For the first Time in 7-8 years I've shelved Madden and I like it

[WFColonel]

Looking forward to it man. One thing though if you can, please include game-play video. It is great to have that in the video to show exactly what the user is talking about.

And yes, there are many things in madden that have very little risk associated with them.

Ill try to add game video with my super duper ultra hd camera...



(any1 who has seen my webcam video knws im extremely joking lol)

[Calhoun County]

Yeah include game play. There are things I like about the game but a patch would've done this game some justice. It's like the game dropped, dev team left, and we got left some sticky notes in our lockers saying : "something came up, see yah next year, sorry about the patch thingy"

[YoDaddy]

Yeah include game play. There are things I like about the game but a patch would've done this game some justice. It's like the game dropped, dev team left, and we got left some sticky notes in our lockers saying : "something came up, see yah next year, sorry about the patch thingy"

+1, there are things that this game did good. It is just those glaring holes that make it boring to play at times.

[JoeJGibbs]

First, Madden has ALWAYS been an offensive minded game. 2005 was the 1st year they put any kind of defense in the game when they allowed you to change individual defensive assignments and create nanos. That was huge, BUT it was never expanded on. In fact, it was taken back when EA decided that it was too much. In 06, instead of improving O line blocking schemes, they would make individually blized defenders take random blitz angles instead of where you told him to blitz.

This is just one example where EA has compensated for their flaws by creating illogical counters that defy football logic.
Ie., putting a defender in spy to guard against a drag. LOL, ok it may work, but you shouldn't have to do that.
They've done this for years, and because next gen game has basically been built from scratch, I think it will be a little while before Madden is where it was on the old systems.

The flip side of the coin is that they are trying to take 22 working parts of football reality and extrapolate them to video game (code) in a realistic manner. You want the defense to be better, but you also have to allow for parity between defenders.
Ie., Zone/Man defense should be played a certain way, but they cannot have Revis play it the same as the #4 CB Sam Sausage.

And let's be honest, because this is a game, the more you play, the more you figure out what works and what doesn't.
Defense starts off with the advantage because you haven't figured out the flaws in its system. By mid season, it's offensive-palooza and nobody can stop anybody without, putting the CB in spy, put 2 LBs in hook zones, but the DT in a deep zone, blitz the FS, type UP-UP-DOWN-DOWN-LEFT-RIGH-LEFT-RIGHt-B-A-Start, .... SUCCESS you've held your opponent to 4 yard gain. 2nd down!
The scales are loaded to one side with the Offense dictating the flow of the game and defense reeling just to keep up and react. Part of the problem you get things like "face throws" and "jet packing" is that they put a lot more time into the offensive side of the ball. And the more things you put in, the more

The problem with the system EA has implemented is that they force you to deal with what works vs. what doesn't work. What's effective vs. what's not effective. In reality, in football, EVERYTHING WORKS vs. SOMETHING and that goes for both offense and defense. Coaches figure out tendencies and adjust game plans using a multitude of strategy.
In Madden, I can see someone run a scheme, copy their scheme and be just effective regardless of the defense because they havent given enough tools to be as effective on defense as they have on offense. If the best offensive madden player and best defensive madden player go head to head.. offensive guy wins every time.

All in all, they need to find a way to give the defense the ability to dictate back to the offense instead of constantly adjusting and playing soft.

I sat out this year because I realized I'm part of the same conversation each year.
EA takes the current game, looks at all the problems, fixes the problems for next season, but creates an ENTIRE NEW GAME with NEW PROBLEMS. LOL, and around and around we go.
If you don't think there is a pattern, all you have to do is have some time on your hands and you can find this IDENTICAL thread about last years game, and the year before that etc and on and on and on..

[X Bones X]

First, Madden has ALWAYS been an offensive minded game. 2005 was the 1st year they put any kind of defense in the game when they allowed you to change individual defensive assignments and create nanos. That was huge, BUT it was never expanded on. In fact, it was taken back when EA decided that it was too much. In 06, instead of improving O line blocking schemes, they would make individually blized defenders take random blitz angles instead of where you told him to blitz.

This is just one example where EA has compensated for their flaws by creating illogical counters that defy football logic.
Ie., putting a defender in spy to guard against a drag. LOL, ok it may work, but you shouldn't have to do that.
They've done this for years, and because next gen game has basically been built from scratch, I think it will be a little while before Madden is where it was on the old systems.

The flip side of the coin is that they are trying to take 22 working parts of football reality and extrapolate them to video game (code) in a realistic manner. You want the defense to be better, but you also have to allow for parity between defenders.
Ie., Zone/Man defense should be played a certain way, but they cannot have Revis play it the same as the #4 CB Sam Sausage.

And let's be honest, because this is a game, the more you play, the more you figure out what works and what doesn't.
Defense starts off with the advantage because you haven't figured out the flaws in its system. By mid season, it's offensive-palooza and nobody can stop anybody without, putting the CB in spy, put 2 LBs in hook zones, but the DT in a deep zone, blitz the FS, type UP-UP-DOWN-DOWN-LEFT-RIGH-LEFT-RIGHt-B-A-Start, .... SUCCESS you've held your opponent to 4 yard gain. 2nd down!
The scales are loaded to one side with the Offense dictating the flow of the game and defense reeling just to keep up and react. Part of the problem you get things like "face throws" and "jet packing" is that they put a lot more time into the offensive side of the ball. And the more things you put in, the more

The problem with the system EA has implemented is that they force you to deal with what works vs. what doesn't work. What's effective vs. what's not effective. In reality, in football, EVERYTHING WORKS vs. SOMETHING and that goes for both offense and defense. Coaches figure out tendencies and adjust game plans using a multitude of strategy.
In Madden, I can see someone run a scheme, copy their scheme and be just effective regardless of the defense because they havent given enough tools to be as effective on defense as they have on offense. If the best offensive madden player and best defensive madden player go head to head.. offensive guy wins every time.

All in all, they need to find a way to give the defense the ability to dictate back to the offense instead of constantly adjusting and playing soft.

I sat out this year because I realized I'm part of the same conversation each year.
EA takes the current game, looks at all the problems, fixes the problems for next season, but creates an ENTIRE NEW GAME with NEW PROBLEMS. LOL, and around and around we go.
If you don't think there is a pattern, all you have to do is have some time on your hands and you can find this IDENTICAL thread about last years game, and the year before that etc and on and on and on..

yup

Thats why I see no reason to complain. Play the game or don't play it, but be ready for what works/doesn't work being used 100 times per game.

[sanantonio]

This is a first for me. Even during the other releases with pause glitch, disco-glitch, FBdive glitch, QB dive glitch and every other glitch conceivable to man kind I've never shelved madden. What I normally do is shelve it around June just so muscle memory wares off for the next installment so I'm more fresh and not programmed still on the last years.

I think for me is the redundancy of madden. For players somewhat "new" to this style of gaming might seem awesome to you but to me it's difficult to like and enjoy this game. I credit most of my frustration with just being tired of making a million adjustments to compensate for where this game lacks. I can't say it any better then that. Again my gripes come down to Defense Vs Offense and defense is always working with half a toolbox. I don't think I need to go into the particulars I think most of you get it.

Madden has become somewhat of a joke as E.A struggles to find new ways to get casual gamers to buy their product. Meanwhile the true hardcore guys get stuck with a mockery of a simulation of whats to be the best sport on the planet.

Madden can add all the fluff, bells and whistles they want but they are constantly going to lose respect of the loyal hardcore fanbase and to them they really couldn't give a sh*t because we only count as a very small percentile to their bottom line from a financial stand point.

If this is the beginning of the end for me then I'm open for a change. I've had a good run with this game, grew up on it and followed it from its inception until now but I think this might be the end of the line. The game has gotten too Hollywood now. To much glitter and rhinstones and not enough hammers and nails.

I'll will be checking out next years installment. I'll likely buy it ( although Maybe for once I should rent it first) and I'll give it another run but if I'm still seeing such a shallow build, shallow/common playbooks, lack of defense, dumbed down A.I and so on I might be officially done for good with madden as I wait and see what 2K will do. I'm not giving up the gaming, I'm giving up on madden.

Well anyways, carry on. Blast me, sympathize with me or whatever but our constant acceptance with this game will never rectify the problem of the lack of creativity of this dev team.

Been saying that same shyt for years welcome to the club. Of course like an athlete finally reaching the realization that it's over it is hard to walk away from THE football game we've all literally grown up with. No "I told you so" cause I feel your pain.

[YoDaddy]

yup

Thats why I see no reason to complain. Play the game or don't play it, but be ready for what works/doesn't work being used 100 times per game.

So how does Madden progress if there is no feedback/complain?? I agree with being ready though. But that doesn't mean you can't point out things that can be improved in the game.

[X Bones X]

So how does Madden progress if there is no feedback/complain?? I agree with being ready though. But that doesn't mean you can't point out things that can be improved in the game.

It won't matter. They'll hire some new dude and he'll go forward with his ideas.

Take what is good about the game and dwell on that. Thats what I choose to do...just like in life.

[YoDaddy]

It won't matter. They'll hire some new dude and he'll go forward with his ideas.

Take what is good about the game and dwell on that. Thats what I choose to do...just like in life.

Can't argue with you there, you've played the game longer than me. Certainly seeing the differences in Madden 07 and all the next gen Maddens is supportive of what you are saying. All the feedback that led up to Madden 07 was basically thrown in the garbage. Those features just simply disappeared.

[X Bones X]

Can't argue with you there, you've played the game longer than me. Certainly seeing the differences in Madden 07 and all the next gen Maddens is supportive of what you are saying. All the feedback that led up to Madden 07 was basically thrown in the garbage. Those features just simply disappeared.

It really is ashame but maybe with the switch from systems, the code or whatever had to be "rebuilt" from scratch by new people.

Who knows

[xLuCkYx24]

i love to play madden, i have been playing madden since it was on the playstation 1. i didnt read all the posts so if im touching on something that someone allready did i am sorry. the main thing in this version of madden that annoys me is the full back's lack of blocking when running the ball. for example when running the ball a hole opens up , the full back goes n first and the hb follows, most of the time if the full back just picks up a block i can get a 1 on 1 wiht the safety, but instead of the full back blocking the line backer in front of him, as soon as the fb crosses the line it seems liek he is looking for a lineman to block and he stops or stutters to find a blocker n stead of finding the linebacker n front of him who tackles me or slows me down for some one else to tackle me. one year i am actually hoping for offensive line audibles, yes i know we can slide left and right but i would personally like to pick and choose who gets double teamed bla bla bla. i can say that i am new to this site, ive talked to a few via twitter which is how i found out about here around november of last year. i have learned a lot from you guys and enjoy watching / reading everyone's input. i look forward to learing a lot more from everyone here cause im a spongue and i soak up all knowlege the is p ut in front of me. madden is my favorite game so i am always online playing every chance i get. if anyone ever wants to play i never back down from a challenge no matter if u r 10 times better than me, i always learn and value every experience. thanks for having this community i look forward to one day playing some of u guys n here so i can make my game skills that much better. btw cant wait for madden 13 Tampa BaY Buccaneers

[MaddenFan101]

Madden will always be popular amongst men in the demographic age group of 18-34. While growing up people tend to lose interest in playing video games because they have more responsibility to take care of such as working, paying bills, taking care of their kids, blah blah. So you just simply out grow it. It might not be intentional but it happens. In my opinion, I feel like Madden is more for younger adults because they have more time to play with it.