Ian - This Bud's for you UPDATED - TreyIM2's Blog

TreyIM2's Blog

Ian - This Bud's for you UPDATED

Posted on August 18, 2009 at 03:34 PM.

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I created this post mostly just for Ian to checkout. It's something I posted on the EA Madden 10 feedback site and just wanted to make it avail to Ian, directly. I will provide the link to him and hopefully, he will check this out.
Ian, if you're peepin this, let me know. Thanks. Here it is, BAM (ha):

Let me preface this by stating that I give this game an overall A- so the long list of what I�ve come up with improvements is not a knock on the game as it may seem more �negative� to see so many listed. I just want Madden 11 to be unbelievably great and if some of these things listed can be patched into Madden 10, I definitely welcome them. I have the PS3 version, btw, in case there may be differences with 360 version.
Things I like about Madden NFL 10:

-Pro Tak is very well done. Love it!
-Graphics are well done, again. Nice build on Madden 09, which looked good, as well, but Madden 10 definitely outshines it. The attention to small things on players actually gives it some extra OOMPH as well as the lighting.
- Play call screen is actually cool once I got used to it. I knew it was done to show more of the action
- Cut scenes are good, overall (see below). Definitely adds to the experience.
- Love the fact that QBs are not automatic with a variety of bad passes and love the specific throwing styles
- Great new animations. Love the little shove by the ball carrier on the tackler, after the play is dead, to get him off of himself
- Rain/Snow on cam lenses. Great touch
- Players and sideline wearing appropriate weather gear
- Player and crowd chatter is well done; lots of comedy going on there.
- The Extra Point is HOT!! (See below)
- Franchise hub is great and well done; makes me actually care about what the other teams in the league are doing, especially when viewing The Extra Point.
- Overall presentation is pretty good
- Great music. I haven�t enjoyed a Madden soundtrack as much as this one, for some reason. Maybe because this is the most enjoyment I�ve had in a Madden game, ever.

Things I think can be added/improved:

- Animations need to be more organic, still, especially in between plays where players look robotic
- More receiver catch attempt/catch animation variation
- �Super human recovery tackle while in mid air� when both receiver and defensive cover go up for ball needs to be removed
- More �tackle-swat� animations like NCAA 10
- More ball strip and swipe attempt animations
- Foot planting still doesn't seem to be there or it doesn't work properly but it�s not too terrible
- Procedural Awareness doesn't seem to work properly as we are still experiencing defensive players with eyes in the back of their heads.
- More types of penalties like illegal man downfield and such
- More realistic penalty calling by the refs meaning, there should be more variety of infractions called like in a real football game, not just holdings and false starts, as they seem to love to call more than any other type penalty
- Refs need to be better positioned, at times, as they seem to not properly face the action
- More ref animations/gestures give more "human" qualities as they seem to stare out into space after plays and such.
- Multiple infractions on a play either on the same team and/or both teams, at the same time
- Pass interference needs to be animated like with holding and facemasks, unless I haven't seen it yet. I've seen the usual "player is barely getting brushed against" PI calls, still.
- Need head refs to reflect who�s really in the NFL i.e., adding black head refs and also varying the head refs, game to game, with different looks and such
- Commentary needs to be improved. Maybe a new "commentary engine" is needed?
- Needs Coaching Option where a person can check the wind conditions BEFORE choosing to kick a field goal
- Punt/Kickoff blocking sliders - This mainly speaks to when playing, blockers tend to not block on punt returns. I thought the run blocking slider would help but it doesn�t seem to.
- Highlight creation needs the ability to let the user hit a button to exit out of a replay. Isn�t in NCAA 10 (I don�t remember and I haven�t created a highlight my NCAA 10 in weeks)
- Cut scenes should be used less for team celebrations after plays. I think that the actual players should more so animate the team celebratory situations on the fly, instead, what is being shown in the cut scenes, with as much variety as possible; checkout the team camaraderie some NFL games. Sideline cut scenes are fine, though but just need more variety
- Bring back players disagreeing with refs about a call (I remember those. Lol) but with more variety
- Add the ability to see the Jumbotrons back like in the Madden 09 play call screen where you could kind of see what was happening in the replay without using the instant replay option before
- Sideline animations of players trying to stop themselves from going out of bound when throwing outs or passes that go too far out when a player is in the flats and he catches it
- Slicker graphic overlays and use of telestrator by commentators during auto replays
- Auto replays and commentary for great defensive plays and penalties
- Auto instant replay slider
- Fix the Punt/Kickoff play calling issues. Sometimes not all plays are avail for those situations.
- Shoestring tackle animations need to be toned down and there should be times where the players DON'T go down from a shoestring tackle attempt
- Game planning and setup play calling from NCAA 10 needs to be added and made more robust
- Kicker cut scene where kicker kicks a field goal or extra point then is seen in the next cut scene seeming to completely come out the game while celebrating a successful kick when he should be seen getting his kicking tee or something else�unless that�s what the intention of the cut scene was to show
- More variation in running styles and animations. People like Leon Washington of the Jets or Larry Sproles of the Chargers should have tighter, quicker, more compact strides (maybe that�s where a new animation engine, overall, comes in)
- Fix animations where it looks like a player being tackled is leaned over, going down but then magically leans upward. I know it�s probably because of the ability to break tackles and maybe it�s the logic or user control response window is too wide (I don�t know, just guessing. Lol)
- Many CPU QBs stand in the pocket for faaaar too long when they have a lot of time to throw the ball. Even non-scrambling QBs know when to run or move or just get rid of the ball.
- Add stretch animations toward first downs when a ball carrier is near a first down whether they are about to go out of bounds or more infield
- Hurry up doesn�t work after incompletions no matter how long I hold the button
- Calling timeouts immediately after ref deliberation cut scene doesn�t seem to work. I missed a scoring op at the end of a half because of this as the clock ran out and I pressed the timeout button several times
- �In the dirt� passes by CPU need to be added where the QB just blows a low throw. I have yet to see a low to the ground throw like in previous Maddens
- Blocking logic needs to be improved although the sliders help but some things are inexplicable when it comes down to what blockers sometimes do such as completely taking off in an odd direction. I do like how sometimes assignments are just blown/missed
- Needs more pancake blocks
- Ability to challenge play, still, even after the refs confer. The ability to do so is currently not in the game
- Modify �loaf of bread� animation where tackled player goes down and is carelessly holding the ball on the way down. Player hold the ball too far out and if there is to be that animation, he should fumble if ball hits another player and there should be an defensive player animation where the player reaches for the ball
- QBs/Punters should fumble snaps/exchanges
- Players should slip even in good conditions, at times
- Field degradation
- Suction blocking still present but not as prevalent as in the past. Good job in limiting that
- CPU QBs shouldn�t slide before getting to the line of scrimmage when they start to take off to run while under pressure. McNabb, in Madden, is an example of how this shouldn�t happen as the slide counts as a sack, in those situations. Logic needs to be fixed
- Ball rotation is wrong. Should be clockwise for righties and counterclockwise for lefties
- Injury slider is missing from Franchise mode game options; too many injuries by default.
- Highlight stick responsiveness needs to be increased
- Sometimes when calling a jam at the line, there is no jam attempt
- Add CPU play fakes on 4th and short or what have you
- Still an issue with play action rollouts where the QB doesn�t throw the ball even after pressing a receiver button several times (was in 09, as well)
- Video highlights in The Extra Point (if it�s a hard drive issue, make it PS3 only like 2K5 did for the original XBOX because of the included HDD on all SKUs. The PS2 version of 2K5 didn�t have video highlights but stills because of lack of HDD)
- Slowdown �scores around the league� and the other game players stats at halftime. Maybe once it ends, add button to press for user to skip to next screen at their leisure. I prefer that it just be slowed down to keep with the feeling of sitting back and completely watching a halftime show.
- Sideline mix ups from 09 still there where players from the opposing team are on the same sideline as your team�s sideline
- Tone down the cam flashes for regular season games. I don�t know if there are that many pics being taken during a game by the crowd except for in the Superbowl, and even then I�ve only really noticed the plethora of flashes during kickoff
- Bring back cheerleaders and make them much prettier, this time. Lol
- Still a lack of controller responsiveness when pressing stiff arm button
- No huddle button should ALWAYS work, regardless of the situation. I notice that it works �better� in 2 min situations but even then, the audible menu doesn�t come up til I get to the line, sometimes.
- Stats in the overlays during halftime and end of game replays can be incorrect at times, sometimes listing the wrong players, as well
- Bring back the in-game save feature
- Ability to shift more than one player at a time on offense
- Add back pre-game day practice in Franchise mode
- Progressive lighting? I think Ian spoke on making it more dynamic because wasn�t basic �light dimming� from quarter to quarter in 09? I guess it was taken out all together since that�s not truly dynamic progressive lighting. Hope to see it either patched in or put in Madden 11
- Contextual jukes that fit the situation the running back is in. Not all jukes are the same so the old hop juke would make sense, at times

General notes about the game:
Is it me or does it seem like some of the animations and such are time released? I keep seeing more new things every time I startup a new game. Nice.
Madden is now �an experience�, imo. When I play in my offline franchise, I feel as though I actually care about what�s going on around the league and with my division. I�m a Jets fan and only really cared about beating the Pats (for some reason, I ALWAYS whoop their tails, and this time was no different in my season. Kind of strange, though) in Madden, prior to this year, but now, I am looking over my shoulder at the Fins (Chad seems a bit �superhuman� against us, though and the game against them was much tougher than I expected. I won on the second play in O.T. just like how the Giants won against the Panthers, last night) AND Bills (T.O., grrr. They�re up, next in my season), as well. I thank you, EA, for adding a great new franchise hub with the great The Extra Point segment. That really makes a diff for me. Now, if you can just get some vid highlights from around the league for us PS3 users (HDD makes a diff, eh?), I�d be even more ecstatic about it. Maybe you guys can give us PS3 owners a little more because of the HDD? Not knocking the 360 but I feel that because MS declined to include the HDD with ALL SKUs, we PS3 owners suffer from multiplatforming "limitations" because games can't all be designed with HDD usage in mind. I just want the PS3 experience to be maximized, that's all.
Overall, great job. I see the hard work put in to this Madden with all the bases you tried to cover. I upped my grade from a B+ to A- after getting the game home and playing through franchise mode. I based my grade, initially, on the game play of the in-store game at Gamestop before the game�s release. Feature wise, the ONLY new things I want implemented are the game planning and setup plays from NCAA 10 (actually, I did have a couple of control features I want to flesh out and present to you). Just focus on improving what�s already there, for the most part. If I come up with more things, I will create a new list. Peaz�

Update
Likes �
- Like the updated stats that refer to the current game as well as the previous stats on the current season
- Didn�t realize you can challenge a play after doing your own instant replay!! NICE!! AND it makes more sense since the assistance upstairs can look at a play over and over before telling the coach to challenge it. GREAT addition!! Why didn�t u guys mention this fact???
- Like how the crowd tries to fire up their team if they are losing with a big cheer. Nice!
- Didn�t mention before how much I love the suspense of ref deliberations and fumble pileups (don�t know if the fight for the fumble feature should stay but maybe it should be removed to free up space. I turn it off but just love the cut scene suspense of not knowing who will get the ball)
Improvements/additions
- Glitch with delayed whistles and time out yells � They seem to be heard well after the play is dead or the time out has been called; usually when you�re walking to the line for your next play. It was in 09, as well, but not as bad, if I remember correctly.
- Glitch in stats at bottom of screen where they�re incorrect at times
- Glitch in highlight creation where highlight either doesn�t start from beginning of the play or it doesn�t play all the way through to end of play
- Need fans that wear team jerseys
- More fumble cut scene variations
- Injury update by sideline reporter like in NCAA 10

Update 2
I finished a full season in offline franchise. Overall, I definitely still like but I MAY have to drop my grade back to the original B+ I first gave it. There�s plenty of room for improvement.
Not going to get into offseason, offline franchise. As long as that works, I�m good with it. I don�t go overboard with that.
Likes
- I was really wrong about the team jerseys. Seen them in the in-stadium crowd cut scenes. Am I blind? Lol. My bad.
- Love how the D tries to figure out your tendencies based on your formations if you keep calling a certain plays
- Player facial animations are a nice touch
- Nice player celebration of team mates when clear cut path to end zone is obvious and team mates are running with you ala NCAA 10
- The new skies look so great. Too bad progressive lighting didn�t make it (patch??)
- Did I see offensive double team blocking??? I did. Will this be something we will be able to manually assign in the future?
- Forgot to mention how I love the defensive line moves switch to the right joystick. Very intuitive
- Great job with Extra Point when in the playoffs
- Is that frost I see on the field at Giants Stadium in 29 degree weather??
- Great job on the Extra Point during Pro Bowl week and how it has a Road to the Superbowl showing how the 2 teams made it to the Superbowl and keys to victory against each other. Also great job of having the two analysts change clothing (lol). Great overall job with the Extra Point. I REALLY like that feature and look forward to what you do to improve it (ahem, video highlights, ahem)
- Players do slip in rain when carrying the ball, not just running routes. NICE!!
- Post Superbowl Extra Point is pretty good, overall, but needs more Superbowl related commentary and �excitement�
- Superbowl field looks great. Great paint and markings job, especially having the teams� home endzone paint (don�t remember if it was in 09)
Improvements/Additions
- Add on-field flags
- Glitch where I was called for holding on offense (where are defensive holding calls???) while converting a first down and the CPU defense accepted the penalty�but I got the ball back with even LESS yards to get a first down than I originally was trying to cover i.e.3rd and 15 and I convert the first down but there is the holding call which the CPU accepted against me so it shoulda been 3rd and 25 but, somehow, it became 3rd and 7, instead. I also had a CPU defensive recovery glitch where, although it was a questionable fumble because the ball appeared to touch a player who was out of bounds, the CPU player who picked it up was out of bounds while picking the ball up while the ball was still in bounds. Even after it was said it was recovered by the defense, I still got the ball back at that spot. What�s even funnier is how the play is NOT in the highlight section. Lol.
- �Auto� QB sneak should be removed and a defensive goal line counter-QB sneak play should be added if it already isn�t there (haven�t checked), instead, where u can have more of a chance of stuffing the QB. Could add a bit to the strategy factor. Check the NFL teams to see if they implement such possible plays
- The Extra Point needs commentary on the playoff chase when it gets near playoff time
- Add double team offensive blocking
- The �in your face� animation between two opposing players where they are helmet to helmet needs either player or ref intervention. Also, add more animations of clashing players where they get in each others� faces, maybe pointing in each others� helmets and such. Would be a great touch.
- Still impossible to get a field goal/extra point block
- On slants, seems like the receive on the left ALWAYS is open way before the receiver on the right, no matter which slant play I pick where either receiver is the primary receiver
- CPU logic needs tuning as to when to be aggressive or not i.e. Bengals were beating me senseless 27 � 6 in the 3rd yet they were STILL throwing the ball, profusely, with an OCCASSIONAL run play and I do mean OCCASSIONAL as in ridiculously rare. I even got an INT but even after they got the ball back and it was 27-13 in the 4th, now, guess what they mostly did? Pass. That�s really not good. I mean REALLY not good. Carson Palmer and the Bengals are not good and they just caught a �lucky break� against me (15-0 on All Pro as the Jets in my franchise.6 min quarters.)Also, after finally running on 3 straight plays and I called time out after 1st and 2nd down, they didn�t eat clock after 3rd down since I had no more time outs and they immediately attempted a field goal. Not cool.
- Add kicker/ punter slips in rain/snow
- Add bad snaps on field goal/extra point attempts
- Missing crowd reaction to a missed field goal return attempt. I returned one for a TD but it was as if the crowd didn�t know what was going on, and I was the home team.
- Glitch where players jump through each other while in mid-air i.e. My corner was jumping for a ball at the same time as the receiver and was in front of the receiver, about to intercept the ball but somehow the receiver literally jumped RIGHT THROUGH my CB. Pass fell incomplete.
- Add CPU logic for some teams to gamble on �non-near end of game 4th downs and down by a score� situations, depending on the situation, field position and team. Some teams are more apt to go for it on 4th downs than others.
- Can the team specific helmets make it back in the Pro Bowl?
- Button re-config option is DEFINITELY needed. Trying to use the QB evade stick has ended up in many intentional grounding calls because I sometimes press too hard on the right joystick and end up pushing the stick down. Really not cool.
- What happened to the Superbowl commentary to start the game as well as more Superbowl related commentary during and after the game? VERY scarce. I liked how the commentary was in-depth at the beginning of the AFC Championship game but the Superbowl really lacked in comparison. Maybe it�s varied each time?
- Add different and fresher cut scenes for playoffs and Superbowl . It gets tiring to see the same cut scenes over and over during the reg season, to begin with, but I would expect to see some freshness during playoffs and the Superbowl
- PLEASE get the penalty sliders to work and work properly in the current Madden