Madden NFL 11 Video: Strategy Pad Criticisms, Letter to Ian Cummings (GoMadden)

[wormturd]

What they need to do is add in features we have already had!

-Ability to shade Wr's
-Turn man lock off/on
-Ability to bump individual Wr's

This is what we should be complaining about. Who cares how they implement it. Madden 10 was the first next gen I bought and no one cared when I complained of the pre snap changes from the PS2 days. I learned to deal with it and so will everyone else in time.

[roadman]

What is the message we are trying to send to the EA team? We can't handle change and consult us before you make any design decisions out of our comfort zone? The results are sales will drop and I won't purchase another game of Madden.

Or, get used to the new change and hope EA keeps evolving bringing on changes.

The first choice EA will announce that they listened to the masses and will be patching the old system into the game by December.(who knows how long it will take to patch it back into the game)

I agree with Skyboxer. There are more important issues in the game vs the SP. Not everyone dislikes the SP. There is probably telling evidence that there is more people that dislike it.

[ODogg]

The message is don't change what does not need fixed just for the sake of change.

[jamaster14]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

Again the control is still there. Just a different way of getting the SAME thing. Yet gameplay and AI design are still whack. They didn't get rid of adjustments just how you do them. Again I agree there should have been an option to use old method.

you are talking about functionality, not control. YES, the functionality is till there. however the interface, input, and control of that functionality has become more cumbersome(to some/many). saying its "a different way to do the SAME thing" is really an understatement. for instance, i could take the 1 lane backroad to get to work in the morning isntead of the 4 lane highway. that would be a different way to do the SAME thing(drive to work) but id have to sit through a ton of traffic lights, more traffic, and get there 10-15 minutes later.

Regardless of the software, be it video games or word processing, the user is not going to be able to look past the interface if it is something they are not happy with, not comfortable with, or they find less efficient then a previous manner. no one who is unhappy with the controls is going to care about tackling or coverage or blocking, because they will never get passed their frustration with interaction.

the functionality still being there is a bit irrelevant if (some/many) people arent able to access it as efficently as they could in the past. there is a reason so much time and resource is put into UI and GUI at software companies. its the reason why microsoft purposely puts in redundacy in the many different ways you can access things in their software(i.e. you can print a document about 7 or 8 different ways)

[ODogg]

Oh and i'd like to see any telling evidence that more people like it than dislike it. That's a good one there roadman, I genuinely did LOL at that comment.

[TNT713]

Quote: Originally Posted by Superrandy

Not EA's problem. They're not forcing you to use the 360 default controller or to use the strategy pad. They provide the software; it's the users choice how they play that software. The hardware is what would cause the discomfort, not the software. That's like saying if I tried to play a PC game on a laptop that had a shape/contour that made my wrists hurt that I could sue the game makers. Wrong.

First, lemme say that I'm on PS3, which doesn't go against my thumb's natural tendency to use toward my palm. Second, lemme also say that I already experience pain in my hands that is SOOTHED when I play Madden on PS3.

I'm not a lawyer. But I understand some things about lawsuits.

1) There must be a claim of negligence or fault
2) There must be some damages as a result

The hardware is the same as it has been on 360 since it debuted. But we don't hear much about pain. If the the hardware itself isn't causing pain, we look at how the developers programmed their game to utilize the hardware.

As developers, the interface is paramount for EVERY GAME. There is no video game without an interface. The interface is what separates interactive gaming from non-interactive forms of media. Developers are squarely in the driver seat when it comes to designing their interface to mesh with the hardware of their assorted systems.

Players would not be outrageous to claim that the interface designed by software developers creates repetitive motion that can create intense pain.

While no one is forced to utilize the strategy pad, the competitive nature of the game is such that adjustments requiring the strategy pad are an integral part of the game. Playing the game without the strategy pad only benefits people who are too inexperienced with adjustments to use it anyway.

If you buy a car that pokes you in the eye every time you turn the wheel, you'd be within your rights to sue the manufacturer. There's no way anyone would be able to truthfully say that this isn't EA's fault seeing how it's been 5 years of pain-free play using the former settings.

It seems small now, but some players play Madden 365 days a year... These are the guys that face the highest likelihood for pain.

Currently, I'm unaware of studies linking video game play to repetitive motion issues. If pain develops among habitual Madden players on the 360, you can expect some studies, some medical bills, and some suits.

Silly as it sounds, companies have been sued successfully for far less.

OF COURSE... This is a moot point if none of my Madden friends develops wrist pain this year.

Later

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

Oh and i'd like to see any telling evidence that more people like it than dislike it. That's a good one there roadman, I genuinely did LOL at that comment.

Don't think you read the last sentence correctly.

I said there is probably more telling evidence people dislike it.

??

[jamaster14]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

What is the message we are trying to send to the EA team? We can't handle change and consult us before you make any design decisions out of our comfort zone? The results are sales will drop and I won't purchase another game of Madden. Or, get used to the new change and hope EA keeps evolving bringing on changes. The first choice EA will announce that they listened to the masses and will be patching the old system into the game by December.(who knows how long it will take to patch it back into the game) I agree with Skyboxer. There are more important issues in the game vs the SP. Not everyone dislikes the SP. There is probably telling evidence that there is more people that dislike it.

the message i would try to send would be:

"give us options!!!!!!!!!"

let us choose what is the best way to do things. let us choose what controls we want and what camera we want. know one knows better then ourselves what is the best experience for ourselves. if EA thinks strategy pad will rock and everyone will love it... GREAT! put it in. but give us the old option.... at least until feedback is overwhelming that the new strat pad way is great

no one complained about controls back in 2001, because you coudl choose from like 6 different ones