Madden NFL 25 News Post

Madden NFL 25 to Include Actual NFL Referees?

11:01 PM - September 26, 2012 by Steve_OS

Kotaku's Owen Good sends word that Madden NFL 25 could include actual NFL referees. If they are adding some focus on the referees, let's hope they are working on the penalties in general, pass interference being first on the list. (Although I have seen a few more this year...)

Quote:


	EA Sports plans to include real-life NFL referees in Madden NFL 14, according to two different sources close to the NFL Referees Association. One of them said the officials' facial features have been scanned into the game, with an eye toward making their calls and explanations a part of the broadcast presentation for next year's game.

What are you hoping to see come out of this?

This is just a rumor for now, so let's keep the discussion on penalties (and not "WHY ARE THEY WORKING ON REFEREES WHEN THEY HAVE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES...")

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# 1 roadman @ 09/26/12 11:08 PM

I'm with Steve on this one, I'd like to see more penalties called in the DPI area, though, there has been some called on the CPU this year.

I'd like to see defensive holding after the 5 yd rule on receivers, too.

Need to see Ed Hoculai's big guns too.

# 2 RyanMoody21 @ 09/27/12 12:33 AM

Well one really good thing would be if they got him to turn around. Not sure I have had a call made this year where the ref faces the camera.

# 3 Jarodd21 @ 09/27/12 12:35 AM

Yeah if they are bringing in the actual refs they definitely need to focus on getting the penalties to work correctly..

# 4 homeycool @ 09/27/12 01:05 AM

The option to challenge different aspects of a play on every play would be nice.

Also I want to see flags on the field when there has been a penalty, maybe blue bean bags when there is a turnover. How about multiple penalties on the same play?

Lastly, if a ref has to throw two flags, if he used his hat on the second one, that would be pretty cool to see.

While all of these are just little extras that shouldn't be priorities, they would add to the immersion and replication of what we see on Sundays (and Thursdays, Mondays, and Saturdays at the end of the year).

# 5 at23steelers @ 09/27/12 01:52 AM

"WHY ARE THEY WORKING ON REFEREES WHEN THEY HAVE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES...")

Seriously though, Im playing that "other game" and in one series I saw: defensive PI, roughing the passer, ineligible receiver downfield, and illegal forward pass. I actually didn't know what the penalty was going to be, until after he announced it. In Madden, you know, it's going to be holding or clipping. It's almost a given. Players actually jump offsides on fake snap, imagine that! Also, I challenged two plays of illegal forward pass and both overturned. They need to overhaul challenge system, so you can pick what you want challenged. Don't give me the "in madden they look at the whole play", because most times it doesn't like they do. It just adds more variety to the game. Madden is fun to play, but the game just lacks the intensity of the unexpected. You expect to score every time you possess the ball, so field position doesn't matter, you know what the penalties will be. Improved tackling does help, but penalties will add some more immersion to the game.

# 6 splff3000 @ 09/27/12 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarodd21


	Yeah if they are bringing in the actual refs they definitely need to focus on getting the penalties to work correctly..

And focus on getting the refs to face the right direction... LMAO!! **sigh** EA Tiburon you crack me up.

# 7 TreFacTor @ 09/27/12 02:41 AM

What I would like to happen:

See refs get in the way, knocked down, pulling players apart after a pile up, separating smack talking players.

EVERY NFL penalty represented in the game.

Replays showing the penalty focusing on who the penalty was called on with corresponding commentary

Replays after every turnover or scoring play (like in the NFL )

Coaches yelling at officials

Players and refs pointing to the first down in the right direction.

What I think will happen.....absolutely nothing. There probably won't be any discernible difference like BigFnDeal said this will be a wasted opportunity for more immersion.

# 8 epsilonomega @ 09/27/12 03:04 AM

Pretty sure Ed Hochuli was already in Madden 06 or 07. Hardly a new or innovative feature.

# 9 MattIntellect @ 09/27/12 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epsilonomega


	Pretty sure Ed Hochuli was already in Madden 06 or 07. Hardly a new or innovative feature.

Yes he was, but I think that the key difference in this article lies within the plurality of the word "referees." Not a single referee will have his face scanned, but as the article suggests, the entire officiating crew.

It would be nice to have different refs for different games, and their calls vary due to their differences in judgement. However, I think that the main goal for having the real refs in the game is to add substance to the commentary.

# 10 epsilonomega @ 09/27/12 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattIntellect


	Yes he was, but I think that the key difference in this article lies within the plurality of the word "referees." Not a single referee will have his face scanned, but as the article suggests, the entire officiating crew. It would be nice to have different refs for different games, and their calls vary due to their differences in judgement. However, I think that the main goal for having the real refs in the game is to add substance to the commentary.

Yeah, I very seriously doubt that the different refs would provide varying judgments/penalty calling styles like it was Fire Pro Wrestling. I don't think EA is that clever. I definitely know that the NFL wouldn't allow/encourage a perception that certain refs call this way and another calls that way.

It'd be exactly what we have now except a ref would be chosen randomly at the start of the game but with some half-assed recorded, awkwardly thrown together lines like they have the commentators do.

# 11 prey2god @ 09/27/12 04:20 AM

They need to fix the actual assisted tackle stats before implementing anything else.

Just saying.

# 12 prey2god @ 09/27/12 04:21 AM

and quite honestly, i'll consider never playing Madden again if they bring up some new gimmick like "Be a ref mode".

That would make me ill

# 13 MattIntellect @ 09/27/12 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prey2god


	They need to fix the actual assisted tackle stats before implementing anything else. Just saying.

I get what you're saying, but as mentioned in the OP, this thread is about anything related to the referees and penalties, not other features that you may feel are of more importance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_OS


	Let's keep the discussion on penalties (and not "WHY ARE THEY WORKING ON REFEREES WHEN THEY HAVE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES...") Just stay on topic, thanks...

# 14 epsilonomega @ 09/27/12 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prey2god


	and quite honestly, i'll consider never playing Madden again if they bring up some new gimmick like "Be a ref mode". That would make me ill

First Person Football from 2k is back in Madden 14

# 15 celticfang @ 09/27/12 06:40 AM

So why can't they just keep the anonymous referees and actually fix the problems with them they've had this gen?

And while i'm at it, variable referees and penalties please. Yes, it's been said. I'm just adding my voice to it. I woud love for a mode where the penalty sliders are both randomzed and locked at the start of each gameplay, there'd be a message such as 'Lance Easley is working today's game', then the penalty sliders would both be locked to change and hidden in the sliders menu, so you got no idea what would be called when in that game.

Of course, the above means EA have to actually fix penalties and referees first. Maybe in Madden 15

# 16 RJTurneR @ 09/27/12 07:51 AM

Real refs have been in FIFA for a year or so now, so this is most likely where the idea came from. Usually if one of EA's games has a new feature, in time it gets implemented into another.

# 17 mastershake88 @ 09/27/12 09:32 AM

I was raised to the saying" if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing." I have nothing to say.

# 18 roadman @ 09/27/12 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_truthman.com


	I really dont see how anyone can get excited about this. With all the videos Ryanmoody21 has put out there. With all the issues this game has, they announce they will have real refs in the game. This is a joke right. So let me get this straight. EA is so excited about yet another gimmicky feature, they announce it with Madden 13 just being weeks old. So, EA doesn't care to much about the following then...... Now, you can add REAL REFS to the list of things we didn't ask for.

Well, not sure if you bothered to read the OP.

This wasn't announced by EA or Madden, it was announced by the referee union.

Also, the OP pleaded for everyone to stay on topic and the OP is the site owner.

Just saying.

# 19 spacefunk @ 09/27/12 09:48 AM

Did anyone outside of the referees and their immediate families ask for this?

# 20 kjjnesb @ 09/27/12 10:42 AM

It'd be nice for immersion but even if EA went the extra mile and add ref tendencies or something it would suck because the penalties currently occur with no real rhyme or reason.

Now yeah it'd be cool if fatigued linemen held more or something or tied DB's lead to Pass interference.

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