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

[ABR173rd]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gusto1

I am very critical of Madden but this year they put the work in under the hood. In fact this year I am in the hunt the buy the game early. Everyone including myself has complained about core issues like the running game and blocking both these issues have been addressed. In terms of franchise additions I think EA made a smart choice to put that off a year to focus on the gameplay. In fact based on the demo I am in the hunt to buy the game early.

I think you are working for EA sports.......Or else you don't use hot routes,or this years demo is the first time you actually played Madden.....When you say these core issues have been addressed who has affirmed this??? Because blocking is okay as per the demo and the same goes with the run game. After playing NCAA for the past 2 weeks and playing the Madden demo aside from graphics Madden seems lacking,on top of the change to the strategy pad????Which new players have to learn how to use the strategy pad now so really the change didn't help anyone....This may be the first year I don't go out and buy Madden on release day.

[K_GUN]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

Pad > Pad UP > Pick WR > Pick Hot Route

that I got...but what about taking a WR route...say a 5 yard out pattern...but you need 7 for the first down...last year i could click r3 and that would turn that 5 yard out into a 7 yard out

make sense?

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by K_GUN

that I got...but what about taking a WR route...say a 5 yard out pattern...but you need 7 for the first down...last year i could click r3 and that would turn that 5 yard out into a 7 yard out make sense?

Oh you mean the Smart Route... Good question. Have no clue if it's still there or not. It may be the RB instead of the R3.

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by AirborneRanger1

I think you are working for EA sports.......Or else you don't use hot routes,or this years demo is the first time you actually played Madden.....When you say these core issues have been addressed who has affirmed this??? Because blocking is okay as per the demo and the same goes with the run game. After playing NCAA for the past 2 weeks and playing the Madden demo aside from graphics Madden seems lacking,on top of the change to the strategy pad????Which new players have to learn how to use the strategy pad now so really the change didn't help anyone....This may be the first year I don't go out and buy Madden on release day.

To the bolded part, fine don't buy it. Your choice.

Others are entitled to their opinion too and so why try to sway others into your thinking?
He enjoys it and so be it.
S-Pad??? Took me about an hour to be comfortable with it.

[ryan36]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

Oh you mean the Smart Route... Good question. Have no clue if it's still there or not. It may be the RB instead of the R3.

THAT'S A SMART ROUTE???? Omg, this would've made 10 so much more enjoyable for me, I thought this was in the game- but the instruction manual= not helpful...I shoud've googled it.

[wangtangkiki]

Smart Route is still in Madden 11.

[wangtangkiki]

Quote: Originally Posted by aceoye

RC happens all the time in real life....Nano-ing, not at all. and why would I want to play against people who abuse the AI, you arent playing a game of football its more like who can abuse the AI the best.

RCing doesn't happen all the time.

I don't get the argument of nanoing not being a real football tactic. People that nano just abuse the AI.

Tell me how the defenses beat the offensive line.
Overloading a certain gap.. AKA Putting two LBs in the A-gap while having two DTs blitzing the Guards.. then having both DEs dropping back to cover..

They also use stunts.. or zone blitzes.. Stunts, you send linemans or linebackers into gaps other than the ones they are in front of.. You'll have a DT and DE switch gaps.. One will go first, then the other loops around him and goes through a certain gap. It's even more complex in a 3-4 system..

Zone Blitz are popular "nanos." People put DTs in QB Spys, then have both tackles covered.. so the DEs are engaged with the LT & RT. Next, you have two OLBs blitzing C-gaps. So you are wondering.. What about the LG/C/RG? Those two DTs in Spys will fake blitz to distract them, then they will drop back in Spys.. The spys are really used as yellow zones. You can't get as good of coverage with yellow zones as you can with spy zones..

You only want to do the spy technique with QBs that stay in the pocket.. or you could just put a slot WR on a slant in, then you roll out and throw to the middle of the field.


I don't buy that we "abuse" the AI. I use a defense that blitzes the A-gap like I described AND I use a defense that blitzes the C-gaps with OLBs.. and guess what!! I used the same formation for both..

[ThaShark28_316]

Quote: Originally Posted by ThaShark28_316

I don't get what was so bad about the single/double tap system EA had for us in the ps2 days. But oh well, this is fight night round 4 all over again. A giant patch made with a different button scheme. I hate to say it, because i love madden (love it this year), but: Gameflow and Strategy pad, two key additions (according to EA) in this year's game = BUST.

I think I overstated this (my post)

I think gameflow works IF I can set up my gameplan, and still use it in the conventional way. If not, it's a bust.

Strat pad might work if we could get some better methods on how to work it. We'll see in the coming weeks. I played the demo yesterday to check the SP out some more...I'm coming around ever so slowly.

I think I'll get this. Today, since I'm not doing jack, I'll set up the gameplan with Indy and run some stuff.

On topic though. It's going to take some getting used to. I think it'll work if we all embrace change and get ready to use it, because IMO, this is their best game of the next gen, and best overall madden since madden 06/07 on ps2.