What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

[NewscasterNews4]

Pocket Presence for QB's is first and foremost. I watch a lot of CPU vs CPU and it's so cringeworthy watching guys like Tom Brady/Aaron Rodgers have all day to throw, yet stand in the pocket like a statue and get sacked.

The reason why CPU QB's take so many sacks is because they're calling Four Verts all the time, which makes zero sense. Every time the CPU calls this play nobody gets open and the QB gets sacked. It's really hard to watch.

Next, the CPU drafting is still terrible. Even with me doing the draft for every team in the first 3 rounds, the minute I let the CPU draft they're taking 4 CB's in a row and more stupid stuff. Not to mention the amount of times I've seen the CPU take QB's in the 1st and 2nd round in many other franchises. In my friend's franchise, the Cowboys of all teams took 2 QB's in the 1st and 2nd rounds when they still had Romo and of course Dak on roster. This simply cannot happen and it's no wonder everyone can dominate the NFL and win the Super Bowl in 2 seasons with any team.

Basically, Madden needs to make the AI at least somewhat competent for Madden 18, because right now it's an embarrassment.

[capa]

The team really needs to refocus their efforts on CPU AI for 18. It appears most of the dev work is related to how to make the human vs human and/or online experience better for the users. Tons of time and effort go into how the sticks respond and how user controlled players perform. There does not seem to be enough emphasis on CPU controlled play - and I mean when a human is playing against a CPU opponent...not just the other cpu controlled players on a human controlled team.

The AI is deficient in so many ways...many which have already been mentioned here. It really is imperative at this point (25 years later) that the CPU AI mimic true to life play calling, player awareness and decision making, clock management, etc.

Of course, and this should go without saying, penalties and sliders should function as designed...not tied to other attributes that make no sense. Just give us a system that works as expected...not convoluted logic that the dev team thinks should be enforced. It should be intuitive and efficient.

C

[ATLBrayden]

Quote: Originally Posted by NewscasterNews4

Pocket Presence for QB's is first and foremost. I watch a lot of CPU vs CPU and it's so cringeworthy watching guys like Tom Brady/Aaron Rodgers have all day to throw, yet stand in the pocket like a statue and get sacked. The reason why CPU QB's take so many sacks is because they're calling Four Verts all the time, which makes zero sense. Every time the CPU calls this play nobody gets open and the QB gets sacked. It's really hard to watch.

I see this all the time. I was playing my offline CFM and went up against the Colts... the first four plays they call? Four verticals. I don't think I've ever seen an NFL team do something like that.

Also with the whole pocket presence thing, it really makes every QB feel the same. When I play against Russell Wilson he rarely rolls out, and when he does he does that weird thing where he slowly scoots a few inches upwards for like five yards and sometimes throws a super illegal forward pass.

When I play against Tom Brady he's not making audibles, checks, etc., to find the hole in my defense and attack it. He plays the same way that Brock Osweiler does in the pocket and before the play, and Osweiler plays the same way Aaron Rodgers does, generic.

[NewscasterNews4]

Quote: Originally Posted by ATLBrayden

I see this all the time. I was playing my offline CFM and went up against the Colts... the first four plays they call? Four verticals. I don't think I've ever seen an NFL team do something like that. Also with the whole pocket presence thing, it really makes every QB feel the same. When I play against Russell Wilson he rarely rolls out, and when he does he does that weird thing where he slowly scoots a few inches upwards for like five yards and sometimes throws a super illegal forward pass.

I think the CPU's pocket presence really is at its worst with mobile QB's. The AI just abuses guys like Russell Wilson, Tyrod Taylor, Cam Newton and especially Aaron Rodgers because they never make plays with their legs. Then, whenever the CPU does get outside the pocket the play they called was of course Four Verticals so the QB just says screw it, throws the ball on the run 50 yards downfield into double coverage and it's intercepted.

Another time when pocket presence is horrible is inside 2 minutes on a game winning drive. I cannot count how many times I've seen a CPU QB take a coverage sack, which is an absolute no no in that situation. It's like the AI just forgets how to throw the ball away in that situation, which gives the user free sacks and ultimately the win.

I think this is the biggest reason why it's so easy to beat the CPU.

[OhMrHanky]

Yeah, I can agree with the robo QB and/or pocket presence. Strange thing is, M16 got this VERY RIGHT, actually. Lol. I played with sliders, but did not have to adjust much in M16, and cam Newton ran well (and often, and in appropriate pressure situations). So, somehow, they need to figure that out, again. And, as many on this forum want, more QB inaccuracy. This ties into CPU QB AI, imo. If the pocket is squeezing on them, and/or they are under duress, just let them overthrow a WR, but do it in a way that isn't always int'd, of course. The other main AI issue for me is being discussed in another thread and sounds like Clint wants to work on, FB blocking. Maybe, it's overall run blocking, but it can most easily be seen by the FB. I'm tired of following my FB appropriately, and not only watching him miss or not block the most immediate threat (often a LB, NOT a safety), often that LB might actually 'rub' the FB, and the FB still doesn't even know he's there to block!!! That might be #1 for me as I actually like to have a good FB and run behind him. But, when I know he's just going to run down the field and not bother to block the immediate threat (normally, LBs), it just loses its luster, and loses its realism.


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[ggsimmonds]

Playcalling and strategy without question.

Hell right now the AI does not even have a proper strategy, it just goes out and calls plays from a list of predefined choices. Never builds to anything or adapts at all.

The AI should come out with a actual gameplan that is suited to the team it is playing against, then it should adapt and make adjustments based on what is working and what the user/opponent is doing.

I posted in another thread how in year 3 or 4 of my franchise I played the Texans. The Texans decided to spend the game using a single high press coverage look, even though a old Johnathan Joseph was matched up with Breshad Perriman. Playing on all madden the coach stick told me that Breshad had something like a +9 advantage in speed and +7 in release so what does Houston do? Press him with no safety help. I complete a 60 yard TD pass and then what does Houston do? ...press him with no safety help. Again. And again, and again, and again...

[D81SKINS]

Yeah definitely the QB AI needs help, scrambling qbs don't even scramble up field, they just keep rolling out until they get to the sideline.
See, Madden at one time had a QB trait that controlled how often a QB would take off.
I'll find it....
Aww yes, the Tuck & Run, determines how often a QB scrambles

http://www.operationsports.com/forum..****n-trait.html

How hard is it to bring traits back to Madden that actually worked?!?
They really need to make qbs play more like themselves for sure.

Now, I've actually been able to get the CPU qb to play smarter and more life-like,
I've seen CPU qbs scramble a bit more but still not enough to be a threat imo.
I got Cam to scramble 5 or 6x and I played him 2x and both games he had more than 5 rushing atts.
I had to set his traits to
Ideal
Ideal
Scramble

-Also the higher the QB awr, the smarter they play. I've found QB'S w/ 85 or higher awr can really force you to play honest defense more often.

-Playcalling is another issue,
CPU really doesn't keep you guessing, why do they keep calling plays that don't work? Why doesn't the CPU use more variety in play calling?

- Tendencies, The CPU needs to adjust to our tendencies and force us to open up our playbooks as well.
On offense and defense!
They show us percentages on plays being successful and the yds per calling the play.
that info is what the CPU needs to adjust playcalling.
We already know how successful a play has been or not w/o showing us.
The CPU needs to know also though.