Madden 09 News Post

Pasta Padre-"No variable weather for online games"

12:46 AM - April 23, 2008 by geraldparr

Pasta Padre has posted some very disappointing news concerning the weather availability online with Madden NFL 09.

Quote:


	"Weather will not be available online. It�s clear that many of you are interested in this functionality so it�s already on my growing list of features from the community. Honestly, I�d prefer if we solved the online lag issues before we worry about weather. We will be featuring the live weather feed in Madden 09."

Madden NFL 09 screenshot gallery - Click to view

Game: Madden NFL 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 88 - View All

Madden NFL 09 Videos

Member Comments

# 1 ausar72 @ 04/23/08 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4reak


	As he mentioned, this takes a huge amount away from online franchise

Yeah that point made it really hit home. The fact that all games will be perfect weather day games... ugh.

I'm also assuming they won't be including time of day progression, like they have in NCAA...

Sometimes...

It truly is the little things, people.

They add up.

# 2 coogrfan @ 04/23/08 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausar72


	Sometimes... It truly is the little things, people. They add up.

Perhaps, but the big things are still more important. Variable weather is a mere extra, online lag is a game killer.

EA has it's priorities straight here, imo.

# 3 umd @ 04/23/08 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MassNole


	Wait didn't they have some tie-in with the Weather Channel last year where the weather would be the actual weather in the location when the game was played (at least they did in NCAA).

only offline in exhibition (?) I believe. Franchise was so busted I can't remember if it was in there with all the other problems.

# 4 ausar72 @ 04/23/08 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	Perhaps, but the big things are still more important. Variable weather is a mere extra, online lag is a game killer. EA has it's priorities straight here, imo.

Yeah but with this outlook, it will never end. They will always put stuff on hold, with the great "improving gameplay" argument. But in reality how much has the gameplay really improved on this series.

It's always an excuse to say wait for the little things until next year.

I agree lag is an issue, but really boring lack-of-any-feature gameplay is almost just as bad. The game is a boring mess to play online.

# 5 coogrfan @ 04/23/08 11:00 AM

I hear you, ausar. But if one has to choose between fixing something that is bad and something that's almost as bad, well...

# 6 Hooe @ 04/23/08 11:03 AM

As much as I've criticized Madden recently (not necessarily in this forum but elsewhere), I agree with Coogrfan here. Rome wasn't built in a day, and there are more pressing issues for EA to iron out in the game and its online component than dynamic online weather.

Yes it is a drag that it isn't an option, but suppose that the only way EA could put it in this year would cause laggy connections and random disconnects during games in the elements. Would it really be worth it?

By comparison, did All Pro Football 2K8 and NFL 2K5 allow games in rain and snow during online leagues? I don't think either did.

I guess it helps that I'm not really an online gamer, though.

# 7 marshallfever @ 04/23/08 11:21 AM

This might not be a big issue with some of you, but to me this is a game killer We've had 3 madden games so far on the next generation, why is it that we still don't have online weather? I mean c-mon. Their talking about the lag issue, again this'll be the 4th madden game on the 360.....why wasn't this issue already addressed before hand?

This seriously puts me in a bad mood. After about two franchise season or so, i normally stop playing the franchise mode and stick throughly to online. After a while the franchise mode gets boring. You can predict the AI and normally win most if not all your games on All Pro. I know theres all Madden but the last time i played that, it felt like the game was cheating more than it was being hard. There just wasn't enough things to do in the franchise to merrit more then a couple of seasons. (Talking about 07 since its the last one i brought).

So because of that, i only play online after my two franchise season. And really it sucks playing every single in game in perfect sun shiny weather. I mean they could of at least put different times of day if they couldn't do weather, yet they refused. I just can't stand playing in perfect weather every single online match. I've been complaining about this after 06. I can understand the reason in 06. The game was new and they of course needed time to get things together. I even let it go a bit in 07 because again, they were building up. But when i heard 08 was doing the same thing, turned me off, and now its the same for 09. Truly sad.

I was expecting a lot from this madden. I'm not going to let this little thing stop me from buying the game though, but its just sad that they have yet to implement weather in the online games.

# 8 yamabushi @ 04/23/08 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	Perhaps, but the big things are still more important. Variable weather is a mere extra, online lag is a game killer. EA has it's priorities straight here, imo.

Your assuming EA is working on the Lag over 'back of the box' features like celebrations and pretty picture weather effects. Im not.

# 9 coogrfan @ 04/23/08 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yamabushi


	Your assuming EA is working on the Lag over 'back of the box' features like celebrations and pretty picture weather effects. Im not.

You're right, I am making an assumption here. My basis for this is the quote from Phil Frazier in the OP:

Quote:


	"Weather will not be available online. It�s clear that many of you are interested in this functionality so it�s already on my growing list of features from the community. Honestly, I�d prefer if we solved the online lag issues before we worry about weather. "

As I see it the implication there is that solving the lag issues is being given a high priority. You, of course, are free to think otherwise.

# 10 D.Winn @ 04/23/08 03:37 PM

EA lost alot of fans with this one. I dont like seeing half way features. If you are posting screens and new information on weather, its kind of lame to backtrack and say..OH YEA..NO CHANGE IN WEATHER ONLINE. lol...If you want to recreate the NFC championship, you are gonna have to do it offline with another friend lol.

# 11 bears5122 @ 04/23/08 03:44 PM

Shouldn't online lag have been an issue dealt with in the last 3 titles for the next gen systems?

# 12 ewto16 @ 04/23/08 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	You're right, I am making an assumption here. My basis for this is the quote from Phil Frazier in the OP:

Quote:


	"Weather will not be available online. It’s clear that many of you are interested in this functionality so it’s already on my growing list of features from the community. Honestly, I’d prefer if we solved the online lag issues before we worry about weather. "

Notice the "if" in his quote. Why is lag still an issue in the first place?? Shouldn't this be one of the first things addressed since alomst every other game can play online lag free? Between all the different teams of developers at EA can't someone figure out how to make a football game without lag?

Don't be shocked if Madden still blows to play online.

# 13 djep @ 04/23/08 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krioniq


	As much as I've criticized Madden recently (not necessarily in this forum but elsewhere), I agree with Coogrfan here. Rome wasn't built in a day, and there are more pressing issues for EA to iron out in the game and its online component than dynamic online weather. Yes it is a drag that it isn't an option, but suppose that the only way EA could put it in this year would cause laggy connections and random disconnects during games in the elements. Would it really be worth it? By comparison, did All Pro Football 2K8 and NFL 2K5 allow games in rain and snow during online leagues? I don't think either did. I guess it helps that I'm not really an online gamer, though.

I don't know about APF 2K8 but NFL 2K5 certainly did. I remember winning a tough game in Philly under a heavy downpour in my league game. But I agree that this is lower on the priority list than lag or disconnects.

# 14 coogrfan @ 04/24/08 10:08 AM

All may not be lost after all, guys:

Quote:


	Posted: : fillycheze (EA.... Apr 24, 2008 2:32 AM I'm seeing many similar questions so I'm going to take a shot at responding to groups of messages at a time. Franchise Enhancements - There are many questions behind progression, stat generation, etc... We are in the middle of some serious tuning to all of the franchise systems. I'll alert our Franchise designer to the specific feedback in this thread so we can make sure those areas get addressed. Many of them are already known (i.e. progression) but I'll make sure the design team and QA also look into issues surrounding the draft import, etc... Smart Routes - I noticed this question in a post or two. Yep, smart routes will be back this year. Online Weather - Based on the response, mostly negative, to this news I've sparked up a new conversation with the design team. We're looking into some alternatives on how we may be able to get weather online but I honestly can't promise anything right now. At best, we might be able to squeeze in support for random (within reason) weather online. If we get it in, I'll notify the community through this site.

# 15 clarkerots @ 04/24/08 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metallicatz


	This isn't a huge deal for me either. Like somebody already said, Rome wasn't built in a day. I takes time to build a new game for a new console cycle.....especially when you're releasing a new one every year. Most consider Madden 05 the jewel of the last gen Madden games. It didn't happen overnight. It took several years for the game to get to that point. The same applies here. You can only do so much in a limited amount of time. And after readong the Q&A at the top of the page, it sounds like they're working on alot as it is for this year's game. Patience, grasshopper.

Sorry, not buying this one. Hate to bring up the name, but reality is that the 2K series took 3 "tries" before it got a super quality PS2 jewel. The Madden series took forever to get it's jewel AND lets not forget that Madden 05 is simply a jewel due to the fine work of non-EA employees who created a Manifesto....without that, 05 is still unplayable from a Franchise sense. "First in run defense, last in pass defense." Everyone who's played Madden Franchise was familiar with that one.

# 16 ODogg @ 04/24/08 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshallfever


	This might not be a big issue with some of you, but to me this is a game killer We've had 3 madden games so far on the next generation, why is it that we still don't have online weather? I mean c-mon. Their talking about the lag issue, again this'll be the 4th madden game on the 360.....why wasn't this issue already addressed before hand? This seriously puts me in a bad mood. After about two franchise season or so, i normally stop playing the franchise mode and stick throughly to online. After a while the franchise mode gets boring. You can predict the AI and normally win most if not all your games on All Pro. I know theres all Madden but the last time i played that, it felt like the game was cheating more than it was being hard. There just wasn't enough things to do in the franchise to merrit more then a couple of seasons. (Talking about 07 since its the last one i brought). So because of that, i only play online after my two franchise season. And really it sucks playing every single in game in perfect sun shiny weather. I mean they could of at least put different times of day if they couldn't do weather, yet they refused. I just can't stand playing in perfect weather every single online match. I've been complaining about this after 06. I can understand the reason in 06. The game was new and they of course needed time to get things together. I even let it go a bit in 07 because again, they were building up. But when i heard 08 was doing the same thing, turned me off, and now its the same for 09. Truly sad. I was expecting a lot from this madden. I'm not going to let this little thing stop me from buying the game though, but its just sad that they have yet to implement weather in the online games.

Amen man, online is treated like the red headed stepchild of EA's once again. Every game is a perfect weather game and let me guess, no alternate uniforms will work either. And of course I'll bet we can not choose our time of day online as well.

I agree with you 100% in that this really puts a bad taste of things are going to be the same again this year as in past years. Yet another year of waiting another year and hoping. I'll still get the game on day one because this is not a game killer for me but it's certainly a bitter pill to swallow.

# 17 KENYON06 @ 04/24/08 08:39 PM

This is a serious question, but does it actually change things aside from making field goals harder to kick?

# 18 ODogg @ 04/24/08 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KENYON06


	This is a serious question, but does it actually change things aside from making field goals harder to kick?

Yep, it affects turnovers and visibility (which can affect greatly one's passing game).

More Links

Pasta Padre-"No variable weather for online games"