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

[bomza]

Oops... Just when I was praising what I had seen so far with patch #2...

I just saw a BAD cutscene goof. This is what I guess happens when they try to add them without having enough time or people to test them.

Third and ten for the Saints. Driving for the winning TD. Brees passes 10 yards to the sideline. I knock the pass down with Ronde Barber. The ball literally hits the ground in front of me. Cut to cutscene of refs rushing in to say "YES, IT IS a complete catch!" WTF!?!?

I check and I can't challenge either! I accidentally burn a timeout and then look at the replay showing exactly what I just said with the ball hitting the ground.

I return to the game, and it appears the refs have changed their minds without telling me, because the line of scrimmage has not changed and it is now fourth down and ten. Oh, I see, the refs got it right, it's the cutscene refs who blew the call.

Instead of listening to a lot of us asking for some way to turn off the cutscenes, it appears we're stuck now with the cutscene refs calling some passes complete that are obviously incomplete.

[Sleeping King]

Sometimes I just have to shake my head. I'm driving with the Pats vs Jets. I drop back with Brady, no one is open so I move up in the pocket. At the last second I see Welker getting open but Rhodes jumps in front and picks it off for a touchdown. As he is returning it shows a penalty. I assume it's a block in the back.

Nope, it's a penalty on Brady for an illegal forward pass. And guess what? The game takes away the touchdown, well actually it takes away the interception as well because it's first down Pats. Ha this game is insane.

[havokeff]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sleeping King

Sometimes I just have to shake my head. I'm driving with the Pats vs Jets. I drop back with Brady, no one is open so I move up in the pocket. At the last second I see Welker getting open but Rhodes jumps in front and picks it off for a touchdown. As he is returning it shows a penalty. I assume it's a block in the back. Nope, it's a penalty on Brady for an illegal forward pass. And guess what? The game takes away the touchdown, well actually it takes away the interception as well because it's first down Pats. Ha this game is insane.

That is what is supposed to happen. An illegal forward pass negates anything that happens after it. The problem there is 1st Down Patriots. I'm pretty sure that is a loss of down penalty, but if that particular rule isn't in the game, then it would be 1st down and whatever yardage was penalized.

[havokeff]

Alright, so my 2 cents on this patch.

The computer defense is far better against the run. I had my sliders way low and theirs way high to get this effect before and now it is actually working so I will have to adjust them back down, that is nice.

Sacks are fine. If you are having trouble getting pressure then balance out your sliders, that is what they are for.

The QB still throws the ball away when going in for the sack on occasion, but that happens in RL as well, so that shouldn't be an issue with anyone.

I've still see an occasional suction block, but the frequency is not unbearable.

The holding calls seem to be determined, not only on the sliders, but the player speed differential as well. It looks like that adjusting that down lessens the call.

joejccva71: I suspect that the reason one gets better rushing stats with the injuries off is that the defensive starters that are needed to keep them down stay on the field.

On to the stats.
I personally play Madden for the fun of the game AND to try to build a great team that is not 'cheap' in offline franchise mode, however, as I use the Niners, I have noticed that Patrick Willis's tackles have dropped considerably while Lawson's and Harylsons have gone up. This isn't a bad thing one year. Players get better, they get to the ball faster etc. However when I checked the leaders I noticed that not one single Inside or Middle Linebacker was in the top ten in the three years I have simed since I downloaded the patch. Obviously not very accurate, since currently in the NFL, there is only one OLB in the top 10 in tackles and in the top 20, there are only 7 which are not ILB/MLB and of those seven there are only 4 that are not LB at all.

Obviously, the RB stats are screwed, but that is what you get when you complain about YPC averages being too low. The only way to fix that is to *surprise* give running backs more yards. The YPC was fine. What was wrong was the TDs, and that was a computer play calling problem, not a YPC problem. Now as people have pointed out, you get more TDs but by way of longer runs and not by way of the computer calling more run plays at the goal line or whatever. So the old saying 'be careful what you wish for' springs to mind.

Overall I would say the patch is a very good improvement gameplay wise and a mild disappointment in one or two areas stat wise. I don't think the melodramatic "OMG I can never play it again! TOTALLY RUINED!!!" is quite called for, as there is a great deal of adjustability in the game that looks like it can fix most of it.

[bomza]

Oops #2... Just when I was praising what I had seen so far with patch #2...
The hesitation glitch when your RB is running is still there. And on pitches when you run at about a 45 degree angle it is really, really noticeable.

Oops #3...
Ok, it's bad enough when the cutscene refs try to say a ball that was knocked down and hit the ground is a complete pass, but one would think EA would have gotten such a basic thing as the goal line right by now. But apparently not.

Watch below. I'm playing the Saints and Bush gets a handoff at my two yard line. Watch as I try to stop him but can't, and Bush scores a touchdown. WAIT.... No, EA and Madden say HE DID NOT SCORE! I kid you not. The following play was NOT ruled a touchdown and the Saints were given the ball at the one yard line. On third down I sacked Brees, and the Saints kicked a field goal. Thanks to this play I would up winning the game.

You be the judge. Is THIS a touchdown? Madden 10 post-patch 2 says NO.

EA Sports: Madden NFL 10 Video Highlight

[sapp99]

Can somebody please tell me if anything has been done with supersim? Less big plays or something like that or do the stats look like pre patch?

[SonicZulu25]

Quote: Originally Posted by bomza

Oops... Just when I was praising what I had seen so far with patch #2... I just saw a BAD cutscene goof. This is what I guess happens when they try to add them without having enough time or people to test them. Third and ten for the Saints. Driving for the winning TD. Brees passes 10 yards to the sideline. I knock the pass down with Ronde Barber. The ball literally hits the ground in front of me. Cut to cutscene of refs rushing in to say "YES, IT IS a complete catch!" WTF!?!? I check and I can't challenge either! I accidentally burn a timeout and then look at the replay showing exactly what I just said with the ball hitting the ground. I return to the game, and it appears the refs have changed their minds without telling me, because the line of scrimmage has not changed and it is now fourth down and ten. Oh, I see, the refs got it right, it's the cutscene refs who blew the call. Instead of listening to a lot of us asking for some way to turn off the cutscenes, it appears we're stuck now with the cutscene refs calling some passes complete that are obviously incomplete.

These cutscenes were there prior to #2 patch though. Regardless, you're right and it is annoying.

[Ueauvan]

dunno if anyone has pointed it out, its not a hb breaking out of a 4 man scrum, its a maul sorry im a brit and rugby is my first love