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

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by 2krunk4u

Ok. I see what you're saying skyboxer. But I think we have complained and made enough videos posing the problems with AI, ProTak, momentum, etc. to the max. Those problems still haven't been tended to, yet they focus on putting in a useless and unneeded feature like Strategy Pad??? THAT'S the problem.

Agree. The focus ,or lack there of, this year with a lot of things is a problem.

However I still had fun with the demo. Just wish EA knew themselves whaere they wanted to take Madden. If Madden had better AI/blocking and a better more detailed play deisgn/play call system, we wouldn't even need to hot route so much and make a ton of adjustments. Thats why once in an while I take that jab and say people are used to playing Madden and not Football...

We all want the same thing and I think we all are getting a bit frustrated with the direction they are going. Which seems in a circle most of the time.

Again it seems they are basing a heck of a lot of decisions on online players. NOT GOOD.

This is another reason why the exclusive deal sucks. They (EA ) could do whatever they want but at least we'd have other companies , maybe even ones not afraid of taking some risks, putting out some other choices.
EA and other would then feed off each others game and we the gamer win, period.

Also just to make it clear. I'm not slamming EA develops in any way. I honestly feel they are and have been at the mercy of some D.A. suit somewhere. For a brief few months it seemed they were all about making the most realistic game each year and Ian seemed very upbeat and excited.

Now he "seems" to be on a leash and very unhappy about it and Madden has done an about face and it's all about "The data says this and that is being used the most" etc... WTF?
Could be wrong though...just my take.

[ODogg]

Skyboxer - My intent isn't to just abandon Madden, although that's an option. My intent is to squeal like a stuck pig and get others to do the same until they fix it. If they don't then we'll burn that bridge when we come to it.

[RaiderKtulu]

Quote: Originally Posted by TNT713

Yes. Seriously. This is the stuff class action suits are made of. We aren't forced to buy the game, but if we do BUY the game, 360 users will be forced to use the strategy pad. As soon as people start going to the doctor with pain in their left wrist just below muscle the base of their palm, it's not going to take long before 'video games' are determined to be the biggest factor. It won't be as debilitating on the PS3 where the motion doesn't go against the hand's design. Later

There won't be any lawsuit over any hand injuries from using the d-pad on the 360 controller. It's in the same spot for your left hand that the right analog stick (which is used all the time in multiple games) is for the right hand. It isn't causing any injuries.

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

Skyboxer - My intent isn't to just abandon Madden, although that's an option. My intent is to squeal like a stuck pig and get others to do the same until they fix it. If they don't then we'll burn that bridge when we come to it.

Oh I'm not going anywhere either. I have to have my NFL fix. I just want a better Madden and at least a small understanding of what EA's intentions are with the game.

[DaveDQ]

At some point in this year's development process, obviously in the beginning stages, they had a brainstroming session and this Strategy Pad came up. I'm sure they narrowed things down and decided on what would be worked on and what wouldn't. They also set their boundaries on what they can and can't do.

From that they finalized what would go into Madden 11. The re-haul of the pre-snap was one of those things. That tells me that either they don't know how to fix things like gang tackling or they don't see it as a priority to do so. It's odd too because above anything, I think Madden has a history of a very well done pre-snap feature.

[joec63]

[quote=DaveDQ;2041393006]At some point in this year's development process, obviously in the beginning stages, they had a brainwashing session and this Strategy Pad came up. I'm sure they narrowed things down and decided on what would be worked on and what wouldn't. They also set their boundaries on what they can and can't do.
quote]

[2krunk4u]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

Agree. The focus ,or lack there of, this year with a lot of things is a problem. However I still had fun with the demo. Just wish EA knew themselves whaere they wanted to take Madden. If Madden had better AI/blocking and a better more detailed play deisgn/play call system, we wouldn't even need to hot route so much and make a ton of adjustments. Thats why once in an while I take that jab and say people are used to playing Madden and not Football... We all want the same thing and I think we all are getting a bit frustrated with the direction they are going. Which seems in a circle most of the time. Again it seems they are basing a heck of a lot of decisions on online players. NOT GOOD. This is another reason why the exclusive deal sucks. They (EA ) could do whatever they want but at least we'd have other companies , maybe even ones not afraid of taking some risks, putting out some other choices. EA and other would then feed off each others game and we the gamer win, period. Also just to make it clear. I'm not slamming EA develops in any way. I honestly feel they are and have been at the mercy of some D.A. suit somewhere. For a brief few months it seemed they were all about making the most realistic game each year and Ian seemed very upbeat and excited. Now he "seems" to be on a leash and very unhappy about it and Madden has done an about face and it's all about "The data says this and that is being used the most" etc... WTF? Could be wrong though...just my take.

Good post. I would have sooo much more fun with the game if this strategy pad fiasco was not a part of it, because the game delivers in many other aspects (at least from a Madden standpoint).

I just want them to focus on the things that need to be focused on! That's all we ask for. Instead they keep recycling old retreads, or adding things that dont make sense. Over the years we've asked for:

1. Improved physics
result- Protak is a joke. Players still glide on the field and bounce off of each other like we're playing pinball. The game is still tied purely to two player interactions. NHL and NBA Elite are getting it right this year with moving to an "anything can happen" approach.

2. Deeper Franchise and Superstar
result- They say they're fixing that for next year...so we'll see.

3. Improved AI
result- Strategy Pad.....wtf?

[TNT713]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

Skyboxer - My intent isn't to just abandon Madden, although that's an option. My intent is to squeal like a stuck pig and get others to do the same until they fix it.

Problem with this is that it's counterproductive to squeal like a stuck pig when the other pigs squeal just as loud against you, even though you've been stuck with the same stick.

When QB Vision sucked the love out of playing Madden for me, I squealed. Fortunately, there were many that squealed just as loudly and it disappeared. Problem was all the squealing that led to the implementation of the asinine innovation in the first place. \

We as a community should do a better job of shooting down DUMB IDEAS before EA gets wind of silly suggestions. Otherwise we run the risk of things moving without improving: The strategy pad is one example. It doesn't do anything better than the old system.

Later