turftickler's Blog
I start off by telling you all a little about my history with football games. I started out playing Tecmo Bowl and John Madden Football way back in 1989. win I was 15 years old. That should tell you how old I am and today is my birthday. I have been playing Madden football games ever since, but once 989 Sports, Acclaim, and 2k Sports jumped onto the scene, I started falling out of love with the Madden NFL series.
The Mission
I am also a member of TheSimStandard on youtube. I just found out yesterday that EA Sports has been watching our videos and it seems that they respect what we are trying to do. Contrary to what some people say, we are not EA bashers or game nitpickers. We simply want a better football game to play on this generation of consoles. Yes we know that these are just video games and they will never be real. However, when we sit down to play a game that only exists because of the NFL, we want it to be a pleasant experience that lasts us until next year's release.
Fan Input
I started this blog to respond to Phil Frazier to this video, Madden NFL 12 First Look Preview. Phil stated that "Madden NFL is about being true to the NFL" and each one of their feature enhancements this year is about providing the core fan with something they've always wanted". Now before you all respond to this blog, I want you to gather you thoughts on paper or screen first.
- What makes Madden NFL games what the are today?
- What is a hardcore fan?
- What is a hardcore football fan?
- What is a hardcore football video game fan?
- Who does each one of these fans affect how Madden NFL is developed?
- When you play Madden NFL games or NCAA football games, do you feel that you are getting your money's worth each year?
Years ago, before there was online console gaming, game development companies delivered great games. The games had to be done well straight out of the box. There were no updates and/or patches. Developers had to put their best effort into each game. Updates and/or patches should only be a luxury, not an add-on after the game has been played for a couple weeks.
My Thoughts on Fan Input
- Each football video game player who has ever played a football video game has made an impact on Madden NFL and NCAA football game development.
- A hardcore fan is the type of fan that plays the game no matter how bad it is. They will give a game a pass even though it has major flaws, because they cannot and/or will not turn down buying the latest version of that game. In this case it is Madden NFL and NCAA football games. Hardcore fans will say things like, "As long as the game has real teams and players, I will play it". or "It's okay if the players are warping, morphing, and sliding the whole game, I still enjoy it."
- A hardcore football fan is the type of fan that loves watching football and talking about it with everyone they know. They might be interested in playing Madden NFL or NCAA football games, but they would rather watch the game instead. If they do play, they may only play a partial game or maybe 1 or 2 games ever so often. I like to call this type of fan a casual fan. There is no reason whatsoever, that the casual fan should have any say about how a video game should be developed, because they do not spend enough time playing to be credible.
- A hardcore football video game fan is the type of fan that loves football so much that he will spend ample time watching the game itself, playing real football, and playing football video games. This person may have the ability to break down footage of real football and video game football to help others understand the game better. Some of these people may even coach football or have coached in the past. They may be very skilled and knowledgeable in all things football or they may just be very analytical types with a passion for the game and/or video games.
- The hardcore fan may not know much about football, but loves to play football video games. This was me about 17 years ago. I just wanted to play football games and it did not matter how they were made. In respect to all developers, this is a new day. The PS3, XBox 360, and the PC are far more advanced than they were even 7 years ago. The hardcore football fan should not really even be considered other than them being allowed to play the game in easy/beginner mode. I am a casual fan of first person shooters. I should never want any developer to cater to me, period. The hardcore football video game fan is all out crazy about football video games and football in general. If any football game developer wants their game to go to the next level, make sure gameplay is fundamental sound before you add any of this. 2k Sports nailed all aspects of true NFL football simulation and presentation. Please watch this video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-X3M6Zrg54
- To be brutally honest, when I play Madden NFL games, I literally start to become angry and bitter at EA Sports. However, I am mature enough to see that EA's main goal is to make money, but their first goal should be to deliver a solid product to the hardcore football fans who are actually hardcore football game fans. If EA Sports does this, they will see their numbers grow in sales at a rapid rate as well as satisfying the “hardcore fans. The casual fans; give them an arcade mode and a beginner mode and most of them will be satisfied. They don't really play the games long anyway.
game. It doesn't matter who developes the game as long as it is do well.
One more thing. I am TrueSimGamer a.k.a. turftickler. I represent TheSimStandard channel on youtube, the subscribers, and the simulation nation.
# 2
RUFFNREADY @ May 11
@turftickler, you are the man. EA Sports should have your "Thoughts on Fan Input" plastered on every wall in their establishment. bravo, for a well put together blog. This has to be one of the best blogs that i have ever read on any MaddenNFL game. You put in words, what i have been thinking for years now; and i thank you.
cheers
btw, i subbed your site; awesome stuff; i am now a fan.
cheers
btw, i subbed your site; awesome stuff; i am now a fan.
# 3
blood9585 @ May 11
I agree with your statements totally. Madden would improve immensely in my opinion if weight & momentum played roles in every player action on the field. Linemen interactions seem to always get the least love, but one of the most important factors in real life...
# 4
turftickler @ May 11
@DaggerSwagger, I have seen you on TSS. Thanks for the support, fam. Make no mistake, we are not looking for any kind of fame through this. We simply want what we feel we should get for $60 every year in a new football game.
# 5
turftickler @ May 11
@RUFFNREADY, Thank you for subscribing to TheSimStandard. Please do not forget to subscribe to TrueSimGamer as well. I drop a new video or 2 each week. Sometimes more. After tomorrows live gameplay of Madden 12 at IGN 12:30 eastern time, I will have lots to talk about. Hopefully, it will be all good. I will definitely representing TheSimStandard tomorrow as we try to help EA Sports deliver the best Madden NFL football game ever. It will not happen this year, but I do feel that they are getting closer and with our help, they will get there a lot sooner.
It sure is great to know that you have these things on your mind also. Sometimes we need others to shed a little light into the darkness. You are most certainly welcome to ask me any questions here or at TSS.
Thank you!
It sure is great to know that you have these things on your mind also. Sometimes we need others to shed a little light into the darkness. You are most certainly welcome to ask me any questions here or at TSS.
Thank you!
# 6
turftickler @ May 11
blood9585 , we discuss player momentum, weight distribution, balance, dynamic football gameplay. and much more in our videos. Those things are essential to have a fundamentally sound football game. Ratings should matter, but they do not seem to matter much at all in EA Sport's football games, unfortunately. In no way do we ever want to bash EA Sports, but we do want them to understand why we do what we do. It is because we love football and we love playing football video games.
The O-line and D-line physics, animations, and interactions need lots of work. In order for the game to play a clean game of simulation football, the Madden NFL and NCAA football dev teams have to make a mess to get things organized. That takes time, but they are on the right track.
Have you ever organized a certain area of a room then turned around to see that you made more of a mess. Well, as soon as you do away with all the trash, you are able to start putting things where they belong. Soon enough, your room is organized and as long as you clean up behind yourself, your room stays neat. Well, this is exactly what EA needs to do. They can do this fairly quickly, even before the demo drops. They could minimize the depth of post game patches immensely if they just had a little help from the hardcore football gaming community, not just the hardcore Madden or NCAA fans.
The O-line and D-line physics, animations, and interactions need lots of work. In order for the game to play a clean game of simulation football, the Madden NFL and NCAA football dev teams have to make a mess to get things organized. That takes time, but they are on the right track.
Have you ever organized a certain area of a room then turned around to see that you made more of a mess. Well, as soon as you do away with all the trash, you are able to start putting things where they belong. Soon enough, your room is organized and as long as you clean up behind yourself, your room stays neat. Well, this is exactly what EA needs to do. They can do this fairly quickly, even before the demo drops. They could minimize the depth of post game patches immensely if they just had a little help from the hardcore football gaming community, not just the hardcore Madden or NCAA fans.
# 8
SmittyD81 @ May 11
Solid article man!!! This is a true breakdown that should be read as a bylaw by EA or any other company that wants to seek the suggestions of the "hardcore fan" for gameplay improvements. If they don't know football, they need not be sought out for gameplay tuning and adjustments. Because at the end of the day, you want the BEST representation of football simulated in videogame form, not just a lil' something for the people to chew on until the next game releases.
# 10
mrmass413 @ May 11
good read. i watch your video on tss it is very informative what would be your first fix if you had a chance on madden 12
# 11
turftickler @ May 11
@SmittyD81, thanks fam! Our goal at TheSimStandard is not to take down the EA Sport's empire. If that were the case, we could all just close the channel down right now. TheSimStandard's mission is to push and help both the Madden NFL and NCAA football development teams build the best football video games ever. This isn't about 2k Sports, NaturalMotion, or any other company. It doesn't matter who makes these games as long as they put their best effort into them. We simply want and deserve what we pay for.
# 12
turftickler @ May 11
@ PSRusse83, thank you for commenting. How long have you been waiting for that solid true next-gen football experience? Backbreaker almost made there and the 2k football series fell off the radar. Our only options left are NCAA football, Madden NFL, and Backbreaker 2.
# 13
turftickler @ May 11
@mrmass413, thank you for watch my videos. I truly appreciate it. Well, the first fix is a tough one, because I cannot just say gameplay. There are many things I would fix for Madden 12. I will give you a list, but my number one fix will be first.
1. Real-time dynamic physics
2. Player height, weight, and overall balance
3. Player animations regarding running, turning, catching, sideline catching
4. Tandem blocking
5. Dynamic variable speed for each player according to the run style
6. Quarterback throwing motions, throwing tendencies, and styles
7. Players that play accordingly to their ratings, awareness, technique, and tendencies
8. Sideline interactions (watch a 2k sports game back; just pick one). If a player is running out of bounds toward a camera man or other players, he should not be stopped by a brick wall.
9. No more synchronized running
10. No more synchronized defensive player running and awareness. If you have played Madden and NCAA games, you will see that as soon as you move your ball carrier, the whole defense moves in the same direction at the same time. That is not dynamic.
I gave you more than you asked for, but all of these things have something to do with the overall gameplay; #8 not so much, but it is "In the Game!"
1. Real-time dynamic physics
2. Player height, weight, and overall balance
3. Player animations regarding running, turning, catching, sideline catching
4. Tandem blocking
5. Dynamic variable speed for each player according to the run style
6. Quarterback throwing motions, throwing tendencies, and styles
7. Players that play accordingly to their ratings, awareness, technique, and tendencies
8. Sideline interactions (watch a 2k sports game back; just pick one). If a player is running out of bounds toward a camera man or other players, he should not be stopped by a brick wall.
9. No more synchronized running
10. No more synchronized defensive player running and awareness. If you have played Madden and NCAA games, you will see that as soon as you move your ball carrier, the whole defense moves in the same direction at the same time. That is not dynamic.
I gave you more than you asked for, but all of these things have something to do with the overall gameplay; #8 not so much, but it is "In the Game!"
# 14
wallofhate @ May 12
I'm right with you i'm starting to feel like i'll never see a great football game without competition!
EA feels as though and rightfully so that we'll so hungry for football we'll eat up whatever they feed us.
I too have been playing since Tecmo Bowl and I cannot believe how Madden is getting left in the dust by other sports games! To be honest they have alot of people who know football and even played but they insist on pleasing the so called "massess" What happen to making the closest rendition of football???
Why not just do what all successful game designers do? Make the game they wanna make and at least mimmick what they see. I know they've made strides but damn its just so much that is off
EA feels as though and rightfully so that we'll so hungry for football we'll eat up whatever they feed us.
I too have been playing since Tecmo Bowl and I cannot believe how Madden is getting left in the dust by other sports games! To be honest they have alot of people who know football and even played but they insist on pleasing the so called "massess" What happen to making the closest rendition of football???
Why not just do what all successful game designers do? Make the game they wanna make and at least mimmick what they see. I know they've made strides but damn its just so much that is off
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