Madden NFL 15 News Post

Madden NFL 15 Connected Franchise Details, Trailer and Screenshots

11:49 AM - August 6, 2014 by CM Hooe

EA Sports released a plethora fresh new details of connected franchise today, with big changes coming to the mode and how it will work this year. You can check out the full details here.

Here are some highlights:

Confidence is new this year, and replaces hot and cold streaks. Really high or really low confidence is going to affect player ratings, all players start at a neutral 50 confidence level.
Game prep will allow you to earn XP or increase player confidence from week to week, allowing you to practically choose whether you are a rah-rah coach or a down to business type of coach.
CPU teams have extensive logic that determines what they work on every week. Bad teams will focus mostly on developing their players, while contenders will focus on confidence first and then earn XP if confidence isn�t an issue.
Free agents now take much more than money into account when deciding to sign with you or not. Playing time, scheme, your coaching prestige and more will be factors.
Draft classes are now random.
Owner Mode is now much more challenging when it comes to making a profit, and teams with older stadiums in smaller markets may be better off building new stadiums or relocating altogether.
You can now sim to points in the season, with an option to actually sim 10 years into the future.
New screen to see how players progress/regress.
Relocations are tuned way down and can be turned off.
You can now fire your head coach during the season.
The simulation engine now includes things like consistency, confidence and development. In Madden 15, young players with great development traits will have slightly better �simmed� stats than normal. This allows great young players to progress quickly and become stars in the league.

What do you think of the additions to the mode this year?

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Member Comments

# 21 Sheba2011 @ 08/06/14 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bc21045


	Am I reading it right that game prep will be limited to a few players a week rather than the whole team?

It seems this is more of an individual attention for key players (backup QB's, 2nd RB, hot shot rookie etc). In the real NFL a team would never have enough time in a week to provide individual attention to every player on the team. Depending on how many players you can develop each week it's probably about right.

# 22 LorenzoDC @ 08/06/14 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CM Hooe


	Bad news first, things I don't see mentioned: - no custom draft classes - no practice squad Good news - draft classes are now randomized, and prospects are no longer explicitly tied to story lines. Maybe we get draft class editing next year then? Other things I like: - the new weekly prep feature IS used by the CPU to progress players during the season, so the massive gameplay balance issue between user teams and CPU teams in CFM wrt practice XP gain should be fixed. - changes in confidence are explicit, so the user knows exactly why the rating is changing. - if a player has high or low confidence, what ratings and how is ratings are affected is now visible (generally speaking, it's not exactly quantified with a number but rather with an up/down arrow) - free agency UI looks vastly more useful - the player progression screen looks vastly more useful - explicit tracking of player progression / regression is welcome - more commissioner options is always welcome. - IR designated-to-run is "kinda" there with the ability to remove one player from IR at any point. It's not exactly like real life, as I think the NFL enforces an eight-game minimum off time, but that the option is there is good.

A couple of other things apparently not in the game: formation subs, ability to hire/fire coordinators.

There a fair bit here that shows they are trying to respond to community concerns. Lack of draft class editing/creation is a bummer. No CPU versus CPU or in game coach option is a bummer, but we knew that. No options on structuring FA contracts, backloading, front loading, etc. is a bummer.

# 23 NDAlum @ 08/06/14 12:19 PM

"Random Draft Classes
For the first time in CFM, draft classes are entirely random. Every name, rating, trait, face, etc. is randomly generated every season. No two classes are alike or predictable. This is something we’ve wanted to do for the past few years. Our fans have been very passionate about random draft classes, and this addition adds unlimited replayability to Connected Franchise."

# 24 StL_RamZ @ 08/06/14 12:20 PM

leaves me wondering if the in game presentation was touched for CFM

# 25 Sheba2011 @ 08/06/14 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsSB2015


	For user controlled teams, are we going to be forced to game prep/practice? If so, I'm down for for that. I'd rather skip it.

No they said you are not forced into it. If you choose not to use it they will use the same formula the CPU uses for your team.

# 26 Aggies7 @ 08/06/14 12:22 PM

Loved what I saw, however I wonder if there is any additions to presentation inside of CFM. Still a wait and see on that I guess.

# 27 LorenzoDC @ 08/06/14 12:23 PM

This made me laugh, because it's a complete 180 turn from what Looman said he deliberately built when CCM was introduced in M13:

Quote:


	Game Prep is not designed to be a grind.

# 28 bc21045 @ 08/06/14 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	It seems this is more of an individual attention for key players (backup QB's, 2nd RB, hot shot rookie etc). In the real NFL a team would never have enough time in a week to provide individual attention to every player on the team. Depending on how many players you can develop each week it's probably about right.

Tackling drills, watching film etc aren't individual things though. I was hoping for an actual full team prep where the drills/activities you pick are geared towards that week's matchup. This sounds like just a less tedious version of the weekly practice which is a shame because they had an opportunity to add some much needed depth to the mode.

# 29 bjthomas121 @ 08/06/14 12:23 PM

No info on Connected Career?

# 30 RyanLaFalce @ 08/06/14 12:24 PM

The weekly prep kind of sounds similar to NFL 2K5's prep each week. (Sorry if the comparison is totally wrong)

# 31 Sheba2011 @ 08/06/14 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bc21045


	Tackling drills, watching film etc aren't individual things though. I was hoping for an actual full team prep where the drills/activities you pick are geared towards that week's matchup. This sounds like just a less tedious version of the weekly practice which is a shame because they had an opportunity to add some much needed depth to the mode.

While that would have been an awesome feature they still added depth with the individual training. Will be very good if you use a team like the Patriots for example, you can start Tom Brady for the next few years while still developing Jimmy Garoppollo for the future.

# 32 NDAlum @ 08/06/14 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LorenzoDC


	This made me laugh, because it's a complete 180 turn from what Looman said he deliberately built when CCM was introduced in M13:

It's a good compromise IMO. Guys like myself who really want to dig into development can and those who just want to fly through weeks can do that.

I'd much rather have something like this than hear a bunch of guys complain that development is too tedious etc etc

# 33 StL_RamZ @ 08/06/14 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjthomas121


	No info on Connected Career?

# 34 jeremym480 @ 08/06/14 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	As much as I would love to be able to edit draft classes it is much better that they are now completely random instead of the same ones over and over again. Hopefully they toned down all the non FBS schools appearing.

I wasn't even expecting Custom Draft Classes, honestly. I just want to edit the random draft picks so I can get just like Jamies Winston, TJ Yeldon, etc into future seasons of M15.

Random draft classes are definitely a welcomed addition, especially for online leagues, but it would be nice to (at the very least) have the ability to rename drafted players.

# 35 TOmuch81 @ 08/06/14 12:29 PM

Looks like they put a lot effort into CFM this yr and I can't wait to play. But I wish they didn't removed Practice from CFM. I like messing around with my team and practicing new plays and such.

# 36 Godgers12 @ 08/06/14 12:30 PM

I completely expect, and am prepared for Madden to mess up the random draft class feature some how, some way. I can easily see some 60 speed WR with the name Johnson Nebraska or something. But I am kind of intrigued.

# 37 EASPORTS_AJ @ 08/06/14 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsSB2015


	For user controlled teams, are we going to be forced to game prep/practice? If so, I'm down for for that. I'd rather skip it.

You will be able to simulate some of or all of your Game Prep hours every week. All up to you, and the CPU will use logic based on your team/roster on what to prep if you don't want to. If you need help deciding what to train, there is also the "Recommended Activities" tab to help you out.

# 38 l8knight1 @ 08/06/14 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godgers12


	I completely expect, and am prepared for Madden to mess up the random draft class feature some how, some way. I can easily see some 60 speed WR with the name Johnson Nebraska or something. But I am kind of intrigued.

Can't you just create/rename the guys? I doubt they changed anything as far as rosters across the board, that allows editing appearance to existing players without creating new. Since these new classes are random, maybe I am wrong.

# 39 mestevo @ 08/06/14 12:37 PM

I was excited that those first few screenshots showed coordinators/position coaches but disappointed there was never anything about hiring/firing them, and that firing in-season only really addressed the usual Coach/Scout/Training positions. A ton of other really good stuff there though.

# 40 countryboy @ 08/06/14 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	I have a funny feeling they will be in the game but it will be out of our control who they are and we will only see or hear of them on that one screen.

I bet you're right, especially given that none of those coaches are actual coaches for the Browns.

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