Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

[joejccva71]

Quote: Originally Posted by ezio

Your not off your rocker You are correct. You just have to spend the time to set up the gameplan. I saw some questionable play calls in some of the videos but I am guessing that is because Gameplan was not set up. The question is do you want to do that for every team/game etc. I suppose you could do it once and use that but they mentioned setting up one for the Colts for example to deal with Manning.

I thought that if you didn't setup your gameplan manually that the offensive and defensive coordinators had the gameplans setup for you based according to REAL LIFE tendencies.

Am I right or wrong on this?

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by ezio

Your not off your rocker You are correct. You just have to spend the time to set up the gameplan. I saw some questionable play calls in some of the videos but I am guessing that is because Gameplan was not set up. The question is do you want to do that for every team/game etc. I suppose you could do it once and use that but they mentioned setting up one for the Colts for example to deal with Manning.

Yep. I for one will set up a gameplan each week just like teams have to do in real life. I love that aspect of the game. It's optional, it's gives another level of customization (can make gameplans for CPU also).

People for years complained about teh Ask Madden play calling... Now you can have it use plays YOU say to use in these situations... How is that a bad thing at all.. lol I don't get the constant negativity. That and complaining about a feature that they have clearly no full understanding of it's uses.

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From EA Blog:

As Coach Madden mentioned, coaches don't go into a game with their full playbook like you do in our game. When it's 2nd down and 3 yards to go, they don't thumb through a 3-ring binder with 350 plays in it. They find tendencies before the game and build a game plan to exploit the other team's weaknesses. This means they call plays based on the situation. On game day the team goes in with a much more limited playbook. The game plan is usually broken down into situations; red zone, 2 minute offense, 3rd and goal, etc. Based on the situation, the coach calls the play in to the QB. The QB makes his reads and changes the play up if necessary and the team executes the play. For Madden NFL 11 we used these concepts to overhaul the way plays are called with GameFlow and Game Planning.

What is GameFlow, what is Game Planning, and how do they work together? They are really two parts of one big initiative - which was "we need to make play calling more authentic".

GameFlow happens while the game is running. With GameFlow, your coach calls the play, and radios it in to you via the headset (if you don't have a headset it will come through the TV). There are also on-screen subtitles to reinforce the audio, and as you go to the line you're shown the play art. You can make any adjustments you want with an audible or the Strategy Pad. Here are a few quick displays of GameFlow in action on offense:

After each play you are presented with the option to use the GameFlow play (the one your coach picks for you) or you can bring up the full playbook and call any play you want. On 4th downs and other times when an important decision needs to be made a screen is shown that lets you make the choice. If it's 4th down you can choose to kick it (field goal or punt depending on the yardage), fake the kick, go for it, or open the playbook. Just like the QB can influence the coach during important decisions, you'll be able to do the same thing.

The other part of GameFlow and easily the most important part is Game Planning. Each team ships with a default game plan based on the way they played last year. Our playbook experts, Anthony White and Larry Richart, broke down all 32 teams and built a truly 100% authentic game plan for each of them. But if you are the customizing type (assuming that you're reading this blog you probably are), you can create a custom game plan and play with that. How do you customize a gameplan?

You have a total of 15 play slots available per situation, and the situations are the same defined by a real NFL coach's play sheet. For each play in any situation, you can adjust the "weighting" of the plays from between .5 to 5 stars. Weighting plays determines the frequency a play is called in game. You can create and save as many game plans as you want.

Creating a defensive gameplan follows the same mold, except that you aren't creating the plays based on the down and distance, but instead on what the offense is showing in terms of personnel and formation. So in the image below, you'd be setting up your "dime" packages (which can be plays out of any defensive formation, not just dime), and these are the plays that you want to run when the offense lines up with 4 or more receivers.


So assuming you've customized your own gameplan, your coach will now call the plays that you set up for each situation. We all know that the strategy behind calling plays is such an important part of the game, but with gameplanning, we're now allowing you to do all that strategy before the game instead of between every single play. Gameplans can be carried into Franchise, Superstar, Online, Madden Ultimate Team and Play Now games.

As an aside, you can also create game plans for the CPU. If you really want to change how the computer plays you can finally do that. If your team (or another team) changes their play calling style throughout the year you can update their game plan and keep them playing true to life. This adds a new level of customization to franchise mode. Even if you know how your friends like to call plays, you can set up a game plan to have the CPU play like them so you can practice.

Another key note about gameplans is that you can use them with or without GameFlow. Let's say you want to play with the old style play-calling screen. If you do, the "Ask Madden" option is actually totally replaced with "My Gameplan", which then gives you all your pre-planned plays right there for you in each game situation.

Of course, one thing to be clear on is that everything is optional. If you want to play without GameFlow you can. You can choose to play with the conventional play call screen (old style play call screen that's been around since the advent of football gaming). You can choose to turn off coordinator audio, subtitles, and strategy pad. Pretty much everything is an option.

I have to be honest; when we first told people what we were planning to do they thought we were crazy. Everyone was skeptical. Some people were scared, others laughed, but then they played it. Once they played it they got it. We're giving people a new way to play Madden NFL. It's a more true-to-life way of playing. You strategize before the game and then when it's time to play, you just get on the field and execute. You get a more realistic, more authentic, and more fun game experience overall. Best of all, you can now play 2 or even 3 games of Madden NFL 11 in the same amount of time it took you to play 1 last year, without compromising on presentation, stats, or the like. I hope you enjoy Game Planning and GameFlow.

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by joejccva71

I thought that if you didn't setup your gameplan manually that the offensive and defensive coordinators had the gameplans setup for you based according to REAL LIFE tendencies. Am I right or wrong on this?

According to Blog, you are correct.
Guess my main thing is, it's built in BUT if you still don't like it you can't make you own. Best of both worlds.

[MAHAM]

I thought they got rid of the ball right before you get there on '10 also. On '10 it was best to press the tackle button instead of simply running into the QB or hitstick which didnt work well for sacks either.

Try the tackle button to sack, the QB when in throwing motion will get sacked instead of a duck pass. Maybe that works for '11 too.

[ezio]

Quote: Originally Posted by joejccva71

I thought that if you didn't setup your gameplan manually that the offensive and defensive coordinators had the gameplans setup for you based according to REAL LIFE tendencies. Am I right or wrong on this?

Based on what skyboxed posted you are correct:

The other part of GameFlow and easily the most important part is Game Planning. Each team ships with a default game plan based on the way they played last year. Our playbook experts, Anthony White and Larry Richart, broke down all 32 teams and built a truly 100% authentic game plan for each of them. But if you are the customizing type (assuming that you're reading this blog you probably are), you can create a custom game plan and play with that.

[turftickler]

Quote: Originally Posted by tazdevil20

That was exactly the feeling I got. Aside from that, I actually think the gameflow/gameplan feature is fine. Gameplanning to me is a good idea and it's realistic. Besides, you can turn it off if you want.

Yeah, I actually like Gameplan. I was shocked to see that it was not situational though. Either way, it doesn't matter. I still think it adds realism.

[xylocaine]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

That's exactly what you can do..... Unless I've hit my head on a rock a while back and have been imagining things.... You can set up 15 plays per situation and save the gameplan. Then gameflow uses that gameplan to pick plays beased on the situation... Or am I totally off my rocker here people...??

Yes, but lets say you like 3 plays for 3rd and long, you don't know which one that Gameflow will chose, that's all I'm saying.

Gameflow won't bother me if it doesn't get better because EA gave you an option to use it or not.

[tweezy90]

whats with the dead silent crowd before every snap??will it be fixed in the retail version?