Madden NFL 11 News Post

Madden NFL 11 Hands-On Impressions (OS)

10:54 AM - April 26, 2010 by Steve_OS

We have just posted our Madden NFL 11 hands-on impressions. Find out what Christian McLeod has to say about his time with the game.

Quote:


	"At EA�s recent community event, I was able to sit down with Madden developer Ian Cummings and get a very early hands on with Madden 11. With the tagline "Simpler," "Deeper" and "Quicker" being emphasized, I was able to take a look at some of this year's gameplay improvements that the Madden team feels will elevate Madden 11 to the next level."

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Member Comments

# 21 roadman @ 04/26/10 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swiftychampleone


	Gameflow is an option from what I'm hearing. You can still go through your playbook if you want. Honestly, I like the Gameflow option where you can set your plays before a game for certain offensive situations. I don't think I'll use the Gameflow to "tell me" what to run. I know I haven't purchased Madden since 06, but I'm an experienced player.

Please read the OS preview too.

It's stated in the preview this is not just for "noobs"

# 22 swiftychampleone @ 04/26/10 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Please read the OS preview too. It's stated in the preview this is not just for "noobs"

I did read it, roadman. That's why I said:

Honestly, I like the Gameflow option where you can set your plays before a game for certain offensive situations.

That would be the option for the experienced players on how they would use Gameflow. Most casuals/new players would use the version of Gameflow that picks the play for them.

# 23 kjcheezhead @ 04/26/10 01:01 PM

The gameflow thing really just doesn't do much for me. I don't fit the average madden gamer that only runs 3-4 plays tho. When I played I tried to never use the same play more than 3-4 times a game at most. I also really don't like having the cpu select my plays even if it's choosing from my selection because I still wouldn't trust it to be the play I wanted to run.

It's not a bad feature I guess, it just does nothing to address any of the issues I have with the game either.

# 24 coogrfan @ 04/26/10 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProjectSRT


	What if we like our games to last over an hour? I want my game to be as close to authentic as it can be, and playing a full NFL game in 30 minutes goes in the opposite direction.

If you choose to use traditional playcalling instead of Gameflow the pace of the game should be the same as before.

# 25 davjaffe @ 04/26/10 01:02 PM

So far, things sound good. Keeping in mind that it's an early build, I can't help but notice that the previews seem a lot more enthusiastic about NCAA thus far . . . and being a Madden-only gamer, I'm hoping that will change as we get closer to release. Also, I'm still hoping for some graphical improvements - the player models in NCAA look to be significantly improved, and I would be pretty disappointed if Madden's don't follow suit.

# 26 GlennN @ 04/26/10 01:11 PM

Great article. Very encouraging. Two of the things I have been most critical about are the locomotion and line play deficiencies. It is great to see that an emphasis has been spent on both. I am now genuinely excited to see what Madden 11 looks like!

# 27 davjaffe @ 04/26/10 01:16 PM

Also, this review's endorsement of improved line-play seemed half-hearted. That's kind of concerning.

# 28 Valdarez @ 04/26/10 01:17 PM

I don't believe the choppy animations are over at all. Even in the warm up vids you can still see the lack of fluid animations. That's a rendering problem, not an animation problem.

Love the quote on Gameflow... has to be an instant classic... 'because of the depth that it's simplicity provides'. I'm hungry for some jumbo shrimp.

Gameflow makes you feel like a real head coach? How? You're not doing anything in the game. Maybe it makes you feel like a QB, but a head coach? I don't see it.

The videos haven't shown a real pocket developing, and most of the guys continue to drop back 10 yards on plays. You'll even see Guards rush forward 2 to 3 yards to make a block on PASSING plays instead of protecting the pocket.

# 29 SteelerSpartan @ 04/26/10 01:19 PM

Cant say I'll ever fiddle around with GameFlow that much for myself

Did anyone see if we can set team/coach tendencies for the CPU..with it??/

Last year we heard a lot about how they had programed teams to play like themselves but of course.....there was very little evidence of that.

Im hoping the "psychic" play calling from the cpu is eliminated.......so sick and tired of coming out in 4 wr Draw, and them lined up in 4-3 stacked in the middle

# 30 roadman @ 04/26/10 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swiftychampleone


	I did read it, roadman. That's why I said: Honestly, I like the Gameflow option where you can set your plays before a game for certain offensive situations. That would be the option for the experienced players on how they would use Gameflow. Most casuals/new players would use the version of Gameflow that picks the play for them.

Sorry, I quoted the wrong person by mistake.

I wanted to quote Valdarez instead.

# 31 Bumble14 @ 04/26/10 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ch46647


	How did you feel about the removal of the "sprint" button? I dont know if you play the EA NHL series but I love the way the analog stick, and ratings control how fast you move in that game. Is the analog responsive enough to handle the lack of a sprint button? What I mean by this is if I see a hole can I jam the left stick up and the player will immediately start accelerating into his sprint? Also, could you elaborate a little more on the new kicking meter? Thanks for any feedback! EDIT: When you say the pre-play controls were streamlined. Was it similar to the old PS2 pre-play controls? Those were infinitely better then what we have now.

It took me a while to stop pressing down on the RT for turbo, but I really like how it's implemented. As a semi "sim" guy I like how acceleration and speed bursts are determined by a players ratings vs. me spamming a button. The analog is very responsive, and the end result is a lot like NHL (speedier players are more responsive than grinders).

Kicking meter is a lot like a Tiger Woods putting meter. It's a horizontal bar that you click a button on when it hits the desired power. It's very basic and I was not able to see how it differentiated with different kickers. Quite honestly I am not that big of a fan, even though Ian explained that it was the best way to differentiate kickers.

The pre play controls are integrated to the right stick and then you are given a menu on screen a lot like NCAA's (visual circle telling you where to move the analog stick, etc.).

# 32 Bumble14 @ 04/26/10 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adembroski


	Can you comment on the run blocking assignments and execution?

Blocking is much better- players have assignments, and if they lose a guy will seek out someone to block that makes sense. Huge improvement.

# 33 therizing02 @ 04/26/10 01:22 PM

I still can't understand how games are going to take 30 minutes. I use Ask Madden on O and D about 90% of the time. I'm using 15 minute quarters with 20 second runoff and games are taking an hour or slightly less.

Game Flow sounds like a great addition, but I'm not sure how it would cut the time to play games down to 30 minutes.

# 34 Bumble14 @ 04/26/10 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_OS


	Christian. As posted by Boregard, in this thread. http://www.operationsports.com/forum...-controls.html Did you see anything like this?

Did not see this. Can not confirm. It was very limited as to how much I could fool around with the game while I had my hands on time.

# 35 SteelerSpartan @ 04/26/10 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	I don't believe the choppy animations are over at all. Even in the warm up vids you can still see the lack of fluid animations. That's a rendering problem, not an animation problem. Love the quote on Gameflow... has to be an instant classic... 'because of the depth that it's simplicity provides'. I'm hungry for some jumbo shrimp. Gameflow makes you feel like a real head coach? How? You're not doing anything in the game. Maybe it makes you feel like a QB, but a head coach? I don't see it. The videos haven't shown a real pocket developing, and most of the guys continue to drop back 10 yards on plays. You'll even see Guards rush forward 2 to 3 yards to make a block on PASSING plays instead of protecting the pocket.

I agree....in both NCAA and Madden the QBs are still floating around too much........If they're not going to make the pass rush come up field, at least slow the Qbs down back there...............hmmm

THats makes me wonder though....if theres no sprint button then will the QBs ever sprint around back there and be able to take off if they see a lane??

# 36 Bumble14 @ 04/26/10 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCreep


	I still dont understand how Gameflow is going to make the game go any faster than it already goes. I'm not seeing what exactly is being taken out that will cut the game to half hour vice 1 to 1 hour and a half? I utilize the Ask Madden feature and then pick one of the plays in that selection, doesn't take long at all. My games still last for a good hour. What is gameflow going to do that'll make my games go faster that I'm not already doing? See what I'm getting at?

The cpu picks the play for you based on the situation, you do not spend time in the playcalling screen. You can rate plays, and set up a playbook to customize this, but in game you do not even mess around in a menu like ask madden when using gameflow.

# 37 Bumble14 @ 04/26/10 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boregard


	I do not understand why anyone thinks removing the "sprint" button is a good idea. The sticks on both the current gen consoles absolutely suck, they are not stiff enough or sensitive enough and this just takes more control out of the user's hands - absolutely stupid and lazy way to deal with CPU not taking proper pursuit angles. In football, you don't always run at full speed, there are times when you are running close to it, but holding back or setting up your feet for a move and then you turn on that top gear. This makes that more difficult for the user to replicate and is the single dumbest idea ever. This isn't hockey, this is football and the analog sticks are not done well enough for this to work properly and with "sprint" being off by default that means it probally is now a turbo button instead of full sprint which it should be - dumb, dumb, dumb!!!

This is where the locomotion engine comes into play. Players will ramp up to top speed based on acceleration ratings and if they get into the open field. Trust me, the game feels awesome when you get past the second layer of defense and your player hits full stride. Simulation guys are going to love this once they get their hands on it.

# 38 DJ @ 04/26/10 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therizing02


	I still can't understand how games are going to take 30 minutes. I use Ask Madden on O and D about 90% of the time. I'm using 15 minute quarters with 20 second runoff and games are taking an hour or slightly less. Game Flow sounds like a great addition, but I'm not sure how it would cut the time to play games down to 30 minutes.

Yeah, I'm just not seeing how GF is going to drastically reduce play time in half. Like you, I use Ask Madden on both sides of the ball and my games take around 50-60 minutes to play.

# 39 Valdarez @ 04/26/10 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumble14


	Kicking meter is a lot like a Tiger Woods putting meter. It's a horizontal bar that you click a button on when it hits the desired power. It's very basic and I was not able to see how it differentiated with different kickers. Quite honestly I am not that big of a fan, even though Ian explained that it was the best way to differentiate kickers.

100% disagree with Ian on this, and disappointed that Ian actually believes this to be true. Play APF2K8 and you'll see that they do an excellent job differentiating kickers without the need for a kick meter.

# 40 CreatineKasey @ 04/26/10 01:45 PM

Even if I don't use GameFlow all the time in ranked matches, I'll definitely use that to speed up games after people quit on me.

I like the removal of the sprint button. It worked, but the sensitive locomotion should bring out more possibilities and probably be more intuitive. I'm also excited about the kicking changes. Hopefully kickers have proper distance limits and there's an actual opportunity to fail. If there's one thing that I'll voice clear displeasure about in M10, it's the kicking. Nothing in M10 takes me more out of reality than nailing 3 FG's beyond 60 yards in one game.

I'll be excited to see some footage of this game. Things that weren't mentioned much which I still want:

- Route running improvements
- Real examples of situations where warps used to happen and them not happening now.
- A true pocket = need those DE's rushing around the edges while still being engaged like APF.
- Pass trajectory = show me some nice deep balls.

Those things are still all possible for this year. So far I like what I've read. Honestly, if locomotion and OL were the only gameplay improvements... call me tickled pink. Those are massive changes to a game that really struggled in those areas. Smart move by EA.

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