Clint Oldenburg Talks Blocking, Mechanics, and "Broken" Zones (T4Verts)

[T4VERTS]

Here is my latest interview with Clint. We hit on blocking, game mechanic changes, bug fixes, elite rating impact, coverage changes, and he explains what is going on with zone coverage.

[SyncereBlackout]

Realistic data to back tuning?! That's awesome. Finally.

So is that not the approach of all tuning? He made it seem novel and done to preempt potential hardcore opinions

[GoDucks1224]

I disagree with the whole 'have to play it before you critique it' idea. If I go and watch 8+ videos of gameplay ranging from 15-30 minutes long each, and see the same recurring issues, I think I have the right to say 'You should fix this.' The coverage fixes he describes, I'm just not seeing. Guys still play way off the receivers in the flats. Still don't know how to cover a running back coming out of the backfield. Still sit too far off receivers in most zones. I'm still seeing the same money routes be money in all the footage so far. Guys getting destroyed in man every play. It didn't look like this during the 2-6 minute clips that we got from EA Play and E3. In those clips, coverage looked much improved. Guys actively defended zones instead of passively sitting in the center waiting for a guy to catch the ball. Flats were being covered. What happened?


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[vannwolfhawk]

Quote: Originally Posted by GoDucks1224

I disagree with the whole 'have to play it before you critique it' idea. If I go and watch 8+ videos of gameplay ranging from 15-30 minutes long each, and see the same recurring issues, I think I have the right to say 'You should fix this.' The coverage fixes he describes, I'm just not seeing. Guys still play way off the receivers in the flats. Still don't know how to cover a running back coming out of the backfield. Still sit too far off receivers in most zones. I'm still seeing the same money routes be money in all the footage so far. Guys getting destroyed in man every play. It didn't look like this during the 2-6 minute clips that we got from EA Play and E3. In those clips, coverage looked much improved. Guys actively defended zones instead of passively sitting in the center waiting for a guy to catch the ball. Flats were being covered. What happened? Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Good interview! He said he doesn't directly work on man coverage or coverage in general. I am curious who does. 2nd, I like where they are going with ratings on the DL to create a difference between elite players and average but why are they not doing this with CB's and WR's? Man coverage?

[T4VERTS]

Quote: Originally Posted by vannwolfhawk

Good interview! He said he doesn't directly work on man coverage or coverage in general. I am curious who does. 2nd, I like where they are going with ratings on the DL to create a difference between elite players and average but why are they not doing this with CB's and WR's? Man coverage?

They are doing it in other positions too. We get into it later after talking about it with DL,

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by T4VERTS

They are doing it in other positions too. We get into it later after talking about it with DL,

Good interview.

I wish you had one more question about the lack of CPU AI regarding sack avoidance/scrambling etc.....

[T4VERTS]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

Good interview. I wish you had one more question about the lack of CPU AI regarding sack avoidance/scrambling etc.....

I think he or Rex mentioned earlier today they'd look in to it.

[extremeskins04]

Pretty good interview. Lots of info from Clint. He didn't actually confirm that zones were broken, he just said that very few people actually played the game.

So I'm wondering if zones are really broken or if the zones back at EA Play were bugged and too tough or "too tight" so to speak.

We really just need to play the game ourselves and see.