Madden NFL 11 Demo Available Now, Please Post Impressions Here

[erich20012001]

Quote: Originally Posted by ryan36

...draws on 3rd and long are common NFL strategy to play field postiion, or maybe break a big gain. You gain 10 yards on a punt if it works, as opposed to running an 18 yard pass play that's low percentage

Thank you, I read that and was confused.

One question I have, is Pro-Tak taken out of the game? I only played 2 games in the demo but didn't notice. I'd be disappointed if it was.

[big_larry]

Quote: Originally Posted by LeonM

PS3 User. I have played 4 full games of the Madden 11 demo. I have mixed feelings on the demo. Some things I liked and some I didn't. I played 1 game with gameflow and no gameplanning. The coordinator play calls were horrible. A 3rd and 18 draw was called. 2 games with gameflow and gameplanning. This is the only way to make gameflow work for you. The last game I played was without gameflow and the coordinator audio and subtitles turned off. This was my favorite experience. All the games were on all pro level with game speed set to normal. I have been playing football video games for over 20 years now. The biggest problem that the developers have with Madden is that the game has an outdated and flawed gameplay engine. How do they innovate and create enough new features to keep the game fresh and camoflauge the flaws in the engine. When you judge Madden 11 as a football video game. It's actually pretty good. As a video game representation of football. The game is fun. As a true simulation of pro football. The game falls short. The same flaws that have been in previous madden games remain in Madden 11 but to a lesser extent based on my brief sampling thus far. The Madden 11 demo has some strong improvements. Mainly the return of the ability to complete a deep ball pass that isn't aided by a rocket catch and the improved wr catch AI and animations. My favorite part of the demo has been the receivers ability to adjust to the football in the air and their attempts to drag feet in and attempt to stay in bounds after the catch. Locomotion is a slight improvement to camoflauge the engine. It's kind of silly and unrealistic when it comes to real football running but as the user, It is fun to accelerate and break into the open field. I am going to reserve comment on the commentary until I get the full retail version. Thankfully, I have a store credit with gamestop and I will use it towards M11. Ironically, It's traded in EA football titles from the last few years that will help me get the game. I am a fan of Gus Johnson's and Collinsworth but like alot of the football animations and feel of madden. The duo and audio does not seem very natural or smooth. Gameflow is an amped up ask madden. It only works well with game planning but at the end of the day. This feauture would have been tremendous if the audio and playcalls were by the team's actual coordinators. That's too much to ask though......I prefer to not have Gameflow and gameplanning in the game. I never use all 300 plays in the playbook but based on each opponent and each situation. I like the flexibility of going to different formations for different situations. I like using specific players in specific sub packages. Gameflow does not allow me to do this. In the real NFL, teams have different players on the field for different sets. The strategy pad is good and bad. Mostly bad. It's good for the nano blitzing losers out there. Bad for people who are used to changing plays at the line of scrimmage. It's not an impossible feature to handle but it is difficult and it defeats the ultimate purpose of EA making the games simpler and quicker to play. It will take some getting used to and perhaps a tweak on the accelerated play clock. Looking for ways to create more time at the line of scrimmage. Perhaps a 60 second play clock. I am in the minority. I don't like NCAA 11. It is not very realistic. It's fun to play if you like dominating and making big plays but as for actual competition and simulation. It falls flat. I actually found madden 11 to be more of a challenge because the game itself limits your ability to have success with the strategy pad/gameflow feature. Couple that with the fact that the players in Madden are better. Simple progression of college to NFL talent. You can actually see noticeable differences in player ratings especially with guys like Kris Jenkins. I am happy to see Pro-Tak dead and buried. It was an overhyped selling point for last years madden. Pro-Tak was silly and unrealistic looking and feeling. No more line dancing tackling. Now if we can just eliminate fight for the fumble. Another silly video game esque feature. I ultimately feel that the offensive gameplay in Madden 11 is better than 10. You see slight differences in the star players play and how the players move and function specifically the receivers. Playing defense is less fun however than it was for madden 10. This area of the game needs to be focused on in Madden 12. Taking a page from Backbreaker would be great. Their defensive camera and feel is amazing. It's far from perfect but much more fun than playing defense on madden. Madden 11 is a fun game if you eliminate gameflow and it's a good video game representation of football especially in passing and running. I rated Madden 10 a 6. This is just a demo but I would state that Madden 11 looks like it is going to be slightly better. Anyone hoping for true sim football. You are not getting it with this game. Maybe next generation. Maybe when actual physics and a new gameplay engine is installed.

THIS IS THE TRUTH, & NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

[Presswithsafetyshade]

I'm curious....all you anti-'stratpad' posters, you do understand that in an actual game of football after the OC/DC sends in a play you have seconds (if that) to make any checks or adjustments...especially defensively. You might see a Mike LB check into a different blitz or check out of one, but the ability to change coverages, put LB's in zones and adjust you D-line's positioning seconds before a snap is not the essence of actual football at all. I guess it's one of the reasons I'm cool with it.

[danqb11]

Quote: Originally Posted by Presswithsafetyshade

I'm curious....all you anti-'stratpad' posters, you do understand that in an actual game of football after the OC/DC sends in a play you have seconds (if that) to make any checks or adjustments...especially defensively. You might see a Mike LB check into a different blitz or check out of one, but the ability to change coverages, put LB's in zones and adjust you D-line's positioning seconds before a snap is not the essence of actual football at all. I guess it's one of the reasons I'm cool with it.

Well said brother.

[MrCheese]

Quote: Originally Posted by ryan36

...draws on 3rd and long are common NFL strategy to play field postiion, or maybe break a big gain. You gain 10 yards on a punt if it works, as opposed to running an 18 yard pass play that's low percentage

Yes they are done, but they are not the most common play on 3rd and long. And they sure aren't the play of choice for 3rd and long when you need a touch down. but who cares

[celg35]

okay ...i love this game now.... i have adjusted my sliders. I play on all madden. i start by putting the cpu settings down to 25 . pass rush and pass coverage down to zero as well as pass blocking. This is something i did on madden 10 and i have great games with those settings.

what i noticed on the demo was great animations and a very competitive game.

i fginally got used to the strategy pad. it forces you to make quick decisions. Just the like the real nfl.

[Klocker]

360 demo, several games...

LOVE: Gus Johnson, GameFlow, graphics, locomotion, running, passing, sense of being in a game

Don't love: ambient sound, camera too far on D, defensive control does not seem up to par with ball carrier control

[dave3569]

I played about 4 games of the demo last night. I'm still trying to make up my mind on Madden 11. I didn't like Madden 10 or NCAA 10, as I skipped buying both.

This year, I'm still on the edge about buying Madden 11 as I feel NCAA 11 has nailed the game play. Madden feels much different to me, maybe in a good way, but I'm still trying to decide. As for the strategy pad I don't see why everyone is complaining about it. It took me two games to get used to it and by the third game I was comfortable with it, and easily making DL, LB, and coverage shifts all before the computer snapped the ball. It is pretty quick once you memorize the methods. I like the way hot routing is done.

I'm going to spend some quality time with the game planning system. It is highly customizable to situations and could be beneficial with time spent with it. People hate change though...and Madden 11 has a lot of change in the controls and game play. NCAA right now feels like the better game to me, but I may change my mind the more time spent with Madden.

Just have to wait and see.