Strategy Pad. Most Reviled Feature Since The Vision Cone?

by pastapadre
Posted July 27th, 2010 at 10:06 am

Going into the Madden 11 demo I expected a somewhat flat response but what we have gotten (albeit in the early hours) is much more negative. While there are a number of things factoring into that the main one centers on the “Strategy Pad”. There is essentially no benefit to the pre-snap adjustments being changed in this fashion and it has thrown a wrench into the level of comfort gamers have with Madden.

The Strategy Pad now houses all the pre-snap adjustments via the D-Pad. The most commonly used functions such as hot routes, shifting, and individual assignment changes are now completed with the D-Pad. I can’t remember a reaction towards a single feature so overwhelmingly negative since the introduction of the “Vision Cone”. Part of that may be due to it catching gamers by surprise however the complaints are primarily based on its functionality.

The biggest issue arises on defense where there is literally no time to assess the offense and then make changes. I’ve never wanted the CPU to sit at the line of scrimmage just for authenticity sake. Even if its Peyton Manning. However with how quickly the CPU snaps the ball there just is no opportunity given because of the lengthier process in completing a single change combined with the necessity to learn the new functions that make each happen.

This is saying something considering that I’ve always been very basic in pre-snap adjustments. On defense I might press the corners and/or adjust the alignment of the defensive line or linebackers. Now though I can’t even complete the most basic of adjustments. There are now more actions required to accomplish less which as a design decision just fascinates me.

This change also really messes with the symmetry between NCAA Football 11 and Madden. While there have always been differences in the two series EA Sports attempted to keep them just similar enough that gamers could go from one to the other without having to make huge adjustments. Some may argue that over time the Strategy Pad will become second nature. However when the two games are so drastically different in something that needs to be done almost unconsciously due to the limited time allotted it becomes much more difficult and really alters the enjoyment had with the games.

The only logical explanation anyone has been able to offer as to why the move to the Strategy Pad was made would be to prevent exploits from being set up by limiting the number of them that can be completed. That wouldn’t apply though to head-to-head games where the snap time may still allow for the necessary changes to be made. Even if this was the intention it represents nothing more than a cover-up of fundamental issues with the game. Instead they need to focus on fixing the exploits, otherwise why wouldn’t their eventual solution be to prevent all pre-snap alterations? After all that would “fix” the exploits that are accomplished through specific or massive movement before the snap right?

Interestingly with Madden 11 attempting to target the casual crowd along new consumers to the product the Strategy Pad goes firmly against what they want to accomplish. It does not fit in the “simpler, quicker, deeper” mantra and is by no means accessible. It has irritated the veterans of the Madden series immediately. It would be difficult for someone less experienced to even grasp the purpose in general let alone them trying to complete any actions on defense leading to eventual frustration. If anything non-hardcore gamers may be more inclined to just ignore the feature than actually utilize it.

I’ve never been one to complain much about a certain feature being removed or a certain feature being changed on a year-to-year basis. However that is because in most cases there was a decent explanation to back them up or it was intended to be an improvement. I am simply baffled by this change and it has me feeling even stronger that over the long haul I’ll be playing much more NCAA than Madden.

While I’ve been following all the discussion on the topic in the comments on the demo posting, through different communities, and on Twiter and Facebook, I’d like to get a more focused take in the comments now. How do you feel about the Strategy Pad in Madden 11?

Tags: latest news

CardLover

I don't understand…Why the hell would you not buy Madden 11? BECAUSE OF ONE FREAKING BAD CHANGE?
???

55-7 JETS
Nflplayer914

relax its not the end of the world… learn how to use the god damn controls
jack

yaaaaaaaa f the strategy pad.. it seriously is stupid
nhiverson

I dont like the Strategy Pad but, I could get used to it I'm not into college football I did rent NCAA11 and it was pretty fun but not for me. I think they changed the way the pre-snap adjustments are done maybe to slow down the people who abuse it to nano and stuff I don't mind that but for people who have both games will have trouble going back and fourth.
shiz

I have the full game and the strategy pad is horrible and there is no way around it. All of the new features I have turned off, gameflow…coordinator suggestions…autosprint and the game is still wayyyyy below par. They did not touch the franchise or superstar mode, as they even still have the same exact menus and options. Team Play is unranked only with no leader board or way to collect stats. This game is a joke.
daley7199

I too have been banned over there. The guys over at OS are a bunch of Hacks who hang on EA's nut sack. You all think Pasta is an EA nut hugger but the douchebags over at OS swallow dem nutz like a bowl of free nuts at a bar. Any forum that would ban for one expressing his honest opinion isnt a site that has any cred with me. That is also the case with the 2k forums and those two salad tossers 2k Ronnie and 2k Tercel. That is why I come here. Pasta has thick skin and he doesn't interfere with the banter of us gamers. This is the last safe Haven for us gamers to express EXACTLY how we feel with out fear of reprisal from some basement dwelling geek who needs to be moderator in order to give meaning to there utterly pathetic life. Rock on Pasta. Keep doing what you do.
Rdb205

Are there really zero changes to Franchise-Superstar modes offline. Are they the same scouting drafts too with no new features?
philly

they made a statement on the madden website; NO CHANGES. NONE. Same franchise mode we've had since the next gen madden came out…
philly

heck there's even a post on pastapadre's website about the franchise mode.
philly

From all the articles and things I've seen following the brigade of people hating this feature, there's nothing so far that's going to be done. I'm praying for a patch that AT THE VERY LEAST, removes the action of hitting the d-pad to “open” the strategy pad(soooo pointless).
philly

They put out a dev post about it I believe a few months back. My thing is they should've known that with changing something like this, they needed to inform the consumers a week or so ago that “hey, while we flood you with gameflow and gameplan, just know we've changed the way you make pre-snap adjustments”. They just experiment for the casual gamer man… it's sad. I've played the demo enough to get somewhat used to it, but I don't like it at all.
philly

I was reading some stuff between Ian and a guy on OS earlier… there's def. some behind the scenes stuff going on. I mean EA checks out those forums and so does 2K. I don't know man… freedom of speech is almost gone by the wayside.

EASOLDTHEIRSOUL

THIS IS TRUE. EA DEPT DOES LOOK THROUGH THE INTERNET FOR FEEDBACK OF MADDEN AND WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT IT OR ABOUT THE PROGRAMMERS AND DEVS. BUT I CAN SAY THAT PASTAS SITE AND OP ARE THE TOP SITES EA WILL GO TO TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING, ALTHOUGH…..EA DOES NOT HAVE A “DEAL” WITH OP, BUT RATHER FREE PRESS FOR THEM SO IN RETURN, THEY DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO PROTECT IAN AND CO WHILE TRYING TO GET TRAFFIC TO THAT WEBSITE.

IMO, THAT WEBSITE IS A NAZI LIKE/AUTHORITARIAN TYPE OF PLACE. THE MODS THERE WHO I KNOW HAPPENED TO BE SOME YOUNG 20 SOMETHING DOUCHEBAG WHO TWEETS ABOUT IDIOTIC STUFF (MILLENIUM) AND SOME 40 SOMETHING TIGHTWAD NAMED JACKDOG, PRIMARILY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PUTTING THE NAZI RULES IN. STEVE SHOULD KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE THEIR DOWNFALL. THEY ARE BANNING MEMBERS LEFT AND RIGHT FOR THE MOST IDIOTIC RULES EVER TO GRACE THE INTERNET.

THESE GUYS NEED TO LOOSEN UP LIKE PASTA. PASTA’S SITE IS THE LAST GREAT SPORTS SITE TO GO TO WITHOUT HAVING A BUNCH OF STUPID RULES TO FOLLOW DUE TO INCOMPETENT MODERATORS.

Rodgers4MVP

omg hate hate hate the strategy pad. since i go to madden challenges i guess i have to get used to it. and i actually lovedd the vision cone you could actually look off the defense with it! it was a cool thing! but really hate the strategy pad hopefully madden challenge has it to where they don't use the strategy pad.
philly

Don't apologize for telling the truth dude. That's EA's problem sometimes. They know that the TRUTH HURTS… and they don't want to hear it unless it's positive about their games. Same thing with 2K; they love to take what's positive about them and rub it in EA's faces… What's so funny is neither company would be what they are if it weren't for us consumers, yet in many cases they both treat us like little kids.
E_rock252

The pad is the worst thing ever to happen to a madden game Its almost impossible to move people around and for self made blitz aka nano's work at all they made this game based on playing the cpu nobody plays the cpu they didn't think about online play at all
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TQNRXAMACWQ7AQWGY6WMPACXBE David

Just finished a demo game that was actually pretty good. I only used the strategy pad once, but had no problem with it. Honestly, I never really used many adjustments in previous versions of Madden and really never learned how to do them. The one move I did tonight (set my CBs to “press”) was fairly easy and didn't seem to take too long (3 button pushes).

I really don't know why this is such a fuss other than you're not used to it. I'll test it more in my next game, but it actually seems easier to me so far. Though I haven't tried anything complicated. That said, I never did anything complicated before because I never seemed to have time anyway. So I don't see much difference.
Billywilly

the strategy pad is a joke. fuck the newcomers. if they havent touched madden yet, to hell with them. EA ditching their loyal fans to boost sales. nice ea nice.
BC85NP

As a Madden player since 1995 – this stupid change with the “dual srick” / “strategy pad” has pissed me off so much I may finally NOT buy the damn game. I love NCAA and now it is confusing as hell to switch back and forth as I have done in year s past. They could have at least put the option to resort back to the original controller configuration. Way to go EA!
Ninomarley

demo is what this is BUT… CROWD REACTION (BOOO) STRATEGY PAD (BOOO & TWO THUMBS DOWN & BOO BOO) CLEAN UP THE COMMENTARY… AGAIN DEMO THIS IS BUT…. its not overall a bad game just expected i guess you can say…
Amont04

just played the demo for ps3, I am very very disappointed in this D-pad control it ruined the whole experience. will I be able to disable it in the settings?
Chitown

Here's my two cents, and its just mine. I like the strategy pad simply for the fact that I like to play games online, and in my opinion it cuts down on some of the cheesy things guys can be on that ruin the fun of the game. I like to make pre snap adjustments myself, but I can honestly live without them if it'll make the OVERALL experience better with the competition of online play. It's simply my opinion. Besides the adjustments dont seem to take that long once you've played for a lil while.
clubhead

ok everyone relax please this feature is not that big of a deal except its easier in my book i pick up everything in one game there our other major issuses in my book. That gameflow shit sucks man waste of time and why is my guy always sprinting theres an option for that. Plus the kicking meter sucks to. T he problem is there trying to bring in more fans and pssing of guys like us . I want real football experience not this arcade like stuff. Madden feels more arcade like. They need to reinvent everything form the ground up new tackle animations stuff like that. Yes i will be buying madden why becasue i love nfl football and this being the only game using pro liscense what else can we do. Being from the north collage football not big up here but i think i might be buying ncaaa instead will see. Make madden for the hardcore make it more relastic not arcade like so i can go online and play a 10 year old ea you suck lon live n2k05
GJK

I have never posted but completely agree. Strategy pad is terrible and I am considering not buying the game unless they change.
TheComingofTan

It takes a game or two to relearn the controls. Relax. The computer quick snaps, so online you will get as many pre-snap adjustments in as last year. Madden fans are just a bunch of whiners, go play NCAA and 2K5 and let us enjoy the best Madden on the 360.
HUEJAC2

I call a minimum of two audibles on defense every snap depending what I see. If you want to reduce the time it takes to play a game go back to 5 minute quarters. Don't take away play options. They have just set the game back 8 years. This not faster quicker smarter but faster quicker dummer.
Michael_fox23

I can deal with the strategy pad but I would like the option to use the dpad to control my players as well. Not sure why this was removed from the game.

Looks like i'll be passing on Madden and playing NCAA.
Mc979007

This morning EA sent me as email, the subject read, “We've Changed The Game”, and replied, “Your Mistake, what I played last night was not worth $60,not even the $20 I paid for 2k5 five years ago!” All I could ask myself was…what happened? From what I can see, it's not as good as Madden 9 or 10. The player figures are small, I have a 40 inch led 120hz tv and could barely make out the players. The Strategy Pad, what were they thinking? GameStop's not gonna be happy (not that I really care) an hour from now cause I'm going to get my $ back. Mabe this has somthing to do with the players union and the leauge not having a CBA contract in place for next year. These are same people that made NCAA 11 with the same exclusive contract as the NFL…is it because there may be a player lockout next year so they trashed Madden this year? We know for a fact the NCAA will have football next year, and look at their game, almost flawless…hmmmm!
DBDAVE

I was thinking of something interesting for EA's/Tiburon's approach with Madden 11 this year – why was there no in-house session with experienced Madden gamers to test the game before it's release, like last year' game??
hbk842

I am just a casual Madden player. I mainly play franchise and very rarely online. I think the demo looks and plays great, but I have to agree that the presnap adjustments are horrid. I almost always use a hot route on a pass play, and I can't tell you how long it took me before I could consistently call a hot route. I ended up calling a hot route to the Y reciever everytime due to the old system, and couldn't figure out how to get the original route back. I really hope they can put out a patch to fix this issue.
Relentless

I hate the strategy pad its clunky..
Bbmac3-5

First and foremost, no QUARTERBACK in any level of football has the ball snapped immediately as they get under the center. Does anyone at EA Sports know football? There are many reasons why the quarteback goes through his cadence and calls signals at the line of scrimmage. I'm sick of EA getting simple things wrong. You will never see the cpu get called for a delay of game because they snap the ball UNREALISTICLY FAST. PLEASE FIX THIS! This was an issue in Madden 09 that was corrected via a patch. Why this was not done to Madden 09 & 11 and now 11 is simply stupid.
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

One of those things where I don't think people realized the impact until they got to actually try it.
TIPPY94177

the strategy pad doesn't even let u spotlight a receiver and the game still takes over 40 minutes to play and if your opponent don't use it it takes longer
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

That is true yes, the problem is that a real NFL defense has 11 individuals that can assess and adjust while in the video game it is just one person trying to control 11 individuals and through use of a controller. With only a second or two a real defense can spot something and react to it but that is pretty much impossible for us to do.
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

I think where you'll see the most problem is when you try to make multiple adjustments. Yeah pressing can be relatively quick (though its now an extra button press) but then try to shift your LBs or DL or adjust an individuals assignment. I don't know if you'd have time to do that or get caught in the middle of doing it which is probably even worse.
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

No. You can remove the Strategy Pad icon on the screen, but that won't change what you have to do to make pre-snap adjustments.
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

Unless your opponent online quick snaps right?
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

There was actually. They just didn't market it like they have in the past.
Bollucks

I can see what the issue is, and dont totally disagree, BUT its not a game ruiner like you mention. Its no different than switching from Halo 3 to COD 4. They are completely different, but once you get them both down, its second nature. Just give it some time.
Josh

Pasta so none of this was brought up at E3?
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

There were multiple points during development where people expressed a dislike towards it. E3 was one of those places. I honestly didn't even notice it, I dont think I tried once to do an adjustment. I spent more time taking videos than playing (since I wasn't feeling well).
JUDA

I dont think the pad is all that bad it just takes some getting used to really. if the game had more realistic snap counts and audibles from the cpu on off and def then there would be more time to adjust.
Bricks

Strategy pad not as good as previous system but is doable after messing around with it a bit.

Miy question is though Pasta, why does NCAA just LOOK so darn better this year?!?!
TheComingofTan

Quick snapping happens in Madden 10 and affects presnap adjustments just as much as in Madden 11. Again, I think it's much ado about nothing.
TheComingofTan

It's just a matter of conscious and subconscious. A lot of people are up in arms because they have to think about making adjustments again. It takes a game or two and a player will get used to the new scheme. I find the strategy pad much easier to use than the old method and I think most people will feel the same once they learn how to use it properly….though it is annoying that you have to press a button to bring it up.
bc85np

Stategy pad doesn't bother me – running game with dual sticks instead of the pad (as in NCAA and every other Madden) has been modified. Don't like it at all. Don't feel the control once had while running the ball.
Princepointe

I has nothing to do with having “to think” about an adjustment. The problem is the amount of time it takes to make the adjustment. This has clearly shifted the balance in favor of the offense.
Princepointe

i'm not sure how much you played last year but I played ALOT and can say with all honesty that I made it a point to snap b4 he could finish hos adjustments. There is NO WAY that anyone can adjust on the fly as fast as they did in 2010 which has shifted the balance in favor of offense
TheComingofTan

I have a feeling the old controls will be patched in at launch.