Five Things EA Sports must do for Success in Madden NFL 13

[wheelman990]

Quote: Originally Posted by TNT713

Slow down chest beater... Maybe everyone at your house would be happy. The person who plays Madden at my house would he HIGHLY UPSET. I've never played 2K, and I'm never going to play 2K. Making Madden a 2K clone would put it squarely in my cross-hairs again similarly to when QB Vision hijacked he series in '06... I don't buy Madden at midnight every release and play it year long because I wish it was more like another game. Likewise, I do not play or buy other football games because I wish they were more like Madden. Lastly, I'm certainly not accepting of the notion that part-time players who have little desire to play and master Madden know what the entire community wants. That's why we get eye-candy like hand towels instead of actually making the game a better football game. EA is listening (to the wrong people) because they want money from people they aren't already getting money from - and it's effecting the game for those of us who loyally by the brand relentlessly. Sales are dropping as a result of deferring to the least common denominator - dudes that buy every 3-5 years (if that). Later

I don't understand this at all. Basically you don't like 2k because it has a 2k logo instead of a EA stamped logo on it.

What you are saying is that no matter what EA chooses to put out in the future(and past), that's the best game in town regardless. You are saying that you have no desire to play a better football game in the future if it doesn't have EA's stamp? So EA doesnt need to do one simple thing with Madden 13 to earn your money?

IMO, this is the very reason Madden is so far behind other sports titles. I am amazed there are so many people that are buying this game ONLY because its "Madden". Its absolutely your right to do so....I just personally don't understand it. To me that says you love the EA brand way more then you you actually like the game of football.

For me, I'm gonna buy the best game of NFL football regardless who makes it. Right now that is madden 12 (although I think APF2k8 had much better gameplay IMO). I'm not bias to 2k or EA. If they want my money, they should have to earn it.

TNT-if I may ask, what things do you think Madden needs to improve on with madden 13? Sorry if you posted this and I missed it.

[romschomp]

Other than gameplay I hope to see much more improvements to the franchise mode. I want CPU to make interesting moves, decisions to their teams, improved trade logic, wider range of injuries, suspensions? player personalities, more in depth contract signings etc. etc.

[bobneil]

Madden does not live up to its its slogan, "If it's in the game, it's in the game". Rocca kicking off for the Redskins???? It infuriates me every time.

[VonRye]

Same common complaints that we who play NCAA Football have. Funny...I wonder why... oh, they're made by the same jokers

[TNT713]

Quote: Originally Posted by wheelman990

I don't understand this at all. Basically you don't like 2k because it has a 2k logo instead of a EA stamped logo on it. What you are saying is that no matter what EA chooses to put out in the future(and past), that's the best game in town regardless. You are saying that you have no desire to play a better football game in the future if it doesn't have EA's stamp? So EA doesnt need to do one simple thing with Madden 13 to earn your money? IMO, this is the very reason Madden is so far behind other sports titles. I am amazed there are so many people that are buying this game ONLY because its "Madden". Its absolutely your right to do so....I just personally don't understand it. To me that says you love the EA brand way more then you you actually like the game of football. For me, I'm gonna buy the best game of NFL football regardless who makes it. Right now that is madden 12 (although I think APF2k8 had much better gameplay IMO). I'm not bias to 2k or EA. If they want my money, they should have to earn it. TNT-if I may ask, what things do you think Madden needs to improve on with madden 13? Sorry if you posted this and I missed it.

My "Never Gonna Play 2K" makes it seem like I have something against it when that's not the case. I have nothing against 2K. In fact, I have often complimented it for it's fluidity of movement, player models, sound effects, and the interactions. At the time, all of these factors were indeed BETTER than Madden's offering.

That said, I know without a shadow of a doubt that Madden is the game for me because there has never been a game on any console in any genre that matches or even comes close to the thrill I get from playing Madden head-to-head against another human being. Furthermore, I'd be hard pressed to find anything outside of video games that thrill me that much - maybe practicing reproduction, watching the NFL, and --- WELL, NOTHING.

You gotta understand, I was an adult (18) the first time I played Madden. At the time, I played virtually every video game on console and PC. It was only after Madden 2000 dropped that I realized that Madden was the game for me. In my almost 38 1/2 years of breathing air, Madden is the only thing in the world I must have immediately at release.

You know how girlfriends seem to think video games are a waste of time? I feel the EXACT SAME WAY about every game except Madden. If EA stopped making Madden tomorrow and another company filled the void - it would be of no consequence. No sense in going through the motions with another game. Been there, done that. I'd simply retire as a gamer.

It's kool if guys don't understand the sentiment. It took me more than 15 years to realize it myself. But once I reached the epiphany, there was no compromise and no turning back.

Now that that's out of the way, lets get to the parts you really want to know: What would I like to see EA do to improve Madden?

1) Defense in the Passing Game

When the ball is in the air, offensive and defensive players should have the same process to secure possession. Right now, defensive players can't make a catch while going out of bounds while offensive players can. Conversely, Offensive players must catch the ball and secure it before being credited with possession while defensive players get instant possession even if they haven't established 2 feet in the field of play. The screen shouldn't rotate until a jumping defender with the ball touches the ground.

2) Relevant Skill Drills

Bring back the DB Swat drill specifically and add training exercises that help players improve a larger variety of techniques. Especially those designed to build the skills needed for head-to-head and team play.

3) Mini-Stat overlays in the play call screen.

I shouldn't have to remember which player has the most catches in a game. that information should be available without me hitting pause. It would be 10x easier to know who's hot and who's not.

4) Better Ball Physics

The ball shouldn't just stick to a players hands on offense or defense. We should see more bobble catches. The ball should bounce more unpredictably on punts, kickoffs, incomplete passes, touchdown spikes, or anytime the ball impacts a surface...

5) Rules, Penalties, and Official Interaction

I want defensive holding, illegal motion, illegal touching of a forward pass, illegal formation, ineligible man down field, personal fouls, illegal block in the back, etc... Every relevant penalty should be in the game. Only the obscure penalties like, "Palpably Unfair Act" should be left out of the game.

On that note, officials should interact with the play. When a flag is thrown, I should see the flag and which official threw it. When a player goes out of bounds, I should see at least one official without a hat. So on, so forth.

6) QB Release in Traffic

When I press the icon button, the QB should let the ball go. If he's about to get hit, throw it anyway. I'd also like to see some 'in the grasp' type plays where a defender has a hold of the QB and he's still able to make a throw as long as he's upright...

7) Linemen GO HIT SOMEBODY

Linemen shouldn't always just shuffle their feet when they aren't engaged. They should find a defender and HIT HIM. Help the man next to you. And by all means, if my QB rolls outside the numbers, I shouldn't have 4 linemen shuffling their feet inside the hashes while 4 defenders are bearing down on the QB.

These are just a few of the improvements I'd like to see... I think they are all CORE to football would improve the game and not difficult to implement within a single development cycle using the existing technology.

Later

[jagsrock95]

along with all the gameplay fixes stated above id love to see better player interaction post-play and not the mindless zombie thing we got going on right now.

[ridemooses]

Big thing for me: AI. People call the same plays over and over and the computer should be able to recognize that better and react appropriately. Likewise, running the same play over and over successfully would open up other plays. Maybe I'm just dreaming but this is huge.

[wheelman990]

Quote: Originally Posted by TNT713

My "Never Gonna Play 2K" makes it seem like I have something against it when that's not the case. I have nothing against 2K. In fact, I have often complimented it for it's fluidity of movement, player models, sound effects, and the interactions. At the time, all of these factors were indeed BETTER than Madden's offering. That said, I know without a shadow of a doubt that Madden is the game for me because there has never been a game on any console in any genre that matches or even comes close to the thrill I get from playing Madden head-to-head against another human being. Furthermore, I'd be hard pressed to find anything outside of video games that thrill me that much - maybe practicing reproduction, watching the NFL, and --- WELL, NOTHING. You gotta understand, I was an adult (18) the first time I played Madden. At the time, I played virtually every video game on console and PC. It was only after Madden 2000 dropped that I realized that Madden was the game for me. In my almost 38 1/2 years of breathing air, Madden is the only thing in the world I must have immediately at release. You know how girlfriends seem to think video games are a waste of time? I feel the EXACT SAME WAY about every game except Madden. If EA stopped making Madden tomorrow and another company filled the void - it would be of no consequence. No sense in going through the motions with another game. Been there, done that. I'd simply retire as a gamer. It's kool if guys don't understand the sentiment. It took me more than 15 years to realize it myself. But once I reached the epiphany, there was no compromise and no turning back. Now that that's out of the way, lets get to the parts you really want to know: What would I like to see EA do to improve Madden? 1) Defense in the Passing Game When the ball is in the air, offensive and defensive players should have the same process to secure possession. Right now, defensive players can't make a catch while going out of bounds while offensive players can. Conversely, Offensive players must catch the ball and secure it before being credited with possession while defensive players get instant possession even if they haven't established 2 feet in the field of play. The screen shouldn't rotate until a jumping defender with the ball touches the ground. 2) Relevant Skill Drills Bring back the DB Swat drill specifically and add training exercises that help players improve a larger variety of techniques. Especially those designed to build the skills needed for head-to-head and team play. 3) Mini-Stat overlays in the play call screen. I shouldn't have to remember which player has the most catches in a game. that information should be available without me hitting pause. It would be 10x easier to know who's hot and who's not. 4) Better Ball Physics The ball shouldn't just stick to a players hands on offense or defense. We should see more bobble catches. The ball should bounce more unpredictably on punts, kickoffs, incomplete passes, touchdown spikes, or anytime the ball impacts a surface... 5) Rules, Penalties, and Official Interaction I want defensive holding, illegal motion, illegal touching of a forward pass, illegal formation, ineligible man down field, personal fouls, illegal block in the back, etc... Every relevant penalty should be in the game. Only the obscure penalties like, "Palpably Unfair Act" should be left out of the game. On that note, officials should interact with the play. When a flag is thrown, I should see the flag and which official threw it. When a player goes out of bounds, I should see at least one official without a hat. So on, so forth. 6) QB Release in Traffic When I press the icon button, the QB should let the ball go. If he's about to get hit, throw it anyway. I'd also like to see some 'in the grasp' type plays where a defender has a hold of the QB and he's still able to make a throw as long as he's upright... 7) Linemen GO HIT SOMEBODY Linemen shouldn't always just shuffle their feet when they aren't engaged. They should find a defender and HIT HIM. Help the man next to you. And by all means, if my QB rolls outside the numbers, I shouldn't have 4 linemen shuffling their feet inside the hashes while 4 defenders are bearing down on the QB. These are just a few of the improvements I'd like to see... I think they are all CORE to football would improve the game and not difficult to implement within a single development cycle using the existing technology. Later

Those would be some good fixes. Thanks for taking the time to list these, I enjoyed reading through them.