agree more. But, many people here don't see it that way...I think many of them really think Ian and crew are here ONLY because they want to give the OS members this great favor of a good game. The truth is, especially after the debacle that was the previous crews game, Ian has heat on him to produce....to turn this franchise around, so he can keep his job, feed his family (if he has one), and pay his mortgage, period! And he is held accountable by the SALES numbers, they are what determine (for EA) how successfully he has done his job. Not bashing him, just telling it the way it is....business is business, period.

the thing is...if Ian gives the consumer (read not just OS'ers) a good/great product the sales numbers will naturally follow suit, right?

he 'leans' on OS because only we care about hand towels/cleat colors/LB placement in the 3-4 and how things should look

OS...a free consulting firm....at EA's disposal for no money at all...i'd say a brilliant decision...wouldn't you?

[Jono078]

Quote: Originally Posted by Canadeion

This is the only part of that whole disaster of a blog that really makes me happy... the fact that he admits this year isn't going to be FANTASIC, but they are laying the ground work for future franchises. Although it's the same song and dance as every year, the old 'wait-til-next-year' routine... I have a feeling that with this development team, it's actually legit... Just a shame he couldn't take more time to honestly answer more than those bare-bones generic questions. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't have a question in there like 'Q: How many weeks are in an NFL season in Franchise Mode?'

Yeah but IMO they've done a whole 360 turn on that analogy..

Hear me out..

To fit that analogy, wouldn't they have been better off to fix OFFLINE franchise 100% and then build online next year?

This year they've gone with the both features and both are probably only half done, or half of what they good be for lack of a better term.

Then again I was in the minority against online franchise.