Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

[PhilBuc]

I apologize for the long reply, I wanted it to be its own thread, but I'm too new to post a new thread. I copied and pasted that from my Word document where I've been noting these things, so I also apologize for the formatting.

[JayBee74]

I still kind of like the game. Khalil Mack is a beast to play against. Might be a little unrealistic how many running plays he busts up or serves up for losses. Even if the play is stacked away from his side, it seems the better choice to run away from him.

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by PhilBuc

Finally, I’ve had enough and want to speak my mind on the NFL game I am being forced to play as long as I want to play an NFL game because there are no other options! I’ve been playing Madden since the NFL 2K series was taken away by EA Sports about 10 years ago. Honestly, I have grown to love Madden. Being a HUGE NFL fan (Tampa Bay) and Madden being the only game in town, its default. So for the last decade, every year when I play the new Madden, there are always numerous things added. However, for everything added, something is taken away, whether it’s because of a bug or poor design decisions. Sometimes something is so small to complain about, but doesn’t that just mean that it’s something that should simply be included IN THE GAME to begin with?! Most of my observations are visual/immersion/presentation: Raymond James stadium – In Madden 15 the flags around the stadium would actually wave and move like real flags do, this year they stand still (I noticed this in Heinz Field too). The flags all around the stadiums wave and move in Madden 16 in almost all of the stadiums. Raymond James, well, they just look like cardboard cutouts. They moved in Madden 15 and they move in other stadiums in Madden 16! Bucs helmets – In Madden 15 they were spot on with the metallic flake, in Madden 16, there is no metallic flake. Instead the Bucs helmets are a flat color and look nothing like they really do. This was correct in Madden 15! What’s the excuse? Ads – Snickers, Gatorade, Papa Johns etc. ads pop up in game (cool). Well, why have cheap made-up brands all over the scoreboards like Arturo spark plugs and Tops Hardware or whatever cheap crap is littered on the field. Why not paste Snickers and Gatorade everywhere instead? Dirty uniforms – How hard is it to make the uniforms get REALLY dirty in snow and rain games? Weather – Why is it always exactly 75 degrees on clear days? … It looks as if the snow games have been upgraded visually, but the rain is the same as last gen. Matter of fact, the neat raindrop on the screen effect is gone now, smh why? Sidelines – Why are there 50+ camera men and still no cheerleaders? Why can’t the generic players on the sideline at least have names on their jerseys? Jim and Phil – Why were Jim and Phil visually removed from the game?? Why are we going backwards for every step forward every single year over the past decade?? Field wear and tear – How much harder is it to make the fields look a little bit more torn up? Progressive lighting – Amazing how a 1PM game, which normally ends around 4pm ish….. and the stadium shadows don’t even move and cast onto the field. The 4pm games started in Madden 16 are completely covered in shade before the 1st quarter even ends. It wasn’t nearly this bad in Madden 15! Pre-Game – Before an exhibition game is selected, we have an option to choose standard or Super Bowl presentation, In Maddens past, we could also choose the Breast Cancer Pink October presentation. Now since Madden 15 it’s only available in October in Career modes. Chain gang – What happened to them? Why have they been missing? Backdrops – The backdrops outside the stadium look embarrassing, they are straight out of the PS2 era. Visiting team – Another year, and yet again the visiting team insists on pumping up the crowd, especially during kickoffs, wonderful! Replays – Why since Madden on last gen, why when zoomed all the way in on manual replay do the players disappear? …. Also, there is an automatic replay usually shown for sacks that has the stat bubble pop up on the sacker and the sackee, which display their names…. Well, the stat bubbles cover up the play and nothing can be seen. Play select – Why was the big, bold font in the header of the play select screen changed to a small, light, italic font? Why are players of opposite team in the huddle together? Why does my running back run out onto the field with the defense between possession changes? Why do players and the ball disappear through the crowd beyond the end zone? I just wanted to touch on some of the visual/presentation elements which haven’t been touched on ummm EVER! Also, every single year, things are added (female fans, signs for example) but things removed ie. Static flags, helmets stripped back, chain gang, Jim and Phil etc. There are a lot more omissions I have noticed in my 20+ games of Madden 16 so far, so many in fact that I cannot remember them all. These are LITTLE THINGS! It’s either poor quality testing and/or lazy development. Shame on you EA. If and when you lose the NFL license, it will be downhill for the Madden franchise from there. None of the things I have touched on could possibly be very taxing on the hardware. Seriously, how hard is it to at least make temperatures display something different than 75 degrees 100% of the time? …. How hard can it be to remove 5 or 6 of the 50+ cameramen and add 5 or 6 cheerleaders – you know, like a real NFL game! Its pure lazy development. In my limited knowledge of game development, I would imagine that most of the above can be patched in. I won’t even get started on halftime, post-game, commentary, etc. as that requires a bigger overhaul. These little things/bugs should have been addressed a decade ago or at the very least in these first 3 Madden games on current gen! How can I notice most of this stuff within a couple games played? … and NOBODY at EA Sports can pick up on this stuff throughout the development year. More so, why does nobody at EA Sports care?

I tried to read this, but lack of carriage returns makes it hurt my eyes.

[Rules]

Okay, here is my long rant........

I'm loving this game, great job EA team

Sorry in advance for anyone that is offended by my post.

[canes21]

I love this game in play now, but in franchise, ugh. Buddy and I are trying to do a rebuild with the Browns and Titans, but we're both 6-1 or 7-1. My Browns team has 14 or 15 starters at 99 overall in the game because of confidence and drive goals. My entire line is a 99, my 2 CBs and both safeties are 99's. Heck, Manziel got hurt and I signed Vick and he is like an 80 because of confidence. Crowell is an 80 something, it brings Duke Johnson up to an 79. Gordon is unstoppable one on one.

Kinda ruins the rebuild when I am already an 88 overall team halfway into the season outside of the game. I imagine I am really a 93ish rated team once I am in game and have even more boosts.

[mastershake88]

Quote: Originally Posted by PhilBuc

Finally, I’ve had enough and want to speak my mind on the NFL game I am being forced to play as long as I want to play an NFL game because there are no other options! I’ve been playing Madden since the NFL 2K series was taken away by EA Sports about 10 years ago. Honestly, I have grown to love Madden. Being a HUGE NFL fan (Tampa Bay) and Madden being the only game in town, its default. So for the last decade, every year when I play the new Madden, there are always numerous things added. However, for everything added, something is taken away, whether it’s because of a bug or poor design decisions. Sometimes something is so small to complain about, but doesn’t that just mean that it’s something that should simply be included IN THE GAME to begin with?! Most of my observations are visual/immersion/presentation: Raymond James stadium – In Madden 15 the flags around the stadium would actually wave and move like real flags do, this year they stand still (I noticed this in Heinz Field too). The flags all around the stadiums wave and move in Madden 16 in almost all of the stadiums. Raymond James, well, they just look like cardboard cutouts. They moved in Madden 15 and they move in other stadiums in Madden 16! Bucs helmets – In Madden 15 they were spot on with the metallic flake, in Madden 16, there is no metallic flake. Instead the Bucs helmets are a flat color and look nothing like they really do. This was correct in Madden 15! What’s the excuse? Ads – Snickers, Gatorade, Papa Johns etc. ads pop up in game (cool). Well, why have cheap made-up brands all over the scoreboards like Arturo spark plugs and Tops Hardware or whatever cheap crap is littered on the field. Why not paste Snickers and Gatorade everywhere instead? Dirty uniforms – How hard is it to make the uniforms get REALLY dirty in snow and rain games? Weather – Why is it always exactly 75 degrees on clear days? … It looks as if the snow games have been upgraded visually, but the rain is the same as last gen. Matter of fact, the neat raindrop on the screen effect is gone now, smh why? Sidelines – Why are there 50+ camera men and still no cheerleaders? Why can’t the generic players on the sideline at least have names on their jerseys? Jim and Phil – Why were Jim and Phil visually removed from the game?? Why are we going backwards for every step forward every single year over the past decade?? Field wear and tear – How much harder is it to make the fields look a little bit more torn up? Progressive lighting – Amazing how a 1PM game, which normally ends around 4pm ish….. and the stadium shadows don’t even move and cast onto the field. The 4pm games started in Madden 16 are completely covered in shade before the 1st quarter even ends. It wasn’t nearly this bad in Madden 15! Pre-Game – Before an exhibition game is selected, we have an option to choose standard or Super Bowl presentation, In Maddens past, we could also choose the Breast Cancer Pink October presentation. Now since Madden 15 it’s only available in October in Career modes. Chain gang – What happened to them? Why have they been missing? Backdrops – The backdrops outside the stadium look embarrassing, they are straight out of the PS2 era. Visiting team – Another year, and yet again the visiting team insists on pumping up the crowd, especially during kickoffs, wonderful! Replays – Why since Madden on last gen, why when zoomed all the way in on manual replay do the players disappear? …. Also, there is an automatic replay usually shown for sacks that has the stat bubble pop up on the sacker and the sackee, which display their names…. Well, the stat bubbles cover up the play and nothing can be seen. Play select – Why was the big, bold font in the header of the play select screen changed to a small, light, italic font? Why are players of opposite team in the huddle together? Why does my running back run out onto the field with the defense between possession changes? Why do players and the ball disappear through the crowd beyond the end zone? I just wanted to touch on some of the visual/presentation elements which haven’t been touched on ummm EVER! Also, every single year, things are added (female fans, signs for example) but things removed ie. Static flags, helmets stripped back, chain gang, Jim and Phil etc. There are a lot more omissions I have noticed in my 20+ games of Madden 16 so far, so many in fact that I cannot remember them all. These are LITTLE THINGS! It’s either poor quality testing and/or lazy development. Shame on you EA. If and when you lose the NFL license, it will be downhill for the Madden franchise from there. None of the things I have touched on could possibly be very taxing on the hardware. Seriously, how hard is it to at least make temperatures display something different than 75 degrees 100% of the time? …. How hard can it be to remove 5 or 6 of the 50+ cameramen and add 5 or 6 cheerleaders – you know, like a real NFL game! Its pure lazy development. In my limited knowledge of game development, I would imagine that most of the above can be patched in. I won’t even get started on halftime, post-game, commentary, etc. as that requires a bigger overhaul. These little things/bugs should have been addressed a decade ago or at the very least in these first 3 Madden games on current gen! How can I notice most of this stuff within a couple games played? … and NOBODY at EA Sports can pick up on this stuff throughout the development year. More so, why does nobody at EA Sports care?

This is the last week i'll be on this forum as I go onto this game and other stuff, but I will say that you and I are on the same page here. I don't understand how it's Next gen, but missing more than what Madden 2002 had. I'm sure time will come for them to explain and or patch. I made a stadium forum and there are other bug forums. It's up to other people to continue them and EA to fix. It's a good game, but more attention to what fans request and less gimmicks.

Ok folks, happy gaming!

[phillyfan23]

Quote: Originally Posted by canes21

I love this game in play now, but in franchise, ugh. Buddy and I are trying to do a rebuild with the Browns and Titans, but we're both 6-1 or 7-1. My Browns team has 14 or 15 starters at 99 overall in the game because of confidence and drive goals. My entire line is a 99, my 2 CBs and both safeties are 99's. Heck, Manziel got hurt and I signed Vick and he is like an 80 because of confidence. Crowell is an 80 something, it brings Duke Johnson up to an 79. Gordon is unstoppable one on one. Kinda ruins the rebuild when I am already an 88 overall team halfway into the season outside of the game. I imagine I am really a 93ish rated team once I am in game and have even more boosts.

there are 2 threads on the front page here that teaches how to set up your franchise to ELIMINATE drive goals and will essentially get rid of the ridiculous drive goals confidence boosts that basically kill franchise realism.

there is a sticky on the front page for 32 team control, try that.

[MustangLife03]

Just my opinion but I think the adults on here are forgetting Madden designers,producers,programmers, etc make this game with children,teenagers and adults in mind.

Adults - main desires in a game is realism

Children/Teenagers - main desires in a game are all kinds of cool animations, a bunch of interceptions,fumbles. Crazy blowout scores. They wanna see one handed catches all the time, etc etc

So how does one make a game a 9 year old is going to be 100% happy with and not throw the controller out the window and at the same time that same game happy where a 40 year old football/madden enthusiast who wants a 100% realism compared to real life.

Is this possible.

I remember when I was 10 years old I got Tecmo Bowl when it was first released I think it was a xmas present. I wanted to see Bo Jackson run 80 yard touchdowns every play and Deion Sanders get a interception all the time. If I had 9 rushing tds in a game I didn't care. I didn't wanna see a defense play well against me. Hell no I wanted to score all the time.

Now 20 something years later I want something completely different and realistic, etc. I want CB's to intercept my passes and take it back 90 yards or games where L. Bell is held for 16 for 70 yards, etc etc

This is what I think some of us are forgetting. I don't exactly know the percentages of Madden sales with adults vs 18 and under. But I imagine a lot of there thinking in developing a game is geared towards children. Which makes since. When I think video game, I think a kid or teenager.

I think in the future the only way to make us all happy instead of just having rookie, pro, all pro, madden levels. They and maybe not in these words have Madden with a child mode and adult mode.

And you guys that seem to forget being a little kid and playing a video game. Put 2 10 year olds together in madden together and see how they react to all the OBJ catches, etc