Madden NFL 10 Blog: Customization

[Derrville]

Quote: Originally Posted by thudias

Good blog this week and we still have the presser dropping this week as well.

Whats the Presser?

[RGiles36]

Quote: Originally Posted by Derrville

Whats the Presser?

Press Release. It's supposed to debut/release this week I think.

[Golden28]

Gamespeed Slider

Injury Slider

Accelerated clock

Fatigue Slider

Great blog. Very informative and intersesting and thanks for sharing your actual design notes.

Now let's just see what Phil has to say in his press release regarding 'high level features' and this will be a great week indeed.

[ProjectSRT]

Im hoping the "high level" feature is

All new, ESPN style gameplay presentation. Complete with pregame, halftime and post game shows. Everything you see in an ESPN gameday presentation, see it in Madden 2010(i refuse to call it Madden 10).

Different style presentation for regular Sunday games, Monday night games, Playoff games and the Superbowl.

[TheWatcher]

Okay, I'm going to try my best to remember what I attempted to post here earlier, lol.

I think the fact that user customizations are getting attention is a clear sign that you guys are taking the feedback seriously. I'm really pumped about how far this can go.

Now of course I do have some comments/concerns:

*Celebration Hotspots: I gotta be honest... I'm not a fan of this at all and I was really hoping it would be gone entirely. The reason the celebration systems for FIFA and 2K Football have been so well-liked is because they allowed for the flow of (here comes that all important word) continuity. Those systems are seamless, and free/open. In FIFA, you're allowed to control when, where, and how you're going to celebrate regardless of where you stand. In 2K Football, the entire endzone is a hotspot. This is where you wanna be. Running around to hit a spot just to celebrate does not look like what we see on Sunday's.

More importantly, the camera properly captures the scoring player in those two game examples, whereas in Madden it's just not right at all. Madden 09's TD's were anticlimactic not only because of how we had to celebrate, but also because the camera stayed so far away and overhead from the scoring player. It made absolutely no sense. No matter what, the camera should never be far away from the scoring player like that. You've got to get down in there and spotlight. That's what we see on Sunday's, and it should have nothing to do with whether we get to a spot or not. The camera should be capturing the scoring player properly no matter what. A TD shouldn't anticlimactic, and the scoring player should not be treated like he's unimportant to the scene.

I'm not sure what happened when user celebrations were added this generation and what challenge may be preventing a needed fix, but the entire endzone needs to be a hotspot. The entire endzone. I can't imagine why this is being done any other way, but all I know is, this run-to-a-spot stuff just isn't doing it.

*Menu Music: I'm holding out hope for custom soundtracks. That's the only thing I care about involving music. Continue with the stuff you always do, that's fine, but we need to have custom tracks for in-game events. NCAA 09 had it and I was disappointed it didn't show up in Madden. I'm hoping that its absence has nothing to do with EA not wanting to somehow take attention off of the EA Trax label, but to that I say if EA is concerned with that what does that say about their confidence in the EA Trax? If they think they're putting out music people want to hear, then they should have nothing to worry about by having a custom soundtrack option.

*Video controls: I see no option for this. Sooooo many games have this now. I played a 360 Arcade game called "Feeding Frenzy" a kiddie game... guess what? It has video controls. FIFA, NBA Live, NHL, Fight Night... all EA Sports games... all have video controls. Madden is the only one left out. How come?

We need controls for color, brightness, contrast, tint, and filter settings. I'd also wish for a control to be able to choose the brightness and intensity of lighting, but I can settle for just the standard set I mentioned.

*Favorite Team: I'd like to see a "Random" or "All NFL" option. I'm sure I can't be the only football fanatic in the world who watches everybody and doesn't have a specific favorite team. For my type, this option would be perfect. I'd love to see the CPU randomly select team themes. Even those with a favorite team may like this because it will give the game a constant living/moving/fresh kind of personality, because as you start the game and move through menu's you never know what NFL Team or star you're going to see.

*One last thought: I see you have some things to turn on/off some indicators. I'd like to see a setting allowing us to turn on/off passing indicators. This could actually be made into a mini sim feature. What's more sim than a QB having to remember what routes his receivers are running?

I'd also like to see a settings to turn on/off all indicators. This simple little thing would allow a cleaner look for people making videos of Madden in action. Youtubers, and those who record Coach mode action would appreciate this the most. Also, there is potential there to make a mini feature of it.

[drae2]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ian_Cummings_EA

This was changed to be global in 09. I think this is actually a valid approach - the CPU still has error in all their kicks and power, so to make it so they can't kick as far seemed a little cheap. Obviously if the tuning is busted then that's a problem, but this was changed last year and it actually seems to be ok. If you guys have major complaints with it from 09, then let me know. As for the penalty sliders, one of the patches in 09 DRASTICALLY improved their importance. Again though, if you guys have any specific feedback on those sliders not working to your liking, send me a PM.

Question: I noticed that on punt returns you can have a left return or an right return. How come this is not an option on kickoffs? And I think this has been the post blog so far. A LOT of the issues that people have been talking about here have been addressed, like game speed, etc, and yet some are still not satisfied. Considering this is March 31st and we have received all this info already...man, we should just appreciate the fact we are getting info this early. Peace.

[greenegt]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ian_Cummings_EA

Kinda surprised few are caring about the injury and fatigue sliders...those have been requests for over 5 years I think.

I LOVE these. Hope they're in NCAA, as well. Thanks!!!

[S1ARk5]

Quote: Originally Posted by ProjectSRT

Im hoping the "high level" feature is All new, ESPN style gameplay presentation. Complete with pregame, halftime and post game shows. Everything you see in an ESPN gameday presentation, see it in Madden 2010(i refuse to call it Madden 10). Different style presentation for regular Sunday games, Monday night games, Playoff games and the Superbowl.

One can only hope and dream and maybe we will see that in Madden 2011 and above, but I doubt we will see it in Madden 2010. I hope Im wrong but I doubt it.