Madden 10: WR/DB Improvements

by pastapadre
Posted March 2nd, 2009 at 9:14 am

madden10defmatchups

Keeping with the weekly trend of Madden 2010 info being posted on the Inside EA Blog, today lead designer Ian Cummings has detailed some of the improvements made to the Wide Receiver and Defensive Backs positions. This includes the return of the much needed defensive assignments, route running and man coverage, and various WR/DB interactions. You can check out the full blog posting which includes some demonstration videos here.

Second, we took a page from the FIFA team and added in the concept of ‘jostling’. Personally I am extremely stoked to have this in the game because I’ve written a design for it for 5+ years in a row…unfortunately we just never had the technology to accomplish it. The ‘jostling’ concept is a set of looping 2-man animations that can play for the WR and DB as they run downfield. The main reason that I am so big on these animations is that it really helps alleviate a balance problem that has existed in Madden for years. I’m talking about the fact that traditionally you can send a player with a 99 speed rating (regardless of his other ratings like route running, catching, etc) on a streak and easily get behind a defender in man coverage. In real life, regardless of the difference in speed, a good defensive back can use his body to keep the receiver in check… a fly route is rarely an untouched foot-race sprint to the endzone.

Tags:

http://intensedebate.com/people/EPICgabe Gabe G.

looks very promising guys
lets see if they can do it right
Mcserve

first

Alex Rodriguez

Nobody gives a shitt and you weren't even first.

http://intensedebate.com/people/EPICgabe Gabe G.

looks very promising guys
lets see if they can do it right
Mcserve

first

Alex Rodriguez

Nobody gives a shitt and you weren't even first.

Mike

Pasta can we get one or two more videos of MLB2k9? All the love for the Show but only like one non-demo video of 2k9. Would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Mcserve

damnit
Mike

Pasta can we get one or two more videos of MLB2k9? All the love for the Show but only like one non-demo video of 2k9. Would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Mcserve

damnit
badluck

wow, looks very good, but so did all the stuff from last year and look how that turned out.
with the new realistic acceleration they need to make pass blocking last a bit longer for it to work together
badluck

wow, looks very good, but so did all the stuff from last year and look how that turned out.
with the new realistic acceleration they need to make pass blocking last a bit longer for it to work together
http://intensedebate.com/people/cabrillo24 cabrillo24

Very promising.
http://intensedebate.com/people/cabrillo24 cabrillo24

Very promising.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Pasta, do you agree that the biggest issue with Madden is not so much the gameplay but the fact that so many people play it so often that they find a lot of glitches. It's kind of like the Windows vs Apple argument, with Windows operating on 90% of the computers there are going to be more issues due from the sheer number of people using it and exploiting the system. Just my 2 cents

http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I don't know, Im sure that is a factor. To me its just not an exciting game. Feels too scripted, the crowd doesn't affect the game, the presentation is lackluster.

Regy

How come NCAA has home field advantage but Madden doesn't? Screen shaking, miscommunication,etc. etc…the above article sounds great and I hope it works as promised!! Now, if only they could put some challenge back into the kicking game and USE A GODDAMN KICKING METER! I HAVEN'T MISSED A FG IN TWO YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

The kicking game is very rudimentary. It is a compete lack of challenge. But now that people know the block kick method kicking FG's is a big risk. I can block FG's 7 out of 10 times. They need to have a better system for special teams.

T. Daley

All your reasoning Pasta is more of an artistic expression issue rather than a game play issue which i find particulary strange.

I am not sure exactly what you are looking forward to in terms of presentation. Do you find watching football on Sunday on TV any different. I dont.

Now as far a game play goes, Madden is a long way off in terms of establishing the running game. It seems to me that every year we all complain about the poor blocking schemes in Madden and every year they come up with something other than that. NOTE: see title of your thread.

Seriously Pasta the presentation is the least of the problems with the madden series and overall i don't see what more you can do with it. Football isn't like baseball where the crowd really gets into specific chants and what not. Overall there presentation is very acceptable to me. What are some examples of why you think it scipted and lackluster.

Josh

I completely disagree! When you're dealing with a sports video game that comes out every year, you have to find ways to keep the game fresh & feeling new. Let's face it, football is a very basic game & the little things in the games presentation make a huge difference! EA needs to figure out a way to keep us feeling as if we're really out there on the field. Pasta's right, the game does feel scripted & very bland. HAVING REFS, CHAINGANGS, TV STYLE PRESENTATION, REAL LOOKING SIDELINES, PROGRESSIVE LIGHTING, REALISTIC CROWD REACTIONS, BETTER COLLISION DETECTION, ETC… would be a good start.

t. daley

1)Having Refs: That adds nothing to game play unless they get in the way of the runner/pass. 2) Chaingangs: Add nothing to the gameplay and is merely cosmetic. Realistically how often do you really need to take a measurement and after the first time you see the cut scene will you still care that its in there or will you hit the x button to bypass it. 3) TV style presentation: Don't know what you are looking for here. You have 2 NFL announcers so what more do you want. Half time show ESPN style. Yeah that would be cool but same thing applies. After you see it a couple of times youll just bypass it to get to the start of the 2nd half and you thats true. You buy the game for football, not halftime analysis. 4) Progressive lighting: Already in the game in Madden and NCAA 09. 5) Realistic Crowd Reactions: 80,000 people in a stadium rarely do anything that can be construed as a crowd raction. The best you'll get is boos and ahhs at certain calls but all in all its a small point. 6)Better collision detection: The problem isnt with collision detection at all. The problem is with Blocking.

Acreyman

Please get the crowd into it…Touche' Pasta…..it makes all the difference in NCAA for me. I have been to many Cowboy games and the crowd is friggin unreal at times, especially during goal line stands. the crowd barely makes a peep when u expect it to be loud in Madden and that just kills it for me.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Dallas Cowboys home games are pretty intense.
T. Daley

ACREYMAN, you just kind of stated the state of Pro vs College football. College crowds are far more raucus and into the game, more so than NFL crowds. To make the MADDEN crowds more like the NCAA crowds wouldn't really be realisitc now would it?

T. Daley

Now you say Cowboys games are intense but that is from your perspective of being in the stands and in reality isolated to the general area to which you are sitting.

In madden the perspective is supposed to be that of the player. So to the player all he will hear is VOLUME. So if Madden were to accomplish anything with the crowd it would need to be on a volume basis. For example: The visiting team driving the RED Zone. The Crowd noise should be Crazy Loud and with that should be coupled with increased penalties on the offensive lines and or receivers jumping the snap count. Things like that.
ACREYMAN

Pretty much yes…make it louder. But the crowd needs to react accordingly. When the home team qb throws up a long ball the crowd generally gets dead quiet in anticipation of the catch….yells like crazy if a big catch is made…or gives it the old "yeah, awwww shit" all in one yell if the defender swats it down. we have all wathed football, you know the sounds.

One more comparison…..The NFL network has horrible broadcasts in my opinion because u cant really hear the crowd. If u compare that to the CBS broadcast the crowd noise is very loud and to me that makes the game more fun to watch. It's almost like u are there.
ACREYMAN

Your right…but my point is that Madden does not even come close to what the NFL games feel like yet, NCAA does a better job at that…Madden has some work to do.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Pasta, do you agree that the biggest issue with Madden is not so much the gameplay but the fact that so many people play it so often that they find a lot of glitches. It's kind of like the Windows vs Apple argument, with Windows operating on 90% of the computers there are going to be more issues due from the sheer number of people using it and exploiting the system. Just my 2 cents

http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I don't know, Im sure that is a factor. To me its just not an exciting game. Feels too scripted, the crowd doesn't affect the game, the presentation is lackluster.

Regy

How come NCAA has home field advantage but Madden doesn't? Screen shaking, miscommunication,etc. etc…the above article sounds great and I hope it works as promised!! Now, if only they could put some challenge back into the kicking game and USE A GODDAMN KICKING METER! I HAVEN'T MISSED A FG IN TWO YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

The kicking game is very rudimentary. It is a compete lack of challenge. But now that people know the block kick method kicking FG's is a big risk. I can block FG's 7 out of 10 times. They need to have a better system for special teams.

T. Daley

All your reasoning Pasta is more of an artistic expression issue rather than a game play issue which i find particulary strange.

I am not sure exactly what you are looking forward to in terms of presentation. Do you find watching football on Sunday on TV any different. I dont.

Now as far a game play goes, Madden is a long way off in terms of establishing the running game. It seems to me that every year we all complain about the poor blocking schemes in Madden and every year they come up with something other than that. NOTE: see title of your thread.

Seriously Pasta the presentation is the least of the problems with the madden series and overall i don't see what more you can do with it. Football isn't like baseball where the crowd really gets into specific chants and what not. Overall there presentation is very acceptable to me. What are some examples of why you think it scipted and lackluster.

Josh

I completely disagree! When you're dealing with a sports video game that comes out every year, you have to find ways to keep the game fresh & feeling new. Let's face it, football is a very basic game & the little things in the games presentation make a huge difference! EA needs to figure out a way to keep us feeling as if we're really out there on the field. Pasta's right, the game does feel scripted & very bland. HAVING REFS, CHAINGANGS, TV STYLE PRESENTATION, REAL LOOKING SIDELINES, PROGRESSIVE LIGHTING, REALISTIC CROWD REACTIONS, BETTER COLLISION DETECTION, ETC… would be a good start.

t. daley

1)Having Refs: That adds nothing to game play unless they get in the way of the runner/pass. 2) Chaingangs: Add nothing to the gameplay and is merely cosmetic. Realistically how often do you really need to take a measurement and after the first time you see the cut scene will you still care that its in there or will you hit the x button to bypass it. 3) TV style presentation: Don't know what you are looking for here. You have 2 NFL announcers so what more do you want. Half time show ESPN style. Yeah that would be cool but same thing applies. After you see it a couple of times youll just bypass it to get to the start of the 2nd half and you thats true. You buy the game for football, not halftime analysis. 4) Progressive lighting: Already in the game in Madden and NCAA 09. 5) Realistic Crowd Reactions: 80,000 people in a stadium rarely do anything that can be construed as a crowd raction. The best you'll get is boos and ahhs at certain calls but all in all its a small point. 6)Better collision detection: The problem isnt with collision detection at all. The problem is with Blocking.

Acreyman

Please get the crowd into it…Touche' Pasta…..it makes all the difference in NCAA for me. I have been to many Cowboy games and the crowd is friggin unreal at times, especially during goal line stands. the crowd barely makes a peep when u expect it to be loud in Madden and that just kills it for me.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Dallas Cowboys home games are pretty intense.
T. Daley

ACREYMAN, you just kind of stated the state of Pro vs College football. College crowds are far more raucus and into the game, more so than NFL crowds. To make the MADDEN crowds more like the NCAA crowds wouldn't really be realisitc now would it?

T. Daley

Now you say Cowboys games are intense but that is from your perspective of being in the stands and in reality isolated to the general area to which you are sitting.

In madden the perspective is supposed to be that of the player. So to the player all he will hear is VOLUME. So if Madden were to accomplish anything with the crowd it would need to be on a volume basis. For example: The visiting team driving the RED Zone. The Crowd noise should be Crazy Loud and with that should be coupled with increased penalties on the offensive lines and or receivers jumping the snap count. Things like that.
ACREYMAN

Pretty much yes…make it louder. But the crowd needs to react accordingly. When the home team qb throws up a long ball the crowd generally gets dead quiet in anticipation of the catch….yells like crazy if a big catch is made…or gives it the old "yeah, awwww shit" all in one yell if the defender swats it down. we have all wathed football, you know the sounds.

One more comparison…..The NFL network has horrible broadcasts in my opinion because u cant really hear the crowd. If u compare that to the CBS broadcast the crowd noise is very loud and to me that makes the game more fun to watch. It's almost like u are there.
ACREYMAN

Your right…but my point is that Madden does not even come close to what the NFL games feel like yet, NCAA does a better job at that…Madden has some work to do.

http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I'll try to get some up tomorrow night once I have the game.
http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I'll try to get some up tomorrow night once I have the game.
pat oak

sounds good. let hope they dont find a way to screw it up though. and how aboout adding the same in ncaa 2010 football!
pat oak

sounds good. let hope they dont find a way to screw it up though. and how aboout adding the same in ncaa 2010 football!
jon

these features won't work right
jon

these features won't work right
n3n3rs

agreed. adaptive A.I. from last year that they hyped about didn't work either.
n3n3rs

agreed. adaptive A.I. from last year that they hyped about didn't work either.
Bl4ziNbuLLd0G

they'll over do it lol… they will probably make man coverage so good that you can't even complete a pass

Guru

lol….exactly right? you probably couldnt complete a single pass against cromartie or asomugha

Bl4ziNbuLLd0G

they'll over do it lol… they will probably make man coverage so good that you can't even complete a pass

Guru

lol….exactly right? you probably couldnt complete a single pass against cromartie or asomugha

Bl4ziNbuLLd0G

also noticed Hines Ward has 82 speed and DRC 94… thats a good job scaling down the ratings…
Bl4ziNbuLLd0G

also noticed Hines Ward has 82 speed and DRC 94… thats a good job scaling down the ratings…
Alex Rodriguez

I agree Regy the kicking thing with the joystick is lame they just changed it for the sake of changing it I prefer the meter much more exciting and challenging.

a-rod is gay

get off regy's nutsack gay rod

Alex Rodriguez

I agree Regy the kicking thing with the joystick is lame they just changed it for the sake of changing it I prefer the meter much more exciting and challenging.

a-rod is gay

get off regy's nutsack gay rod

http://intensedebate.com/people/EPICgabe Gabe G.

thats right
http://intensedebate.com/people/EPICgabe Gabe G.

thats right
http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Passing in the NFL is a skill and a art it shouldn't be as easy as it is in Madden, but the reality is if you make it too difficult it will turn off the average consumer and just relate to the hardcore gamer. Madden has to pay their bills so I don't see that happening the sports gaming industry is a billion dollar business. How do you think the Wii has sold so much? The Wii using graphics from 10 years back but they appeal to a wider gamer base
http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Passing in the NFL is a skill and a art it shouldn't be as easy as it is in Madden, but the reality is if you make it too difficult it will turn off the average consumer and just relate to the hardcore gamer. Madden has to pay their bills so I don't see that happening the sports gaming industry is a billion dollar business. How do you think the Wii has sold so much? The Wii using graphics from 10 years back but they appeal to a wider gamer base
http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

You know now that I think about it we play relatively simple games think about it. IPod apps, pac-man, Wii. I personally play more simple formatted games than next generation games.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

You know now that I think about it we play relatively simple games think about it. IPod apps, pac-man, Wii. I personally play more simple formatted games than next generation games.
Mcserve

fuck u gay-rod
Mcserve

fuck u gay-rod
http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Pasta, I do not know your expertise in football but I'm sure you know as well as everyone else that one major thing has to change in Madden. You will never see a professional wide receiver run his route and just STAND IN ONE PLACE looking at the quarterback with a defender directly in front of him (unless you're L.J. Smith). I have seen this time and time again with the receiver not even making an attempt to to get in front off the defender. I see it as well on the defensive side with players just standing in one place not moving around in there zones. If a player in the league feet aren't moving on any particular play then he will have a seat on the bench at least then he will have an excuse as to why he wasn't moving his feet.

MR EA SPORTS

I think the running game needs work. defensive players get out of blocks to easy. as soon as I pass through the hole in the lines. Interior line shouldn't be bullrushed just because Im passing through.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Pasta, I do not know your expertise in football but I'm sure you know as well as everyone else that one major thing has to change in Madden. You will never see a professional wide receiver run his route and just STAND IN ONE PLACE looking at the quarterback with a defender directly in front of him (unless you're L.J. Smith). I have seen this time and time again with the receiver not even making an attempt to to get in front off the defender. I see it as well on the defensive side with players just standing in one place not moving around in there zones. If a player in the league feet aren't moving on any particular play then he will have a seat on the bench at least then he will have an excuse as to why he wasn't moving his feet.

MR EA SPORTS

I think the running game needs work. defensive players get out of blocks to easy. as soon as I pass through the hole in the lines. Interior line shouldn't be bullrushed just because Im passing through.

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Pasta, I do not know your expertise in football but I'm sure you know as well as everyone else that one major thing has to change in Madden. You will never see a professional wide receiver run his route and just STAND IN ONE PLACE looking at the quarterback with a defender directly in front of him (unless you're L.J. Smith). I have seen this time and time again with the receiver not even making an attempt to to get in front of the defender. I see it as well on the defensive side with players just standing in one place not moving around in there zones. If a player in the league feet aren't moving on any particular play then he will have a seat on the bench at least then he will have an excuse as to why he wasn't moving his feet.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Pasta, I do not know your expertise in football but I'm sure you know as well as everyone else that one major thing has to change in Madden. You will never see a professional wide receiver run his route and just STAND IN ONE PLACE looking at the quarterback with a defender directly in front of him (unless you're L.J. Smith). I have seen this time and time again with the receiver not even making an attempt to to get in front of the defender. I see it as well on the defensive side with players just standing in one place not moving around in their zones. If a player in the league feet aren't moving on any particular play then he will have a seat on the bench at least then he will have an excuse as to why he wasn't moving his feet.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Pasta, I do not know your expertise in football but I'm sure you know as well as everyone else that one major thing has to change in Madden. You will never see a professional wide receiver run his route and just STAND IN ONE PLACE looking at the quarterback with a defender directly in front of him (unless you're L.J. Smith). I have seen this time and time again with the receiver not even making an attempt to to get in front of the defender. I see it as well on the defensive side with players just standing in one place not moving around in there zones. If a player in the league feet aren't moving on any particular play then he will have a seat on the bench at least then he will have an excuse as to why he wasn't moving his feet.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Pasta, I do not know your expertise in football but I'm sure you know as well as everyone else that one major thing has to change in Madden. You will never see a professional wide receiver run his route and just STAND IN ONE PLACE looking at the quarterback with a defender directly in front of him (unless you're L.J. Smith). I have seen this time and time again with the receiver not even making an attempt to to get in front of the defender. I see it as well on the defensive side with players just standing in one place not moving around in their zones. If a player in the league feet aren't moving on any particular play then he will have a seat on the bench at least then he will have an excuse as to why he wasn't moving his feet.
http://www.maddenbible.com/ ZFarls

Like the way they are going with the new features! I wrote an article on how I think these new updates will change Madden 2010. Check it out at my blog link
http://www.maddenbible.com ZFarls

Like the way they are going with the new features! I wrote an article on how I think these new updates will change Madden 2010. Check it out at my blog link
http://intensedebate.com/people/cabrillo24 cabrillo24

That's why there are different difficulty levels.

t. daley

the difficulty levels in Madden are just degrees of cheating by the AI

When you play on All Madden the game is only harder b/c the game becomes more unrealistic not realistic. Players magically shed all blocks more quickly or the they basically are programmed to know your play more often than not.

You can see it when you pick a play and they always seem to be right where you are going to run the ball. Its like they know if the play is going to right and left all the time. Thats just cheating and not a real level of difficulty.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Good point. It''s very easy to notice too, just pick a play and audible wihtout moving anybody and the computer will adjust everytime to postion themselves to stop the play. How is that possible? It's kinda funny to audible to a run and the CPU comes in adublie to a pass and th CPU backs up. All without you even tipping your play no movement by any players so it's pretty obvious they know what you are going to do, Oh well the CPU still can not stop the screen play

Guru

yeah, all madden cheats man..it annoys the hell out of me

http://intensedebate.com/people/cabrillo24 cabrillo24

That's why there are different difficulty levels.

t. daley

the difficulty levels in Madden are just degrees of cheating by the AI

When you play on All Madden the game is only harder b/c the game becomes more unrealistic not realistic. Players magically shed all blocks more quickly or the they basically are programmed to know your play more often than not.

You can see it when you pick a play and they always seem to be right where you are going to run the ball. Its like they know if the play is going to right and left all the time. Thats just cheating and not a real level of difficulty.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Mr_EA_Sports Mr_EA_Sports

Good point. It''s very easy to notice too, just pick a play and audible wihtout moving anybody and the computer will adjust everytime to postion themselves to stop the play. How is that possible? It's kinda funny to audible to a run and the CPU comes in adublie to a pass and th CPU backs up. All without you even tipping your play no movement by any players so it's pretty obvious they know what you are going to do, Oh well the CPU still can not stop the screen play

Guru

yeah, all madden cheats man..it annoys the hell out of me

Joe

There goes my strategy of picking up Az-Zahir Hakim every year.
Joe

There goes my strategy of picking up Az-Zahir Hakim every year.
juglio

Wow. This sounds good, but it will be madden 2008 all over again with man coverage being so great and zone coverage being so bad. Hopefully they can make the gameplay harder. When i play online the computer AI is retarded. I will have all the user picks and the cpu will drop an easy pass thrown right at them. i have to play safety cus the computer is terrrible at man defense and now the zone since rocket catching. I know how to rocket catch and it is so cheap, i only do it if a kid does it to me. i hope they get rocket catch out and disconnect glitches out. People are so pathetic to glitch a game for a record that doesnt matter.
juglio

Wow. This sounds good, but it will be madden 2008 all over again with man coverage being so great and zone coverage being so bad. Hopefully they can make the gameplay harder. When i play online the computer AI is retarded. I will have all the user picks and the cpu will drop an easy pass thrown right at them. i have to play safety cus the computer is terrrible at man defense and now the zone since rocket catching. I know how to rocket catch and it is so cheap, i only do it if a kid does it to me. i hope they get rocket catch out and disconnect glitches out. People are so pathetic to glitch a game for a record that doesnt matter.