Madden NFL 15 News Post

Madden NFL 15 Gameplay Improvements Blog and Screenshots

08:25 PM - July 24, 2014 by jpdavis82

EA Sports has posted their Madden NFL 15 gameplay improvements blog and quite a few new screenshots.

Quite a bit of information on pre-play mechanics, max protect blocking, pre-play coverage adjustments, QB contain, bluff blitzing, improved adaptive AI, defensive play types, kicking game and much more.

Source - EA Sports

Madden NFL 15 screenshot gallery - Click to view

Game: Madden NFL 15Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 42 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 ggsimmonds @ 07/25/14 12:10 AM

Good read but I was disappointed with the adaptive AI bit. When I first saw those words I got excited, but after reading the description it sounds more like on high difficulties the AI QB knows your play.

It will be a good improvement if the following comes with it:
1. Plays with disguised coverages actually fool the AI. Say I am in Cover 2 show 3, the AI QB better not audible to a play that can beat Cover 2.
2. Defense needs to do the same. If I constantly beat the AI defense with certain route combinations the AI should wise up to it.
3. Don't give the AI QB the entire playbook to call audibles from. They better have the same limitation as us.
4. Ratings better still matter on all madden difficulty.

# 22 Danimal @ 07/25/14 12:59 AM

You mean I can push the stick outside the meter on a kick and actually miss it? For real?

I really need someone to confirm this first hand and no I'm not being sarcastic. Because right now it doesn't matter if your outside the accuracy window it still goes where you aimed.

So if they really did reduce the wedge as show and make it harder to kick long field goals that is a great addition.

# 23 JHTJ @ 07/25/14 02:02 AM

Based on this offseason I would guess that 2 months out everyones discussing the improvements they'd like added, 1 month out everyone is buzzing about all the great stuff that's being hyped by the EA train and a month after release everyones complaining about the implementation of said great stuff.

I hate to play devil's advocate, and I'll be the first to admit that they're saying all the right things, but some of you guys seem to have learned nothing the last 10 years. The higher your expectations, the further they could fall. With that said, I hope to have my tempered expectations blown away. I reeeeeally want to be surprised.

# 24 Skyboxer @ 07/25/14 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHTJ


	Based on this offseason I would guess that 2 months out everyones discussing the improvements they'd like added, 1 month out everyone is buzzing about all the great stuff that's being hyped by the EA train and a month after release everyones complaining about the implementation of said great stuff. I hate to play devil's advocate, and I'll be the first to admit that they're saying all the right things, but some of you guys seem to have learned nothing the last 10 years. The higher your expectations, the further they could fall. With that said, I hope to have my tempered expectations blown away. I reeeeeally want to be surprised.

Well they are actually "showing" things also and not just saying it.

With that said..I had a blast with M25 and I'm sure I'll have a blast with Madden 15.
Sure there will be improvements needed but in the end a lot of people can still enjoy the game and have a lot of fun playing it.

# 25 SiNsinNatti @ 07/25/14 04:39 AM

Hope this feature helps out the run defense for real. Had a little streak going until some guy ran DeMarco Murray for 200+ yards and I play a 5-2 defense. Couldn't do a thing against wildcat either with run commit and every DB on a blitz. Shxt was unrealistic, I would have probably been better suited playing field goal block lol.

# 26 LovejoyOTF @ 07/25/14 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reyes the roof


	"By simply pressing Y, Y (Xbox One) or Triangle, Triangle (PlayStation 4) at the line of scrimmage, any defender in a hook, buzz, or flat zone will now drop to the first down marker to try and keep everything in front of them. The risk is that defenders protecting the sticks will not attempt to leverage a route that extends beyond the first down marker." Am I misunderstanding this, or are they saying that if you select protect the sticks, your defense won't defend anything past the first down marker? I was under the impression that protecting the sticks meant to try and keep the ball in front of the first down marker. For example, on 3rd and 9, don't protect the short routes, drop everyone to the first down marker and beyond and force the offense to throw the ball underneath and you tackle them before they get to the marker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSHhohzylpk

perfect example of this. expected to get something to make the key first down, didn't protect the deep route to cobb (who wasn't even supposed to run it if i'm remembering correctly?

)

you're right, that's exactly what it means. it's just saying you're vulnerable to stuff over the top because you're basically telling your secondary to staunchly look underneath and stop it.

# 27 Qb @ 07/25/14 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mestevo


	The key in your quote is only the defensive players in specific coverage assignments are the ones that adjust.

Right, based on the bolded phrase below, it sounds like DBs in deep zones won't alter their assignments, so certain coverage schemes will still offer some over-the-top protection when protecting the sticks:

Quote:


	By simply pressing Y, Y (Xbox One) or Triangle, Triangle (PlayStation 4) at the line of scrimmage, any defender in a hook, buzz, or flat zone will now drop to the first down marker to try and keep everything in front of them.

# 28 underdog13 @ 07/25/14 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LovejoyOTF


	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSHhohzylpk perfect example of this. expected to get something to make the key first down, didn't protect the deep route to cobb (who wasn't even supposed to run it if i'm remembering correctly? ) you're right, that's exactly what it means. it's just saying you're vulnerable to stuff over the top because you're basically telling your secondary to staunchly look underneath and stop it.

Just ruined my day lol

# 29 Bowinkle08 @ 07/25/14 10:46 AM

i like the pre play mechanics. no more audible-ing 15 different plays and hot routes in 5s.

# 30 reyes the roof @ 07/25/14 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LovejoyOTF


	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSHhohzylpk perfect example of this. expected to get something to make the key first down, didn't protect the deep route to cobb (who wasn't even supposed to run it if i'm remembering correctly? ) you're right, that's exactly what it means. it's just saying you're vulnerable to stuff over the top because you're basically telling your secondary to staunchly look underneath and stop it.

I'm a Bears fan, so thanks for pretty much ruining my day

# 31 LovejoyOTF @ 07/25/14 11:10 AM

i'm a vikings fan, so no problem lads

# 32 The JareBear @ 07/25/14 11:16 AM

Well, I gotta say.

I really was let down by "Next Gen" M25 (at the time it was Next Gen, I know we are now current gen, just saying). I liked it a lot the first couple days then two weeks later I was already thinking of trading it in.

I told myself I wasn't going to be a Day One guy with Madden ever again, and I have approached this pre-release season for Madden with shields and walls built up to protect myself from being let down again.

I am not saying that everything I have seen and heard has blown me away, but I am very impressed (at least compared to how I have felt the last few years around this time) so far and am as excited for Madden to come out as I have been in a long time.

I really really hope all these changes and change of focus to "sim gameplay" show up in the actual game.

I told myself I was done with online CFMs but if the game plays as well as it sounds like it might, I might have to change that.

# 33 huntt26 @ 07/25/14 11:17 AM

Love the changes in special teams! That area has been overlooked WAY too long. Now if we could just have a slim chance to block kicks and punts without crazy exploits...

# 34 Gronk4M13 @ 07/25/14 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyboxer


	Very cool.. Just want to play at this point. .. .. but still not August yet!

Basically my thoughts. These all sound great, and like they will improve the game, but I just want to play!

# 35 RyanLaFalce @ 07/25/14 12:08 PM

Everything about this game so far look and sound great. Now I'm just ready to play. We're almost there.

# 36 certaincoachditka @ 07/25/14 12:24 PM

Any word on when the demo is going to be released?

# 37 BezO @ 07/25/14 12:24 PM

Cool stuff. Generally, I'd prefer this time went into the playbook/huddle, but I guess it's better than nothing.

Pre-play Mechanics sound cool.

Max Protext is welcomed.

Pre-play coverage adjustments sounds great. But...

Quote:


	Quick Tip: Using this functionality mixed in with our Individual coverage adjustments is a great way to throw off opponents who may be keen to your global coverage adjustments. Individual coverage adjustments are taught in skills trainer.

is this saying these are available for individual defenders or not available?

QB contain mechanic being improved is great. I like that it's been added to some plays, but it should be added to ALL plays and simply be called contain. And I hope it helps agains outside runs.

Bluff blitz sounds incomplete. Didn't Madden have something similar where defenders would bluff blitzes PRIOR to the snap? Is that still in or has this replaced it? Both techniques should be in the game. And this is something I wish were added to the playbook/huddle in addition to pre-play.

I'm still waiting for the day they get away from the screen jump for the fake snap and use head/shoulder movement & voice inflection instead. The current function is ugly and not very sim.

Any improvements to adaptive AI are welcomed, but some of this sounds off & incomplete. Since AI QBs are audibling against our look, we need complete control over the look. Disguised Coverage Shells is incmplete. And how does the AI QB know what defense we called? Many schemes look the same.

Though some folks abuse it, I'll never like these limitations put on audibling for a few reasons: Not every adjustment requires drawn out verbal & physical communication. QBs & WRs often communication with just a look or discrete signal. Very quick. Also, the playbooks are not tiered like they should be and last I remember, route combinations are missing from most, if not all formations. Some folks "create plays" at the LOS because of the limitations of Madden's playbooks. Also, QBs make changes in & while leaving the huddle. Lastly, more icons? Really?

Play Types sound decent, but again, incomplete. Again, not sure why they didn't add contain assignments to every play. Disguising shells sounds limiting. Wide formations? I've heard of the wide 9 technique, but I'm not sure what a wide formation is. And that's not what stops outside runs. Individual assignments, discipline & technique stops outside runs.

I won't be happy with the kicking game until they get rid of the meters, but they're adding more.

# 38 hanzsomehanz @ 07/25/14 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BezO


	I'm still waiting for the day they get away from the screen jump for the fake snap and use head/shoulder movement & voice inflection instead. The current function is ugly and not very sim.

Amen brotha

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk

# 39 snc237 @ 07/25/14 12:50 PM

Now next gen madden (25) was the first madden game I enjoyed since the ps2 days. While not perfect it showed nice improvement from it 360 counterpart. EA must of been listening through my Kinect because everything I complains about has been resolved. Qbs are automatic, Fixed. I can have everybody in hook zones and still they don't play the sticks, Fixed. Defence is underpowered, Fixed. Wind is, fixed. How about qb contai... Fixed. Harder kicking, fixed. Ummm mouth guards?... There's only so much we can do! Now all in all EA still has a ways to go butt this is one heck of a year for madden if everything works.

# 40 Junior Moe @ 07/25/14 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHTJ


	Based on this offseason I would guess that 2 months out everyones discussing the improvements they'd like added, 1 month out everyone is buzzing about all the great stuff that's being hyped by the EA train and a month after release everyones complaining about the implementation of said great stuff. I hate to play devil's advocate, and I'll be the first to admit that they're saying all the right things, but some of you guys seem to have learned nothing the last 10 years. The higher your expectations, the further they could fall. With that said, I hope to have my tempered expectations blown away. I reeeeeally want to be surprised.

That reality set in years ago for me with regard to Madden. However, there has always been enough there for me to enjoy the game for what it was. And that's enough to justify a purchase for me. I just want to have some fun with an NFL sim and I personally get that from Madden. Is it enough? No, honestly. I know how unrealistic it is to expect Madden to be my dream football game; so I don't. I would have moved on a looong time ago. There are enough quality games out there to occupy my time. I guess it just gets to a point where you either accept the game for what it is (and attempting to be), or just move on from Madden gaming altogether. Incessantly complaining doesn't do any good so why bother. We should all have a pretty good idea of where Madden is with respect to our expectations by now. It's not likely to change anytime soon. But I am personally excited by the info contained in this new blog and cautiously optimistic about this new teams direction. I am excited about Madden now and I know full well that it wont be my "dream" NFL game. It will have some shortcomings, I see them already. But I have also seen enough to know that this will one of the better Maddens and that it will be a fun solid addition to my game lineup. It's not all or nothing.

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