Madden NFL 12 Reviewer Impressions: Franchise Mode

[bostonsports6857]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas

It seems like everything I read about Madden 12 is conflicting. One place says everything is great and its the best Madden ever while another says it's the same old Madden and everything is a disappointment. The general feel I've gotten from the gameplay and franchise article is that OS is severely disappointed. Can't wait to get my hands on it so I can make my own judgements.

dont worry about what they say on here, i find this particular group of follwers are WAY to overally critical. if players dont have leye black when they usaully do on sundays its the worst game they ever played.

[Batistaj15]

You mention that if you plan ahead of time for FA, you'll get your guy time every single time. Maybe not planning what you're going to do would make it 'funner' and just start bidding by remembering what aspect of your team's game was weak and you'll like to improve on.

[ggsimmonds]

I have a gripe with the rookie scouting. Why is it that if I scout a WR during the first week of the regular season I unlock his defensive ratings such as MCV and ZCV; but if I scout a CB I unlock such things as RTR, CIT, and SPC?

It makes zero sense and it just seems like a cheap way to go about the scouting process. Basically if you scout a position in the first week you unlock the exact opposite ratings that are relevant. It is ridiculous.

[pmurray20]

i uploaded the draft class right after the preseason and well everyone is on there and its fine

[cusefan74]

I already have a copy of this game reserved. I never listen to reviews of games. I find that people tend to complain a lot about little things, and I think after reading this that if things are a little clunky in the menus, I can handle that as long as the game play is good. After having played the demo I think it looks pretty good so far. The big thing to remember is that it is a video game and games are never perfect. I thought that Madden 11 and even Madden 10 were pretty good games, but I don't pick a game apart, if I enjoy playing the game, then its a good game. I will agree the scouting system sucks, not knowing before hand where they might go in the draft. If I remember right some of the older games had that, but like I said I can overlook that.

[ConnSKINS26]

Quote: Originally Posted by thegreatusurper512

Has the wrong CBA. This franchise mode is useless.

And how were the devs supposed to add the new CBA to Madden 12, when the game was finished by the time the CBA was actually signed by the players and owners, and very few concrete details were known before then?

That was never a realistic goal for Madden 12, and if you thought it was, you went into this thing with all the wrong expectations, in my opinion. You're holding something against the game that was never within its reach, logistically.

[Jukeman]

Sounds disappointing

[jkra0512]

Quote: Originally Posted by ConnSKINS26

And how were the devs supposed to add the new CBA to Madden 12, when the game was finished by the time the CBA was actually signed by the players and owners, and very few concrete details were known before then? That was never a realistic goal for Madden 12, and if you thought it was, you went into this thing with all the wrong expectations, in my opinion. You're holding something against the game that was never within its reach, logistically.

Completely agree Conn. Madden devs even said that there was no way they could add the new CBA this year. I applaud EA for coming forward with this info beforehand though. However, the CBA was never a selling point for me personally, but I can see how others would want it.

Chris, nice impressions on the game. After NCAA, I'm reading every review/impressions from various sites to see which problems occur most often. From what I've gathered, the draft, and the logic therein, is an overall disappointment. Like you pointed out, kickers are being taken in the top ten first round? That is the second time, I've read something like that.

As for the menus, I think I can get by with clunky menus. To the person who said, "maybe try to memorize what positions you need to fill in FA, rather than writing it down, will make the game 'funner,'" I think that's a decent suggestion, but not one I would use. The game would penalize my lack of memory over my lack of strategy?

For instance, because I "forgot" I needed a ILB, I would be stuck signing some scrub during preseason? I think that's just lazy design. I'm not sure if they still have it, but I always loved the attributes that affect whether a FA would sign with your team. I'm a Buffalo Bills fan and many FAs don't sign with the team because they are perennial losers, draft horribly, don't take care of their good draft picks, unrest in the front office and usually go on the cheap side. Many of these issues drive FAs away from signing, mostly the money part. However, from what I hear and read, FAs in Madden only look at the money. Not sure I like that very much, especially since you "always get your guy."

I have the game pre-ordered right now, I'm definitely holding back from buying it within the first few weeks of the release. I want to see what else the community sees before dropping the full $60+ on the game. Hey, maybe I'll find a used copy and not give my money directly to EA for the stunt they pulled with NCAA this year...