Madden NFL 10 Blog: Letting the "Wildcat" Loose

[Valdarez]

Quote: Originally Posted by g2thecore

Ian, just a side note. Were those the new running animations that Simon worked on or were these the same as before? Just curious, thanks.

Those were the same as before. You can especially tell by looking at the Guards movements when they pull.

[kcarr]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bgamer90

One more question, how fast will the CPU adjust to someone using wildcat?

This, and will they make on field adjustments as soon as they see the change to a quicker QB? They really should atleast react to it somewhat at this point especially if they are high awareness teams or teams with good leaders on the field. Sure they can't make the actual play call or personel adjustments but CPU teams with that real leader of a LB or safety or whatever should adjust somewhat.

[Ian_Cummings]

Quote: Originally Posted by g2thecore

Ian, just a side note. Were those the new running animations that Simon worked on or were these the same as before? Just curious, thanks.

The non-ballcarriers haven't been updated yet.

As for the ballcarrier, there are multiple 'run styles' in the game. The cycle used by Williams and Brown is the 'base' run style for relatively agile/fast players. The base style was tweaked quite a bit from last year by Simon - the requests came mainly from me (and you guys) - bringing the arm holding the ball in tighter, adding more shoulder movement, and adding more 'urgency'. This base style is what is used in the ANT videos.

Here's what it looked like last year FWIW:


EA SPORTS World: Madden 09 Video Highlight






The run animation that everyone hates (that Fitz was using in the trailer) is our 'sprinter' style. It was used for high agility / speed guys last year (often all WR's)...IMO it's the real culprit for the "stiffness" complaints:


EA SPORTS World: Madden 09 Video Highlight



Today I let Simon know that I want to actually just totally remove it (rather than spend time tuning it) and use the one that people like. Then we can focus on the rest and make them perfect. I mean people keep comparing us to 2k - as far as I can tell 2k8 only has one ballcarrier run cycle so if we have 3 or 4 we're still better than that and we can also make sure those are tuned to perfection.

[Bump101]

I haven't read the whole blog or this thread yet but it looks like the picture displaying the wildcat for madden is using a broadcast camera angle. Does this mean that madden 10 will have more then one camera view to choose from? If so, then the only thing that's missing from madden is better running or physics animation and the option to create a coach in franchise mode.

I had my doubts about madden 10, but with all the changes that's already been made and the possibility of having different camera angles, madden looks like it's finally going to shine on next gen. Way to go Ian company and keep up the great work!

[FootballDetails]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ian_Cummings_EA

Today I let Simon know that I want to actually just totally remove it (rather than spend time tuning it) and use the one that people like. Then we can focus on the rest and make them perfect.

Good decision.

[Pnutt6]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ian_Cummings_EA

The non-ballcarriers haven't been updated yet. As for the ballcarrier, there are multiple 'run styles' in the game. The cycle used by Williams and Brown is the 'base' run style for relatively agile/fast players. The base style was tweaked quite a bit from last year by Simon - the requests came mainly from me (and you guys) - bringing the arm holding the ball in tighter, adding more shoulder movement, and adding more 'urgency'. This base style is what is used in the ANT videos. Here's what it looked like last year FWIW: The run animation that everyone hates (that Fitz was using in the trailer) is our 'sprinter' style. It was used for high agility / speed guys last year (often all WR's)...IMO it's the real culprit for the "stiffness" complaints: Today I let Simon know that I want to actually just totally remove it (rather than spend time tuning it) and use the one that people like. Then we can focus on the rest and make them perfect. I mean people keep comparing us to 2k - as far as I can tell 2k8 only has one ballcarrier run cycle so if we have 3 or 4 we're still better than that and we can also make sure those are tuned to perfection.

Those are beautiful words, Ian, thanks again.

[tennesseetitans]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ian_Cummings_EA

Today I let Simon know that I want to actually just totally remove it (rather than spend time tuning it) and use the one that people like. Then we can focus on the rest and make them perfect. I mean people keep comparing us to 2k - as far as I can tell 2k8 only has one ballcarrier run cycle so if we have 3 or 4 we're still better than that and we can also make sure those are tuned to perfection.

Good call. The first running style looks a lot more natural, fluid, and life like. The second one just doesn't look human, the legs never transfer energy, hence the stiff pulled hamstring waiting to happen look.

That said, I'd love to see shorter, choppier steps for the agility guys, which would lengthen (more naturally) in the open field.

[Valdarez]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ian_Cummings_EA

Today I let Simon know that I want to actually just totally remove it (rather than spend time tuning it) and use the one that people like. Then we can focus on the rest and make them perfect. I mean people keep comparing us to 2k - as far as I can tell 2k8 only has one ballcarrier run cycle so if we have 3 or 4 we're still better than that and we can also make sure those are tuned to perfection.

I think that's a good idea removing that animation, the other animations look like a normal run already.

For the record, there are HBs that run different in APF2K8, remember my Freeman McNeil / Tony Nathan comparison? In addition, the strides vary when they run (not a lot, but a little). That's why I requested a randomness to the running style, I meant the stride length. That distinction might not have been very clear though in my post.

Will the bounce of the player be addressed in Madden's run animation? Will we get to see any sway in the player from left to right when they run? Is anim8tor still working on new run animations? Or was his work just to replace the sprinter animation?