Madden NFL 16 News Post

Press Row Podcast Episode 136: Madden NFL 16 CFM Deep Dive

03:23 PM - May 29, 2015 by RaychelSnr

This week’s episode is a deep dive into the modifications and improvements in this fall’s upcoming Madden NFL 16. Host Rich Grisham is joined by two of the leading designers of Madden’s Connected Franchise Mode, including Creative Director Kolbe Launchbaugh and Designer John White. The three discuss a host of additions and changes to CFM, including the updated goals framework, new scouting and draft options, updated commissioner tools, and a host of other items.

Enjoy!

Joining us this week:

Koble Launchbaugh, EA Sports (@KolbeL)
John White, EA Sports (@EAWhite)
And your host, Richard Grisham (@richgrisham)

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Run Time: 54 minutes

Game: Madden NFL 16Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 24 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 jpdavis82 @ 05/30/15 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoplesChampGB


	JP, not trying to call you out, but I have seen posts of yours saying that in essence Madden 16 was going to turn a lot of heads this year. Were you stating that just based on gameplay alone or were you stating that on the total package of the game? Just wondering considering the status of CFM that they just unveiled and you stating that you are disappointed so far. It just seems conflicting to me and I would appreciate some clarification. Thank you.

I'm looking forward to what they announce for gameplay.

# 22 JKSportsGamer1984 @ 05/30/15 11:21 AM

Why does it seem like it's always "wait til next year" with Madden? I mean fair or unfair I don't seem to get that from any other yearly sports game that I play. I'm just saying that whole narrative is getting very old year after year.....

# 23 ggsimmonds @ 05/30/15 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpdavis82


	At the very beginning of the blog it mentions this is just the beginning for CFM. Kolbe has a lot of things planned for the future. This year CFM seems to be, based on what we've seen so far, a necessary overhaul in ui and tuning to try to lay a much better foundation for CFM in the future. I'm a little disappointed so far too, but I want them to make sure things are done properly first before they add a bunch of new stuff.

This has been the defense of Madden for years though. Why did the mode require a necessary UI overhaul so soon since its inclusion? Back when it was introduced as connected careers it was sold as the foundation to build off of, but now they are seemingly back to needing to improve the foundation?

I've done this dance for too long.

# 24 4thQtrStre5S @ 05/30/15 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggsimmonds


	This has been the defense of Madden for years though. Why did the mode require a necessary UI overhaul so soon since its inclusion? Back when it was introduced as connected careers it was sold as the foundation to build off of, but now they are seemingly back to needing to improve the foundation? I've done this dance for too long.

This is a solid argument; I generally feel the same; though I am hopefull that gameplay adjustments will trump everything for M16.

# 25 JayD @ 05/30/15 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpdavis82


	At the very beginning of the blog it mentions this is just the beginning for CFM. Kolbe has a lot of things planned for the future. This year CFM seems to be, based on what we've seen so far, a necessary overhaul in ui and tuning to try to lay a much better foundation for CFM in the future. I'm a little disappointed so far too, but I want them to make sure things are done properly first before they add a bunch of new stuff.

Sounds like EA's infamous 3 year plan. 😡

# 26 Hooe @ 05/30/15 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggsimmonds


	This has been the defense of Madden for years though. Why did the mode require a necessary UI overhaul so soon since its inclusion? Back when it was introduced as connected careers it was sold as the foundation to build off of, but now they are seemingly back to needing to improve the foundation?

Based on this podcast, the old UI was clunky and quite daunting for anyone who had never played CFM to the point of scaring people away. They want to get more people playing CFM, and making it easier and less intimidating to navigate and streamlining how to do the most important actions is one important way to accomplish this goal.

I had problems with the old UI as well in that it made finding actionable information very difficult. Among the things that were present in CFM last year, the UI was actually one of my biggest gripes (it's my contention that most roster management interfaces for all team sports games have a lot of room for improvement, but that's neither here nor there).

That they improved it will help anyone playing the mode get in and out of games faster, manage their roster faster, draft faster, and ultimately get more games into a CFM.

# 27 roadman @ 05/30/15 12:50 PM

3 year plans, new people in charge, people that crossover from MLB, etc.... This forum needs new material, taking out stuff and replacing stuff and calling it new haha, jk.

This is all legitimate complaints.

If the game play isn't improved greatly from 15, I may need to curtail one of my habits and spend more time with other habits.

I'm leaving it up to game play this year because as I mentioned in another thread, and it's not something that the hard core want to hear, but almost 2 years ago Rex mentioned he wanted to flesh out what was wrong currently instead of quickly adding new features on top of the legacy issues.

To me, this sound like a pattern continued by Kolbe, so, I'm patiently waiting to hear and SEE game play in motion.

It's tiring because it's a looooooooooooooooong time coming.

# 28 StefJoeHalt @ 05/30/15 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpdavis82


	At the very beginning of the blog it mentions this is just the beginning for CFM. Kolbe has a lot of things planned for the future. This year CFM seems to be, based on what we've seen so far, a necessary overhaul in ui and tuning to try to lay a much better foundation for CFM in the future. I'm a little disappointed so far too, but I want them to make sure things are done properly first before they add a bunch of new stuff.

JP i truly hope ur right..cause it appears to me the internal part of CFM (auto subs, sliders, settings) are extremely tied to Main Menu..if this all can be fix I will be ok with calling this year a wash for CFM..however the same can not be said for gameplay!

edit: do the Dev's know how tied up the sliders etc are with the Main Menu? Have they acknowledge this?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 29 Gosens6 @ 05/30/15 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	3 year plans, new people in charge, people that crossover from MLB, etc.... This forum needs new material, taking out stuff and replacing stuff and calling it new haha, jk. This is all legitimate complaints. If the game play isn't improved greatly from 15, I may need to curtail one of my habits and spend more time with other habits. I'm leaving it up to game play this year because as I mentioned in another thread, and it's not something that the hard core want to hear, but almost 2 years ago Rex mentioned he wanted to flesh out what was wrong currently instead of quickly adding new features on top of the legacy issues. To me, this sound like a pattern continued by Kolbe, so, I'm patiently waiting to hear and SEE game play in motion. It's tiring because it's a looooooooooooooooong time coming.

I think what the problem is, everyone believes since MLB's gameplay is so good, the franchise mode must be deep and immersive and everything we've ever asked for in a franchise mode. I'm here to be honest, it's not.

The only way I can describe it is the way some of you describe Madden, a bunch of exhibition games for multiple seasons.

No in season contract extensions, ridiculous trades that hardly ever include minor league players.

A somewhat pre determined progression system, for awhile almost always based on a players potential rating (which, if I can recall correctly, would never change based on performance when Kolbe was in charge there, it was just implemented this year)

Nothing really felt organic In the mode. The in game ticker was awesome, as was the mentioning of broken records, hitting streaks and things like that.

But it's as if after the season, everything is forgotten. No mention of last years champions, no rivalries, no anything to make each season unique.

Along with a barebones amateur draft, and bugs that made it impossible to play multiple seasons in the mode, such as pitching dominating so much, it becomes almost useless to sim games, because league wide averages would be so low and unrealistic.

I don't want people to think this is a bash Kolbe or mlb the show post, because that's not what it is, all it's meant to convey is that one person from a studio that excels in gameplay, will necessarily give us what we want in a hardcore franchise mode, at least not this year and maybe not the next.

Who knows, maybe he can prove me wrong, maybe it will come ore naturally to him how to program the nfl and bring us the real life drama of the season, playoffs and offseason whether we play as the owner, GM Or coach. All three should provide a unique nfl experience that really brings us into the game.

With everything they're missing, and the direction it looks like they're going with making things too too simple, subpar AI decisions, not giving us fundamental coaching aspects, an making this entire thing revolve around XP. I play sports games, not rpg games for a reason. We don't even get a real news ticker? We get a goals and XP ticker box. Ok.

I don't know guys, this has gotta be it for me. The maybe next year game is getting old, I'm getting old, and to me, I'll never get the real franchise mode that I want.

# 30 ggsimmonds @ 05/30/15 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CM Hooe


	Based on this podcast, the old UI was clunky and quite daunting for anyone who had never played CFM to the point of scaring people away. They want to get more people playing CFM, and making it easier and less intimidating to navigate and streamlining how to do the most important actions is one important way to accomplish this goal. I had problems with the old UI as well in that it made finding actionable information very difficult. Among the things that were present in CFM last year, the UI was actually one of my biggest gripes (it's my contention that most roster management interfaces for all team sports games have a lot of room for improvement, but that's neither here nor there). That they improved it will help anyone playing the mode get in and out of games faster, manage their roster faster, draft faster, and ultimately get more games into a CFM.

I agree that the UI was pretty bad, but that brings us to a topic I try not to discuss because of the sensitivity, and that is the competence of the team. It seems we get into a pattern where they introduce something, but it is designed poorly so they then have to correct/redo it. So instead of actually building anything they spend more time correcting things.

It sucks for me because I am a franchise guy at heart, but gameplay wise Madden is the best it has ever been at.

# 31 4thQtrStre5S @ 05/30/15 02:59 PM

One of the big issues I hope to see fixed in M16 is that the system actually implements the 60 calculations per second, or whatever was originally stated; pardon my error if I miss quoted the advertised ability..

The lingering issue I experience is the inability to grab control of a player when you switch players; there is too much tendency to be stuck in an animation and you cannot do anything in time to try for a play..

# 32 kehlis @ 05/30/15 03:17 PM

This thread is about a deep dive into CFM, not an open forum to complain.

I suggest you guys stick to the topic.

# 33 XtremeDunkz @ 05/30/15 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehlis


	This thread is about a deep dive into CFM, not an open forum to complain. I suggest you guys stick to the topic.

To be fair, with all the talk about how CFM received so many resources leading up to the info, it is understandable that just about everyone is let down.

# 34 kehlis @ 05/30/15 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XtremeDunkz


	To be fair, with all the talk about how CFM received so many resources leading up to the info, it is understandable that just about everyone is let down.

Completely understood, that's why I didn't quote anyone specifically or call any one person out.

But this doesn't change the fact that we really need to keep these threads on topic as they've all turned into one common conversation at this point.

# 35 PeoplesChampGB @ 05/30/15 03:52 PM

CM does bring up a good point, one that I did not even think about. The CFM becoming easier to guide through might sway casuals into visiting the mode. Their data can report that, thus when the devs show the information to the suits they might allocate even more dev time into the mode next year. IF that is the case, I can live with that.

# 36 4thQtrStre5S @ 05/30/15 03:52 PM

The topic seems to be CFM, whether we comment positive or negatives about CFM, it is still the topic..Yes?

# 37 4thQtrStre5S @ 05/30/15 03:56 PM

The direction of Madden CFM can be fun, if one is willing to accept the direction in which the game is designed; there is always going to be an element of user interaction in the game, from playing defense and offense, and unless a player is willing to over step their self made restrictions of things like, no player switching, etc. then the game will always fall short...

Really, defense is really great when you learn to user the right player and cover certain areas of the playing field...

At the end of the day, Madden will always be about user interaction within the game...Enjoy it...I didn't buy Battlefield 4 in hopes that the soldier I was controlling would play like a Navy Seal; I had to control the soldier to the best of my ability - that is how video games are played....

# 38 kehlis @ 05/30/15 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thQtrStre5S


	The topic seems to be CFM, whether we comment positive or negatives about CFM, it is still the topic..Yes?

Yes

# 39 jpdavis82 @ 05/30/15 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoplesChampGB


	CM does bring up a good point, one that I did not even think about. The CFM becoming easier to guide through might sway casuals into visiting the mode. Their data can report that, thus when the devs show the information to the suits they might allocate even more dev time into the mode next year. IF that is the case, I can live with that.

You may be onto something there. I think the idea they may have in mind IMO, is that we can't invest in a mode people are too bored/frustrated with, so let's make it more accessible and playable, then we can build on it and make it more immersive & fun.

# 40 howboutdat @ 05/30/15 06:14 PM

When you are making a big deal earlier about how the majority of resources went into CFM this year, its really REALLY hard not to be let down by hearing basically what we are getting is

-UI improvements seems to be main thing - Ok yes it could use streamlining , but wasnt that just redone in madden 13 or 25? How many times does it take to get it right? Also one of the BIGGEST issues i had with the UI last year was how you had to go thru about 5 steps just to see how changing a positions scheme would effect a player at that positions overall and attributes. This is one thing ive yet to hear if they fixed. It should be simple, If i look at my HB scheme, all my Hbs player cards should be on that page, and as i change their scheme , i should immediately on that page see the change it brings that player. If this was not addressed in this seemingly large upgrade in UI, then to me , its still a failure.

-XP being such a focal point- Horrible, in so many ways. More and more ways to get XP . In a CFM of 32 users, this benefits the already better users in the league more than anyone.Thus in 3-4 years , creating more seperation in the level of competition.

- A ticker to make sure your focusing your gameplay on getting stats to met goals and get XP. - Ok , i get it , "its optional" . I also get all of us have been asking for a ticker, but for real stuff for our CFMs not making sure we are focusing on these Goals for XP. It is things like this , that says to me, its all about the casuals. They add a feature we want, but make it not actually do what we want...

- Practice - Ok cool we got this one. I heard them say in an interview with someone else today, that practice wasnt even in the game in feburary, but once the GC talked with them about how important it was it was added.... in 2 months time. So im guessing all the months before that was re-working the UI ,and "tuning" which is still yet to be seen if its done properly.

- Scouting redone- Scouting was already fun . Yet gotta spend time redoing it too. Instead of adding a larger degree of chance people might over look some things on players because they had 25 attributes to choose to scout, now we just show everyone who scouts a position the players top 3 attributes. SMH. Again , seems more for casuals. This will lessen the amount of chance your gonna find any gems in the later rounds.In madden 15 , we had a guy who found players in 5th round who won DROY with them.I dont see this happening now, with added combine numbers, showing the top three attributes, and then on top of that, telling their "true draft value" ,its really gonna end up sucking out alot of the fun IMO by lessening the chances of finding good players after round 2 now. Oh yeah, and i heard Kolbe say they actually added your amount of scouting points....

-Combine - im not a fan of it for my own reasons , i know alot of people wanted it in, so cool, its in .

I mean , it really is hard to accept " just wait " when we feel like thats all we hear and do . Just wait.Thing is , we have been waiting , when i buy it in 16 i want it in 16 not think, oh boy in madden 2020 its finally gonna be something. So ,excuse me ,for not being satisfied with hearing the same story line , year , after year, after year.Honestly it seems like the idea is have a new "head " of CFM about every 3-4 years now, so there is a good excuse as to why theres not that much progress. Its simple, we have someone new, they redoing the old stuff first to get it right(heard same thing when Looman was made the head), then by time they start actually doing something, we will remove them and restart this whole process.Im not trying to bash the devs , or even Kolbe.Im just stating what is seen . Dont hype up how much resource your putting in something and then just give us a tiny bit , like we normally get and expect us to be happy about it.It still feels like CFM is getting about the same amount of respect it had been. We got a new UI in madden 13 . We also got a couple other added features then as well. Not alot different.

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