Madden 09 Online Plagued by Problems

by pastapadre
Posted August 13th, 2008 at 11:28 am

After the disastrous online play of last year it was going to be important to see how Madden 09 performed right out of the gates. The only additions to online this year were the “leagues” and having random weather. So overall performance had to be a focus. While lag was an issue last year it was disconnects that caused the most headaches. In fact my first 17 attempts with 08 ended in disconnects. In regards to what EA was doing about it I was told that four engineers were dedicated to making sure online play ran well this year which represents a significant effort.

How is 09 doing so far? Disconnects are happening frequently (late game field goals seem to be the biggest culprit) and PS3 users are having their games freeze when they attempt to enter lobby rooms. Both of these issues are serious enough to really damage any enjoyment to be had with online. While the games have been relatively lag free they don’t seem to be quite as responsive as NCAA 09 and have an overriding sluggish feeling.

Feel free to leave your thoughts on how online is performing for you in the comments. While it is early in release these problems still shouldn’t be happening. I will update if I hear details on what is being done to address them.

Update: The lobby freezing issue should now be fixed.

Tags:

Josh

Is it just me or does the color in the game look too saturated? Why are Peyton Manning & Tony Romo so dark?
Josh

Is it just me or does the color in the game look too saturated? Why are Peyton Manning & Tony Romo so dark?
Patrick

BY FAR madden 09 has been a dissapointment to me. first disconnects are really really annoying whether ur winning by 14 or losing by 14 it seems to just disconnect wen you score. it just really nags mee that EA couldn’t fix this. i meen release the game later or sumthing to fix this but man this is really really annoying to me i don’t know about u guys but i’d like to complete a full game sumtime soon, not like in the next 4 hours
Patrick

BY FAR madden 09 has been a dissapointment to me. first disconnects are really really annoying whether ur winning by 14 or losing by 14 it seems to just disconnect wen you score. it just really nags mee that EA couldn’t fix this. i meen release the game later or sumthing to fix this but man this is really really annoying to me i don’t know about u guys but i’d like to complete a full game sumtime soon, not like in the next 4 hours
Darkheath

I was wondering if the new TD celebrations (since they are totally new) have something to do with it since it seems to happen after people scored. But then I remembered that my one crash came as I was going to the menu to select QB Kneel.
Darkheath

I was wondering if the new TD celebrations (since they are totally new) have something to do with it since it seems to happen after people scored. But then I remembered that my one crash came as I was going to the menu to select QB Kneel.
jon

i work as an I.T. and configured my router and everything to open up ports and the game still freezes on me. so people, it’s not ur connections, network configurations, or ur system. IT’S THE GAME, IT IS UNPLAYABLE.

P.S. DON’T BOTHER EXCHANGING DISCS. THERE ALL THE SAME
jon

i work as an I.T. and configured my router and everything to open up ports and the game still freezes on me. so people, it’s not ur connections, network configurations, or ur system. IT’S THE GAME, IT IS UNPLAYABLE.

P.S. DON’T BOTHER EXCHANGING DISCS. THERE ALL THE SAME
Gotti

Oright guys i dont know if this is the solution but me and this other player this morning tried and so far its working. The 1st game we played d/c when he scored late in the 2nd quarter which sucked i was up 17-7, so we put our heads together and figured that last year when you change the weapon settings it would prevent the game from d/c. Basically i turned off all weapon settings, adjusted the display weapon settings to 0 and now have played 3 consecutive d/c free games, like i said i dont know if this is the solution but i would it give a try. Everybody who does try this please give me your feedback, oh i also turned off the ESPN ticker which probably didnt do anything
Gotti

Oright guys i dont know if this is the solution but me and this other player this morning tried and so far its working. The 1st game we played d/c when he scored late in the 2nd quarter which sucked i was up 17-7, so we put our heads together and figured that last year when you change the weapon settings it would prevent the game from d/c. Basically i turned off all weapon settings, adjusted the display weapon settings to 0 and now have played 3 consecutive d/c free games, like i said i dont know if this is the solution but i would it give a try. Everybody who does try this please give me your feedback, oh i also turned off the ESPN ticker which probably didnt do anything
mad maddenite

gotti i will try this and definitely give me feed back. but the question is will i get dc if the other player doesnt have these settings also or will he just get connect and i continue against the computer???? only time will tell but until next time this is mad maddenite signing off………..
mad maddenite

gotti i will try this and definitely give me feed back. but the question is will i get dc if the other player doesnt have these settings also or will he just get connect and i continue against the computer???? only time will tell but until next time this is mad maddenite signing off………..
Andrew

I just want to say I haven’t had a disconnect or a freeze since the release date (knock on wood). I’ve gotten used to the game and it’s way more fun and realistic than last years. There’s no cheezing that i’ve seen, and the final scores are realistic.

BTW, I play on the 360.
Andrew

I just want to say I haven’t had a disconnect or a freeze since the release date (knock on wood). I’ve gotten used to the game and it’s way more fun and realistic than last years. There’s no cheezing that i’ve seen, and the final scores are realistic.

BTW, I play on the 360.
Andrew

^^^ Oh yeah, you guys should do mini-games to practice running and passing. I did it last night and it helped a lot.

Also, some rushing tips, try not pushing the turbo button as soon as you get the hand off. Change directions with the left analog before hitting the hole, you can do this 2 – 3 times before hitting turbo. I did this and I’m averaging a lot more YPC.
Andrew

^^^ Oh yeah, you guys should do mini-games to practice running and passing. I did it last night and it helped a lot.

Also, some rushing tips, try not pushing the turbo button as soon as you get the hand off. Change directions with the left analog before hitting the hole, you can do this 2 – 3 times before hitting turbo. I did this and I’m averaging a lot more YPC.
pete

if you ask me the ea servers are the problem with always losing connection ever since i started playing 08 online now my modem restarts during online play an everything shit sux im so hesitant on buyin 09 an wasting money b/c of all the horrible online glitches in 08
pete

if you ask me the ea servers are the problem with always losing connection ever since i started playing 08 online now my modem restarts during online play an everything shit sux im so hesitant on buyin 09 an wasting money b/c of all the horrible online glitches in 08
CAE

game freezes or DC’s in the snow a ton. I guess the cold really gets to the system.
CAE

game freezes or DC’s in the snow a ton. I guess the cold really gets to the system.
kc10785

i have played 20 games and no problems no disconnects that froze the game and no lag.If u getting online and all ur games is disconnecting maybe it’s not EA maybe it’s u having problems connecting to EA or other players.Im pretty sure that it’s more people with no problems then people with problems.I been playing the game a lot since last Friday and my game never has froze up on me.

I have the regular version madden – Xbox 360 – Netgear router – Comcast broadband
kc10785

i have played 20 games and no problems no disconnects that froze the game and no lag.If u getting online and all ur games is disconnecting maybe it’s not EA maybe it’s u having problems connecting to EA or other players.Im pretty sure that it’s more people with no problems then people with problems.I been playing the game a lot since last Friday and my game never has froze up on me.

I have the regular version madden – Xbox 360 – Netgear router – Comcast broadband
mad maddenite

well everyone (knock on wood before i say this) i think Gotti might be right with what he said: TURN OFF ALL WEAPON SETTINGS AND CHANGE THE WEAPON DISPLAY TO 0 AND U SHOULDN’T GET A D/C!!!!! the strange thing is that the weapon icons are still displayed for some reason but that’s good right? anyway i’m on a 9 gm winning streak and am currently ranked 350 online. gamertag: bigsulton 101
mad maddenite

well everyone (knock on wood before i say this) i think Gotti might be right with what he said: TURN OFF ALL WEAPON SETTINGS AND CHANGE THE WEAPON DISPLAY TO 0 AND U SHOULDN’T GET A D/C!!!!! the strange thing is that the weapon icons are still displayed for some reason but that’s good right? anyway i’m on a 9 gm winning streak and am currently ranked 350 online. gamertag: bigsulton 101
Gotti

Thats great to hear that it worked for you Mad Maddenite, i am actually now on 4 game winning streak myself. Guys we need more peeps to try this and give this website your feedback and hopefully Pasta will pass it on, by the way my gamertag is s2k05 eRv, good luck online
Gotti

Thats great to hear that it worked for you Mad Maddenite, i am actually now on 4 game winning streak myself. Guys we need more peeps to try this and give this website your feedback and hopefully Pasta will pass it on, by the way my gamertag is s2k05 eRv, good luck online
Tdufore13

Hey was there a mini patch this morning or somethin? Im still d/cin but now when i finish a game against the comp it will give me a win figured thats better than nothin
Tdufore13

Hey was there a mini patch this morning or somethin? Im still d/cin but now when i finish a game against the comp it will give me a win figured thats better than nothin
Tdufore13

actually disregard that I dont get the win just wasteed about 40 minutes of my life Ill never get back
Tdufore13

actually disregard that I dont get the win just wasteed about 40 minutes of my life Ill never get back
Tdufore13

With that whole weapons settings thing if I do it will they still disconnect tho or does it prevent both people from disconnecting by only doing it with mine?
Tdufore13

With that whole weapons settings thing if I do it will they still disconnect tho or does it prevent both people from disconnecting by only doing it with mine?
Gotti

From my experience and mad maddenite its prevents from both players from disconnecting, try it out and post if it worked Tdufore 13
Gotti

From my experience and mad maddenite its prevents from both players from disconnecting, try it out and post if it worked Tdufore 13
W zizi

Not sure what everyone is comlaining about. I have played 15 games with only 1 disconnect and that was because my power went out. I have had NO issues. I’m playing on 360 btw
W zizi

Not sure what everyone is comlaining about. I have played 15 games with only 1 disconnect and that was because my power went out. I have had NO issues. I’m playing on 360 btw
http://www.xboxlivesportsleagues.com/ bgdave

I am starting to figure out that not everyone is having the issue with late game FG’s and disconnects. There has got to be something to this that is causing only certain people to experience the problem.

My games are 100% lag free and play great, until someone lines up to kick a FG or XP in the second half…at which point we immediately get disconnected, but can still hear each other at the DC screen. Very frustrating and makes the game unplayable online for anyone that wants to play an entire game.
http://www.xboxlivesportsleagues.com bgdave

I am starting to figure out that not everyone is having the issue with late game FG’s and disconnects. There has got to be something to this that is causing only certain people to experience the problem.

My games are 100% lag free and play great, until someone lines up to kick a FG or XP in the second half…at which point we immediately get disconnected, but can still hear each other at the DC screen. Very frustrating and makes the game unplayable online for anyone that wants to play an entire game.
kris

my record online is 4-5. not bad. but horrible considering all 5 losses have been disconnects. come on EA, is it that hard? and im in a league and everytime i attempt to send a league game invite the same error pops up saying online team play is currently unavailable try again later and when i try to accept one it says the session isnt available. yet, i can play ranked games. these servers are killing me
kris

my record online is 4-5. not bad. but horrible considering all 5 losses have been disconnects. come on EA, is it that hard? and im in a league and everytime i attempt to send a league game invite the same error pops up saying online team play is currently unavailable try again later and when i try to accept one it says the session isnt available. yet, i can play ranked games. these servers are killing me
Vikes 08 Super Bowl Champs

Can anyone tell me how I unjoin a online league onece I have joins
Vikes 08 Super Bowl Champs

Can anyone tell me how I unjoin a online league onece I have joins
MoteLLparty

padre(or any1) are we going to have to wait til the opener for the next roster update?
MoteLLparty

padre(or any1) are we going to have to wait til the opener for the next roster update?
jon

EA took the weekend off despite freezing problems.
jon

EA took the weekend off despite freezing problems.
EPxSTYGx

Today i when i turned on madden 09 and tried to sign into my league it said error then i tried my player hub to try to invite my league members to a game but the members wouldn’t load. this happened to my other friend which is a league gm like me. then i tried lobby and played a ranked game and i didn’t get disconnected except the guy i was playing against left because i intercepted him in the 4 qt. ( the score was 17-2 before he left) anybody else having problems signing into their leagues.

P.S. my gamertag EP Stick2UrGuns
EPxSTYGx

Today i when i turned on madden 09 and tried to sign into my league it said error then i tried my player hub to try to invite my league members to a game but the members wouldn’t load. this happened to my other friend which is a league gm like me. then i tried lobby and played a ranked game and i didn’t get disconnected except the guy i was playing against left because i intercepted him in the 4 qt. ( the score was 17-2 before he left) anybody else having problems signing into their leagues.

P.S. my gamertag EP Stick2UrGuns
Cnorris

I played my first online game today and it didn’t go well. The lag was so bad, I was sacked my first three downs. I punted and he was sacked his first three. After one half and 50 total yards we were disconnected. I’m almost afraid to try again. Just as a side note. I bought the collectors edition and love the depth of NFL Head Coach. But hate the fact that I can’t play and it takes forever. Then I play Madden and I’m bored by the Franchise mode. I just wish they could combine the two. Just amp up the Franchise mode so to speak.
Cnorris

I played my first online game today and it didn’t go well. The lag was so bad, I was sacked my first three downs. I punted and he was sacked his first three. After one half and 50 total yards we were disconnected. I’m almost afraid to try again. Just as a side note. I bought the collectors edition and love the depth of NFL Head Coach. But hate the fact that I can’t play and it takes forever. Then I play Madden and I’m bored by the Franchise mode. I just wish they could combine the two. Just amp up the Franchise mode so to speak.