Madden 15

[pk500]

I think I wasted $53.99 as I haven't really touched Madden in weeks. Oh well.. I'm sure I'll play against the neighbor soon enough.

Exact opposite in our house. My boys and I can't get enough Madden. It's the most enjoyable package for me with Madden in years.

[Aristo]

Yeah, I'm loving Madden. If I had to pick a game I think I wasted $60 on, it would be Destiny. All it did is make me want to play Halo. And since Microsoft made Reach a Free with Gold game, I'm knocking it out in prep for the MCC.

I probably didn't need all three EA Sports games, but Madden, in a surprise to me, is by far my favorite over FIFA and NHL.

[Brando70]

I must just suck because I cannot stop the CPU QBs at all. In 20 games over two seasons, I doubt I've had under 60% completion for any game. If I don't get a sack or a DB gets a hand on the ball, it is a completion almost every time. I tried dropping CPU catching to 40 and that didn't help. I have been playing with the Bears and their secondary is not good, but crap QBs like Dan Orlovsky should not be completing 75% of their passes no matter what defense I call. The only difference I have seen in CPU QBs is whether they tend to scramble or not.

[pk500]

I'm with you, Aristo.

Destiny has provided very little pull for me. It's just an MMO-lite version of Halo. That's fine, but I expected more. Thankfully it was my free game when I bought my X1, and I'll get good trade-in on it once I slog through the single-player version either to completion or boredom. I bet the latter will happen first.

Madden and Forza 5 are my first choices every time I fire up my X1.

[Brando70]

After watching the Bears, I take back everything I said. Madden has modeled their secondary perfectly.

I also finally had a pretty decent game defensively against the Lions in my second year. Held Stafford to 60% and around 250 yards, while also holding the Lions to just 10 points despite having 7 turnovers! I had one fumble and threw six picks with Cutler. Three were my fault, three were him completely missing open receivers and delivering it straight to Lions DBs (if it's in the game....).

[TCrouch]

We know it's not THAT accurate--my Raiders can cover people sometimes in the game.

I practiced with the Eagles yesterday (joining a crazy league where I have that team), and noticed how much easier the game is with a bunch of talent on the roster. Go figure!

[TCrouch]

OK, I have to share this just because it's making me act like a giddy little schoolgirl.

Got invited to a 32-person Madden League on XBox One. They play like 3 games a week, and the rule set is extremely detailed and very structured. You're not going to be running it up when up by 21, you have to have a minimum pass/run attempts per game, you can't nano-blitz or do the goalline D all game, etc. That's all well and good, but leagues have failed all over the place. These guys are in their 15th season, first one on Madden 15. They didn't have but 3 teams available--the Eagles, Bucs, or Saints...so I took the Eagles.

But what makes it crazy is that the league is full of NASCAR Sprint Cup guys--the owner of the Redskins in the league is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (The real one )
Sprint Cup Champ Brad Keselowski plays as the Lions, Dale's spotter is the Bills and the Commissioner, Ty Dillon is the Raiders, etc. Basically, it's a league of 32 "friends" that are all racer guys or somehow involved in racing.

It was a surreal moment when I was having a lengthy discussion on player ratings with Keselowski, or having Earnhardt laughing at jokes in a little phone app--"Terry! You're one of us!" when I gave somebody sh*t over a questionable trade move. I gotta say, it's the coolest experience I've ever had in my years of gaming. But the funny part is I feel like one of those little girls that sees Justin Bieber and falls over. Trying not to be star struck as they generally just act like pretty cool dudes, but it's hilarious to see their "secret" gamertags and stuff (of course I didn't add them to my friends list) they do to game anonymously.

I won my first game 27-3 over the Jets, but I'm going to end up being Junior's divisional rival, our first game will probably be this weekend when his Skins visit my Eagles.

I know this is a pretty small little slice of the 'net, so it's not like this will get out everywhere, but I just had to share it. It's just too f*cking crazy not to.

[Bakes]

I'm not a big racing guy but damn that is really cool. How did you end up getting invited to the league? Mutual friend?

[TCrouch]

Yep, exactly.

[Spooky]

That's f*ckin' rad Terry! Thanks for sharing.

[Leadfoot5]

Terry, that's an awesome story, thanks for sharing!

[Brando70]

That is super cool, Terry. Good luck in the league.

[pk500]

MEGA, Terry. Very cool!

[TCrouch]

Thanks, guys. I know, I feel like such a dork, but it is what it is.

On the flip side of this...

"Hey Terry! I beat all of your times in Forza Horizon 2. Your move, have a nice day!"

The rivals competition in Forza just suddenly got a hell of a lot more difficult

Those boys don't make many mistakes in a racing game, go figure.

[wco81]

Guess that's how NASCAR drivers get to vicariously participate in a real sport.

[XXXIV]

Thanks, guys. I know, I feel like such a dork, but it is what it is.

On the flip side of this...

"Hey Terry! I beat all of your times in Forza Horizon 2. Your move, have a nice day!"

The rivals competition in Forza just suddenly got a hell of a lot more difficult

Those boys don't make many mistakes in a racing game, go figure.

That is too cool Terry!

Sorry bout your Forza times but at least now you know how we all feel.

[Leadfoot5]

Sorry bout your Forza times but at least now you know how we all feel.

Truer words were never spoken!!!

[TCrouch]

See, that's just mean. What did I ever do to you guys?

[DivotMaker]

Great story and VERY cool Terry....thanks for sharing!

[TheTruth]

Cool stuff Terry. Me and my 9 and 7 year old boys got to meet and get Keslowski's autograph last year at a nationwide race. Seemed like a down to earth cool dude. Jr. is my oldest's favorite driver. My boys will get a kick out of your story, thanks for sharing.

[MUTTS]

I know this has come up b4, just can't find it however.

Playing my son this morning while it was raining and Ive got the lead as the 4th quarter starts. Not a big lead so I want to pound the ball and kill some clock. However, my starting HB has disappeared and I get find him to put him back in the game. I know theres a workaround for this. Thanks for the help.

[Danimal]

Patch out. impressive list of items if they work

http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl/news ... n-15-patch

[TCrouch]

Yeah, been hearing all about it this morning in my league I'm in. Some of that stuff will be nice, if it works. My first game against Dale Jr. is probably tonight, so it'll be a good test game

And MUTTS, I thought that issue was when you had fatigue higher and the auto subs adjusted? Guys would disappear entirely in the 4th quarter when the fatigue settings prevented them resting enough to cross the threshold to get back in the game, so they'd just vanish.

[sportdan30]

Patch out. impressive list of items if they work

http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl/news ... n-15-patch

Nice list! Tuning of QB accuracy is much needed. Signature QB passing? Sweet if true. Extended time to make adjustments on defense was very necessary.

[Danimal]

I'm reading at OS (so definitely take this FWIW) that you need to set all your sliders back to default and re-tweak from there with the accuracy. It seems they only effected lower level QB's. I really barely have time to play, never mind test this so curious what you guys see when using it.