Madden 09 News Post

Madden 09 Producer Blog: Play Call Changes: EA Sports

01:27 AM - May 7, 2008 by hdaniel1

EA Sports has posted another Madden 09 producer blog called Play Call Changes.

Quote:


	"Play Call is arguably the most important screen in the game. You spend the majority of your time on this screen and it is the epicenter of all the important decisions that are made in game. We set out this year with a goal of completely revolutionizing the Play Call screen with a new level of presentation and most importantly interaction."

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Member Comments

# 21 ezekiel55 @ 05/07/08 01:45 PM

I read the word "innovation" being thrown around in this thread a couple of times...I hope you guys dont necessarily think that something as basic and vanilla as this is innovative.

# 22 capp34 @ 05/07/08 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekey55


	I read the word "innovation" being thrown around in this thread a couple of times...I hope you guys dont necessarily think that something as basic and vanilla as this is innovative.

Its innovative to the xbox 360 and ps3 because it has never been done on those consoles before.

# 23 capp34 @ 05/07/08 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BezO


	Sweet! I can watch the replay with my right eye and the plays with my left. Another tournament feature. I guess tournament players complained about opponents wasting time watching replays so EA mushed them together with the play calling screen. I guess EA would categorize this as presentation. The person spending time thinking this up could've used that brain power on something FOOTBALL related... a coin flip, playoff / superbowl entrances, sideline atmosphere, chain gang, refs, pre-game / halftime / post-game show, replays from other season games in franchise mode, better injury cut scene... I could write a page-long list of FOOTBALL related presentation they could've added. But we get replays & the play call screen at the same time. EA, the interface is not the problem. Folks want more FOOTBALL in their football video games.

Guy goes on rant because they added thats right added something to the game....hilarious

# 24 ezekiel55 @ 05/07/08 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capp34


	Its innovative to the xbox 360 and ps3 because it has never been done on those consoles before.

Thats funny because someone else also said..."Given the choice of improved playcalling, or refs on the field, we would want improved playcalling"...Why cant we have both. Is this how low we've set the bar, this a next gen console not Turbo Grafx 16.

If GTA 4 can have the amount of detail and AI constantly running real time, why cant the highest grossing series in all of gaming do something even a tenth of that?

# 25 SageInfinite @ 05/07/08 02:24 PM

It's funny how low EA/Tiburon has made people's expectations.

# 26 cjallure24 @ 05/07/08 02:30 PM

I almost feel like EA Sports is holding back a lot of things they come up with so they can have a "New Feature" for the next year.We just got gang tackling in 08' when it was on another title 4 years ago on last gen....I just get the feeling EA will not stock a game with a lot of things we ask because they want to hold it off for the next year.......

# 27 K_GUN @ 05/07/08 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewto16


	HAHAHAHAHA....NFL Network integration. If it is anything like previous Madden's it will be next to nothing. They have had the ESPN license for almost 5 years. What have you seen of that yet?

streaming espnews updates

u ain't gonna see ESPN overlays....and b4 u drop an F-bomb on EA try to remember
that the NFL calls the shots on a lot of stuff these days when it comes to their product and hows its used.......i.e. notice how ESPN's primetime show just disappeared one year...poor ratings?...nope....the NFL wanted their show on their network to be the ones to go over game highlights (i think its called gameday)

the NFL wants THEIR network (and new team) to get the exposure, what better way to do that than use the #1 selling (and only) NFL game on the market?

still don't believe me?

anybody notice in Head Coach 09 that MEL KIPER has been replaced with ADAM SCHEFTER....of the NFL network

# 28 DIEHARD STEELERS #1 @ 05/07/08 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekey55


	Thats funny because someone else also said..."Given the choice of improved playcalling, or refs on the field, we would want improved playcalling"...Why cant we have both. If GTA 4 can have the amount of detail and AI constantly running real time, why cant the highest grossing series in all of gaming do something even a tenth of that?

Sho you right!!

# 29 mikeveli20 @ 05/07/08 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjallure24


	I almost feel like EA Sports is holding back a lot of things they come up with so they can have a "New Feature" for the next year.We just got gang tackling in 08' when it was on another title 4 years ago on last gen....I just get the feeling EA will not stock a game with a lot of things we ask because they want to hold it off for the next year.......

This is exactly what they do. They know what we want in the game, but if they gave us everything at once, then they'd actually have to come up with something innovative on their own to get us to buy next year's version. And they know something like the Ring Progress crap isn't enough by itself so they hold stuff back on purpose.

It's the only explanation. Especially after reading the features for Head Coach 09 and seeing them say stuff like "this is a feature the madden community has been requesting for years". They are well aware of what we want and what the game needs, but don't put everything in as a marketing strategy. That's what I think anyways.

# 30 BezO @ 05/07/08 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	Call me crazy, but I'm thinking there are very few Madden* users other than you who would trade an improved and streamlined user interface for a coin flip or chain gangs.*

And I respect that. But as much as folks have been asking for a tv-like broadcast, I'm sure more folks than you think would prefer tv-style stat overlays to having stats easier to access.

And improved is relative. Personally, having the replay going while you're supposed to be picking a play is not my idea of improved.

But I also think folks would like to read post on the topic, not you challenging my preferences.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	Knock yourself out. I just don't get is how you came to the conclusion that this was an either/or situation in the first place.

Easy. There's only so much time to put into the game. Unless you get everything into the game that you want - and EA is always complaining about the time they have - some things make it and some don't. Either or.

# 31 Pared @ 05/07/08 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4reak


	But in the Giants Pats vid they show randy moss's stats pop up after he runs in the TD.

Yes, that looked like a TV-style stat overlay to me.

It's quite possible they may highlight different, multi-game stats in a franchise in a similar fashion.

# 32 BezO @ 05/07/08 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pared


	Whoa, Bezo... easy there. You're going to pop a nut.

I love how yall get off painting these pictures of pissed off kids, crying about Madden. I guess yall feel it helps your argument. Just like the folks impressed by this are not creaming in their pants, I'm not over hear blowing my top. I'm giving my opinion on a video game feature. You can't hear my tone. You create it as you read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pared


	It's just one blog focusing on one thing. That's all. I don't understand why guys would read an article on something like "New franchise coverage" then go into a rant about the presentation. The two don't go hand in hand.

Maybe we read different things. What I read was about play call changes. One of the features mentioned was the accessibility of stats while you're calling plays. The way stats are presented is not considered presentation?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pared


	I think a lot of guys don't realize sometimes what is really happening here. People say that EA is clueless to the 2k football fan base when little by little they're slowly incorporating a lot of things from 2k5. It's pretty evident, IMO.

I think some folks are happy that peripheral elements of 2K are getting in. But none of the gameplay from 2K is making it in. When EA matches/supasses the essential FOOTBALL elements from 2K, I will gush.

And if EA used my tier play calling system suggestion, I'd be estatic.

# 33 coogrfan @ 05/07/08 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BezO


	Easy. There's only so much time to put into the game. Unless you get everything into the game that you want - and EA is always complaining about the time they have - some things make it and some don't. Either or.

Which brings us back to your "EA probably considers this part of presentation" statement. Why would you assume that?

It seems to me that were talking about two wholly separate things here. The UI team is concerned with things like menus, play calling screens and depth charts, while the presentation folks are working on cut scenes, replays and the like. The necessary programming skills would seem (to me, at least) to be completely different, so to assume that an increased effort in one area will automatically mean a shortfall somewhere else is, imo, questionable at best.

Let me put it this way--it's like blaming NCAA 08's lack of alternate uni's on the folks who came up with the "My shrine" concept. Both teams worked on the same game, but it's unlikely that either teams efforts directly affected those of the other.

# 34 yamabushi @ 05/07/08 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageTheInfinite


	It's funny how low EA/Tiburon has made people's expectations.

Man, You said it all right there.
the acceptance by the general public and a non-critical press (except OS) for the stripped down '06 on the 360 basically gave them the go ahead to be lazy developers.
and now with slumping sales and Peter Moores influence, they seem to be focusing on back-o-the-box selling points (fly-bys, weather, play calling screens), and not gameplay.

# 35 Pared @ 05/07/08 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BezO


	Maybe we read different things. What I read was about play call changes. One of the features mentioned was the accessibility of stats while you're calling plays. The way stats are presented is not considered presentation? I think some folks are happy that peripheral elements of 2K are getting in. But none of the gameplay from 2K is making it in. When EA matches/supasses the essential FOOTBALL elements from 2K, I will gush.

Apparently we do. Like someone else already mentioned, there are Tv style stat overlays, something we've already seen in the whopping 4 mins of video we've been overwhelmed with.

It's also pretty evident a lot of 2k's running elements have made it into Madden. If you're waiting for a carbon copy of 2k... well, you'll be waiting a long time.

# 36 BezO @ 05/07/08 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4reak


	But in the Giants Pats vid they show randy moss's stats pop up after he runs in the TD.

Great!

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4reak


	I don't understand how you can rant about being pissed when its only May and they have yet to announce there main feature set. Obviously this is not it.

Call it what you like. The info is posted so people can comment on it. I'm commenting on it. The positive comments in this post are based on the same info my comments were. Why are you not reminding them it's only May? Why can you be impressed by features in May but not be impressed?

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4reak


	Are you going to rant everytime any bit of information is released

No. But I will comment just like everyone else who post in a new information thread.

Are you going to follow me around challenging my opinions everytime any bit of informaton is released?

# 37 BezO @ 05/07/08 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capp34


	Guy goes on rant because they added thats right added something to the game....hilarious

What's hilarious is your interpretation of my post. I didn't go on a rant because they added something. I gave my opinion on what they added and listed things I would prefer they add instead. Yeah, that's the same thing.

# 38 yamabushi @ 05/07/08 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4reak


	Im not speaking for anyone else just myslef. Im not accepting anything low. This was not supposed to be a look at gam,eplay, b/c its a look at the play call menu. Obviously if we come closer to release and hear no gameplay improvements I will bitch but its just a small blog detailing little things, the same blogged on weather, and celebrations. We have seen little gameplay at all and excuse me if I actually want to take a wait and see approach before I curse EA. We have yet to hear Hammond n Collinsworth for christ sakes

I think thats the heart of the matter; every press release that talks about screens, or stats, or stadium graphics is one not about gameplay.
and weve all heard collinsworth before(hey OS, can we get a 'smilie' of someone vomiting?).

# 39 BezO @ 05/07/08 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	Which brings us back to your "EA probably considers this part of presentation" statement. Why would you assume that?

Replays are a presentation element, no? Stat overlays?

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	It seems to me that were talking about two wholly separate things here. The UI team is concerned with things like menus, play calling screens and depth charts, while the presentation folks are working on cut scenes, replays and the like. The necessary programming skills would seem (to me, at least) to be completely different, so to assume that an increased effort in one area will automatically mean a shortfall somewhere else is, imo, questionable at best.

I think we read different things. The blog is titled Play Call Changes. On the Play Call screen you can now view replays and stats. Replays and the way stats are shown are presentation elements.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	Let me put it this way--it's like blaming NCAA 08's lack of alternate uni's on the folks who came up with the "My shrine" concept. Both teams worked on the same game, but it's unlikely that either teams efforts directly affected those of the other.

No, it's like blaming NCAA's lack of camera angles on the guys that work on camera angles. Again, I don't see how replays & stat presentation are outside of the presentation elements of the game. You listed replays as a presentation element yourself.

# 40 roadman @ 05/07/08 03:38 PM

Field goal returns must have been put under a new category this season. Instead of gameplay, it must be considered by the public as presentation this year.

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