Madden 12 News Post

Madden NFL 12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

06:06 AM - August 9, 2011 by Steve_OS

The Madden NFL 12 demo is available now. Please play a few games and post your impressions here. For now, just search under "M" in the demos section or games section. It weights in at 1.53 GB.

UPDATE: The PS3 demo is available now.

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

Madden NFL 12 Videos

Member Comments

# 641 2krunk4u @ 08/10/11 03:31 PM

The game is beautiful. Presentation is awesome but don't let that go to your head EA. It can still be upgraded. But for now its awesome. Caught Devin Hester on a nice short route that he took to the house and the crowd was goibg wild the whole way.

Love how tackling doesn't feel so canned as well. Interactions are better because of this. Especially how players trip over other players.

My cons however...

1. What in the bloody hades is this camera angle? Is this the default angle and can it be switched in online play to the traditional angle? I actually feel like the presentation will benefit from the closer angle as it serves as a better immersion vantage point.

2. Audibles and strategy pad seems clunky again. I thought last year was bad. I got used to it. Now you have to scroll through audibles rather than assigning a button to it. Very time consuming.

3. Players move wayyyy too fast and I pray this is not the default speed for online play. Aaron rodgers moves like Chris Johnson.

# 642 jpdavis82 @ 08/10/11 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northface28


	After some more games logged, All-Pro seems like the most accurate representation of football. Out of curiousity, I went up to All-Madden. Was it hard? Yes. But it was cheap. Cpu players would literally break a large majority of first tackle attempts. I could raise the tackle slider, but I dont want to have the Cpu players dropping with no resistance. Im curious to see how DPP is in the retail version. As it stands, im not sure its working properly. To me, it seems as if something happens, positive or negative. The DPP doesnt update (I saw it happen once). One dropped pass or missed tackle has negative consequences all game. Even though your player could play great after a bad play or two. These are my only major issues for now.

I mainly play all-pro, played two games on All-Madden though.

1st game I lost to the Bears 38-6. I threw 1 TD and 4 picks

2nd game I won 24-14, I knew it was going to be an interesting game when I ran back the opening kickoff with Shields, and then in the 2nd quarter I broke a 75 yard run with Grant. I was up 14-0 at half and double checked to see if it was still on all-madden lol. I only threw 1 pick to go with 1 Td.

# 643 K0ZZ @ 08/10/11 03:32 PM

Looks better than NCAA, still have some issues with it that might leave me with only sticking with NCAA though.

I loved the jersey degradation though, it looks like it happens due to contact not just randomly like it does with NCAA. (on the few jerseys that do get dirty).

Presentation seems better but with no commentary in the demo who knows completely.

Still not a first day buy but I might hang around and buy it a month down the road from release day.

# 644 Yeah...THAT Guy @ 08/10/11 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbassman2001


	I have seen 2 things in the demo so far that would make me worried about buying the game. One thing is that the defensive backs do not seem to make an attempt to bat down the ball on deep passes, they don't turn around and get into a good position, and then the WR jumps and catches the ball. I also recorded a video where I saw a defensive player get into position to make a tackle on a running back, and then he turned around and ran with the running back to the end zone. I have only seen this one time, so it probably isnt a huge deal but it was still very strange to see. I provided a link below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dalh3Xpcyc

Completely agreed on the jumpballs thing. They really need to fix this because if they don't, a jumpball could become a money play and it's like a 40 yard pickup every time.

# 645 Skyliner80 @ 08/10/11 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UofO Ducks


	Has anyone seen the CHAIN GANG come out to measure for a first down?

Yes. It's in there. I miss the fumble pile

# 646 Skyliner80 @ 08/10/11 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S C 0 0 Z E


	I pray they have other in game music besides: "ahh ahh ah la laa boom shakalakalakaaa ding king klong!" Please have a variety of that in the game so I do not have to here that between every break, score, turnover, etc.

You know what's a pretty good fix for this...............

Custom Stadium Soundtrack.

# 647 RumbleStud @ 08/10/11 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewiel


	Hey Guys, I posted this on Twitter, but want to make sure that you are aware as well: Got feedback that you'd like to send on directly to the Madden NFL 12 dev team about the demo? Email it to us at [email protected]!

In case people missed this.

# 648 jpdavis82 @ 08/10/11 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2krunk4u


	The game is beautiful. Presentation is awesome but don't let that go to your head EA. It can still be upgraded. But for now its awesome. Caught Devin Hester on a nice short route that he took to the house and the crowd was goibg wild the whole way. Love how tackling doesn't feel so canned as well. Interactions are better because of this. Especially how players trip over other players. My cons however... 1. What in the bloody hades is this camera angle? Is this the default angle and can it be switched in online play to the traditional angle? I actually feel like the presentation will benefit from the closer angle as it serves as a better immersion vantage point. 2. Audibles and strategy pad seems clunky again. I thought last year was bad. I got used to it. Now you have to scroll through audibles rather than assigning a button to it. Very time consuming. 3. Players move wayyyy too fast and I pray this is not the default speed for online play. Aaron rodgers moves like Chris Johnson.

The camera angle is closer now, look at the recent build videos. Also I've heard the players speed is better now too. Remember, this demo is from around the early May build.

# 649 UMhester04 @ 08/10/11 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpdavis82


	The camera angle is closer now, look at the recent build videos. Also I've heard the players speed is better now too. Remember, this demo is from around the early May build.

Is it really?!

and it feels THAT much better than NCAA? From a build around early May!!!

Im pumped

# 650 jpdavis82 @ 08/10/11 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMhester04


	Is it really?! and it feels THAT much better than NCAA? From a build around early May!!! Im pumped

Yeah here's a video of the recent build, recorded at the end of July, watch in 720P

# 651 2krunk4u @ 08/10/11 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpdavis82


	The camera angle is closer now, look at the recent build videos. Also I've heard the players speed is better now too. Remember, this demo is from around the early May build.

YESSSSSSSS!

*breaks out into the cabbage patch dance*

# 652 Only1LT @ 08/10/11 04:01 PM

Positives:

Player Models are almost great. Still some issues, but much improved. Fat people are fat for a change lol.

Animations, though still poor, look less poor than 11. The movement overall seems smoother. Might be a framerate thing. Running animations still need help, but they weren't as bad as they looked last year or even in the E3 vids.

Still on the subject of animations, some of the new tackle animations looked very impressive. The diving catch animation (which I completed for a TD to Jennings) looked very good. Likewise the sideline catches.

Locomotion seemed to be slightly less floaty and a little more grounded. Still not enough momentum and it isn't all that realistic, but it does feel better than 11. Still a lot more to be done there.

As with the NCAA demo, the lack of suction makes the game feel better to play. Although there is still a tad bit of suction in the game as when I am running at full speed to the very outside edge of a blocker and they can only get an arm on me, it is still sufficient to make me come to a stand still sometimes.

Route Running. I've seen something that i have never seen in Madden before. The receivers adjusted their routes, on the fly, to put themselves between the defender and ball. I've only seen it on Slants, but in years past if there was a defender in Zone in the area of the Slant, the route would still be run exactly as drawn up. Yesterday I saw the receivers take different angles as they neared a Zone defender and flattened the routes out to stay in front instead of running behind. On some occasions it was very noticeable. Didn't see it on any other route but slants though.

Game Speed on Normal was almost spot on.

Negatives:

Passing Game! Absolutely atrocious. Tethered passing is more powerful than ever. Trying to throw a pass over any defender is such an exercise in frustration. The game delights in throwing passes short. The biggest negative of this game, and it almost makes me not even want to play it.

The Defensive Play Clock. Took me a while to see that it was still in the game. Why they went from digital seconds to that pseudo analog clock/ hour glass thing, is anyone's guess. Not a big deal, but it was totally unnecessary and doesn't improve on what was already there in any way.

Crowd Noise. Maybe a lot of the crowd audio wasn't in the demo, but until further confirmation of the retail game, it was terrible.

Halftime show is rubbish.

# 653 Perfect Zero @ 08/10/11 04:03 PM

OK, just got done playing as the Packers in this one. I think that finally, after years of waiting, Madden is where it should be as a top flight game. There is still a lot to work on, but I think that they have a good portion of it down.

PROS:

The cameras, cutscenes and presentation looked phenomenal. They still have work to do for next year, but it's much better than it used to be. I even liked the NFL Properties cut scene at the end; very nice touch.

The gameplay, while not perfect, is improved. I had a lot of fun with both sides of the ball in the game.

CONS:

It seems like both Rodgers and Cutler are getting a lot of running attempts. Hopefully that's turned down by the time the game ships.

Speaking of which, it seems that they both are getting sacked a lot. I sacked Rodgers three times and Cutler seven times.

I reserve final judgement for the final game, but this one is shaping up nicely.

# 654 jpdavis82 @ 08/10/11 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cpterp22


	In 10 games ( All as the Bears) AR has only taken of 7 times.. I am not seeing the Vick thing some guys are..

I bet the people who are nano blitz. It makes perfect sense, because of DPP. Rodgers senses pressure and takes off, so if you blitz a lot....

# 655 2krunk4u @ 08/10/11 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpdavis82


	I bet the people who are nano blitz. It makes perfect sense, because of DPP. Rodgers senses pressure and takes off, so if you blitz a lot....

False. He takes off as soon as he gets the chance and I play a lot of zone.

Spying doesn't work and he runs right by the de contain. In fact the de just stands there as he waltzes by.

# 656 Bootzilla @ 08/10/11 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playmakers


	Of course it's too easy to run with the QB at default settings... It's too easy to do a lot of things at default settings in any sports game....not just Madden If people really wanted to slow down their ability to run with the QB they would adjust the CPU Run Defense reaction slider, tweak the player speed slider and knock down their run block slider I'm actually happy that they made it possible for the CPU QB to beat me at times with his legs......and i have no problem tweaking sliders to make sure running with the QB isn't easy for me. But this is like 5th or 6th post i've seen about the QB's and i wonder if the people making these comments have even considered adjusting anything on their OWN to fix the problem

First let's see if the issue with the QB's running is indeed an issue with the final build.

Honestly, how do the suggestions you made not hinder the rest of the game? If the issue is solely with running QB's, you essentially screw up everything else by tweaking sliders globally.

I want QB's that actually scramble to have the ability to beat me with timely scrambles. What I don't want is to take control of the linebacker that is 5 yards away and actually lose all control of him as he pulls me away from the scrambling QB. It's weird but, it happens.

Also, QB's break more tackles than RB's. For whatever reason their trucking and break tackle ratings seem to be on a different scale than anyone else that carries the ball. I mean Cutler is breaking clean tackle attempts by Clay Matthews. Essentially they need to take demo Aaron Rodgers and make his running ability Mike Vick's and then scale down from there.

On my end I want to be able to scramble when it's appropriate but, the defense has to react better to scrambles. If I screw with reaction time too much it affects my overall running game.

# 657 nxt @ 08/10/11 04:21 PM

After playing a couple of games, I think I like this game better than NCAA 12. I don't know what it is, but the gameplay just "feels" better to me. I feel a little more in control of the player, but definitely not as much as last gen.

Other things I like/dislike about the demo:

+ New presentation (stadium flyby, game intros, cut scenes, etc.) is awesome!
+ Kick Meter is back! Adds more drama to FG's, instead of auto 3 pts.
+ Like NCAA 12, Running/Tackling/Pass Rush feel better with less suction.

- KR/PR is less dynamic than NCAA 12, which felt pretty good.
- No custom camera for gameplay.
- Strat pad is back.
- Quick snaps by CPU leave little/no time for defensive adjustments.

# 658 schnaidt1 @ 08/10/11 04:25 PM

This is my personal review. no "pro's" or "con's" here. just my thoughts on different aspects of the demo i have noticed.

i have been playing on all pro. i only use the packers because i am a huuge packer fan, thus making it impossible for me to use the bears. im sorry. the only change i have made is put speed to slow and threshold down to 35.

Madden team decided to leave out commentary for the demo. and honestly, i couldnt be happier. everyone and their mom knows all anyone would do is complain about the commentary. just like the last 3 years. so why put it in the demo. by not adding it. it forces people to focus on the gameplay and presentation aspects of the game.

some would like the crowd noises to be a little louder. and i personally wouldnt mind. but i am sure there will be a slider for that in the full game so dont worry. its really impossible to know what the crowd level is at right now.

the new tackling engine is very noticeable. tackles look great. and even the animations we recognize from past years still are a lil diff from the new engine. the only thing i would change is that there seem to be way to many big hits in situations that it doesnt really seem plausible.

punt return blocking has major issues, i am certain this is fixed in final build.

there are some ice skating issues in the demo. this is an older build so they may be fixed in the final game. however switching the game speed to slow did seem to make a difference and reduced the sliding by players.

this game is very different than ncaa 12 to me. in ncaa 12 passing was made harder already, but then add to that the fact u hardly have any pass blocking. in the madden demo so far. i have thrown a pick in every single game. sometimes multiple. and all but one have been completely my fault. the reason why is that i have become naturally used having to hurry a throw out to a receiver i think will be open. but recently i have started to realize that a pocket does form. and i have had 4-5 seconds to find a receiver. i gave myself extra time because i stepped up in the pocket. started scrambling to the right and found a wide open jordy nelson running accross the field same direction as me. hit him for an 11 yard gain on a 3rd and 10. it felt really good.

i have a love hate relationship with the passing game. it feels alot better, and more natural when passing. the ball has a better trajectory on it. and the qb moves more natural when throwing. here is why i hate it. u are still unable to lead your receiver unless u loft the ball. this makes it impossible to lead a receiver and put it in between a tight space. u also cant anticipate a route. if a wr is running a deep comeback. i know when he is about to break and come back. in the nfl, the ball is out of the qbs hand before the wr makes his break. in madden 12 if u do that. the wr keeps running a deep route which leads to it being intercepted or swatted away. i wish there was a way they could fix that in a patch or something.

everyone has been complaining about play action passing. im not sure why. i have only been sacked 1 out of the 10 times i have used it. if u ESTABLISH the run. that is the emphasis, establish. if u run the ball 3 times for 4 yards. play action wont work. if u run it 5 for 27 yards. it will work.

the problem with the demo is that it is 5 min quarters yes. but with a 25 second run off. its really like a 3 min quarter game. it makes someone not want to run the ball because it uses so much clock. its not hard to take up a quarter in a half running the ball and using the short passing game on 1 drive. so to get more game time. I pass almost all the time. i wish we could get a game without clock run off so we could get more possessions and a greater feel for how the game shifts.

dpp is present. just not really on the user side of the ball. i know alot of people complaing about how fast a rod and cutler are. i'll admit they are really quick when first taking off. but in the open field i dont think the game is off on their speed. a rod has a good rushing average. in older versions of madden. i was impossible to get similar numbers with him. also i notice people complain abuot cutler taking off and running on them alot. i had this happen to me only 1 time. and it was after i had sacked him alot. his dpp was tuck and run: often. so he was just doing what he felt compelled to avoid a sack. i saw nothing wrong with it.

the ability to choose a run or pass out of gameflow is nice. but the logic on the play calling is still off. i only use gameflow. and i had 2nd and 1 and greenbay called a pass in gameflow. i didnt get it so on 3rd and 1 called another pass. seems like a run would be a better choice. on defense the gameflow is compelling also. i was trying to stop chicago to get the ball back in the 4th quarter. they were just running the clock and gameflow kept calling a 3-4 zone blitz. this let forte tear me up cuz they were in a jumbo formation. i ended up losing 17-14.

I have seen alot of complaints on replays. idk, i havent had that problem. i threw a 80 yard catch and run touchdown pass to greg jennings last night as time expired to win the game and it showed the full replay. 3 times in a row after i scored. then after the game ended and it was showing game highlights. it showed the full play a 4th time. i havent had a single replay cut short. which is very nice.

i havent noticed much suction which is good, i have noticed some suction or warping to the football on passing plays. not sure what the correct term is. but the ball is ahead of the receiver and he shouldnt be able to catch it. but suddenly has a super speed break to the ball and makes the catch. hopefully this is fixed in final build.

i have seen some absolutely gorgeous pass and catch animations that are new to the game. and made me go wow.

the graphics and player models look very good. the addition of hdr lighting in next years game will put it graphically over the top.

when making adjustments at the line of scrimmage. i wish the qb would do more then the generic point. i remember in madden 08 they had the lil camera in the top right or left and it showed him. and he also did adjustments and looked more like a real life qb would. i would like to see that brought back.

the kicking meter and camera angle = joygasm! i actually missed a field goal. and yes it felt great. to those of you complaining that the meter didnt register your 3rd button press. here is a trick for you. instead of resting your thumb on the x or a button. bring it all the way off for each press. forcing you to bring it all the way back down with force. do that and u will have no more issues.

still cant figure out how to surprise onside kick. it isnt in the game controls and being its a new addition you would think they would tell you how to do it somewhere in the game.

replays look good. i wish that some were from the broadcast camera angle.

ultimately this will be a very good game by release and perhaps a great game after a patch or 2. the game play will be very solid. their are some minor issues in the passing game (offense and defense) that need to be addressed. but other than that this should be a very good game with long replay value.

other things i am curious about such as qb quick snaps. and what happens to presentation elements in franchise after say year 1 or year 10. do they have generic things to talk about in a player to watch or is it just gonna be gone. cuz so far all the players to watch start off with the players name and specifically address him.

those of you who been having issues with running or passing and play action and etc. try running a balanced offense. try running draws if u pass alot. the more realistic the play calling. the more realistic the results. that is what i have noticed so far.

conclusion: the demo brings a lot to the table. the presentation is great. graphics are amazing. and the gameplay seems very fresh. however with the game being reduced to 3 min quarters because of accel clock it makes it impossible to feel a huge difference in the flow of the game using dpp and setting up the defense with different plays. thus i give the demo a solid

7 out of 10.

# 659 therizing02 @ 08/10/11 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2krunk4u


	False. He takes off as soon as he gets the chance and I play a lot of zone. Spying doesn't work and he runs right by the de contain. In fact the de just stands there as he waltzes by.

Not saying you're incorrect but, in the first game I played of the demo he ran about 7 times. He's run a total of less than 10 times in all of the games I played since then. My sack totals of Rodgers have increased dramatically.

The best way to keep the QB in the pocket is to pinch the DL in tight to close the middle. If he's forced outside, the speed of Peppers and the LBZ will bury him.

# 660 TexasBorn1 @ 08/10/11 04:30 PM

don't understand the hate for seeing the QBs tuck and run. In previous games the CPU NEVER scrambled and now people complain its too much???? Use the QB spy if you're getting burned

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