What Madden 11 needs in terms of presentation.

[johnnyg713]

REAL-TIME PRESENTATION!!!!

This point has been brought up numerous times in the past but really needs to be brought up again. Take a look at what NBA2k, MLB2k, and the show have done in terms of real time. IMO madden needs to forget about cutscenes, that was Last-gen. It takes us away from the emersion of watching a football game. Everything should be happening seamlessly on the field before, during, and after the play. And not just on the field but on the sidelines as well (but thats another topic for debate).

To me working on a halftime and post-game show is a waste of time. Sure it was cool in NFL 2k5 but that is not what people want out of sports games anymore. Developers have the power now to make presentation happen DURING gameplay. Why not use it? With sports games finally implementing real-time this should be what gamers should expect as the standard for presentation.

[TheWatcher]

All those games you mentioned have cut scenes. It's just that they're done better than Madden, MLB: The Show is on another level above all the other games.

I know the outcomes of the Halftime and Postgame were a letdown. But getting rid of it altogether would be going backwards. Those things are part of a broadcast, so if anything it can't be taken out if you want to achieve that goal. They just need to make it better.

[johnnyg713]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheWatcher

All those games you mentioned have cut scenes. It's just that they're done better than Madden, MLB: The Show is on another level above all the other games.

From what i understand the cutscenes these games use besides the replays are all real time. Madden uses cutscenes that aren't actually happening in real time, for example chain gang coming onto the field to measure the spot of the ball. When you play games such as NBA2k the camera focuses on a player or coach that is doing something in real-time. This is the part in presentation where I feel madden has take a step back.

As for the halftime postgame show, I do agree with you there where they must be improved. However they dont make PLAYING the game actually feel like your watchin it on television. What I mean is, we all play videogames because of interaction. We shouldn't have to "watch" a video or clip that makes us feel like we are playing in the game on sundays. IMO it should be what is going on as we play. If you get what Im saying...

[TheWatcher]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnnyg713

From what i understand the cutscenes these games use besides the replays are all real time. Madden uses cutscenes that aren't actually happening in real time, for example chain gang coming onto the field to measure the spot of the ball. When you play games such as NBA2k the camera focuses on a player or coach that is doing something in real-time. This is the part in presentation where I feel madden has take a step back.

Hmmmm... that's an interesting take. I've always known of cut scenes to be the opposite of real-time. So, basically you wouldn't want cut scenes at all, but everything real-time. I'm with you on that, but in order for that to happen in Madden you need an overhaul to everything that currently takes place during post-play.

One thing I always mention about NFL 2K5 was that most of their post-play situations on-field were actually just very well-crafted cut scenes. They were done so well that unless you're just really scrutinizing hard you don't even pay attention to the fact that there are tiny giveaways that you're actually looking at something totally pre-scripted. The Show does this brilliantly, too, even beyond what they did in 2K5.

Right now, Madden doesn't actually have very many true cut scenes aside from the ones that are obvious cut scenes like the stuff that happens on the sideline. The stuff that happens during pre-play (like the shot of the QB and rest of the offense walking to the line) and post-play (sans the obvious cut scenes like players chest bumping or celebrating together), are all happening in real-time. The problem is that a lot of it is just not very good because the animations are either too stiff, over-exaggerated, or too short and loop back to the run-to-the-huddle animation too quickly for players that are close enough to the huddle spot that they should be walking rather than running or jogging.

Quote: Originally Posted by johnnyg713

As for the halftime postgame show, I do agree with you there where they must be improved. However they dont make PLAYING the game actually feel like your watchin it on television. What I mean is, we all play videogames because of interaction. We shouldn't have to "watch" a video or clip that makes us feel like we are playing in the game on sundays. IMO it should be what is going on as we play. If you get what Im saying...

I honestly can't say I really understand. So my question is, what do you want to see happening differently, or more of, or less of, in regards to the halftime and postgame?

[Trooper]

I would love to see full real-time interaction, like every player on the sideline interacting with each other...the coaches walking around and when there is a game winning/game changing play...the players storm the field in celebration

[SageInfinite]

Madden definitely needs to make the leap to real time as far as presentation goes(and I wouldn't even say this if they didn't do such a bad job on the cutscenes), and for god sake watch a broadcast EA/Tiburon. You've got a couple of cameras that mimic a broadcast replay wise, but the pre/post play stuff is terrible for this game to be so far along in this generation. The camera angles they use now do nothing but show off how bad and stiff the animations are pre/post play. You'd think they'd want to cover those up but nope, lol.

MLB The show made the leap to real time this year, hopefully Madden will follow suit, but there are so many things this game needs, even for a presentation guy like myself, it gets pushed to the back.

Edit
The pre-play stuff isn't that bad, there just isn't enough variety as far as focusing on certain players. The post play stuff is horrible though.

[ZoneKIller]

Speak for yourself with the halftime shows and what not,I want the shows to be better.

[Segagendude]

I agree about the RTP. Would add a real sense of realism to Madden.

The halftime show is bland, but OTOH, the post game "Extra Point" show is a tad better. It's a good start, but needs much more.

RTP + a genuine halftime show, complete with scores and highlights, would do wonders for the overall feel of the game.


And don't anyone add, "fix the gameplay first!!!" We know this, but this thread is about presentation.

Thanks.....lol.