Five Predictions for Next Season

[PaulZweber]

Otherwise known as a wish list...Why would they bother putting in an online franchise when they can work on online leagues for another two years? Create-a-Team? They can't even get editing players correct! You must be psycho to predict a facelift for the offline franchise! Oh wait, didn't they already announce this? Nevermind. College is all about offense, Madden is all about getting your offense stopped. Middle ground? Not with EA...

[asu666]

Madden Presentation Issues:

1. The pregame shot of the stadium exterior is the same road and cars on the lower third of the screen every time. The stadium shot is okay, but I would prefer an in game model that sweeps into the stadium's interior or even a photo would be better without the road and cars in the foreground and the cheesy downtown shot in the background like every stadium is right downtown. I played a game in Phoenix and it looks like the stadium is in downtown when it is actually in Glendale. A shot with hockey arnea and Westgate in the background would be better. Even the empty fields around the stadium would at least be realistic.

2. Backtrack is okay, but it takes too long to run and it rarely is right about which receiver is actually the best to throw to in a given situation. I've seen it pick out guys that were in triple coverage with a guy wide open on the other side many, many times. I guess it figures the guy that is alone on the other side of the field is on strike.

3. Were is ESPN? It's in the menus sure, but were are the statiscal overlays, pregame hype, halftime show, and postgame show? It seems like EA payed a lot of money to keep 2K from using the license, more so than wanting to use it in Madden. Almost a total watse imo.

4. I love the interactive sidelines in All Pro 2K8. Run into the sideline and the players will grab you to slow you down. break one down the sideline and your team steps up to the edge of the fild to cheer you on. I see some really scripted animations that play over and over in Madden. All Pro even has the actual defensive team standing on the sidelines when the offensive is on the field or offense when defense is on the filed. Even the prop fans to circulate air on the sidelines help add some motion and depth where Madden has these blurry faced things that stay in the same frozen animation the whole game with a couple of them on the edge of the group cheering even when nothing is happening.

4. I think the crowd died before we came out of the tunnel.

5. The down on the field run out in Madden 2008 was better than the low res helmet baloon run out from up on high in Madden 2009.

NCAA Presentation Issues:

1. All of the stadiums should be in the game by now.

2. I'd like to see the ESPN presenation carry over into the game overlays and statiscal breakdowns, but I know EA wants to use its own presentation. With that being the case, watch any game on any network and there will be more presenation going on than during NCAA gameplay.

3. The pre, halftime, and post game shows need to be developed.

4. The commentary is pretty weak. I don't know how many times I've been chastised for choosing to punt when it is forth down and I'm on my side of the field. Corso always thinks I should go for it even though I have a 7 point lead and there's under 2 minutes left in the game, or its the third quarter and I'm winning by 50 points. It doesn't matter.

[RaychelSnr]

Quote: Originally Posted by Smokez4DAyz

The Atmosphere got a little better, I can feel the action on the feel thru visuals, so, mission accomplished. Hit stick camera, weather related speed changes, Night and Bad weather lighting, post play skirmishes or help ups, alot of little things, that you may not notice while you're frustrated with some cheesy guy online or the CPU A.I passing for 73%. As for NCAA, I don't know how much they can make defenses any better, the hash marks are farther apart in college, so drags and pitch outs are far more successful, mobile qbs, and star offensive players will always have the advantage in college, did you see week one of college? Lots of busted plays, only USC looked dominant, and OHIO STATE looked great, everybody else gave up at least 20 points. Maybe more infractions, due to the youth and inexperience of the atheletes.

I honestly didn't know there was a crowd in Madden until my second or third game playing. The atmosphere in Madden is downright terrible, among the worst I have seen

[ofdman]

EA knows EXACTLY what they are doing! They have PLENTY of meetings when deciding what to work on and what NOT to work on so having a BLAND, non existent atmosphere is all part of the plan. Just another thing they can, attempt anyways, to get everyone excited about NEXT year. Haven't you guys noticed by now EA's plan? Their method of operation? One step forward, two steps back. They know good and well that their game lacks in this area or that area. It's all on PURPOSE just to set up next years HYPE!

"It's all...part of the plan." That should be their tag line instead of "It's in the game" since it fits a lot better. And, is true. "It's in the game" ??? Yeah right.

Pathetic that after all these years and especially after 2K5 that EA doesn't have a pre game / half time / post game show. Madden 09 is boring. Plan BORING!

[baumy300]

Definitely some good ideas in there.

[Coachwf]

Former hardcore PC gamer and used to buy Madden every year until about 4 yrs ago. Decided to skip NCAA this year for Madden on the 360 and I got so bored my first couple games I am considering ditching it already. It really is bland. Can't believe the series has gone backwards, but it sure appears that way.

Obviously the gameplay isn't perfect, but I don't mind tweaking sliders. The presentation is just terrible though. No names on tackles, crowd is lame, virtually no pregame, halftime, or postgame shows. Need to show more stats in the game, etc. etc. How about a weekly show highlighting games from around the league like College Hoops 2k?

[boydra]

As the article suggests EA still needs to step up the presentation to make the game a little less boring. However, by adding Cris Collinsworth I think they may actiually be headed in the right direction for next year. LET'S HOPE!!

[Chargersa7x]

Agreed with the list, but it sounds like another wish list that will be ignored. Heres to HOPE!