Early look / prototype

[J.R. Locke]

I think the run animations are hardly a negative in this game. They in fact may be a positive. I really enjoy the break tackle animations and most of all the stuff currently in the game offensively.

To me the focus should cease on this and begin to address the god awful run blocking animations (line push!!! O and D). And the awful pass blocking pocket.

Maybe these are not mutually exclusive but I am baffled that there is work being done on something that seems to not be that big of an issue.

When I saw early look/prototype and I was so hoping to see a speed rusher coming off the edge forcing the QB to step up. Then the same animation with a RB chipping on the outside shoulder of the rusher.....

[Ian_Cummings_EA]

Quote: Originally Posted by djordan

Ian, Take out the double spin. No way is that realistic and it looks unnatural when doing the move. What nfl player have you seen do a double spin so fast like in madden 2009 without losing momentum?...lol

Check the early look / prototype thread...it was actually based on this point.

[bowdown2shadi]

Yo Ian, any new stiff arm animations this year? I didn't notice much in 09. I wanna see dudes like Barber shovin the dude away, not always to the ground, but just out of his bubble lol. You get what Im sayin, right?

[TheWatcher]

Yeah we need a Stiff Arm 2.0... a nice extended arm that keeps the guy away (dependent on ratings of course). And then have that button be applied to pushing the pile when hitting the line, and/or going for short yardage.

Another animation I'd love to see (and one that we actually see on a very high percentage of running plays)... when the runner is out and running behind a blocker even past the line of scrimmage, you'll often see the ballcarrier gets so close behind the blocker that he has to put his hand out and touch the blockers back in order to stay aware of how close he's getting to his blocker. Seems like it would be tough to make this work without the runner being sucked into the animation at times when its not warranted, thus killing the play. But it would be nice if it somehow worked.

[Exonerated]

Running imo is fine. It can be improved yes, but its fine. I love the break tackle branching animations though, thats sick.

OL V DL and WR V DB animations need work though.

Dbs needs to play with proper techniques allowing man coverage to work in the game.

I;ve seen you working on the ol v dl interactions and are pretty sure you get that right.

[TheWatcher]

I'm sure they're capable of improving both. I want improvements anywhere they can be made. I don't want one thing neglected for something else. We've had enough problems with that in various spots the past 4 years.

There are still a number of things missing with running (like some of the things I've mentioned here), and I think the actual ballcarrier animation does need attention (especially with the bigger backs) it does look like they're jogging even when running full speed. Strides also look too long sometimes and it's very noticeable when you're running parallel to the o-line.

The body positioning needs to be tighter, and the ball needs to be tucked away inside better. The ball should never be held to the side of the body of the runner (remember, 3 points of pressure). Right now in Madden, I see times when the arm is in a chicken wing sorta shape and the elbow is out and up. A pro RB wouldn't carry like that because he'd be risking a strip on every carry.

[davjaffe]

Quote: Originally Posted by J.R. Locke

I think the run animations are hardly a negative in this game. They in fact may be a positive. I really enjoy the break tackle animations and most of all the stuff currently in the game offensively. To me the focus should cease on this and begin to address the god awful run blocking animations (line push!!! O and D). And the awful pass blocking pocket. Maybe these are not mutually exclusive but I am baffled that there is work being done on something that seems to not be that big of an issue. When I saw early look/prototype and I was so hoping to see a speed rusher coming off the edge forcing the QB to step up. Then the same animation with a RB chipping on the outside shoulder of the rusher.....

While I like the current break-tackle system, I think it's mianly just a good start to build from - I'm not as enthusiastic as you about the system, and I still think it needs work. However, I definitely agree with your point about the need for more 'push' on both sides of the line. I think this would really contribute to the running game and help fix a chunk of the items that are currently plaguing it.

[S1ARk5]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ian_Cummings_EA

Check out this video - it's a prototype I threw together to show a 'prep' move in between spins/jukes while sprinting. The first set of jukes / spins is the same as what you'd expect from last year...then around the :13 second mark i switch on the 'prep' or 'gather' moves while sprinting. Ballcarrier Juke/Spin Prototype from The Future on Vimeo. Disclaimer: This is NOT in the game yet or anything...I just roughed this together in our animation tool. I want your opinions on this concept! What else would you like to see? What do you like/dislike? If you use this as an opportunity to talk about how stupid I am to be asking for feedback, you probably won't be around long. Let's use this as a good opportunity to share ideas and suggestions and stuff like that, ok?

It looks good but here is the problem I have. ALl this focus on the running animations, and catching animations, are all great BUT will not imrpove the game in my opinion if the meat and potatoes of a game *cough* *cough* Franchise Mode is not improved.

[unisol_us]

Ian asked a question.

Should the spin move be taken out of the game?

I would answer that yes.

Here is why. I don't really have any wonderfully great ideas to replace it with, but the logic for reworking the game exists. I have read over the last couple of years that this game franchise is dying a slow death, which does have some merit to it. The games have not been as fun to play as they used to be. What seems needed is something like removing a move that has been apart of the series from the beginning. And replacing it with some other move that will inject fresh life into the game. I have read some very good ideas ion this thread about what could replace all of the jukes.(head fakes, lateral running find a hole and burst through it) and others.

[mavfan21]

The player models always look a little bow-legged. Just something that's always bothered me a little. Maybe they do a lot of virtual horse riding in the off-season.