Madden NFL 18 News Post

Dissecting the Madden NFL 18 Features Reveal

12:46 PM - May 13, 2017 by RaychelSnr

All aboard the Madden hype train!

We've officially started the slow ramp up to a new season of Madden NFL, as the first details (and footage) of Madden NFL 18 hit the wild yesterday. The inclusion of Tom Brady as the cover athlete is a bold move -- but ultimately cover athlete's importance is probably waning quite a bit.

What is important are the details which were revealed about the game. Here's my quick breakdown:

Target Passing, who knows? This could be a major, major thing or a gimmicky feature like the passing cone. My question is how much is it forced upon players? My second question is, regardless, how good and effective is it going to be? I'm full wait and see on this one.
Frostbite Engine looks good. If nothing else, the trailer really sells that Madden is taking a pretty solid step ahead visually. The lighting and stadiums are a solid step ahead. It seems like some details weren't included in the trailer (did you notice the barren sidelines?). Animations and players look similar, but overall the game will likely look a bit better this year versus prior years.
The Play Styles Totally Are for eSports. I mean, there's no confirmation of this, but its pretty clear the Madden team is wanting to grow that segment of the audience and a play style fully focused on 'Competitive' will do that. Most OS'ers are looking at Simulation and hoping for the best. So am I.
Franchise mode isn't getting anything big. The description adds nothing new and is an overview of the mode as we know it. I have a feeling the Frostbite upgrade took a lot of time and resources and the actual enhancements to modes, etc. is going to be focused on the card and competitive modes. I know, I don't like it either but it is what it is.
Coverage Assignments, maybe it'll be fun to be a CB or S? There's been a lot of work in previous years to make Madden fun on both sides of the ball. The area that still lacks is playing pass coverage. Hopefully these will help with playing a DB in Madden.
Coaching Adjustments: I'm on full wait and see. The details don't sound like anything that I'm not already doing myself during games. But I am guessing something about this will enhance the strategic side of the game, maybe?

Overall

The big leap with Madden this year is going to be the Frostbite engine. FIFA last year went through the same transition with no huge areas of progress. It's likely the upgrade took a lot of time and resources and big back of the box additions probably were hard to come by. Regardless, the Frostbite engine was instantly noticeable as an upgrade in environmental visuals -- I'm excited to see gameplay to see how it all ties together when the game is actually running in a way we will actually experience it.

What did you think of yesterday's Madden reveals?

Game: Madden NFL 18Hype Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 9 - View All

Member Comments

# 61 adembroski @ 05/14/17 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adembroski


	The cone was not a gimmick, you're right. It still sucked. It was an attempt to add a feature of substance, but it complicated control too much. Sent from my SM-G930P using Operation Sports mobile app

Hehe, kept reading the thread, and a bunch of others said the same.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Operation Sports mobile app

# 62 spoofrice11 @ 05/14/17 04:28 PM

I still haven't gotten a Madden game since I got my Xone (about 2 years ago), so have been wanting to get one, but haven't heard anything that excites me yet. Do that many people really care about Gimics and card games instead of a season?

I tried last year's game out and it seems so limited compared to NBA 2K. Their Franchise mode needs a lot of work in my opinion. Customization is what most people want. I want to be able to create teams, move teams around, create rookies, and more.

So unfortunately, I might be waiting another year since their news so far has nothing to do with what I care about...

# 63 SolidSquid @ 05/14/17 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoofrice11


	I still haven't gotten a Madden game since I got my Xone (about 2 years ago), so have been wanting to get one, but haven't heard anything that excites me yet. Do that many people really care about Gimics and card games instead of a season? I tried last year's game out and it seems so limited compared to NBA 2K. Their Franchise mode needs a lot of work in my opinion. Customization is what most people want. I want to be able to create teams, move teams around, create rookies, and more. So unfortunately, I might be waiting another year since their news so far has nothing to do with what I care about...

Customization is what most people want, the problem is the NFL isn't going to allow any of it

# 64 BlackBetty15 @ 05/14/17 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	And it could have been made by a separate team, too? No? As far as CCM is concerned, sounds like they are moving off of that and going forward by separating the modes. Things and goals change from time to time in business, wouldn't you agree? There's been talk of working on the Frostbite Madden for the past few years.

I like this post. I have also heard this as well. One thing that was made abundantly clear was, this is a shared engine and capability across the entire EA sports product. It started with FIFA17, so my prediction is with more minds and hands involved, I would think that we would get an improved NFL version of fifa17. Looking at their franchise, story mode, and moreover the bug/issue thread...i expect a cleaned up version of that and voila...madden 18. If that is so then I am good to go.

# 65 johnnyg713 @ 05/14/17 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjcheezhead


	I was and am a fan of the vision cone. Calling it target passing makes it sound like something different like read and lead from NFL Fever which was really clunky and hard to use. Hopefully it's a return of the vision cone and the 3 different play styles allows the people that loved/hated it to choose to use it. Of the feature reveal and the trailer it's really the only piece of information that intrigued me at all. Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

The reason it's called target passing is because it's not the vision cone. Pretty sure vision cone is not coming back to madden. It will be more like read and lead...

# 66 jerwoods @ 05/14/17 09:41 PM

well assuming no ps3

and the 50GB size

i watched UTube vids about mad18

and this 1 guy said the target passing is going to be like NFL QB Club 2002 and he was real good on that game or was playing on easy mode

CFM other than adding Las Veags as a new city to move to
i am hopeing for preseason battles maybe 90-man by 2019

i hate to tell u guys this but madden 18 is about 97% done
so if u want things speak up so it willl get in for 2019 or 2020

# 67 howboutdat @ 05/14/17 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampjackson94


	Can we please just have more than 1 RB carrying the ball the whole game? Hopefully that goes with coaching adjustments.

Yes ,this is one thing i hope , but doubt the coach adjustments would include for CFM. I hate how your basically forced to just use 1 hb mainly if you want him to ever improve, because their goals are too high imo. Even the back ups goals are too high. Some people , like myself, like to run 2-3 hb schemes.Meaning you dont have a hb that runs 80% of the time for you. It would be nice if such schemes was added, so the players goals could be adjusted accordingly to match so they could actually improve more. Same for a possession wr, would be nice if his goals were more like catch 20 3rd down passes for a first down or something for a goal, and of course as we have asked for for years now, make the goal numbers adjust according to the number of minutes the quarters are in your leagues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas


	It was a good thought, just poorly executed IMO. Outside of that and the coach goals though, everything else was already in the game it was just attempted to be friendlier and easier UI but, for me, felt more clunky and annoying than it was before. But just from 16 to 17 Big Decisions didn't really fundamentally change anything you did or what could do, it just tried to change how you did it. It's like if 'Target Passing' this year turned out to just be a slightly tweaked version of 'Precision Passing' or whatever the passing mechanic is in 16 is called. It might be packaged differently so it seems new but if it works pretty much the same as 16 but with slight tweaks, yeah, it's still an improvement but not much which is what Big Decisions felt like.

Man i have said this since launch last year. Big decisions was one of the largest parts of the "improvements to CFM last year.There were 10 things not related to big decisions and 7 that was. So almost half the "improvements" was focused on that.The year they claimed a big focus on cfm and most resources. Well over half of one of the pages of the 2 part blog was big decisions . All but two,as you mentioned, were already in the game just UI changes ,nothing more. Out of all the improvements to CFM in the year of big focus and most resources ever, 8 were basically UI changes , and 9 were not UI changes.

This is the thing that kills me the most. They say on one hand they dont have alot of resources or time.Then every single year this is the case, almost half of it is spent on UI. Look i understand why they do it, but when your constantly having to redo that much UI every year, after while you gotta think , you know, its good enough for now, lets fully fledge out some of the features we started( game planning looking at you bro), and add new actual features instead.Look i agree, the UI is slow and clunky, but honestly , im so used to it , im fine with it for right now,IF that meant we got more new features the mode needs as well as fully fledging out current ones( watch list looking at you too, where is my draft board?) . To me , changing that UI all the time is not what is going to bring in more people.Features will.Fully fledged out features and new ones.

# 68 jbd345 @ 05/14/17 10:12 PM

As a graphics guy, im just hoping that teaser was not much cgi and only "touched up" for more effects. Hopefully we get some footage with e3 and ea play. But if they've pulled an '06 and and madden 25 again, I may wait a year. Using the terms "photo realistic" is a huge, huge risk.

# 69 roadman @ 05/14/17 10:52 PM

Simfballcritics teaser take.

Way more info to come less than 30 days from now.

# 70 jbd345 @ 05/14/17 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Simfballcritics teaser take. Way more info to come less than 30 days from now.

Good to hear him say he has seen frostbite and the stadium does indeed look like that in game. Still skeptical but ea play can't come soon enough. Really interested to see new era field in the snow.

# 71 Atax1s @ 05/15/17 02:02 PM

Every year we get these people that go,"Looks like a no buy from me." Only to come back after the next trailer to say,"Oh, I'm in now." I wish the mods would delete those as it would clean up the comments. Tired of the same thing every year. As for the game, I expect some touch ups to CFM. It doesn't mention any improvements but it doesn't mean they aren't there. They don't mention the story mode at all in the feature list but we all know it's there from the trailer. I'm also looking forward to improved animations and physics from the FrostBite engine.

# 72 ShaiLeGran @ 05/15/17 03:53 PM

I think the old Madden engine was really holding the game back. Ignite proves with FIFA (imho) that the animations and graphics (stadiums, weather, lightning, replay system) are there. FIFA looks more real to me then Madden ever did, so hopes should be high that we are going to see a more refined, better looking, better playing Madden. Of course, it is year one on Frostbite, so let's wait and see where they have put their focus on.

# 73 lilrosati56 @ 05/15/17 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas


	CFM will be better but by how much, who knows. Like with Big Decisions, was the game better with it? Probably. Would it have been any worse without it? Not at all. My guess is that there aren't any major additions and most of what was done is tuning and tweaking. Gameplanning will probably see the most attention with how shallow and poorly done it was, regression, probably goals again, maybe scouting again. I think we'll probably see coordinators but not position coaches and I don't think they'll have much of an effect on anything outside of maybe some XP discounts or GamePlan boosts. On one hand I like it because it means they'll be working on some aspects that they haven't really implemented fully and need a lot of attention and they'll be able to start actually making them better rather than adding new stuff and leaving them behind. Then on the other hand there is so much that needs to be added/changed or shouldn't be there that I just wish they'd start tearing the bad stuff out and do it the right way. Last year was a complete dud and this year looks that way too as far as new additions but for features that are already in it could be really positive depending on how they execute which is obviously suspect but still.

I'd say the Big Decisions was plain dumb.....I've harped on this before, but why the arbitrary restrictions on on contract negotiations? Why the never ending trade requests for the same players? I've bought the last two editions and have been bored by each of them witihin a month or two. I won't buy again until 1) XP is completely removed and 2) Find someway to keep me informed about the rest of the league.

# 74 primo_80 @ 05/15/17 07:29 PM

I'm pretty disappointed to see them roll out another game mode and not focus our attention on player movement and football fundamentals. The main takeaway I got from the teaser is their devotion to recreating the NFL atmosphere. I've always thought scanning player faces and modeling stadiums were cheap, low-hanging-fruit ways to improve the perceived quality of the game, or to draw comparisons to other AAA sports games. The commitment to face scans (on top of generic body models) improves player recognition and raises the fidelity of cutscenes, but it emphasizes the rough edges of the game.

I know it's not going to happen, but I had hoped this new developer crew would have moved toward recreating player movements as a way to identify their real-life counterparts. Also, that cutscenes could be eliminated one day in favor of using the play clock for real-time, strategic substitutions. Basically, I think they could suspend disbelief better if we never had to see close-ups, but instead recognized players by their body mechanics.

Regarding the new career mode, how fun is it going to be if player controls aren't overhauled? I'm just skeptical because, in my mind, reinvented controls and animations for the base game are required before this new mode is relevant. If the mode is just Superstar with layers of managerial control in the way that Owner mode is to Coach mode, that's one thing. But there is an obvious hole, at least regarding WRs, in user control. I'm sure many of you played Superstar games at WR. I haven't played Player games in the last few years, but there aren't route-running mechanics that I've noticed. Well, right-stick to make cuts counts i guess. It's just bland is what I'm trying to say.

I'm not counting it out before seeing it, but I think it's more probable than not it will be slapped on over existing mechanics, given some new camera work, commentary, goals system, etc. but will not add distinct positional controls or control refinements.

# 75 johnnyg713 @ 05/15/17 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by primo_80


	I'm pretty disappointed to see them roll out another game mode and not focus our attention on player movement and football fundamentals. The main takeaway I got from the teaser is their devotion to recreating the NFL atmosphere. I've always thought scanning player faces and modeling stadiums were cheap, low-hanging-fruit ways to improve the perceived quality of the game, or to draw comparisons to other AAA sports games. The commitment to face scans (on top of generic body models) improves player recognition and raises the fidelity of cutscenes, but it emphasizes the rough edges of the game. I know it's not going to happen, but I had hoped this new developer crew would have moved toward recreating player movements as a way to identify their real-life counterparts. Also, that cutscenes could be eliminated one day in favor of using the play clock for real-time, strategic substitutions. Basically, I think they could suspend disbelief better if we never had to see close-ups, but instead recognized players by their body mechanics. Regarding the new career mode, how fun is it going to be if player controls aren't overhauled? I'm just skeptical because, in my mind, reinvented controls and animations for the base game are required before this new mode is relevant. If the mode is just Superstar with layers of managerial control in the way that Owner mode is to Coach mode, that's one thing. But there is an obvious hole, at least regarding WRs, in user control. I'm sure many of you played Superstar games at WR. I haven't played Player games in the last few years, but there aren't route-running mechanics that I've noticed. Well, right-stick to make cuts counts i guess. It's just bland is what I'm trying to say. I'm not counting it out before seeing it, but I think it's more probable than not it will be slapped on over existing mechanics, given some new camera work, commentary, goals system, etc. but will not add distinct positional controls or control refinements.

You make some good points. And I can't disagree with you on most, but just remember one teaser trailer does not mean the team did not focus on player movement and fundamentals.

You are spot on with the point on substitutions. This is something that people have been asking for and the developers have continued to chalk it up to console performance etc. Madden is the only sports game that still uses cutscenes (to my knowledge). I thought that would have changed by now.

# 76 OhMrHanky @ 05/15/17 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyg713


	You make some good points. And I can't disagree with you on most, but just remember one teaser trailer does not mean the team did not focus on player movement and fundamentals. You are spot on with the point on substitutions. This is something that people have been asking for and the developers have continued to chalk it up to console performance etc. Madden is the only sports game that still uses cutscenes (to my knowledge). I thought that would have changed by now.

They actually don't use cut scenes anymore. I can't remember if that started with 16 or 17, but the game is actually playing out in real time. However, yes, the coaches do the same stuff from time to time. But, when u score a TD, when it cuts to a 'cut scene,' if it's players, they're doing what they were just doing on the field. I'm not saying cut scenes aren't completely eliminated, but I could easily compare madden 13 with madden 17, and u should be able to tell the difference. Defensive stops and sacks, u can tell the player celebrates and then the camera may change. It's actually mostly (maybe all?) dynamic now.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 77 johnnyg713 @ 05/15/17 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhMrHanky


	They actually don't use cut scenes anymore. I can't remember if that started with 16 or 17, but the game is actually playing out in real time. However, yes, the coaches do the same stuff from time to time. But, when u score a TD, when it cuts to a 'cut scene,' if it's players, they're doing what they were just doing on the field. I'm not saying cut scenes aren't completely eliminated, but I could easily compare madden 13 with madden 17, and u should be able to tell the difference. Defensive stops and sacks, u can tell the player celebrates and then the camera may change. It's actually mostly (maybe all?) dynamic now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup you're right. I guess my focus is on substitutions. I believe when the defense/offense/special teams come on the field, they just magically appear on screen

# 78 ninertravel @ 05/16/17 02:19 AM

So another crappy CFm which we have seen since I think 13..

Once again will take 1 hour to create 32 team control franchise
Once again random players that are low rated will dissapear
Once again you can't put a Long Snapper where he needs to be on the depth that is long snapper!!! (you can only put a Cener on there in CFM)
and once again no love for special teams, so that you can have REAL special teams like long snappers

# 79 RogerDodger @ 05/16/17 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misterkrabz


	The passing cone wasn't gimmicky, it was one of the most innovative things they've the ever done to the series.

Completely agree but sadly it was trashed by a lot of folks, sadly.

# 80 kehlis @ 05/17/17 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NateDogPack12


	The purpose of this board is to discuss the information available.

Since when?

Look at some of the news stories here. We've had wishlists forever.

I've been here a long time, I've never known this board to only be a discussion of information available and if that's the case it's news to me.

I've always understood it to be a place where we shared opinions, ideas, and thoughts. Those might not always be tied simply to only the things we know.

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