Cam Weber: Madden NFL 25 on Next-Gen Will be Fully Featured

[SageInfinite]

Quote: Originally Posted by ch46647

I share both of your enthusiasm for Next-Gen. (Honestly, even M25 on this gen looks very playable, and this is coming from a guy who hasnt enjoyed Madden since PS2) I think this team, and the suits in charge of Tiburon have finally decided that they want to make a quality, SIM football game. However, Madden is going to need a complete re-write of presentation. My guess is that is going to be a very heavy focus for M15 Next-Gen. I think they are going to focus much less on graphics, and much heavier on real broadcast presentation this generation. As a matter of fact, one of the top presentation developers (Michael Young) said they had Pat Kirwan from CBS down at Tiburon last week. I think starting next year we are going to see a huge focus on a authentic, CBS style broadcast approach. Remember the Kolbe from The Show is now a lead designer on Madden Next-Gen, and The Show has incredible broadcast presentation.

I'd be in heaven. They don't realize the little things make a world of difference when it comes to presentation. I mean maybe they finally do, and I hope they are able to execute. They have no excuses now though. They've been handed almost dream machines to work with this generation, now they just have to execute. I am optimistic, though, as you said even Madden 25/NCAA 14 look very playable this year.

[GiantBlue76]

Quote: Originally Posted by SageInfinite

I'd be in heaven. They don't realize the little things make a world of difference when it comes to presentation. I mean maybe they finally do, and I hope they are able to execute. They have no excuses now though. They've been handed almost dream machines to work with this generation, now they just have to execute. I am optimistic, though, as you said even Madden 25/NCAA 14 look very playable this year.

What the development team needs to realize is that they shouldn't be inventing their own presentation, but simply copying real presentation from real NFL games. I know 2k5 is always being brought up along with NBA 2k and the Show, but what makes those games really stand out (aside from their gameplay) is that they show you exactly what you would see on TV. It blurs the line between what's real and what's a game. No need to invent your own, just simply copy what the real networks do.

[Big FN Deal]

Quote: Originally Posted by ch46647

I share both of your enthusiasm for Next-Gen. (Honestly, even M25 on this gen looks very playable, and this is coming from a guy who hasnt enjoyed Madden since PS2) I think this team, and the suits in charge of Tiburon have finally decided that they want to make a quality, SIM football game. However, Madden is going to need a complete re-write of presentation. My guess is that is going to be a very heavy focus for M15 Next-Gen. I think they are going to focus much less on graphics, and much heavier on real broadcast presentation this generation. As a matter of fact, one of the top presentation developers (Michael Young) said they had Pat Kirwan from CBS down at Tiburon last week. I think starting next year we are going to see a huge focus on a authentic, CBS style broadcast approach. Remember the Kolbe from The Show is now a lead designer on Madden Next-Gen, and The Show has incredible broadcast presentation.

Man I really hope this manifests into results in the presentation next year because the current presentation is diminishing some of the otherwise solid elements in these E3 videos. The lack of a true broadcast presentation and the lack of real time is holding the game back from that "wow" factor, imo. If they can clean up the overall network broadcast elements and get rid of the in-game time warps by just adding real time presentation to showcase real time elements like players coming on/off the field post play the entire game, we could have something really beautiful next year.

Also, please, please, please, at least disable the on screen visual pop ups for preplay adjustments on All Pro or higher. I don't know if anyone at Tiburon realizes or cares but Youtube and now Twitchtv along with UStream, can be big advertising markets for Madden on these new consoles, if they take into consideration the spectator element. Clean up and disable as many "arcade" visual elements as possible, so watching others play Madden gives the viewer the itch to play themselves, instead of wanting to turn that mess off from 1000 preplay adjustment pop ups and time warps. Stop reminding us we are only playing a video game, "hide the wires".

[LorenzoDC]

Quote: Originally Posted by gr18

If I were to bet I think the game will be only a little better than current gen this year but hopefully makes a big step next year but you never know.That's with all things equal bug-wise. To some people a little better would be enough as long as you get continued improvement while others may want to wait till they see significant improvement. I want to add that I do believe that this team is trying to make a better game.Cam Weber does seem genuine in his vision.

That seems about right.

I do think, as others have noted, this team is trying to do the game right. The kind of stuff that, to me, will really tell if this version is a success will come out in the first two weeks post release. We won't know from the marketing. We'll only know once real game play experience gets logged in by people here and in the sliders threads.

And then we'll go through it all again once next Gen drops.

[ch46647]

I understand how important you guys feel presentation is to the game, and I completely agree. However, I am THRILLED that they are attacking the in-game atmosphere this year. For me, the most important thing to a good sports game besides gameplay is atmosphere. The atmosphere is currently TERRIBLE in EA's sports games.

One of the top selling points of their new engine is a living world. This includes dynamic crowds, 3D interactive sidelines (with over 300 models on each sideline), and all new crowd noise. IMO, it is HUGE for them to nail this for M25 Next-Gen. This would do wonders for immersion in the game, and I don't think people realize how important this is.

Once that is successfully implemented, it is going to be amazing if they layer a professional CBS style presentation to complement the stadium atmosphere.

[Big FN Deal]

Quote: Originally Posted by ch46647

I understand how important you guys feel presentation is to the game, and I completely agree. However, I am THRILLED that they are attacking the in-game atmosphere this year. For me, the most important thing to a good sports game besides gameplay is atmosphere. The atmosphere is currently TERRIBLE in EA's sports games. One of the top selling points of their new engine is a living world. This includes dynamic crowds, 3D interactive sidelines (with over 300 models on each sideline), and all new crowd noise. IMO, it is HUGE for them to nail this for M25 Next-Gen. This would do wonders for immersion in the game, and I don't think people realize how important this is. Once that is successfully implemented, it is going to be amazing if they layer a professional CBS style presentation to complement the stadium atmosphere.

It's all together though, including commentary. In that commentary thread ChaseB started I kept mentioning the importance of all the presentation elements coming together for it to be solid. I don't see how any broadcast team they put in Madden is going to ever sound realistic if Tiburon doesn't represent a real time pace of the game. Also even though living sidelines and all those things are great, it will be greatly under appreciated and unnoticed if Tiburon doesn't add the proper network real time presentation camera work, instead of cut scenes, to showcase it.

Next year I'm looking to almost forget I am watching/playing a video game and get lost in a virtual NFL world, being televised live through my gaming system.

[infemous]

Quote: Originally Posted by Big FN Deal

It's all together though, including commentary. In that commentary thread ChaseB started I kept mentioning the importance of all the presentation elements coming together for it to be solid. I don't see how any broadcast team they put in Madden is going to ever sound realistic if Tiburon doesn't represent a real time pace of the game. Also even though living sidelines and all those things are great, it will be greatly under appreciated and unnoticed if Tiburon doesn't add the proper network real time presentation camera work, instead of cut scenes, to showcase it. Next year I'm looking to almost forget I am watching/playing a video game and get lost in a virtual NFL world, being televised live through my gaming system.

You said it:

real time presentation.

Cutting to all these cut scenes isn't a good look any more.

FIFA have worked to remove the whole cut scene for set pieces and throw ins element, and I think that Madden should follow their lead and implement visual representations of substitutions, going into the huddle, approaching the LOS, celebrating a first down, sack, turnover, touchdown or whatever in real time.

But first I want players to have weight and I'd like a deeper career mode and better commentary and stuff.

Those are the sorts of tweaks that elevate from great to amazing, and I think they need to get to good first. We'd under appreciate it if the gameplay was still at the state it is.

[LBzrule]

See, I'm skeptical about the pass blocking the way Weber describes it in the video. My big question here is let's take five vs five. Suppose I align the defense with three rushers on the right and two on the left, but I take the MLB (who is not blitzing) and go line up on the left making it a 3 on the left and 3 on the right. Will they count me as a possible rusher? If not then that's still psychic blocking.

Also, a great deal of questions remain about this game. Defensively, will we finally have line stunts that we can mix and match with coverages and blitzes? If it is the same way as current gen color me VERY unimpressed. It's time for them to step this thing up.

If they don't that's fine with me. I no longer count sports games as a reason to get a new console.

I like what will be available on X1 with Twitch where you can broadcast the game live. But alas, if this thing does not distance itself from PS3/360 in some fundamental ways then I might skip it and get Watch Dogs.