Gamestop Madden Monday: ActionCam
by 
Another week brings a look at one of the new features or improvements to Madden 09 in the Gamestop Madden Monday blog. This week the focus is on the “ActionCam” which is the new camera angle that adjusts to display all of the players on the field.
Madden NFL 09 will feature a camera system that dynamically adjusts to keep all of your players in view, eliminating the need to blindly pass off of the edge of your screen and hope for the best. When you run a pass play, the ActionCam automatically pans out, zooms in, and adjust angles to keep all of your receivers on the screen.
Once you complete that pass, if the ball carrier happens to break away from his defenders, the ActionCam will rock back and forth, zoom in and follow the ball carrier, giving you that intense feeling that you’re sprinting alongside him. And if a defender happens to really lay into the ball carrier, the Big Hit Camera will rattle the screen with the force of the crunch. It’s like having a tiny producer in your console that constantly assigns the best camera angles.
A camera changed has been needed for a long time. I know personally I’ve tended to shy away from throwing to receivers on the outside, or gone to plays that had them coming into the middle of the field, because I couldn’t see them and it was too risky otherwise. From the videos that have been released and the two new screenshots it doesn’t seem to be a drastic change so it shouldn’t take long to get comfortable with it. The classic camera will remain in as an option however I doubt many will prefer that over this new camera.
May 12, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I know having referees on the field would give the game more realism, but come on people, take a look a APF and see if you even notice the referees when you PLAY. I sure did not. And, it looks like EA will implement referees next year anyway, they have much more importnant work to do on actually improving most aspects of Madden 09 before worrying about having referees on the field.
May 12, 2008 at 1:14 pm
[quote comment="20995"]I know having referees on the field would give the game more realism, but come on people, take a look a APF and see if you even notice the referees when you PLAY. I sure did not. And, it looks like EA will implement referees next year anyway, they have much more importnant work to do on actually improving most aspects of Madden 09 before worrying about having referees on the field.[/quote]
i agree bosnian
May 12, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I think it’s funny how only 10% of these comments have anything to do w/the new “Action Cam”. I’ve been waiting 4 a new angle 4ever…yes,refs would be nice,chains would be nice,FG nets would be nice,better ESPN integration would be REALLY nice & overdue, but c’mon don’t tell me that some of these new features don’t get U pumped! Can’t wait to play in a Buffalo snowstorm…hopefully online-
May 12, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Gotta have it just by what I’ve seen so far I just hope it doesn’t dissapoint me like 08 has done.
May 12, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I love how every madden post gets turned into a discussion about refs on the field. Every one. I’m glad they aren’t there b/c they just get in the way but I understand people wanting realism – if they can implement them without them getting in the way too much (a few times is realistic but shouldn’t happen in most games) that would be fine with me.
Pasta, will this camera be in NCAA? I hope that it is – it seems it would go along well with the “wide-open gameplay.”
May 12, 2008 at 2:11 pm
[quote comment="20999"]I love how every madden post gets turned into a discussion about refs on the field. Every one. I’m glad they aren’t there b/c they just get in the way but I understand people wanting realism – if they can implement them without them getting in the way too much (a few times is realistic but shouldn’t happen in most games) that would be fine with me.
Pasta, will this camera be in NCAA? I hope that it is – it seems it would go along well with the “wide-open gameplay.”[/quote]
Thats a great question because NCAA 09 has some features that I wished were in Madden.
May 12, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Back on topic. ActionCam is definitely an exciting improvement. EA should release a few video clips showing off the feature.
We all want Madden 09 to be an amazing game. I hope it’s the greatest football game ever. If we didn’t care about the product, we wouldn’t be posting on Pasta’s site.
May 12, 2008 at 2:38 pm
[quote comment="21002"]Back on topic. ActionCam is definitely an exciting improvement. EA should release a few video clips showing off the feature.
We all want Madden 09 to be an amazing game. I hope it’s the greatest football game ever. If we didn’t care about the product, we wouldn’t be posting on Pasta’s site.[/quote]
Yea, I come here because its very informative and we can give our thoughts and opinions on the new games before they are released
May 12, 2008 at 2:46 pm
This is an offering that has real potential. I hope that this feature along with the new play call screen are available to online gamers.
While this is not more important that fixing the precision passing and the offensive line blocking, this is a **very** good feature upgrade by EA.
May 12, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I am not a madden hater but did any one else notice that on the camera it doesnt show all the recivers like in the top one look all the way to the right it shows a shadow of the reciver i dont know if it just wasnt zoomed out all the way yet or what but other wise it looks good.
May 12, 2008 at 3:13 pm
[quote comment="21006"]I am not a madden hater but did any one else notice that on the camera it doesnt show all the recivers like in the top one look all the way to the right it shows a shadow of the reciver i dont know if it just wasnt zoomed out all the way yet or what but other wise it looks good.[/quote]
Wasn’t zoomed all the way notice on the secod pic how it changed/ BTW if you looked close at the times ant the quarter you know they are the same game just that the camra is angling itself to compensate for the pass.
May 12, 2008 at 3:21 pm
you guys keep talking about no refs and chaingangs, but in Madden 08 PS2 i distinctly remember there being at least chain gangs and refs, i would try to hide a linebacker behind the ref because i thought it was funny
May 12, 2008 at 3:40 pm
[quote comment="21009"]you guys keep talking about no refs and chaingangs, but in Madden 08 PS2 i distinctly remember there being at least chain gangs and refs, i would try to hide a linebacker behind the ref because i thought it was funny[/quote]
sorry bud, but they’re all referring to the current/next-gen consoles… the old gen (ps2, xbox) models are pretty much maxed out so they don’t get much attention anymore
May 12, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Thanks Dre.
May 12, 2008 at 3:45 pm
who gives a F@#k about refs on the field stop crying.The main focus this year should be things to improve the game play this year.If they put them on the field people will complain about there player running into or its not real cuz they run through them.I know if they was on the field i would run crossing routes and use the ref as a pick.People would complain and say thats a glitch so stop b*&chin about that and focus on the real problems
May 12, 2008 at 3:48 pm
[quote comment="21007"][quote comment="21006"]I am not a madden hater but did any one else notice that on the camera it doesnt show all the recivers like in the top one look all the way to the right it shows a shadow of the reciver i dont know if it just wasnt zoomed out all the way yet or what but other wise it looks good.[/quote]
Wasn’t zoomed all the way notice on the second pic how it changed. BTW if you looked close at the times and the quarter you know they are the same game just that the camera is angling itself to compensate for the pass.[/quote]
May 12, 2008 at 3:49 pm
not sure if you guys noticed but if you go and watch the debut video in action u see the new camera angles in effect i new something was different but didn’t catch on till just now with the story from gamestop. if you watch eli and tom dropping back you can see the whole field and its a lot easier to find an open reciever. i wish i could have this right now in 08 i would be killin db’s. lets hope they put this in ncaa also keep our fingers crossed
May 12, 2008 at 3:50 pm
back to the topic this feature should be a great edition no more blind passes or trying to defend blind passes.Its hard to check a back out the backfield when the QB roll out to the other side of the field.
May 12, 2008 at 4:04 pm
[quote comment="21015"]not sure if you guys noticed but if you go and watch the debut video in action u see the new camera angles in effect i new something was different but didn’t catch on till just now with the story from gamestop. if you watch eli and tom dropping back you can see the whole field and its a lot easier to find an open reciever. i wish i could have this right now in 08 i would be killin db’s. lets hope they put this in ncaa also keep our fingers crossed[/quote]
yeah i just looked at the video again and it does show that feature.Its so smooth that people didnt even notice it off first glance
May 12, 2008 at 4:11 pm
what if i throw a quick wr screen. how does this camera know to wich side and can it react thay quickly???????
May 12, 2008 at 4:12 pm
[quote comment="21013"]who gives a F@#k about refs on the field stop crying.The main focus this year should be things to improve the game play this year.If they put them on the field people will complain about there player running into or its not real cuz they run through them.I know if they was on the field i would run crossing routes and use the ref as a pick.People would complain and say thats a glitch so stop b*&chin about that and focus on the real problems[/quote]
I believe you’re right. I would like to see refs on the field just to hear it get bashed. Stuff like “Why is he standing in the passing lane. He should be standing by the left hash mark.” OR “How could he have made the call. He wasn’t facing the play.” Lol.
Now to the main topic. I like the action cam. It makes the game seem fresh. I have thrown many blind INT’s so I’m happy.
May 12, 2008 at 4:43 pm
[quote comment="20991"][quote comment="20982"][quote comment="20940"]always fun to see the haters come out to deflect attention away from a good feature. happens every time. this has been pleaded for over the years and they get it in, and of course that means time to complain about something else. i wish those people would just take things for what they are and here we got a good change for 09.[/quote]
you call it hating..I call it telling the truth..EA puts in all this extra stuff. but yet there happens to be no refs on the field whatsoever..however when mlb 2k8 came out people like you jumped directly out and just bombarded the ship..hypocrites o hypocrites.[/quote]
terrible framerate is not the same as missing refs, as much as some people seem to want them. not having the refs doesn’t affect gameplay. it affects immersiveness though which i understand. acting as though people hated mlb 2k8 because of something as minor as what is being picked on here is laughable
id also like to know how a better camera angle is termed “extra stuff” instead of an actual improvement to the game.[/quote]
apparently you didn’t have a youtube during aug-october of 2007 eh? you do know denial is not just a river….
May 12, 2008 at 4:48 pm
[quote comment="21021"]I would like to see refs on the field just to hear it get bashed.[/quote]
Great. Step one is putting refs on the field. Until they are, you’ll never get your dream.
May 12, 2008 at 4:54 pm
[quote comment="21013"]who gives a F@#k about refs on the field stop crying.The main focus this year should be things to improve the game play this year.If they put them on the field people will complain about there player running into or its not real cuz they run through them.I know if they was on the field i would run crossing routes and use the ref as a pick.People would complain and say thats a glitch so stop b*&chin about that and focus on the real problems[/quote]
They aren’t even focusing on the real problems. First off they haven’t mentioned anything significant about gameplay improvements…all you wanna complain about is gameplay, gameplay, gameplay and they not even fixing that…instead i bet about 90% of these so-called 85 new features were prolly on last gen and they just introducing them as new or features that really don’t mean shit…i atleast want some kind of realism while playing this game so why not add refs…it will make me feel better because they are not trying to improve gameplay to make it realistic…they still haven’t improved O-line and D-line interaction…if you really watch football, games are won and lost in the trenches.
May 12, 2008 at 5:15 pm
You don’t realize how ridiculous you all sound. The head ref is the only one that makes the calls, the others are irrelevant therefore, let Earl do his job and stop trying to imply other employees because they won’t take over. Earl was created as the head referee for EA and that won’t change it. I’ve never seen so many people complain as they do on this site.
May 12, 2008 at 5:44 pm
yes comsumers it does not matter. it does not matter if quality is ignored and something else becomes the red hearring..its ok! its all ok..go back to sleep consumers go back to sleep everything is very ok! preorder your games it does not matter if they’re refs or nets or basic elementary things that should just be in the game never mind that..pay attention to new cameras..go back to sleep its all ok!
May 12, 2008 at 5:45 pm
askearl360.blogspot.com
May 12, 2008 at 6:49 pm
earlier when wondering how are they going to improve the game i thought it was going to be line play if you watch a 4-3 defense rush with the four man front usually the line is in a straight line two yards from the line of scrimmage and the linemen are either beaten or have pankaked the opposing line, this is incredibley unlike football usually a pocket looks like a u in stead of a line and other things can be said about the running game , don’t get me started on the stretch play, if u fix the line play u dont need refs the game will feel more real ull step up in the pocket ull cutback for big runs ull be able to move in the pocket and be able to actually read blocks that is wat is needed but that doesnt sell games. come check out madden with all new blocking !
May 12, 2008 at 7:11 pm
idk about you all, but this game just looks akward. I was some what a fan of 08, but as this game does look to be going in the right direction, something about it just doesnt look right…idk what it is.
May 12, 2008 at 7:14 pm
[quote comment="21013"]who gives a F@#k about refs on the field stop crying.The main focus this year should be things to improve the game play this year.If they put them on the field people will complain about there player running into or its not real cuz they run through them.I know if they was on the field i would run crossing routes and use the ref as a pick.People would complain and say thats a glitch so stop b*&chin about that and focus on the real problems[/quote]
seriously…and i hope when they do get refs, hope you all bust huge nuts
May 12, 2008 at 7:38 pm
[quote comment="21026"]You don’t realize how ridiculous you all sound. The head ref is the only one that makes the calls, the others are irrelevant therefore, let Earl do his job and stop trying to imply other employees because they won’t take over. Earl was created as the head referee for EA and that won’t change it. I’ve never seen so many people complain as they do on this site.[/quote]
you’re an idiot…i wanted to tell you this a long time ago…but the official in the madden games is Ed Hochuli…not this imaginary Earl guy who you are always talking about and claim to have a website based upon… though John Madden’s middle name is ‘Earl’ which could be where this name originated for the website…but even that is suspect…
May 12, 2008 at 8:01 pm
A welcomed addition.
May 12, 2008 at 8:12 pm
[quote comment="21024"][quote comment="21013"]who gives a F@#k about refs on the field stop crying.The main focus this year should be things to improve the game play this year.If they put them on the field people will complain about there player running into or its not real cuz they run through them.I know if they was on the field i would run crossing routes and use the ref as a pick.People would complain and say thats a glitch so stop b*&chin about that and focus on the real problems[/quote]
They aren’t even focusing on the real problems. First off they haven’t mentioned anything significant about gameplay improvements…all you wanna complain about is gameplay, gameplay, gameplay and they not even fixing that…instead i bet about 90% of these so-called 85 new features were prolly on last gen and they just introducing them as new or features that really don’t mean shit…i atleast want some kind of realism while playing this game so why not add refs…it will make me feel better because they are not trying to improve gameplay to make it realistic…they still haven’t improved O-line and D-line interaction…if you really watch football, games are won and lost in the trenches.[/quote]
but u just sound dumb so u go to video game websites and complain about refs when the out cry needs to be gameplay.If im not mistaking this is a upgrade for gameplay and if eveerybody say madden was so perfect on current gen then them adding everything from that is about time and a plus.Who gives a crap about refs shut the hell up who cares if yall want realistic stuff complain about that espn production not being put in work.Yall cats are ridiculous.Im telling yall if they put refs in im using them as a extra man on the field.
May 12, 2008 at 8:16 pm
[quote comment="20966"][quote comment="20954"]I have no idea why so many people are hung up on referees. Do people have a zebra fetish or something?
To me, refs are pointless.[/quote]
Pointless?
Then why not take out the crowd watching the game? Why not remove the sideline players? While you’re at it, why not remove the entire stadium?
REFS EXIST. They’re on the field. With the players.
How can you not grasp that? EA is simulating a football game. It’s not “to each his own.” Players running around the field with no refs doesn’t look right. EA can improve the snow all it wants. Without refs, the game is incomplete.
Watch a football game sometime. See how the refs are there? Crazy concept, isn’t it? Taking them out shouldn’t be an option.[/quote]
yes for all u people complaing and saying why should there be refs should read what he just said
May 12, 2008 at 8:20 pm
every new feature thats announced people complain about refs.. you’d think that EA would get the hint already and add them.
May 12, 2008 at 8:39 pm
do anyone care about different qb styles of throwing the football and different styles of running for running backs, different presentation for rival games, playoffs and super bowl. pre-game,haltime, and post-game show. every qb dont throw the same, every running back doesnt run the same. o- line improvement, they took out shifting your o-line. they can also add assigning double teams for the o- line ,this is just some of the stuff i think is more important than refs and chaingang. and i dont see the point of a chaingang anyway there are markers on the field to indicate where the line of scrimmage is and the first down, atleast thats option in the pause menu. so there is no point for chaingang.
May 12, 2008 at 8:45 pm
i agree that if they do add refs( which it really doesnt matter to me)the next complaint will be, they are in the way or i lost that game cause the pass hit the ref it’ll go on and on about how the refs interfered with the game.
May 12, 2008 at 8:49 pm
how about fumbles on qb/center exchang thats realism. bad snaps on field goals and punts thats realism. the holder mishandling the snap on field goal attempts (tony romo) thATS REALISM but guess no one cares about that stuff. lol
May 12, 2008 at 9:24 pm
[quote comment="21048"]i agree that if they do add refs( which it really doesnt matter to me)the next complaint will be, they are in the way or i lost that game cause the pass hit the ref it’ll go on and on about how the refs interfered with the game.[/quote]
Make the refs try and avoid the ball, but in case the ball goes straight at them, make it pass straight through them. Problem fixed.
May 12, 2008 at 9:24 pm
[quote comment="20936"]
I hope that two CPU controlled teams can execute trades. To me it is one of the biggest problems with previous Maddens. Trades are a big way some teams fill in the needed holes either through acquiring a good player or moving up the draft boards.[/quote]
The PC version of Madden has draft day trades and always has as long as I remember.
May 12, 2008 at 9:26 pm
[quote comment="21051"]
The PC version of Madden has draft day trades and always has as long as I remember.[/quote]
I should say — HAD draft day trades, given that the franchise, and, thanks to the exclusive license, the entire sport, is now dead on PC.
May 12, 2008 at 10:21 pm
[quote comment="21049"]how about fumbles on qb/center exchang thats realism. bad snaps on field goals and punts thats realism. the holder mishandling the snap on field goal attempts (tony romo) thATS REALISM but guess no one cares about that stuff. lol[/quote]
I’ve always been a proponent of not being randomly penalized. Whether that be through bad snaps, penalty calls, bad holds, ect. You should always have some sense of control over what happens.
So holding calls should happen more when the QB doesn’t get rid of the ball quickly, or when the QB runs out of the pocket, or when the QB runs no huddle. It shouldn’t just call a holding penalty because the game randomly decided to do so.
Fumbles should have to do with fatigue, player ratings, weather, and defensive players going for strips. Not just “there should be 1-2 fumbles in every game so we’ll program it that way”.
Thats why those incidents such as bad snaps would be unfair to the user. While those things happen in real life, they happen because the players screwed up. It would be incredibly frustrating to have a game decided by a random bad snap that was of no fault of your own.
May 12, 2008 at 11:22 pm
[quote comment="21054"]
I’ve always been a proponent of not being randomly penalized. Whether that be through bad snaps, penalty calls, bad holds, ect. You should always have some sense of control over what happens.
So holding calls should happen more when the QB doesn’t get rid of the ball quickly, or when the QB runs out of the pocket, or when the QB runs no huddle. It shouldn’t just call a holding penalty because the game randomly decided to do so.
Fumbles should have to do with fatigue, player ratings, weather, and defensive players going for strips. Not just “there should be 1-2 fumbles in every game so we’ll program it that way”.
Thats why those incidents such as bad snaps would be unfair to the user. While those things happen in real life, they happen because the players screwed up. It would be incredibly frustrating to have a game decided by a random bad snap that was of no fault of your own.[/quote]
I agree to an extent re: holding penalties, but stuff like face masking, false starts, etc. are things that should be dictated by player ratings or else they never happen in the game.
Same with snaps and the like. There are Cs in the league who are known as great snappers, and there are QBs who are known as poor at the snap (Rex Grossman, I’m looking at you). If you choose to use one of those QBs, you should run the risk of rating-specific turnovers. I don’t want all QBs or Cs to have the same chance of fumbling snaps and the like though just because it happens X amount of times in real life. It would have to be a rating if this was implemented. Stats are easily obtained for this area, so it wouldn’t be a major task to implement.
It’s something that is lacking in all basketball games as well, with a near total lack of dribbling and passing errors, despite having player ratings in those areas. You see it ocassionaly in CH 2K when you attempt a long pass, but that’s about it.
May 13, 2008 at 3:34 am
“Since you can’t see him, you’re not quite sure if the corner is barreling down on him, if he fell down, or if you’re completing a pass to the guy holding the down marker.”
funny how the blog mentions the chain gang… you know… the one that doesn’t exist. There aren’t guys holding down markers.
Yes, the new camera should be good.
No, Madden has not made the jump to nex…current with great success.
Yes, they need refs.
Yes, they need new o-line AI.
Yes, they need to fix franchise.
Yes, they need an actual physics engine.
Yes, I will be renting this first (not buying a hyped piece of trash this year).
May 13, 2008 at 6:03 am
es comsumers it does not matter. it does not matter if quality is ignored and something else becomes the red hearring..its ok! its all ok..go back to sleep consumers go back to sleep everything is very ok! preorder your games it does not matter if they’re refs or nets or basic elementary things that should just be in the game never mind that..pay attention to new cameras..go back to sleep its all ok!
May 13, 2008 at 6:29 am
There are a lot of really good suggestions in this thread for things that would be a great addition to Madden. Refs and FG nets, while cool and immsersive, would be second to many of the other things.
The AI and overall gameplay feel of Madden is what really needs the work first.
May 13, 2008 at 7:23 am
There’s two issues at work here …
1) At face value is this a good feature? Of course it is – hard to argue that being able to see the whole field is a good thing
2) The long simmering, now boiling over, resentment of EA for pushing a mediocre product, for having the exclusive license, for broken gameplay issues etc.
For lots of folks it is, understandably, difficult to separate the two.
Madden this year looks to be doing some things right. The camera angles, the online leagues, new presentation
I have a feeling the gameplay will remain what it is and always has been – and I don’t particulalry like. That said, at face value and independent of your feelings about EA, some of these changes are welcome
May 13, 2008 at 7:55 am
[quote comment="21063"]es comsumers it does not matter. it does not matter if quality is ignored and something else becomes the red hearring..its ok! its all ok..go back to sleep consumers go back to sleep everything is very ok! preorder your games it does not matter if they’re refs or nets or basic elementary things that should just be in the game never mind that..pay attention to new cameras..go back to sleep its all ok![/quote]
Apparently you thought this was so insightful that it was worthy of being posted twice. It wasn’t.
Btw, Phil Frazier stated on the EA forums a while back:
” (there will be)revamped graphics: Improved stadium models, new weather particle system, new lighting models, new player models, field goal nets, user-controlled celebrations, and Total Control animation system. There are now clear visors also.”
I guess you’ll have to find something else to chide the poor, clueless masses with.
May 13, 2008 at 7:56 am
ok EA has all the money in the world top selling game in america in football, college football, and a bunch of other money makers. but top game they make top money maker is Madden year in and year out. so shouldn’t that game with all the money their racking in have the hugest staff and the best inovations and the most realistic game play. everyone can bash mlb 2k8 but by an innovation standpoint way ahead of madden and ncaa football. i think EA has so much money they forgot y they started making games.
May 13, 2008 at 10:52 am
The new cam seems like a good idea, I agree that the shaky cam might be overboard. If they want it to look like a broadcast NFL game the shaky cam is a bad idea. But I don’t get the fixation with the refs.
With all of the issues that EA has to fix to make this year’s game better, refs would have to be last on the list.
My question is why are refs on a video game so necessary?
It’s just eye candy. I would rather have game play perfected than see some mindless ref on the field.
Late-