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Operation Sports - Press Row Podcast: Madden NFL 25 Next-Gen with Vic Lugo

09:47 AM - October 17, 2013 by Steve_OS

The 50th (!) Episode of the Press Row Podcast is a one-on-one interview by host Rich Grisham (@richgrisham) with Madden 25 NFL designer Vic Lugo, one of the core gameplay leaders as the Madden franchise moves into the PS4/Xbox One generation. The conversation hits a lot of the fundamental aspects of what happens on the field, including locomotion, physics, blocking, controls, and how players interact with each other. It�s the kind of conversation you�ll hear nowhere else but the Press Row Podcast on Operation Sports.

Send us your feedback! We love to hear from you and can�t wait to read your stuff on the air in a future episode. Do it one of these ways:

1) Follow the show on Twitter at @PressRowPodcast and send us some Tweets while you�re there
2) Email the show at [email protected]
3) Respond to this post

Also, the Press Row Podcast is now available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/...ow/id563624090) and Stitcher Radio (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/oper...ss-row-podcast), so subscribe to it and rate it too!

Lastly, be sure to check out our friends at Weekend Confirmed right here: http://www.shacknews.com/tag/weekend-confirmed. If you�re not already a listener, give it a shot. We�re all big fans!

Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 49 Minutes

If you can't view or listen to the embedded player below, please click here.

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Member Comments

# 61 The_Balm @ 10/17/13 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gotmadskillzson


	Less sledge hammer approach, more surgical precision is needed. The way EA handles thing is like the following: A person get shot in the arm, instead of just taking the bullet out the arm, EA just chops the whole arm off and says oops, I will just create you an artificial arm for you instead.

Seems to be more like you get shot in the arm, they leave the bullet in your arm and just put a Band-Aid on it and call it fixed.

# 62 dghustla @ 10/17/13 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gotmadskillzson


	Don't know how you assumed that from what I wrote. I quite enjoy current gen Madden 25. Hell I enjoyed Madden 13 as well. With that said, EA's pattern every year is that they say something is fixed and changed, then a year or two later say the thing they said in the past was fixed, was really not fixed, but hey, we just fixed it NOW. Then come next year they will say hey true step really didn't fix anything, but Madden 15 is totally fixed and reinvented, we flew in a team from Sweden who can crack nuclear atoms in their sleep, they are now in charge of physics. Then we hired a hall of fame Running Back, he will be in charged of ball carrier game play. So the problem never was they don't recognize something isn't right, they always do, just a year later when they want people to buy their new game. When the game is currently out, they don't address things like they should with tuners, that is the problem. Instead of fixing little things here and there throughout the year of a current game, they instead want tackle 15 things at once with just one massive patch, that always end up messing else up. Then they will say, well, our massive sledge hammer approach didn't work, oh well, we moved to working on next year's game, we will TRY to address it then in next year's game. Less sledge hammer approach, more surgical precision is needed. The way EA handles thing is like the following: A person get shot in the arm, instead of just taking the bullet out the arm, EA just chops the whole arm off and says oops, I will just create you an artificial arm for you instead.

Sorry for the assumption I could not tell in your prior post if you were a fan of the previous player movement changes.

# 63 CT Pitbull @ 10/17/13 05:56 PM

I really REALLY hope Vic is speaking the truth and the game will indeed "feel" like a different, more fundamentally sound football game. BUT EA has got to prove it to me. As far as that goes, the last what, 7-8 years of mediocre at best games has made my "football skin" alligator tough. So if I and everyone else is just let down again I will do what ive done in the recent past and just move on to my copy of NBA2k or COD and call it a day. I know this game wont be the end all, be all by any means but if it shows absolutely NO PROMISE I might be done with EA football for good. Right now the ONLY thing im looking forward to for M25 next-gen is that im getting it for $9.99.

It would be sad because football games are what I want to enjoy the most out of any other by far. Breaks my heart that this has happened with football games, why couldn't this be the ongoing underperformance saga of baseball games, or soccer, or racing, or anything really? WHY FOOTBALL??? damn it sucks lol

# 64 jpdavis82 @ 10/17/13 06:33 PM

All of this comparing screenshots and trailers is a waste of time. It all comes down to gameplay. Nobody knows what these games are going to look like when they're in your living room. What you see on YouTube pales in comparison to what's on a 1080p HDTV. YouTube can't even show more than 30fps. Anyway, this interview is about gameplay and yes Rich Grisham has played the game for a limited time but he said himself after talking to Victor that he's more excited about playing it again. I think with Madden people have really lowered their expectations so there probably won't be much disappointment no matter what, but people sure are going nuts over 2k based on a trailer and not seeing actual gameplay. What if 2k gameplay is the same as current gen? Then which is greater? The bottom line is we have to wait and see some actual gameplay of both for more than 30 seconds to get a good idea. I have a friend on Twitter who played Fifa on PS4 today at a Sony store and he said it blew him away and many people have seen YouTube videos of FIFA 14 next gen and said it looks like current gen, just to put that in perspective. He said after playing Fifa he's more excited for next gen Madden because the guys on FIFA collaborated with Madden on the new player movement with the Ignite engine
and he doesn't even like FIFA games but since what Madden is doing with their presentation and living worlds is similar to FIFA, he can't wait to play it now.

While I have been extremely disappointed so far, I still hope Madden, Live and every sports game is as good as possible. If Madden stinks and EA keeps the license then we're really in trouble so hopefully we will all be pleasantly surprised in the end.

# 65 Gotmadskillzson @ 10/17/13 06:59 PM

For me current gen sports games:

MLB The Show >>>>>>>>>NBA 2K14 >>>>>>FIFA 14 >>>>>>>>Madden 25>>>>>>>NCAA 14

Each are fun to play, but it pretty clear MLB The Show sets the bar and has set the bar far for a while now this gen.

Next Gen Trailers:

NBA 2k14 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>FIFA 14>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Madden 25>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>NBA Live 14

With that said, even IF NBA 2K14 plays EXACTLY like current gen, I would still be extremely happy because to me NBA 2K14 plays EXTREMELY WELL. So the graphical upgrades is just icing on an already triple layer double chocolate cake.

If next gen Madden plays like current gen Madden, I would be ok with it, I wouldn't pay full price for it, but I would get it just because I already like current gen Madden 25. But I wouldn't buy it over Battlefield 4, Assassin's Creed 4 or even COD Ghosts. All these other games made graphical leaps in the same time frame, so Madden needs to do the same thing.

I am just waiting to see what MLB The Show will look like next gen. Because if 2k made NBA look that good, then I can't fathom what The Show will look like.

# 66 kingsofthevalley @ 10/17/13 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexicon


	It looked good, but that's not a huge jump from what 2K was doing to me. I think Madden stacks up similarly when you do side by side comparisons as far as graphical improvements go. My main point about that was: This is not a PS1 blocky polygon to PS2 smooth polygon leap this time around.

Thats what I'm saying. It looks like the clothes are actually being worn rather than painted on the players, but other than that, it looks about even with what I've seen of Madden next gen.

# 67 LBzrule @ 10/17/13 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingsofthevalley


	Thats what I'm saying. It looks like the clothes are actually being worn rather than painted on the players, but other than that, it looks about even with what I've seen of Madden next gen.

Graphically, I disagree. And just observing the posts for both games I have not seen anyone say NBA2k looks the SAME. I have not seen any contradictory footage either. It's been consistent. On the flip side, when it comes to Madden Next gen, I've seen contradictory footage; and when it comes to the MNF simulations, people say it looks the EXACT same as its current gen game. Nobody is saying that about 2k next gen. What seems to be implied in your post is the Madden 25 on current gen already looks like a next gen game. I beg to differ.

# 68 StayPlation82 @ 10/17/13 07:30 PM

I love these comparisons! 2k looks great, it should, everything about basketball graphics-wise is less than football though. fewer players, smaller crowds, smaller playing field...so it should "look" better. I also expect something like UFC to look better than 2k. we'll see.

When I play Madden at a local GameStop or download the next gen demo I'll make a judgment then. that goes for all of these titles. a video does nothing for me these days, gameplay or trailer cut scenes, they don't matter. do "I" have fun playing it warrants a buy.

good interview/podcast thanks for posting.

# 69 hawley088 @ 10/17/13 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royounggoku

I still dont see a difference

# 70 Lilgoosy @ 10/17/13 07:36 PM

IMHO people must stop making comparisons between NBA 2K and Madden . why?

'cuz one is maybe the best sportgame right now, the other one is maybe the least impressive.
the path to greatness that those 2 franchises have to do is completely different.

NBA 2K is an excellent game, that plays really well since 2k8, and doesn't need anything more, they can just concentrate their effort on graphics. i'm not sayin' that the gameplay will not be amazing or different, it will, but they DON'T NEED to convince people buyin' it.

Madden is a quite ugly game (especially 4 the hardcore fans lookin 4 the perfect simulation of football) and needs a lot of things to go well and to start rolling.

you can make a comparison between nba2k and mlb the show...or maybe fifa but not madden.

right now, everyone would be very pleased if the graphics of madden 25 are someway near to what we saw at e3, but IMO the fact that they decided to go with improving the gameplay rather than dedicate every effort to graphics is the right way to go.

this is a transition year and madden 25 on xboxone and ps4 is a port of the actual game, get over it.

this is really a game that u have to play, and play a lot to understand the many ways gameplay is improved and to be honest this interview gave me hope.

# 71 SageInfinite @ 10/17/13 08:44 PM

I guess that true step trailer drops tomorrow. I thought they would've dropped it today since the Lugo interview was released today. I've been anticipating this trailer specifically since it was announced and EA/Tiburon is messing with me.

# 72 roadman @ 10/17/13 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageInfinite


	I guess that true step trailer drops tomorrow. I thought they would've dropped it today since the Lugo interview was released today. I've been anticipating this trailer specifically since it was announced and EA/Tiburon is messing with me.

# 73 reverend_heat @ 10/17/13 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageInfinite


	I guess that true step trailer drops tomorrow. I thought they would've dropped it today since the Lugo interview was released today. I've been anticipating this trailer specifically since it was announced and EA/Tiburon is messing with me.

How do you know it drops tomorrow?

# 74 SageInfinite @ 10/17/13 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reverend_heat


	How do you know it drops tomorrow?

The teaser trailer said it was coming this week. Unless EA/Tiburon drops the ball it's gotta be tomorrow.

# 75 LBzrule @ 10/17/13 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageInfinite


	The teaser trailer said it was coming this week. Unless EA/Tiburon drops the ball it's gotta be tomorrow.

If it doesn't drop tomorrow my bet is they won't show anything due to the feedback.

# 76 Danimal @ 10/17/13 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpdavis82


	Rich: On gen 3, with D-lineman, feels like I'm getting sucked into animations with offensive lineman, is this no longer the case on gen 4? Victor: Based on what I've seen yes, I would talk to Clint more about it, but now you see more realistic things on both sides of the ball and have more control.

So in short playing D-line will still suck, you will just be locked into an animation but they have more of them so you don't feel as helpless.

BTW can someone ask anyone if penalties work? They keep claiming it is more simulation, next question out of my mouth is "Oh so penalties work now?"

# 77 roadman @ 10/17/13 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royounggoku


	I honestly wish I could swap monitors with people so they can see what I'm seeing because we can't possibly be looking at the same thing. EA's OWN DEVELOPERS are talking about how it's not a big graphical jump from current gen yet somehow it's on par with 2k's? When you see IGN doing rewinds for a sports game and being called possibly the best looking launch game of any genre then you know you're doing something with graphics. I honestly looked at that trailer earlier thinking there's no way people can discredit it's graphics but low and behold...

Sorry, I'm losing track on whose saying what to whom and vice-versa. Is it just this Developer, Vic, or have other Developers said the same?

# 78 LBzrule @ 10/17/13 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royounggoku


	I honestly wish I could swap monitors with people so they can see what I'm seeing because we can't possibly be looking at the same thing. EA's OWN DEVELOPERS are talking about how it's not a big graphical jump from current gen yet somehow it's on par with 2k's? When you see IGN doing rewinds for a sports game and being called possibly the best looking launch game of any genre then you know you're doing something with graphics. I honestly looked at that trailer earlier thinking there's no way people can discredit it's graphics but low and behold...

Honestly I don't get it either. When he said, look at what most developers are doing next gen. They are not focusing on graphics. I laughed and said is that why kill zone is using 45k poly's per character and why Ryse actually downgraded to 85k poly's per character? Doesn't sound like graphics are what those people are shooting for does it LOL. All that's saying to me is, let me try to make an excuse for why our game looks the way it looks

# 79 radatdude2 @ 10/17/13 11:06 PM

Man this interview was frustrating because he was always on the cusp but just wouldn't say it why does madden next gen look like current gen and why did the espn video look so bad. Also I'm sorry I hear the developer taking but I can't believe it the dolphins saints vid when the running back #26 for the dolphins mad a cut there was no true step motion at all

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

# 80 spottieottiedop @ 10/17/13 11:06 PM

Until I see game play video from Madden 25, NBA 2k and Live I am reserving judgement. Trailers are cool and necessary, but I can't/won't judge Madden 25 to 2K yet. But for the record the visuals can only be slightly better than last gen but a major leap in gameplay, I'm good.

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