Madden NFL 18 News Post

Madden NFL 18 Features New Target Passing, Coverage Assignments & More

07:11 AM - May 12, 2017 by Steve_OS

Amazon has revealed some of the Madden NFL 18 features, as we get closer to an official announcement from EA Sports. Not only does it look like we will see new target passing, but it also mentions coverage assignments. Maybe we can finally assign the best corner vs. best receiver? EA is also giving users different play styles, ranging from Arcade, Simulation and Competitive.

Amazon also notes, Madden NFL 18 releases on August 25 for the Standard Edition ($59.99), but fans that pre-order the Madden NFL 18 G.O.A.T. Edition ($79.99), can get the game 3 days earlier, on August 22.

More details should be released soon.

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Madden NFL 18 takes a significant visual leap with the power of the Frostbite engine. See stunning new stadium exteriors surrounded by vast cityscapes and watch the spectacle of NFL game day come to life in the most photorealistic game to date. Play each matchup to your specifications by selecting from three new Play Styles or play the best real world match ups each week in Play Now Live! With the introduction of even more ways to play, coupled with your favorite modes, Madden Ultimate Team and Franchise, this is Madden like you've never seen before.

Pre-order today and receive up to $50 in additional value including three days early, full game access to Madden NFL 18: G.O.A.T. Edition. Start building your dynasty on day one with one of five Elite G.O.A.T. players, an Elite Player from your favorite NFL team, 12 Squad Packs, 2500 contracts and one uniform pack in Madden NFL 18 Ultimate Team, the complete NFL team-building mode where you build, play and win with your ultimate team of today's nfl superstars and legends.

Game: Madden NFL 18Hype Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
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Member Comments

# 161 Reed1417 @ 05/15/17 10:41 AM

Honestly I hope there is not a "target recticle" of any kind that pops up. Just have the lead passing mechanic work better. I have a hard enough time reading defenses now thanks to how small everything gets on a pass play. And with my vision, I don't need anything else to keep my eye on. But we are all in wait and see mode.

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# 162 Madden08PCgmr @ 05/15/17 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg


	There's no monopoly. Anyone can make a football game, it just can't be an NFL game. That's how the NFL has chosen to sell their license. Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

At the least, that is argumentative.

I don't want to derail the thread or drag this out... Respectfully I'll say the current structure essentially prohibits competition. That is *never* good for consumers.

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# 163 ODogg @ 05/15/17 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madden08PCgmr


	At the least, that is argumentative. I don't want to derail the thread or drag this out... Respectfully I'll say the current structure essentially prohibits competition. That is never good for consumers. Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Oh I 100% agree and I hate it as well. I just take umbrage with it being framed that way is all.

# 164 DeuceDouglas @ 05/15/17 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhMrHanky


	Yeah, I think based on Rex's track record, this has to be something that's easy enough for noobs to grasp, u know? I don't think they want to introduce 'complicated' controls.

I think they're in the process of going all-in on eSports and Competitive so I could it being something complicated with a high skill gap for that reason. They've spent the last couple years targeting casuals which is going to comprise the majority of their viewership for these events and I think they're going to go even harder in the next couple years trying to turn Madden into a hardcore competitive game.

# 165 kjcheezhead @ 05/15/17 01:49 PM

A reticule would be terrible imo. It's been done on old games and the problem is you have to choose between moving the cursor or moving your qb. Blitzing defenses make it unusable.
The vision cone allowed you to still move the cone by hitting the WRs button so you could roll out or scramble at the same time. It was just harder, especially if you had a narrow cone that focused on the wr versus one that covered a quarter or half the field.

I think it's probably a reticule the way it's described which concerns me.

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# 166 DeuceDouglas @ 05/15/17 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjcheezhead


	It's been done on old games and the problem is you have to choose between moving the cursor or moving your qb.

This is what makes me think it will be something pretty simple and a variation of what we already have. There's so many things you have to control (receiver choice, velocity, moving QB) that having some sort of cursor on the screen is going to completely bog down the controls. I was initially thinking it would be tied to the triggers or something where LT is lob and RT is bullet and it's essentially a button combo with the stick like the ball carrier moves but the way it's described though:

Quote:


	Target Passing: For the first time ever, no longer are you tied to throwing at your open wide receiver. Throw to who you want, in the exact spot on the field with all-new Target Passing, giving you, ultimate control over where the ball is thrown.

makes it seem like there is no more traditional face button passing which makes me think it's going to almost be like an FPS where the left thumbstick moves your QB and the RS moves some kind of reticle on the field and it will be like the vision cone where you'll essentially have a "first read" which is where the reticle starts. Maybe progressive ranges of "sticky" for the reticle as well that controls how strictly it follows a target with the most difficult being completely free. And then maybe the triggers move from receiver to receiver or something.

I'm not confident it's going to untether the ball from receivers or that it will be as free as it's portraying just because I feel like it would either be super difficult because of the precision required or it wouldn't feel user friendly because the ball would still go to certain places regardless of where you're targeting. Warping is what also worries me about that. But I'd love to see a system where receivers run their routes independent of how balls are thrown. In some scenarios it's fine but watching guys alter certain routes as soon as the ball is thrown because they're tied together is frustrating to see and something I hope not to see with EA Play videos.

# 167 ODogg @ 05/15/17 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelD34KC


	mo�nop�o�ly məˈn�pəlē/Submit noun 1. the exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service. "his likely motive was to protect his regional monopoly on furs" It is a monopoly. I dont really care either way. As long as Madden continues to come out and gets better each year Im fine.

You can't have a monopoly on a private, trademarked brand that a company owns. It's not football that EA has the exclusive agreement to make, it's the actual NFL branding of football, that they own. That's the difference as to why it's an exclusive agreement, not a monopoly.

As I said, I too don't like it and would like to see anyone who would like be able to make an NFL game, but the NFL has chosen not to go that route.

Hate it all you want but don't call it something it's not.

# 168 N51_rob @ 05/15/17 03:44 PM

Gents, its been almost 12 years. Let's not rehash this again. You can have that conversation via PMs. Thanks.

# 169 LBzrule @ 05/15/17 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjcheezhead


	A reticule would be terrible imo. It's been done on old games and the problem is you have to choose between moving the cursor or moving your qb. Blitzing defenses make it unusable. The vision cone allowed you to still move the cone by hitting the WRs button so you could roll out or scramble at the same time. It was just harder, especially if you had a narrow cone that focused on the wr versus one that covered a quarter or half the field. I think it's probably a reticule the way it's described which concerns me. Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

After thinking more I don't think it will be a reticle. I don't think the UI for passing will change, just timing and player behavior will be much more important based on who your QB is and who your WR's are. I'll wait to hear more about it but I don't think they will put a reticle or anything else like that on the screen. It's just way too much in relation to the defense; block sheds and blitzes.

# 170 ODogg @ 05/17/17 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBzrule


	After thinking more I don't think it will be a reticle. I don't think the UI for passing will change, just timing and player behavior will be much more important based on who your QB is and who your WR's are. I'll wait to hear more about it but I don't think they will put a reticle or anything else like that on the screen. It's just way too much in relation to the defense; block sheds and blitzes.

If it's not a reticule I don't see how they could call it targeted passing. It has to be something separate from the receiver, ie a spot on the field and without a way to see it then it wouldn't be target passing.

# 171 SolidSquid @ 05/17/17 03:09 PM

I don't think the passing system will be any different than what we already have. You'll have more control over where you place the ball or "target" which is hopefully tied to rating and cause more missed throws. But as far as the mechanic it will the same click X to throw to X

# 172 4thQtrStre5S @ 05/17/17 03:28 PM

I hope coverage assignments is more than just being able to individually assign a defender to an offensive player, if that is in fact the case...and maybe the in game options of swapping CB1 and CB2 coverage on the fly, etc..

I would like to see the "Plays Ball in Air" trait removed, for example, and have that be chosen by the user; so like in NCAA Football - thus I can tell my defense to pay more aggressive, conservative or the default balanced style.

# 173 DeuceDouglas @ 05/17/17 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg


	If it's not a reticule I don't see how they could call it targeted passing. It has to be something separate from the receiver, ie a spot on the field and without a way to see it then it wouldn't be target passing.

I could see it end up being something like Trigger+Receiver Icon+Thumbstick with different directions correlating to different "targets" (i.e. High and away, low and behind, low and in front, etc.) and having the triggers be tied to either a touch or bullet pass. Basically a mechanic very similar to the ball-carrier moves implemented last year and similar, but expanded, version to what I believe is already in place. The description stating that you're no longer throw at receivers and you can throw it anywhere on the field obviously contradicts that kind of mechanic though. But it's hard for me to envision them implementing any kind of difficult mechanic or something with a steep learning curve, especially if it's the default for online. Hard to say though, definitely the most interested in seeing this in action.

# 174 ODogg @ 05/17/17 03:59 PM

I don't know why you guys are so adamant EA cannot put a specific target on the field and have your QB throw to that spot. They did it back on the original Playstation for college football.

Am I the only one who remembers this? I think it was 1998 or 1999 but it was the original Playstation I recall, not PS2.

# 175 OhMrHanky @ 05/17/17 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thQtrStre5S


	I hope coverage assignments is more than just being able to individually assign a defender to an offensive player, if that is in fact the case...and maybe the in game options of swapping CB1 and CB2 coverage on the fly, etc.. I would like to see the "Plays Ball in Air" trait removed, for example, and have that be chosen by the user; so like in NCAA Football - thus I can tell my defense to pay more aggressive, conservative or the default balanced style.

It's possible this is being added this year. I posted a video on another thread here where someone discusses the possible new features showing how similar features worked in the past (in madden and other games), and he mentions the defensive assignments and shows how NCAA football did it. Maybe, it's late in the game and u need a turnover, U might have the option of telling your D to make big hits the rest of the game. By doing that, u leave yourself vulnerable to broken tackles and big plays by the O. So, it might be possible they add that ability to DBs as well, u tell them get aggressive, jump routes now. Or if you're ahead in the game, u could tell them to play very conservative. The tradeoff there being no big plays, but u might give up a sustained long drive filled with dink and dunks. This might add some spice to the game. But, as some have said, if the CPU AI botches this type of D call ability, u may be able to throw downtown all game once u get ahead or something. If they always jump routes when losing or whatnot. Unfortunately, the more complex they make play calling, or situational D and whatnot, I think the harder it is to properly program the CPU AI to not only utilize it, but to also not get destroyed by it. Lol.

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# 176 OhMrHanky @ 05/17/17 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg


	I don't know why you guys are so adamant EA cannot put a specific target on the field and have your QB throw to that spot. They did it back on the original Playstation for college football. Am I the only one who remembers this? I think it was 1998 or 1999 but it was the original Playstation I recall, not PS2.

Wow, u know what? If they put a cool trajectory arc in or something? Like the kicking arc. If done well, it might be something so u can see the arc in the air as opposed to a reticule on the ground. I think I would prefer an arc. But, in overall slightly troubled, as I don't want a goofy arc or a reticle on my field! Lol. But, yeah, I wonder if they could do more an arc. No matter how I think of how they might do this, I still have concerns to the timing of the whole thing. If u have to 'move' the reticule during the throw? Like, u press X and hold it down for a bullet, right when u press the button, an arc comes out, u aim the arc, and when the throw motion is complete, the bullet is fired wherever u happened to place it. Or reticule, of course, same thing. But, overall, it's that timing that I hope isn't too difficult to use.

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# 177 4thQtrStre5S @ 05/17/17 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhMrHanky


	It's possible this is being added this year. I posted a video on another thread here where someone discusses the possible new features showing how similar features worked in the past (in madden and other games), and he mentions the defensive assignments and shows how NCAA football did it. Maybe, it's late in the game and u need a turnover, U might have the option of telling your D to make big hits the rest of the game. By doing that, u leave yourself vulnerable to broken tackles and big plays by the O. So, it might be possible they add that ability to DBs as well, u tell them get aggressive, jump routes now. Or if you're ahead in the game, u could tell them to play very conservative. The tradeoff there being no big plays, but u might give up a sustained long drive filled with dink and dunks. This might add some spice to the game. But, as some have said, if the CPU AI botches this type of D call ability, u may be able to throw downtown all game once u get ahead or something. If they always jump routes when losing or whatnot. Unfortunately, the more complex they make play calling, or situational D and whatnot, I think the harder it is to properly program the CPU AI to not only utilize it, but to also not get destroyed by it. Lol. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for the information and insight... As I believe many here would agree, I loved a lot of how NCAA worked and would love to see it in Madden.

# 178 DeuceDouglas @ 05/17/17 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelD34KC


	They would have to add in a freeze time or something where your awareness and accuracy gives you a certain amount of time to aim. Because how then would you EVER throw with a mobile QB? Running one way, throw the other, then have to juggle buttons to try to do it all at once. Seems crazy to me.

That's what makes a reticle so difficult. Being in control of the QB you have to:

Move your QB
Determine who to throw to and where to throw it
Determine velocity of throw

With an NFL Fever or just general reticle style system where you can truly throw the ball anywhere on the field it's likely going to make it hard as all hell to be able to run around and throw good passes. And now that I think about it that is probably exactly what Rex was alluding to with his "next year everyone will live and die by their reads. Mark my words..." comment. It's going to severely limit the effectiveness of that sandlot style, run around until someones open which is great and will also have a HUGE impact on the Competitive side where that type of play is very prevalent. It'd also be significantly harder to just go from throwing a slant or a short route to chucking it deep.

I do think it'll end up being some kind of reticle and I really hope things are untethered but I'm not getting my hopes up for that yet because it might be too much for people to handle. It has potential to be an absolute game changer though.

# 179 ODogg @ 05/17/17 05:30 PM

Yeah, they could add it. No one said it'd be easy though. And if it's an optional thing then have at it. Use it if you like or don't use it if you don't want to. People keep asking for more control and things to fundamentally change how the game is played, well to do so is going to require some real work on the part of the user to relearn some things if so.

I recall in the NCAA game where they used the targeting system it was quite difficult to use but I worked at it and when it worked it was incredibly liberating to use.

If memory serves the way it worked was you could either pass like normal or you could click-in the right stick to put a target on the field. Once that target appeared on the field the right stick would move it around. Then you pressed the x-button again to throw to that spot. And if you hit the button and pushed it in it was a bullet pass but if you lightly tapped it was a lob.

It was much more difficult to do when running with your QB but if you think about it, throwing on the run should be harder.

Again, I don't see what is so insane about bringing this back. Yes, it'd be much more difficult. Yes, some people, no most people, would probably hate it. But it would greatly expand the game for those who desired to really learn it and it would most certainly be a real game changer.

My guess too is that people who are good on the sticks would love it.

# 180 Greenblood60 @ 05/17/17 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg


	I don't know why you guys are so adamant EA cannot put a specific target on the field and have your QB throw to that spot. They did it back on the original Playstation for college football. Am I the only one who remembers this? I think it was 1998 or 1999 but it was the original Playstation I recall, not PS2.

I watched some game-play of NCAA 99 and I still can't figure out how the mechanic worked. Don't get me wrong; I'm certainly am intrigued, but I have no idea how the user chose to throw to one spot versus another.

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