Madden 09 Discussion

[Zlax45]

I think the demo is fun and I can throw the bomb pretty well in it. I am thinking of doing a midnight release this year for it as long as the swarming defensive players are fixed. That is it I am scared of.

Any good deals on the Collector's edition out there?

[XXXIV]

sooooooooooooooo....

Back on topic. Has anyone played the demo yet???? I'm now officially excited about Madden '09 after checking it out and playing a few demo games.

Ahhh...the happier times of page 1 of the thread.

Demo feels good...looks good...I have high hopes.

[ScoopBrady]

I've been saying this for years but nobody has seemed to understand it. The hardcore act as if they are the only ones that matter and are naive enough to believe that the game companies see it that way as well.

I want to clarify this statement so as to not ruffle any feathers here. I don't think anyone at DSP falls into the hardcore category. I look at there being 5 different categories:

Casual - They just want to play a sports game. They don't care about much other than having some fun with a sports game.

Tweener - I used to be a simhead (next category) but have migrated to the tweeners. They want a sports game to be sim-like but in the end they just want to have fun. Using NCAA 09 as an example they know the punt coverage is messed up but it doesn't ruin the overall enjoyment of the game. Now on the flipside to use NCAA 07 for the PSP as an example they see that the game does not mark the line of scrimmage properly on running plays. This does ruin the overall enjoyment of the game.

Simhead - This is what most of the guys here fall under. Simheads can have fun with a game but they do like 95% of it to feel authentic. They are not as willing to overlook aspects in the name of fun.

Extreme simhead - (Edit: so as to no longer sully Abner's name I am correcting my error of putting him in this category when I did, in fact, mean Bill Harris.) Extreme simheads will break down a sports game like no other. They will go to great lengths to analyze a games strengths and weaknesses with a very detailed and accute methods. I personally don't see anything wrong with this and fear that others think I do.

Hardcore - These are the crazies that will not tolerate a single flag being out of place at a stadium or shoelaces that aren't the proper color. These guys consider games garbage because of the most minute of details. I know there are a handful of these types at OS but would not classify anyone who posts here in this category.

When I made the above statement it was about the hardcore crowd I just described. I made it because of the links to OS and the talk of people being up in arms. I personally didn't visit those OS links because I didn't want to read it. If anyone was offended here thinking I meant them or anyone else here I apologize because I certaintly didn't mean to imply that.

And Danimal I apologize to you for totally derailing this thread. It was actually my grand plan to ensure that a seperate Madden impressions thread would be started when the game released so we didn't have just one Madden thread all year. It was evil and it was diabolical but it had to be done.

Leebo, I hope your post above means that you're sticking around. Our eyes are getting closer together and I know that one of these days they'll see each other.

[Leebo33]

Leebo, I hope your post above means that you're sticking around. Our eyes are getting closer together and I know that one of these days they'll see each other.

Yes, I almost stayed retired as long as Favre. How can I leave Siam stranded like NutsackGreg did?

On Topic...Bill's Madden impressions have me worried...very worried about Madden.

[Inuyasha]

On Topic...Bill's Madden impressions have me worried...very worried about Madden.

I'd still keep an open mind. Abner is to blogs like Jrod is to DSP. They hate everything in life except the WE series.

[XXXIV]

How can I leave Siam stranded like NutsackGreg did?

.

[snaz16]

I'd be honored to be dumped by a " NutsackGreg and MustyArmpit"
""" """......""" """.....""" """.

[GTHobbes]

If we had more Bill Abners, and fewer IGN's, PastaPadre's and other "media" folk who sell their positive reviews in exchange for the opportunity to suck EA's tit at Community Day, the world would be a better place, IMO. And we'd all have a far better football game to play by now.

Keep it up, Bill...there are some of us out here who really appreciate your doing what you do.

[XXXIV]

Keep it up, Bill...there are some of us out here who really appreciate your doing what you do.

Yes...Keep going...Never stop.

We all benefit from it wether we want to appreciate it or not...

Now....what about Head Coach?

[jcalvert]

Tweener - I used to be a simhead (next category) but have migrated to the tweeners. They want a sports game to be sim-like but in the end they just want to have fun. Using NCAA 09 as an example they know the punt coverage is messed up but it doesn't ruin the overall enjoyment of the game. Now on the flipside to use NCAA 07 for the PSP as an example they see that the game does not mark the line of scrimmage properly on running plays. This does ruin the overall enjoyment of the game.

B-I-N-G-O.

This is pretty much me as evident from my site over the last 6-18 months. I want a simulation, but I want to have fun and not be bothered with a bunch of crap that goes into getting a true simulation experience. That is a hard pill to swallow, but I just do not have the same amount of gaming time that I used to have, which is the reason my taste in gaming has slowly evolved.

At least I am currently writing about games, with a beer post here and there, instead of shooting squirrels (no puns please). I suppose that is worth something.

Seriously, somewhere between kid number one and two (or maybe it was two and three) a game like NCAA Football 09 became fun instead of a total suckfest. There was a time when I would rip it a new one, and maybe I have, but I have still managed to have fun with the game. I bet the same will be the case with Madden, but unlike the days of yore, I do not have time to play *both* games. The best "tweener" game will win.

[Bill_Abner]

I don't really play the WE series and I like a lot of things about life.

Cookies are good.

Wow I guess that F Abner thing wasn't tongue in cheek.

I am not an "extreme simhead." I just want the fundamentals of a sports game to work and in this day and age I don't think that is asking too much. I get labeled as this guy that wants every T crossed and I dotted but that is way, way far from the truth. Going by your criteria I am firmly in the "simhead" category.

When my buddy Bill Harris timed the players' 40 times in NCAA 09 -- THAT was extreme simheadness.

The blog is bugged right now (thanks Blogger) but the Madden time management stuff is not a hardcore issue in my mind. The punt coverage in NCAA is total s*** but I can Super Sim it and live with it. If I can find a workaround for a problem, then I'm usually good to go.

I don't like losing my Online Dynasty data due to a database error. That pissed me off. I don't like watching the AI throw a juke move when no one is standing there and then run out of bounds. I hate that the AI never throws deep. Or that I can complete 80% of my passes with any team in the game. I just don't see those as being extreme.

Now, the QB simmed stats are total crap in NCAA. It's something I would LOVE to see fixed. It won't be. I can live with that. The game LOVES the Pitt Panthers and they are always in the top 10 in my seasons. I think that's loopy. But I can deal with it.

Each and every one of us has things in all of these games that we can or cannot accept. I suppose everyone's list is different and everyone's idea of "fun" is as well. But I really am not this guy that looks for every minute detail to be spot on. Just get the BIG stuff right and I am usually very happy.

Games like NHL 08, The Show, Power Pros, the latest FIFA, College Hoops 2K8 -- I loved the hell out of those games, flaws and all.

Anwyay, Head Coach:

This might be too much game for me. I’m going to be simulating a lot of the day to day stuff because it’s info overload! The day to day grind I find boring. But the tasks are cool – My GM told me to trade a LB on the roster. And I was approached by Philly with a trade that I declined but we went back and forth 3 times in negotiations.

But the game is pretty cool. The engine looks like Madden PS2 but in HD. This is NOT the 360 game in coach mode. Graphics are way different.

But on the first play Jamal Lewis took a draw play 70 yards but for the rest of the half he was held in check for the most part, and Derek Anderson overthrew THREE receivers! I almost cried with joy. Anderson played the first quarter of the Jets preseason game and was 5/8 for 50 yards and a TD.

The Jets QB, Clemmons, same deal – he actually missed an open receiver on a deep fade route that landed 5 yards out of bounds. Now answer me this: why can this engine do that and the new one cant/wont? Why do the guys making Madden refuse to put poor throws in the game? I think that is a very simhead question to ask.

Anyway, I can’t find a camera angle I like yet and the rosters are *bad* ratings wise -- Ken Dorsey better than Brady Quinn and the Browns 3rd round pick out of Mizzou (TE named Rucker) is rated a *23*. A TWENTY THREE!

Still, lots of potential and I want to get some more time in tonight if I can. After playing Maddne all day seeing incomplete passes made me dance a jig.

[XXXIV]

Ken Dorsey better than Brady Quinn .

Probably...what exactly has the king of all hype done in the NFL?...I mean besides steal money?

Oh yeah...and thanks dude for the impressions!!!!

[Bill_Abner]

Ken Dorsey better than Brady Quinn .

Probably...what exactly has the king of all hype done in the NFL?...I mean besides steal money?

I am better than Ken Dorsey! They rated Dorsey an 84 in HC. That equates to "solid NFL QB" in game definition. When did Ken Dorsey become a solid NFL QB?

As for Quinn...I'm glad we have DA. I'm still taking him over Dorsey, though.

[XXXIV]

Ken Dorsey better than Brady Quinn .

Probably...what exactly has the king of all hype done in the NFL?...I mean besides steal money?

I am better than Ken Dorsey! They rated Dorsey an 84 in HC. That equates to "solid NFL QB" in game definition. When did Ken Dorsey become a solid NFL QB?

As for Quinn...I'm glad we have DA. I'm still taking him over Dorsey, though.

...That was just a cheap shot at Quinn

[XXXIV]

Anyway...Im looking forward to more impressions

[btmmayor]

When my buddy Bill Harris timed the players' 40 times in NCAA 09 -- THAT was extreme simheadness.

I don't think so because the speed disparity in the game helps to explain why we see some of the garbage that is in NCAA. Its not like the rest of the game is perfect but the players run the 40 too slow. That would be over the top.

Ok.....now that I think about it sitting in front of the tv with a stopwatch might be a little on the simhead side of things.

[ScoopBrady]

I am not an "extreme simhead." I just want the fundamentals of a sports game to work and in this day and age I don't think that is asking too much. I get labeled as this guy that wants every T crossed and I dotted but that is way, way far from the truth. Going by your criteria I am firmly in the "simhead" category.

When my buddy Bill Harris timed the players' 40 times in NCAA 09 -- THAT was extreme simheadness.

I owe you an apology then because I got my Bill's confused. I had mistaken you for Harris. I'll change my original post to reflect that. And for the record, if you did do that I would have no problem with it.

[Wilk5280]

Here's my thing... I haven't forgotten what it was like almost 30 years ago when it comes to playing videogame football.

The atari 2600 with 3-on-3 one a horizontal field where I could control the football after I through it and the 3 men were about the size of 30 yards..give or take.

When Atari's "Real Sports" football came out I was ecstatic! I enjoyed other games for several years which led me to Joe Montana Football and Madden on the Genesis.

I was in disbelief at the fact that I could actually be #78 on Buffalo's D-Line. I mean "Holy Sh!t, that's BRUCE SMITH! THAT'S AWESOME!!!"

I remember those days well and at the time if I would have known where football games were going to go I would bursting with excitement at the thought of what I'd be playing in the future.

So, with all that said I just enjoy that fact that I have the opportunity play games that resemble my favorite sport and are fun to play. Are they perfect? Nah, but I'm not gonna nitpick this s*** frame-by-frame just to find problems and b*tch about them on youtube.

Call me "sheeple" or easily amused. I just think that if you can't have fun playing these games then maybe you shouldn't be playing them.

Fun??? WTF does that have to do with sports gaming these days?

I remember those days as well. We used to have Madden tournaments in the barracks back in 93. That Sega Genesis held up for countless games. We would have a 3rd guy in charge of overturning of certain calls. That was a great feature for those days. Thanks for stirring up some great memories.

Oh God! I REALLY need to stop posting in a rush as I'm headed out the door and late for a meeting...that was just terrible lol.

Anyway Jack, I agree man. Some of my favorite gaming memories have happened in the barracks or on ship while playing for port call money. Marines get real serious when it comes to drinking money my friend. Some serious heated battles of Madden and Live way back in the day. Howver, when NFL Gameday hit the scene on the brand spanking new Playstation it just took it to a whole new level.

We had so much fun with those games and if you go back and actually try to play them now???? Forget about it!

Playing against friends always beats out playing the cpu for me. So, if I can find a good handful of friends that like to play the game we usually play it like chess and it all works out. I guess that's why I don't freak out over the slider deal or robo qb's or whatever the current beef is.

That or I'm just stupid and don't realize that Madden doesn't resemble the actual sport.

[Danimal]

Hey Bill just to address the ratings things your seeing in HC. Rating don't work like Madden players are rated by how well the fit with the team and the system they are running.

I don't know enough about the players in question to know if that makes you go "oh s*** well that makes sense" or "well hell that makes it even worse"

I just wanted you to know that ratings in HC are not like rating in madden they have different factors and change constantly from the wear and tear injury system.

[Inuyasha]

If we had more Bill Abners, and fewer IGN's, PastaPadre's and other "media" folk who sell their positive reviews in exchange for the opportunity to suck EA's tit at Community Day, the world would be a better place, IMO. And we'd all have a far better football game to play by now.

Keep it up, Bill...there are some of us out here who really appreciate your doing what you do.

We need guys like that guy who made all those videos surgically removing EA's liquid AI from it's ass in NCAA. That guy was awesome how he dissected everything with those NCAA videos , and funny too. I'm sure he'll be doing the same with madden.

[wco81]

The Jets QB, Clemmons, same deal – he actually missed an open receiver on a deep fade route that landed 5 yards out of bounds. Now answer me this: why can this engine do that and the new one cant/wont? Why do the guys making Madden refuse to put poor throws in the game? I think that is a very simhead question to ask.

Actually, I've thrown several passes with Alex Smith which were way beyond the intended WR on an in-cut or post route.

Most of the time that pass should hit the WR in front of the safeties but instead, it's way above the WR's head and lands incomplete or often, right into the safeties arms.

In the 09 Demo, I've overthrown some corner routes as well but those passes may have been thrown a bit too early.

[greggsand]

That Madden Replay (or whatever it's called) is the dumbest thing I've seen in a football game... What's the point?

[Inuyasha]

That Madden Replay (or whatever it's called) is the dumbest thing I've seen in a football game... What's the point?

It's not for us, it's for the maddennation crowd. Just think of the drama it will introduce.

[JRod]

The Jets QB, Clemmons, same deal – he actually missed an open receiver on a deep fade route that landed 5 yards out of bounds. Now answer me this: why can this engine do that and the new one cant/wont? Why do the guys making Madden refuse to put poor throws in the game? I think that is a very simhead question to ask.

Actually, I've thrown several passes with Alex Smith which were way beyond the intended WR on an in-cut or post route.

Most of the time that pass should hit the WR in front of the safeties but instead, it's way above the WR's head and lands incomplete or often, right into the safeties arms.

In the 09 Demo, I've overthrown some corner routes as well but those passes may have been thrown a bit too early.

I've done it only by leading the WR. I don't think the CPU will ever do it through.


When Abner says the game is too deep what does that say about the game.

I love FM, as most of you know. If HC is as good as that game. I might just get my FB fill this year.

[jcalvert]

That Madden Replay (or whatever it's called) is the dumbest thing I've seen in a football game... What's the point?

I think it is kind of interesting. Not sure if it is just for online play, multiplayer (same room), or single player. Maybe all three.

If it will work for multiplayer I will use it to handicap me against my soon to be 10 year old son. Maybe he will get 3-5 "do overs" per game.

If it works in single player mode, I may set my games up for 1-2 "do overs" against the CPU when I see BS plays. May keep my sanity when the CPU does the impossible against me. If nothing else, may keep my blood pressure from boiling.