I've been playing Madden since the PS2 days. I remember falling in love with Madden 04. Spent my entire summer playing games online with the hopes of improving my playing skills for next years game. I quit though, probably two months after the game was out because all of the glitches and exploiters who called manipulating the games lousy AI fair play. At the time I thought to myself well things can only get better, next year. Sadly, I was wrong and even now I know that Madden the franchise in general hasn't made any improvements since those days.
Now back to the topic at hand. Why Madden 08 is not a next-gen game? Wow, there is so much to talk about I don't know where to start. I'll try to be short with this post, and I will also say where the game fails and how they can improve things. I know I'm wasting my time but I feel I should get this off my chest and finally move on. I was never one to bite my own tongue nor am I sheep.
It's shocking (sarcasm) that EA has failed numerous times especially after acquiring their exclusive NFL contract to eliminate its pertinacious gameplay formula. Sim-ballers like myself who love watching football on Sundays, more than likely have played some kind of ball in HS or college, and who understand how the game is played overall are constant victims of freestylers. I heard about that word reading some other post on another forum. The person stated at the time that "EA has left the football realm and has developed a more unauthentic game that caters to freestyle type players".
What exactly makes you a freestyle player? Well exploiting or gaining an advantage by manipulating AI. That’s how I see it. For example, most users who play Madden 08 are using the 3-4 defenses even though; most NFL teams use the 4-3 by default. Reason being is because they know if they move their linebackers between the center and left guard and send him on blitz that player will be in the backfield at the snap of the ball. Not only that blocking assignments will be missed, and you are more likely to be sacked. Yes, I know there are ways around this if you want to stick with stretch runs or play out of shotgun the whole game. But as a player why should i be limited to certain plays on offense because fault game design.
Now, in other Maddens EA tried to eliminate buggy exploits like that with o-line shifts, but if you ask me that really isn't the solution. Here is another example, when I playing with my beloved Buffalo Bills (225-251 and I've never used another team or cheated), I constantly see players who pull their nose tackle from the line of scrimmage, so that at the snap of the ball my center doesn't know who to block gets confused and someone rushes in. Instead of just sitting there and waiting for to engage who pursues, he rushes forward leaving an open hole for rushers. My last example, will talk about kickoffs where your opponent runs away from blocks, stupidly your blockers will continue to chase that player instead of engaging the next closest target. If you do anything I just mentioned about I would like to personally thank you for being a sheep/ product of your environment. I mean you only do it because you see so many others do it, so you follow in their footsteps. Not only that EA allows it’s because they still until this day haven't released a patch or fixes for any of its Maddens game. Interesting if you ask me considering the fact we have next-gen console that have mass storage capabilities. More importantly I would like to give personal thanks to for you destroying the game.
I thought to myself how all these things can be possible. The answer is because madden is heavily scripted game where players, aren't in control of what happens but AI is. One solution would be to improve AI in the game. Which for some reason EA claims it does every single year? If that were the case then the current Madden wouldn't be suffering from things like nano-blitzing like Madden 05( I believe did). If they claims were true at all madden bug and glitches that seems to disappear some years and then reappear in later ones would never happen. A second solution would be to give players more control. I don't mean that in a way were you slide, move, alter, shift or reassembly formations before the snap. I say more control I mean we do it all. All eleven players on the field are controlled by people over the internet. The game is played the way football is regulated in the NFL, more penalties are incorporated, instead of just the same ones seen in Madden like holding, encroachment, clipping and defense pass interference. Where are offensive pass interference, illegal formations, face masking, and all of the other rules that are neglected in Madden?
Now when I usually hold or try to hold an intellectual conversation on Xbox live about game design most people refute my statement or idea by saying that who wants to play the o-line anyway. People wouldn't have to play the o-line but if they did want to it could be an option. Maybe the o-line could be AI controlled and still have the possibility for human-controlled pass and run protection. If EA would change some game designs by introduction camera specific positioning, meaning when I'm at the o-line I’m in a close third person perspective then adding more controls. For example, before the snap a player holds down on the right analog stick you shift up on it once you hear hike to being your block. From there players could use swim, rip, shedding or any other type of offensive maneuvers to help in pass or protection. The more depth the game has the better. The same kind of mentality should be applied to all areas for the field.
For example when playing quarterback with your buddies. You’re in a FPP (first person perspective). Before the snap you can change routes (which are displayed to all players on your team and the defense play is display for the opposite side of the ball. Neither side can see each other plays), use voice activated audible that correspond to the colors on the Xbox controller. Red and then any number and the play changes. The audible can be selected at the play screen. When you really think about it the options are limitless and the only people who would benefit is the consumer. Every single position should have its own camera angle, controls, depth, stats, and feel. Think superstar mode but every position is human controlled. Now that’s next-gen, but you just don't stop there.
Please explain to me why Madden still hasn't had an online franchise mode worth talking about. Imagine if you will a franchise mode that is ran once a month so the players on a team can earn trophies, super bowl rings, player awards for their individual performances. Division that split up similar to the how the NFL runs their billion dollar industry brought to the game online. Add in the fact that when team faces another team they will be playing against a team. Not one on one battle with AI combatants. Clans, tourney could develop from this. Not like the ones you see online now XXxsomeAholeXXX who just glitch all game but competitive players who face off against another. Stats would be carried over monthly and individual stats record for a player’s career. Since most NFL players have on average a 12 year career. It would make perfect sense that each month online represent a year. Players should be able to create players only one and then have themselves drafted online. A players performance while facing other teams would be record and as they improve in the game so will there stats. No mini-games were players could cheat to enhance their player, everything is earned. Wow, I’m dreaming. Spectator modes so players can watch a team play one another from any spot on the field, even through the eyes of referee. These ideas are next-gen. Even though, Madden is nowhere near what I’m talking about I see fanboys constantly making topics like “Next year maddens is going to be the best”. I guess you guys can keep saying that because you like leftovers.
How could Madden even be consider the best when someone like myself who always plays with the Buffalo Bills at home, has never even seen snow online in buffalo ever with the game online. No weather effect and no wind. You would think since these are big factors in how a game is played they would be in the game but nope. Not once. Maddens the best alright (sarcasm) but it wins by default, which says a lot of about the franchise. Speaking of online flaws, why can’t I choose the challenge I want? Instead I am forced with the computer having to make an informed decision about the game. And we know how that goes. It picks “spot of the ball”, when I want for it to challenge if a legal catch was made. Why don’t we have replays online or better yet the ability to save replays from excellent plays have executed on the field. You know highlights? The list goes on and on. I know why something remains the same.
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