Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

[Glenn33]

My initial response after 1 game:
- The decision to map everything to the D-pad is catastrophic. I just don't understand the decision made here.
- Gameflow seems useless. I like picking my plays quite frankly - and I would fire my OC based on some of the calls he was making [using Gameflow].
- The game seems smooth, attractive, functional .... and extremely BORING. I can't really articulate it as to why - but I have been feeling this way about Madden for the last 3 years. I really think they need a new approach.
- To steal a thought from a previous poster - I just don't understand what the team spent all their time doing in the last year. Gameflow and improved locomotion" just doesn't seem like enough.
- I will always believe that fictional play by play announcers[with real voice actors] will always be better than real announcers. I love Gus - but he does nothing for me here.
- NCAA takes the crown this year.

[jonskinny12]

I liked the NCAA 11 Demo better, but the Madden demo is still pretty good. I had an issue with the crowd being silent before every snap, and I really hate that everything pre-snap is mapped to the D-Pad now. Hopefully this can be changed. The gameflow thing is pretty cool, but I can honestly say I see myself never, ever using that. Will be good though for people like my wife who like to play but don't really know which plays to pick. The game will be pretty good.

[Alliball]

Quote: Originally Posted by Glenn33

My initial response after 1 game: - The decision to map everything to the D-pad is catastrophic. I just don't understand the decision made here. - Gameflow seems useless. I like picking my plays quite frankly - and I would fire my OC based on some of the calls he was making [using Gameflow]. - The game seems smooth, attractive, functional .... and extremely BORING. I can't really articulate it as to why - but I have been feeling this way about Madden for the last 3 years. I really think they need a new approach. - To steal a thought from a previous poster - I just don't understand what the team spent all their time doing in the last year. Gameflow and improved locomotion" just doesn't seem like enough. - I will always believe that fictional play by play announcers[with real voice actors] will always be better than real announcers. I love Gus - but he does nothing for me here. - NCAA takes the crown this year.

Well I sure am happy people don't overstate the hell out of things in here.

[SA1NT401]

Quote: Originally Posted by Glenn33

My initial response after 1 game: - The decision to map everything to the D-pad is catastrophic. I just don't understand the decision made here. - Gameflow seems useless. I like picking my plays quite frankly - and I would fire my OC based on some of the calls he was making [using Gameflow]. - The game seems smooth, attractive, functional .... and extremely BORING. I can't really articulate it as to why - but I have been feeling this way about Madden for the last 3 years. I really think they need a new approach. - To steal a thought from a previous poster - I just don't understand what the team spent all their time doing in the last year. Gameflow and improved locomotion" just doesn't seem like enough. - I will always believe that fictional play by play announcers[with real voice actors] will always be better than real announcers. I love Gus - but he does nothing for me here. - NCAA takes the crown this year.

I have alwasy felt the same as well. Take the HUGE $$$ you pay these guys (and i am quite sure Gus and Chris didnt come cheap) and put it into development time. I bet generic anouncers (and you could have 2-3 differant teams of announcers as well) would do a much better job and would help to even add something to the game overall.

Regardless, commentary is getting turned off for me....

Back on my impressions....

Another thing which has jumped out to me is the "new' kicking meter. I thought we went this direction to make Kicking a bit more challenging not easier. I dont see how anyone couldnt get PERFECT 98% of the time...Hope sliders have a big effect on this.

[Papi34]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

Of course, one thing to be clear on is that everything is optional. If you want to play without GameFlow you can. You can choose to play with the conventional play call screen (old style play call screen that's been around since the advent of football gaming). You can choose to turn off coordinator audio, subtitles, and strategy pad. Pretty much everything is an option.

This is probably the best part of that blog, nicely reminded. Much prefer the traditional method, been using that long it's just so instinctive now.

[blklightning]

Quote: Originally Posted by rgiles36

Yeah, I think people are crapping prematurely on Madden. The strategy pad warrants the criticism, but the demo has only been out a couple hours lol. How can you declare that NCAA blows this out of the water so fast?

i'm wondering how you can compare a demo version to a retail version. the ncaa demo had all sorts of animation and frame rate issues. yet i don't see any complaints about this in the forums, so they obviously fixed them. i always try not to judge a demo too harshly because i know it's an old build.

can't wait for the guys at sony to wake up and upload this thing so i can try it out.

[celg35]

Lets not forget, when the demo for NCAA came out, I was not impressed. The final version of Madden will be much more polished. I think once the final version comes out and we can adjust the sliders for the human side, we will have a better idea of how the game will play
The one thing I can take away from Madden 11 so far is a much better passing game and much improved lighting system.

[MAHAM]

Quote: Originally Posted by Papi34

This is probably the best part of that blog, nicely reminded. Much prefer the traditional method, been using that long it's just so instinctive now.

I hope the blog is correct, many times not though. Anyone confirm you can turn off pad in the retail version?