Madden NFL 10 Patch #2 Available, Impressions Here (360)

[DrUrsus]

I have now played 3 full games on default (no sliders), and so far I really feel like the gameplay is improved. My games are not high scoring affairs now. They used to be shootouts without slider adjustments, but my scores post patch #2 are 20-13, 31-10 (cosmetic FG at end), and 16-12 so far.
I love how you can actually sack the CPU QB sometimes now. They can still get rid of the ball, but it just seems a lot more legit. I have seen more offline CPU QB throws now too. No doubt about that.

I personally think that they must have tweaked the CPU pass defense. I used to rip them apart (played the same 3 teams in early franchise mode before), but the CPU is better now. Maybe the pass rush is actually better.

Also, I feel like the CPU is learning my tendencies more now. I can't keep using the same plays over and over as much without mixing it up.

I feel like I have to mix the run and pass more.

I feel like the CPU QB runs more now when things break down, but maybe its just coincidence.

They still blitz too much without coach slider adjustments it seems.

The CPU still snaps the ball too quickly.

Chain gang cutscene doesn't come as much, and seems to come more at the right times. I haven't noticed any increases in replays yet personally.

Don't know what to think about screens. Seems just as easy for the human player, and not as easy for the CPU.

Pursuit angles are GREATLY improved.

Flats coverage seem better imo unless you call the wrong plays.

From what people say here the long term stats are screwed up, I haven't looked into that, but I like the gameplay so much better, that I can live with the bad stats, even though it isn't ideal. This would be a killer in a baseball game for me and many other people since stats are so big in baseball especially. But, I can understand how some football fans would really want good sim stats.

I am pretty happy with the game overall now.

[DrUrsus]

Quote: Originally Posted by RavensFan2k3

its a problem to those of us who play all our games too because in those categories(rushing, and defensive categories that involve sacks), we can never compete and we'll never have players in the running for awards or porbowl voting because the CPU team stats are so extreme.

You bring up a really good point. This is definitely a problem. It's important to me to be able to compete in stats (I play all of my games and don't sim any).

[RavensFan2k3]

Quote: Originally Posted by KBLover

It's not "unbearable" for me, but it is rather unrealistic based on the sims I've seen others post up. That said, my issues with franchise are with the mode itself outside of stats (needs more in several areas in my view to make it just a little more than just a string of Play Now-ish games). Stats could be perfect and it wouldn't make me more bullish on franchise so them being out of whack doesn't make me more bearish. Granted, I wouldn't want them to look like it does and of course welcome a fix from EA as I don't want to have to control all teams or lower stats to make it work (nor should it be the community's constant task to tweak the game to get to be modern-NFL-like) as well as you put it, the chances of our players making any awards/Pro Bowls is hurt significantly, but it's not a death blow for me as it is for others.

Quote: Originally Posted by BlueNGold

The thing is, I'm so used to that from Madden 07 and 08 on PS2. If only there was a way a group of us could pull off a Madden Manifesto like 05...

I dont agree, I've been playing Madden 08 on the PS2 until now as Madden 10 is the first Xbox360/PS3 madden I'm actually giving alot of time, and the stats in franchise were perfect back then.

Quote: Originally Posted by DrUrsus

I have now played 3 full games on default (no sliders), and so far I really feel like the gameplay is improved. My games are not high scoring affairs now. They used to be shootouts without slider adjustments, but my scores post patch #2 are 20-13, 31-10 (cosmetic FG at end), and 16-12 so far. I love how you can actually sack the CPU QB sometimes now. They can still get rid of the ball, but it just seems a lot more legit. I have seen more offline CPU QB throws now too. No doubt about that. I personally think that they must have tweaked the CPU pass defense. I used to rip them apart (played the same 3 teams in early franchise mode before), but the CPU is better now. Maybe the pass rush is actually better. Also, I feel like the CPU is learning my tendencies more now. I can't keep using the same plays over and over as much without mixing it up. I feel like I have to mix the run and pass more. I feel like the CPU QB runs more now when things break down, but maybe its just coincidence. They still blitz too much without coach slider adjustments it seems. The CPU still snaps the ball too quickly. Chain gang cutscene doesn't come as much, and seems to come more at the right times. I haven't noticed any increases in replays yet personally. Don't know what to think about screens. Seems just as easy for the human player, and not as easy for the CPU. Pursuit angles are GREATLY improved. Flats coverage seem better imo unless you call the wrong plays. From what people say here the long term stats are screwed up, I haven't looked into that, but I like the gameplay so much better, that I can live with the bad stats, even though it isn't ideal. This would be a killer in a baseball game for me and many other people since stats are so big in baseball especially. But, I can understand how some football fans would really want good sim stats. I am pretty happy with the game overall now.

I agree with you on this man. Me and my friend just started a franchise today and I played my first pre-season game vs. the Redskins, I lose 27-24. It was a great game tho...I enjoyed every second of it.

Quote: Originally Posted by DrUrsus

You bring up a really good point. This is definitely a problem. It's important to me to be able to compete in stats (I play all of my games and don't sim any).

I know man, I guess thats something we'll have to deal with

[joejccva71]

You guys should check out Jaymee's sliders. It definately helps with the sack and rushing yards. Just simmed 3 seasons and the numbers were in fact lower.

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...patch-2-a.html

[BlueNGold]

Quote: Originally Posted by joejccva71

You guys should check out Jaymee's sliders. It definately helps with the sack and rushing yards. Just simmed 3 seasons and the numbers were in fact lower. http://www.operationsports.com/forum...patch-2-a.html

Can you post the numbers you got?

[joejccva71]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlueNGold

Can you post the numbers you got?

Ok this will take a bit. Let me sim 3 more seasons and I'll write down numbers and post them. Gimme a few.

[joejccva71]

Season 1:

Rushing:
Highest rushing yards - D.Williams 1910 yds, 13 td's
A.Peterson - 1598 yds, 17 td's
M.Turner - 1034 yds, 10 td's

Only 1 player had 7.0 ypc, 6 other players were in the 6-7 ypc range, then rest were 5 ypc range or lower.

Sacks:
J.Allen - 20.5 (highest)
7 other players were between 15-19 sack range.


Season 2:

Rushing:
Highest rushing yards - R.Williams 2006 yrds, 14 td's

A.Peterson - 1659 yds, 13 td's
M.Turner - 1197, 10 td's

3 players were in the 7.0 ypc range.
6 players were in the 6.0 ypc range.
Rest were lower than 5.0 ypc.

Sacks:
A.Kampman - 21 sacks
T.Suggs - 20 sacks

5 players were between 15-19 sack range. Rest were lower than 15.

Season 3

Rushing:
Highest rushing yards - A.Peterson 1679 yds, 12 td's

R.Williams - 1652 yds, 8 td's
M.Turner - 1347 yds, 14 td's

2 players in 7.0 ypc range
8 players in 6.0 ypc range

Sacks:
J.Harrison - 22 sacks
C.Grant - 20.5 sacks
A.Carter - 20.5 sacks

6 players between 15-19 sacks, rest lower than 15 sacks.



Notes:

I had the injury settings off during these simmed seasons. While this isn't a complete fix to the problem, it does in fact make the stats lower. I've simmed 6 seasons now and haven't seen a rusher go over 2000 yards yet, except for R.Williams who barely broke the 2000 mark. He was the ONLY one to do it though out of 6 seasons. These numbers look more realistic.

The sacks are still somewhat of a problem although it's slightly better. I'm still seeing sack numbers going above 20, but it APPEARS that it's been mostly from teams that use 3-4 defenses.

Jay's sliders have you adjusting the DE philosophy which could have something to do with it considering that it won't affect OLB's.

Edit: Oh by the way, I put AP and Turner in the stats above there because they are usually the ones that go WAY over 2000 yards rushing. Was just using this as an example that this does change something.

[JJ_Bills9]

The reason I've noticed for the insane running back numbers is how many 20+ yard carries guys are getting every year. Michael Turner had 350 carries for 220 yards and 37 carries of 20+.

Obviously that includes all the carries that go for 60 and 70 as well. If you take that 37 and bring it down to 10 or so, which is realistic for an NFL running back, you knock off 400-600 yards. That would make his stats read 350 for 1700 yards, which is an average of 4.85 a carry. Which is still pretty high for him, but much closer to reality.

EA just needs to find a way to cut big running plays down by about 75%. Otherwise the patch is great. I can't play my franchise with the stats so royally screwed.

Can this be so hard to patch EA? BTW, Jonathan Stewart had 110 carries on the year and 23 of them went for 20+ yards. Needless to say he had over 1000 yards.