[EXCLUSIVE] Madden NFL 10 News!

[Anti Honor]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sigma4Life

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet but procedural awareness should be used heavily by receivers. For example, if a WR is running a 10 yard out, he should not look back at the QB until after he's coming out of his break on the out cut. It would be highly unfair if DBs can't see the ball when they aren't looking back but a WR can miraculously know that the ball is in the air and make a play on it at anytime. I think procedural awareness answers the question about whether Madden's passing game should play out more like All Pro 2K8. The situation where if you throw it too early your receiver never sees or breaks on the ball.

That would be nice. To actually put some effort into passing the ball.

[JEM]

More feature hyping from EA? Whodda thunk it.

[Vikes1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sigma4Life

It would be highly unfair if DBs can't see the ball when they aren't looking back but a WR can miraculously know that the ball is in the air and make a play on it at anytime.

Great point Sigma.

I too hope that a balance is struck between WR and DB.

I believe the PA tech will be a great addition, as long as neither side of the ball has an unfair advantage.

[TheWatcher]

^^^ It's not uncommon for a WR to put his hands up at the right time, or turn to make a catch in what looks like a split second just as the ball is right there. The QB and WR practice a route so much that the timing becomes largely instinctual. I'm not saying on every play of course, but it's much more common with WR's than with DB's since a DB wouldn't know the route or the exact intended timing of when the ball is supposed to arrive.

Now, when that happens on a huge percentage of plays in Madden, that's definitely something to be addressed.

[Vikes1]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheWatcher

^^^ It's not uncommon for a WR to put his hands up at the right time, or turn to make a catch in what looks like a split second just as the ball is right there. The QB and WR practice a route so much that the timing becomes largely instinctual. I'm not saying on every play of course, but it's much more common with WR's than with DB's since a DB wouldn't know the route or the exact intended timing of when the ball is supposed to arrive. Now, when that happens on a huge percentage of plays in Madden, that's definitely something to be addressed.

I understand and agree with what your saying Watcher.

Yes, the WR will always have the advantage of knowing his route. But it's the second paragraph of your post that worries me a bit. However I do have faith that Ian and his team will have "Balance" in mind while adding this tech.

My reason for confidants is....Ian in past Blog write ups stressed the importance of balance in Maddens gameplay. I guess maybe I'm still having withdrawals from something called "Wide open gameplay".

[Sigma4Life]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheWatcher

^^^ It's not uncommon for a WR to put his hands up at the right time, or turn to make a catch in what looks like a split second just as the ball is right there. The QB and WR practice a route so much that the timing becomes largely instinctual. I'm not saying on every play of course, but it's much more common with WR's than with DB's since a DB wouldn't know the route or the exact intended timing of when the ball is supposed to arrive. Now, when that happens on a huge percentage of plays in Madden, that's definitely something to be addressed.

I agree that WRs have a better idea of when the ball should arrive. The situation I'm referring to is when the ball is thrown too early for the designed route. If my receiver is running a post he should not look back until AFTER he makes his break. The receiver should not react to any pass thrown before he makes his break.

Another thing I'd like for EA to add is a rating for how well a player can locate the ball and make a play on it, especially on deep throws. I think it would be great if lower rated players had a large circle indicating where the ball will land. Higher rated players have a smaller circle and can make a more precise play on the ball.

Players like Fitzgerald, Randy Moss and Ed Reed would have small circles of about 1 yard across, pinpointing exactly where the ball will land, like current game. Weaker players may have a large circle that's about 5 - 10 yards in diameter.

I imagine this feature to work similar to the catch circles in the Sony MLB baseball series. I think this would do a good job of recreating the panic that DBs have when they are left one on one with a great ball hawking receiver, knowing he's gonna locate the ball better than they will.

[ch46647]

I actually think that is a GREAT idea. What if I'm controlling Ed Reed though and my opponent has an average WR couldnt he just run to the little circle that is supposed to be there for me? Just wondering how this would work...

[Sigma4Life]

Quote: Originally Posted by ch46647

I actually think that is a GREAT idea. What if I'm controlling Ed Reed though and my opponent has an average WR couldnt he just run to the little circle that is supposed to be there for me? Just wondering how this would work...

This feature is mainly for the online community single player. That's where I play 99.9% of the time. It should also be used by the AI to make it play more realistically.