Donny Moore, the 'Madden Ratings Czar', Leaving EA

[PGaither84]

Yeah. As I said, it was about 4 years ago we had that talk, so I am bit fuzzy on the specific ratings and examples of individual players you had. I just know it was like an 11 page thread that went into great detail and was the only point that I, or anyone once had a disagreement with you on. As I recall it as settled and I think you have a better system, in part thanks to that long talk. I think what you wrote is the best answer NOW. (not what you had years ago, which was my whole point... that I support you )


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I was just talking about speed threshold and all that as a way to improve the game experience that we have with the most current versions of Madden.

The complete lack of "engaged player movement" on the offensive/defensive lines makes any outside runs a joke. If you watch any film break down of Alex Gibbs and his zone blocking scheme, you will quickly notice how Madden looks NOTHING like real life line play.

Here is a picture of Green 18 HO Force




This is an OUTSIDE ZONE play. The job of the HB is to read 1 to 2 from outside starting with the DE and working in. The DE plays with his helmet outside (outside hat). The back sees this and goes to 2, which is the DT. The DT is also playing outside hat, so the back plants his foot and goes up field instead of bouncing out. Tn the video, Coach Gibbs talks about how people incorrectly call this a "cut back" run when the HB doesn't really cut back at all. He just goes right down the pipe where he was headed in the first place instead of bouncing outside.

Notice how far both the offensive and defensive lines gets horizontally on this play. The Center starts inside the right hash and ends up 5 or so yards outside it. Notice the LT starts just left of center field and ends up outside the right hash mark. That is a lot of "engaged player movement" we have never seen in Madden before.

So, while I can continue to complain about it, and I do from time to time, I tend to just accept it begrudgingly and try my best to adjust the ratings and sliders and internal settings to give me the best game play experience I can squeeze out of Madden, and suggest ways for other people to do the same.

[DCEBB2001]

Quote: Originally Posted by PGaither84

This is an OUTSIDE ZONE play. The job of the HB is to read 1 to 2 from outside in starting with the DE and working in. The DE plays with his helmet outside, so the back goes to 2, which is the DT. He is also playing outside hat, so the back puts his plants his foot and goes up field instead of bouncing out. Notice how far both the offensive and defensive lines gets horizontally on this play. The Center starts inside the right hash and ends up 5 or so yards outside it. Notice the LT starts just left of center field and ends up outside the right hash mark. That is a lot of "engaged player movement" we have never seen in Madden before. So, while I can continue to complain about it, and I do from time to time, I tend to just accept it begrudgingly and try my best to adjust the ratings and sliders and internal settings to give me the best game play experience I can squeeze out of Madden, and suggest ways for other people to do the same.

Totally agree.

The lack of movement on the OL is a huge issue. So many teams run a ZBS these days, that it needs to be done better in the game. The days of standing pat in your place on the field as if frozen into the ground are over. This needs to be represented better.

[Rysumm]

Not sure if Donny is working on the game this year but the ratings are horrible. Hope it's not a result of the new guy or we could have some real problems with ratings in the future.

[DCEBB2001]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rysumm

Not sure if Donny is working on the game this year but the ratings are horrible. Hope it's not a result of the new guy or we could have some real problems with ratings in the future.

Dustin Smith, the EA "Equipment Guru" is doing the ratings this year. Apparently most people here at OS think he is doing about the same quality of work as Donny did. There was a poll topic/thread around here somewhere but I can't find it at the moment.

Pastapadre also found a twitter thread by Dustin Smith alluding to the fact that the ratings may be making a big change in the future. Smith also said on a thread here that he "has a plan for the overall rating" in the future.

It seems as if some big things may be happening with the ratings, but the plan is not yet public. Without getting into details, EA is still in contact with me and the FBG Ratings team, discussing possible involvement. The premise of the idea is interesting, alas it must still be OK'd by the production team at EA. Maybe we will have more information on that later.

[KANE699]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rysumm

Not sure if Donny is working on the game this year but the ratings are horrible. Hope it's not a result of the new guy or we could have some real problems with ratings in the future.

Appreciate the kind words, thanks!

[Gman 18]

Quote: Originally Posted by KANE699

Appreciate the kind words, thanks!

You guys should really start to use real data to get ratings. Having one guy entirely do the ratings makes the ratings gimmicky/opinionated and not based on what you actually see on the field. Thats part of the reason many people still see madden as an arcadish game as opposed to a sim game. FBG ratings are the way to go.


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[Jarodd21]

Quote: Originally Posted by KANE699

Appreciate the kind words, thanks!

So your the reason why a lot of the Cowboy players are overrated? Haha!

[Millennium]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gman 18

You guys should really start to use real data to get ratings. Having one guy entirely do the ratings makes the ratings gimmicky/opinionated and not based on what you actually see on the field. Thats part of the reason many people still see madden as an arcadish game as opposed to a sim game. FBG ratings are the way to go. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Out of curiosity - Do you have the documentation showing what they use to create/update the ratings? Surely you do since you accuse a dev of being "gimmicky/opinionated".

This is your official warning - We don't take kindly to disrespectful/nonconstructive posting to anyone, much less the devs that take time out to come here and interact.