No Madden NFL 13 Super Bowl Halftime Blog

[Big FN Deal]

Quote: Originally Posted by mWolfe

Dont be too quick to throw that out the window, and again its not all about the memory either. Their are certain animations that they lack that they can add to improve the game. Being a huge computer geek, the lack of memory does keep them from adding to much to either graphics or the data, you have to remember that both the 360 and the PS 3 have 512mbs of extended memory that is a shared memory between graphics and data, it puts a cap on how much you can use without causing lockup, freezes or lost data because the graphics and data are trying to compete to allocate the better half of the 512mb avaliable. In most of todays computer the graphics card has its own memory which helps freee the extended memory to the data base. Hopefuly the new systems will have at least 2gb of extended memory and 512mb for the GPU. What I would like to here though is that ratings will have more meaning and be a bigger factor in the game versus some of the ratings that have little to no effect on a player.

I very seldom comment about the tech side of creating Madden because I am a programming layman but I will this time. I think without question, if EA polled Madden gamers on the one area they could sacrifice to expand memory, graphics would be the overwhelming choice.

The way M12 looks graphically on an HD 1080p tv, is astounding but it's of little consequence if that's holding back other things like better player movement and overall gameplay.

TNT touched on this before, if some what over the top, by stating the players could be barrels but I get the sentiment. No matter how much memory the 360/PS3 lack in terms of today's computers, it's still more memory than last gen consoles, so this seems like a poor excuse for Madden's football play not being better.

An analogy for what I am saying is, last gen was like EA having $32,000 to furnish a house and they spread it out evenly throughout each room but this gen they had $512,000 to furnish an allegedly new house yet they allocate the majority of the resources to outside decor.

It would make all the sense in the world to a layman like me if next gen Madden was graphically behind other sports titles but gameplay was on par with them due to memory limits and the fact that football requires so many expanded things. However, like a poster before me stated, this currently all seems like a poor allocation of memory resources rather than a valid reason for why Madden gameplay doesn't represent football as well as other PS3/360 games do for their respective sports and Madden did last gen.

Anyone feel free to enlighten me if I am off base about this.

[marshallfever]

Hum, I feel like we went through this the year after Ortiz left right, we gave the development team a whole year and they gave us Madden 09....was it.....or was it 08? I skipped out on 08 but found 09 and 10 to be the best Madden of this generation.

In terms of features, I don't even remember what features they announced throughout the year for 12. My two younger brothers play against each other literally every single day; their very competitive. I'm just hoping 13 can be not only a change in the game-play depart but possibly even a visual change. The franchise has gotten unbelievably boring. I don't think i completed an entire franchise season since possibly 09.

On just features, I guess i can't wait to see what this new or "reinvented" team has up their sleeves.

[darknmild]

Quote: Originally Posted by Broncos86

My perception is that I've been pretty keen on what has recently come out. I've been a fan of the recent Madden releases. And while I know you're referencing Einstein, I believe insanity is continuing to pay out of pocket while simultaneously complaining about it. That's the weird part, in my mind. People spit and curse at the Madden/NCAA dev team, and then hand money over to them. I've been happy with Madden since 2010. I'm curious and excited to see what they deliver.

I agree 1000%

[TreyIM2]

Quote: Originally Posted by mWolfe

Dont be too quick to throw that out the window, and again its not all about the memory either. Their are certain animations that they lack that they can add to improve the game. Being a huge computer geek, the lack of memory does keep them from adding to much to either graphics or the data, you have to remember that both the 360 and the PS 3 have 512mbs of extended memory that is a shared memory between graphics and data, it puts a cap on how much you can use without causing lockup, freezes or lost data because the graphics and data are trying to compete to allocate the better half of the 512mb avaliable. In most of todays computer the graphics card has its own memory which helps freee the extended memory to the data base. Hopefuly the new systems will have at least 2gb of extended memory and 512mb for the GPU. What I would like to here though is that ratings will have more meaning and be a bigger factor in the game versus some of the ratings that have little to no effect on a player.

I may not be a self proclaimed tech geek but I am in the IT field so to add, what about game engine limitations coupled with lack of disc space? If EA doesn't want to completely create a new game engine from the ground up so that it better utilizes memory (they most likely can majorly rewrite current code to do so but much of the game would break and it would be too time consuming and costly to fix and debug), do u believe that limited disc space including lack of a dedicated HDD and use of DVDs ala the 360 further limits this?

[mWolfe]

Quote: Originally Posted by Big FN Deal

I very seldom comment about the tech side of creating Madden because I am a programming layman but I will this time. I think without question, if EA polled Madden gamers on the one area they could sacrifice to expand memory, graphics would be the overwhelming choice. The way M12 looks graphically on an HD 1080p tv, is astounding but it's of little consequence if that's holding back other things like better player movement and overall gameplay. TNT touched on this before, if some what over the top, by stating the players could be barrels but I get the sentiment. No matter how much memory the 360/PS3 lack in terms of today's computers, it's still more memory than last gen consoles, so this seems like a poor excuse for Madden's football play not being better. An analogy for what I am saying is, last gen was like EA having $32,000 to furnish a house and they spread it out evenly throughout each room but this gen they had $512,000 to furnish an allegedly new house yet they allocate the majority of the resources to outside decor. It would make all the sense in the world to a layman like me if next gen Madden was graphically behind other sports titles but gameplay was on par with them due to memory limits and the fact that football requires so many expanded things. However, like a poster before me stated, this currently all seems like a poor allocation of memory resources rather than a valid reason for why Madden gameplay doesn't represent football as well as other PS3/360 games do for their respective sports and Madden did last gen. Anyone feel free to enlighten me if I am off base about this.

I would say your about right, it does seem that they went full all out on things they really didn't need rather than what they do need. And to futher put it in layman term we got the Lamborgini body but got a 4 cylinder engine in it.

Quote: Originally Posted by TreyIM2

I may not be a self proclaimed tech geek but I am in the IT field so to add, what about game engine limitations coupled with lack of disc space? If EA doesn't want to completely create a new game engine from the ground up so that it better utilizes memory (they most likely can majorly rewrite current code to do so but much of the game would break and it would be too time consuming and costly to fix and debug), do u believe that limited disc space including lack of a dedicated HDD and use of DVDs ala the 360 further limits this?

No not really you can have a 20gb Disc full of data and the extended memory still can only allocate so much at one time. Thats why I hope the new Xbox and Sony systems have at least 2gb of extended memory and hopefuly a GPU with memory which would alleviate some of the hardware issues.

[dfos81]

Limitation of memory has more to do w/ the X-Box imo. The games aren't even using half, if that much memory, on a Blu-Ray disc. If they could be built while allocating more data to the Blu-Ray disc, they wouldn't need all these hardware upgrades.
Thank microsoft

BTW, most of my friends that play Madden, didn't even know EA had a Halftime blog lol.

[poulka]

Here we go again talking about how these consoles lack the ability with their memory. But how come other genres in games such as shooters, racing, have made tremendous strides (for example forza 3 or 4, battlefield, call of duty). Then we have FIFA which has to take a large amount of memory especially with all the available (about 500). To me if these titles can work wonders on their respective consoles so should madden. Not to say the developers are doind real bad, but they are just couple steps away from greatness.

One last thought on consoles I have been around since pong. It seems to me they never maximize a system fully before they are ready to implement a next generation. The PS2 had an expansion bay (memory)on the original version and they never tapped into that. With all that said I don't think I will be moving to next generation because it just looks like it is becoming a racket. The games today look real enough for me and the direction I see them going is for more online features and social websites, which leaves me out.

[ABR173rd]

I'm not sure If I understood one of the posts correctly, but Madden graphically is definitely NOT "astounding" in any way shape or form when watching it on 1080p. I'm not sure what you would be comparing M12 to graphically but it definitely is nothing to write home about. Arkham city and Uncharted are what I consider to be graphically astounding.