Madden NFL 25 News Post

First Madden NFL 25 Screenshot, First Details on Run Free Ball Carrier Feature

07:32 PM - April 2, 2013 by Steve_OS

ESPN's Jon Robinson has posted the first Madden NFL 25 screenshot, as well as a few details on the new Run Free Ball Carrier feature.

Quote:


	...the game will highlight a "run free ball carrier feature" that will offer "unprecedented ball-carrier control and precision."

What are you hoping to see out of this new Run Free Ball Carrier feature?

Game: Madden NFL 25Reader Score: 5/10 - Vote Now
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Member Comments

# 101 Nav @ 04/06/13 11:28 PM

How about adding an adaptive AI on defense that ACTUALLY reacts to plays? Madden 13 favors offense so heavily that it becomes annoying to play online.

People cheese money plays that take advantage of the CPU's horrible AI which makes the USER have to adjust every single play before the snap to try and keep up.

An adaptive AI should start jumping routes if the other user starts repeating plays too often. The hook routes.. out routes and deep outside hook routes SHOULDN'T be MONEY vs Man defense every single time. Make the CPU MORE COMPETITIVE instead of reacting the exact same way vs CERTAIN ROUTES.

Anyways, if you're going to KEEP adding things solely to OFFENSE.. at least balance things out and make the defense just as competitive.

The animations still need work and that's understandable being that this is the first implementation of the Infinity Engine. This game just needs MORE detailed work.

# 102 Nav @ 04/06/13 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjcheezhead


	This is the obvious fix to the defense known as "fag" defense to me. A quick button press that "tells" the offensive lineman to run block for the qb when you see it. Instead right now the lineman stay behind the line of scrimmage doing nothing even after the qb takes off. Again, it's all about line play fixes. Having the qb do realistic cuts in the open field doesn't change the reason why that defense is so effective against passing plays and qb scrambling. It just makes the game look better.

Most people do "FAG" defense because the DEFENSIVE AI is absolutely atrocious. This game needs to focus more on the basic details instead of adding pointless features. Anybody ever tried a regular blitz in MAN? Doesn't work ever. TE instantly BREAKS away from the computer or the WRs run right by the CBs. I mean, of course the defense shouldn't be able to blitz successfully every down but they shouldn't be getting torched every down either.

# 103 SageInfinite @ 04/06/13 11:53 PM

I think the ai being sub par is just a result of them wanting this game to be a popular online heavy COD type game. Honestly I think this whole gen has suffered because of this focus on online. It's similar to the single player story being sub-par in shooters and action games. Devs don't bother advancing the ai because they figure people don't play it. Madden's AI should be sooooo much more advanced than it is. Just so many holes in the foundation of Madden. I can damn near call the same 1 or 2 plays all game on defense and be successful against the cpu.

# 104 SageInfinite @ 04/07/13 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big FN Deal


	This is that 1v1 POV I keep ranting about like a crazy person, lol. I just don't understand why anyone would take that approach for a team sport. Other gaming studios making sports sims aren't doing it, EA Tiburon is out in left field by themselves with this approach. The sad part is that this POV isn't even hidden or subtle, they come right out and say it. They state all the time that Madden is not made for CPU v CPU and I start ranting "WTF?, did everybody else just notice that" yet people just seem to shrug it off or even agree. I try not to be a Richard because I enjoy posting on OS and don't want to get in trouble but it amazes me the way doing things as realistic as possible in a simulation video game is viewed as optional or a matter of opinion instead of base expectation. We talk about how other sports sims have implemented x the closet to real life to date, so Madden should follow suit until something better comes along and people start talking reckless about how Tiburon doesn't owe us anything, it's just a video game, stop complaining, no game is perfect, etc. I compare it to a history buff being dissatisfied with a Time-Life documentary about WWII, playing out like Saving Private Ryan and being treated like their expectations were too high for historical accuracy in a documentary, lol.

I totally feel you, but I mean was Madden ever trying to be the documentary? Were they ever trying to be a true sim? I know early on the tech didn't allow for ultra realism, so it was easier to come off like they were(adding 11 on 11, real teams, real players, ect.), but once we got closer it seems like it became more apparent that they weren't trying to be that documentary. I mean they saw the strides 2k was taking, and they didn't and still haven't added some of the sim elements.

I think acquiring the license is what made it worse, because if they weren't striving for it before, becoming the sole licensed football game, now it should have been the goal. To be that ultimate game to make you forget about everything else. All they've seem to do this gen was remind you of all those previous games, and even their own previous iterations. I hope this next gen they finally complete this goal that we expected.

# 105 SageInfinite @ 04/07/13 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big FN Deal


	I can dig that, in spite of all the talk game about authenticity Madden is what it is. What I can't understand though is those that treat others that want Madden to be as realistic as other sports sim video games as if we are the ones that have our priorities wrong. We ask "why can't Madden represent __ like this other video game does?" and someone replies "because Madden is a video game" and metaphorically drops the mic walks the hell off like they just crushed it, lol.

Yeah I hate that attitude, just admit you enjoy the game for what it is regardless of its MANY short comings. There isn't anything wrong with it, but don't make it seem like we're perfectionist and that this game is striving to be as realistic as possible, and that it's how you play it, because it's not.

# 106 Trick13 @ 04/07/13 03:22 AM

The aspect I do not understand about the "it is a video game" argument, is that the things the "sim" crowd wants could easily be "opt out" or "toggle" features.

Adaptive AI isn't fun for you, or you want a tourney where the user has to micro-manage every aspect of the game, just go into the menu and turn it off.

I think the XP system is an area where the reverse is true. You want a more "sim" experience, EA could allow you to customize it by turning on/off access to each attribute and the DEV upgrades. So, for me I would turn off the following attributes or ratings, meaning they would be blocked from progression and would not appear as an option within the progress player packages;
SPD
INJ
TGH
SPC
JMP
THP
and the DEV packages

Which would mean if I draft a QB with 86 THP, 77 INJ, 85 TGH and SLOW DEV then I just drafted an injury prone QB who will likely never develop into much more than a journeyman backup
Add in an option to turn off "scouting" DEV in a league with honest "sim' players who don't go looking for draft spoilers or "cheat sheets" and now you have a system that would truly allow for "simulated bust picks".

Allow the option to be like sliders, where we can choose options to "block" the CPU from progressing and maybe the community could find some settings that allow the CPU to be much better at progression, because they wouldn't be wasting all the XP on TGH.

Add another option to set the CPU teams so they can see DEV, have all the positional XP upgrades so that the CPU gets max points for goal accomplishment and now you have much tougher CPU teams to battle against, without having to set as many "house" rules to limit your own XP practices.

Custom rosters, playbooks should be be available as on/off options for online or offline CCMs.

EA has done that in the past - vision cone, auto-sprint, salary cap, trade deadline, injuries, pre-existing injuries, and so forth. So it seems to me they can (if they wish) offer up both sim and arcade aspects while allowing the users and leagues to find the balance of those aspects that fit best the experience they are looking for.

Anything less, at this point, is cruel and unusual punishment.

# 107 roadman @ 04/07/13 10:57 AM

I still feel one of the issues is that EA markets the game as a sim and it's not. They are trying to appease everyone, including hard core, to sims, to tourney, to casual, all in one neat $65.00 package.

It's all about the marketing, though.

# 108 Trick13 @ 04/07/13 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucky60


	Drop XP and replace it with an actual realistic progression model. Or better yet, the default should be the realistic progression model with an option to turn on arcade XP progression.

I would prefer that route as well, but EA is likely going to stick with the current XP setup, so at least they could give us options like I mentioned so we can customize it to our liking...

# 109 hanzsomehanz @ 04/07/13 03:30 PM

In respect to my opinion on what I expect from this run free feature, here is my two cents:

1. The 1st paragraph supposes this will be the year of the run.

Come the release of M25 (14) it will make the anniversary of the run game as it was about 7 series ago that the run to daylight feature premiered.

Since the dawn of those days we have seen the run game take a detrimental slide in turn control - now they are resurrecting the acclaimed fundamentals from years back.

2. Who will be on the cover should tell a million words.

This year is perhaps the gr8est cover fail. In years past the cover boy hinted that that position would garner favored attention.

This year CJ Jr was the cover boy and yet WRs failed to play like poster boys let alone CJ. The QB dictated the success. WRs struggle to go up for the ball.. they dont play to their roles like years past when a WR was not even on the cover.. I see it as a great blunder to showcase a WR cover and not showcase WR prowess with the Infinity Engine.

The above tells me that this image of Von Miller being bowled over by Arian Foster can be very misleading.

The direction of the series is becomming more and more mixed messaged and this wishy washy plattering is certainly detrimental to the companys success if they continue to resist connecting the dots and prevailing to do this off the cuff to their own beat

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# 110 SteelerSpartan @ 04/07/13 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trick13


	The aspect I do not understand about the "it is a video game" argument, is that the things the "sim" crowd wants could easily be "opt out" or "toggle" features. Adaptive AI isn't fun for you, or you want a tourney where the user has to micro-manage every aspect of the game, just go into the menu and turn it off. I think the XP system is an area where the reverse is true. You want a more "sim" experience, EA could allow you to customize it by turning on/off access to each attribute and the DEV upgrades. So, for me I would turn off the following attributes or ratings, meaning they would be blocked from progression and would not appear as an option within the progress player packages; SPD INJ TGH SPC JMP THP and the DEV packages Which would mean if I draft a QB with 86 THP, 77 INJ, 85 TGH and SLOW DEV then I just drafted an injury prone QB who will likely never develop into much more than a journeyman backup Add in an option to turn off "scouting" DEV in a league with honest "sim' players who don't go looking for draft spoilers or "cheat sheets" and now you have a system that would truly allow for "simulated bust picks". Allow the option to be like sliders, where we can choose options to "block" the CPU from progressing and maybe the community could find some settings that allow the CPU to be much better at progression, because they wouldn't be wasting all the XP on TGH. Add another option to set the CPU teams so they can see DEV, have all the positional XP upgrades so that the CPU gets max points for goal accomplishment and now you have much tougher CPU teams to battle against, without having to set as many "house" rules to limit your own XP practices. Custom rosters, playbooks should be be available as on/off options for online or offline CCMs. EA has done that in the past - vision cone, auto-sprint, salary cap, trade deadline, injuries, pre-existing injuries, and so forth. So it seems to me they can (if they wish) offer up both sim and arcade aspects while allowing the users and leagues to find the balance of those aspects that fit best the experience they are looking for. Anything less, at this point, is cruel and unusual punishment.

The lack of an extensive/functioning options/sliders is one my biggest complaints about Madden/NCAA this gen. There will be hell to pay around here if In-Game Saves aren't included this year...Theres no excuse for it and I hope OS hammers them in their review if its missing yet again

While NBA 2k isn't perfect either, its clear the Devs wanted to give their users legit and powerful options to make the game as realistic or unrealistic as they see fit. Theres like 4 or more ways to customize the players speed and overall gamespeed in addition to an expansive ratings and tendency system. Its close to having your own dev kit for gameplay.

I mean it really is staggering and the fruits that are born from great communities like OS can really enhance what already is a solid base of a game.

I'll give credit to Tiburon for at least adding the "communites" feature but stacked up against the other top sports games....they're still stuck in the stone ages

# 111 SageInfinite @ 04/07/13 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfer717


	The marketing of EA is not directed at the sim crowd at all. Ryan Moody always mentions in his videos that EA is obsessed with the highlight plays. Every trailer that is released is tons of quick snippets of trucking, glitchy jukes and absurd flip hits...etc. As a true sim player, I'd love to see a trailer where they show a play from the broadcast angle, exhibiting great blocking, realistic animations..etc. I wouldn't even care if it was an incomplete pass play! I'm just so sick of seeing the hype and exaggerated animations that EA uses in its madden trailers.

YES!!!! Tiburon never seems to try to make their games appear like they aren't games. It's seems like they try to constantly remind you that you're playing a video game instead of suspending reality. The only Madden I ever had to do a double take at was 12 because they captured the pre/post play cameras perfectly, and yet they removed them for 13 with no explanation smdh.

I would love to see a Madden trailer one day where it's just a couple plays shown from the broadcast cam that tricks you for a second into thinking it's real because of the presentation and animations. Hopefully next gen.

# 112 Trick13 @ 04/07/13 05:59 PM

EA doesn't really have to market to the "sim" crowd, as shown by this entire console generation thus far. The game sells day 1 regardless of what they do. The quality of the game, although I would rate it a C-, does not impact sales.

I have come to terms with that fact. What I can not come to terms with is the fact that with seemingly moderate effort EA could put features/ options into the game to satisfy both extremes.

Ship the game with options for "levels" of adaptive AI, which according to a post here is in the game but overly dumbed down for fun factor. So put it in as a slider setting.

EA could satisfy the "sim" crowd and still sell to the throngs of "casual" gamers all at once if they just put a bigger emphasis on gamer customization with a more robust set of toggles/sliders and what not.

# 113 roadman @ 04/07/13 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfer717


	It's just such a joke...that it's borderline depressing. No EA game feels simulation to be honest. Everything is their way or the highway. I think the biggest input any of us have is the cover vote. Which is the dumbest thing imo. What a hype machine. I could give 2 s___ who's on the cover of a game, especially that once you start playing, you see the same crap that you've seen for a decade.

I think you would find a debate or two with NHL and FIFA players. Our son played HS soccer and loves the realism of it. Heard the same of NHL.

Two different studios Tiboron vs EA Canada.

# 114 hanzsomehanz @ 04/07/13 09:00 PM

As valid as these pts are re EA Footballs niche as a game that is marketed as sim but played for arcade purposes lets look at why.

As Road ptd out, other EA titles do reach the acclaim of sim - NBA used to.. but for EA Football the one thing to me that separates them from the other sports sims in house and outdoors is the training mode within Madden.

I cant point my finger to when drills and training were removed but the vanquishing of these systems basically sealed the fate of how the game would be played henceforth.

FIFA has a comprehensive training mode and there Fifa Street may also have training drills and or skilled tutorials. It is not just limited to Sim but even arcade race games have come with training such as Need For Speed.

Training and Coaching is integral to success in any sport or practice. For Madden to do away with this basically approves the game to be plug n playable - no learning curve concerns.. let the kids have at it..

Im not an EA Kid.. I grew up when the game looked to be maturing as well. I learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses and via drills and Madden IQ training I was able to graduate to new gaming levels of performance.

To do away with this coaching system of not only having drills but a drill instructor as well is their way of shirking the responsibility to make the game true to sim.

We cant see pocket presence truly matter until those who are poor at it have a way to improve and learn the sense in this. The same goes for running game.

The training wheels need to come off for this game to mature in a sim fashion. It is their responsibility to head the proper gameplay characteristics without circumventing the process with canned features that imply 'let it rip' and you watch the wr run down the ball like the two entities are magnetized becoming one with each other.

Remember.. Madden is an exclusive group that is preaching sim and how they simulate the real game yet they do not offer their users a comprehensive training system that coaches them thru the game.

XP is another feature that should be gained through drills and not primarily practice and gameday. See Nba 2k. They have main menu training tutorials and drills as well as seasonal training.

Mini Camps and a Coach need to come back.

Some will defer they dont neeed these systems but I hope you see that these requests when fulfilled allow EA to shirk responsibilities. What message is the game implying by vanquishing what used to be a comprehensive coaching system?

People can make a motion to their own notions but I know that a game minus dedicated coaching is not dedicated to simulation and or seeing maturity in the user.

Also remember that when EA Football says they are offering users more "control" the implication should be taken as training wheels. With the focus on the ball carrier I just hope they dont rob peter to pay paul and turn the tacklers into mere drill bags: see the image and the effect of more control in m13 total control passing.

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# 115 ERA @ 04/07/13 09:02 PM

Why can't they just rebuild off of Madden 10? I would pay $150 for EA to remake that game and base the future titles off of it, every year. Sick of Madden being so dull, I miss the old days.

# 116 Smoke6 @ 04/07/13 09:20 PM

My hype is not there, as everyone else has stated its just dull and they're basically rehashing all this for the younger generation of players. Im hoping nex gen ushers in a developer who would make a more realistic football regardless of not having the NFL license, just having my teams colors and location would serve me just fine.

Just like the previous generation, I am sure EA will have nex gen versions of their sports games playable or their in some form for E3 in a couple months. What I hear or see then will pretty much decide for me what my future in football gaming will look like.

# 117 roadman @ 04/07/13 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfer717


	and although games like nhl and fifa may be made better than any game made at tiburon... they don't come close to the customization and feel of nba 2k or mlb the show.

Agree, I didn't have as much fun with NBA 2k as I have had in the past. Could have done without the Jay-z presentation and offensive rebounding and cpu fast breaks were uncontrollable at times. Had to fiddle a lot more with sliders like I do with Madden.

The Show, can't tell you a thing about that as I have an xbox and 2k baseball is an updated roster this year and miles behind The Show. Even heard some rumblings The Show is getting stale.

Son has said FIFA has more realism in the last few years than previously.

# 118 sneakeat @ 04/07/13 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adub88


	I'm only going to get excited when I see this thing in motion. My biggest problem with this game has been the running animations among other glaring fundamental issues that need to be addressed. Hopefully these are the fluid animations Cam Weber promised us.

Madden can't figure out the basics of football- tackling, blocking, ball physics

# 119 hanzsomehanz @ 04/07/13 11:23 PM

Its not that they cant figure it out - they choose to go this path of features that override the natural form of sim.

If 2k basketball had dribble moves you could string together as combos like a mortal kombat fighter fans would be jeering the same way we do about how the game feels tuned for arcade and COD

We gotta stop sliding these guys the incometent card... they dont deserve handicap parking - they are choosing to rest on their laurels.

*I personally avoided 2k13 bcause I felt jayz was dandruff and so was the dunk meter and the ability to throw it off the backboard at will.

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# 120 Haze88 @ 04/07/13 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanzsomehanz


	2. Who will be on the cover should tell a million words. This year is perhaps the gr8est cover fail. In years past the cover boy hinted that that position would garner favored attention. This year CJ Jr was the cover boy and yet WRs failed to play like poster boys let alone CJ. The QB dictated the success. WRs struggle to go up for the ball.. they dont play to their roles like years past when a WR was not even on the cover.. I see it as a great blunder to showcase a WR cover and not showcase WR prowess with the Infinity Engine. The above tells me that this image of Von Miller being bowled over by Arian Foster can be very misleading. The direction of the series is becomming more and more mixed messaged and this wishy washy plattering is certainly detrimental to the companys success if they continue to resist connecting the dots and prevailing to do this off the cuff to their own beat Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

This is the only reason I used to care about the cover.
Madden 2004(Mike Vick)-Improved improvising like he did routinely
Madden 2005(Ray Lewis)-Year of defense, hit stick introduced, defensive hot routes
Madden 06(Donovan McNabb)-Vision cone and precision passing
Madden 07(Shaun Alexander)-Improved running, blocker playmaker (desperately want this back now)

Notice how all these new features were on the PS2 and related to the cover player. I can't think of a legit new feature, let alone position-specific one, since then. If Randy Moss made of cover back then, imagine how the receivers would play. Imagine if Anyone from the Mid-00's Chiefs O-Line made the cover how the line-play would be. If CJ made the cover during the PS2/XBOX era, I guarantee we'd have receivers reacting to the ball the way the DB's do now.

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