Madden NFL 16 News Post

Madden NFL 16: Quarterback Play Gets Reworked

06:27 PM - June 15, 2015 by Steve_OS

The ground game has gotten quite a bit of attention in the past couple of years from the development team of Madden NFL. This year, its the passing game's turn -- as detailed on a new blog from EA Sports.

Quote:


	"Air Supremacy revolutionizes passing and catching on both sides of the ball with new user and AI mechanics. There is also a new multiplayer catch interaction system with more than 400 new two-player catch animations with a wide variety of outcomes."

What This Means: EA appears to be bringing it on both sides of the ball when it comes to the passing game. Everything about QB and WR play seems to have been reworked. This starts with a new handoff system that will hopefully fix a lot of the longstanding issues with play-action and quick passing plays. The handoffs themselves should look much better too.

Also new this year is a new quarterback locomotion system. These new mechanics are going to enable you to roll out to pass, or basically roll-out in a passing stance. This will keep you from suffering a huge accuracy drop off as throwing on the run will. You'll be able to toggle between pocket passing, rolling out, or scrambling with a single button push as well.

Computer QB AI Gets Reworked

Quote:


	"For many players, the most requested change for Madden NFL 16 was an overhaul to the CPU QB AI. We spent several years developing a new AI architecture called �Behavior Coordinator,� which allows us to create a more granular set of behaviors to a given situation. This not only helps deliver the most challenging CPU QB�s to date, but also creates a clear distinction between different types of QB�s. The game you get from Tom Brady (pocket passer) is dramatically different than the behavior you will see from dual threats like Mariota or Newton. Each style of QB will now react to situations differently, based on their traits."

What This Means: Hopefully there is going to be a much greater distinction running an offense with Peyton Manning vs. running an offense with Cam Newton. That's what we hope this means. We'll see, in execution, how this plays out on the field. EA is claiming this has changed how the AI calls plays, how it perceives pressure, how it manages situations in-game -- along with robo QB and a dink-and-dunk offense.

The new passing mechanic of the body-relative throws will add an additional layer as well.

What do you think of the potentially improved quarterback play in Madden NFL 16?

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

# 1 N51_rob @ 06/15/15 06:35 PM

Shot Plays....I wonder what effect play action will have on the defensive AI?

# 2 The JareBear @ 06/15/15 06:37 PM

"For many players, the most requested change for Madden NFL 16 was an overhaul to the CPU QB AI. We spent several years developing a new AI architecture called “Behavior Coordinator,” which allows us to create a more granular set of behaviors to a given situation.

This not only helps deliver the most challenging CPU QB’s to date, but also creates a clear distinction between different types of QB’s. "

Very promising, hope this pans out in the retail version

# 3 sir psycho @ 06/15/15 06:38 PM

The improved QB AI is the best thing I've heard so far on this game. New ball carrier AI sounds great, too.

What I DON'T like(or what i hate, actually)...the display that shows what type of pass and catch were made on the screen after it happens. That just looks awful, and I really hope that can be turned off. JP, can you comment on whether or not that can be turned off?

# 4 DeuceDouglas @ 06/15/15 06:41 PM

I'll be interested to see what they come up with for the Chiefs "shot plays" being that they took about 5 total "shots" all of last year.

And the QB AI sounds great but we've been told that same schtick year after year now. As long as I'm not getting 90 sacks a season, I can live.

# 5 Skyboxer @ 06/15/15 06:48 PM

Got to say I'm a bit happier than I was... Some really nice additions.
Hopefully soon there will be a re-looking at special teams and formation subs... but overall.. pretty happy.

# 6 roadman @ 06/15/15 06:50 PM

QUARTERBACK AI

For many players, the most requested change for Madden NFL 16 was an overhaul to the CPU QB AI. We spent several years developing a new AI architecture called �Behavior Coordinator,� which allows us to create a more granular set of behaviors to a given situation.

This not only helps deliver the most challenging CPU QB�s to date, but also creates a clear distinction between different types of QB�s. The game you get from Tom Brady (pocket passer) is dramatically different than the behavior you will see from dual threats like Mariota or Newton. Each style of QB will now react to situations differently, based on their traits.

This new QB AI also represents improvements to Robo QB, Dink-and-Dunk offense, pressure awareness, play calling and situational game management.

Where's my Celebration song.

I need to see this in action, but nice if it all comes together.

# 7 The JareBear @ 06/15/15 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	QUARTERBACK AI For many players, the most requested change for Madden NFL 16 was an overhaul to the CPU QB AI. We spent several years developing a new AI architecture called �Behavior Coordinator,� which allows us to create a more granular set of behaviors to a given situation. This not only helps deliver the most challenging CPU QB�s to date, but also creates a clear distinction between different types of QB�s. The game you get from Tom Brady (pocket passer) is dramatically different than the behavior you will see from dual threats like Mariota or Newton. Each style of QB will now react to situations differently, based on their traits. This new QB AI also represents improvements to Robo QB, Dink-and-Dunk offense, pressure awareness, play calling and situational game management. Where's my Celebration song. I need to see this in action, but nice if it all comes together.

Yeah I really hope we get user-cpu and cpu-cpu vids from the booths this year

# 8 DeuceDouglas @ 06/15/15 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Where's my Celebration song. I need to see this in action, but nice if it all comes together.

I love what I'm reading in all of these blogs but I know in the back of my mind this is either going to be a great year of Madden or possibly the most frustrating year ever with all they're touting lol.

# 9 jpdavis82 @ 06/15/15 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir psycho


	The improved QB AI is the best thing I've heard so far on this game. New ball carrier AI sounds great, too. What I DON'T like(or what i hate, actually)...the display that shows what type of pass and catch were made on the screen after it happens. That just looks awful, and I really hope that can be turned off. JP, can you comment on whether or not that can be turned off?

I believe it is optional and I believe on all pro or higher it is off.

# 10 tnixen @ 06/15/15 09:59 PM

If they did not improve the QB drop back animations then call me very disappointed.

# 11 jpdavis82 @ 06/15/15 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingd803


	How can they say that when they have the same QB dropback amimations? Why does madden 05 ps2 have better dropback animations?

I just re-confirmed with Clint that they reworked the Qb dropbacks, I thought for sure they did based on the time I had played, but he reassured me that they did. I don't know why the older ones were in the trailer, but I thought I was losing my mind there for a minute.

Josh ‏@jpdavis1982 6m6 minutes ago
@ClintOldenburg @dixonandr3w there are new animations for dropbacks right? I sure thought there was anyway

Clint Oldenburg ‏@ClintOldenburg 5m5 minutes ago
@jpdavis1982 @dixonandr3w yes.

# 12 jpdavis82 @ 06/15/15 10:44 PM

CLint just added some more info about QB dropback animations

@ClintOldenburg @jpdavis1982 @dixonandr3w so your telling me Clint that the animations in the trailer is the revamped animations?

Clint Oldenburg ‏@ClintOldenburg 1m1 minute ago
@chocaltewondere 'revamped' animation is far more global than just the trailer. Very little has been shown so far.

And this was from earlier too

Dixon ‏@dixonandr3w 20m20 minutes ago
@ClintOldenburg awesome! Also I hate scrambling left because then my passes are garbage. It sounds like that's been fixed somehow?

Clint Oldenburg ‏@ClintOldenburg 18m18 minutes ago
@dixonandr3w somehow? Lol. Yes, QB mobility/movement is featured in 16 with AI, animation and even mechanics.

Dixon ‏@dixonandr3w 15m15 minutes ago
@ClintOldenburg just wasn't sure if it was a rating/trait or just general fix for QBs. I was excited before, but now I am even more so!

Clint Oldenburg ‏@ClintOldenburg 15m15 minutes ago
@dixonandr3w you're going to be pleased with the QB movement. It feels really good

# 13 roadman @ 06/15/15 10:58 PM

Next anticipated response: Need to see it in motion, thought I would say it first.

# 14 N51_rob @ 06/15/15 11:01 PM

Beat me to it.

# 15 jpdavis82 @ 06/15/15 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N51_rob


	Beat me to it.

I'm guessing based on previous years with Rex being here, they will probably do a video about these different blogs and showcase this and a lot more of the gameplay improvements listed, soon.

I will say when I went back to 15 after playing 16, I noticed immediately how much different qb play felt and looked.

# 16 Potatoes002 @ 06/15/15 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpdavis82


	I'm guessing based on previous years with Rex being here, they will probably do a video about these different blogs and showcase this and a lot more of the gameplay improvements listed, soon. I will say when I went back to 15 after playing 16, I noticed immediately how much different qb play felt and looked.

I am really interested in how the mobile CPU QBs look and play. They alluded to Newton and Mariota playing like their real counterparts, so I am really looking forward to seeing how this translates into the game. NCAA 14 was a step in the right direction for dual-threat QBs, but up until now I don't think Madden has reached that point.

# 17 bukktown @ 06/15/15 11:50 PM

I am really, really excited for Madden now after seeing them acknowledge and -hopefully- address QB AI!

# 18 mjavon @ 06/16/15 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtkiii


	I thought being able to tell when Manning was controlling the field vs Jay Cutler was implemented last year? which was not successful.

I think in terms of accuracy, yes. But not in terms of AI.

# 19 brandon27 @ 06/16/15 11:44 AM

Aside from revamped penalties, this is one of the things I'm looking forward to seeing in action the most. This one sounds great. Especially if it really works as they say it will. It should make some huge changes.

# 20 DJ @ 06/16/15 12:15 PM

OK, I've got to give some props to the Madden team for listening to the SIM community! We've been asking for several of these game improvements for years, so nice to see that our words haven't fallen on deaf ears and that the development crew is really invested in making these changes happen.

The crew at Tiburon has deserved to get knocked for some of the decisions made over the years, so I think it's only right to pat them on the back when they do something well.

I didn't see a mention about signature throwing motions ... JP or anyone else that's seen the game, do you know if those are in Madden 16?

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