Early Madden 11 Play Statistics

by pastapadre
Posted September 1st, 2010 at 11:15 am

EA Sports has released some statistics as to how Madden 11 has been played in the opening weeks following release of the game. A little effort has to be taken though to ultimately judge the significance of the numbers they’ve provided.

Madden NFL 11 gamers have averaged more than two million online connected game sessions each day. Nearly 20 percent of all online play has been logged on a brand new feature, Online Team Play. The mode allows fans to go online and play 3-on-3 with, or against, their friends.

With Online Team Play I expect that number to tail off a bit, the mode is quite fun but doesn’t really have the hook to keep people coming back. However 20% seems like it is a good result and establishes the mode as something to continue improving. Madden has always been perceived as a head-to-head game, one dominated by ranked games when it comes to online play. To bring in a cooperative mode after seven years of just head-to-head and have it pull in 20% online is a good sign.

The innovative new GameFlow play calling system in Madden NFL 11 has been a hit, with 85 percent of players having used the new feature that streamlines play calling and shortens overall game length for a more accessible experience. Says ESPN.com: “GameFlow is a complete game-changer.”

You really have to look at the specific wording in press releases and in this case “having used” GameFlow may not be the same saying 85% of all plays continue to be executed via GameFlow selection. We also don’t know if this means just the initial setting or if it counts in games that have GameFlow on and how many times a regular play is chosen through the playbook. I don’t think a number in that range is unreasonable to expect though. Most people don’t mess with default settings. The general sense I get regardless is that GameFlow has been received well by a majority of gamers.

On the strength of the Madden NFL Ultimate Team game mode being released this year at launch, digital revenues for Madden NFL 11 are up more than 200 percent year-over-year.

No surprise here given the circumstances. Madden Ultimate Team drives the biggest portion of digital revenues and was included in Madden 11 right off the bat. Madden 10 didn’t get the Madden Ultimate Team mode until five months after it came out. So Madden 11 digital revenues include MUT, DLC boosts/cheats/online scouting, and the “Online Pass” for those who didn’t buy the game new vs Madden 10 with its boosts/cheats. Still shows how much EA relies on digital revenues to pad the bottom line.

Madden NFL 11 is the #1 selling game in North America in August – sales are projected to be up approximately 5% year-over-year across all platforms for the month.

Have to wait for the official NPD numbers (I believe will be out on 9/9) to see how Madden 11 is faring this year compared to last with the 360/PS3 versions. EA has it in their best interest to provide positive spin and here we don’t know what they are including into a 5% increase and what the breakdown by platform will be.

Tags: latest news

IV THA UNITY

SMH…Gameflow is terrible even when putting 15 plays in per situation. The Gameflow doesn’t seem to work as intended. I have tweaked the frequency of playcalling levels till I was blue in the face and no matter what I get the same results, the same plays being called repeatedly like I only have 3 plays per situation. SMH madden is a mess I didn’t buy 10. I thought 11 would have been better but I was wrong. These numbers will force them to sell even more crappy representations of NFL Football. R.I.P NFL Gaming

Joewoody

That was dumb D U M dumb. Stop Bitchin and call your own plays

http://www.facebook.com/untamedyouth Jason Steele

nice dude! givin 55 some love
VanceL

I think they are just sore that reviews werent up this year. 85% use Gameflow? Well no shit. Here are some more statistics. 100% of people have to play with shitty tackling and broken play action. Doesnt make it good.
Anonymous

I am guessing that the sales increase is partly responsible due to retailers like Amazon and Wal-Mart including gift cards/future video game credit with a Madden purchase. I think both those places I mentioned gave a $20 incentive to buy Madden 11.

I know most games get those deals now, but it’s a lot easier to drop money on a game when you are essentially getting 1/3 of the price off right off the bat. I can’t remember if they did that with Madden 10.
Keith.

vgchartz begs to differ on the sales numbers. According to them, sales are DOWN on every platform but PS3.
IV THA UNITY

Thank god I bought my copy from amazon… and I also traded it back in to amazon as well. I recieved 37 bucks for it. So 20 +37yes 57. I only paid 10 bucks for madden… I love amazon wakka wakka
IV THA UNITY

LOL… i’m sorry 7 bucks to be exact lol
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

Sales may very well end up being down on the 360/PS3, but buoyed by a big increase on the iPhone/iPad and maybe up on the Wii (since it fell so dramatically last year). But vgchartz is not a reliable resource to cite. Only about a week away till we find out the true numbers from NPD and then can compare to last year.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Donovan-Marston/509292428 Donovan Marston

So what are they trying to do here? Justify their focus on online play? I must be in a the vast minority because I’m the opposite of everything they reported here except for the fact that I bought the game day one. I don’t play online, don’t mess with MUT, and turned Gameflow off as soon as I got the game. And I have a serious question about Gameflow: They say that using Gameflow cuts the game in half… how is that so? Using Gameflow just lets you run more plays in a single game. The accelerated clock is the thing that cuts game times down, right? If you set it to five minute quarters with Gameflow and turned off the accelerator, it’s going to take the same amount of time as if you didn’t have Gameflow on. You’ll just get more plays in.
http://www.woodsidemediagroup.com/ Amani

EA does have a strong PR department as this release states. I wonder how the numbers will be if we compare pure PS3/360 sales YOY (year over Year) and not add in all this Facebook, iPHone, iPad sillyness. Also how does their metacritic score compare YOY? A spin show for sure.
Ron

Theory: Madden developers are just half-assing it now so that they can wow us with an amazing new Madden the year before their exclusive license runs out. Then, their license gets renewed and they proceed to screw us over for the next 5-10 years by making more disappointing Maddens.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Corey-Ragland/13752595 Corey Ragland

I don’t get that logic though. From my understanding the NFL went out inquiring about an exclusive rights deal and EA happened to be the highest bidder. When this deal runs out all they have to do is pony up the most money again and the rights are theirs. EA Sports would be down to FIFA is they lost the license to the NFL and I don’t expect them to let that happen

Anonymous

Would just like to chime in on this post and say that I played madden 11 for the first time yest. and lemme tell you it is god fuckin awful. I can’t believe they charged ppl 60 bucks for this horseshit. Id be surprised if madden lasted for another 3 yrs. Gameflow gimmie a fuckin break its just a fancier ask madden, can’t believe some ppl bought into that garbage. Gimmie some good fuckin gameplay already.

NFL 2k5 = Eminem (maybe the best ever)
Madden2005-2011… = Soulja Boy (He is fuckin garbage by the way)

SMH

Eminem the same guy 2 30 years old was crying on tracks about his mom mistreating him, uncle molesting him, & his wife cheating on him “maybe the best ever” seriously?!?!? You poor misguided soul can’t even focus on the topic @ hand for that total loss of credibility SMH
RobS26

Drugs arent good for you, but people still buy and use it. Madden is a drug, i hate that i keep playing this piece of shit hoping it would be better. Shabby tackling, poor pass coverage, poor run blocking. Every scrub that plays madden runs shotgun tight mesh and think there fuckin good? Thr game sucks, they got got animations for breaking tackles that the computer does on its own. LMFAO @ fancy ask madden by the way. the computer rocket catches automatically. the user doesnt even have to do shit now, just call the play. I hate madden!!!!!

Nphillyk

Well, if you’re in the minority then I’m right there with you. I only play online occasionally and I spend most of my time playing Franchise Mode. Seeing as how absolutely NOTHING was changed there, I will be trading this game and putting the credit towards my NBA 2K11 purchase. I’ll probably end up playing an entire 82 game season this year, because of the absence of a decent football game to switch back over to. smh At least Oct. 5th is almost here.
Kray85

Dude I’ve been saying this also…….Just so everyone knows that the other EA franchises are implementing REAL-TIME PHYSICS so madden team is trying to hold out until exclusive deal is done so they can WOW us!!
Nphillyk

lol As of right now, I might take one GOOD Madden over a 5 year stretch compared to what has been put out recently. I enjoyed last year’s game in terms of actual gameplay, but the stale franchise mode is destroying the replay value for me.
Ajgaxiola52

To add a little, I have noticed since the fix of online play we NO longer play the computer when someone quits. This is a good thing for most competitve gamers because I know I hated playing the computer after someone quit in the first few seconds. At the same time I have noticed since they fixed the half time quit problem that the games are normally extremely close. Kick-off returns happen way too much, also the defense A.I. is horrible when you have a lead. It looks to me that EA has allowed the games to be close so people will be less likely to quit. Besides this I don’t have a major problem with the game. I will admit that the game is MUCH more arcade like than years previous.
ha

I’m just looking for them to fix the “bug” that will not allow you to invite anyone to a ranked game? The only way I can get a ranked game is thru play now and 98% of people use the Cowpies…
Hail2theChief

Yeah fo shizzle
BTW, what does SMH mean?
Mikey Botz 09

Who cares about how many ppl play this game!! It sucks… People wake up!! BACKBREAKER NFL EDITION: REAL SIMULATION ROSTERS V.15! GO GET EM’, look up bbhighlights on youtube and he lets you know where to find them… They are spot on with attributes and logos as well as rosters… Elite players stand out and trust me you will not be let down… They are legit… Thats real football not this canned animation, motion shifting, no double hit existing, force field bullcrap of a product EA drops all the time… Madden saga is over… death by Backbreaker… All of the ppl that have a problem with what Im saying, give Ian Cummings a call and see if he gives a sh!t about your opinions on the game… LMAO… Im laughing in your face for him… Backbreaker NFL… lets goooooooo
Kancer

lol backbreaker
kdarnell

hahahah agreed. those are actually the only two things that bother me.oh and the fact that a OLB will be covering Andre Johnson and not even look back at the ball and somehow swat it down. basically madden 10 with locomotion…need to fix franchise and superstar BAD
Mikey Botz 09

That lol should be redirected to your interest in Madden… I cant see how people could sit there and really enjoy this game… I mean if your a true football fan… a hardcore fan, I dont seem to understand how someone can enjoy a run up the middle and getting suctioned into a tackle because of an animation… or how defensive backs mirror the exact same animation as the wide recievers…. there is so many flaws in this game that I dont know how you can “lol” @ Backbreaker…. Come on there chief I lol at your reply!
Anonymous

get rid of that annoying camera and maybe.
Carlostalia44

I have come to the conclusion that PLAYER RATINGS don’t matter when you are playing on ALL MADDEN. No matter what teams you pick the cpu will automatically whoop your ass. Even if you pick the best o-line in the game on all madden against the worst defense you will be sacked a number of times( i have uploaded replays where my line just watches the defender go around him), no run blocking (as soon as i hand the ball off theirs a defender rite there), WR’s drop the easiest passes, I mean i could go all day. Madden is not a bad game. I have fun playing online, but the bulk of my time goes to offline gaming. Ea jus has to fix the AI in this game, just because i play on ALL MADDEN doesn’t mean just dumb down all my players to give a challenge.
Rda03c

Madden 05 was a great game.

sheredia

i LOVED madden 2005….you could actually play defense in that game.

Anonymous

The fact Madden sales increased, is proof the Devil exists…..

Anonymous

Nobody’s stopping you from buying the game. Stop being such a pussy ass bitch about franchise and just buy the game already. Franchise mode is there. Just because your pussy hurts that EA doesn’t listen to you is no reason to deny yourself a football game.

I bet you actually think your personal boycott of EA is working. Probably why you by NHL2k too for the Wii. Are you buying NBA2k for same reason tough guy.

Keep it up there Genius. I think you have EA on the ropes now. Good plan though. Way to think it through. EA is really squirming b/c your dumb ass didn’t buy Madden this year.

Good news though. I heard Ian and Phil were going to offer you a spot as a “Game Changer” but they don’t allow panty waste NOOBs who bitch too much to make a difference. Sorry Ra, but change your Kotex. Youll be better on those heavy flow days……..Trick.

http://GoMadden.com GoMadden

I was a bit skeptical of the 5% increase statistic too, glad I’m not alone.
Rda03c

Man oh man, I am really starting to dislike EA as a company and I’m one hair away from never buying ANY EA games, period. I am praying that the sales numbers will be down – they need to be down or the game is going to get more and more arcade every year – and, although I’m sure Phil and Ian are nice people, they need be replaced, desperately. The direction Madden has taken is unacceptable, going far beyond recycling the same code year after year.

Gameflow is a bust – you can tell by their comment it is. And why wouldn’t it be? It completely takes the in-game strategy element right out of the game. It put the gamer on auto-pilot, allowing for little to know cognitive energy to be used – sad really, if you think about it.

Madden 11 is the prettiest ever, but the gameplay is by far the worst – ever … that is if you are a sim player. If you like arcade games – unrealistic gameplay – then you might be in-love with this year’s monstrosity.

There are so many issues with the gameplay alone, to do an honest review, it would take me a full day to write it.
Bokinghbk

PATCH!! PATCH !!PATCH!! PATCH THIS BROKEN GAME! ONLINE DYNASTY SLIDERS, DIRTY UNIFORMS, PLAYER PROGRESSION, PLAYACTION, PLAYER REACTION, THIS GAME NEEDS SO MUCH HELP. HURRY UP! PLEASE SAVE FACE AND AT LEAST OUT DO THE BACKBREAKER PATCH!!!!! I DOUBT YOUR COMPITANCE. BUT ONE CAN HOPE.
Anonymous

idk i bought that first then bought 2k5 all there were in madden 05 was interception after interception. that was the year of the defense in madden. After that i just gave up on madden bought 07 and 10 but jesus christ wont buy anymore of this shit game, i want to but its just such a bad representation of the NFL you think by having the license it would improve the game, but nope, EA fuckin ruined it. Im surprised madden lets them put his name on the game anymore, id be ashamed.
Bullitt_711

I thought the consesnsus was Madden 10 was the best Madden and this year was a step back. Is that right or no? I bought Madden 10 used for $19.99 yesterday. I’m happy I think.

http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

I don’t know if there is a way to quantify “better”. My personal opinion is Madden 10 was a better game in 2009 than Madden 11 is in 2010. That doesn’t mean though I’d rather play M10 now.
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

I don’t know if there is a way to quantify “better”. My personal opinion is Madden 10 was a better game in 2009 than Madden 11 is in 2010. That doesn’t mean though I’d rather play M10 now.

Joeyland

Most gamers used gameflow by accident, then they got wise and turned it off.
This just confirms that EA will handle this title any way they want, the public be damned.
Anonymous

Couldn’t agree more. Its common sense, EA is all about the money, their a business. They will milk it then when it starts to get bad they finally add the features the ppl want and the physics engine in almost half of their other games. Its just sad that a lot of ppl don’t know this and allow EA to get away with it by buying their cow manure.
Anonymous

ya that camera angle really fuckin turns me away from that game. If backbreaker had the madden camera then id buy it for sure.
2coolioforu

gameflow is an option for me in case theres 4 seconds left in game i pressthe game flow button and get my field goal to win the game
UrthemanVanceL

if i had an account i would like it
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5ATGC6GZYR6JOL2YNMWFFL5SII the juice

The gameflow does cut a little time off a game when you use it against another user. You’re basically cutting off the time it takes to scroll through and find a play. And when you play another user you’re cutting off the time it takes the defense to pick a play as well. So it does save time, for sure.

But, it should not be a selling point! “Wait, you’re telling me that the reason I should buy Madden 11 is because I won’t have to sit through all the bullshit as long as last year? Sold!”

They should have hyped the new assignment blocking the game improved on. That, to me, is the only upgrade the game made. I guess they didn’t want to bring any attention to the serious problems with tackling and coverage.
aromashodukee

Of course 85% use gameflow. I press it on accident 15% of the dam time, when playing online. Especially during the two minute drill.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5ATGC6GZYR6JOL2YNMWFFL5SII the juice

If that exclusive license would end and a Sony company could make a PS3 exclusive NFL brand game, well then Madden would fold like 2k did with baseball and the ps3.

I think we expect more in this next gen of Madden games. Every year has been disappointing.
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

Doesnt help much online though, cause one side can choose to bypass it on every play. Actually play times are longer this year online than they were last year. In part due to that but also cause scores are so high it slows things down with all the dead ball time.

sheredia

in addition to that, the scouting reports take addtional time as well. i’m always waiting around for people using those reports. personally, i don’t use them. so with gameflow and scouting reports, it’s a wash. gameflow is nice and all, but it really comes down to what adjustments you make at the line of scrimmage for every play.

Sean

Bring on the damn patch!!!!!!!!!!Then I will see if will play this broken game again…bottomline!!
Anonymous

statistics i weren’t looking for! EA didnt take the fact that most games points are being scored on a average 30+ and im talking for a lot of people, they made the game to offensive happy! defense is non existant whatsoever!
Anonymous

dude obviously you dont listen to fuckin rap you god damn imbecile. LEarn to listen to lyrics and if you actually knew one fuckin thing about eminem your retarded ass would kno alot of what he raps about aint even true. Jesus christ the guys a fuckin legend. But hey everyones got haters, sad that you posted this and i can tell you barely even listened to the guy. Say what you want the guys pretty fuckin talented.

Oh and I used eminem and soulja boy as a reference to show how bad and how good I thought each game was. So, shut the fuck up and quit tellin me im not focusing on the topic. What the fuck do you listen to fuckin enrique inglesias n god damn cold play you faggot?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5ATGC6GZYR6JOL2YNMWFFL5SII the juice

You’re right, but every year Madden is over-hyped and it creates huge anticipation amongst the fans. However, each year, the “improvements” to the game get smaller and smaller and the disappointment level increases. EA used to surprise everyone and exceed expectations every year. That is what made Madden a great game. Now, either our expectations are too high and they can’t possibly please us or they know that they have the NFL brand on a stranglehold and they can make minimal improvements until it’s time to reignite the fire.

There is so many things that are wrong with the game and the company, it’s ridiculous that EA continues to bend us over the couch every year, promising the best Madden ever.
Ajgaxiola52

I average like 33 pts per game but that is about average from last year. Before the halftime quit problem I was giving up only about 8 to 9 pts per game. Now I give up about 19 on avg. They fixed the halftime quit problem but made it that most of the games stay close. I don’t know how many times I had an early 14 point lead and suddenly they return a kick by breaking 8 tackles.

In fact my last game I had a 24 point lead in the first quarter. In the 2nd quarter the guy ran 4 fumbles back for tds. I ended up winning but they have made the game cheat and your player stupid when you have a lead.
Dominic

That is “F”ed up what happend to Madden, can we do something about this, can we call our congressman.
Bdjaran

dont forget reggie noble(redman) him and em are 2 of the best lyrically
http://twitter.com/realGTRUTH Gjasi Leite

In trying to create a game more people can play they too the skill and strategy out of it. And its broen i mean the defense basically doesnt exist.
http://twitter.com/realGTRUTH Gjasi Leite

In trying to create a game more people can play they too the skill and strategy out of it. And its broen i mean the defense basically doesnt exist.
http://twitter.com/amassicott alex massicott

I wasn’tbig on Madden 11 until I played Ultimate Team.
Its a great idea and mode. And is very addicting, every sports game should have a mode like it.