Madden 09 Discussion

icvu42 · Post by **icvu42** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:08 pm

TheGamer wrote:FYI, new rosters are available for download, however they are immediately obsolete due to the Brady injury. Word is a new set will be available Friday.

Do you need a Gold membership to geth them?

Rick

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:15 pm

icvu42 wrote:
TheGamer wrote:FYI, new rosters are available for download, however they are immediately obsolete due to the Brady injury. Word is a new set will be available Friday.
Do you need a Gold membership to geth them?

Rick

Yes you do. I can't download them because I only have a Silver account. EA really needs to address the way they distribute these rosters. You have to create an online match before you'll get them. It's stupid IMO.

Why can't they just distribute them when you fire up the game while connected to Live with or without a Gold account?

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:00 pm

TheGamer wrote:FYI, new rosters are available for download, however they are immediately obsolete due to the Brady injury. Word is a new set will be available Friday.

I finally started my franchise with the new rosters, the Brady injury doesn't bother me because there are going to be injurys every week now and they will be outdated, I just wanted the opening day rosters.

Playing 10 minute quarters I had a pretty good exhibition game against the Bills where I had a long 4th quarter drive where I scored to go ahead by one point then made a decision to call a timeout before the 2 point conversion because my receivers were fatigued in the yellow, ends up costing me as I didn't convert and Buffalo puts a drive together and I had to use my two remaining timeouts but really needed the third one to have any chance to comeback and they were able to let the clock run down to 5 seconds and call a timeout then kick the game winning field goal. Glad it was only an exhibition as I now learned to conserve my timeouts until the end in a close game.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:40 am

Okay, maybe I don't hate this quite as much as I first thought. Compared to the other stellar EA releases this season (NHL and Tiger), it still comes off as strangely unambitious, though. Playing it three weeks before the season actually starts doesn't do it any favors, that's for sure. And there's still so much O-Line behavior that totally baffles me. Some breakthroughs, though... I guess:

-Watching replays after getting sacked, some of my guys are really going out of their way to let the D-line through... taking two steps to the left like a bullfighter, then chasing down their man from behind. Interesting strategy! I've started calling more plays that keep the RB in the backfield to block, however, and it helps immensely.

-After wondering if I would EVER have an interesting runback on a kickoff I decided to experiment and focus on getting upfield as quickly as possible, instead of honing in on the confrontation with the first defender. Result: touchdown.

-Psychic defenders still flummox me. Tell me, if I'm running a screen pass to the outermost wide receiver, is it normal for the opposing defensive end to sprint directly towards him as soon as the ball is snapped?

-This may be sacrilege around here, but one thing I always have to remember with video game football is to simply play it as a video game that resembles football instead of trying to painstakingly recreate the real thing. This means 5 minute quarters (any more and I go crazy), completely ignoring stats and just being happy to get realistic final scores. I was playing 8 minute quarters initially.

My main issues with Madden still boil down to a look and feel thing. For such a physical sport, the players still come across as small, weightless action figures... at least to me. And the camera work is so strange... in lieu of simulating a broadcast, the camera in between plays is always floating from left to right or for low to high, on refs, the field, and so on, as if Lakitu were shooting the whole thing. It reminds me of the Star Wars prequels where nothing interesting would be happening so Lucas would do a subtle zoom or artificial camera move to try and instill some sense of action, as opposed to the old movies where the camera would stay still and the action spoke for itself. I'm sure I'm thinking about this way too much!

I do like the shaky breakaway cam a lot though. Reminiscent of Gears of War.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:00 pm

I haven't been a fan of Madden in a long time, and this year's game doesn't really do anything to change that. I don't know how anyone could play 10 minute quarters and not be bored to tears. The value of competition sure does show when playing NHL, Fifa and (I suspect) NBA Live...NHL is quickly becoming one of my favorite games (running neck and neck with The Show), and the Fifa demo has left me wanting more. With Madden, I'll be surprised if I hold onto it long enough for the DLC to come out, if it ever does.

WR's running out of bounds and coming back to make the catch (without a penalty), the QB's running across the LOS and still being able to pass (again without penalty)...it's amazing how little effort EA/Tiburon can put into this cash cow and still get away with it.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:09 pm

GTHobbes wrote:I haven't been a fan of Madden in a long time, and this year's game doesn't really do anything to change that. I don't know how anyone could play 10 minute quarters and not be bored to tears.

I have still not been able to finish a full game with 5 minute Qtrs as I get too bored by half time. I passed on last years game and it looks like i'll be doing the same next year.

413X3 · Post by **413X3** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:39 pm

yeah the ai on both sides if awful. the computer is perfect in everything, especially passing. but your ai team mates are just dumb, it gets annoying

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:43 am

Patch #2 is up for the 360.

Best wishes,

Doug

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:08 pm

I hear it's out for the PS3 as well. It does sound like they corrected the four things that bothered me the most. The quick snap by the CPU is gone. Players no longer run out of bounds. There is field degradation. And there more penalties called.

Unfortunately, the presentation is the same....

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:10 pm

sportdan30 wrote:
Unfortunately, the presentation is the same....

If people over at OS are to be believed, the franchise freezing is much the same as well.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:22 pm

Until they put back in cpu sliders I don't think it will matter much. I played last night and Kitna had a sub par first half, 2 INT's, 4 sacks, missing receivers. Then in the 2nd he went into Robo mode and completed 21-22 passes for 350 yards. Of course since the real life Bears just did something similar maybe it wasn't that unrealistic.

Impressions seem to be positive but that is always the case post patch people over react both ways. For example the freezing, people say it's fixed with a fresh start, others say their game is freezing 2 minutes into a game.

Next year they need to focus on franchise, because right now it's not very compelling at all.

I'll check it out, penalties being called is big, if not a joke that it takes X number of years and 2 patches to actually make them do something.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:29 pm

Danimal wrote: I'll check it out, penalties being called is big, if not a joke that it takes X number of years and 2 patches to actually make them do something.

Given that there are still no refs on the field, I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that there are any penalties at all. (Sorry Dan...I just couldn't resist.)

David Ortiz should be hunted down and tarred and feathered for the sorry state he left this franchise in over the last couple of years, IMHO. I really hope that Ian guy gets things straightened out next year.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:41 pm

Danimal wrote:Until they put back in cpu sliders I don't think it will matter much. I played last night and Kitna had a sub par first half, 2 INT's, 4 sacks, missing receivers. Then in the 2nd he went into Robo mode and completed 21-22 passes for 350 yards. Of course since the real life Bears just did something similar maybe it wasn't that unrealistic.

Impressions seem to be positive but that is always the case post patch people over react both ways. For example the freezing, people say it's fixed with a fresh start, others say their game is freezing 2 minutes into a game.

Next year they need to focus on franchise, because right now it's not very compelling at all.

I'll check it out, penalties being called is big, if not a joke that it takes X number of years and 2 patches to actually make them do something.

The two controller slider trick eliminates the Robo QB, at least it did for me. You pretty much give the CPU sliders. It doesn't fix everything but it does address some of the problems.

I like this year's game. Doesn't blow me away and the series needs work, but I am enjoying it. I am partial to running the football and 09 has the best running I've ever seen in Madden.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:03 pm

GTHobbes wrote:Given that there are still no refs on the field, I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that there are any penalties at all. (Sorry Dan...I just couldn't resist.)

David Ortiz should be hunted down and tarred and feathered for the sorry state he left this franchise in over the last couple of years, IMHO. I really hope that Ian guy gets things straightened out next year.

I don't disagree, I'm not hating this version just curious on some of the decisions. I understand things like ref's and presentation matter to a lot of people, they don't really to me I blow right through that stuff after a game or two but I get why people want it. Franchise matters to me and I guess that is why I like Head Coach.

Madden has turned into something that is trying to be everything for everyone instead of just a good football game. I'll see what Ian can do and I'll play it if I enjoy it but that seems like it is going to be a yearly roll of the dice.

This years game is decent and the post support is encouraging, but if decent is the only word I can find after 4 years of Next Gen then that is just a terrible state of the game.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:11 pm

Danimal wrote: This years game is decent and the post support is encouraging, but if decent is the only word I can find after 4 years of Next Gen then that is just a terrible state of the game.

Took us long enough, but it's nice to see us finally agree! Maybe one of these years we'll be able to celebrate by playing each other in a GREAT next gen football game.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:04 pm

I have enjoyed playing Madden. Especially online. ..The only place the Rams can score.

<embed src="http://ll-999.ea.com/sonet-easw/2.5.0.1 ... player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=355&width=425&file=http://videocdn.easw.easports.com/easpo ... f"></embed>

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:52 pm

XXXIV wrote:I have enjoyed playing Madden. Especially online. ..The only place the Rams can score.
>

Is that video from an online game? If so, how'd u do it?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:13 pm

greggsand wrote:
XXXIV wrote:I have enjoyed playing Madden. Especially online. ..The only place the Rams can score.
>
Is that video from an online game? If so, how'd u do it?

Yes it was online.

I dont remember exactly but it was something like this.

1)Play Zeppo
2)After the game look at highlights. It has every play.
3)Save highlight you like and upload it to your EA sportsworld account.
4)View highlight.
5)Copy link and paste it here.

I had some saved highlights and just yesterday finally figured out how to get them here...DB and Gang explained it in the NHL09 thread.

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:25 pm

Here's a play I mentioned in a previous showing #60 Tank Johnson getting pressure on the QB. It appears to be more about Anthony Henry's int, but Tank caused the int with pressure. Thanks to 34 for the quick instruction in his prevs post.

<embed src="http://ll-999.ea.com/sonet-easw/2.5.0.1 ... player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=355&width=425&file=http://videocdn.easw.easports.com/easpo ... f"></embed>

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:43 pm

Maybe it's the placebo effect and the fact I only got in one game, but did they slow it down?

This game always seemed like speed crack to me, too fast actually and the game I played between the Titians and Fins felt slowed down.

I'll say the penalty sliders work, in 8 minute quarters I had a combine 19 penalties (sliders at 100 expect for false start at 50) 2 Def. PI, 8 Holding, Clipping, Offsides, False start. May need to adjust those slider down a tad.

Also the delayed snap is great, really changes the pace of the game. Was nice to see the RB's and WR also turn the ball upfield instead of running out of bounds.

I need to give this more of a look with the patch, it was one game but it was fun. Hell I even say Pennington throw the ball away.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:08 pm

Danimal wrote:Maybe it's the placebo effect and the fact I only got in one game, but did they slow it down?

This game always seemed like speed crack to me, too fast actually and the game I played between the Titians and Fins felt slowed down.

I'll say the penalty sliders work, in 8 minute quarters I had a combine 19 penalties (sliders at 100 expect for false start at 50) 2 Def. PI, 8 Holding, Clipping, Offsides, False start. May need to adjust those slider down a tad.

Also the delayed snap is great, really changes the pace of the game. Was nice to see the RB's and WR also turn the ball upfield instead of running out of bounds.

I need to give this more of a look with the patch, it was one game but it was fun. Hell I even say Pennington throw the ball away.

I feel the same way. I started a new franchise with Jacksonville. I used Heelfan's updated sliders and had a nice game, a 21-7 loss at Tennessee. Chris Johnson busted open a 70-yard TD on the first drive of the game, and once he got past my safety, there was no catching him. Kerry Collins had realistic numbers -- about a 55% completion rate, with a couple passes down field. I had trouble running but it wasn't crazy, I think I finished with a 3.6 average.

The speed seemed about the same, but they definitely cranked the penalties. I had all at 95 and the refs went nuts with holding. I had back-to-back holding on one series. I may revert to default settings and work my way back up.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:45 pm

Who's Chad Johnson?

The patch and the DLC they talked about may make for marginal improvements.

But the problem is, I've been playing more of NHL 09 since I've gotten it than Madden.

Madden needs to get Team Play next year.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:33 pm

Someone else mentioned the game speed seemed slower. Maybe it has to do with the CPU not quick snapping anymore. It made the pace of the game faster because of that. I didn't notice it when I played last night, but I was half playing as I was on the phone.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:47 pm

I think you hit the nail on the head Dan, I think it was the pacing of the game not the speed of it. Amazing what a little change like that makes, of course i hear it is pissing off the Madden Nation crowd so I bet it gets removed next year.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:56 pm

By popular demand. More from the Rams Skins...

<embed src="http://ll-999.ea.com/sonet-easw/2.5.0.1 ... player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=355&width=425&file=http://videocdn.easw.easports.com/easpo ... f"></embed>