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Madden NFL 11 News Post


EA Sports has just posted another Madden NFL 11 blog. This one focusing on locomotion.

Quote:
"Obviously, players in pads can’t run the same speed as a world class sprinter coming out of blocks but their acceleration curves have the same shape. They get up to around 80% of their top speed relatively quickly, but the last 20% is stretched out further (it takes the Olympic guys around 60 meters to hit 100% of their top speed). Once I had the curves created, I tuned them around combine 40 times and 100 meter times of players who ran track in college. I then passed that info on to Ratings Czar Donny Moore so he could set speed and acceleration accurately for our rosters. In total, we have 24 different curves that we can tune to control everything from how a player's speed increases over time (based on acceleration and speed ratings), to how much he can turn based on his current speed (driven by the agility rating). That level of control really lets us differentiate players on the field.

It is now possible for our ratings guys to make players that are quick over 10 to 20 yards, but get smoked at longer distances. A 90 speed player can now run the same 40 time as a 99 speed player, but lose over longer distances. I have a video here to highlight this. I created two players. The first is 99 speed, 90 acceleration (#99, on the top in the video). The second is 90 speed ,99 acceleration (#90 on the bottom in the video). The players race for 90 yards in the video. As you can see, the player with higher acceleration jumps out to an early lead, but gets passed at around 40 yards by the higher speed player. The animations aren't final (particularly the initial move that plays), and I still have some fine tuning to do on how we map the acceleration and speed ratings into our set of curves, but you can see how powerful acceleration is going to be in Madden NFL 11."

Game: Madden NFL 11Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 96 - View All
Madden NFL 11 Videos
Member Comments
# 61 CreatineKasey @ 04/07/10 06:10 PM
WTF! Ever since I really got involved with OS, EA sports has pretty much directly implemented things I've been whining about that I want in Madden.

Awesome blog! Made my day.
 
# 62 marcoyk @ 04/07/10 06:22 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by guaps
I though of the same. I hoped to see the 99 acc. receiver create a gap to the speedy receiver during the first 15-25 yards, but instead it looks more like locomotion just gives him a head start and he's unable to create a larger gap after that - I know the animations aren't final and launch day is months away, but still it's very noticeable.

Anyway one of my biggest concerns for Madden 11 is still player awareness, but I'm hoping that locomotion can/will affect how defenders reacts to a pass or player they can't seen coming? No more running full speed and jumping straight up in the air. Which makes me wonder if locomotion will affect jumping at all?
Completely agree. Just seemed like a burst off the line. I was expecting him to beat him out for the first 10 or so yards, and then get beaten by the 99speeder. I'm sure they'll fix it... game comes out in 4 months.
 
# 63 Valdarez @ 04/07/10 06:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by CreatineKasey
WTF! Ever since I really got involved with OS, EA sports has pretty much directly implemented things I've been whining about that I want in Madden.

Awesome blog! Made my day.
It actually started with BackBreaker (competition) showing us all the possibilities of movement, interaction, tackles in a football game. Competition for the win.
 
# 64 TDogg09 @ 04/07/10 06:28 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by shaneralphie1993
I just saw this.. it looks pretty good. hopefully it will work out like its supposed to be. AND I WISH I COULD HAVE A HIGH-RES PIC OF LT!!!!!!!!
There is a high-res pic of that screenshot on Ian's twitter
 
# 65 huskerwr38 @ 04/07/10 06:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Valdarez
It actually started with BackBreaker (competition) showing us all the possibilities of movement, interaction, tackles in a football game. Competition for the win.
Do you actually think that they are viewing backbreaker as a legitimate competition? I mean when APF2k8 came out, that at least had real former NFL players, and real looking football players.
 
# 66 Goffs @ 04/07/10 06:35 PM
Looks good...will there be a ol/dl interaction blog in the future?
 
# 67 SouthernBrick @ 04/07/10 06:44 PM
Nice blog. A lot of good info.

The running animation is looking pretty good. I'm really looking forward to seeing this in action with 21 other players on the field. I had a feeling I'd see a L.T. screen shot soon.
 
# 68 Valdarez @ 04/07/10 06:49 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by huskerwr38
Do you actually think that they are viewing backbreaker as a legitimate competition? I mean when APF2k8 came out, that at least had real former NFL players, and real looking football players.
I think if it weren't for BackBreaker, we wouldn't be seeing any of the changes that we saw in M10 or M11.

We saw the same thing with M08, they added the player Icons to the game to compete with the APF2K8 Stars/Abilities. Now that it's clear APF2K8 is not a competitor, they are gone.

Competition = good for all games, and all gamers.
 
# 69 MattIntellect @ 04/07/10 06:55 PM
Looks like we may have finally reached the end of the "Tron Jogging" era. I predict a lot of improvements to gameplay this year. As for the screenshot, I noticed that the crowd is wearing jersey numbers which is a big plus.


Notice Titans #'s 18 and 20 and Jets #6 in the crowd as well as many others.


Notice the two #47s in the crowd.



I think that the screenshots were updated as I can hardly see any numbers on the fans at all in this screenshot and the rest of the earlier ones.
It's a decent sign of improvement to the fans that not many people have recognized.
Madden 11 looks great so far, can't wait until more info is released!
 
# 70 nuttyrich @ 04/07/10 07:14 PM
Why do the show these screen shots when the game LOOKS nothing like this "during game play". So EA adds Locomotion.. they do this every year throw one feature in and break another.

How about getting the basics down first... like a FUN game? Then work on the rest. Terrible blocking running and Qb animations have plagued this since it went next gen, fix the current problems first.


This is the same crap every year, some "major new feature" never addressing the CORE play itself!

Madden 2012 Hit stick 3.0 will be the new feature
 
# 71 MattIntellect @ 04/07/10 07:23 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by nuttyrich
Why do the show these screen shots when the game LOOKS nothing like this "during game play". So EA adds Locomotion.. they do this every year throw one feature in and break another.

How about getting the basics down first... like a FUN game? Then work on the rest. Terrible blocking running and Qb animations have plagued this since it went next gen, fix the current problems first.


This is the same crap every year, some "major new feature" never addressing the CORE play itself!

Madden 2012 Hit stick 3.0 will be the new feature
Why is it always fix something first? Fix the running animations first. Fix franchise mode first. And the "Terrible blocking running" thing that you mentioned is what the new locomotion improves upon. People complain about the Madden team not releasing enough game play news and when they finally do, it's never enough or it's always something else that they should have done first! Also, I don't see how this doesn't contribute to fixing the core gameplay.
 
# 72 lolfalconsbeatu @ 04/07/10 07:42 PM
despite the few people that do not think that this is major enough, I think its a really good fix. This is only the 2nd blog, and this is something that will make the game more realistic. Isn't that what we all want in the end? Sure I wasn't thinking too much about locomotion, instead their are glaring problems such as the Nano Blitzes that are due to the lack of AI the lineman have(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMyOwnkldyE -- a ton of different ways to set it up, but this is just an example),

or the run blocking in general,overall GAMEPLAY, and I've seen many people want fixes with the franchise mode (which is an incredibly hot topic).

But reality is, this is a step in the right direction. Its only in Alpha and we as fans have no clue what they've been working on. What I Do Know is that IDC what anyone says, last year was a DRASTIC improvement IMO...even with the Pro-Tak having its problems.

And seriously, lmao to everyone who claims they need to just improve the fundamental and things they had in place already, instead of adding new stuff....Locomotion IS NOT NEW, so like I said before, its great that they improved Locomotion is a great fix.

Also, I'm not a fanboy, but this is the only NFL 'sim' replica that is out there, so it is what it is -- backbreaker looks to much like 'Blitz' for me
 
# 73 TombSong @ 04/07/10 07:44 PM
I like the info I have seen in the blog. Looks like a lot of thought went into what they blogged about.

I have one question:

How does what the user does effect acceleration ?

In the vid he shows 2 players running down the field. Its not known if they are human or cpu controlled.

In a game situation if those 2 players where a WR and a DB. If the faster WR was ahead of the DB, could the user controlled defender use the sprint button to "catch up" to the WR ?

I have seen many times in Madden 10 where my WR has a DB beat, only to see a user controlled DB player either warp or user controlled sprint to catch up to my WR.

Also, will all this acceleration stuff be made moot by the fact that no matter how bad a WR beats the coverage there always seems to be someone near the WR when he catches the ball to hit him.


How has warping been addressed in relations to these acceleration tweaks ? Is there still warping in the game ?

damn, thats 3 questions.....
 
# 74 Bgamer90 @ 04/07/10 08:04 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by nuttyrich
Why do the show these screen shots when the game LOOKS nothing like this "during game play". So EA adds Locomotion.. they do this every year throw one feature in and break another.

How about getting the basics down first... like a FUN game? Then work on the rest. Terrible blocking running and Qb animations have plagued this since it went next gen, fix the current problems first.


This is the same crap every year, some "major new feature" never addressing the CORE play itself!

Madden 2012 Hit stick 3.0 will be the new feature
Very ironic post. Locomotion is a basic part of the game that does address the core play of it.

Honestly this post just further proved to me that people will complain about Madden any way they can lol.

Anyways, it's looks real good. Maybe it's just me though but there's slightly too much leaning during turns in my opinion but things are still being worked on and this is soooo much better than the robo running animations. Can't wait to see some gameplay vids.
 
# 75 roadman @ 04/07/10 08:18 PM
Nice blog, it's certainly a nice step in the right direction.

Maybe folks that had a bit of a panic with the Mark Turmell and other higher up hirings will breathe easier, now.
 
# 76 +Chris+ @ 04/07/10 08:27 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by nuttyrich
Why do the show these screen shots when the game LOOKS nothing like this "during game play". So EA adds Locomotion.. they do this every year throw one feature in and break another.

How about getting the basics down first... like a FUN game? Then work on the rest. Terrible blocking running and Qb animations have plagued this since it went next gen, fix the current problems first.


This is the same crap every year, some "major new feature" never addressing the CORE play itself!

Madden 2012 Hit stick 3.0 will be the new feature
Quoted for emphasis.
 
# 77 Valdarez @ 04/07/10 08:34 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by +Chris+
Quoted for emphasis.
Running pretty much is as basic as you can get with regards to the game of football. IMHO, getting this right is step one to making a good football game.
 
# 78 splff3000 @ 04/07/10 08:48 PM
I'm trying, I really am trying... I am really trying to get excited about this stuff, but I just can't. I've heard them say they fix sideline catches before. I've heard them say why sideline catches are fixed before. I've even seen videos of sideline catches before. Likewise, I've heard them say they've fixed locomotion before, specifically momentum, acceleration, and turn radius. I've heard them explain how they've fixed it before. Also, just like the sideline catches, I've seen video of the fixed locomotion before. The problem is, I have never seen any of these things in the game when the game comes out. With these first 2 blogs, I feel like we're in a "been there, done that, bought the T-shirt" mode. I've seen all of this stuff before and even though the proposed fixes for these annual problems are different, the rhetoric remains the same.

I'm gonna say the same thing about this blog that I did about the sideline catches blog....... it shouldn't have happened. I mean seriously, how are you going to do a blog about fixing/improving something and then a year later do a blog on the same thing that you supposedly fixed/improved on last year? They should have just fixed it and let us be pleasantly surprised when we saw video of it. That way, if for some reason it gets cut before the game's release, no one will be as upset as they will be if either of these get cut now. It's obvious that these are 2 difficult problems to fix ( seeing that it's been 20+ years and they still aren't fixed), so why not just fix them, if you can, and not bring it up every year. Now what's going to happen if, like last year, they have to cut either one of these things?

I know some of you aren't going to like this, but IMO, they should just do away with the blogs....at least until they are able to show us what feature / improvement they are talking about IN-GAME. That way they can be confident that the feature / improvement works correctly and doesn't break the game. That way, the devs can rest easy because they know that the feature / improvement that they are blogging about is already in the game so they don't have to worry about fitting it in. The consumers would benefit also because they wouldn't be getting false info.

**sigh** I guess I'll have to wait until we see actual game footage before I can get my hopes up. Anyway, judging from the pattern of the first 2 blogs, I should assume that the 3rd blog will be either on OL/DL interaction and how pro tak allows them to fix it or it's gonna be on WR/DB interaction where they'll show us how good CB's jump routes, good WR's run great routes, and how we'll have WR/DB jostling. **sigh** I feel like I'm in Back to the Future or something.
 
# 79 huskerwr38 @ 04/07/10 08:48 PM
WOW....what really popped out to me was how HUGE the football is that LT is holding. It looks like a rugby sized ball. I can't believe I didn't notice that before.
 
# 80 Crimsontide27 @ 04/07/10 08:55 PM
Past history has shown me to look for the negatives before the positives when blogs and videos such as these come out. Lets not forget that with the majority of new features added to these titles, that it brings with it a lot of changes that are not good for the game.

Most recently, look at " Wide Open Gameplay". It was heralded as a major innovation until we played it and realized it should have been called " Wide open Defense" . They tried to address the problem of recievers getting YAC's by effectively slowing the defense way down so it had no time to react. What started out as a postive turned out to be a huge negative.

What we do know is that the defense is watered down in many aspects in both NCAA and Madden titles. Just imagine a high acceleration WR or TE burning you on each and every play because the defensive AI doesnt adjust. All passes on crossing patterns are an automatic completion as it is now, so wouldnt this just make it worse?

Lets look at the blocking for a minute. The offensive line has zero logic when it comes to blocking as it is now, creating a greater speed / accel disparity between players can compound this problem greatly. If you have a high accel back, chances are it will be very easy to out run your blocks the moment the ball is handed off, resulting in ever worse blocking logic than we have now. You would have 2 choices...stand still when you get the ball, or take off...either way, resulting in no blocking once again.

Locomotion sounds like a great concept at first, but its going to have to rely on many other aspects of the game improving at the same time.

Vids and graphics are nice, but I am "very" skeptical that they can pull this off without some huge gamebreaking issues creaping up. Murphys Law states that anything that can go wrong, probably will and Im very nervous about what all aspects of the game this will break, instead of fix.
 


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