Madden Creative Director, Ian Cummings is Leaving Tiburon

[GGEden]

Quote: Originally Posted by Smoke6

Thanks, As I browse this forum, I notice that EA has the "25 new Plays" in some threads and its puzzling that most people have forgotten just how dumb downed madden 11's play books were. Now they're being introduced as "NEW PLAYS' is just puzzling to me and tell me that marketing really thinks we are dumb or the 25-40 yr old crowd doesnt play madden anymore and know one under that will notice. EA needs to hire someone to slap the smile off there marketer's face, I have my degree in marketing but never pursued it due to the economy. Since they seem to be the driving force behind the developing team, what would it hurt to get someone in there who can get the job done and the game back where it needs to be. This is gonna be the last straw for most gamers here including myself. If it wasnt for the sim community i play in every year, i'd been and abandoned madden after 08, but at the same time its all we got.

You're on fire, Smoke6. Another excellent point/example of how EA have been alienating their consumers. Taking out stuff then putting it back in like it's a new feature. They gutted the playbooks from M10 to M11. And sorry, but GameFlow was just a souped up Ask Madden, and the thing itself wasn't very useful as there was so little logic being applied by the OC/DC. Calling running plays on 3rd and long, calling running plays when down on the scoreboard and need to be in passing mode, calling the same handful of plays over and over, and on defense same thing.

The thing that made me fall in love with Madden originally was the create a play and create a playbook features. Then there was this long period where EA just brought in tacky gimmicky icons and cones, then focusing on graphics alone, menu interfaces, and all that kind of stuff.

Here's the thing...EA has decided on seeing the Madden franchise as a pick-up and play arcade game for casual gamers, pretty graphics and BS to continue to rope people to buy the next version, and has promoted the whole "money play" thing as synonymous with Madden.

I don't foresee EA ever trying to push the envelope for Madden. What BackBreaker did with physics was something EA could easily have done several years ago. But they had a top-seller and just sit on their hands looking for ways to keep the satus quo and rake in dollars at the fans expense, berating them when the fans push for innovation, sim, etc.

The Madden engine has literally been the same for the last decade.

[CRMosier_LM]

Quote: Originally Posted by pasgedden

I played and brought Madden 06-08 rented 09 rented 10... So yes I played... but wait have you seen or played Madden 09 for ps1??? Ummm the reason why I say he did nothing is because Madden last gen is better gameplay wise.. IMO the gang tackle "feature" that he or his team added is not done right.. And it doesn't make since.... How can have up to 9 people gang tackling someone and STILL HAVE TACKLE(s) OR FALL DOWN ANIMATIONS WERE NEAR BY WOULD BE TACKLERS CANT TACKLE or INTERACT WITH THE BALL CARRIER WHO IS FALLING DOWN forward or whatever the situation is.... Not to pick with the capital letters.. The idea is good but not executed well at all IMO.. Gang tackles is not a feature btw its part of football, period! So if a Straight A student got all A's throughout school but the last 4 years got C's instead of those A's but Managed to get a b+ "at best" his/her last year accomplishing anything go right ahead.. lol Its a free country IMO...

Impossible comparison, this gen had to be completely built from the ground up, the final version of Madden on last gen before this gen had come out was what?... Like 8 years in the making. The software is different, the coding is different, and the amount of times it takes is implement is different. They couldn't just port over the ps2 version and upgrade it, the engine was at its max potential according to industry folks that know way more than most of us.

He took over a made game that was barebones in every aspect, and has improved virtually every area of The game. That sentence there disproves the statement that he hasnt done anything for Madden since he arrived.

[pasgedden]

Quote: Originally Posted by Smoke6

Thanks, As I browse this forum, I notice that EA has the "25 new Plays" in some threads and its puzzling that most people have forgotten just how dumb downed madden 11's play books were. Now they're being introduced as "NEW PLAYS' is just puzzling to me and tell me that marketing really thinks we are dumb or the 25-40 yr old crowd doesnt play madden anymore and know one under that will notice. EA needs to hire someone to slap the smile off there marketer's face, I have my degree in marketing but never pursued it due to the economy. Since they seem to be the driving force behind the developing team, what would it hurt to get someone in there who can get the job done and the game back where it needs to be. This is gonna be the last straw for most gamers here including myself. If it wasnt for the sim community i play in every year, i'd been and abandoned madden after 08, but at the same time its all we got.

i'd been and abandoned madden after 08, but at the same time its all we got.
Thats what I did bro...

I Agree 100% whicha but its impossible for anyone to get the job done because believe it or no EA Corp controls Madden.... Not us not Ian not the SimStandard not the critics and def and most importantly not their fans... IMO

Sad I know...

[pasgedden]

Quote: Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

Impossible comparison, this gen had to be completely built from the ground up, the final version of Madden on last gen before this gen had come out was what?... Like 8 years in the making. The software is different, the coding is different, and the amount of times it takes is implement is different. They couldn't just port over the ps2 version and upgrade it, the engine was at its max potential according to industry folks that know way more than most of us. He took over a made game that was barebones in every aspect, and has improved virtually every area of The game. That sentence there disproves the statement that he hasnt done anything for Madden since he arrived.

OMG impossible comparison??? lmao hahah its the same game just tuned differently... lmao.. Yes the Graphics are better.. Yes its different coding all yes but it's still Madden and guess what with a new engine.... Didn't know that, did you? Matter of FACT its the same engine DICE is use using for The new BATTLEFIELD GAME COMING OUT... Did you see that???? Go look it up on youtube and get back to me.. Tell me EA can't make Madden better then what's out now.. IMO Tell me please lmao....

[Pared]

Quote: Originally Posted by TreFacTor

I think everyone is giving, and has been giving Ian too much credit for either the good or bad that is in this gen madden. In three iterations of Madden there has been -Online leagues, madden IQ, EA backtrack, Virtual Madden, "hit stick 2.0" -Protak, presentation, online franchise, QB specific mechanics, Pocket awareness -stratpad, reworked locomotion, gameflow, gameplan How much of any of those additions can be credited directly to Ian, the good and bad? Ian could have been more of an emissary to convey what the community wanted instead of being the head guy in charge like many believe. At any rate, I would not got to the extent to say that Ian is the reason madden is good or bad or the same. The foundation was laid before he step foot in the arena, and I'm certain he did his best to make madden better, in the end it wasn't enough for many of us and it's going to take a hell of a lot to change my opinion on any future madden with or without Ian.

Quote: Originally Posted by quietcool72

Haven't read this whole thread, but I see Pasta is reporting that Madden 12 is being pushed back 3 weeks til August 31st. That in itself doesn't mean much to me. They may want to milk some College FB sales more than usual due to the NFL probably not even playing in the first few weeks. However, what we do know is this. Madden Community Manager RAC (Will Kinsler) left EA a month and a half ago for **** Games. Now the Ian Cummings (and others) defection. Put it all together, and things down in Orlando don't look too inspiring for Madden 12.

Good posts that will most surely get lost with the repeated "lmao's" and focus on arguing.

[PGaither84]

Quote: Originally Posted by CHooe

Nope, he was "@ian_cummings_ea". To the latter, only he knows.

No, his twitter was always @Ian_Cummings

His name here at OS had the _ea.

[mva5580]

I just got an email stating that my pre-order of Madden 12 had the release date changed from 8/9 to 8/30.......something's up. No Madden has ever come out that late and obviously 8/30 is just some kind of a place holder date anyway.

If guys are leaving at this point in the process, I'm wondering if this game will even be released this year.

[PGaither84]

Quote: Originally Posted by rgiles36

I hope not. I still say there are some capable individuals down there in Orlando (Ryan Burnsides comes to mind if he's still there and willing to be the lead designer). I'm sure some will argue that the whole thing needs to be blown up. I disagree. Promote someone with a similar vision and keep the train moving.

Ryan doesn't work on madden anymore. Scant is the lead now, unless that changed too.