Madden 09 Discussion

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:52 pm

Nice review, Terry, you did a good job elaborating on your reasons behind your evaluation.

As for the "free pass" thing, I think NFL 2k5 is a perfect example of a game being greater than the sum of its parts. That game had some really, really annoying bugs, and probably the worst franchise mode of any game in years. But it was a lot of fun and very entertaining, enough that you could overlook the obvious problems. So when Terry says these bugs in Madden don't bug him too much, I understand where he is coming from.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:19 pm

What's the point in playing Madden with Head Coach?

I'm asking that honestly. If the franchise mode works improperly, forget for a second that it doesn't have the depth -- Madden turns into a one-on-one game.

I'm happy that Head Coach is good, some minor issues. It's so feature rich that it basically kills of Madden franchise for me. I don't play online because I get bored playing Madden ball.

Too bad EA didn't offer HC-lite in the Madden franchise.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:28 pm

GameSeven wrote: Just so I understand, you're saying..... you don't like it?

You think he has actually tried the game? That's almost as funny as thinking he would say something different.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:50 pm

fsquid wrote:Anyone play the Wii version yet?

Saw it at EB a few minutes ago. Graphics looked a lot cleaner than NCAA, but way behind the times even compared to PS2.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:17 pm

Danimal wrote:
GameSeven wrote: Just so I understand, you're saying..... you don't like it?
You think he has actually tried the game? That's almost as funny as thinking he would say something different.

Someone over at OS said it best..."after 4 years of trying on the next gen systems, EA/Tiburon finally made an above average football videogame. Celebrate mediocrity and let the pigeons loose."

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:19 pm

GTHobbes wrote:
Danimal wrote:
GameSeven wrote: Just so I understand, you're saying..... you don't like it?
You think he has actually tried the game? That's almost as funny as thinking he would say something different.
Someone over at OS said it best..."after 4 years of trying on the next gen systems, EA/Tiburon finally made an above average football videogame. Celebrate mediocrity and let the pigeons loose."

LOL That should go in someone's sig.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:31 pm

after not digging last year's game at all, I haven't read one review that makes me want to grab this one (yet). And what's the "out of bounds" bug?

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:45 pm

greggsand wrote:after not digging last year's game at all, I haven't read one review that makes me want to grab this one (yet). And what's the "out of bounds" bug?

It occurs in ncaa too where if the ball handler is switching the ball to the other hand, he will run out of bounds, even though if he has 20 yards clear to him and the endzone. Jared had posted a video of it on the blog during his ncaa blog entry.

The only way I will get this game is if I find a deal for it. We should not be paying $60 for games that have patches being relased for them on the first day they are out. If I find it somewhere between $40 - $50, then maybe I'll think about picking it up.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:58 pm

JRod wrote:What's the point in playing Madden with Head Coach?

I'm asking that honestly. If the franchise mode works improperly, forget for a second that it doesn't have the depth -- Madden turns into a one-on-one game.

I'm happy that Head Coach is good, some minor issues. It's so feature rich that it basically kills of Madden franchise for me. I don't play online because I get bored playing Madden ball.

Too bad EA didn't offer HC-lite in the Madden franchise.

I can see playing both. I like controlling the action on the field and playing every game in a franchise season. The franchise mode has its problems, but the problems are easier to overlook in the first couple of seasons -- they become more annoying as you progress. But two seasons of playing every game is about 30 hours of game time.

Then I can turn around in Head Coach and take over a different team and do all the GM and coaching stuff. From what I've read, that will eat up a lot of hours too.

If you're more interested in just managing a team, only getting Head Coach makes sense. But a lot of players enjoy doing both. Even though they are both from EA, I feel like I'll have an actual choice between two games this year. I'm almost positive I'll like HC, and I read enough good things about Madden to give it a shot.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:59 pm

Inuyasha wrote:We should not be paying $60 for games that have patches being relased for them on the first day they are out. If I find it somewhere between $40 - $50, then maybe I'll think about picking it up.

Considering that just about every game that comes out, sports or otherwise, has something that needs to be fixed, I'd rather have the patch the week of release than have to wait for it.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:00 pm

How is the game if you dont do the Madden IQ thing and just play on All Pro?

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:04 pm

You'd be better off setting it at "Custom" than All-Pro. You can then crank the difficulties independently instead of using one catch-all. Play a bit on All-Pro, see if you need to make rushing/passing harder, adjust, etc.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:06 pm

TCrouch wrote:You'd be better off setting it at "Custom" than All-Pro. You can then crank the difficulties independently instead of using one catch-all. Play a bit on All-Pro, see if you need to make rushing/passing harder, adjust, etc.

Thanks .

You do prefer the IQ?

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:17 pm

Inuyasha wrote: The only way I will get this game is if I find a deal for it. We should not be paying $60 for games that have patches being relased for them on the first day they are out. If I find it somewhere between $40 - $50, then maybe I'll think about picking it up.

I paid $55.93 including tax at 7-11, with the $10 off deal for buying a 99 cents Snickers bar.

I think Amazon gave you a $10 gift card or certificate if you "preordered" from them. Toys R Us the same deal.

As for patching, I don't mind it at all. Seems like they pushed interaction with the community, maybe because of this

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/m ... -back.html

So it could be that they "finished" the game about a month earlier than usual with the intention of doing a couple of patches based on community feedback before moving to 2010.

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:35 pm

Anyone else agree that Collinsworth sounds smooth, but Hammond sounds like he's clearly reading from a script...which he is.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:41 pm

wco81 wrote:
Inuyasha wrote: The only way I will get this game is if I find a deal for it. We should not be paying $60 for games that have patches being relased for them on the first day they are out. If I find it somewhere between $40 - $50, then maybe I'll think about picking it up.
I paid $55.93 including tax at 7-11, with the $10 off deal for buying a 99 cents Snickers bar.

I think Amazon gave you a $10 gift card or certificate if you "preordered" from them. Toys R Us the same deal.

Toys R Us had just sent us a 20% coupon, so I grabbed the CE today for 72, plus it came with a $10 GC and a McFarlane figure of that assclown that's on the cover

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:57 pm

I picked it up this morning on the way to work and then came home to find a 10 off 50 coupon for use at Kmart in the mail.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:03 pm

GTHobbes wrote:Someone over at OS said it best..."after 4 years of trying on the next gen systems, EA/Tiburon finally made an above average football videogame. Celebrate mediocrity and let the pigeons loose."

My fault for feeding the troll sorry guys back to madden discussion for people who own the game.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:21 pm

Can you guys check on the superbowl endzone specific team paints? I know it's not a big deal, but for me it is and has really pissed me off in ncaa.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:44 pm

Murph wrote:Anyone else agree that Collinsworth sounds smooth, but Hammond sounds like he's clearly reading from a script...which he is.

Yeah. There's no question Collinsworth is an above-average actor for a sports announcer type, whereas Hammond is pretty much a dead fish.

I'm really enjoying this game in the little bit I've played. I really like the 'Madden Moments' thing, as they fit the bill perfectly for me when it comes to playing the CPU. I get pretty bored playing the CPU in a full game, but these little situations are great.

I've played a couple of games online with Scoop, and they were a heck of a lot of fun. There are plenty of frustrations, but so far the game is working really well for me. I mean hey, there's weather online! Finally!

And the atmosphere is much better than previous versions. Little touches like the exterior stadium shots before the game are very nice. Not to mention having actual play by play instead of the absurd radio guy almost makes me forget that radio guy debacle ever really happened, no matter how flat Hammond comes across.

Does the game have formations shifts at all? I haven't delved enough to find out. What about 'quick audibles' like in past versions or in 2K, where you could choose a couple audible plays in the same formation? Those who have played more could fill me in, but I won't be discarding this game if those things aren't in there.

I did make a mistake getting the game on Friday at the mom n pop joint, because they only had the regular version and I only played a little bit over the weekend. I should have waited and got the full package, because it sounds like I will really like Head Coach. I'm curious to hear some impressions of Head Coach online head to head, too. Oh well, now I will just have to wait until gamefly sends me my copy in September.

Unless someone wants a copy of just Madden for, say, $5 or $10 bucks off full price, in which case I will consider buying a copy of the full package and send this stand-alone on to a DSP brother. . . .

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:59 pm

So far I am having a little problem with my D. I guess the IQ test was right on the spot, because I have no issues with the run, but I am pretty inept against the pass. I'm good at getting good pressure, but it seems like as soon as I am about to hit the QB he makes a timely pass. No drop passes all completions.

Love the presentation and C. Collinsworth is awesome.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:48 pm

wco81 wrote:
Inuyasha wrote: The only way I will get this game is if I find a deal for it. We should not be paying $60 for games that have patches being relased for them on the first day they are out. If I find it somewhere between $40 - $50, then maybe I'll think about picking it up.
I paid $55.93 including tax at 7-11, with the $10 off deal for buying a 99 cents Snickers bar.

.

wow thanks man. Now I can save a whole 5 bucks, wow, what a deal. Almost as good as the Walmart deal for 57.99.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:10 pm

Got the game and tried to accept an on-line with Zeppo but kept having trouble getting and staying on the EA servers. I'm guessing that they're a little hardpressed with all the traffic at this point.

Played a pre-season game and saw the out of bounds bug about 4 times in the game - hopefully that's just a one off and I won't see it as frequently until they (hopefully!) patch it. On one play the Eagles ended up losing 9 yards because the back caught the ball on an outlet pass and then proceeded to run diagnonally backwards out of bounds.

The Madden test either was a little easier or I just completely fluked it because I ended up close to all-pro on the pass defense when with the demo I usually failed to break up a single play.

Best wishes,

Doug

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:15 pm

GameSeven wrote: Toys R Us had just sent us a 20% coupon, so I grabbed the CE today for 72, plus it came with a $10 GC and a McFarlane figure of that assclown that's on the cover

How did they send it to you?

Last year they had a coupon you could print out from their web site but nothing like that this year.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:21 pm

It was in a back-to-school mailer. It looks like a small catalog with "up to $300 in coupons" but the 20% cpn was good enough. Back indicates it was to be delivered between 8/5 and 8/7 for sales through 8/31. Might have had to do with some prior online purchases... not sure.