Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

[Brooke2011]

Hopefully I'm wrong.... i don't think madden has made the same strides as other sports games. Still being plagued by inaccurate player models, player movement and a glitchy CPU, Madden 18 needs to show some major overall.

A prime example would be that if not for the score banner and actual logo of madden 17 it was hard to tell it apart from madden 16 or even 15.

Yes adding more cleats and inaccurate one arm sleeves might be appealing close up , but from a distance there was really not that big of a difference to justify 60$ for a new game that could just as well be patched in via an update.

[vrtkolman]

I'm mostly interested in franchise mode changes and it sounds like with the focus on multiplayer and integrating a new engine, there probably won't be any.

There aren't many appealing parts to franchise mode right now. The AI trade logic/roster management/draft logic/depth chart logic are all really bad. The scouting system was a decent overhaul but was more a gimmick than anything, too easy to out draft the CPU. Everything is outdated (no comp picks, outdated formation sub system). The UI and overall presentation is horrendous. Frostbite isn't going to help with this.

[4thQtrStre5S]

I believe, as far as game play, the Frostbite engine will show improvement..I also believe that MUT and Tournament play is a huge part of the positive changes that I believe will be seen in M18, such as AI for CPU controlled players, reduction of suction situations, more visual animations that match and are connected to the intended action on the field, for example, when a ball is swatted away by a defender, we will see the defender's hand make contact with the ball, and other such animation improvements...

I place much credit to MUT and the Tournament play because that is what has brought the most "eyes" onto the game and its game play...There is a large audience viewing these tournaments and those viewers, along with those top players participating, all want to see crisp, clean, game play, with animations that represent what the player can do, and it has to be clean and logical on the screen...

In addition, I expect to see even more emphasis on animation variety; fans want to see variety in these big games...

Because of these Tournaments and the direction to build on these competitive games, which has included the largest purse to date, with M17, for the winner, the Frostbite introduction cannot be anything but a step forward because too much is riding on its success..

**Side Note: Xbox One also just introduced their BEAM game streaming system, so now it will be even easier to show off your game play, and thus the games have to be cleaner from here on out...IMO

[DeuceDouglas]

Quote: Originally Posted by Brooke2011

I'm optimistic of the future especially for this year, but EA will use the transition as an excuse to downplay any flaws. I'm sure we'll here the excuse of how " we wanted to add this, but due to the complexity of the new engine and time constriction we just couldn't do it".

This is something I'll be interested in and paying close attention to once we start getting into the thick of things. We all know that this transition likely isn't happening overnight/over-cycle and has been in the works for some good time so I agree that we'll undoubtedly hear that line in some capacity when it comes to the flaws but I also think whatever they're selling for 18 will also get the "we've been working on this for 2+ years making sure it was ready for Frostbite" bit as well. I think it will give some interesting insight on how and where time is being spent in regards to certain areas of the game. I'd honestly be happy if they used the transition to simply clean up all of these aspects of the game that have needed attention for years. I think that would actually sell the new engine better than anything "shiny and new" but I'm sure marketing will believe otherwise.

Quote: Originally Posted by vrtkolman

I'm mostly interested in franchise mode changes and it sounds like with the focus on multiplayer and integrating a new engine, there probably won't be any. There aren't many appealing parts to franchise mode right now. The AI trade logic/roster management/draft logic/depth chart logic are all really bad. The scouting system was a decent overhaul but was more a gimmick than anything, too easy to out draft the CPU. Everything is outdated (no comp picks, outdated formation sub system). The UI and overall presentation is horrendous. Frostbite isn't going to help with this.

This is what continues to worry me most. No matter how great the engine is, it's not going to change any of this and, with that, it's going to make it very hard for me to enjoy the game. Last year was a huge flop IMO and I really hope with this transition they don't decide to go the way of FIFA and introduce a new single player RPG mode for CFM.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Brooke2011

Hopefully I'm wrong.... i don't think madden has made the same strides as other sports games. Still being plagued by inaccurate player models, player movement and a glitchy CPU, Madden 18 needs to show some major overall. A prime example would be that if not for the score banner and actual logo of madden 17 it was hard to tell it apart from madden 16 or even 15. Yes adding more cleats and inaccurate one arm sleeves might be appealing close up , but from a distance there was really not that big of a difference to justify 60$ for a new game that could just as well be patched in via an update.

Yeah, I'll need to agree to disagree with you here.

The commentary alone is much better than 15 and 16 combined. There is full player editing, something the community has been preaching for quite awhile. I was surprised, but I did some Play the Moments feature and liked it.

I'm not big on graphics, it's all about the game play for me. I don't own a PS4, but I know TheShow is a great game, but honestly, I still have Madden, but traded in 2k17 after the first of the year. They need to focus on the defensive AI in that game before I come back to it.

Madden, as I mentioned in the patch thread, needs a overhaul in the CPU AI area, that much I agree with you on. The play calling from the CPU needs to improve by a lot, FG's need to be where they were when the game came out, the challenge system needs updating, the doubling of WR's/shading needs improving and I want to have my best corner dog the best WR.

Fix the above, I feel Madden can join the "elite" of sports games, whatever definition that is for each individual.

Again, hoping separate modes of MUT vs offline real deal NFL football come into play with 18.

[Madden08PCgmr]

Quote: Originally Posted by vrtkolman

I'm mostly interested in franchise mode changes and it sounds like with the focus on multiplayer and integrating a new engine, there probably won't be any. There aren't many appealing parts to franchise mode right now. The AI trade logic/roster management/draft logic/depth chart logic are all really bad. The scouting system was a decent overhaul but was more a gimmick than anything, too easy to out draft the CPU. Everything is outdated (no comp picks, outdated formation sub system). The UI and overall presentation is horrendous. Frostbite isn't going to help with this.

That's exactly where I land on this, and basically, I'm accepting it and moving on.

Gameplay isn't a deal breaker for me. Replay value is, and Madden almost always had that. Even the versions most widely criticized.

The fluff doesn't matter to me either. Cleat color? C'mon. I grew up on Super Tecmo and 64-bit gaming. Cleat color? You kidding me?

I enjoyed the gameplay this year, I thought it was the best since the PS2 days. But there just isn't enough in this game to keep me coming back. All due respect, for my tastes, Madden is an arcade game, it's not a football sim anymore.

It was a fun ride, but for me, I think it's about to come to end.



Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[SolidSquid]

Quote: Originally Posted by Madden08PCgmr

That's exactly where I land on this, and basically, I'm accepting it and moving on. Gameplay isn't a deal breaker for me. Replay value is, and Madden almost always had that. Even the versions most widely criticized. The fluff doesn't matter to me either. Cleat color? C'mon. I grew up on Super Tecmo and 64-bit gaming. Cleat color? You kidding me? I enjoyed the gameplay this year, I thought it was the best since the PS2 days. But there just isn't enough in this game to keep me coming back. All due respect, for my tastes, Madden is an arcade game, it's not a football sim anymore. It was a fun ride, but for me, I think it's about to come to end. Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

My sentiments exactly. Madden is just missing the IT factor. MyLeague in 2k keeps me engaged, the show keeps me engaged, after one season of a cfm in madden it's like ok I've won the Super Bowl now what? There's just no life to the most important game mode to me. Hopefully frostbite can fix the animations and player interaction but there's no way it's gonna make the game more engaging

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by SolidSquid

My sentiments exactly. Madden is just missing the IT factor. MyLeague in 2k keeps me engaged, the show keeps me engaged, after one season of a cfm in madden it's like ok I've won the Super Bowl now what? There's just no life to the most important game mode to me. Hopefully frostbite can fix the animations and player interaction but there's no way it's gonna make the game more engaging

I agree CFM needs a lot more oomp to it, but I also need gameplay improved on the CPU side. I can't just give that a pass and say, engage me more. Personally, I'd prefer better gameplay vs deep immersion in CFM and personally, I wouldn't mind both.

The defensive gameplay in 2k disengaged me something fierce.