Madden NFL 15 News Post

Madden NFL 15 Connected Franchise Videocast with Josh Looman

01:12 PM - August 6, 2014 by Steve_OS

VSNGaming has posted a videocast with Josh Looman, as they talk about Madden NFL 15 Connected Franchise. Topics include all of the new features in CFM including practice mode, random draft classes, team relocation and other updates.

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Member Comments

# 61 BigTymer718 @ 08/07/14 03:08 AM

Thanks

# 62 Sheba2011 @ 08/07/14 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggsimmonds


	So no editable draft classes, but perhaps even more disheartening was that by how and what Josh said, we should not expect that feature anytime soon.

I wouldn't expect EA (or any other company) to put itself into a bad position when it is already involved in several litigation's over player likeness and allowing gamers to customize NCAA players. Do you want Madden to go the way of NCAA, where EA has to pay so much money to in legal fees and to plaintiffs that it's more cost effective for them to just shutter the game? How lenient to think a judge would be on EA the second time it faced these lawsuits?

While it may seem like they are ignoring their fan base, they are really following their legal team's advice and protecting their own assets.

# 63 Sheba2011 @ 08/07/14 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggsimmonds


	Wait until you play CFM and get to the preseason cut period and the game basically forces you to cut certain players in order to meet the position requirements. The two QBs going down is part of the risk of opting to carry an extra WR or CB. I like my games to have choices and risks involved.

The worst is that I am always required to carry a FB, even though I run an offense that never uses a FB. I always have to sacrifice one spot on my team to meet the position requirement.

# 64 danknerd @ 08/07/14 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	The worst is that I am always required to carry a FB, even though I run an offense that never uses a FB. I always have to sacrifice one spot on my team to meet the position requirement.

Should be no requirements honestly, if a team wants to roll with 8 QBs so be it, just as long as the AI understands why that would be stupid... but I guess that is too hard for EA to hire logic programmers to figure that out, hence a hack solution of 'requirement vs limits' is born.

# 65 Sheba2011 @ 08/07/14 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danknerd


	Should be no requirements honestly, if a team wants to roll with 8 QBs so be it, just as long as the AI understands why that would be stupid... but I guess that is too hard for EA to hire logic programmers to figure that out, hence a hack solution of 'requirement vs limits' is born.

Well there has to be practical limits as in you have to 5 lineman because otherwise the game isn't really playable. But I remember reading something that said last year only like 14 teams actually had a real FB on the roster, most had Tight Ends that they used if they needed a FB.

# 66 briax87 @ 08/07/14 07:32 AM

Maybe I missed a particular part of the videocast, but does Josh talk about how exactly the confidence rating affects gameplay?

What player attributes are affected by confidence? and by how much?

For example, someone who has 99 confidence, would his awareness be increased by 10%/20%/50% etc? Any details on how exactly the confidence rating works, besides what it is?

# 67 Sheba2011 @ 08/07/14 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathrneck34


	How about just letting us edit the players once they are drafted and the other player's in the NFL as well. that's what I want so like someone else said I don't have to live with a Lineman that is faster than my WR. Or a 5'10 250 DE, or even better a 6'2 250 LB that looks like a CB or a WR the size of a DE running routes.

"a 5'10 250 pound DE" You mean like Elvis Dumervill?

# 68 Sheba2011 @ 08/07/14 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briax87


	Maybe I missed a particular part of the videocast, but does Josh talk about how exactly the confidence rating affects gameplay? What player attributes are affected by confidence? and by how much? For example, someone who has 99 confidence, would his awareness be increased by 10%/20%/50% etc? Any details on how exactly the confidence rating works, besides what it is?

They didn't go into detail on what attributes were affected but from the screenshot they showed in the blog it showed Ryan Tannehill having negative confidence and his throwing accuracy numbers all going down.

# 69 RumbleCard @ 08/07/14 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba2011


	I wouldn't expect EA (or any other company) to put itself into a bad position when it is already involved in several litigation's over player likeness and allowing gamers to customize NCAA players. Do you want Madden to go the way of NCAA, where EA has to pay so much money to in legal fees and to plaintiffs that it's more cost effective for them to just shutter the game? How lenient to think a judge would be on EA the second time it faced these lawsuits? While it may seem like they are ignoring their fan base, they are really following their legal team's advice and protecting their own assets.

You have repeatedly brought the issues of NCAA but are only looking at half the problem. One of the key issues with NCAA is that there is no association for the players in which a company like EA can strike a licensing deal with. Such as the NLFPA or NBPA. Without a licensing agreement they were exposed. They weren't sued by the NCAA or any group they had a licensing agreement with. They were sued by individuals who were not compensated or covered under the licensing agreement.

This would not apply to Madden as they have a player likeness licensing agreement with the NFLPA. So there's an argument here about the ability to edit existing names but not actual names itself.

Additionally any likeness created in the game should be viewed upon a player created under contract of the NFL or a FA. They have no issue with Madden having Free Agency and a created draft should be viewed upon as free agents available to the NFL under the NFLPA.

Your comparison to NCAA isn't really apples to apples.

# 70 MrBill @ 08/07/14 10:55 AM

Love all of the feedback guys! I am glad that most of you realize what a dedicated person Josh is to Connected Franchise Mode. He's also answering questions for us directly so be sure to keep 'em coming.

# 71 msdm27 @ 08/07/14 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBill


	Love all of the feedback guys! I am glad that most of you realize what a dedicated person Josh is to Connected Franchise Mode. He's also answering questions for us directly so be sure to keep 'em coming.

Appreciate your work MrBill

Could you please ask Josh if he could expand a bit more (maybe a blog) on how the draft class randomizer will work. Just want to get some more insight as to how schools, names, skin tones and such will be determined.

I think one of the biggest collective fears with randomized classes, aside from potential wacky ratings, is the fact that skin tone for a character might not match the photo shown on the player profile or that type of thing

Also, one thing I never really understood from Josh's comments yesterday was: If the previous classes were "handcrafted", how is it possible we ended up with all the 70spd CB's? Just seems contradictory to me, one would imagine that was more likely with randomized classes and the solution would be to handcraft rookies

Final question, and probably the most important for me....
In the blog, he mentions how sim stats have been tweaked so that young players with potential have better stats... Could you please ask him about other changes to the sim enginge, especifically:
Was something done to qb completion %?!?!?!?
Was something done to the frequency in which starting qb's get hurt when simming?

THANKS!

# 72 Sheba2011 @ 08/07/14 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RumbleCard


	You have repeatedly brought the issues of NCAA but are only looking at half the problem. One of the key issues with NCAA is that there is no association for the players in which a company like EA can strike a licensing deal with. Such as the NLFPA or NBPA. Without a licensing agreement they were exposed. They weren't sued by the NCAA or any group they had a licensing agreement with. They were sued by individuals who were not compensated or covered under the licensing agreement. This would not apply to Madden as they have a player likeness licensing agreement with the NFLPA. So there's an argument here about the ability to edit existing names but not actual names itself. Additionally any likeness created in the game should be viewed upon a player created under contract of the NFL or a FA. They have no issue with Madden having Free Agency and a created draft should be viewed upon as free agents available to the NFL under the NFLPA. Your comparison to NCAA isn't really apples to apples.

My comparison is that people want the ability to create actual NCAA draft classes. Madden has a licensing deal with the NFLPA and until those created players are part of the NFLPA (i.e drafted, signed as UDFA's) they are not protected under the PA's player likeness deal. That's all it takes is one Sam Keller to see himself in Madden for them to be right back in court. If you were an executive at EA would you put your company in that situation? Don't think of it as a gamer, think of it as a business owner. If you have already been involved in a few lawsuits for the same thing and that thing was part of the reason that caused you to lose one product. Why would you even take a chance with doing it again?

# 73 vc3616 @ 08/07/14 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBill


	Love all of the feedback guys! I am glad that most of you realize what a dedicated person Josh is to Connected Franchise Mode. He's also answering questions for us directly so be sure to keep 'em coming.

All I'm going to say is that for a good majority of SIM players it's very hard to get into your franchise if your a OFFLINE MODE user, when you have to draft fake players, I feel that the online players are being catered to and offline users are being ignored if there was a separate mode for offline....(completely separate) it be a better SIM game but whatever. I like all the additions but it still leaves much to Desire, I may pass on this year I'm undecided. To me it seems the reason we don't get custom draft classes is more of a ego thing Josh looman comes off as proud of his draft classes and the stories attached to them,in past interviews he was quoted saying that users like the boom or bust factor that you get with their rookies, I for one don't know anyone that loves a 90 ovr rookie. Just give us what we ask for and we are all good shouldn't be this hard.

# 74 MrPinkBlackrose @ 08/07/14 12:03 PM

EA, I know it won't make this years Madden, but in future versions at least give us the option to watch the other side of the ball. I guess it was taken out to make the games go faster, but I would bet in the NFL that most players watch at least 1/2 of the other side of the ball...especially in close games. If the other team returns a punt for a TD, I'd like to see that. If I'm a QB but my defense causes a sack fumble and its retuned for a TD, I'd kinda wanna see that...it's like you guys have removed 1/2 of the game. This may be good for some of your players, maybe it does not effect online play (I would not know)....but you guys are squeezing out your original Franchise guys. Please in future titles, at least make it a simple toggle "on/ off" switch. Don't pigeon-hole us all into playing the game the way you feel it should be played.

# 75 thegregwitul @ 08/07/14 01:36 PM

To the poster who triple posted about not knowing anyone who likes the boom/bust factor of the created draft classes or having some high rated rookies, allow me to introduce myself. The rookie classes that were initially created in Head Coach that carried over to Madden were the best draft classes the game has ever seen, IMO. I still create Jack English and add him to a team before starting my franchise.

I wish there was an option for those draft classes to be used for offline franchise, I'd even pay a little extra if it were DLC. Random draft classes should be fine, so long as the attributes don't get wacky.

One thing that is annoying and immature is the whining about how EA can just slap an option into the game when it really isn't as easy as it appears. Josh alluded to this when he mentioned the roadblocks the team faced with custom draft classes (issues with importing and exporting). Couple that with the recently resolved legal case against EA and I just don't see that option being implemented any time soon. It's not as easy as just adding some more 'logic programers' to the team.

Could certain game modes or options use more work? Certainly, at least based off last years game, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised with the work the Madden team has done on this year's edition and I look forward to trying it out myself in the coming weeks.

# 76 Primo80 @ 08/07/14 01:51 PM

Let players upload their Superstar to EA who releases weekly draft classes and scouting reports for exciting (User) players entering the draft. Every week, new Superstars will be created by players, and existing superstars' stats will increase with use. Thats how you keep people playing CFM year round.

# 77 Step2001 @ 08/07/14 01:55 PM

Owners mode:

Players Jersey's for sale. In Madden 25 (PS4) when I drafted players in mid to late rounds, their jersey's would be top sellers for my team. Has this changed?
I would think looking past a Manziel type situation, that Fans buy established players jersey's more.

Fans not happy with talent on team, yet the record is 13-3 and winning the Super Bowl. Is this fixed? It's all about winning and not having "NAMES" on the roster.

# 78 Skyboxer @ 08/07/14 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vc3616


	All I'm going to say is that for a good majority of SIM players it's very hard to get into your franchise if your a OFFLINE MODE user, when you have to draft fake players, I feel that the online players are being catered to and offline users are being ignored if there was a separate mode for offline....(completely separate) it be a better SIM game but whatever. I like all the additions but it still leaves much to Desire, I may pass on this year I'm undecided. To me it seems the reason we don't get custom draft classes is more of a ego thing Josh looman comes off as proud of his draft classes and the stories attached to them,in past interviews he was quoted saying that users like the boom or bust factor that you get with their rookies, I for one don't know anyone that loves a 90 ovr rookie. Just give us what we ask for and we are all good shouldn't be this hard. Imhopefully they keep making great improvements like they did this year then it will become a day 1 buy for me and not a used purchase.

Never bothered this offline SIM gamer one bit.
I get why some want the ability but frankly I can still have just as much fun wioth or without. In fact I hardly ever used real draft classes anyways.

There's a ton more things I want from Madden right now over this but like I said.. the more they can give as options the better.
I'll still have fun though.

This is the first year in a while that I'm generally pretty excited for Madden release day.

# 79 Connolly22 @ 08/07/14 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vc3616


	All I'm going to say is that for a good majority of SIM players it's very hard to get into your franchise if your a OFFLINE MODE user, when you have to draft fake players, I feel that the online players are being catered to and offline users are being ignored if there was a separate mode for offline....(completely separate) it be a better SIM game but whatever. I like all the additions but it still leaves much to Desire, I may pass on this year I'm undecided. To me it seems the reason we don't get custom draft classes is more of a ego thing Josh looman comes off as proud of his draft classes and the stories attached to them,in past interviews he was quoted saying that users like the boom or bust factor that you get with their rookies, I for one don't know anyone that loves a 90 ovr rookie. Just give us what we ask for and we are all good shouldn't be this hard.

I'm an offline sim player, and I disagree. It honestly doesn't bother me much, if at all. The only thing that can bug me is the picture not matching the player. But you guys crying over names and stuff is just dumb. Get over it.

# 80 NDAlum @ 08/07/14 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connolly22


	I'm an offline sim player, and I disagree. It honestly doesn't bother me much, if at all. The only thing that can bug me is the picture not matching the player. But you guys crying over names and stuff is just dumb. Get over it.

I think it's fair they have their criticism and make their points on here and try to get it added.

However, when it gets to a point where the criticisms are disrespectful and can be interpreted as "shots" at devs we'll have an issue and those people won't post here any longer.

They don't have to get over it but they will have to focus their efforts to a more respectful way if they want to continue to be a part of the OS community.

I definitely see the desire for custom draft classes. In the video Looman made a compelling argument for not having them and it seems as though it is a big task. He came off pretty genuine in the interview so I believe him.

I hope you guys get them at one point, but for now I'm pumped about the completely random draft classes. My pet peeve with them is the pictures. I think they take away from the prospects. I would love for Madden to incorporate something like The Show has. I'm in the minority who would probably just want all cyber faces anyways. Seeing a fast, small, speedy WR with a picture that resembles an offensive lineman makes me shy away from taking that guy.

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