Madden NFL 15 Video & Blog - War In The Trenches 2.0

[Valdarez]

Quote: Originally Posted by jyoung

Sadly, they haven't made any improvements to the Online Team Play mode since it debuted in Madden NFL 11. At the very least, 7 vs. 7 would be a lot fun, since everyone could play a skill position. There are enough people on this site that we would have no problem fielding a full club. We've been able to play full 11 vs. 11 matches in FIFA 14 for the last week, and that game has a much smaller following here than Madden does.

Had no idea that was possible in Fifa 14. That's crazy awesome for Fifa folks. How has the online play / experience been?

Completely agree that if full team was to come to a sports game it SHOULD have been Madden. It's the best selling game in sports isn't it?

Can you imagine how crazy play in Madden would get with 11 people controlling their players running every which way? Because you know MOST folks aren't going to follow the plays that are called! lol Still, that's the future of sports game, multi-player team based play.

[vision]

Quote: Originally Posted by jpdavis82

From what I've heard from the devs, Sim, Smitty, and Markus, they are adding new animations each year until the old ones are almost completely gone. They added new ones last year and added a ton this year for defense and catch animations. Rex talked last year how he wants to get animations to a 90 quality level.

Yeeah.. But naah. I don't want them to add more animations to an already broken/stiff/awkward looking engine. They need to work on how to motion capture realistic, human looking running first. They need to work on animation transitions so things look smoother. They need at least 3 templates for different individual running styles. They need at least 2 man gang tackles.

Even the first Assassins Creed's run animations from last gen, are light years better than madden. I'd be embarrassed if I was Tiburon.

These things I mentioned should be a given for a next gen football game.

[jyoung]

Quote: Originally Posted by Valdarez

Had no idea that was possible in Fifa 14. That's crazy awesome for Fifa folks. How has the online play / experience been? Can you imagine how crazy play in Madden would get with 11 people controlling their players running every which way? Because you know MOST folks aren't going to follow the plays that are called! lol Still, that's the future of sports game, multi-player team based play.

The reason the 11 vs. 11 online team play mode works so well in FIFA is because FIFA's footplanting and locomotion are much more realistic than what Madden currently has.

Without proper player movement, the 3 vs. 3 mode that Madden has just doesn't work very well. Right now, it's very hard to block a human defender or cover a human wide receiver, since they can just zig-zag freely all over the field without proper turning or momentum physics.

[Jr.]

Quote: Originally Posted by Valdarez

Can you imagine how crazy play in Madden would get with 11 people controlling their players running every which way? Because you know MOST folks aren't going to follow the plays that are called! lol Still, that's the future of sports game, multi-player team based play.

Take it a step further. Could you imagine a full NFL league where each player is someone online?

Get 32 "player-owners" who can sign you to their team? Online free agency where the best players get the best contracts (for bragging purposes, probably). Hell, there are Madden tournaments for real money now. Turn it into the Madden Football League, games are played certain days of the week.... my mind just keeps going

Now that's the future.

[Valdarez]

Quote: Originally Posted by jyoung

The reason the 11 vs. 11 online team play mode works so well in FIFA is because FIFA's footplanting and locomotion are much more realistic than what Madden currently has. Without proper player movement, the 3 vs. 3 mode that Madden has just doesn't work very well. Right now, it's very hard to block a human defender or cover a human wide receiver, since they can just zig-zag freely all over the field without proper turning or momentum physics.

You're preaching to the choir now. That's what I wanted to see fixed way back in 2009/2010 when I put together running animations captures. I don't play Fifa and it's been forever now since I played NBA Live, but I figured the movement/locomotion would be the same for all games with different account for types of footwork (quick fast starts in NBA, trick moves in Fifa, etc) for each sport. Surprised to hear there's such a stark difference between Fifa and Madden.

Just sad to think we've been asking for movement to be fixed for 5 years now, and to know they had a semi-working build in 2011 build that apparently was just canned/nixed.

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jr.

Take it a step further. Could you imagine a full NFL league where each player is someone online? Get 32 "player-owners" who can sign you to their team? Online free agency where the best players get the best contracts (for bragging purposes, probably). Hell, there are Madden tournaments for real money now. Turn it into the Madden Football League, games are played certain days of the week.... my mind just keeps going Now that's the future.

That would be a blast. Hell I wouldn't even care if I was a OL.
I'd take pride in getting 100+ yards on the ground and keeping my QB upright.

[WakeUp_YoureDreaming]

I am very big on aesthetics when it comes to sports games, and I pay very close attention to detail. So, like a sore thumb, the first thing that sticks out to me are the wide ranging visual inaccuracies in player equipment.

I don't know if EA is incompetent or if they simply do not care. Either way, there's no excuse for blatant negligence.

Where are the mouthgaurds?
Where are the NBA arm sleeves (that Richard Sherman is wearing on the cover)?
Where are the full single arm sleeves (that RGIII has in game, but no one else)?
Where are the signature Nike gloves and cleats that players have been wearing for years?
Nowhere to be found.

All the player equipment in this game is at least 5 years old. Not only that, EA Sports' NCAA Football had some of these, 3 years ago! How difficult can it be to add updated player equipment to properly represent those worn in the NFL? It isn't difficult at all. In fact, it is likely one of the easiest things to do.

With professional football being the most popular American sport, and the amazing potential of the next-gen consoles, it is an absolute shame that EA is allowed to put out such mediocrity and call it a simulation.

Underwhelming is an overstatement. But hey, "maybe next year," right? Don't hold your breath.

[msdm27]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jr.

Take it a step further. Could you imagine a full NFL league where each player is someone online? Get 32 "player-owners" who can sign you to their team? Online free agency where the best players get the best contracts (for bragging purposes, probably). Hell, there are Madden tournaments for real money now. Turn it into the Madden Football League, games are played certain days of the week.... my mind just keeps going Now that's the future.

The future..... full of unemployed dudes
Does sound pretty futuristic though