Madden NFL 11 Video: Jets vs. Patriots (OS @ E3)

[daley7199]

Keep in mind that this game is still in development and still has a couple of months of tweaking to go. These things might very well be addressed. I will however admit that when you compare EA's sports games there is some huge disparity in the commentary. By far the NHL series has the best commentation in the game and of course you cant beat having Bill Clement and Gary Thorne. Next I have to give it up to NCAA. Corso, Nessler, and Herbstriet are money and the commentation is fanstastic. After that I would go NBA LIve followed by Madden and bringing up the rear would be Tiger Woods.

You guys complain about Maddens commentary. Tiger Woods has got to be the most lifeless, boring, repetitive, uninspired commentary of any game ever made.

[PGaither84]

At what point is this generation of NFL gaming written off? The PS2/XBox/NGC era was the golden age of NFL gaming. Both Madden and 2k5 were great games in thier own right. This generation is pretty, and that is all I am afraid it will be remembered for.

I put my copy of 2k5 in last night and I do miss a lot of Madden's pre-snap adjustments [smart route, offensive and defensive play maker controls, etc.] and I know there are a few bugs, I was able to play a realistic NFL game.

I like what they did with 11 by changing the locomotion and giving us improved blocking, but when you spend an entire cycle on game play, and this is the best they could do?!? I don't know. It's hard to get excited about Madden at all anymore. Each E3 video shows over and over again how much more work needs to be done.

[daley7199]

Quote: Originally Posted by steelersfan7

I agree, I'm getting NCAA myself, I havent bought NCAA since 2002, its looking better than MAdden. Looks like Madden 10 to me. Same ol animations and such. I could care less if there was a presentation at all, I'm into gameplay, thats all that matters to me. I ain't dropping 60 on the same game.

Hey I don't necessarily blame you for giving up on madden. There hasn't been alot of whole sale changes in the game. Basically just a new paint job each year and thats it; But I hope you don't plan on buying NBA2k11 b/c if that were the case you would then be a hypocrite since 2k has been releasing the same basketball game since 2k7.

[DaveDQ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Renegade44

thats actually a good point. It isnt like Superstar Mode changed the game and other sports games are clamoring to implement their feature or it isnt like they have this TV style presentation that another game will emulate someday. They dont do anything "great". There is literally nothing about Madden that I say man, thats a polished feature. I mean for crying out loud, for 2 years they have the away team on bottom of the overlay. LOL. its literally like man, they dont do anything right. I know people see improvement and all, and there are good parts of the game but I mean throw enough darts and your bound to get a bullseye sooner or later right? its been 6 years and they haven't hit the dartboard yet(meaning a feature that works as advertised) let alone an innovative feature.

You are right. I really don't know what it is about this series where we are always seeing new things but they are never polished. I'm not talking about silly nonessentials like the Josten's ring, the HOF addition they made earlier this generation. Those things simply don't belong, but specific game related features like Pro-Tak, Commentary etc...they keep changing things that imply they are enhancing the game. However, it's simply a continuation of a very unhealthy development philosophy with this game.

Take for instance the obvious. Commentary. The shortcuts they do in the commentary are such a stand out flaw. It used to sound so horrible when Hammond would say, "The Jets 21, Miami 13." First off, the pause and dead air is too apparent. Secondly, the tone is horrid. You can tell they are shortcutting it by taking the audio for "Miami" from another instance where tone and inflection are different than the current situation of announcing a score.

Nothing has been improved or polished. It appears all they have done is replace the radio guy's sound bytes with Hammond's and Hammond's with Johnson's, which leads me to wonder if it's laziness, inadequateness or simply lack of time.

[PGaither84]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaveDQ

Nothing has been improved or polished. It appears all they have done is replace the radio guy's sound bytes with Hammond's and Hammond's with Johnson's, which leads me to wonder if it's laziness, inadequateness or simply lack of time.

It's not a lack of time. it's not like they are busy making a first person shooter and are making Madden on the side. this is all they do... every year.

[HealyMonster]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaveDQ

You are right. I really don't know what it is about this series where we are always seeing new things but they are never polished. I'm not talking about silly nonessentials like the Josten's ring, the HOF addition they made earlier this generation. Those things simply don't belong, but specific game related features like Pro-Tak, Commentary etc...they keep changing things that imply they are enhancing the game. However, it's simply a continuation of a very unhealthy development philosophy with this game. Take for instance the obvious. Commentary. The shortcuts they do in the commentary are such a stand out flaw. It used to sound so horrible when Hammond would say, "The Jets 21, Miami 13." First off, the pause and dead air is too apparent. Secondly, the tone is horrid. You can tell they are shortcutting it by taking the audio for "Miami" from another instance where tone and inflection are different than the current situation of announcing a score. Nothing has been improved or polished. It appears all they have done is replace the radio guy's sound bytes with Hammond's and Hammond's with Johnson's, which leads me to wonder if it's laziness, inadequateness or simply lack of time.

The things they do, its almost like they are learning as they go and instead of doing things that make a finished product, they are doing things that are cool.

Like they go to work, mess around a bit and say "hey check this out, when a receiver breaks away I made the camera shake". Then next week its the cannon sound on a deep pass. Its like this year they have "happy holidays" and lights during xmas, its like someone messed around like "hey guys look at this". It looks very amateur. I know real broadcasts and NBA 2k has that stuff but it doesn't look like that. The madden version looks really cheap.

This also is apparent in the "direction" madden goes, we started off in 06 as a game going for the "on the field" gameplay, then they just didn't work out and it wasn't well recepted. Then they went "broadcast" and once again, they just didn't do a good job. Then they kind of had like a "what the heck do you want out of me tone" so instead of going one direction they "looked at the numbers" and now its 3 on 3/play as many games in as little amount of time.

they are just all over the place with still no direction cause they are already claiming to be going another direction in 2012.

[Testarossa28]

But imo Gus is still an improvement, but compared to all other sports games out now (I think its pretty much safe to say all) it's like Montana Sports Talk Football. Where's the chitter chatter between him & Collinsworth? I played NBA2K10 yesterday and just noticed in season mode they actually mentioned how my Bulls team dominated the team I was playing from last seasons matchups...that is incredible attention to detail from the announcing standpoint to recognize that. They go into how the player preformed on the previous night and the back & forth between the two is great. Since Madden add to get new lines, I don't know why they didn't upgrade how the commentary towards something like that.[/quote]

I couldn't agree more about how amazing 2k10's commentary was. I bought it last Monday and was in awe. It'll say how many points a certain player had in his last game, or in his last game vs. the team you're playing. Talks about record, standings...EVERYTHING that Madden should. I just for the life of me do not understand. These devs say they watch football and want to bring us what we see on Sundays. How can they HONESTLY play this game and think, "We nailed it.''

Somebody earlier in this thread was saying how Madden does nothing great and they are 100% right. I must have actually said out loud "Holy crap that is sweet." about 10 times while trying NBA2k10 the other night. That franchise is SOOO in depth. The create a player is outrageous. I mean a simple thing like doing a fantasy draft. They let you pick what your draft order is!

And I keep reading how everyone is like, "NCAA is is for me this year." And I do agree it certainly looks like it'll be a better game but I can hardly get excited for that either. Because in the end it is just college Madden with an Online Dynasty mode (granted a sweet sounding one)

Bottom line EA Football games are YEARS behind every other sports game.

[DaveDQ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Renegade44

they are just all over the place with still no direction cause they are already claiming to be going another direction in 2012.

I agree man..I agree. The thing is I don't want to cross the line of being disrespectful, especially to the guys who put their neck out with the blogs and such. Personally. I think it's upper management that forces things and is always mixing things up. They put out a lot of money to have the NFL and they're going to do what ever it takes to sell this game year in and year out.

Quote: Originally Posted by Testarossa28

But imo Gus is still an improvement, but compared to all other sports games out now (I think its pretty much safe to say all) it's like Montana Sports Talk Football. Where's the chitter chatter between him & Collinsworth? I played NBA2K10 yesterday and just noticed in season mode they actually mentioned how my Bulls team dominated the team I was playing from last seasons matchups...that is incredible attention to detail from the announcing standpoint to recognize that. They go into how the player preformed on the previous night and the back & forth between the two is great. Since Madden add to get new lines, I don't know why they didn't upgrade how the commentary towards something like that.

This is what struck me about Renegade's comments. Madden has never had that "WOW" moment where gamers were so deeply impressed with what has been done that the game separates itself from other sports titles. Other games are doing it, but Madden just can't claim that high note.