Madden NFL 12 Blog - Franchise Mode in Madden 12

[Hova57]

this souds great to hear. Franchise mode should be great again.

My only wishes now is that there is trackable user stats, more than one profile can be used at one time and that the dynamic progression is for online games and play now.

[buckeye02]

Quote: Originally Posted by shanew21

I'm wondering that as well. I'm guessing they've been working with the NCAA team to get this right

87 overall may be a little high fpr a rookie, unless its the first pick. This year they could play like a 77. Overall ratings are just a number this year.

[Icarus2k9]

Wow. EA has my £40 here without batting an eyelid.

The great thing about these franchise improvements is that they don't even have to work perfectly and they will keep me playing the game for multiple seasons for the first time since 2003. Gameplay exactly the same as last year with these franchise improvements? Still playing for years. A horrible play to exploit or a ratings snafu that makes one position too powerful / impotent? Still playing for years. THAT'S how much difference a fleshed out Franchise mode can make.

EA needs to look at all the people creaming over their news this year and realise they should never rest on their laurels ever again. Imagine next year if they said "we're leaving franchise alone after last year"? You've instantly lost that hardcore dollar who want the best franchise mode there can be year on year.

That tendencies chart from the superstar list was a thing of beauty too - finally they can find ways to give people good stats while still making them fallible e.g. Packers WR James Jones may actually be the uber-talented receiver who can't decide whether to wear the sticky gloves and the stone pads or the stone gloves and sticky pads, instead of just giving him middling catch / break tackle ratings.

(Takes slightly deeper breaths, tries to remember the power of the hype train)

[The GIGGAS]

As soon as payday comes around, this game is preordered, without a freaking doubt.

[buckeye02]

This is what is getting me excited the most.

Last year, players would go up automatically regardless of their season stats. This years tuning is much more predictable. Players will go up or down based on their performance and age.
One thing to remember is that players are judged against players around their same age when deciding who should progress or not. So, if a rookie running back rushes for 500 yards and that is the best among his peers, he will progress the most in his age group.
Most players who are 32+ will decline every year unless they had the best years vs. their peers. If they did, they will typically stay the same or go down slightly.
Players in the prime of their careers can go up or down, but they cant go up as much as young players or down as much as old players. And yes, you guessed it. They are also judged only against the players around their age.

[adembroski]

Quote: Originally Posted by big_larry

No playable training camp drills like Madden 04 & 05, hell even Madden 96!!!!. Thats the main Franchise feature I wanted. I guess I will not be buying this game this year either, maybe next year, at least the are improving Franchise mode though.

Dude, I really, really do feel your pain on this one, and I wish we could have done that. It was one of my favorites, and considering he designed it back on 2nd gen, I'm sure it's one of Looman's as well. It's one of those things where if we put that one thing in, all this other stuff is cut. It was a matter of volume. It's just such a big feature, it absolutely kills our ability to do anything else at all.

Looman and I both lamented that we couldn't get the college all-star game in either. God I miss that.

[huskerwr38]

Quote: Originally Posted by Block-O

So what is EA saving for E3? Or are they just going to demonstrate the features for everyone.

I believe Dynamic Player Performance as Josh Looman mentioned in his blog.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Quote: Originally Posted by illwill10

From the SS blog "Graphics. Also new to the creation process are Player Traits. Traits are the behaviors and tendencies that set players apart beyond their physical or mental makeup. Will a player fight for that extra yard, or head out of bounds to protect the football? Will a player make the safe, wrap up tackle, or look to bring the lumber every chance he gets? "

THIS!!!!

I think EA inadvertently let the "cat out the bag" with this Superstar announcement. This is the BIG part of Dynamic Player Performance they are planning for E3, IMO.

Player Traits a.k.a. Player Tendencies, ALONE, makes Madden 12 the G.M.O.A.T.!!!! LOL

All the other stuff is beyond great but this is the "heart and soul" of building a revolutionary football simulation game. I don't know why so many people seem to be unaware how BIG of a deal Player Traits will potentially be.

Stats and ratings are all well and good but we finally have actual AI traits for each individual player on the field. Pro Bowlers and future Hall of Famers, can now be expected to "do there thizzle" without being user controlled.

I can finally watch Laron Landry actually bring the pain, see Payton Manning calmly pick zones apart, witness Roethlisberger pump fake the defense, be amazed at Chris Johnson bounce it outside and laugh at Asante Samuel getting beat on a double move for being too aggressive.

OMG!!!! We will actually have a collection of players with individual skill sets, habits and potential, Together Each Accomplishing Much.

Using Cee Lo Green's radio version, that's FORGETTING FOOTBALL!!!! LOL