Madden 09 online update

by pastapadre
Posted April 30th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

In his latest forum posting, Madden 09 lead producer Phil Frazier notes a couple of things relating to the game including a statement that they are likely going to be able to get variable weather into online unranked games. In the course of one week it has gone from no online weather, to talking about the possibility of it, to it being a 95% certainty that it’ll be included. Hopefully that will include online league games which are in essence unranked games as well and would add to the experience that comes from playing a real season.

In speaking with Phil Frazier at the NCAA event last week I was able to express the frustration of the community around the general neglect that online play has received in the past several years. Admittedly it was somewhat of an overreaction on my part to lay it all on the lack of weather online but it came from that place of overall frustration and that it could possibly be a sign of the neglect continuing. He addressed the issue of online performance issues by mentioning that they have four engineers dedicated solely to getting the online games running well. That is a significant commitment being made. The discussion took place shortly before hearing about the inclusion of online leagues which appear to be well thought out (as long as they have playoffs). So clearly online play is getting some focus this year.

I didn’t limit it to just online weather and increasing the options in unranked games. I also brought up the desire to have stats and records tracked in them. Essentially the idea should be that unranked games offer pretty much every option there is offline to be selected (that is why they’re unranked) but at the same time they shouldn’t be treated as if they didn’t exist. It has always bothered me that I can’t look back upon what I’ve done throughout the year because the games were unranked. He seemed open and understanding of those thoughts so we’ll see where that goes in the future.

So I feel much better about the online prospects this year and encouraged that the community’s thoughts are really being heard. Hopefully at a minimum the online performance is up to par and the online leagues function as expected. Along with the focus on those areas adding in options such as variable weather is a sign of good things in the coming years.

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Stikskillz

JB,

Thanks for the feedback! Hopefully Pasta or someone else has some more insight for us. It would be disappointing for NCAA to have it and Madden doesn’t. I still play 08 on Xbox for that feature, along with all the other features that make legacy gen better than next gen. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Stikskillz

JB,

Thanks for the feedback! Hopefully Pasta or someone else has some more insight for us. It would be disappointing for NCAA to have it and Madden doesn’t. I still play 08 on Xbox for that feature, along with all the other features that make legacy gen better than next gen. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Mark

[quote comment="19702"]Dear Phil Frazier,
I love the changes to the game that I have seen. Why not update the equipment that the players wear? Those long white/black things that look like socks that is supposed to be tape, get rid of it, please. Most player in the NFL wear Nike cleats, I know Reebok is the uniform sponser but not the shoes, so please change this. While at it add the teams colors to the shoes. We need offical gloves, not just the primary color of the team, orange Chi. Bears’ gloves (and orange cleats). Fix the player model sizes. Linebackes should not be as large are larger then D-linemen. Change the play selection back to what it was for last-gen. Even the Wii Madden got it right. CPU vs CPU. Let me watch the games. Make us love Madden Football games again. PLEASE!!![/quote]

exactly what i was thinking…how hard would it really to get this in?…i HATE the Reebok cleats so much
Mark

[quote comment="19702"]Dear Phil Frazier,
I love the changes to the game that I have seen. Why not update the equipment that the players wear? Those long white/black things that look like socks that is supposed to be tape, get rid of it, please. Most player in the NFL wear Nike cleats, I know Reebok is the uniform sponser but not the shoes, so please change this. While at it add the teams colors to the shoes. We need offical gloves, not just the primary color of the team, orange Chi. Bears’ gloves (and orange cleats). Fix the player model sizes. Linebackes should not be as large are larger then D-linemen. Change the play selection back to what it was for last-gen. Even the Wii Madden got it right. CPU vs CPU. Let me watch the games. Make us love Madden Football games again. PLEASE!!![/quote]

exactly what i was thinking…how hard would it really to get this in?…i HATE the Reebok cleats so much
Darkheath

[quote comment="19735"]
exactly what i was thinking…how hard would it really to get this in?…i HATE the Reebok cleats so much[/quote]

I must say… that in my 25-odd years as a gamer… that I have never looked at my character’s shoes and noticed that they were the wrong kind. Honestly, I wouldn’t know one way or the other anyway… nor do I care.

Really… how do you even know that they wear Nikes over Reeboks? Is this just something you notice during a tense game on a Sunday afternoon?
JHeb

My hope for Madden 2009 and all Maddens in the future is for them to steadily make the game more and more realistic…From visuals, uniforms, sidelines, stadiums, etc. down to every little nuance of the real game…

If it’s in the game, I want it ‘in the game’…

Ya know?
Darkheath

[quote comment="19735"]
exactly what i was thinking…how hard would it really to get this in?…i HATE the Reebok cleats so much[/quote]

I must say… that in my 25-odd years as a gamer… that I have never looked at my character’s shoes and noticed that they were the wrong kind. Honestly, I wouldn’t know one way or the other anyway… nor do I care.

Really… how do you even know that they wear Nikes over Reeboks? Is this just something you notice during a tense game on a Sunday afternoon?
JHeb

My hope for Madden 2009 and all Maddens in the future is for them to steadily make the game more and more realistic…From visuals, uniforms, sidelines, stadiums, etc. down to every little nuance of the real game…

If it’s in the game, I want it ‘in the game’…

Ya know?
Eski

I hate the Cowboys but I sure hope EA fixes their helmets. The star has always been way too big….

Also, I hope that they include classic jerseys. Dallas’ dark uniforms from the late 80s were sweet….
Eski

I hate the Cowboys but I sure hope EA fixes their helmets. The star has always been way too big….

Also, I hope that they include classic jerseys. Dallas’ dark uniforms from the late 80s were sweet….
Mark

[quote comment="19738"][quote comment="19735"]
exactly what i was thinking…how hard would it really to get this in?…i HATE the Reebok cleats so much[/quote]

I must say… that in my 25-odd years as a gamer… that I have never looked at my character’s shoes and noticed that they were the wrong kind. Honestly, I wouldn’t know one way or the other anyway… nor do I care.

Really… how do you even know that they wear Nikes over Reeboks? Is this just something you notice during a tense game on a Sunday afternoon?[/quote]

its not that i notice whether its Reebok or Nike in a real game, but u can easily see that there is variation in what they wear in regards to color/design–not specific brands. in the video game u definitley notice so i should be able to control all aspects of what the players wear. my gripe is on the same level as the people wanting field goal nets, towels, refs, etc. if they have it in real life it should be in the licensed game…like different cleat options.

to me there is a big difference between these:

http://www.whodeyfans.com/uploaded_images/week1-10-758420.jpg

and these

http://sports.ign.com/dor/objects/868499/madden-nfl-08/images/madden-nfl-08-20070502020640430.html

–in NCAA 08, these

http://sports.ign.com/dor/objects/890431/ncaa-football-08-/images/ncaa-football-08-20070426051549186.html

and these

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/stories/2007/oct/21/oregoncolor21_10-21-2007_G4BQRBI.jpg
Mark

[quote comment="19738"][quote comment="19735"]
exactly what i was thinking…how hard would it really to get this in?…i HATE the Reebok cleats so much[/quote]

I must say… that in my 25-odd years as a gamer… that I have never looked at my character’s shoes and noticed that they were the wrong kind. Honestly, I wouldn’t know one way or the other anyway… nor do I care.

Really… how do you even know that they wear Nikes over Reeboks? Is this just something you notice during a tense game on a Sunday afternoon?[/quote]

its not that i notice whether its Reebok or Nike in a real game, but u can easily see that there is variation in what they wear in regards to color/design–not specific brands. in the video game u definitley notice so i should be able to control all aspects of what the players wear. my gripe is on the same level as the people wanting field goal nets, towels, refs, etc. if they have it in real life it should be in the licensed game…like different cleat options.

to me there is a big difference between these:

http://www.whodeyfans.com/uploaded_images/week1-10-758420.jpg

and these

http://sports.ign.com/dor/objects/868499/madden-nfl-08/images/madden-nfl-08-20070502020640430.html

–in NCAA 08, these

http://sports.ign.com/dor/objects/890431/ncaa-football-08-/images/ncaa-football-08-20070426051549186.html

and these

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/stories/2007/oct/21/oregoncolor21_10-21-2007_G4BQRBI.jpg
New Madden Game Footage!!!!!

Check it out!!!http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33493.html
New Madden Game Footage!!!!!

Check it out!!!http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33493.html
Tonyssg

-what happened to the chain gang in next-gen madden.
-what happened to the refs being on the field.
-what about the players coming out for the coin toss.
-the player introductions are to flashy for exhibition games.
-the player models need to be fixed a little better, long hair and dreadlocks not in ponytail for some players, what happened to tattoos (the shoulder pads get too big when you edit the player)
-they need more gear for the players to wear
-a more interactive franchise like the owner mode on playstation 2 (bring back Tony Bruno or something?)
-real facemasks for the right helmets, straps on the visors like NCAA 09
-a Devin Hester that really plays like Devin Hester. even though his speed is 100 he gets caught to easily by LB’s and DB’s. he can’t eluda a tackle to save his life
-why do attributes drop from 100 in the franchise
-Marion Barber’s stiff arm needs to be 100
-put the historical teams on the game forget the legends roster pool
-finally Willie Parker is not faster than Adrian Peterson
Tonyssg

-what happened to the chain gang in next-gen madden.
-what happened to the refs being on the field.
-what about the players coming out for the coin toss.
-the player introductions are to flashy for exhibition games.
-the player models need to be fixed a little better, long hair and dreadlocks not in ponytail for some players, what happened to tattoos (the shoulder pads get too big when you edit the player)
-they need more gear for the players to wear
-a more interactive franchise like the owner mode on playstation 2 (bring back Tony Bruno or something?)
-real facemasks for the right helmets, straps on the visors like NCAA 09
-a Devin Hester that really plays like Devin Hester. even though his speed is 100 he gets caught to easily by LB’s and DB’s. he can’t eluda a tackle to save his life
-why do attributes drop from 100 in the franchise
-Marion Barber’s stiff arm needs to be 100
-put the historical teams on the game forget the legends roster pool
-finally Willie Parker is not faster than Adrian Peterson
Tonyssg

-I forgot to mention that they should rate special teams players (the special teams defensive and recieving units)
-the spectacular catch weapon doesn’t really work (we need to see more one-handed catches, diving catches without pressing {xbox-X} {playstation 3-square}
-precision passing needs to be fixed tremendously
-in superstar mode the quaterback (when not a quarterback) always throws a bullet pass they never lob it
Tonyssg

-I forgot to mention that they should rate special teams players (the special teams defensive and recieving units)
-the spectacular catch weapon doesn’t really work (we need to see more one-handed catches, diving catches without pressing {xbox-X} {playstation 3-square}
-precision passing needs to be fixed tremendously
-in superstar mode the quaterback (when not a quarterback) always throws a bullet pass they never lob it
joe

I just started playing madden and I want to know when tackling who to give does jarring hits? Can anybody help me. Thanks
joe

I just started playing madden and I want to know when tackling who to give does jarring hits? Can anybody help me. Thanks