Madden 12 News Post

Madden NFL 12 Reviewer Impressions: Franchise Mode

05:57 PM - August 27, 2011 by RaychelSnr

In Madden NFL 12, Franchise mode is the greatest beneficiary in the yearly cycle of improvements this year. The mode saw tons of new additions, which span across the entire spectrum of the mode, from the offseason, to roster sizes, to team management and more.

Simply put, for our more ADD readers, Franchise mode is now as deep as any of the greatest modes of this type in our genre. It's just that the User Interface is so poorly designed that I seriously think the Madden developers went out of their way to try to make the game be as frustrating as possible.

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

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# 21 bostonsports6857 @ 08/28/11 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas


	It seems like everything I read about Madden 12 is conflicting. One place says everything is great and its the best Madden ever while another says it's the same old Madden and everything is a disappointment. The general feel I've gotten from the gameplay and franchise article is that OS is severely disappointed. Can't wait to get my hands on it so I can make my own judgements.

dont worry about what they say on here, i find this particular group of follwers are WAY to overally critical. if players dont have leye black when they usaully do on sundays its the worst game they ever played.

# 22 Batistaj15 @ 08/28/11 02:18 AM

You mention that if you plan ahead of time for FA, you'll get your guy time every single time. Maybe not planning what you're going to do would make it 'funner' and just start bidding by remembering what aspect of your team's game was weak and you'll like to improve on.

# 23 ggsimmonds @ 08/28/11 03:05 AM

I have a gripe with the rookie scouting. Why is it that if I scout a WR during the first week of the regular season I unlock his defensive ratings such as MCV and ZCV; but if I scout a CB I unlock such things as RTR, CIT, and SPC?

It makes zero sense and it just seems like a cheap way to go about the scouting process. Basically if you scout a position in the first week you unlock the exact opposite ratings that are relevant. It is ridiculous.

# 24 pmurray20 @ 08/28/11 03:14 AM

i uploaded the draft class right after the preseason and well everyone is on there and its fine

# 25 cusefan74 @ 08/28/11 03:29 AM

I already have a copy of this game reserved. I never listen to reviews of games. I find that people tend to complain a lot about little things, and I think after reading this that if things are a little clunky in the menus, I can handle that as long as the game play is good. After having played the demo I think it looks pretty good so far. The big thing to remember is that it is a video game and games are never perfect. I thought that Madden 11 and even Madden 10 were pretty good games, but I don't pick a game apart, if I enjoy playing the game, then its a good game. I will agree the scouting system sucks, not knowing before hand where they might go in the draft. If I remember right some of the older games had that, but like I said I can overlook that.

# 26 ConnSKINS26 @ 08/28/11 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegreatusurper512


	Has the wrong CBA. This franchise mode is useless.

And how were the devs supposed to add the new CBA to Madden 12, when the game was finished by the time the CBA was actually signed by the players and owners, and very few concrete details were known before then?

That was never a realistic goal for Madden 12, and if you thought it was, you went into this thing with all the wrong expectations, in my opinion. You're holding something against the game that was never within its reach, logistically.

# 27 Jukeman @ 08/28/11 09:29 AM

Sounds disappointing

# 28 jkra0512 @ 08/28/11 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConnSKINS26


	And how were the devs supposed to add the new CBA to Madden 12, when the game was finished by the time the CBA was actually signed by the players and owners, and very few concrete details were known before then? That was never a realistic goal for Madden 12, and if you thought it was, you went into this thing with all the wrong expectations, in my opinion. You're holding something against the game that was never within its reach, logistically.

Completely agree Conn. Madden devs even said that there was no way they could add the new CBA this year. I applaud EA for coming forward with this info beforehand though. However, the CBA was never a selling point for me personally, but I can see how others would want it.

Chris, nice impressions on the game. After NCAA, I'm reading every review/impressions from various sites to see which problems occur most often. From what I've gathered, the draft, and the logic therein, is an overall disappointment. Like you pointed out, kickers are being taken in the top ten first round? That is the second time, I've read something like that.

As for the menus, I think I can get by with clunky menus. To the person who said, "maybe try to memorize what positions you need to fill in FA, rather than writing it down, will make the game 'funner,'" I think that's a decent suggestion, but not one I would use. The game would penalize my lack of memory over my lack of strategy?

For instance, because I "forgot" I needed a ILB, I would be stuck signing some scrub during preseason? I think that's just lazy design. I'm not sure if they still have it, but I always loved the attributes that affect whether a FA would sign with your team. I'm a Buffalo Bills fan and many FAs don't sign with the team because they are perennial losers, draft horribly, don't take care of their good draft picks, unrest in the front office and usually go on the cheap side. Many of these issues drive FAs away from signing, mostly the money part. However, from what I hear and read, FAs in Madden only look at the money. Not sure I like that very much, especially since you "always get your guy."

I have the game pre-ordered right now, I'm definitely holding back from buying it within the first few weeks of the release. I want to see what else the community sees before dropping the full $60+ on the game. Hey, maybe I'll find a used copy and not give my money directly to EA for the stunt they pulled with NCAA this year...

# 29 MMan @ 08/28/11 10:06 AM

no mention of trading with the CPU? I just posted a thread where I offered Adrian Peterson, 1st & 2nd round pick for Ray Lewis and it was declined.

# 30 jwmcards @ 08/28/11 11:03 AM

Odd, but did the Ravens actually have the cap room to take Peterson?

After reading the gameplay & franchise impressions, I'm still on the fence. Some of the things sound annoying, but not really any more so than any other Madden. I don't like the fact he's fairly disappointed in the menu interface. Having to go to several different screens just to get some simple (& apparently basic) information is always frustrating regardless of the game (looking at you MLB 11).

# 31 TGross22 @ 08/28/11 01:30 PM

The game is great!!! But not being able to upload my draft class from NCAA kills it for me...makes not wanna play the game!!! If anyone has figured out how to get your classes on franchise mode please hit me up!!!

# 32 EmpireWF @ 08/28/11 01:37 PM

Is it true guys like Brady and Manning remain a high 90s overall player despite being 38 years old?

Plus, will high 70s-low 80s veterans be stuck in free agency as the CPU teams replace them with undrafted rookies despite being able to afford them?

If so, the mode will be a bummer when you get into a few years.

# 33 Simp @ 08/28/11 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegreatusurper512


	Has the wrong CBA. This franchise mode is useless.

Come on now. How could you possibly expect them to turn around a new CBA that fast?

# 34 alexgamez122 @ 08/28/11 02:38 PM

Spot on about franchise mode, these were my thoughts as well.

# 35 alexgamez122 @ 08/28/11 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMan


	no mention of trading with the CPU? I just posted a thread where I offered Adrian Peterson, 1st & 2nd round pick for Ray Lewis and it was declined.

I tried to trade Antonio Gates and two 1st rounds picks for Calvin Johnson, and the computer said "no thanks".

# 36 SGMRock @ 08/28/11 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jukeman


	Sounds disappointing

The interface is disapointing I agree with Chris on that. But all the stuff they added this year makes the offline franchise 300% better than last years. If they keep on this track next year should be pretty sweet.

I agree with some others though, wish this game was on PC. PC interfaces are always a ton better than console unless they get lazy and port over the console interface. :P

# 37 SGMRock @ 08/28/11 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexgamez122


	I tried to trade Antonio Gates and two 1st rounds picks for Calvin Johnson, and the computer said "no thanks".

I mentioned this in the impressions thread. In offline franchise the CPU doesn't seem to value number 1 picks at all.

I was messing around with mine and I signed a few free agents to trade away for draft picks just to test some stuff. I signed FA Tatupu 88 overall (or however you spell it) and I was able to trade him to the Patriots for their 2012 1st round pick and 2013 1st round pick and a 70 rated LB because they had a full roster I had to add someone from their team. :P

Another head turner was Terrell Owens to the Bears for also their 1st round 2012 pick and 1st round 2013 pick and a low 55 rated WR.

I signed a 88 overall RT and tried to trade him to the Ravens for Oher a 88 overall RT (I moved him to RT like the real Ravens are planning to do) and two 1st round draft picks and they would not do it :P Granted the 88 RT was 32 years old but still it seems like 1st round draft picks are not very useful this year. You can't get much for them in trade and other teams will trade them away rather easy.

I have like 4 first round draft picks now for 2013 and 4 for 2014....

So if you want this to be realistic you are going to need some serious house rules.

# 38 buckeye02 @ 08/28/11 03:23 PM

Glitch when importing draft classes = EA just being EA. When are they going to give us the ability to create our own draft classes from scratch without having to deal with going from NCAA to Madden, or the rediculously cheesy generated classes. Concept that EA hasnt gotten right and as actually got worse over the years as now it looks broken.

# 39 ggsimmonds @ 08/28/11 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMan


	no mention of trading with the CPU? I just posted a thread where I offered Adrian Peterson, 1st & 2nd round pick for Ray Lewis and it was declined.

That is a good thing imo. In real life that trade would not take place.

I tried to offer the Eagles two 1st round picks and several other options to acquire Desean Jackson and the Eagles laughed at me. That is good; I was tired of being able to make any trade like in previous years

# 40 adembroski @ 08/28/11 06:10 PM

I went into work saturday and spent the day trying to recreate the draft class issue

Unfortunately, I'm not seeing it at all. Every import I do works fine, even on my home retail version.

Is this 360 exclusive issue?

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