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

# 121 zmonkey @ 08/06/14 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MossMan84


	In-Game Overall Ratings Another big change in Madden NFL 15 is seeing the same overall (OVR) ratings in game as the depth chart. If a QB is an 85 overall in your scheme in the front end, they�ll be an 85 OVR in game as well. Can someone please explain this to me?

Also a player's recent production was factored into the number as well, which led to weird things like an 81 OVR DT claiming to be a 90+ OVR DT after a hot streak, but he still played like an 81.

# 122 loadedlux @ 08/06/14 02:59 PM

Random draft classes alone just might bring me back

# 123 mmorg @ 08/06/14 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	EA not getting sued is what is most important. After the Sam Keller lawsuit in which they were sued for allowing users to edit the names and likeness of players I wouldn't be surprised if we never see editable draft classes again.

No they were sued for shipping the game with player likenesses. Courts ruled a few years ago that professional athletes don't have protection of their names, only their virtual likeness. This is how games like Front Office Football and OOTP can ship games with full rosters and not have to worry about obtaining a license from the NFLPA or MLBPA, but they can't ship the games with real logos or uniforms because those licenses are owned by the NFL and MLB respectively.

Being able to edit names doesn't have anything to do with the NCAA lawsuit and it doesn't even come close to being a legal issue.

# 124 Sheba2011 @ 08/06/14 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loadedlux


	Random draft classes alone just might bring me back

That might get me back into online CFM's. Nothing was worse than having that one dbag who would use a guide and amazingly draft a team of all future all pros. Now those owners actually have to take the time to scout players and play the game the right way.

# 125 Yeah...THAT Guy @ 08/06/14 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Wow, the changes look good! I loved this part: 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.

My question about this:

Is this strictly based on team overall or how the team is actually doing? If a team with a low overall gets off to a good start and is winning the division at the halfway point, will they continue to just go for XP or will they then convert to trying to just be prepared every week? Likewise, if a team has high expectations but gets off to an 0-5 start, will they "pack it in" and start going for XP to get ready for next year? I'm hoping it will be dynamic like that.

# 126 Sheba2011 @ 08/06/14 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmorg


	No they were sued for shipping the game with player likenesses. Courts ruled a few years ago that professional athletes don't have protection of their names, only their virtual likeness. This is how games like Front Office Football and OOTP can ship games with full rosters and not have to worry about obtaining a license from the NFLPA or MLBPA, but they can't ship the games with real logos or uniforms because those licenses are owned by the NFL and MLB respectively. Being able to edit names doesn't have anything to do with the NCAA lawsuit and it doesn't even come close to being a legal issue.

ESPN (and the actual lawsuit) disagrees with you:

"Though names are not visible on player jerseys in the video games, the lawsuit contends EA Sports intentionally circumvents the prohibitions on utilizing student-athletes' names by allowing gamers to upload entire rosters, which include players' names and other information, directly into the game in a matter of seconds."

# 127 DeuceDouglas @ 08/06/14 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	I understand what you are saying but how realistic is that? If a guy is sitting at home in week 8 of the NFL season and the Patriots call him and say we need you to come play WR for us, his confidence is going to be either very high or neutral. He isn't going to walk into the locker room depressed and unsure of himself.

When you take into consideration that confidence is a loosely used term to describe ratings increases and decreases, it's very realistic. If you just go sign a QB off the street to start week eight, he's not going to get ratings boosts because he's happy to have a job and now he gets to play. Yes going to struggle and go throw some serious issues if you just throw him to the fire until he gets acclimated.

Look at Josh Freeman for the Vikings last year. They got him, through him in there immediately and he was like 20 of 53 passing. All this confidence rating is is a glorified hot/cold system.

# 128 StL_RamZ @ 08/06/14 03:07 PM

was really hoping for a live stream to see all this in action.

# 129 Sheba2011 @ 08/06/14 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas


	When you take into consideration that confidence is a loosely used term to describe ratings increases and decreases, it's very realistic. If you just go sign a QB off the street to start week eight, he's not going to get ratings boosts because he's happy to have a job and now he gets to play. Yes going to struggle and go throw some serious issues if you just throw him to the fire until he gets acclimated. Look at Josh Freeman for the Vikings last year. They got him, through him in there immediately and he was like 20 of 53 passing. All this confidence rating is is a glorified hot/cold system.

He's not getting a ratings boost in the game either, he's going to start off at the baseline confidence level of 50 which is neutral, unless I understand the system wrong.

That's also only one player example. I could counter with Sealver Siliga of the Patriots. He was signed and became an immediate full time starter and finished the year with a sack in 3 straight games.

# 130 l8knight1 @ 08/06/14 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	ESPN (and the actual lawsuit) disagrees with you: "Though names are not visible on player jerseys in the video games, the lawsuit contends EA Sports intentionally circumvents the prohibitions on utilizing student-athletes' names by allowing gamers to upload entire rosters, which include players' names and other information, directly into the game in a matter of seconds."

Interesting, as I had never seen this. What is crazy to me is that ''gamers...upload (and edit) rosters''. In other words, EA wasn't doing it, they were just supposed to prevent people from editing? That logic is so weak, because it also eliminates editing that is pure random, fantasy or fictional.

# 131 mmorg @ 08/06/14 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	ESPN (and the actual lawsuit) disagrees with you: "Though names are not visible on player jerseys in the video games, the lawsuit contends EA Sports intentionally circumvents the prohibitions on utilizing student-athletes' names by allowing gamers to upload entire rosters, which include players' names and other information, directly into the game in a matter of seconds."

That might be what the lawsuit says from the prosecution's perspective, but what did the judges actually legislate their decisions on? Find that and get back to me. It has been ruled in numerous courts, and is displayed evidently in games like OOTP and FOF, that people do not own the rights to their names and only their likeness.

# 132 Sheba2011 @ 08/06/14 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l8knight1


	Interesting, as I had never seen this. What is crazy to me is that ''gamers...upload (and edit) rosters''. In other words, EA wasn't doing it, they were just supposed to prevent people from editing? That logic is so weak, because it also eliminates editing that is pure random, fantasy or fictional.

This is from the Sam Keller lawsuit which EA and the NCAA recently settled for $20 million. The Ed Obannon lawsuit was the one based on player likeness and NCAA player rights. Based on the wording though it sounds like EA may never give the ability to edit draft classes (who could blame them?), if they do they probably won't allow sharing. I would not be surprised if 2k follows soon before they are also sued.

# 133 mestevo @ 08/06/14 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l8knight1


	Interesting, as I had never seen this. What is crazy to me is that ''gamers...upload (and edit) rosters''. In other words, EA wasn't doing it, they were just supposed to prevent people from editing? That logic is so weak, because it also eliminates editing that is pure random, fantasy or fictional.

Yes, allowing others to infringe doesn't put EA in the clear just because they agent doing it themselves. Nothing weak about the logic there.

# 134 oneamongthefence @ 08/06/14 03:15 PM

Hopefully they'll now have a blog to say what's gonna be in last gen. Hopefully all the CFM stuff makes it in. I'm ready to get excited about picking it up for ps3.

# 135 DeuceDouglas @ 08/06/14 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	he's going to start off at the baseline confidence level of 50 which is neutral, unless I understand the system wrong. That's also only one player example. I could counter with Sealver Siliga of the Patriots. He was signed and became an immediate full time starter and finished the year with a sack in 3 straight games.

Which is exactly my point. You shouldn't be able to just go and pluck guys off the street and plug them in and get that player at their neutral level or rating.

As for Sealver Siliga, he was added to their practice squad on October 23rd of last year and wasn't put on their active roster until November 27th, over a month later which just kind of furthers my point.

# 136 GMoneyDK @ 08/06/14 03:17 PM

Wow wow wow I cannot wait to get my hands on this

# 137 brandon27 @ 08/06/14 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EASPORTS_AJ


	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.

This is awesome to me. Thank you!! I HATED having to play one of 8 (or whatever the number was) practice sessions every week. I liked the idea of it, it just took way too much time. I know some like it, but the busier my life has gotten, the harder it is to spend that kind of time. Awesome too that there's an option to sim through it and still get the reward of it.

That being said, all in all sounds like alot of nice things have been done to CF this year... I love it!

# 138 mestevo @ 08/06/14 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneamongthefence


	Hopefully they'll now have a blog to say what's gonna be in last gen. Hopefully all the CFM stuff makes it in. I'm ready to get excited about picking it up for ps3.

I'd think a lot of this would make it, the the on the field stuff that what probably won't come to last gen.

# 139 Gronk4M13 @ 08/06/14 03:24 PM

All sounds absolutely amazing, wow. My excitement is at an all time high.

# 140 PacMan3000 @ 08/06/14 03:26 PM

Well, maybe it's me, but I still don't get the difference between confidence and the hot and cold streaks. They both seem to work the same way (week to week)--I guess the only real difference is you can actively improve a player's confidence via a point system.

With that said, whenever changes like these happen to franchise, I'm always a bit skeptical just because there is no way to quantify it. In other words, if in week three Johnny Manziel comes into the game with a confidence rating of 50...if week three sees him making errant throws, is it because he had low confidence or mediocre accuracy ratings? How would you know? And does confidence override ratings? Can your confidence of 90 result in you completing downfield passes--despite having a deep accuracy of 70?

It's kind of like the "clutch" rating that you can improve with XP points. I've played with it a few times, but there's never been a point when playing a game and a guy makes a play where I'm like "Ah, see I know he definitely made that play because I specifically spent time trying to improve this intangible element of his game."

I like the idea of confidence or morale or hot and cold streaks. But I think there's a reason these things get introduced and them removed 3 years later. You just can't quantify how it actually impacts your games. It's fun to tinker around with, but I honestly wonder if stuff like this is more cosmetic than anything. It gives you the idea that you're making improvements to your players and to your team, when at the end of the day, things like accuracy, catching, speed and other ratings are what really matter.

Personally, I'm hoping that in franchise mode, we can get away from pushing buttons on our controller in static screens and actually having more true engagement. For example, in one of the screenshots, it shows an image that says something like "Defensive Film Room." Instead of just clicking buttons on a screen, I think it would be better and far more interesting to be presented with, say, 10 highlights of your opponents previous game and allow you to study and take notes on their team, their impact players, the formations and player personnel they like to use in certain situations, their defensive scheme, etc.

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