Madden 12 News Post

Madden NFL 12 - Six Things You Need to Know About Franchise Mode (ESPN)

12:19 PM - May 18, 2011 by Steve_OS

Jon Robinson of ESPN The Gamer has released a preview of the main additions to Franchise Mode in Madden NFL 12.

Quote:


	"Cut day. Watch a show like "Hard Knocks," and it's the most nerve-racking period in a player's career. With one decision, some kid who has been dominating the gridiron at every level he has ever known finds out whether he's cashing in all his hard work with the NFL or left contemplating life outside the lines and working 9 to 5 like the rest of us. And while cut days are circled on the calendars of every player, coach and hard-core fan, it's one of those moments that gets lost in translation when it comes to NFL video games. I know when I start a franchise in "Madden," most times I simulate right through the preseason because the games really don't matter, and as long as all of my stars remain healthy I can care less about what happens before the season starts because the roster is already set. But that all changes with "Madden NFL 12." For the first time in franchise history, the game designers have actually increased the roster size to 75 players per team. The ratings for all rookies are locked heading into preseason and every week. A few of the ratings for each rookie are revealed as you play them in preseason and decide whether it's worth it to keep a roster spot open for a hard-charging, late-round pick who might impress on special teams or cut him in favor of an aging veteran who might still have one good season left in the tank."

Game: Madden NFL 12Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 44 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 Smoke316 @ 05/18/11 12:38 PM

Good Look Steve O!

# 2 goodygoody @ 05/18/11 12:41 PM

Im lovin' the different types of contracts. It really helps when trying to manage the cost of players. Trust me.

# 3 Smoke316 @ 05/18/11 01:01 PM

I cant wait to play witht he Roles again i hope they kept the ones that affected team morale as well

# 4 LBzrule @ 05/18/11 01:03 PM

Three things here that I can only hope also made it to online franchise: free agent bidding, dpp(which if you played NFL fever you know what this is all about); and trading rookie draft picks. I hope these are apart of online franchise. I am sure DPP will be since that may just be a staple feature in the game. However I am not sure about the others.

# 5 Smoke316 @ 05/18/11 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBzrule


	Three things here that I can only hope also made it to online franchise: free agent bidding, dpp(which if you played NFL fever you know what this is all about); and trading rookie draft picks. I hope these are apart of online franchise. I am sure DPP will be since that may just be a staple feature in the game. However I am not sure about the others.

I could see those couple a features making it id love roles to make it as well. If Free Agency makes it then obvi theres a salary cap. DPP since its something therre holding off till E3 to really talk about i assume itll be in every part of the game possible. Trading Draft picks would reall make it easy to keep track of for Online play

# 6 tjizzle @ 05/18/11 01:19 PM

I remember reading that dpp will also factor into online and offline head to head games, I wonder how that will function without players being evaluated on a weekly basis?

# 7 Smoke316 @ 05/18/11 01:27 PM

I thinking for offline maybe they will have something like what Live or NBA2K does with its roster updates where its continous throughout the season, instead of the roster update. Im intereste to see how that would work myself

# 8 Reggie16 @ 05/18/11 02:50 PM

Man after hearing about the Cut days and revamped IR system was enough for me to preorder. Hopefully all this stuff is implemented correctly. Good Job Ea guys!

# 9 jlukes @ 05/18/11 02:52 PM

Cut day is great, but are we forced to keep 10 OL again this year? Most NFL teams have 8 OL max and then use the 2 other roster spots on other positions. Madden has forced us to carry 10 OL.

# 10 8 @ 05/18/11 03:01 PM

I hope the mode lives up to the hype. Can't wait to hear reviews before I go buy it.

# 11 mburke2 @ 05/18/11 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaySmooov


	Great question. I think instead of having all 5 positions lister in the drop downs, it should be simple grouped to C, G, T. Players could still be designated a LT or a RG, but it would allow for us to keep a starter for each position, and one backup that's versatile enough to play both positions, as most teams do. But, I'm not sure, but the requirement MAY only be 3 Gs on the roster total, 3 Ts, and 2Cs. I'm not sure, though.

I really hope they eliminate position requirements altogether. I hate being forced to carry a FB or a minimum number of players at any position when my play style and philosophy doesn't dictate that I need those players.

# 12 Smoke316 @ 05/18/11 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mburke2


	I really hope they eliminate position requirements altogether. I hate being forced to carry a FB or a minimum number of players at any position when my play style and philosophy doesn't dictate that I need those players.

They may need us to keep balanced rosters so the whole system works with the CPU as well. Cause remember if your short something they wont let you play a game without signing a player. I rather be forced a random random player than have another bug the game during my franchise

# 13 davep @ 05/18/11 04:36 PM

I really really really wish they'd put the relevant ratings in first so I wouldn't have to sort through all the irrelevant ratings.

If I'm looking at QB's, I don't care what the REC or TRK ratings are. Please put their AWR, THA, THP, etc... ratings first!

# 14 mburke2 @ 05/18/11 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke316


	They may need us to keep balanced rosters so the whole system works with the CPU as well. Cause remember if your short something they wont let you play a game without signing a player. I rather be forced a random random player than have another bug the game during my franchise

I think they could fix it so that you can play games as long as you have the required 53 players, regardless of what position they are. In the NFL coaches and teams are not required to carry say 3 DTs and 6 WRs or whatever the Madden requirements are. Its just something that bugged me because like I said if I don't need a FB on my roster I don't want to have to carry one if he's never going to play.

# 15 Smoke316 @ 05/18/11 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mburke2


	I think they could fix it so that you can play games as long as you have the required 53 players, regardless of what position they are. In the NFL coaches and teams are not required to carry say 3 DTs and 6 WRs or whatever the Madden requirements are. Its just something that bugged me because like I said if I don't need a FB on my roster I don't want to have to carry one if he's never going to play.

I agree. As long as it doesnt interfere with the way the CPU handles their teams cauase something like that can cause issues i feel

# 16 tj064 @ 05/18/11 05:23 PM

does anyone know if any of these new features will apply to online franchise too?

# 17 PantherBeast_OS @ 05/18/11 05:31 PM

One of the things I'm loving right now is that you can trade future picks to move up in the draft like in real life. But one thing I'm not really crazy about is the new bidding system on FA players. That just doesn't happen in real life. Certain teams bring in certain top FA players in for a visit to the City and Staduim to get them interested. Teams don't all of a sudden start doing a bidding war on certain player and all this. There is a lot more to FA for teams then just trying to get players to sign a contract with them. Also teams only go after certain players for postions they need to fill and that will fit the team gameplan. Plain and simple. That's why I wish they would of left the FA contract signings the way it was and make some tweaks on it to make it better. I feel the old way was more real then it is now. But I guess it is a improvement for this year. But overall I'm happy with the major improvements with Madden12 Franchise mode this year.

# 18 mburke2 @ 05/18/11 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legend Killer


	One of the things I'm loving right now is that you can trade future picks to move up in the draft like in real life. But one thing I'm not really crazy about is the new bidding system on FA players. That just doesn't happen in real life. Certain teams bring in certain top FA players in for a visit to the City and Staduim to get them interested. Teams don't all of a sudden start doing a bidding war on certain player and all this. There is a lot more to FA for teams then just trying to get players to sign a contract with them. Also teams only go after certain players for postions they need to fill and that will fit the team gameplan. Plain and simple. That's why I wish they would of left the FA contract signings the way it was and make some tweaks on it to make it better. I feel the old way was more real then it is now. But I guess it is a improvement for this year. But overall I'm happy with the major improvements with Madden12 Franchise mode this year.

Yeah I'm not really sold on the FA bidding thing yet either. I agree that the old way they had it was probably more realistic, the logic about how much money players wanted just needed to be tweaked. But I won't completely write off the bidding process until I use it, and like was explained, it seems to make it more fast paced and exciting which should be fun at least.

# 19 goodygoody @ 05/18/11 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mburke2


	Yeah I'm not really sold on the FA bidding thing yet either. I agree that the old way they had it was probably more realistic, the logic about how much money players wanted just needed to be tweaked. But I won't completely write off the bidding process until I use it, and like was explained, it seems to make it more fast paced and exciting which should be fun at least.

Yea it appears that this was the main purpose behind it. Personally, Im a fan of it. I hated having first dibs on every free agent I see. But, with the bidding wars, I'll have to already have an idea on what free agents I want before hand and attack as soon as free agency starts. That part, at least, is real.

# 20 Smoke316 @ 05/18/11 06:37 PM

A lot of the times the most coveted FA's are signed right away ( Haynesworth, Kearse) so i could see maybe the higher rated guys having a shorter time or having there timer start before the lower rated players to have some distinction. I did read that would be the case.

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