Madden 12 News Post

Madden NFL 12 Gameplay Preview

05:38 PM - May 11, 2011 by ChaseB

We recently took a look at the upgrades that have been made to the presentation in Madden NFL 12. However, this preview is all about the gameplay.

While there is not a singular feature EA is trumpeting on the gameplay front, it’s clear that plenty of time has been spent trying to fix up and enhance what was on display in Madden NFL 11. The early results are intriguing, but with a lot of tweaking and tuning yet to come, it’s hard to draw too many conclusions at this point.

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# 61 Only1LT @ 05/12/11 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseB


	Ha well, I think you're probably reading a little too much into what I said, and for the record I've never asked the developers directly about this, so I'm not speaking for them in this regard. I would think, as someone else said, they perhaps have just not found the right balance yet in terms of how to deal with it more than anything. I can't really think of another game that nailed this issue either. So it strikes me that it's probably really hard to get throwing on the run and all that correct while still staying functional and relatively fun for a broad base of gamers. I've seen a couple comparisons to NBA 2K, so I feel like I should clear up I guess this misconception. For YEARS NBA 2K -- much like The Show up until this year -- got crap for not being revolutionary enough or not taking enough risks or whatever you want to call it. NBA 2K11 added some really helpful new things to the controls this year, and also redid dribbling -- also really helpful. But in the grand scheme of things, on the court it's the same game it has been for years. But the point is that NBA 2K did not get to where it is making these MASSIVE, ground-breaking achievements on a yearly basis. They found a base (and an engine) that was really good, sound and customizable, and have done an incredible job building and adding to it on a yearly basis. What you want sounds more like what NBA Elite attempted in one year than anything else.

I don't want to turn this into a debate thread, because I'm sure that's not what you intended this thread to be, but I had to comment on these two points of yours, quickly.

The first point about the balance of animation and control. I'm not sure that it is a balance issue for them. 2K has animations to address these issues, not just in their football game, but in many of their sports titles, if not all of them. Now, whether you feel they "nailed" this aspect or not, their design choices tend to skew towards simulation. I'm not saying that these issues are easy to contend with, by any stretch, but let's be frank, the developers of Madden aren't even trying.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the devs are intelligent enough to know that some of the actions performed in the game in general, QB's throwing on the run or across their bodies specifically, aren't physically possible. That being the case, I have to assume that the game's lack of addressing those issues are nothing other than design choices, ie this is how they want the game to play, for what ever reason. And even if, as you say, the engines somehow prevent them from tackling these issues, they are the ones who designed them, so it still boils down to design choice.

The question isn't can they address them, it is will they ever come around to the possibility that they can design a game where you can not perform unrealistic actions, and that players will understand that this is ok.

The NBA 2K point. I think most people understand that NBA 2K and the Show are still very similar to their last gen iterations, though there is no denying the additions and strides they've made. So I don't really think there is a misconception there. The difference, for many people, and this is why they make the comparisons that they do, is that although Madden has, likewise, definitely made additions and improvements over the years, many feel like it needs drastic changes before it can get to the point where a tweak here or tweak there is viewed in the same light as the tweak here, tweak there approach that 2K and the Show have largely employed.

When you already love the foundation of a game, then any positive additions or improvements are met with adulation. When you hate the foundation, then small additions are met with a different sentiment, closer to loathing lol. That's where those types of comments really come from. It's really just in the eye of the beholder.

# 62 WFColonel56 @ 05/12/11 03:54 PM

has the 4-3 defense changes any?...its been the same 3 formations since 04..

and are there any new plays in the 4-3 formations?

is there a 4-4 stack defense? (the formation that people commonly think about when you say 4-4)

# 63 Armor and Sword @ 05/12/11 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ


	Yeah, Monday will be big in terms of franchise info. That's a huge selling point for me. I still feel buyers' remorse over Madden 11; I should've just stayed with 10 for another year as there wasn't enough of a change to warrant a switch, imo. I've been playing these games for 20-plus years, so things really need to wow me to get me to pay full-price for games. NBA 2K11 did that by adding Jordan and all that went with him being in the game, not to mention the on-court improvements they made. MLB The Show just does so much right it's hard not to support that title. Madden and NCAA really rubbed myself and a lot of people the wrong way with their respective performances on this generation of consoles, especially from 06-09. Madden started to turn a corner in 10, and stayed stagnant last year. Hopefully things continue to move forward. I feel like NCAA 11 made significant advances from years past, but so far 12 doesn't look all that different from 11 (reminds of Madden 11-Madden 10 comparisons). The demos will play a big part, too.

Oh I hear you. I also have been playing 20 plus years so we can call ourselves the pioneer console sports gamers lol. I did not go next gen till late 2009 so I was spared the frustration of Madden 06-09. I learned from my jump from PS to PS2 to wait at least 2 years before changing consoles to let the developers to get their footing with the new power at their disposal. So my first next gen Madden was 2010 and the first Madden I had purchased since Madden 2007 for PS2. NCAA 2011 was my first NCAA title since 2007 also for PS2. So I have not been as jaded by the last few years of sub standard football games.

I took a chance by trading in my current titles (Madden 11 NCAA11) and I am going to roll with the new ones. I really hope I don't regeret it. With NCAA 11 it was tough because the game is truly awesome. But the new Graphics engine as well as the improved tackling and defensive AI made it a must buy. I don't see myself getting anymore football titles till at least the 2014 versions are released.

# 64 BezO @ 05/12/11 04:21 PM

Another question Chase...

I watched the NCAA vids and noticed a lot of legacy issues. Can you comment on any of these?

-Defensive Alignment - I remember reading about this being a point of emphasis, but it still looked like a problem in NCAA. Are you noticing the defense allowing themselves to be out flanked? For example, I noticed in the NCAA vids, on the TE side, both the DE & OLB line up inside the TE sometimes.

-Contain - In addition to the alignment issues, DEs & OLBs still seem unaware of contain responsibilities. Is it still too easy to run outside? Especially with no engaged player lateral mobility, unless the OLB or DE "wins", too often, it's one-on-one on the edge with a CB.

-Any special teams improvements? Any double teams on the gunners on punts? Any new kick/punt return plays? Was the surprise onside in?

# 65 DJ @ 05/12/11 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armor & Sword


	Oh I hear you. I also have been playing 20 plus years so we can call ourselves the pioneer console sports gamers lol. I did not go next gen till late 2009 so I was spared the frustration of Madden 06-09. I learned from my jump from PS to PS2 to wait at least 2 years before changing consoles to let the developers to get their footing with the new power at their disposal. So my first next gen Madden was 2010 and the first Madden I had purchased since Madden 2007 for PS2. NCAA 2011 was my first NCAA title since 2007 also for PS2. So I have not been as jaded by the last few years of sub standard football games. I took a chance by trading in my current titles (Madden 11 NCAA11) and I am going to roll with the new ones. I really hope I don't regeret it. With NCAA 11 it was tough because the game is truly awesome. But the new Graphics engine as well as the improved tackling and defensive AI made it a must buy. I don't see myself getting anymore football titles till at least the 2014 versions are released.

I hope you don't regret the decision, either. I do think we will see some offline franchise improvement in Madden 12 and NCAA 12 will be a tightened-up version of NCAA 11, which as you said, is very good. As an FSU alumn, it's going to be hard not to get that game just due to the fact that Chief Osceola and Renegade are in the game.

I'm going to wait until Monday's blog about Franchise before I make a decision about what I'm going to do this year. Either I will trade in both 11 games and get this year's versions (and ride with them until the next gen of consoles), or I'll stick with what I've got and just play that for another year.

# 66 at23steelers @ 05/12/11 04:41 PM

Sorry, Chase, I looked for your presentation blog and couldn't find it. Do you mean your responses in the question / answer thread or did you actually write an actual blog?

# 67 ChaseB @ 05/12/11 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by at23steelers


	Sorry, Chase, I looked for your presentation blog and couldn't find it. Do you mean your responses in the question / answer thread or did you actually write an actual blog?

Well I wrote an earlier Madden 12 preview that's pretty much alllll about presentation. And I assume I probably talked more about it in the QA thread as well. Check the Previews section for the article, and then just search this forum for the first Madden 12 preview -- should be in red.

# 68 SteelerSpartan @ 05/12/11 05:00 PM

Specifically with the Defensive Pre-Play Controls.......

When using the Old Controls

Could you shift your DL Left/Right.....Your DBs Back/Press with the Left Analog Stick???

This was left out of the Madden 11 "Old Controls", They forced you to use the D-Pad for those commands.....and was the major problem everybody had with StratPad........Its much easier to do your Defensive Hot Routing and shifting with the left analog presses

# 69 BezO @ 05/12/11 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelerSpartan


	.....Your DBs Back/Press with the Left Analog Stick???

I meant to ask about this. Chase, can you explain how pressing CBs individually works? Is it quick & seemless? Will I be able to press one CB, back the other off & bring the SS in the box without fear of being quick snapped?

And actually, is there a separate control for bringing the SS in the box?

# 70 adriano @ 05/12/11 11:20 PM

Chase,

The thing I hate with Madden, is when I aim my passes, sometimes
they are no where near where I was aiming, and my receiver adjusts
and catches it. Did you notice any of that?

# 71 Jarodd21 @ 05/13/11 05:00 PM

Question Chase...

Are DBs able to grab sideline or back of the endzone INTs and do the have an animation for toe tapping catches for the secondary by the sideline? If you notice on the last few Maddens DBs never pick off interceptions around 3 yards from the sideline or the back of the endzone. I was wondering if that animation got throwed in for the the secondary.

# 72 RogueHominid @ 05/13/11 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazdevil20


	Yeah, this just made it sound like this game is still not going to be very good. I just wonder what they work on. It sounds like all of the major problems are still there minus a few tune ups.

No offense to those involved, but I came away from the review with a similar feeling that there wasn't that much to be really excited about. It's nice that some run plays showed potential improvements to run blocking, but the lack of clarity on why the 34 LBs seemed more active, exactly how the OL/DL interacted on pass plays, and what exactly made the CPU defenders better at zone leaves something to be desired.

It's not like they have limitless time and resources, but from a PR perspective, it probably would have been better to preview very specific parts of the the game like the run game, the pocket, coverage, etc, and let Chase look at focused issues over a little longer time. That way there'd be some real specific info about exactly what is the same and what is different gemeplay wise.

Right now, the small sample size and gestalt approach seems to have produced a neutral effect. I'd love a preview of the new defensive schemes that tells how you can use new controls to combat favored sets and routes, how shading works, all that stuff. That would be more useful I think.

On the one issue that seemed to stand out as positive, did you sense, Chase, that there was a particular reason attribute wise that your players could hold their blocks longer, or did it seem like a global improvement?

I played with TEN a lot, and their RG is an 82 OVR but gets tossed at the LOS every dang play lol and it was so frustrating. This happens a lot I notice with average lineman, almost like there's no middle ground between not blocking a guy and blocking a guy. You either get great drive and a pancake or a quick whip and toss animation. With what you say, it sounds like there was more gray area where guys made longer blocks generally. Is that accurate?

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