Madden 09 online play gets first piece of disappointing news

by pastapadre
Posted April 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 pm

Madden 09 producer Phil Frazier is continuing to answer questions in the game’s official forum. The most notable piece of info to come out since the set of news I posted on earlier is that variable weather will not be found online. Hearing that doesn’t bring about much confidence that other much needed online enhancements will be coming this year.

Weather will not be available online. It’s clear that many of you are interested in this functionality so it’s already on my growing list of features from the community. Honestly, I’d prefer if we solved the online lag issues before we worry about weather. We will be featuring the live weather feed in Madden 09.

Well so much for the hope that online play was going to be taken seriously for once. That great looking screenshot from the other day? You’ll never experience it in an online game. Seems unlikely then that even night games will be in then. It would also mean that online franchise (if added this year) would have no weather or night games which would ruin part of that whole experience. Get ready for a bunch of stale ideal weather games yet again if you play online at all.

Granted it seems to be asking a bit much for these necessary options to be added when they haven’t even gotten the game to run lag-free or avoid high rates of disconnects yet. However EA Canada’s recent releases (NBA Live, NHL, FIFA) have brought about vastly improved online performance along with added modes and options. Will depth charts transfer online so people don’t have to set them before every game? Will you be able to choose the stadium that is played in? Will alternate uniforms be selectable? Will unranked games be tracked at all? Will there be any form of co-op play? All seem even more unlikely after hearing that variable weather hasn’t made it in this year. Disappointing to say the least.

Hey, but field goal nets have been added to the game (thankfully) so now that one can be scratched off the easy complaint list.

Tags:

Zack

So much for that.
Zack

So much for that.
r00tabaga

when my kids go to bed & I finaly get a chance to play Madden, I go online due to the fact that the cpu competition is no fun at all. Online is where it’s at, even more so in Madden than most other games. SO WHY IN HELL DOES EA SHOW INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ANNOUNCE ALT. UNIFORMS IF I WILL NEVER EVER SEE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job Pasta w/this info but it kinda bums me out that they can’t “figure” this out. How hard is it to program some weather?!?!?! I need some variety online b/c I only play online…
r00tabaga

when my kids go to bed & I finaly get a chance to play Madden, I go online due to the fact that the cpu competition is no fun at all. Online is where it’s at, even more so in Madden than most other games. SO WHY IN HELL DOES EA SHOW INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ANNOUNCE ALT. UNIFORMS IF I WILL NEVER EVER SEE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job Pasta w/this info but it kinda bums me out that they can’t “figure” this out. How hard is it to program some weather?!?!?! I need some variety online b/c I only play online…
coogrfan

[quote comment="18549"]oh and april 28th grand theft auto IV is comin out get a quality game for once.[/quote]

I have no particular desire to play a game that glorifies criminals, but thanks sooooo much for your input.
coogrfan

[quote comment="18549"]oh and april 28th grand theft auto IV is comin out get a quality game for once.[/quote]

I have no particular desire to play a game that glorifies criminals, but thanks sooooo much for your input.
nyr2k2

[quote comment="18570"][quote comment="18549"]oh and april 28th grand theft auto IV is comin out get a quality game for once.[/quote]

I have no particular desire to play a game that glorifies criminals, but thanks sooooo much for your input.[/quote]

Make sure to stay away from the Cincinnati Bengals then.
nyr2k2

[quote comment="18570"][quote comment="18549"]oh and april 28th grand theft auto IV is comin out get a quality game for once.[/quote]

I have no particular desire to play a game that glorifies criminals, but thanks sooooo much for your input.[/quote]

Make sure to stay away from the Cincinnati Bengals then.
http://pflexperience.com/ DaveDQ

I’m completely fine without the weather online. They simply can’t add things to the mix that are going to tax the game when playing online. It’s the right decision. In fact, it’s what needs to be happening for this franchise. The game has too many unpolished peripherals.
http://pflexperience.com DaveDQ

I’m completely fine without the weather online. They simply can’t add things to the mix that are going to tax the game when playing online. It’s the right decision. In fact, it’s what needs to be happening for this franchise. The game has too many unpolished peripherals.
coogrfan

EA has it’s priorities straight here, imo. Variable weather is a mere extra, online lag is a game killer.

Seriously, would you guys really have been happier with last year’s online experience if it had included snow or rain?
Eric

Why am I not shocked that EA drops the ball on something else again? Can’t wait until Madden 2010.

“Now featuring live online weather from the weather channel!”
coogrfan

EA has it’s priorities straight here, imo. Variable weather is a mere extra, online lag is a game killer.

Seriously, would you guys really have been happier with last year’s online experience if it had included snow or rain?
Eric

Why am I not shocked that EA drops the ball on something else again? Can’t wait until Madden 2010.

“Now featuring live online weather from the weather channel!”
coogrfan

[quote comment="18571"][quote comment="18570"][quote comment="18549"]oh and april 28th grand theft auto IV is comin out get a quality game for once.[/quote]

I have no particular desire to play a game that glorifies criminals, but thanks sooooo much for your input.[/quote]

Make sure to stay away from the Cincinnati Bengals then.[/quote]

LOL!!!

If this was college football, you would have just earned a helmet sticker.
coogrfan

[quote comment="18571"][quote comment="18570"][quote comment="18549"]oh and april 28th grand theft auto IV is comin out get a quality game for once.[/quote]

I have no particular desire to play a game that glorifies criminals, but thanks sooooo much for your input.[/quote]

Make sure to stay away from the Cincinnati Bengals then.[/quote]

LOL!!!

If this was college football, you would have just earned a helmet sticker.
Smoky Bacon Potato Crisps Prin

[quote comment="18571"][quote comment="18570"][quote comment="18549"]oh and april 28th grand theft auto IV is comin out get a quality game for once.[/quote]

I have no particular desire to play a game that glorifies criminals, but thanks sooooo much for your input.[/quote]

Make sure to stay away from the Cincinnati Bengals then.[/quote]

thank you took the words out of my mouth.
Smoky Bacon Potato Crisps Pringles

[quote comment="18571"][quote comment="18570"][quote comment="18549"]oh and april 28th grand theft auto IV is comin out get a quality game for once.[/quote]

I have no particular desire to play a game that glorifies criminals, but thanks sooooo much for your input.[/quote]

Make sure to stay away from the Cincinnati Bengals then.[/quote]

thank you took the words out of my mouth.
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Papernut

They have had 3 releases to get the core gameplay right. That is about 5 years worth of work and they are still not done? I am sorry, but this has turned into a joke of a game. People will keep saying these are little things, but each little thing adds up and so far it is adding up to nothing but disappointment for those looking to play a realistic game of football. Due to the recent producer changes and perhaps other moves in the development team, I do not expect to see any changes till the 10 or 11 year releases. I have kept hope alive for all these years that the game will return to its former self, but it is obvious in the route this series has gone.
Papernut

They have had 3 releases to get the core gameplay right. That is about 5 years worth of work and they are still not done? I am sorry, but this has turned into a joke of a game. People will keep saying these are little things, but each little thing adds up and so far it is adding up to nothing but disappointment for those looking to play a realistic game of football. Due to the recent producer changes and perhaps other moves in the development team, I do not expect to see any changes till the 10 or 11 year releases. I have kept hope alive for all these years that the game will return to its former self, but it is obvious in the route this series has gone.
r00tabaga

[quote comment="18573"]EA has it’s priorities straight here, imo. Variable weather is a mere extra, online lag is a game killer.

Seriously, would you guys really have been happier with last year’s online experience if it had included snow or rain?[/quote]

Didn’t have a major problem w/online last year as many of you did. I usually tried to find an opponent w/a good ping so I didn’t have to suffer from lag. And yes weather,wind,time of day,uniforms do matter to most people! It’s like being only able to play one map online on COD4…Madden online gets too repetitive after a while especially when I play w/Buffalo in December! Sunny and NO WIND?!!???!! C’mon———>
r00tabaga

[quote comment="18573"]EA has it’s priorities straight here, imo. Variable weather is a mere extra, online lag is a game killer.

Seriously, would you guys really have been happier with last year’s online experience if it had included snow or rain?[/quote]

Didn’t have a major problem w/online last year as many of you did. I usually tried to find an opponent w/a good ping so I didn’t have to suffer from lag. And yes weather,wind,time of day,uniforms do matter to most people! It’s like being only able to play one map online on COD4…Madden online gets too repetitive after a while especially when I play w/Buffalo in December! Sunny and NO WIND?!!???!! C’mon———>
pat

there rele needs to be different weather online i think ea sports needs to stop dissapointing
pat

there rele needs to be different weather online i think ea sports needs to stop dissapointing
coogrfan

[quote comment="18580"][quote comment="18573"]EA has it’s priorities straight here, imo. Variable weather is a mere extra, online lag is a game killer.

Seriously, would you guys really have been happier with last year’s online experience if it had included snow or rain?[/quote]

Didn’t have a major problem w/online last year as many of you did. I usually tried to find an opponent w/a good ping so I didn’t have to suffer from lag. And yes weather,wind,time of day,uniforms do matter to most people! It’s like being only able to play one map online on COD4…Madden online gets too repetitive after a while especially when I play w/Buffalo in December! Sunny and NO WIND?!!???!! C’mon———>[/quote]

I have a very hard time believing that the folks who make up the vast majority of the online Madden crowd (i.e. the cheesers) really thinks this is that big a deal. After all, if they were that concerned with realism they wouldn’t be cheesers in the first place, would they?
coogrfan

[quote comment="18580"][quote comment="18573"]EA has it’s priorities straight here, imo. Variable weather is a mere extra, online lag is a game killer.

Seriously, would you guys really have been happier with last year’s online experience if it had included snow or rain?[/quote]

Didn’t have a major problem w/online last year as many of you did. I usually tried to find an opponent w/a good ping so I didn’t have to suffer from lag. And yes weather,wind,time of day,uniforms do matter to most people! It’s like being only able to play one map online on COD4…Madden online gets too repetitive after a while especially when I play w/Buffalo in December! Sunny and NO WIND?!!???!! C’mon———>[/quote]

I have a very hard time believing that the folks who make up the vast majority of the online Madden crowd (i.e. the cheesers) really thinks this is that big a deal. After all, if they were that concerned with realism they wouldn’t be cheesers in the first place, would they?
r00tabaga

No, you’re absolutely right Cougar, the majority of Madden players don’t really play the game the way real football is supposed to be played. Exploits like Nano’s and Rocket catches drown most of the gameplay and they could care less about things that I’ve mentioned…4vs4 Online multiplayer (unranked)—variable weather,wind,time of day for online matches—different unis available for ONLINE ALSO!!!
r00tabaga

No, you’re absolutely right Cougar, the majority of Madden players don’t really play the game the way real football is supposed to be played. Exploits like Nano’s and Rocket catches drown most of the gameplay and they could care less about things that I’ve mentioned…4vs4 Online multiplayer (unranked)—variable weather,wind,time of day for online matches—different unis available for ONLINE ALSO!!!
http://www.nflfans360.com/ Xtremedunkz

online sucks anyway. you can’t play a game of football you play a game of avoiding nano’s and hurry up long bombs all game. i’ll stick to franchise with friends thank you.
http://www.nflfans360.com Xtremedunkz

online sucks anyway. you can’t play a game of football you play a game of avoiding nano’s and hurry up long bombs all game. i’ll stick to franchise with friends thank you.
r00tabaga

Pasta, do you think that they’ll ever re-instate the 4th down online rule that they used to have in older Maddens? I think that it wasn’t allowed until the 4th quarter and it had to be 4th and less than 10 or something…
r00tabaga

Pasta, do you think that they’ll ever re-instate the 4th down online rule that they used to have in older Maddens? I think that it wasn’t allowed until the 4th quarter and it had to be 4th and less than 10 or something…
Timothy Daley

[quote comment="18531"]This is not a suprise…Tiburon online programmers suck and should be fired…Plain and simple…I mean 4-5 years into next gen and we are worrying abut online LAG…when we all have optimized HIGH FRICKIN SPEED INTERNET???….Are these fools serious???

Here’s what you can expect:

1. Lots o Hype
2. Old features being re-introduced as if they were new
3. Terrible online play
4. Half ass online leagues
5. Garbage franchise mode that will be bug ridden
6. Record Sales of Madden 09
7. Promises about Madden 2010[/quote]

You forgot #8
8. I’m gonna buy the game anyway regardless.
Details

Some people are dismissing online play because of the cheesers.

Maybe all of their friends, family members, associates, and online acquaintances are able to come over to their place and play a game in person while sharing a bowl of pretzels, but for a lot of people, everyone in their life is spread out. Online play is an obvious necessity.

How exciting is it to play a game online with the same weather and time conditions over and over? Football is played in inclement weather. You adjust your game plan accordingly.

I suppose this means when you coach against someone online using Head Coach 09, it will always be sunny. Wow. How challenging. The aim should be realism. This is a simulation game. One day when they’re modifying the graphics of the throbbing weapon icons and altering the ridiculous boom sound effect of a long pass, EA will realize that. Hopefully. The bar needs to be set higher.
Timothy Daley

[quote comment="18531"]This is not a suprise…Tiburon online programmers suck and should be fired…Plain and simple…I mean 4-5 years into next gen and we are worrying abut online LAG…when we all have optimized HIGH FRICKIN SPEED INTERNET???….Are these fools serious???

Here’s what you can expect:

1. Lots o Hype
2. Old features being re-introduced as if they were new
3. Terrible online play
4. Half ass online leagues
5. Garbage franchise mode that will be bug ridden
6. Record Sales of Madden 09
7. Promises about Madden 2010[/quote]

You forgot #8
8. I’m gonna buy the game anyway regardless.
Details

Some people are dismissing online play because of the cheesers.

Maybe all of their friends, family members, associates, and online acquaintances are able to come over to their place and play a game in person while sharing a bowl of pretzels, but for a lot of people, everyone in their life is spread out. Online play is an obvious necessity.

How exciting is it to play a game online with the same weather and time conditions over and over? Football is played in inclement weather. You adjust your game plan accordingly.

I suppose this means when you coach against someone online using Head Coach 09, it will always be sunny. Wow. How challenging. The aim should be realism. This is a simulation game. One day when they’re modifying the graphics of the throbbing weapon icons and altering the ridiculous boom sound effect of a long pass, EA will realize that. Hopefully. The bar needs to be set higher.
coogrfan

I don’t think anyone, not even the folks at EA, would dispute that adding variable weather online would be a good thing. The question is whether implementing it should take development time away from other things (for example, getting the core gameplay to run more or less lag free, online leagues, etc.).

Imo the answer is no. Weather, while important, is less important than core gameplay.
coogrfan

I don’t think anyone, not even the folks at EA, would dispute that adding variable weather online would be a good thing. The question is whether implementing it should take development time away from other things (for example, getting the core gameplay to run more or less lag free, online leagues, etc.).

Imo the answer is no. Weather, while important, is less important than core gameplay.
r00tabaga

in a perfect world, I would be playing MVP’08 right now and looking forward to NFL2k9……and be married to Keeley Hazell…..ummmmm, yeah sorry about that last part.
r00tabaga

in a perfect world, I would be playing MVP’08 right now and looking forward to NFL2k9……and be married to Keeley Hazell…..ummmmm, yeah sorry about that last part.
deltroy

LMAO at r00tabaga I so wish there was nfl 2k9 love apf2k8!!!!
deltroy

LMAO at r00tabaga I so wish there was nfl 2k9 love apf2k8!!!!
Details

[quote comment="18590"]Weather, while important, is less important than core gameplay.[/quote]

If NFL 2K9 existed, do you have any doubt whatsoever that it would have variable weather for online play?

I guarantee you there would be no need to discuss presentation, referees, uniforms, or active sidelines. 2K set the bar with NFL 2K5. Ever since, people have been wondering why EA doesn’t approach Madden with the same level of detail. It’s like they don’t care.

We should be discussing innovations, not bemoaning the lack of basic features. Madden 08 was shipped with a bug that caused fumbles that made the game unplayable, so yes, EA needs to figure out gameplay. But they have plenty of resources to oversee multiple facets of the game.
Details

[quote comment="18590"]Weather, while important, is less important than core gameplay.[/quote]

If NFL 2K9 existed, do you have any doubt whatsoever that it would have variable weather for online play?

I guarantee you there would be no need to discuss presentation, referees, uniforms, or active sidelines. 2K set the bar with NFL 2K5. Ever since, people have been wondering why EA doesn’t approach Madden with the same level of detail. It’s like they don’t care.

We should be discussing innovations, not bemoaning the lack of basic features. Madden 08 was shipped with a bug that caused fumbles that made the game unplayable, so yes, EA needs to figure out gameplay. But they have plenty of resources to oversee multiple facets of the game.
deltroy

Damn Details couldn’t of said it better myself!!!
deltroy

Damn Details couldn’t of said it better myself!!!
r00tabaga

Agreed…Details you are on a roll!
r00tabaga

Agreed…Details you are on a roll!
deltroy

Yo r00tabaga I am actually from South Jersey and been a huge Bills fan since 89 first game I remember watching was the playoff game we lost to the browns, I went to one bills game in Buffalo a few years ago with my wife they lost to the texans but what a great day just to be in that stadium with all that history was unreal and I always go watch them when they play the jets here,and Def going this year gonna hit up the niners game in Buffalo and hopefully the monday night game against the browns go bills baby playoffs here we come!!!!!!