Madden 2010 News Post

Madden 10 Hands-Off First Impressions

11:05 AM - April 29, 2009 by BlyGilmore

Last week, I sat down with Phil Frazier, a long-time producer at EA Sports, and checked out the latest Madden 10 build. While I did not get a chance to grab the controller and start dissecting the game myself, Phil Frazier did demo many of the new on-the-field Madden 10 features for me.

However, before getting to those features, I must mention that on Monday I wrote that the unofficial theme for NCAA Football 10 will be customization. Well, when it comes to Madden 10 I believe the theme will be "immersion." From the first moment you put the game in your console to the moment you take the field, immersion will be the goal.

Madden 10 Hands-Off First Impressions

Game: Madden NFL 10Reader Score: 7.5/10 - Vote Now
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Member Comments

# 21 roadman @ 04/29/09 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by green94


	I sacrifice holes in the jersey for fully dynamic sidelines, but that's just me

I think the Madden team will consider down the road as well.

# 22 TheWatcher @ 04/29/09 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	That must be the trade off of having the more detailed player models.

Framerate and AI are also affected. It all ties in.

# 23 BlyGilmore @ 04/29/09 12:08 PM

OK - version 2.0 of the article is now online. EA sent over some screens so I added them to the story. Two of them show gang tackling in action.

For those who have already read it, here are the new images ...

# 24 ScoobySnax @ 04/29/09 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlyGilmore


	OK - version 2.0 of the article is now online. EA sent over some screens so I added them to the story. Two of them show gang tackling in action. For those who have already read it, here are the new images ...

Wow!! Nice screens!

# 25 TheWatcher @ 04/29/09 12:12 PM

I see where the timeouts are now, but still no challenge indication, no stats/stat cards and no replay options. For '11 they have to step their game back up here. Simplifying is okay, but there is a line to where when it's crossed you go from simple to needlessly elementary.

From Bly's article:

"- Team-specific sidelines have been added. Everything on the sideline looks a lot more realistic than it has in the past."

That's interesting. I saw no real change from the live view of the sidelines from 09. The blur effects make it look better from a distance though. There are cutscenes of the sidelines like we saw on Jimmy Fallon and those are nice, but the live sidelines, I saw no change in terms of detail quality.

# 26 TheWatcher @ 04/29/09 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTheorenHobbes


	I love seeing the huddle at the play call screen. That's odd, though...shouldn't we see the Steelers' huddle since it's the Steelers' defensive play call screen?

Yep, and they should make sure it stays for good. I don't know what possessed them to get rid of it in the first place.

# 27 therizing02 @ 04/29/09 12:33 PM

Thanks for the impressions Bly! We're you able to notice any sort of "atmosphere" during gameplay.

If the goal is immersion, atmosphere is a MUST HAVE. I think most will agree that Madden was just a boring game because of the lack of atmosphere. Were you able to notice whether or not the crowd reacted properly given the situation on the field or did they have they same boring Madden dull monotonous sound in the background?

Can you talk a little about the in game stat overlays?

Also, were you able to notice anything regarding the adaptive AI? Specifically, does the offense adjust it's playcalling based on the USER's defensive play calls? All of the AAI talk to this point has centered around the CPU's ability to change it's playcalling tendencies on the defensive side of the ball based on the USER's offensive playcalling.

# 28 ch46647 @ 04/29/09 12:40 PM

^^^ Yes please comment on crowd interaction. Crowd noise isa huge reason why I love NHL 09 so much. The crowd is awesome! It still could be MUCH better but Madden has literally no crowd noise at all and they cheer when they shouldnt cheer. (Opposing team scoring a TD)

# 29 BlyGilmore @ 04/29/09 12:54 PM

Sorry guys don't have a lot of that information. The discussions I had with EA really focused on a few key elements of game play and Madden 10, and I didn't get to see much other than that.

Also the sound was turned off, so I wasn't able to judge crowd noise, atmosphere or even how the announcers were doing.

(Keep in mind too this was an April build of the game - there's still a good three months before Madden goes gold some time in late July/early August).

Hopefully a lot of this stuff comes out at E3.

# 30 BlyGilmore @ 04/29/09 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr logic


	Any word on the realism of those sidelines bly. That is a detail that is stupidly important to me. Thats the level of immersion I was hoping for.

Sidelines certainly looked better than in years past. The players still didn't appear to be game quality, but they also don't look like cardboard cutouts - some where in between but closer to game players. Certainly a lot more packed sidelines with a more realistic NFL "tons of people in a relatively small space" feel.

# 31 Lava @ 04/29/09 01:10 PM

No yard markers/hash on the background of the play? And double zeros for the score? Wouldn't one be sufficient?

# 32 Valdarez @ 04/29/09 01:24 PM

Did the black score bar across the bottom of the screen fade away during game play? APF2K8's bar has been burned into my television! I hope Madden doesn't ruin gamers TVs in the same manner due to poor HUD design.

# 33 lgxjames @ 04/29/09 01:30 PM

I miss E3 being in May

# 34 Smoke316 @ 04/29/09 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmccormi


	That's my whole point... Once you turn them off, it's like weapons were never there. EA gave you the option to turn them off, so why all the hate. Some people (Not me) would like to have them though if they are using random teams and want to see who their stars are.

i think ea realizes its hardcore contingent are the ones who keep coming back and spend the most time on the game.. so there looking to appease us first. Any real football fan does not need a tornado icon under justin tuck to know he is that good

# 35 CreatineKasey @ 04/29/09 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marktg30


	Wow, how did you manage to play APF that* much?!*

Just be glad you didnt get hooked like us!

Saved your TV

I'm excited to see defensive matchup made it in!

# 36 Smoke316 @ 04/29/09 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lava


	No yard markers/hash on the background of the play? And double zeros for the score? Wouldn't one be sufficient?

its gotta be just the early build it does look blah..at least show me where the first down marker is u know

# 37 cedwebb @ 04/29/09 02:16 PM

Pro-Tak is also working hard in every passing situation because it is the cornerstone of pass rushing defenders, blocking lineman and the quarterback. For example, Pro-Tak appears to have finally slain suction blocking and the dreaded 15-yard drop back. Animations between offensive and defensive linemen are much more fluid and lifelike �- with the war not being won simply by offensive linemen making contact.

I thought this was some very good news and possibly something that has not really been talked about all that much. I didn't know they confirmed pro-tak to be used as an intricate part of the o-line and d-line interaction. So does this confirm double teaming on the o-line? If you can get a 4 on 4 situation on a tackle I am hoping we can get a 2 on 1 in the trenches.

# 38 Valdarez @ 04/29/09 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marktg30


	Wow, how did you manage to play APF that* much?!*

Online play, that's where the game shined.
I think it was burned in around the 400 game mark and only got worse from there on out. As it stands now, on any white screen, I get to see the beautiful APF2K8 score bar. 2K owes me a 3.5k television!

# 39 ththoopchick13 @ 04/29/09 02:34 PM

i think madden needs trainig camp, a more in-depth roster like into training camp you have like 80 players, needs better gameplay and graphics, get the glitch out of challenging plays, put create-a-playbook back in the game, more in-depth player creation (hair,body type, personality), players getting upset with the team and holding out, basically make the game more like the NFL and stop making ncaa 10x better than madden o yea and put the QB quiz on madden not ncaa duh...madden needs to all together get rid of nfl superstar if they arent going to improve it so there will be more room for dynasty add-ons and gameplay...madden sucked this year something terrible i know that they can do a whole lot better because i mean look at ncaa...basically speaking get rid of the unnessisary things that yal dont even try to improve and spend your time on gameplay and dynasty mode
]thank you

# 40 RaiderKtulu @ 04/29/09 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlyGilmore


	OK - version 2.0 of the article is now online. EA sent over some screens so I added them to the story. Two of them show gang tackling in action. For those who have already read it, here are the new images ...

...and the Bills pants are TOTALLY WRONG. Great. Another uniform issue. How do they mess up things that were right last year?

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