With the addition of features as well as the huge amounts of deletion of features from what was formerly "offline dynasty", I'm curious as to how an NFL season in Madden is going to be truly rounded and have any resemblance to real NFL football.
A few new features that I'm worried about are:
Best on best - This seems on the surface to be a decent idea, but what determines "best"? Is it highest overall rating? That's what I'd assume, because that is the simplest way to do it when a Dev Team is so "crunched for time". I have a few examples of where this logic won't work.
- The first is GB and their cb Charles Woodson. He is the highest rated because he's considered a superstar. However, he has actually mostly playing the slot because of his blitz and tackling abilities. He also plays safety quite a bit. It's pretty rare that Woodson follows the best WR around the field. Best on best will seemingly do just that.
- Another example is for any pass rushing OLB. DeMarcus Ware, Tamba Hali, Von Miller, etc... They will be the highest rated LB, so are they gonna follow the TE or RB around? It's just silly.
If EA actually gets all of the logic right in this feature, I will be shocked.
Scheme specific ratings
Now this, again, sounds like an AWESOME addition. However, I have no confidence that this will be what we hope it will be.
- First, if you are a 3-4 defense, it will eliminate all pass rushing DEs right off the bat, because as we all know too well, there is no position edit in CC. There sure as heck will not be AI smart enough to convert a guy to the best position depending on scheme.
- If it is a power running team, is the CPU ONLY gonna draft 230 lb bruisers? That's not realistic. Teams, regardless of their base OFF or DEF, ultimately want diversity. SF is a power running team behind Frank Gore, but look at the rest of their RB squad. It has scat backs, well rounded runners, pass catchers, etc. I see the AI for this acquiring only what specifically fits the teams scheme resulting in a very 1 dimensional, unrealistic roster.
I am just very skeptical that all of the intricacies of this feature were addressed.
A few old features that are gone
Editing
We will be effected by this in so many areas, but most have been touched on in the forum. Some love to get very specific with equipment, others are concerned about retired #s. It will effect all of us differently.
- I will be most effected by trying to fill out a depth chart. Are we gonna be limited to only left guards, not RGs? DTs that may fit my team as a DE are off limits and/or will not work with the position limits?
- If a guy like Mario Williams was a free agent like he was this season, without editing him from a LB to a DE, the Bills would never sign him because he doesn't fit the scheme.
- Speaking of the Bills, they just went from a 3/4 to a 4/3 defense this offseason. If I change my defensive scheme at some point in my CC, almost all of the players in my front 7 will now be out of position and I would basically have to start over with my personnel, instead of simply editing the position to the correct fit in the scheme, and usually toning down the ratings a bit (thanks Donnie).
I could go on for pages on this one, but you get the idea. Editing is a safety net to having a fun, realistic franchise.
32 team control
Another safety net. Whether we had any intentions of playing any other teams game (which should be a fundamental choice), we could simply be the voice of reason in our franchise.
- This is our franchise and if some ridiculous roster move is made, we used to have the ability to repair it in whatever way necessary. When something truly unrealistic occurs, (no matter how great the AI is, this WILL happen) I am going to lose interest in my CC, and I'll be stuck with it.
- I used to make all of the teams in the league accurate in their SUB personnel by playing a preseason game with the team and using the formation subs. I'd add nickle pass rushers, nickle LBs, use correct slot receivers, sub in shifty backs in shotgun, and on and on. There are so many specialty players in the NFL and this is the only way to do it. When I face Denver, I had to fear Von Miller coming after me. SF would have Aldon Smith on the DLine on passing downs, Darren Sproles could be in the slot in a couple formations. Wes Welker would be working the middle of the field, where he's so dangerous. I don't do these things to cheat. I make these changes, so that each team is dangerous in it's own way. It helps make realistic stats and gameplay. Without such a feature, Aldon Smith is a backup OLB. Von Miller is a ordinary LB, not the pass rushing terror that turned around DEN's whole defense.
I am just very unsatisfied with what has become of Madden 13. Amazing new features were added and I fear that because of the things that were left out of the game, we are falling backwards instead of moving ahead. I've seen a number of people on here that are staunch supporters of the developers decisions for the game saying "this game has huge potential and will be incredible." Well, you could have said the same thing about JaMarcus Russell before he played a down.
06-13-2012, 02:43 PM
