Madden NFL 10 Blog: A Deeper Look Into Pass Blocking

[djKianoosh]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deegeezy

RBs chip-blocking before going out on their route would be nice! I don't think any game has this.

for real man.. i see Westbrook do this all the time. Portis too, whenever these guys play the Giants. I watch a TON of NFC East games and nobody leaves their Tackles alone against the Giants' D line. chip blocking is a fundamental part of protection. and like I said, just cause they're the Giants doesn't mean I should be sacked 10 times in every madden game I play against them. I don't want that "predetermined" stuff in the game.

[Boucher]

Quote: Originally Posted by scalise89

this is all well and great but i was just thinking, do you guys remember seeing the MADDEN 06/Next Gen Trailer with the eagles vs. the giants...I remember being so hyped for that to be the future with fire works and awesome / amazing graphics and everything, well it just doesn't look like that in the current madden games, everything is not as hyped as that video...why is it not? take a look to refresh your memory, can someone explain this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxyTUaqm2GU

CGI my friend

[SteelerSpartan]

Looks pretty good at this stage in development...

loved the last part where Flacco got hammered from behind....wouldn't be good if Qbs could easily sprint out of the way his tackle was steering the rusher. I think their needs to be a higher chance of a hold if someone does that


Still not enough footage to say "OMFG Its Fixed" but it looks like we're headed in the right direction.

[Valdarez]

I really like the comparison with APF2K8 that game does so many things well (except sales, heh), but then, it's a game I know really well, so I can relate to it more than Madden. Definitely makes it easier to connect features / functionality that way. I'm probably in the minority on that one though.

I don't quite see where the defender doesn't recognize that someone is running past them in the video below. I have seen animations that I have been unable to break (particularly in the coverage game), but I'm honestly not sure what I'm supposed to be seeing in the clip below (pointers anyone?).Blocking animations - APF2k8 from easports on Vimeo.

In the first part of the video, you can't see what's going on the entire field, so it's hard to know what made the offensive player react. In the second part of the video, it looks like the defensive player is going after the ball carrier, which is what you want, right? And he's only held up for a moment, which again, is what you want especially once the passing game turns to a running one (i.e. run blocking is in effect).

Quote:

For typical blocking situations, they implemented much longer animations (instead of short looping ones), and this helped their visual quality quite a bit

I get the concept of a longer running animation, it's something I thought they did with their sprint/running animations.

That steering is so very important. If you watch how 2K handles their DE steering in APF2K8, they steer the DE about a step or two behind where the QB drop should end. Thus as the QB if you pull back too far, especially at the start of a play, before the DE/T have engaged, then you're going to get sacked a lot. This is why I don't think a forced drop back is necessary, and why an automatic one will suffice.

I think one thing you're going to need to change is have the DE's pull more to the outside on their line play (unless stunting. twists and such). The DE's appear to be going straight for the OL in front of them, instead of trying to find a path to the QB and actually being blocked. I say that, becaue if you don't, then you'll never be able to stop a QB from pulling back too far.

1. The DEs should track the QB and follow them backwards step for step until they are forced to engage with the lineman when the QB stops in the pocket.
2. The G/T should only fall back as far as the radius of the pocket allows him (because they know the step fallback for the QB, and are trying to protect an area/pocket) and then he should generally stay to the outside, allowing the QB to stay protected inside the pocket, but not outside of it.
3. QBs that pull back too far should be sacked by DEs who tracked their fallback, and were missed by the Offensive Tackle because the QB was not where he was meant to be.
4. Unless it's a rollout (meaning play calls for a QB rollout), a QB that pulls back and out of the pocket should get heavy pressure by the DEs (again why #1 is important).
5. The Tackle needs to fall back more as well. It's really hard to tell from the video clip, but it looks like the QB's drop is a 5 step drop, but the OT only reacts as though it's a one step drop (at least based on the way 2K's implementation of it works). Madden NFL 10 - Pass blocking & branch windows from easports on Vimeo.

[callmetaternuts]

awesome blog and really looking forward to diving into how this all works, and seeing it on the field.

[TombSong]

Note to the rest of you. I can appreciate yall wanting to give Ian mad props for what he shows and it is warranted, but keep in mind. We have the DEVS ear.

You have to visualise you playing what he is blogging and almost see what the end results can possibly be and ask meaningful questions about as many things that can help him possibly see something he may not have thought of and help tweak/improve the game.

Our goal is to make sure we help him give us what we are asking for. We can shower him with man love on release day when we are all playing this joint till 4am in the morning because they delivered on what the promised.

[djKianoosh]

@Valdarez, towards the end of the 2k video clip you'll see the back run right past him the engaged defender. what EA is saying is that the defender should be 'aware' that the ballcarrier has passed him and should try to disengage and pursue.

[djKianoosh]

Quote: Originally Posted by TombSong

... We can shower him with man love on release day when we are all playing this joint till 4am in the morning because they delivered on what the promised.

4am? that's it? you mean you're not gonna be up all night and all weekend long?