Madden NFL 11 News Post

Madden NFL 11 Video: Ian Cummings Talks Game Plan

02:18 PM - April 27, 2010 by drlw322

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# 61 kmart2180 @ 04/28/10 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	If they are going to make it an integral part of the game, I can't see them not having an online mode for it. Completely removes the strategic element from the game, which removes my desire to play, but I can see this as a way to level the playing field for everyone. I'll bet you good money one of the online feature's will see touted soon will be the ability to play games and online franchises via GameFlow.

IMO it add's a more strategic element to the game. You have to execute the coaches gameplan the same way the players do in real life. IMO people who call there own plays 90% of the time call plays that they know will work due to the lack of a great cpu AI. No matter what football game you have ever played, there is always plays that the cpu AI just couldnt do anything against.

IMO this is a way of seperating the cheaters who abuse AI deficencies, and people who just want a great game of football the way it was meant to be played. I actually think its MORE of a chess match this way.

Im all for a cleaner game of football! This would be a great way to clean up the online mode IMO. (If they make a mode just for it that is)

# 62 Valdarez @ 04/28/10 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmart2180


	IMO it add's a more strategic element to the game. You have to execute the coaches gameplan the same way the players do in real life. IMO people who call there own plays 90% of the time call plays that they know will work due to the lack of a great cpu AI. No matter what football game you have ever played, there is always plays that the cpu AI just couldnt do anything against. IMO this is a way of seperating the cheaters who abuse AI deficencies, and people who just want a great game of football the way it was meant to be played. I actually think its MORE of a chess match this way. Im all for a cleaner game of football! This would be a great way to clean up the online mode IMO. (If they make a mode just for it that is)

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Being able to call a game based on how your opponent is playing, and what they are showing you, is the main strategy element in the game. Remove that, and there's really no strategy, just execution (which you even said).

The lack of a proper CPU AI means you have to dumb your game down in order to get a balanced game. That doesn't make dumbing your game down the right approach. Fixing the CPU AI would be the better approach.

# 63 Purple28Pedestrian @ 04/28/10 06:42 AM

Does gameflow just allow you to choose certain plays or can you use certain strategies, for examle

If I am playing the titans, I will pick run stopping plays, however can we set our gameplan to attack the run first and foremost, can we set our gameplan to contain the QB?

what I mean is can we set our defensive play mentality to be "on the lookout for the run" despite the plays we call. Or is it just a way to select plays we prefer.

I guess in a nutshell im asking if this is just a way to prioritize plays or is there really a strategy to stopping the other team's strengths or exploiting them that goes beyond selecting the right plays?

# 64 Valdarez @ 04/28/10 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple28Pedestrian


	Does gameflow just allow you to choose certain plays or can you use certain strategies, for examle If I am playing the titans, I will pick run stopping plays, however can we set our gameplan to attack the run first and foremost, can we set our gameplan to contain the QB? what I mean is can we set our defensive play mentality to be "on the lookout for the run" despite the plays we call. Or is it just a way to select plays we prefer. I guess in a nutshell im asking if this is just a way to prioritize plays or is there really a strategy to stopping the other team's strengths or exploiting them that goes beyond selecting the right plays?

Not from what we have seen thus far. So far it looks like you can prioritize plays based on situations, and then the coordinators tendencies kick in some how.

# 65 STLRams @ 04/28/10 09:34 AM

Maybe Im mistaken, but it would be cool if during head to head games on the same system the Gameflow/Gameplan would give you plays in your headset/mic so that the guy you are playing against doesn't have any idea what your next play is going to be. Or is it already like this and I have misread it somewhere. If so that is pretty cool, that would make people go buy more headsets not just for online play anymore, but offline also.

# 66 Bootzilla @ 04/28/10 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Being able to call a game based on how your opponent is playing, and what they are showing you, is the main strategy element in the game. Remove that, and there's really no strategy, just execution (which you even said). The lack of a proper CPU AI means you have to dumb your game down in order to get a balanced game. That doesn't make dumbing your game down the right approach. Fixing the CPU AI would be the better approach.

Are you talking about what your opponent is showing you offensively or defensively? If you're on offense you dictate to the defense what they need to do based on personnel. If your opponent blitzes all the time put in a lot of quick slants and maybe some screens into your playbook. Max protect. And it's not like audibles and hot routes have been taken out. To me strategy still exists. Maybe even added strategy.

It sounds to me that guys most against this (and if you're against it, why complain? don't use it.) are online or head to head guys. Honestly, the game is very different for vs. cpu guys like myself and head to head guys. To each his own. I see great potential in this feature and since you don't have to use it, what's the downside?

# 67 Bootzilla @ 04/28/10 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beastwork


	for offense and defense all i needed is a favorite plays category. most of the time when you're playing a human you're calling plays to counter tendencies, not down and distance situations. i play with the colts and I pass 90% of the time. down and distance will not help you figure out what play I'm going to run

I'm sure people who play against you appreciate you giving them your gameplan ahead of time, lol. But, honestly, if you come out is passing formations all the time wouldn't your opponent come out it nickel or dime based on your personnel?

# 68 roadman @ 04/28/10 10:38 AM

Here's a novel idea for the day.

Instead of praising this feature or damning this feature, why don't we wait till we play with it first?

It's too easy to praise it or rip it before we have first hand knowledge of it, isn't it?

If this continues, every feature that EA blogs about, people will start having heart attacks.

Obviously, the most productive post ask questions about the feature or how it might be enhanced now or in the future.

Just a thought.

# 69 Bootzilla @ 04/28/10 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beastwork


	that's my point. you're better off throwing away your conventional wisdom about down and distance playing a guy like me. there are plenty more out there like me online. coming out in nickel and dime would render your gameplan setup null and void

On the defensive side of the ball, gameplan wasn't based on down and distance. Only offense. Defense was based on personnel. If you saw the video where Ian was showing defensive gameplan it showed 3 wides and what defenses you'd want vs. 3 wides. Not down and distance.

# 70 Skyboxer @ 04/28/10 11:49 AM

Haven't made a "real" gameplay since FPS FB Pro....I did make some here and there with FOF but nothing like FPS FB Pro

I'm pretty stoked about this.

Sorry if this has been asked:
If I have a Game Plan set up and sim the game...with the SIM use my gameplan? Online Franchise Sim also?

# 71 thejake @ 04/28/10 11:58 AM

I think this will be pretty neat as well. If anyting, it should help the cpu playcalling. I don't understand all the hate. They are still allowing you to call plays the old way, right? What's the big deal?

I would love the option to script the first 15 plays of the game like some of the west coast teams do. Has that been confirmed?

# 72 Bootzilla @ 04/28/10 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyboxer


	Haven't made a "real" gameplay since FPS FB Pro....I did make some here and there with FOF but nothing like FPS FB Pro I'm pretty stoked about this. Sorry if this has been asked: If I have a Game Plan set up and sim the game...with the SIM use my gameplan? Online Franchise Sim also?

Just an assumption but it would make sense that simming would use your gameplan.

The best part of this feature is that gameplan and gameflow aren't mutually exclusive. I'd love to have my 15 plays for all situations and be able to call from those plays. Being able to switch up your gameplan from week to week is awesome.

I can see myself scripting my first few plays, rating my plays and using gameflow, and then dumping gameflow in the 4th quarter and calling plays from my gameplan.

# 73 Valdarez @ 04/28/10 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dat swag


	Business 101 sais it makes perfectly good sense to gear the game towards your largest audience and that is the "CASUAL GAMER"...Forget hardcore...nobody cares about the hardcore Madden/Football sim fan.

Definitely agree with the first part, but disagree with the last part. I know Ian wants to make a sim game, and that means catering to the hardcore gamer. The problem is, like you said, the game must cater to the largest fan base, and that is the casual fan. If anyone has read my posts for the last couple of years, I have constantly said they needed to find a way to decrease the learning curve for newer players and to educate them on the game of football (both offense & defense). I see the first part of that equation in GameFlow, but not the later. GameFlow isn't a feature I'm that interested in, but at the same time I understand the necessity of it as you pointed out.

# 74 Valdarez @ 04/28/10 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grunt


	Do we know Madden 11 will have a universal playbook and can we have unlimited amount pf game plans?

No, haven't seen anything on this yet. You got to have more than one gameplan! No way in !@#$ I want to credit/edit one over, and over, and over again in order to keep it 'dynamic'.

# 75 Valdarez @ 04/28/10 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootzilla


	Are you talking about what your opponent is showing you offensively or defensively? If you're on offense you dictate to the defense what they need to do based on personnel. If your opponent blitzes all the time put in a lot of quick slants and maybe some screens into your playbook. Max protect. And it's not like audibles and hot routes have been taken out. To me strategy still exists. Maybe even added strategy. It sounds to me that guys most against this (and if you're against it, why complain? don't use it.) are online or head to head guys. Honestly, the game is very different for vs. cpu guys like myself and head to head guys. To each his own. I see great potential in this feature and since you don't have to use it, what's the downside?

Go play 5 seasons via Beginner PlayCalling in Madden 10, and you'll understand why I'm not for this (which is different than being 'against' it). It's just not a feature that I want to use.

# 76 Valdarez @ 04/28/10 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Here's a novel idea for the day. Instead of praising this feature or damning this feature, why don't we wait till we play with it first? It's too easy to praise it or rip it before we have first hand knowledge of it, isn't it? If this continues, every feature that EA blogs about, people will start having heart attacks. Obviously, the most productive post ask questions about the feature or how it might be enhanced now or in the future. Just a thought.

Whatever would we talk about for the next 3 months then roadman???

# 77 roadman @ 04/28/10 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	Whatever would we talk about for the next 3 months then roadman???

Exactly.

I don't mind if it's talked about intelligently, but the constant praising and the constant degrading it before trying it is really putting the cart before the horse on both sides.

My point is that none of us know what it feels like unles we see it unfold before our eyes.

Talk about what blog you want next or better ways to enhance the game.

Go treat your lady/ladies to something nice. haha

# 78 Bootzilla @ 04/28/10 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	Go play 5 seasons via Beginner PlayCalling in Madden 10, and you'll understand why I'm not for this (which is different than being 'against' it). It's just not a feature that I want to use.

Huh? If I'm able to set up my favorite plays vs certain teams and their schemes and implement them how I want based on down and distance I'm all for it. And I can do this without scrolling through an entire playbook. How is this like Beginner Play Calling? That's what I fail to see.

It's been confirmed that Gameplan and Gameflow aren't mutually exclusive. So, if one week I'm playing a cover 2 team and I make a gameplan to go against them and the next week I play a zone blitz team and make a gameplan to go against them, how is that Beginner Play Calling. You do understand that without using Game Flow you'll be choosing from up to 15 plays that you selected for every situation. I may use gameflow from time to time but, I will primarily be calling the plays myself from my gameplan.

# 79 Valdarez @ 04/28/10 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootzilla


	Huh? If I'm able to set up my favorite plays vs certain teams and their schemes and implement them how I want based on down and distance I'm all for it. And I can do this without scrolling through an entire playbook. How is this like Beginner Play Calling? That's what I fail to see. It's been confirmed that Gameplan and Gameflow aren't mutually exclusive. So, if one week I'm playing a cover 2 team and I make a gameplan to go against them and the next week I play a zone blitz team and make a gameplan to go against them, how is that Beginner Play Calling. You do understand that without using Game Flow you'll be choosing from up to 15 plays that you selected for every situation. I may use gameflow from time to time but, I will primarily be calling the plays myself from my gameplan.

Because the game is calling the play for you, and it effectively levels out the play calling between you and the AI. More importantly, it puts you on the field, in the action, as quickly as possible, which is exactly what GameFlow is going to do. Honestly, go plug in the NFL Simulation Sliders I put together for Madden 10 and play a game via Beginner PlayCalling. That's the closest you will get to playing the way GameFlow plays. If you set the time to 15 minutes and 25 second run off, you'll also see that a game can be played in roughly 40 minutes. I'm not sure where they are getting their under 30 minutes for realistic 120 or so play calls per game. I don't see that happening.

# 80 Bootzilla @ 04/28/10 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdarez


	Because the game is calling the play for you, and it effectively levels out the play calling between you and the AI. More importantly, it puts you on the field, in the action, as quickly as possible, which is exactly what GameFlow is going to do. Honestly, go plug in the NFL Simulation Sliders I put together for Madden 10 and play a game via Beginner PlayCalling. That's the closest you will get to playing the way GameFlow plays. If you set the time to 15 minutes and 25 second run off, you'll also see that a game can be played in roughly 40 minutes. I'm not sure where they are getting their under 30 minutes for realistic 120 or so play calls per game. I don't see that happening.

I think we're talking about different things. The cpu is not calling plays for you unless you use GAMEFLOW. By using GAMEPLAN, you will be calling the plays that you selected for certain situations. I don't see it cutting game time in half by playing this way either but, i was O.K. with that anyway.

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