I'm done with ESPN NFL 2K5

GridIronGhost · Post by **GridIronGhost** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 9:33 pm

skinsfan wrote:There is an Action Replay franchise to download in said MaddenMania thread.I believe the coach settings are done and it is ready for testing.

I downloaded that file and played the first game of my Raiders franchise against the Steelers. I set the coaching sliders like the txt file said, I was expecting the Steelers to have a very aggressive running game, but what I got was an air attack. I must be doing something wrong. I'll try another game.

On a side note in my second year Gannon retires, so I make Collins the man and base my offense around him being the starter. Well since I did not play Collins the year before very much, he was pissed and demanded a trade. Damn, I did not see this big ass TRADE ME under his picture! I traded him for HB Jones from the Cowboys and picked up Bledsoe from FA due to the Bills picking up a stud QB in the draft (86 over all). Cool, can't wait for more suprises in preseason.

skinsfan · Post by **skinsfan** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 5:20 pm

Went ahead and just inputted Sm27's newest level1 sliders and skipped the packages/coaching setup stuff.I have to say the sliders are really really good.Need to keep playing to see if anything bad rears it's head,but so far I am stoked to play with these.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:57 pm

Let me get this strait.

You download the AR file. Load that up and begin your franchise. Each week you need to go make each one of those adjustments for EVERY team?

Man, I'm glad I play 99 percent of my time online. Sounds like a lot of friggen work just to play a franchise.

Guess I'm just a 5 minute qtr, All Madden and run w/ it sort of guy. I mean, that sounds more like work than it does a game IMO.

GridIronGhost · Post by **GridIronGhost** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 2:43 am

You only need to make adjustments for one team, the one your playing against.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:24 am

Well, originally you have to set all the teams to the "sim" settings right? Then switch whichever team you're playing to "play" settings?

Or all the settings already set orignally and you just change each team you play to the play settings before each week's game?

I haven't really read it because of the novel that is written there and it's not that big of a deal to me since I play almost exclusively online. I must admit though, that it has made me curious just to see what all the hub-bub is about.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:49 pm

skinsfan wrote:Went ahead and just inputted Sm27's newest level1 sliders and skipped the packages/coaching setup stuff.I have to say the sliders are really really good.Need to keep playing to see if anything bad rears it's head,but so far I am stoked to play with these.

I Did this last night....loaded up these sliders and started a new frnchise.
Since Madden will be the only "NFL" game for a while and I am NFL intensive I figure I might as well get used to the game.

After 3 games, once My eyes got used to the bluriness, My fingers got used to the slightly different controls and My head got used to the different feel I found myself really enjoying the game. I had a good time.
I like the sliders and I think Im getting "realistic results" ...well at least for 3 games.
I hope its not just wishful thinking but I think I might survive Pro football gamings D- Day.....keeping fingers crossed as I go in for game 4.

I just hope this doesnt make even more motor skills challenged

when I play My ESPN league games.....

skinsfan · Post by **skinsfan** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:14 pm

It is tough to go back and forth between the games for me.The feel and timing of running and tackling is an adjustment as well as keeping all the hot route stuff straight.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:22 pm

skinsfan wrote:It is tough to go back and forth between the games for me.The feel and timing of running and tackling is an adjustment as well as keeping all the hot route stuff straight.

This was probably the biggest reason I hadnt done this sooner.

I have heard that one of the problems with Madden is that the CPU doesnt run enough or for enough yardage. Thru 5 games I am #26 against the run. Im getting trampled. It could be because I am using the lambs but I think that these settings give an excellent game of football....again...thats so far.

anyway..blah blah blah blah....

skinsfan · Post by **skinsfan** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 2:46 pm

A simple thing to help your D is to adjust your sub in/sub out percentage up wards.Tired players on the field get beat and the cpu will take advantage of this.Don't be afraid to call a time out,especially in the first half, to rest your guys if the cpu is on a long sustained drive.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 3:06 pm

Madden is much better than most people who are fans of ESPN give it credit. It's much improved from 2004 and the defensive control is head and shoulders above that in ESPN.

My only beef with Madden is the lack of Defensive PI calls. Other than that I think the game is nearly flawless on the field.

People rant about the DB's having superhuman powers, but I don't think it's nearly as bad as the DB's on NCAA 2005 (PS2). In Madden it's very possible to drop the ball in the soft-spot of a zone (over DB's and under safeties). The amount of pressure you put on the button as you throw really makes a difference.

In Madden the if your running game is getting stuffed, you may have to open it up with some good passes and then come back to the run later.... .and vice versa.

I do have a lot of fun playing ESPN online with friends, but I just hate seeing people saying that they feel that HAVE to get Madden 2005 to get used to it for 2006.

It's like anything else. Madden fans don't tend to like ESPN right away because basically they're not used to the way it plays. ESPN fans don't like Madden for the same reasons. If both parties would give each game a real shot, they'd find that we have two quality NFL games this year.

That's something that appears right now that we'll never see again.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 4:21 pm

Boom wrote:Madden is much better than most people who are fans of ESPN give it credit. It's much improved from 2004 and the defensive control is head and shoulders above that in ESPN.

Im an ESPN fan and I think Madden is better in many ways...The defensive control you mentioned and the franchise mode....I quit playing ESPN offline a long time ago.

Anyway.....
I love both games.
I am a football game whore.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 4:33 pm

Yep madden isn't all that bad. But if ESPN had the bugs worked out of it, I don't think that Madden would hold up. I like the little things about madden but at the end of the day there's too much promise under the hood of ESPN NFL.

I like Madden and have played my share of it but there's so much more Madden could be but it isn't.

The SMs sliders mentioned before have really turned that game into a winner and that's saying a lot about the community. Too bad madden handicaps the community with only 15 sliders per hum or CPU and that we can't change coaching tendendies without taking drastic steps before you fire up your first game.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 5:59 pm

JRod wrote:Yep madden isn't all that bad. But if ESPN had the bugs worked out of it, I don't think that Madden would hold up.

I completely agree. The bugs are what hold ESPN back. But they are serious bugs -- the DB and pass blocking AI are really screwed up, as is the franchise/management AI.

The DB AI in Madden is challenging but it is not good. It is extremely difficult to throw the deep ball in Madden against man-to-man coverage. Not impossible, but much harder than it is in real games. Your WR gets separation and you naturally throw it, but the the DB slides and leaps to bat the ball away. Watch the replays and you can see how ridiculous it looks.

I actually can run pretty effectively on the All-Pro level with default running sliders. You just have to adjust for the way the players in Madden block and you can have success. I may try these super sliders, but I'll have to start a new franchise to import them.

EA definitely did beef up the human defense. I thought the Hit Stick would be a stupid gimmick, but I love it and miss it in ESPN. I also love the playmaker adjustments on offense and defense. But I also miss the ESPN playbooks when I play Madden.

As usual, if you could combine the two, you'd have the perfect football game.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 6:06 pm

Boom wrote:Madden is much better than most people who are fans of ESPN give it credit. It's much improved from 2004 and the defensive control is head and shoulders above that in ESPN.

My only beef with Madden is the lack of Defensive PI calls. Other than that I think the game is nearly flawless on the field.

People rant about the DB's having superhuman powers, but I don't think it's nearly as bad as the DB's on NCAA 2005 (PS2). In Madden it's very possible to drop the ball in the soft-spot of a zone (over DB's and under safeties). The amount of pressure you put on the button as you throw really makes a difference.

In Madden the if your running game is getting stuffed, you may have to open it up with some good passes and then come back to the run later.... .and vice versa.

I do have a lot of fun playing ESPN online with friends, but I just hate seeing people saying that they feel that HAVE to get Madden 2005 to get used to it for 2006.

It's like anything else. Madden fans don't tend to like ESPN right away because basically they're not used to the way it plays. ESPN fans don't like Madden for the same reasons. If both parties would give each game a real shot, they'd find that we have two quality NFL games this year.

That's something that appears right now that we'll never see again.

This is a great post. I agree 100 percent. I was a diehard NFL 2K guy, so I was reluctant to give Madden much of a chance this year. But the ridiculous DB AI in ESPN NFL and the lack of a return game on kicks really started to piss me off, so I gave Madden a shot.

Madden 2005 is a damn good game. I agree 100 percent that other than the lack of pass interference calls, Madden 2005 is as good as it ever has been on the field for a game of console football.

I'm really, really enjoying it, something I never would have thought a couple of months ago.

Sm27's sliders from MaddenMania rock, too.

Take care,
PK

GridIronGhost · Post by **GridIronGhost** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:30 pm

Brando70 wrote:The DB AI in Madden is challenging but it is not good. It is extremely difficult to throw the deep ball in Madden against man-to-man coverage. Not impossible, but much harder than it is in real games. Your WR gets separation and you naturally throw it, but the the DB slides and leaps to bat the ball away. Watch the replays and you can see how ridiculous it looks.

Try cranking up the pass lead slider to 7, it seems to help. Turn down coverage a tad on CPU defense.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:34 pm

GridIronGhost wrote:
Brando70 wrote:The DB AI in Madden is challenging but it is not good. It is extremely difficult to throw the deep ball in Madden against man-to-man coverage. Not impossible, but much harder than it is in real games. Your WR gets separation and you naturally throw it, but the the DB slides and leaps to bat the ball away. Watch the replays and you can see how ridiculous it looks.
Try cranking up the pass lead slider to 7, it seems to help. Turn down coverage a tad on CPU defense.

Or just pickup Madden05 for PS2. The Xbox version plays faster than the PS2 version and that's why you get the DB's catching up so quickly on deep passes.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:42 am

Weaver you've got to be kidding, right?

I have both and have played at least 100 games on both. They play exactly the same on the field. The XBOX version runs a little smoother, but the DB AI acts exactly the same.

The streak is hard to hit this year because everybody has always been bitching that Madden is a "chuck it up in coverage game" and that it's too easy to complete.

Streaks are possible, but they aren't a high percentage play..... The way it should be. Get a good running game going, call a Play-Action pass with one of your speedy guys on a streak and if your QB has the arm to lead him, it'll be there.

I play with the Broncos almost religously and even Champ Baily who is reted 99 OVR(with a speed rating of 99) has been burned on the streak.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:52 am

skinsfan wrote:A simple thing to help your D is to adjust your sub in/sub out percentage up wards.Tired players on the field get beat and the cpu will take advantage of this.Don't be afraid to call a time out,especially in the first half, to rest your guys if the cpu is on a long sustained drive.

The time out idea helped.
I have no problem using time outs early and often it makes the game more realistic...afterall I am the lambs.

Great idea guys going with SM27s sliders from Maddenmania.....PK you are right those dudes are insane...I am getting very good statistical results...or as good as I expect from a video game.

After starting out 7-1 at level 1..... With 6 wins in a row I decided to go from SM27s level 1 sliders to level 2...Most of the games were close but I was starting to get too good for My liking...If I start feeling like I cant lose I dont want to play. I hadnt reach point of invincibility but why wait?...Id rather get started on the new franchise.

I can see My self playing thru 2-3 seasons with the level 2 sliders.
They seem to provide
1)realistic stats
2)A challenge
3)The feeling of football
4)fun

The only real problem I have is this feeing of rubberband AI. There seems to be a predetermind point spread at which point the CPU becomes unstoppable. ...but what can u do?..it is a videogame.

As far as the streaks?...I have both hit them and have had them hit against me....The game handles this area very well as far as Im concerned.

Now Ive gonne blah blah blah again..so I will go bye bye

GridIronGhost · Post by **GridIronGhost** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 4:37 pm

Maybe I downloaded the wrong file or something. In my games I play the CPU just passes, no runs hardly. Could you post SM27s sliders. It may just be me, but I think that the PS2 plays a much better game then the xbox version. I feel the same way about NCAA 2005, but that's my opinion...what do I know?

skinsfan · Post by **skinsfan** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:24 pm

http://forums.operationsports.com/vBull ... 089&page=1 >This is a thread that includes a roster for ESPNNFL2K5 that has been edited with the roster editor,combined with a set of sliders for download(all via AR of course).They have globally edited each position and used the latest Sega update as a base.These help with the gameplay greatly.I had to bump up the human settings because I suck,but things like dumb DB's and weak QB's are much less of a problem.Worth a look for those not wanting to completely poop-can ESPN.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:17 pm

Boom wrote:Weaver you've got to be kidding, right?

I have both and have played at least 100 games on both. They play exactly the same on the field. The XBOX version runs a little smoother, but the DB AI acts exactly the same.

The streak is hard to hit this year because everybody has always been b*tching that Madden is a "chuck it up in coverage game" and that it's too easy to complete.

Streaks are possible, but they aren't a high percentage play..... The way it should be. Get a good running game going, call a Play-Action pass with one of your speedy guys on a streak and if your QB has the arm to lead him, it'll be there.

I play with the Broncos almost religously and even Champ Baily who is reted 99 OVR(with a speed rating of 99) has been burned on the streak.

Not to beat a dead horse, but the issue isn't really my defense getting burned on the streak. That does happen with somewhat realistic regularlity.

Nor is it a leading issue. I'm not underthrowing the receiver. The ball is getting there in stride. The problem is, you see a guy who has 2-3 steps on a DB, and he is also as fast or faster than his defender. You insinctively throw the deep pass, but the defender gets a boost and slides a few yards ahead while leaping like Jordan from the freethrow line. The issue isn't me, it's the game. I've watch replays over and over trying to figure it out, but the bottom line is it's just EA "fixing" the AI by making it superhuman.

It's not a huge problem -- hasn't kept me from enjoying the game. Just an annoyance. It is preferable to ESPN's propensity to give up the big play.