Madden NFL 11 News Post

Madden NFL 11 Blog: Locomotion w/ Videos and L.T. Screenshot

03:53 PM - April 7, 2010 by Steve_OS

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."

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Member Comments

# 141 Pacman83 @ 04/08/10 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NavigatorD83


	Visual Concepts knows what they are doing

If they did, they'd still be making football games.

# 142 canes21 @ 04/08/10 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman83


	If they did, they'd still be making football* games.*

What? How does that make sense?

# 143 roadman @ 04/08/10 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjones84


	Ian,,,,have you guys thought about working with ( Visual Concepts ) at all for the near future.

Why bring this up?

I heard VC has split up with their other sports games.

# 144 Pacman83 @ 04/08/10 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canes21


	What? How does that make sense?

If they knew what they were doing they'd still be making football games. The fact that they chose to make crappy baseball games and hockey games that few people buy and are subpar compared to others in their genre and their latest basketball game is glitchy and is still subpar IMO--instead of doing something along the lines of Backbreaker, where they could at least compete?

# 145 canes21 @ 04/08/10 07:25 PM

If they had more money than EA they would still be making football games. And going by the majority of basketball fans, the 2k series beats Live easily. I would have to agree to. Live is nothing like real life. The animations look silly and on loose balls the players walk half the time when you hold down the sprint button. And I love their baseball games. 2k9 wasn't the greatest game, but 2k10 showed much improvement and has been a solid game this year. And I don't play hockey games often, but I liked them both, but I though 2k's was slightly more realistic while EA's had the better graphics, but it still had silly looking animations all EA games are plagued by.

# 146 Pacman83 @ 04/08/10 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canes21


	If they had more money than EA they would still be making football games. And going by the majority of basketball fans, the 2k series beats Live easily. I would have to agree to. Live is nothing like real life. The animations look silly and on loose balls the players walk half the time when you hold down the sprint button. And I love their baseball games. 2k9 wasn't the greatest game, but 2k10 showed much improvement and has been a solid game this year. And I don't play hockey games often, but I liked them both, but I though 2k's was slightly more realistic while EA's had the better graphics, but it still had silly looking animations all EA games are plagued by.

I'm just going to disagree w/ you on a few points as far those games, and Live was sooo good this year. 2K could still be making football games, just not NFL, (aka Backbreaker, or Arena League) They would probably sell as many copies as their baseball, even hockey...but i dont know so there it is, i'll leave it at that.

# 147 canes21 @ 04/08/10 07:45 PM

And I am going to disagree with you. NBA Live was okay this year, but was broken. The game just didn't feel right and the players didn't move naturally. Almost every pass was swatted away unless you changed sliders, and when it was swatted away, players didn't sprint towards it ever. I had many time where my players would knock a pass out of the air. Walk towards it and pick it up just to get chased down by Shaw on the fast break because they were moving so slow. That should never happen. My player should have sprinted for the ball, picked it up, sprinted down towards the basket and scored off a dunk or layup.

But w're on the Madden board, so I won't go much further on Live. And 2k can't make an Arena Football game since EA owns the rights to that as well. And I'd say they won't be making another unlicensed game because the fact is, football fans don't want an unlicensed game no matter how good it is. 2k8 is a prime example. And since you keep bringing up poor sales, do you know how much their Baseball or hockey games sell annually without looking it up?

# 148 Pacman83 @ 04/08/10 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canes21


	And I am going to disagree with you. NBA Live was okay this year, but was broken. The game just didn't feel right and the players didn't move naturally. Almost every pass was swatted away unless you changed sliders, and when it was swatted away, players didn't sprint towards it ever. I had many time where my players would knock a pass out of the air. Walk towards it and pick it up just to get chased down by Shaw on the fast break because they were moving so slow. That should never happen. My player should have sprinted for the ball, picked it up, sprinted down towards the basket and scored off a dunk or layup. But w're on the Madden board, so I won't go much further on Live. And 2k can't make an Arena Football game since EA owns the rights to that as well. And I'd say they won't be making another unlicensed game because the fact is, football fans don't want an unlicensed game no matter how good it is. 2k8 is a prime example. And since you keep bringing up poor sales, do you know how much their Baseball or hockey games sell annually without looking it up?

Nope, dont need too...how bad was MLB 2k9? Took it back....Which was NHL 2k9/2k10 or NHL 09/10?... I think that they could've competed better with some kind of football game (coming from a college student--not majoring in Business)...i mean look @ Madden, M10 is the only one i've kept for 360, its been pretty bad. but like i said i dunno, just my opinion.

Anyway looking forward to Madden, looks to be in the right direction.

# 149 bxgoods @ 04/08/10 07:55 PM

Why would somebody even bring Visual Concepts in this thread, are y'all that dumb?

# 150 canes21 @ 04/08/10 07:59 PM

You took it back, thats great. I bought the game in June and almost finished a season, playing every game by the time the real playoffs were getting on the way. And neither was better. Different people like different games. I will always prefer 2k's games over EA because they are always more realist, look smoother, and have better animations in my eyes. That doesn't mean 2k makes great games or EA makes bad games.

And how is spending time and resources to gain a very small profit better for business? Yea, they made money, but its almost not worth it to make a football game without the NCAA or NFL license.

# 151 huskerwr38 @ 04/08/10 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	Don't get me wrong, the fact that they are addressing the locomotion issue to the extent of scrapping what they had and using an existing better solution is definitely encouraging. Having said that, things aren't as cookie cutter as that. Just because they use FIFA's system and stick it in Madden, doesn't mean that it will just integrate flawlessly without any issue. Furthermore, from what I gather from the blog, they are not just lifting the FIFA system and dropping it in untouched. They are adding their own flavor to make it fit what they think is the best implementation. That could be a very good thing if done correctly, or it could be a worse proposition than just leaving it alone. This isn't an anti EA/Madden/Ian & Co post by any means. I just think it is a lot more complicated than saying there is no possible way that this can't work, because they are using tech that already works in another implementation. Way too early to say what the outcome of this will be. That goes for both the positive and the negative arguments. Only one thing you can say at this point is that SEEM to be taking this issue seriously enough to take this action.

You're right that it's too early to say based on the outcome. But, I'm just more confident that this will be working better, or at least how I think it will like FIFA, than their usual patch work of fixes. I'm not that optimistic about how well the catch debugging tool will be to fix catching, but I am very optimistic about the new locomotion technology because it has been used in FIFA and it's phenomenal. That's all.

# 152 huskerwr38 @ 04/08/10 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnyGivenSunday


	Thanks. That is exactly why I think the locomotion will be very much improved on. I've heard nothing but, good/great comments on Fifa's locomotion system even though I've never played it but, have watched some friends of mine play. I agree since Its completely different proven technology on a proven EA Sports title, I'll choose to believe that the locomotion will be a lot better(not saying the whole game will be but, this could be huge) than M10. If Fifa's technology can't help madden then I don't know what will. I'm skeptical about the wide receiver blog so that is still a wait and see. I don't choose to believe every single thing a dev writes(been let down to many times) but, I got a good feeling about this new locomotion technology. No doubt M10's movement was better than 09 so hopefully Ian and Co. get one of the most core aspects of football done right this year. This looks promising so don't let me down. No pressure, no pressure.

Exactly my thoughts, which I posted pretty much the same thing before I even read this post. Great minds think alike huh?

# 153 nuttyrich @ 04/08/10 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achain


	Where have I heard this song and dance before about how great locomotion is going to be in this year's game.... Oh wait, that's right. It was a promised "feature" of Madden 2009. They even made this fancy video to show it off.... http://www.videogamer.com/videos/mad...n_trailer.html Gotta love rehashing. Boy, I sure hope they get it right this year :\

Hilarious always broken promises. Didn't EA celebrate their Madden 20 year anniversary.. and yet 5 years into next gen we still have the same crap.

I excused Madden '06 because we knew it was rushed and very little time, even '07 you can say they're building it from the ground up.. okay '08 will be great.. NO '09 will be amazing.. NO.. '10 should be at it's peak... NOPE!

Just because it works in FIFA doesn't mean it will work in Madden, they are 2 different sports, same as people will find out with backbreaker the technology can only take you so far it works great (Europhia Engine) with GTA and a few other games, but when applied to football.. it just doesn't come out right.

While this MAY be a step in the right direction, we should of been there a LONG time ago. I don't see how locomotion will fix the running game the clipping and everything else.

I hope for all of us it does bring a BIG change, Madden needs it badly it's very stale this many years into next gen.. we deserve a QUALITY title.

# 154 Only1LT @ 04/09/10 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huskerwr38


	You're right that it's too early to say based on the outcome. But, I'm just more confident that this will be working better, or at least how I think it will like FIFA, than their usual patch work of fixes. I'm not that optimistic about how well the catch debugging tool will be to fix catching, but I am very optimistic about the new locomotion technology because it has been used in FIFA and it's phenomenal. That's all.

I understand what you are saying, I'm just saying that there is no guarantee that it works anywhere near as well as it does in FIFA(never played FIFA so I'm just going along with those that say it's great). Not trying to put a damper on your optimism, but to me this is analogous to a someone seeing a celebrity with a haircut that they think is spectacular and that they think if they get the same haircut it will look just as spectacular on them, even though the shape of their heads and the proportions of their faces are totally different. Great doesn't always translate to great, but here's hoping.

# 155 Only1LT @ 04/09/10 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman83


	If they did, they'd still be making football* games.*

Someone doesn't get it.

# 156 Only1LT @ 04/09/10 01:17 AM

Finally had a chance to look at the vidz after getting home from school. Thankfully they were not choppy like at work. I must say, that they must have done something in the area of improving the way that the animations are displayed because they were much more fluid. The animations were pretty much the same as what we have seen in the past, but the annoying robotic herky jerkiness of the movements were greatly lessened.

Hopefully this is something that is really being addressed and not just confined to the presentation, but I have to give credit where it's due. The increased fluidity was very welcome.

# 157 Pacman83 @ 04/09/10 01:30 AM

^^Maybe its you that doesn't get it.

Read my other posts to get where i'm coming from.

# 158 prettyrik @ 04/09/10 05:06 AM

Sounds good, but until I play the game myself in person I'm not giving Madden the benefit of the doubt anymore. I have one key question for EA developers/designers did they take out player movement control from the d-pad? If not they really need to if they want the game to feel authentic and even out the playing field for all gamers in all game situations. Reasons being because from my experiences the game does not respond the same with two different type of controls d-pad is more responsive than analog which isn't an even playing field! PLAYER MOVEMENT CONTROL NEEDS TO ONLY BE ON THE LEFT STICK SUCH AS IN ALL PRO FOOTBALL AND BACKBREAKER!!! I have to at least EA is admitting the problems that Madden 10 had which was a good game compared to its predecessors. but has ways to go to before it gets to the point where it cleans out all the bugs that hindering the games potential to be a good simulation football game meaning intending to be played like the games played in the fall on Sunday. Like I said before I'm not going to get all geeked up until I play the game for myself for a bit and new/hype has worn off. Then I will ask the question is this game really good/fun to play? That will be the determining factor for me. I honestly do hope the answer to that question is yes.

# 159 Only1LT @ 04/09/10 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman83


	^^Maybe its you that doesn't get it. Read my other posts to get where i'm coming from.

No it's definitely you that doesn't get it if you think that the reason that 2K doesn't make Football games is because they made bad Football games lol. That's more than laughable, that's... what's the word I'm looking for? Oh yeah! Asinine!

# 160 Pacman83 @ 04/09/10 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	No it's definitely you that doesn't get it if you think that the reason that 2K doesn't make Football games is because they made bad Football games lol. That's more than laughable, that's... what's the word I'm looking for? Oh yeah! Asinine!

Yea...learn to read, never said that.

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