Madden NFL 11 News Post

FBGRatings Seeks to Recalibrate Madden Ratings, Change Game

02:46 PM - January 24, 2011 by RaychelSnr

I recentely sat down for a talk with FBGRatings.com's Dan Berens to discuss his site's vision and what's going on over there today. The site is currently working on getting accurate ratings for every player using real hard data converted into the Madden ratings universe. Dan claims that when these numbers are plugged into the game, it plays much better and much closer to real life. Check out the interview below and also check out Dan's website to see what he's got going on!

Interview with Berens on the OS Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio

Game: Madden NFL 11Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 96 - View All

Madden NFL 11 Videos

Member Comments

# 481 DCEBB2001 @ 08/21/11 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garret2


	so for example, DRC and revis both have great potential in man coverage but revis is more consistent so you give him a higher awareness so that his overall is higher. kind of like that?

Kind of like that. It's a bit more complicated than just doing that though.

# 482 DCEBB2001 @ 08/28/11 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zastrin


	I want to use these rosters for Madden 12

You will have to add them in one by one as rosters will not be provided for download this year.

# 483 DCEBB2001 @ 08/28/11 02:48 PM

***UPDATE***

All depth charts have been updated as of week 3 of the preseason. That means that players are now listed at their proper positions. The next update will come after the first roster cut-down this week. Players that have all basic data along with their new 2011 Hts/Wts and Jersey numbers now have the "Preseason" status. Once again, I am waiting for the game in order to break the OVR calculations, upon which all OVR ratings will then match the attributes. I am unsure how long this process will take, but am hopeful that all ratings should be complete by mid-season around week 8 or 9. There will not be any rosters for download this year, so you will have to change them one-by-one in your game.

Also, there is a "HOPEFUL" chance that I will be joining EA's Madden team in the near future. I conducted my phone interview with a half dozen developers including Josh Looman and Donny Moore this past Wednesday. They contacted me regarding the site and my ratings system and are interested in me joining their team as a developer for the ratings and their implementation into the game. The interview lasted about an hour and many ideas were exchanged. I am hoping to bring my experience as a player, coach, and statistician to the Madden crew for Madden 2013. I should know more in the coming weeks.

Thanks again for everyone interested in FBG ratings, and stay tuned for more updates to come.

# 484 KingV2k3 @ 08/28/11 04:28 PM

Congrats Dan!

As disappointed as I am to find out that there will be no FBG rosters available for download this year, I'm truly amped to hear that you may be able to have long term impact through your possible association with EA...

Much deserved!

# 485 Colts18 @ 08/28/11 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCEBB2001


	Wanna know something cool? The head guy who powers my site is a close friend of John Madden's and has connections to his daughter, who is the acting head of the Madden name brand. This could influence how ratings are done in the long run should it get enough attention garnered by the guys at Tiburon and EA. That is the goal, anyway...do what they do...but better.

As long as overall ratings exist, there will always be incentive for these companies to overrate superstars to get an ideal overall rating.

Just say if, I know it won't happen, that Peyton Manning turns out to be the 5th highest QB in your system, a lot of people would be upset. Even though it might be accurate, the fact that his overall rating isn't 1 or 2, people will call your system inaccurate.

This is what EA and 2K face every year. I believe overall ratings shouldn't be included because it simply forces rating employees to lie to get a desired overall/.

# 486 Playmakers @ 08/28/11 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCEBB2001


	*UPDATE* All depth charts have been updated as of week 3 of the preseason. That means that players are now listed at their proper positions. The next update will come after the first roster cut-down this week. Players that have all basic data along with their new 2011 Hts/Wts and Jersey numbers now have the "Preseason" status. Once again, I am waiting for the game in order to break the OVR calculations, upon which all OVR ratings will then match the attributes. I am unsure how long this process will take, but am hopeful that all ratings should be complete by mid-season around week 8 or 9. There will not be any rosters for download this year, so you will have to change them one-by-one in your game. Also, there is a "HOPEFUL" chance that I will be joining EA's Madden team in the near future. I conducted my phone interview with a half dozen developers including Josh Looman and Donny Moore this past Wednesday. They contacted me regarding the site and my ratings system and are interested in me joining their team as a developer for the ratings and their implementation into the game. The interview lasted about an hour and many ideas were exchanged. I am hoping to bring my experience as a player, coach, and statistician to the Madden crew for Madden 2013. I should know more in the coming weeks. Thanks again for everyone interested in FBG ratings, and stay tuned for more updates to come.

Now lets hope if that happens they allow you to stick with your own formula for developing the ratings and not for you to use their arcade style ratings

Hopefully you can be the guy who finally convinces EA that their player speed ratings, agility ratings and acceleration ratings are way to extreme in it's current state

I've always hated the fact that if a player got better in Madden the 1st thing EA would do is jack up his speed, agility and acceleration ratings just to boost up his overall ratings even if the guy wasn't a fast player.

I've seen instances from ratings in Madden 06 where a guy was 74 in speed and then by Madden 08 or 09 that same guy had 84 speed....not sure how that could be possible but i've seen a lot of players in Madden get their speed jacked up higher if they perform well

# 487 DCEBB2001 @ 08/28/11 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingV2k3


	Congrats Dan! As disappointed as I am to find out that there will be no FBG rosters available for download this year, I'm truly amped to hear that you may be able to have long term impact through your possible association with EA... Much deserved!

Thanks man! I will know in 2 weeks if I got the job. We had a very spirited discussion and I hope they make the call to bring me aboard. Even if it isn't now, I will definitely keep applying. They seem to be well aware of my site and work, so that is in my favor as well.

# 488 DCEBB2001 @ 08/28/11 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colts18


	As long as overall ratings exist, there will always be incentive for these companies to overrate superstars to get an ideal overall rating. Just say if, I know it won't happen, that Peyton Manning turns out to be the 5th highest QB in your system, a lot of people would be upset. Even though it might be accurate, the fact that his overall rating isn't 1 or 2, people will call your system inaccurate. This is what EA and 2K face every year. I believe overall ratings shouldn't be included because it simply forces rating employees to lie to get a desired overall/.

It's quite funny you mention that. The biggest thing I learned in the phone interview directly from Josh Looman, was that there is often "pressure" from those higher on the todem pole to rate players a certain way. In fact, he asked me "Dan, what would you do if you were told by your boss to make, say, Larry Fitzgerald a 99 even though you don't have him rated that way?" That tells me that these guys don't have complete control over the ratings, and there is PR pressure to make them a certain way. That was shocking, but perhaps should not have been disregarded. After all, it is still a business.

# 489 DCEBB2001 @ 08/28/11 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playmakers


	Now lets hope if that happens they allow you to stick with your own formula for developing the ratings and not for you to use their arcade style ratings Hopefully you can be the guy who finally convinces EA that their player speed ratings, agility ratings and acceleration ratings are way to extreme in it's current state I've always hated the fact that if a player got better in Madden the 1st thing EA would do is jack up his speed, agility and acceleration ratings just to boost up his overall ratings even if the guy wasn't a fast player. I've seen instances from ratings in Madden 06 where a guy was 74 in speed and then by Madden 08 or 09 that same guy had 84 speed....not sure how that could be possible but i've seen a lot of players in Madden get their speed jacked up higher if they perform well

I brought this very issue up and they asked me what I would prescribe to change it. I gave the example from this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fzX3...3C6508D7065B48

Rice is obviously not faster, but wastes the kid because of his ability to run the route well. THAT is the discrepancy. Make no mistake about it. THAT is what we need in the game. All these athletes are pretty good and relatively evenly matched physically compared to the rest of the population, but it is their differences in TECHNIQUE that allows the great to be great. It's also the reason why less-superior athletes like Rice and Smith were able to thrive and physically gifted players like Gholston and Mays were not...yet.

# 490 garret2 @ 08/28/11 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCEBB2001


	*UPDATE* All depth charts have been updated as of week 3 of the preseason. That means that players are now listed at their proper positions. The next update will come after the first roster cut-down this week. Players that have all basic data along with their new 2011 Hts/Wts and Jersey numbers now have the "Preseason" status. Once again, I am waiting for the game in order to break the OVR calculations, upon which all OVR ratings will then match the attributes. I am unsure how long this process will take, but am hopeful that all ratings should be complete by mid-season around week 8 or 9. There will not be any rosters for download this year, so you will have to change them one-by-one in your game. Also, there is a "HOPEFUL" chance that I will be joining EA's Madden team in the near future. I conducted my phone interview with a half dozen developers including Josh Looman and Donny Moore this past Wednesday. They contacted me regarding the site and my ratings system and are interested in me joining their team as a developer for the ratings and their implementation into the game. The interview lasted about an hour and many ideas were exchanged. I am hoping to bring my experience as a player, coach, and statistician to the Madden crew for Madden 2013. I should know more in the coming weeks. Thanks again for everyone interested in FBG ratings, and stay tuned for more updates to come.

is it safe to assume that skill and ability attributes are locked when calculating the new OVRs for M12 (until you are given new scouting data)?

# 491 poopoop @ 08/28/11 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colts18


	This is what EA and 2K face every year. I believe overall ratings shouldn't be included because it simply forces rating employees to lie to get a desired overall/.

Agree completely. Make overall a hidden attribute CPU teams use to evaluate players.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playmakers


	I've seen instances from ratings in Madden 06 where a guy was 74 in speed and then by Madden 08 or 09 that same guy had 84 speed....not sure how that could be possible but i've seen a lot of players in Madden get their speed jacked up higher if they perform well

Madden 09
Hills, 76 speed, 62 acceleration,
Madden 12
Hillis 87 speed, 91 acceleration.

Hmmmm

# 492 Colts18 @ 08/28/11 07:54 PM

I am interested in seeing Arian Fosters' speed, quickness, acceleration when Madden shipped last year to this point in time.

# 493 GGEden @ 08/28/11 08:08 PM

Congratulations Dan on the job interview and possibility of joining EA.

I would only hope if you are successful and join EA, that your influence helps bring ratings realism to the ratings, perhaps you influencing how the formulas are applied, so that pure speed alone isn't enough, where football IQ and position-specific attributes have more influence, and that you are strong in resistance against this PR pressure to bump up high profile players, and thus making a mockery of the "realistic ratings" that is the gist of your work.

# 494 DCEBB2001 @ 08/29/11 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GGEden


	Congratulations Dan on the job interview and possibility of joining EA. I would only hope if you are successful and join EA, that your influence helps bring ratings realism to the ratings, perhaps you influencing how the formulas are applied, so that pure speed alone isn't enough, where football IQ and position-specific attributes have more influence, and that you are strong in resistance against this PR pressure to bump up high profile players, and thus making a mockery of the "realistic ratings" that is the gist of your work.

Thanks man! I will try my best. Not sure how they will take to a newcomer coming in and influencing their system right off the bat. May have to tow the company line. However, I will make a push for making this game better. It seems to me that some entities out there really don't want a better product at all, but would rather cash in on what they can.

# 495 Colts18 @ 08/29/11 07:30 AM

I would hate to see you go to EA. Like you said to me before, someone from the elite level, coming down to manipulate your work is just irritating. I doubt you would truly be able to shine.

# 496 TMJOHNS18 @ 08/29/11 08:12 AM

It's a shame they just can't make Manning automatically have a +3 to his OVR. That way he can be rated the 5th best QB but the game could just add to his OVR and make it appear that he's the 1/2 best but you wouldn't have to manipulate his ratings.

Basically, make a roster and then you can go back in and just adjust OVR's of the stars a few ticks higher to make everyone happy and not mess up the ratings system. That way, if you make an adjustment to Fitzgerald throughout the year he could hover around 94 throughout realistically, but before each release just bump him to 99. Maybe just call it the superstar trait and that's why his overall looks higher then his ratings would give.

# 497 DCEBB2001 @ 08/29/11 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big FN Deal


	Congrats man, just saw the post. Also read your comment about "suit" influence and just the fact they actually are talking to you about possibly being on the team, makes me think some things are really changing concerning the POV for creating Madden at the top. Even if you have to tow the company line, try and drop the suggestion for a "hardcore" setting, similar to NBA 2k's "simulation" setting. Then inside that hardcore sandbox, you guys can make the game, including ratings, as realistic as possible, while still offering standard Madden on default/out the box setting.

Sounds to me like a lot of the devs are moving up into managerial positions. They actually already asked me about the whole appealing to hardcore and casual gamers. I suggested two different game modes/settings. Let's hope that this is all part of REAL change. Time will tell.

# 498 garret2 @ 08/29/11 11:58 PM

aside from the OVR, are the ratings ready to go with madden 12 tonight?

# 499 DCEBB2001 @ 08/30/11 12:11 AM

No. The attributes are not complete. Expect them to be completed around week 8.

# 500 garret2 @ 08/30/11 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCEBB2001


	No. The attributes are not complete. Expect them to be completed around week 8.

cool, well thanks for all of your hard work and good luck getting the job with EA. and thank you for making madden a far more enjoyable experience, im sure many others would agree.

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