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

[BigDuke]

I like how the starting lineups are shown. But why not show the entire starting lineup, instead of just key players to watch?

Also, when the offense is in the huddle, it seems like the players form a rather large, absolutely perfect circle. How often does that happen in an actual NFL huddle?

And although I'm not a big Collinsworth fan in real life, he sounds great in this game. Definitely a huge improvement over the radio schmuck.

[DLaren]

Impressive, thanks Ian...Too many positives to list, for the most part I liked what I saw.


My main gripes are the game-speed and the crowd reaction. It would be great if you guys could throw in a "game-speed" slider before release; that way everyone could adjust the speed of the game to their own tastes. It would also be nice if something could be done to make the crowd more vibrant.

Thanks again

[splff3000]

Good job fellas!!!!
I'm loving ALMOST everything so far.

My top 5 likes are:

1. smooth gameplay
2. tackles
3. broken tackles and almost broken tackles
4. better graphics
5. cris collinsworth

My top 5 dislikes:

1. tom hammond
2. unresponsive crowd
3. instant injury update
4. still can't see defensive players name on coach cam
5. STILL CAN'T SEE DEFENSIVE PLAYERS NAME ON COACH CAM!!!

I'm not sure why #4 and #5 haven't came up earlier. This is important for ME because I play online alot. It is important that I know if my opponent has switched his/her CB's so I know where his/her no.1 CB is at all time. It's very frustrating sometimes when you think your no.2 WR has an advantage over his no.2 CB and you throw the ball only to find it's his no.1 CB covering your no.2 WR. Also, I might need to slide my O-line in a certain direction if my opponent has switched his DE's. I will not know this because I can't see who's who on D. Here's my question. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE NAMES OF DEFENSIVE PLAYERS COME UP ON COACH CAM AS WELL AS THE OFFENSIVE PLAYERS? I think this would help some like myself alot.

Once again, I'm loving most of what I see so far. I definitely think this year's Madden is looking way better than last years. Thanks guys.

[Gridiron]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigDuke

Also, when the offense is in the huddle, it seems like the players form a rather large, absolutely perfect circle. How often does that happen in an actual NFL huddle?

I'd say pretty much never. There are even some players that don't actually huddle at all.

Basically, the whole huddle-up, lining up sequence needs to be redone. At the moment it's very inaccurate to simulation.

Quote: Originally Posted by BigDuke

And although I'm not a big Collinsworth fan in real life, he sounds great in this game. Definitely a huge improvement over the radio schmuck.

Yeah Collinsworth is a beast in this game. He's just about as good at color in Madden as Brad Nessler is at play-by-play in NCAA. They just gotta regroup and redo Tom's parts for 2010. If not I'd consider that a huge fumble on their part. As it stands, Tom is not the worst ever and I don't think he was helped by the awful lines he was given, but clearly there is an issue with the way the audio people are handling this thing overall.

[mdgoalie37]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheFuture15

Might as well do mine too: The good 1. Tight control & responsiveness 2. Not a single pass hit a guy without him playing a catch anim 3. Graphically much improved 4. No more radio guy...Collinsworth rocks 5. Dynamic stat banners! 6. Animation blending is 500% better - very few pops Needs improvement 1. Commentary overall 2. Presentation overall (no cut-scenes) 3. OL/DL play 4. More animation variety - same post play celeb and strip ball tackle seen multiple times 5. More "awareness" - head tracking, looking around, etc. Players often look straight ahead when they run 6. Not much emotion from commentary / sound / animation on the final drive 7. Stats are unrealistic. Need accel clock or longer default quarter lengths. 8. QB Mechanics

I just messing, well sorta. I watched the 1st quarter quickly so I'm not ready to give real feedback yet.

[mdgoalie37]

I still haven't gone through the whole thing but my initial thoughts:

Positives:
-Stadium looks great
-Field looks fantastic
-Tackles look good
-Nice to see playaction work
-Nice to see a screen pass work

Negatives:
-Hammond is horrid (this seems to be a consensus)
-The game feels rushed, players rarely run to and from huddles. They generally walk, slowly.
- Funny commentary - at the end of the first drive of the game CC mentions that it's tough because the D has to get right back on the field after a 3 and out. Well, it's the first drive, the Vikes D wasn't on the field yet. Obviously this is more nitpicky.

[PacMan3000]

The Positive:

1) Animations are significantly better than in the past. Much smoother, more life-like. I like this very much.

2) Chris Collinsworth is a HOME-RUN in this game. Love the in-depth commentary. His football IQ really shows, and brings some much needed life to the presentation.

3) I like how some of the silly, unrealistic tackle animations are almost all gone.

What Can Be Improved:

1) I have to say, for all the improvements, the game sorta feels a little...lifeless. This is what I mean specifically. Hammond says that Manning has completed each and every pass that entire drive. The next throw is a touchdown. Hammond states it's a touchdown. And then....nothing at ALL happens. We watch, from quite afar, the wide-receiver (and I have NO clue which WR it was), celebrate. There's no close-up, I don't believe there was a replay, there wasn't any commentary telling me who it caught the touchdown, there wasn't a mention of why the play was successful, and there wasn't any booing. Everything was just TOO calm and serene. This is an NFL football game. I don't understand why the game seems the most dead in regards to atmosphere on the biggest play of the drive.

On the Vikings touchdown, same thing. The pass is caught in the back of the endzone and...we are treated to watching the player get up and walk away, while the gamer/audience stares at the ball sitting at the back of the endzone?

2) Post-play cutscenes/interactions. Where are they? A play ends, and immediately we cut to a far away angle as if I was sitting in the nosebleed section of the stadium. Again, I have to say, I don't get it. The XBOX 360 and PS3 are capable of incredible graphics, but instead of showing Peyton Manning or Adrian Peterson in their digitally recreated glory, we get a massive wide shot of the stadium and field?

When I watch these videos, I feel utterly disconnected from the action. It's ironic, because video games are meant to immerse you into a specific recreated world. I feel that I might be PLAYING Madden, but I'm not immersed into the NFL world.

3) Where is the NOISE? It sometimes feels like a tennis game and everyone is trying to be polite. Why doesn't the crowd seem energized? Why is there no loud cheering? No angry booing? Where is the dynamic crowd audio noise? Why is there no chanting? Why don't I, on random and rare occasions, hear a fan from section 452 screaming specifically at Peyton Manning, or yelling support towards Tavaris Jackson?

[Ian_Cummings_EA]

Quote: Originally Posted by jdr4693

The improvements are MARGINAL!!! and I dont understand why? You have a whole year EA come on step up the presentation and commentary.

To the mods - this is the same guy that started the pass animation thread that won't answer any of my requests for more info...which leads me to believe he's just here to troll. Anything we can do?

[Pared]

LOVE the errant throws!
LOVE the Chop block!
LOVE the pacing!
LOVE the post play/TD celebrations!
GLAD the booth review was actually correct!

I also noticed lots of aware animations... players picking each other up and walking around, not THROUGH each other.

Not much negative to say here... Probably my biggest gripe is the score overlay is so gaudy and intrusive as it is distracting while the play is going on. A smaller ticker would look better in it's place... or a fade out/in transition between live play and dead ball would be nice.

FINALLY... Madden is back!

[Rocky]

Quote: Originally Posted by PacMan3000

The Positive: 1) Animations are significantly better than in the past. Much smoother, more life-like. I like this very much. 2) Chris Collinsworth is a HOME-RUN in this game. Love the in-depth commentary. His football IQ really shows, and brings some much needed life to the presentation. 3) I like how some of the silly, unrealistic tackle animations are almost all gone. What Can Be Improved: 1) I have to say, for all the improvements, the game sorta feels a little...lifeless. This is what I mean specifically. Hammond says that Manning has completed each and every pass that entire drive. The next throw is a touchdown. Hammond states it's a touchdown. And then....nothing at ALL happens. We watch, from quite afar, the wide-receiver (and I have NO clue which WR it was), celebrate. There's no close-up, I don't believe there was a replay, there wasn't any commentary telling me who it caught the touchdown, there wasn't a mention of why the play was successful, and there wasn't any booing. Everything was just TOO calm and serene. This is an NFL football game. I don't understand why the game seems the most dead in regards to atmosphere on the biggest play of the drive. On the Vikings touchdown, same thing. The pass is caught in the back of the endzone and...we are treated to watching the player get up and walk away, while the gamer/audience stares at the ball sitting at the back of the endzone? 2) Post-play cutscenes/interactions. Where are they? A play ends, and immediately we cut to a far away angle as if I was sitting in the nosebleed section of the stadium. Again, I have to say, I don't get it. The XBOX 360 and PS3 are capable of incredible graphics, but instead of showing Peyton Manning or Adrian Peterson in their digitally recreated glory, we get a massive wide shot of the stadium and field? When I watch these videos, I feel utterly disconnected from the action. It's ironic, because video games are meant to immerse you into a specific recreated world. I feel that I might be PLAYING Madden, but I'm not immersed into the NFL world. 3) Where is the NOISE? It sometimes feels like a tennis game and everyone is trying to be polite. Why doesn't the crowd seem energized? Why is there no loud cheering? No angry booing? Where is the dynamic crowd audio noise? Why is there no chanting? Why don't I, on random and rare occasions, hear a fan from section 452 screaming specifically at Peyton Manning, or yelling support towards Tavaris Jackson?

Excellent post. The little nagging gameplay issues can be fixed but for Madden to take the NEXT step, they have to improve overall atmosphere. Sideline animations, more advanced crowd reactions, better camera work, signature animations, little nuances and subtle cutscenes that make The Show and 2K basketball so great.