Full game w/ EA Designers (Colts vs. Vikings)

[LBzrule]

More Good

1) As mentioned, T. Jackson was inaccurate a couple of times.
2) Game keeps up with sacks, hurries, blitzes
3) Good job of blockers getting out there on the screen at around 00:47 mark in the 1st half.
4) 00:20 mark in the 3rd, good pressure by Kevin Williams. I thought he should havebeen in Mannings face a bit more this game especially when you have Allen and him singled up on blockers. Also nice hit on Clark

Bad

1) At 2:36 2nd qtr, MLB goes the wrong way - stretch play. Doesn't get depth and crash open windows.

2) Last run play before the end of the first half. Bracket immediately starts backing up on the snap and waits for the blockers to come get him as he is about 3 yards down the field. He has to key a lineman and stop backing up if the lineman fires out at him.

3) First run play second half the MLB gets lost, bumps into the play side OLB then does a 360 and then tries to get outside.

4) 3:30 mark in the 3rd, Henderson does a good job of filling that hole although the blocker misses him. But then he has no closing speed to finish off the play. That's ok with Henderson, but if that is Tatupu, Urlacher, Willis and a few others, I'm expecting some closing speed on that HB.

5) 2:04 mark in the 3rd, Offensive Tackle does not block Matthis, just gets I dunno LOL.

6) 1:18 mark 3rd Qtr, Henderson does a good job here given where he is lined up. And he uses the shoulder he should use to engage the blocker given where the ball is going.

7) 00:10 seconds left, third Qtr, Bracket just stands there to be blocked. Also and I think this is very important, can we get the DE's to line up with their outside arm free instead of the inside. They need to have their inside hand down on the ground rather than outside. Also at times, when they just want to pin back and attempt to use speed and run pass an OT, I'd like to occasionally see them in a 4 point stance.

8) Lots of cut blocks going on which is not a bad thing but I would also like to see some defensive linemen not get fooled by this technique by offensive linemen. If we could get them to use their hands and plant the Olineman and go around or hop over him that would be good. You can't allow a linemen to get to your legs. See what we need is the extreme attitudes. Olinemen are taught you can't allow; you can't allow. And Dlinemen are taught you can't allow; you can't allow. More fighting just like that one video shows in the DE play thread where the guys are not in pads. The action up front should be fast violent, and tenacious.

[RWayne911]

I don't think the game speed was fast as all. Thought it was perfect.

However, I thought that the deep was a little weird. Seems like, as said before, the corner has time to catch up to it.

[icomb1ne]

Hey LBzrule,

I watched all the instances where you saw problems and just FYI
"2) Play two, Bracket moves down over Center and just stands there to get blocked by the Guard. No sense of keying and reading. Does not attack with his inside shoulder and deliver a forearm to the blocker. Sorta just sits back and catches the blocker"
and
"7) 00:10 seconds left, third Qtr, Bracket just stands there to be blocked. Also and I think this is very important, can we get the DE's to line up with their outside arm free instead of the inside. They need to have their inside hand down on the ground rather than outside. Also at times, when they just want to pin back and attempt to use speed and run pass an OT, I'd like to occasionally see them in a 4 point stance."

were plays where the linebacker was user controlled. That's why they just stood there a couple of times.

[mddst34]

You guys are heading in the right direction finally. Overall, the game looks better and seems to play a more realistic game of football.

Pros:
1) Animations and player models are better
2) Color scheme of the whole game is much better and less 256 colorish.
3) O lineman picking up the block on the last play was pretty badass

Cons:
1) OL/DL stuff - The Oline is pushed back too far on pass plays instead of pushed in if there were a real pocket
2) Punt coverage does not look like punt coverage in any football game at any level
3) The QB has fast forward shuffle feet

[Renegade44]

The Good:

-Running back control looks awesome. seems like you are more in control than ever.

-Animations are good

- More plays



The Bad:

Game seems extremely boring. presentation upgrade is minimal and the announcers seem mundane.

- not even a replay after a TD? wtf? i mean they told us presentation was something of a hot topic this year, yet there are no cutscenes, no tv style replays. we have new overlays and new announcers. just doesnt seem that presentation was all that important and the more EA tries to church it up there more "same ole EA" i get.

Colors look mundane, now the game seems boring, with less color.

Overall I like the things they did right, but at the same time it just seems like an extremely boring representation, similar to last year.

[swanlee]

Any chance in adding a gameplay speed option to the game? Like Fast, Normal, Slow.

I remember 2k and older Maddens had this. It was always good to be able to slow down the gameplay a bit as Football games ALWAYS tended to move to fast compared with reality.

We are seeing a lot of comments on gameplay speed and I agree the entire game needs to be a notch slower in every aspect to properly convey realistic football

[icomb1ne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Renegade44

The Good: -Running back control looks awesome. seems like you are more in control than ever. -Animations are good - More plays The Bad: Game seems extremely boring. presentation upgrade is minimal and the announcers seem mundane. - not even a replay after a TD? wtf? i mean they told us presentation was something of a hot topic this year, yet there are no cutscenes, no tv style replays. we have new overlays and new announcers. just doesnt seem that presentation was all that important and the more EA tries to church it up there more "same ole EA" i get. Colors look mundane, now the game seems boring, with less color. Overall I like the things they did right, but at the same time it just seems like an extremely boring representation, similar to last year.

Ian said that they turned of auto-replays

[cowboysfan440]

i dont see whats wrong with the speed really
although on the deep ball does seem like dbs have a little to much time to catch up but that might have been just that particular throw

[2krules]

Quote: Originally Posted by jdr4693

Someone already clarified what I was talking about in that last thread. (It was the Qb leg kick question) and why cant I express how I fell about the video, I dont like the commentary (Tom Hammond sounds choppy) or the presentation (crowd ect...)!

I agree with you that the changes this year are marginal as far as those two area are concerned. Collinsworth is good, but Tom Hammond is a big bore, and I don't understand how EA can be satisfied with him. I actually prefer the Radio Guy - at least he had excitement in his voice.

Presentation has not made many improvements, either. The lack of presentation is the main thing that made Madden of little replay value to me. I didn't like Madden 08 becauseof all the crazy turnovers. However, I played the heck out of 07 at first. But a few months later, I was getting bored because of lack of presentation. But I've been playing ESPN 2K5 since day one, and it just doesn't get old; the presentation is a big factor in me continuing to come back to it.

I don't think that in order to contribute to this thread regarding things that we think need to be improved, we should be pressured to post a certain amount of things we do like. If I were a developer for a game due to be released in two months, I would be more interested in hearing how I could improve the game than hearing Kudos. I would figure that if I worked to improve the game based on gamers' recommendation, the Kudos would come later.

[Ian_Cummings_EA]

Quote: Originally Posted by 2krules

I don't think that in order to contribute to this thread regarding things that we think need to be improved, we should be pressured to post a certain amount of things we do like. If I were a developer for a game due to be released in two months, I would be more interested in hearing how I could improve the game than hearing Kudos. I would figure that if I worked to improve the game based on gamers' recommendation, the Kudos would come later.

Then by all means, criticize away (which you did already).