Madden NFL Designers Podcast #3

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by RumbleCard

ugggh I'm somewhat reluctant to give my opinion because I don't want to come across as being combative (and I do enjoy the podcasts) but I was left with the impression that the higher ups at EA have done their job here. It kind of funny...listening to the podcast I wasn't really listening to the promise of an ever evolving game that I've played year in and year out but I was more listening to guys who have jobs...just like we do. It was more shop talk than game talk. Profit. I think I heard that angle hit on time and time again in the first few minutes of the podcast. Paraphrasing here "This is what we're doing digitally to profit" "we're taking this idea in this direction to be diverse and profit" "this is idea is gone and never coming back because it's not profitable" "remember how good HC was...we created a game with just about everything we wanted in the game but were only marginally profitable" "profit...then we can profit and finally step three profit". I don't mean any disrespect nor am I trying to speak in absolutes but I wonder if the passion of Madden is a lost art and has been replaced with trying to build a machine or an engine so to speak that is all about profit. I guess it just reaffirmed what we already know and that's cash is king. It just seems like we're in a state where what goes in to the game good, bad, gimmicky or other isn't done so for the betterment of the actual game, or step forward but more so on the presumption that something is done because it's potentially driving profit. Or not done because the costs of change out weight potential profit. Regardless of the fact that something might make the game better. There are games that have done things that are contrary to what might be precieved as the most diverse profitable avenue but still cash the proverbial cow on it...NBA2k rings a bell. MMA 09 was another sucess story that was contrary to what most analyst viewed as potentially successful. I'm left wanting the higher ups to care more about the game and the passion because if you do that the "profit" is likely to take care of itself. Hopefully that's not fantasy land. Most of us aren't kids here. A lot of us work and at work, for most businesses, it's profit and nothing more. Its why 90% of us do it every day. I guess I just miss the heart of Madden.

I think the message is loud and clear. It's not time to have a coronary before the holidays with these podcasts. Take them with a grain of salt with little nuggets of information. Heck, I think this is the first time we've heard little nuggets of info this early. ie they work 98% with MUT and 2% with FM. What? What podcast was this specific information leaked?

Wait and take the aggression and hold out until you have enough concrete information when it's made available to you. Do this, and your blood pressure will drop considerably.

Once you can process the information when given, then you can kick, scream and yell to your hearts content within reason.

And I guarantee that not everyone will be a happy camper once the FM or game play information is released.

A) It should have been in the game before
B) Why wasn't this feature added.

[Ian_Cummings]

Quote: Originally Posted by PhillyJim76

What I don't get is, if Madden's dev team wants to do these podcasts, why would they stop doing them based upon negative feedback by SOME people? It just propogates the opinion that they are thin skinned and can't deal with criticism.

I don't give a crap about that opinion...it's just your opinion. We deal with criticism...every hour, every day. I don't want to do them if they aren't reaching their intent, which was to engage the community in a new way. We are trying to just be honest with how things work behind the scenes, but since many don't like to hear that and just turn it into a negative thing, then it isn't achieving the intent.

[Ian_Cummings]

Quote: Originally Posted by khaliib

I guess what frustrates me, is that those posts that push Dev's buttons seem to be the one's they reply to. I posted this earlier in the thread as an alternative to notating what my dislikes are. So I'll give this another try and see if a response might come from you guys.

We continue to look into ways of utilizing the community and getting feedback earlier. We can't unfortunately just hope to use you for free labor.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by PhillyJim76

I got that, but in life you are never going to have 100 percent of the people on board with what you are doing. If you want to do these, do 'em! Don't worry about some people not being happy!

Again, I will ask, what's the point of critizing in December when all the cards are not on the table?

If you don't like something February-July, that's fine, that's the time to criticize, but not now when there isn't anything specific in front of us.

[PhillyJim76]

Since many don't like to hear that....again, why be negative? There are more than enough people who like what you and your team are doing, witness Madden being the top sports game of November for evidence of that. Like the guy above me just said, reply to the positive and ignore the negative.

[Flamehead]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ian_Cummings_EA

I don't give a crap about that opinion...it's just your opinion. We deal with criticism...every hour, every day. I don't want to do them if they aren't reaching their intent, which was to engage the community in a new way. We are trying to just be honest with how things work behind the scenes, but since many don't like to hear that and just turn it into a negative thing, then it isn't achieving the intent.

This is a thread devoted to discussing the podcast. To state the obvious, some will be encouraged by what they hear, some will be discouraged, some will be indifferent. I think it's reasonable that a spectrum of opinions will be given. Is that not what a forum is for?

I don't want to parse words, but if someone is disappointed with some of the things said, that's turning it into a negative thing, even if respectfully stated? And furthermore, it's only achieving the intent if everyone's response is what you're hoping it will be?

Whether you choose to continue the podcasts is up to you. More power to you regardless of that decision.

[RumbleCard]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

I think the message is loud and clear. It's not time to have a coronary before the holidays with these podcasts. Take them with a grain of salt with little nuggets of information. Heck, I think this is the first time we've heard little nuggets of info this early. ie they work 98% with MUT and 2% with FM. What? What podcast was this specific information leaked? Wait and take the aggression and hold out until you have enough concrete information when it's made available to you. Do this, and your blood pressure will drop considerably. Once you can process the information when given, then you can kick, scream and yell to your hearts content within reason. And I guarantee that not everyone will be a happy camper once the FM or game play information is released. A) It should have been in the game before B) Why wasn't this feature added.

I didn't have any unreasonable expectation. I wasn't of the belief that we were shortchanged by the podcast. I don't have high blood pressure and I'm not all worked up over this.

I'm not entirely complaining here either. Just an observation based on my gut feeling after hearing the podcast.

I'm certainly holding judgment on the game especially this early. I'm not saying your accusing me of being one of the dozens of whiners here but I was hoping I could get my .02 across without being lumped in to that category.

Ultimately I'm hoping this will be a significant break out year for Madden and Franchise mode. I just wish that upper management profit mindset wouldn't trickle down so much.

[moylan1234]

All due respect to the devs, but I'm confused by all of this would you rather have people lie and say everything is roses?