Madden 2010 News Post

Madden NFL 10 Q&A Blog with the Dev Team

01:32 PM - September 2, 2009 by Ian_Cummings

Hey guys -

We're back in full force now after our wind-down, and we've been working on a "FAQ" blog to put out. Posting on forums and answering questions directly on Twitter just hasn't been widespread enough (since we keep getting the same questions asked), so this seemed like the best logical idea.

I've definitely been trying to read everything from the community, but I figured I'd open it up to make sure we gather all the most important questions in one place. We'll close this up by the weekend and try to have the blog out next week.

ONE REQUEST: NO DISCUSSION - JUST QUESTIONS.

To get the big one out of the way:

"When is the first title update coming out, and what is in it?"
The first patch is done on our end and in the hands of 3rd party for approvals, so I *think* we'll be able to release all the details about what's in the 1st title update in the official FAQ blog.

So...fire away!

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

# 61 LBzrule @ 09/02/09 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tick32


	I feel u. the pursuit angles are atrocious. so unrealistic, and zones are also.

I want to say the pursuit has to do with the rating. I'm not sure how the rating is supposed to govern a player, but it seems like it kicks in and makes guys play bad every play rather than being a % of how many times he takes bad angles. Even Ray Lewis is taking bad angles for me a lot though so I'm not sure.

# 62 nylawyer @ 09/02/09 02:54 PM

1. CPU 2 minute management is horrendous and laughable. They run hurry up continually despite having 3 time outs and score quickly leaving plenty of time for the user to score. They don't kneel at proper times. Its so bad, I have to take over and switch teams.

2. CPU does not punt for corners when say 50 yard line or less and punting. Basic NFL is to try to corner kick the ball to trap you in the corner.

3. I was playing a game last night where CPU did not kick a FG several times even though they were on the 25 yard line (43 yd FG). There should be a rule implemented that CPU kicks a FG always when under 50 or 45 yards.

4. The CPU seems to throw to the slot receiver way more than a great receiver like Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald.

5. The CPU seems to pass a lot on goalline situations and 3rd and 1 situations. Almost all teams run heavily in such situations.

Agree with all of the flats, tackle stats, penalties too low, pancake stats comments previously made. Man align seems broken.

I volunteer to go through CPU playcalling algorithm to make sure right calls are made in right situation.

# 63 thesteamontheboat @ 09/02/09 03:00 PM

Is it possible that you guys could make it we can turn off the ask madden audio?

# 64 hale89 @ 09/02/09 03:02 PM

fix the tackling linebackers and dt's get trucked too much even by quarterbacks

# 65 R.Moncrief @ 09/02/09 03:02 PM

Because everything else has already been asked I'm sure, I'll ask the only thing I've really been concerned with for the last few years.

Superstar Mode
If this mode is going to continue to show up in the Madden franchise, is there anyway to go back to the original depth chart settings where, as a superstar, you can alter your spot?

Reason being, I can't see why as a 72 OVR QB drafted by the Colts, that I would automatically start over Peyton Manning. I rather wait years and years before I earned the top spot, and play every now and then because of injury or fatigue. Some realism a day keeps the doctor away.

# 66 Stacks @ 09/02/09 03:02 PM

Congrats on your new GF Ian. Candice Crawford is much hotter than Jessica Simpson. Maybe that's what took you so long to come back on this site. I kid, I kid.

I, like some others, would also like to know if we have to restart our current franchise after the title update?

# 67 thesteamontheboat @ 09/02/09 03:04 PM

Will the sideline catches be addressed?

# 68 NoSubs @ 09/02/09 03:06 PM

Pancakes- Will the lack of pancakes for user controlled teams affect offensive line progression in offline franchise? Will the disparity in CPU vs. user pancakes be fixed?

Tackles- Will the lack of tackles (relative to CPU teams) affect progression? Will it be fixed?

Gameplay- What changes will there be to the gameplay? (Will there be easier run offence? less interceptions? more effective sliders?)

Free Agent Signings- In offline franchise, why can the CPU sign players for 1yr. $750k, when it would take $2mil+ for me to sign them? I am not talking about one or two incidents based on the player's preferences, this is a consistent issue.
Why do backups want so much money to resign with my team, but not for the CPU?

# 69 j_ames321 @ 09/02/09 03:09 PM

1. Pursuit angles are pretty bad sometimes. Especially on interception returns.

2. The CPU does the all-out blitz way too often. I feel cheap sometimes when I complete a pass when they blitz, so I won't even use speed burst to avoid scoring a touchdown.

3. Passes to the flats are constantly open. I avoid throwing to the flats sometimes because it just feels too easy.

4. Injured reserve should work properly.

5. It really sucks that there is no draft info. Like what round the player was picked in. I have also seen at least three computer teams cut their first round pick one year after they drafted the player.

If some of these things can be patched this game could be great. I'm having a ton of fun this year, currently in the 3rd year rebuilding the Browns.

# 70 labguy @ 09/02/09 03:11 PM

There are 9 pages pf posts, so forgive me if this has been asked....what if any server side online franchise improvements are going to be made this year? Specifically salary cap and free agency? Timeframe?

Thanks!

# 71 G-Men_in_Mass @ 09/02/09 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian_Cummings_EA


	What's wrong my fellow Tennesseean? This thread is perfect for what I need. A one stop shop for the top questions. *I'll answer them in a blog that we release next week.*

My question is why dont you man up and answer them now? Like how you release a game where M.Turner carries the football 390 times for 2107 yards and score 3 TD?????? In One season???

I know red flag me but it had to be said.

# 72 mdgoalie37 @ 09/02/09 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nylawyer


	1. CPU 2 minute management is horrendous and laughable. They run hurry up continually despite having 3 time outs and score quickly leaving plenty of time for the user to score. They don't kneel at proper times. Its so bad, I have to take over and switch teams.

They also like to get the ball with 45 seconds left in the first half and on their own 20 and then call a running play (no problem there), gain 2 yards and then call timeout (the problem). And then do it again. Now if they call a run in that situation and gain 30, no problem calling a TO.

Sim stats need to be looked at.

CPU QBs rarely take a sack but I feel like mine get creamed regularly. If I switch teams then it just reverses in the CPUs favor. I feel like blitzing is mostly useless but the CPU just comes after and gets to me. The pressure and line play should not be different based on User/CPU. Please make the rating matters.

I am still enjoying this game.

# 73 Illustrator76 @ 09/02/09 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senfgastn


	ITT: People complain in the form of a question?

Below is a direct quote from Ian from the Madden Dev Blogs thread, here is the post in it's entirety, http://www.operationsports.com/forum...7-post134.html.

Quote:


	If anyone thinks we falsely advertised or feel like they were duped into a purchase, then definitely feel free to drop a question over in the Q&A thread with what you think we lied about.

# 74 LBzrule @ 09/02/09 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backbreaker


	Where is the game, that the community day guys got to play? From Community day on up til a little after E3, You would post videos and or make blogs about fixes and offer up your experimental antidotes and would even rebut videos and say hey we fix that. Also the Community Day guys bragged about you fixing things and uploading them into the game and those things worked. With the aforementioned as my witness, where is that game?

And now it is not the way it was when he fixed it

# 75 Illustrator76 @ 09/02/09 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backbreaker


	Where is the game, that the community day guys got to play? From Community day on up til a little after E3, You would post videos and or make blogs about fixes and offer up your experimental antidotes and would even rebut videos and say hey we fix that. Also the Community Day guys bragged about you fixing things and uploading them into the game and those things worked. With the aforementioned as my witness, where is that game?

Great question backbreaker, I think a lot of people would like to hear the answer to this question too.

# 76 G-Men_in_Mass @ 09/02/09 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illustrator76


	Below is a direct quote from Ian from the Madden Dev Blogs thread, here is the post in it's entirety, http://www.operationsports.com/forum...7-post134.html.

I have a question about the blogs pre release. I was wondering when my Jaws was going to drop seeing the differnce between Playoff games and regular season games? Last time I checked my jaw was still in the same place.

# 77 SoxFan01605 @ 09/02/09 03:30 PM

Okay...I've read through and I think all my gameplay/stat based concerns have been addressed (though I may think of more). My questions are will likely seem more trivial by comparison, but here goes...

1. I saw plenty on the rushing stats, but related to that is backup or secondary runners (in a split system) getting such a low YPC. I've simmed few a few seasons for testing and every time the secondary runner has a ridiculous YPC. Often times, they should have a seemingly inflated one due to a combo of less carries while breaking a few big gains.

2. Editing. I recall several claims of "it's your game", well it's not yet. Is it possible to unlock the appearance section for editing, both in franchise and front end? Also, unlocking attributes in franchise, contracts in the front end, etc would go a long way towards giving this game some extended value for some of us. Note that I'm only asking for things already in the game, but locked for users either by mode or in total. I'm not asking for deeper customization than is offered, as I assume it's not possible through a patch.

3. Rosters. Formation subs are wonky and don't always stick (I Pro, "Spot Toss" -I think- comes to mind for the Cowboys). If I set up to run a toss with a speedy runner like Felix Jones and end up with Marion Barber, I think the dilema is pretty clear.

4. This isn't related to a direct fix, but I'd like to echo the desire to hear your reasoning why so many of the previous blogs highlights seem to be either hampered or non-existent in the final release. I'm curious as to your views on just how off you think they were (if at all) and how you plan on addressing the issue, if at all.

As I said, I have many more pressing gameplay concerns (and agree that should be priority #1), but they seemed to have been covered. These are some of the details I think (with the disclaimer that I have no intimate knowledge of programming) should be able to be addressed to a degree.

I look forward to the blog, though I somewhat agree with a previous poster that it would be nice if you simply tried to answer these questions (many of which have been discussed ad nauseum already) up front, rather than in a formal "release." Anyway, your feedback is appreciated.

# 78 PGaither84 @ 09/02/09 03:31 PM

1.) Will you please do a blog all about how the game actually works? [ie. Sliders, ratings, etc.] Too many people, including myself, are tired of the lack of information in how our game actually works. What ratings are checked against other ratings? For example, what ratings are checked when a RB tries to truck a DT?

2.) Is there any chance we will see more real life NFL penalties and them enforced correctly? Namely, the computer QB loves to throw the ball right before or as he is getting hit, resulting in obvious intentional grounding and sometimes these passes hit the offensive linemen which is illegal touching of the forward pass. This is not a new problem to Madden. On legacy gen the computer would practically spike the ball to avoid the sack. I really never saw this logic in the 2k games by the computer QB and they took sacks. This would add to presentation too. In real life we see QBs try to do this and get flagged for it and then they get up and point to a possible receiver that they were "trying" to throw to and the refs shrug it off like "No BS, that was intentional grounding."

3.) What is the AI blocking logic? What does it look like? With run blocking cranked up to 100 you see less problems but they are still there. There should be a difference between blocking poorly and not blocking. In Madden for years we get "non-blocks" and M10 is no different. When engaged in a block the interactions area lot better, and I give you all the props in the world for that, but the logic behind who to block and how to block is still very poor.

4.) Why can't we choose game speed for unranked games online?

5.) Seriously, blocking. I'm not kidding. I can't even play this game without custom sliders cranking run blocking up to 100 because of how stupid your line is. Even at 100 you see stupid AI problems.

# 79 PhillyJim76 @ 09/02/09 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o Mass Murda o


	1) will bad pursuit angles be fixed? ive also noticed alot of times my MLB or OLB assigned in man cov on hb going to the flats will often times take a step or two inside instead of following the hb who takes off immediately to the flats (no PA fake handoff). by the time he meets up with the hb @ sidelines he's already too far behind and always results in big plays. is this being addressed? 2) Player signings - cpu signs guys for minimum amts. i have to sign em for 2yr $11m deals. why is this? 3) Player signings - why in the offseason FA, is that chart with the player's wants and needs in a team available to view, but not at any other time? regular season or preseason, you cant see this critical FA info to see if ur team stacks up and will mesh with the players wants and needs. this may help answer my question #2... 4) is contracts and trade logic and salary cap a "no can do" for m10? i hear absolutely no talk about it at all and seems as if u guys just blew smoke to soften the blow that Ofranchise is incomplete. 5) will bad zone coverage be fixed? meaning how they always drop back too deep in blue and yellow zones and leave everything underneath wide open every play 6) is blocking logic getting any tweaks? pulling G's miss all kinds of blocks and always get u dropped for neg yds. its so bad, some plays have to be unused cuz it always has the same blocking result and is impossible to run without getting hit at handoff. 7) will qb's not taking sacks and 95% forcing bad throws under pressure for lame ducks and into double and triple coverage be addressed? this leads to too many picks for the user and no sacks. 8) will auto replays frequency be fixed? x360 has one or two replays a game, and never after td's, EVER! 9) will auto replay glitch be fixed where the replay triggers, but instantly stops before it shows anything (no buttons being hit after the play)?? 10) will franchise stats be fixed (high pass td's, low rush td's, ridiculously high tackle stats, no half tackles/sacks for user, double counting stats for challenged plays, etc)?? 11) will there be a "SIM QTR LENGTH" option patched in to keep stats relative to how many qtrs the user is playing? this is one bad thing that causes alot of stats to be outta control and keeps the user infinitely lower in all categories, making it impossible for user to get players into pro-bowl 12) will man align be fixed? it doesnt work 13) will adaptive ai be fixed? it doesnt work as far as most of us can tell. a guy already ran nothing but flats passes all game and had over 400yds a game and cpu didnt adjust 14) will cpu blitzing percentage be fixed? as it is now, they blitz almost every play leaving them susceptible to quick passes by the user all game.

Now now now, that is quite the lenghty list! I agree on all points.

# 80 jlukes @ 09/02/09 03:38 PM

Will anything regarding the QB still throwing the ball away just before taking a sack be fixed?

Will formation subs be fixed so that you can reset the subs so that the depth chart comes back into play?

RE: Online Franchise
Will it be patched so players don't have the same numbers? (I had 3 WR, all # 81)

Will a trade block be added to online franchise?

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