Madden NFL 10 Blog: A Deeper Look into PRO-TAK

[NYyankz225]

Don't know if it's possible but I think the complaint that people have with some of the tackles is that players are not tackling "through" the player but simply stopping on contact. If a player makes contact with a ball carrier at full speed regardless of his "hit rating" he should go for a big hit not just "stick himself" to the pile. When a ball carrier gets caught up near the line like in the first video it makes sense for everyone to bunch up because they're all close and they can't run for the big hit.

But in open space, the second or third player should almost always go for the big hit, not just add to the pile. Hope that's possible.

Amazing stuff though Ian! As I've said this is easily the greatest technology ever added to a (real) football game.

[Moostache]

PRO-TAk looks great with one nagging issue to me...the leg chop of the players who join onto the gang tackle are in perfect sync...there was a similar issue in Madden NFL 2006 on the 360 that made all running animations break down into a creepy looking line dance!

This synchonized leg chopping was in the sizzle trailer and is again in the Dallas - Giants gang tackle example...it is HIGHLY distracting and if these are still being tuned, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do anything that can be done to make sure that multiple players in on the tackle are not doing the EXACT SAME movements....

If the players who join the gang tackle are forced into a rhythmic leg chop every time, then the whole system will be reviled - no matter how cool it really is in concept or execution. I think PRO-TAK is too cool and too much of a leap forward to have it diminished because of timing issues on the animations of added defenders...I trust that this is known and being looked at but I wanted to reiterate my concerns here...

The Jacobs play did not bother me in the least - it was actually super cool to see on many levels for me...the hit that stopped Lendale White's forward motion looked fine to me...the replay camera was at an angle that makes the hit look like it is from a more exaggerated angle. When the second hit is made - looked like a hit stick animation too - it changed the momentum of the play so that when Reed and Lewis joined in they were able to throw him backwards...all very, very cool stuff - especially throwing guys OUT of the endzone (or away from the goalline) instead of having a canned animation shove the ball carrier INTO the endzone!

The animations of the OL/DL interaction (both normal and modified) looked like an excellent improvement over anything seen previously in Madden or NCAA...I particularly like the way the OT and DE engage, break, re-engage and break and re-engage (hand-fighting and trying to establish leverage) throughout the video. Having the ability to manually steer the block in the modified clip looks like a great way to get pressure into the pocket (while the "normal" run of the clip looks ike a pretty good animation and sequence for the OT to set the edge and form a good pocket)...

Thanks for the details to both Ian and Simon - I am sure you guys realize that the vast majority of responders here are quite happy to get these looks!

[mdurd2817]

I didn't read this entire thread so SIAP anyway did it look like the Ravens had different sock lengths?

[Netherscourge]

Quote:

Moving to a full runtime solution and getting rid of motion capture (like a Havok physics system for example) means handing over full control of your visuals to your code (and away from your artists)…which to us is not an acceptable approach being that we are tasked with creating a true NFL simulation.

Hmmm... is that supposed to be a dig at Backbreaker/Euphoria?

[NoSubs]

Looks good. Now that weight is a bigger part of the equation, it needs to be considered in OVR.

All else equal, a linebacker with an extra 25 lbs. will now be a bit more useful. OVR should reflects that.

This is some seriously cool stuff.

[viewtifuljoe71]

Quote: Originally Posted by NYyankz225

Don't know if it's possible but I think the complaint that people have with some of the tackles is that players are not tackling "through" the player but simply stopping on contact. If a player makes contact with a ball carrier at full speed regardless of his "hit rating" he should go for a big hit not just "stick himself" to the pile. When a ball carrier gets caught up near the line like in the first video it makes sense for everyone to bunch up because they're all close and they can't run for the big hit. But in open space, the second or third player should almost always go for the big hit, not just add to the pile. Hope that's possible. Amazing stuff though Ian! As I've said this is easily the greatest technology ever added to a (real) football game.

This might be it. It doesnt look like the players are driving through the tackle.

[Valdarez]

That ProTak looks really neat and is a huge leap forward for Madden. It's the best addition to Madden I have seen since the HitStick was introduced.

That Raven's video looks a little off. Instead of being hit, and held up, White looks like his feet get hung and caught up. There's no look/feel of momentum to either player, the hit isn't felt/seen when they collide, and the transition to the ProTak animation from the running animation isn't natural (it just snaps to the ProTak animation).Ravens defense stops Lendale White at the goal line from easports on Vimeo.

Once guys latch on, there's too much footwork going in relation to the movement of the pile. The movement of the players feet needs to be tracked somehow to the direction / speed of the pile.

Brandon Jacobs & gang tackling in Madden NFL 10 from easports on Vimeo.