Madden 10: Sim Style Gameplay
by 
This week’s Inside EA Blog posting for Madden 10 focuses on some of the changes made to make the game more of a simulation. Most of that centers around the animation and various speed elements. Many of the things specifically mentioned have been gripes of the hardcore community. This is another good sign about the direction Madden is taking this year.
From the very beginning of the year, we’ve tried to make clear our vision for Madden – one of authenticity, realism, & simulation (aka ’sim’). There is no doubt that we all want to turn this game into the most realistic version of Madden in history. This week I wanted to touch on some of the changes we’ve made (and struggles we’ve had) while trying to achieve this goal for Madden NFL 10.
To read full blog posting and catch some of the video examples head over to the Inside Blog here.
March 9, 2009 at 9:15 pm
It's glad to know they're still focusing on enhancing the sim style gameplay. I know it's early, but I'm pretty excited about this next Madden. I think 09 got the series back on the right track and it's obviously opening up the door for some cool stuff.
March 9, 2009 at 9:15 pm
It's good to know they're still focusing on enhancing the sim style gameplay. I know it's early, but I'm pretty excited about this next Madden. I think 09 got the series back on the right track and it's obviously opening up the door for some cool stuff.
March 9, 2009 at 10:14 pm
with Ian taking note of mlb 09 the show. He was showing the other producers how they do the little things right and how it represents the game of baseball. I think the game will be great this year and I am really looking forward to it.
March 9, 2009 at 9:24 pm
The Madden Journey is a "marathon" not a "spint". People need to understand that progress takes alot of time and unfortunately alot of people in the community don't understand that. Madden is and has come along quite nicely since the switch over to the next gen consoles. With a solid 3-4 years of experience with the next gen consoles under their belts, Madden should be ramping up quite nicely in the future years.
My only question is when will EA finally use the PS3 for its lead console instead of the 360. The PS3 has so much more capability especially with the size of the disc space that PS3 users feel like they are being cheated year in and year out b/c EA wont take advantage of the platform.
It seems to me that EA doesn't want to upset the Microsoft "apple cart" by creating more content for the PS3 than the 360. Blue ray discs have a 50gig capacity. EA should seriously consider using it. Doing so could surely sway the console war in favor of the PS3.
March 9, 2009 at 10:22 pm
My main gripe about Playstation (outside of not having the ready cash for one, nor an HDTV) Is those damn tiny controllers. I've never had a PS2 nor 3, but I remember my hands cramping up on my PSone controllers after just a little while. The original Xbox "Dukes" were the most comfortable controllers ever made, for ME, the new 360 controllers are pretty good though. I just don't understand why there has to be only one size. Are there any good 3rd market PS3 controllers made for people with normal-sized hands?
On topic: I like this direction. I personally will probably not get Madden X because I bought Madden 09. Hopefully their working with the NCAA guys because I may pick that one up this year.
March 9, 2009 at 10:22 pm
My main gripe about Playstation (outside of not having the ready cash for one, nor an HDTV) Is those damn tiny controllers. I've never had a PS2 nor 3, but I remember my hands cramping up on my PSone controllers after just a little while. The original Xbox "Dukes" were the most comfortable controllers ever made, for ME, but the new 360 controllers are pretty good though. I just don't understand why there has to be only one size. Are there any good 3rd market PS3 controllers made for people with normal-sized hands?
On topic: I like this direction. I personally will probably not get Madden X because I bought Madden 09. Hopefully their working with the NCAA guys because I may pick that one up this year.
March 9, 2009 at 10:23 pm
My main gripe about Playstation (outside of not having the ready cash for one, nor an HDTV) Is those damn tiny controllers. I've never had a PS2 nor 3, but I remember my hands cramping up on my PSone controllers after just a little while. The original Xbox "Dukes" were the most comfortable controllers ever made, for ME, but the new 360 controllers are pretty good though. I just don't understand why there has to be only one size. Are there any good 3rd market PS3 controllers made for people with normal-sized hands?
On topic: I like this direction. I personally will probably not get Madden X because I bought Madden 09. Hopefully they're working with the NCAA guys because I may pick that one up this year.
March 10, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Are you this guy?
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/8/29/
March 10, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Ha! Brilliant! but no… my hands seem of quite ordinary size for a guy 6'1". There were a lot of other things about that controller other than the size that made it more comfortable. It was designed much more ergonomically. The button placement was perfect, minimizing thumb movement and left you with a much more natural movement. There was also just the heft and the triggers, it gave more of a tactile sense of shooting a gun as opposed to tapping a rectangle on the edge of the controller. Do PS3 controllers even have triggers yet?
And again.. they make different sizes of everything… underwear, gloves, hats… why not something like a game controller? Give us options!
March 9, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Off Topic (sorry). Pasta, do you know what today's update (version 1.0.1) addressed in The Show?
March 9, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I love what they are doing with Madden. Going to be sop good next year. Wish that they would fix there servers tho that way I could play Madden online. Also would be cool if they add some sort of teamplay online to like nhl 09.
March 9, 2009 at 9:59 pm
umm pasta… can you bring this up with the guys that are posting this blog… in the madden 10 version the fullback is taking the handoff with the wrong hand. "open side to the ball" this was taught in pee wee football.
March 9, 2009 at 10:15 pm
madden 10 is shaping up to be much better than 09……..or at least for now. it was a good write-up by Ian and addressed small gripes that I had with 09. I hope that they'll continue to take notice some of the other areas of the core gameplay as well……because above all other things madden, gameplay is the most important. I can live without any Be a Pro or Franchise modes!……..just fix all the things that are needed to make the game enjoyable to play on the field!!
March 9, 2009 at 10:45 pm
i think this madden is shapin up to be special this year im likeing what i hear
March 9, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Iv been one of the biggest opponents to Madden since it made the move onto the next gen systems, but just about all iv heard from this dev team has me thinking they might just get it right. Its still WAY too early to tell, but im deff eager to get more details. EA is great about over hyping their products, so everything i hear i take with a grain of salt.
March 9, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Hey 47, you know that I've been a huge fan of 2K football, but Madden 09 wasn't that bad. It's glaring weekness in my book though is it's immersion factor. i got through about 3 seasons (as opposed to about 20 or more in 2k5) and it was just kind of dry then (2k5 spoiled me). I'm now at the end of my 3rd season in Head Coach 09. I may be the top seed in the playoffs and I'm actually thinking more about what I need to do in the off-season! So I'm definitely one of the few who's getting more enjoyment out of HC 09 than Madden. But as I said before… gameplay-wise, Madden 09 is not that bad a game.
That's why I'm the exact opposite of "footballgamer" who posted above. If the game play is perfect, but there's not any deeper mode like a franchise or Be A Pro, I still get bored pretty quickly.
"@footballgamer" if you're just interested in great onfield gameplay… you really need to give APF 2k8 a try. Still the best onfield football video game I've ever played. Momentum and physics are very well done.
March 10, 2009 at 1:26 am
Yea i think we've had this discussion before. I agree with you in that gameplay wise Madden 09 wasn't that bad, but what was bad was just about everything else. The atmosphere was non-existent which just ruined the game after a few games into a season mode. If they can fix that as well as a few other small things, this game might be what it once was.
March 9, 2009 at 10:59 pm
FLASH BULBS~!
March 9, 2009 at 11:31 pm
as always…SOUNDS GOOD…We will see how this game plays though
March 9, 2009 at 11:47 pm
It's nice to see the the Madden developers are taking time to fix the exploits so many people use online (ie. FB dive). Also, per Ian's twitter account, he has been working on fixing the QB dive glitch. From what I can read, it looks like the rocket catch is going to be addressed as well. Good blog posting overall!
March 10, 2009 at 1:28 am
…or QB sneaks 5 times in a drive…..at least make the sneaks look better instead of a QB running on a treadmill animations!!!
March 10, 2009 at 12:26 am
EA, bring back the GODDAMN KICKING METER for the love of Jesus!!!!
March 10, 2009 at 1:10 am
Some subtle additions that should go a long way. The real question is whether or not these will be implemented in NCAA Football 10. That games really needs some realism tweaks and these fixes are a good start.
March 10, 2009 at 1:26 am
I still think I'm liking the WR/DB jostling idea the best so far. That should really seperate the good receivers and good corners! Instead of just, ok, this guy is 90 speed but sux in everything else……..I'll send him deep every play.
March 10, 2009 at 1:57 am
excited forr this gamme!!!!!!! i hated throwing long bombs down field cause of hoow unrealistic andd rediculous it looked,
March 10, 2009 at 3:31 am
i like the direction this game is going. one thing i hope they look into is having players weights and strengths have more impact in the tackling animation. im so sick of little RBs like reggie bush, felix jones, and sproles run over ray lewis or even D-lineman and pick up the first down. those defenders have like 50+ lbs on the backs and are much stronger. i just wish players would go down right on contact more often.
March 10, 2009 at 3:50 am
these changes are very interesting, especially when you watch the video and see the 09 vs 10 animations. i never knew the reason the FB Dive was so successful, but now it makes sense. I wonder if a QB Sneak will take on a more realistic animation. In 09, 4th and inches meant a first down if a sneak was called.
March 10, 2009 at 4:39 am
wow….this looks awesome
March 10, 2009 at 5:32 am
THIS IS ALL GOOD BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OVERALL TV PRESENTATION WHEN WE PLAY A SPORTS VIDEO GAME WE WANT TO FEEL LIKE WE ARE WATCHING A TV BROADCAST RIGHT!! THIS IS ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS EA HAS ALL THE RESOURCES ESPN THE NFL NETWORK THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO HAVE A PLAYOFF OR SUPERBOWL GAME FEEL LIKE A REGULAR SEASON GAME PUT SOME EMOTION IN THE GAME !!! AND MORE CAMERA ANGELS
March 10, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Amen!
March 10, 2009 at 7:53 am
I am worried about player fatigues. I never hear these devs talking about player fatigue. In a realistic game, subs should come in to play too a ton of the time, but the right subs also (not just the 99 rated punter subbing in at LB because he's the next available and the highest rated player on the team).
March 10, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Agreed! Players don't seem to get fatigued enough in the game. Fatigue should play a bigger factor.
March 10, 2009 at 10:22 pm
the fatigue is fine. i have players sub in all the time
March 10, 2009 at 11:24 am
It's very early, but all these features that are being announced are getting me slowly pumped every week for the new Madden and NCAA, i really think the teams at both games are really stepping it up so far this year and hopefully return to the 9.0+ football games
thanks pasta
March 10, 2009 at 12:38 pm
All of these updates have sounded nice, but the issue that has to be overcome is that these Tiburon guys don't really understand football and I don't buy that they're using an all-new team this year. Michael Young is still on the team who was there from last season and I'm sure there are other guys. The entire team needed changing, Ian included because he's been working on this piece of junk from the beginning and it's been crap, so what should make us believe that this year with a guy that's failed every year for years is going to magically be a different person and turn this thing around?
I'll wait until August 11th before I jump for joy. This franchise is a complete joke. They've created an incredible hype machine every year only to put out a $60+tax box of broken crap.
March 10, 2009 at 3:22 pm
YEAH YEAH!!! EASPORTS ITS IN THE GAME !!!! MORE LIKE EASPORTS MORE OF THE SAME every year we hear major changes coming but its more of the same shit !!!same stubby looking player models, the field looks 2 sizes bigger compared to the players no emotion what so ever !!!!when you win a playoff or superbowl game the players just walk off the field haftime show sucks why the fuck do they have espn and don't use it now there going to slow the game down even more i'll give them credit madden 09 was an improvement but that game should have been madden 07 why does first generation madden have more options than next generation madden
March 10, 2009 at 10:24 pm
who cares aout that stuff. id rather have the gameplay better
March 10, 2009 at 4:36 pm
For the love of God can we please have REFS & CHAINGANGS on the freekin field! For Christ's sake how hard is it to add them with all the power in these systems? It's 5 years into "Next Gen" ! No more excuses EA! PRESENTATION EA! THAT'S WHAT MADDEN IS LACKING! Little details do matter!
March 10, 2009 at 6:24 pm
This is looking good so far. I agree that EA should do something with the presentation in terms of playoffs and Super Bowl atmosphere.
I would also like to see injuries impact player performance depending on the injury. For example, someone twists an ankle (say a RB), depending on severity you can see the player favor the ankle in and out of the huddle and maybe when running. Maybe notice extra tape on the injured ankle, a knee brace where one wasn't on a bumb knee, etc.
I will say this is looking promising. EA isn't going to please everyone but if they can get the game play going in the right direction with these minor tweaks that is a positive….
March 10, 2009 at 9:28 pm
If anything, it's the presentation that's probably been the least improved aspect across all sports games of this generation.
I don't know if anybody remembers, but in ESPN NFL 2K5, not only did they have the highlight show every week, but the Super Bowl was vastly different too. The pregame had the players all running out of the tunnel like they would, the coaches met and talked on the field, and there was even a fly-over. Not to mention all this stuff was done 5 years ago and there's actually been decline in the quality since then. I just can't see why they can't pay 2 or 3 guys to work on just that aspect of the game to make it feel as real as possible.
March 10, 2009 at 9:27 pm
If anything, it's the presentation that's probably been the least improved aspect across all sports games of this generation.
I don't know if anybody remembers, but in ESPN NFL 2K5, not only did they have the highlight show every week, but the Super Bowl was vastly different too. The pregame had the players all running out of the tunnel like they would, the coaches met and talked on the field, and there was even a flyover. Not to mention all this stuff was done 5 years ago and there's actually been decline in the quality since then. I just can't see why they can't pay 2 or 3 guys to work on just that aspect of the game to make it feel as real as possible.
March 10, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Wow… cant wait to see gameplay vids when the time comes, im also hoping they fix the QB sneak thats 95% effective even with a QB like peyton manning. I'm going to say good work EA, not great but deff a huge step in the right direction!… still going to be a first day rent then ill decide if ima buy it but by the looks of it it just might be a purchase for me, cant wait to hear what your doing for franchise (thats a selling point)
March 10, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Id also like to see a player get injured and be taken care of… it would add alot to the game if they had a training staff come and help the player off the field huddle around him while hes laying down.
March 10, 2009 at 11:06 pm
^^^YES!!!!!!
If an injury report says he's out for the game(s), I want to see him helped off, not always under his own power. Also remove the "INJURY!" alert from the jumbotron
March 10, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I also hope that EA fixes the classic uniforms. Look at New England's throwbacks…The pants that New England wore actually had stripes down the side, they weren't plain white….
Please, please fix the uniforms. This is something that Peter Moore commented on last year when Pasta questioned him about the inaccuracy of the uniforms….
March 13, 2009 at 12:32 am
OMG
March 14, 2009 at 6:38 pm
As for as improvements go, Madden 10 is shaping up to be one of the best ever. Just to name a few improvements: Realistic WR Accleration and Route Running, Better QB Dropbacks, SPEED fixes(finally i might actually use the sweep or toss during a game), and My Favorite so far is Head Tracking. I really appreciate the fact that EA fixed this issue because i would always have my WR open on a post or 10 yard in and the all of a sudden the CB takes one step and moves about 5 yards to Pick, Deflect, tip the pass so hopefully these ideas pan out for Madden 10