When John Madden Speaks, Game Designers Listen w/ Video

[vln13]

It's great that Madden is working with them, but don't get too excited. He did the same thing last year, and though the gameplay was much improved, most people thought it was a disappointing offering. That is how Gameflow happened and the reason they got Gus Johnson, one positive and one kinda negative.

[bigsmallwood]

I love John Madden the man, but whomever is in charge of getting things done for EA with Madden the game needs to to really overhaul the series to match the real thing. Presentation+STRONG gameplay+Great features=Happy NFL Gamers

[Senator Palmer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hova57

as far as shotgun goes should should be able to qb audible from undercenter to shotgun or vice versa

Say this again so everyone can hear it.

There is nary a pass play in an NFL playbook that can't be tweaked to run out of the gun or under center.

[Segagendude]

Meh, Madden can consult till he's blue in the face.

Either his ideas aren't put into the game, or they're implemented poorly.

I'm playing the wait and see game from here on out. No more first day buys.

[KingV2k3]

I'm happy to see that Madden is involved...

His input on the "spread" O trend in the NFL, bubble screens, etc. as well as his focus on line play are all very worthwhile aspects to make the devs accountable for...

I'd love to see them put him back on the cover and make the focus a "return to realism" approach...

That was his / their original mission statement...

Now, if we could only get him to get them to focus on single player offline franchise...

[lofeazy]

Quote: Originally Posted by CreatineKasey

To kind of piggyback of Madden's suggestion of calling 2 plays in the huddle: We should limit audibles and hot routes dramatically. I think line protection calls should stay, but being able to essentially create hundreds of plays at the LOS isn't realistic at all. The time it takes to communicate changes and the possibility of mistakes are both factors not addressed right now. I understand "hot routing" to a HOT ROUTE, but not creating whole route concepts on the fly every single play. Right now, we can call about 10 different plays in the huddle without hot routes, his 2 play idea would be going backwards and taking away that excessive amount of options to the offense. Imagine how much more effective blitzes could be on defense if it was actually difficult to check out of an undesirable play. You see NFL teams call time-outs all the time because the defense shows them something they don't like. They don't simply draw a new play in the turf and beat it like we do right now. Madden makes it too easy to counter defenses after seeing the defense. The offense should have to but more weight into their initial playcall. I've seen tourney gamers base their whole strategy on calling one play at the LOS and audibling to any of their 20 other concepts from there AFTER seeing the D. That's not realistic at all. A powerful way to take that away is do what Madden says: you get 2 to 3 plays. You get 1 hot route, and awareness will make it a risk for low AWR guys. Changing plays should involve more risk, more mistakes. It shouldn't be as foolproof as it is currently. Thoughts?

This what I been screaming about for years.The offense has to much of an advantage.

[tlc12576]

Quote: Originally Posted by Got The Goods

ARG!!!!!!!!!! The most important aspect of mostly all video games and especially sports ones is game play. Madden's game play MUST improve. It should be priority 1, 2, and 3. Presentation is a non factor if people like myself who have been playing Madden 10+ years think the game play is to cheesy to ever enjoy.

I think most people understand and agree that gameplay is the most important aspect of a video game but they work on gameplay EVERY year. Presentation is NOT as important but is an essential part of the immersion factor for the NFL.

You act as if presentation in Madden has been worked on extensively while gameplay is being ignored. We all want them to continue to try to improve gameplay every year but would like to see presentation in the year 2011 at least on the level with NFL games from 2004.

I don't see what is unreasonable about that or why it should frustrate even a gameplay purist.

Quote: Originally Posted by CreatineKasey

To kind of piggyback of Madden's suggestion of calling 2 plays in the huddle: We should limit audibles and hot routes dramatically. I think line protection calls should stay, but being able to essentially create hundreds of plays at the LOS isn't realistic at all. The time it takes to communicate changes and the possibility of mistakes are both factors not addressed right now. I understand "hot routing" to a HOT ROUTE, but not creating whole route concepts on the fly every single play.

This is what I love to see, simple points that would make a huge difference in realism. This fits right in line with when Ian was saying alot of the pre-snap stuff was not realistic and some people "jumped on him".

This idea makes alot of sense and should also be implemented for the defense. Pre-snap should just be a limited hot route, OL/DL adjustments, offensive/defensive shifting and the one audible play. I said "limited" hot route because the offense should only be allowed to choose ONE "hot" read and adjust that route ONLY, not change every receivers route in the play. That's an audible, not a hot route. LOL

I think all the other stuff people have been asking for like defensive shading. etc, should be done in the playcall screen and/or pregame/pause menu. If Madden adds the ability to see the actual offensive personnel that are in the package to the defense in the playcall screen, like NCAA 11 does, you could adjust your defense in the playcall screen accordingly.

Hearing Madden talk, I can see his influence on the game but seems like some things, sometimes, get lost in translation when implementing them. If this is implemented well, it could translate into more actual on-field execution focus and less play adjustment exploitation like they wanted for Madden 11, without sacrificing any realism.

[Senator Palmer]

Quote: Originally Posted by CreatineKasey

We should limit audibles and hot routes dramatically. I think line protection calls should stay, Madden makes it too easy to counter defenses after seeing the defense. The offense should have to but more weight into their initial playcall. I've seen tourney gamers base their whole strategy on calling one play at the LOS and audibling to any of their 20 other concepts from there AFTER seeing the D. That's not realistic at all. A powerful way to take that away is do what Madden says: you get 2 to 3 plays. You get 1 hot route, and awareness will make it a risk for low AWR guys. Changing plays should involve more risk, more mistakes. It shouldn't be as foolproof as it is currently. Thoughts?

Agreed. And I'm talking strictly from an offline POV, but if we're going to go there, then there has to be more of a way to truly gameplan against a team like NFL coaches. Most coaches actually know what's coming on certain downs, distances, and field position. Now, I'm not totally sure how'd you implelement it, but there's got to be some way to call a 3rd and 7 defense or 3rd and 7 pass based on a general idea of what your opponent likes to do on those downs. Is he going to throw it to the sidelines or go for more in-breaking routes, etc.?

I know that in last gen, there was the feature in franchise where you could spend a small bit of practice time working against the other team's 3 favorite offensive or defensive plays and that would give your team a small awareness point in the given situation if you execute something like three successful reps. It always felt just right in the game and not overpowered at all as I remember the better teams would adjust. I always looked for that feature to be expanded upon, but no luck.

Also, I was hoping to see John, in his talk about line play, hit on expanding those options. Slide protection should at least be expanded to include half-line slides.