Official Madden 2006 Impressions Thread

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:36 am

Update: My bad, the only preset controller layouts are default, Madden 06, Madden 05 and NFL Street. No NCAA preset. Oh well.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:52 am

Early impressions...

Running is so much better this year. Last year it seemed like to be it was all or nothing and most of the time it was nothing.

The cone is all I had expected it to be which is good as I was hyped about this feature. I play with Vick so I have to change receivers alot.

Running with Vick is harder than last year sometimes its a little too hard so far but I know I need to get better.

Has anyone listened to the cadence from their QB? I have not played with any team yet except the Falcons but I noticed the voice IS Vick.. Which is kinda cool if you are a Falcons fan.. I am not sure if they have other QBs in the game or not.

BD

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:27 am

ScoopBrady wrote:
reeche wrote:That particular abstraction however of a pasing cone to me neither reflects what is going on in the real game very well, nor is it something I have ever secretly desired in a football game.
Well, it might not be something you secretly desired in a football game but it does reflect what is going on in a real game very well. Watch any football game and pay special attention to the qb. You will see the qb check down his progressions on just about every passing play. The passing cone makes you check down your progressions on just about every passing play. I feel more in control on the field using the vision passing. I feel like I'm playing quarterback more than any other football videogame that has ever been released. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I dissect a defense that was sorely missing in videogame football. You have the option of turning it off. I, for one, will be sorely disappointed if EA doesn't continue on with this new style of passing game.

Scoop I agree, but I think there is a very real, and as yet open, question as to whether me moving a cone back and forth, and further tasking my already multi-tasking brain and fingers is an accurate or FUN representation of what goes on with the mere swivel of a QB's head.

Last year in ESPN, I regularly cast my own eyes from receiver to receiver and made reads on almost every play. Granted, there wasn't the strong penalty for me throwing to someone in my periferal vision, but 1) I don't konw that there should be and 2) I don't know that what I was already doing wasn't an accurate simulation of what goes on both pre and post snap without the additional layer of work added to the mix.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 4:21 am

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere yet so I'm not sure if it is possible, but it appears that we can play a franchise with another person online. It looks like you can upload your franchise save into your EA Sports Locker and a friend can download the save. My guess is I can play a game in the franchise and upload the save and you could then download it and play your game and upload it afterwards. It would take a lot of communication but it looks like it can be done. You can also share rosters and settings easily this way. That's pretty cool.

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:12 am

I should make a correction to my earlier review- you can indeed call audibles from the playscreen. You have to click on the right thumbstick, at which point you can map up to three audibles from the playcall screen, just like NFL2K5. This was a long overdue feature, and I'm glad to see EA stealing from a competitor. You can also cycle through defensive players by holding down A and then moving the left thumbstick around, again like 2K5, again a major improvement.

Now if only they hadn't decided to steal the Crib and tout it as a new feature...

CincyKid · Post by **CincyKid** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:50 am

im having a blast with this years version

the cone vision is a really cool feature and outside of rob v i have been stuck playing random games online the past few days and have yet to be cheesed what so ever

and thats not to say the a couple of them didnt try

the game just feels more balanced in a way that keeps that junk in check

running control is really nice as well

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 8:55 am

About the vision cone. A lot of people are saying how it truely represents what a QB goes through. Well, I've been doing the same thing without the cone for years. In any football game, Madden, 2k5, Fever, whatever, I always picked out a primary reciever before the snap. I'll check for him first and then move to my secondary option. Sure the cone highlights this with a beam, but isn't it just the same thing you do on your own, just with an additional step of button presses?

You can still see the other receivers even if the cone is not on them. I'll bet just about everyone looks to these other receivers, sees one open, and then moves the cone over them in order to make an accurate pass. So why even have the cone at all? It doesn't prevent you as a gamer from looking at the other options, it just adds an additional layer to the passing process.

I'm still holding off until I can rent it. Yes, that's right I have not tried the cone yet. I tried to hold off any comments until I could try it first hand, but I've read enough to at least post this.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:02 am

seanmac31 wrote:I should make a correction to my earlier review- you can indeed call audibles from the playscreen. You have to click on the right thumbstick, at which point you can map up to three audibles from the playcall screen, just like NFL2K5. This was a long overdue feature, and I'm glad to see EA stealing from a competitor. You can also cycle through defensive players by holding down A and then moving the left thumbstick around, again like 2K5, again a major improvement.

Now if only they hadn't decided to steal the Crib and tout it as a new feature...

Does this mean you can have audibles out of the same formation? I have 2004, and you had the 3 audibels, but they were usually a different formation from what you were in. This resulted in audibling from a Power I into a spread. I like the way 2k5 lets you stay in the same formation as not to give away the change.

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:17 am

matthewk wrote:About the vision cone. A lot of people are saying how it truely represents what a QB goes through. Well, I've been doing the same thing without the cone for years. In any football game, Madden, 2k5, Fever, whatever, I always picked out a primary reciever before the snap. I'll check for him first and then move to my secondary option. Sure the cone highlights this with a beam, but isn't it just the same thing you do on your own, just with an additional step of button presses?

You can still see the other receivers even if the cone is not on them. I'll bet just about everyone looks to these other receivers, sees one open, and then moves the cone over them in order to make an accurate pass. So why even have the cone at all? It doesn't prevent you as a gamer from looking at the other options, it just adds an additional layer to the passing process.

I'm still holding off until I can rent it. Yes, that's right I have not tried the cone yet. I tried to hold off any comments until I could try it first hand, but I've read enough to at least post this.

To do it "the old way"... Just hold down the R-trigger, and double click the button for the receiver you want to pass to. The first click moves the cone to that receiver, the second click passes the ball.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:22 am

matthewk wrote:About the vision cone. A lot of people are saying how it truely represents what a QB goes through. Well, I've been doing the same thing without the cone for years. In any football game, Madden, 2k5, Fever, whatever, I always picked out a primary reciever before the snap. I'll check for him first and then move to my secondary option. Sure the cone highlights this with a beam, but isn't it just the same thing you do on your own, just with an additional step of button presses?

You can still see the other receivers even if the cone is not on them. I'll bet just about everyone looks to these other receivers, sees one open, and then moves the cone over them in order to make an accurate pass. So why even have the cone at all? It doesn't prevent you as a gamer from looking at the other options, it just adds an additional layer to the passing process.

I'm still holding off until I can rent it. Yes, that's right I have not tried the cone yet. I tried to hold off any comments until I could try it first hand, but I've read enough to at least post this.

I totally agree Matt. I must not be understanding the Cone thing fully if so many are seeing it as very innovative and not a gimmick. I see absolutely no purpose in it. It is distracting if anything. Why do I need a beam of light to help me survey the field and all of my options? I cannot figure out how this helps me, in fact, it the only purpose I can see it providing is just giving me an extra step to have to do before I throw. Why do I need that when I am already pressed for time by huge linemen breathing down my neck?

I am not saying it is stupid or should never have been put into the game and I have only played two games total so far (at EB while working), but I am just not understanding the reasoning behind it and any usefulness it provides.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:31 am

matthewk wrote:I'm still holding off until I can rent it. Yes, that's right I have not tried the cone yet. I tried to hold off any comments until I could try it first hand, but I've read enough to at least post this.

Matt:

As a fellow skeptic of the Cone until I played Madden, I can tell you that it's more than just a visual effect.

Most of us probably have checked our progressions while playing past football video games, but the Cone is different, for three reasons:

1. It better simulates what a QB does when going through his progressions. When we check our receivers in video game football, we have the advantage of the overhead view. We can scan the entire field without moving our necks one centimeter unless we were playing First Person Football in the 2K series. A real-life QB has to swivel his neck and look around quickly, with only limited vision. The Cone simulates this.

2. In past football games, there really wasn't a big penalty for throwing to your third or fourth receiver. You could look straight at your primary receiver and then quickly throw to your fourth receiver on the other side of the field with little penalty, almost like a no-look pass in basketball. That's not real football. The Cone tries to simulate how a QB must move his eyes or head to find the open receiver.

3. It sure seems the game is programmed to have the CPU defense follow the Cone almost as if the LB's and DB's were following your eyes, as they do in reality. You really want to switch the Cone to a secondary receiver as late as possible because otherwise the linebackers and safeties will shake off their primary assignments to help on the secondary and tertiary receivers quickly. I know that sounds far-fetched, but it sure seemed to be the case when I played the game last night, and the manual warns you not to telegraph passes to second, third and fourth receivers by moving the Cone too quickly away from the primary.

Finding the balance between moving the Cone late but before the rush rips you in half is the challenge, and it's quite fun. I'm not there quite yet, but I'm working on it!

Take care,
PK

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:33 am

Spooky wrote:
matthewk wrote:About the vision cone. A lot of people are saying how it truely represents what a QB goes through. Well, I've been doing the same thing without the cone for years. In any football game, Madden, 2k5, Fever, whatever, I always picked out a primary reciever before the snap. I'll check for him first and then move to my secondary option. Sure the cone highlights this with a beam, but isn't it just the same thing you do on your own, just with an additional step of button presses?

You can still see the other receivers even if the cone is not on them. I'll bet just about everyone looks to these other receivers, sees one open, and then moves the cone over them in order to make an accurate pass. So why even have the cone at all? It doesn't prevent you as a gamer from looking at the other options, it just adds an additional layer to the passing process.

I'm still holding off until I can rent it. Yes, that's right I have not tried the cone yet. I tried to hold off any comments until I could try it first hand, but I've read enough to at least post this.
I totally agree Matt. I must not be understanding the Cone thing fully if so many are seeing it as very innovative and not a gimmick. I see absolutely no purpose in it. It is distracting if anything. Why do I need a beam of light to help me survey the field and all of my options? I cannot figure out how this helps me, in fact, it the only purpose I can see it providing is just giving me an extra step to have to do before I throw. Why do I need that when I am already pressed for time by huge linemen breathing down my neck?

I am not saying it is stupid or should never have been put into the game and I have only played two games total so far (at EB while working), but I am just not understanding the reasoning behind it and any usefulness it provides.

Doing it the old fashioned way makes QB awareness for human players actually impact the game -- that's really what the cone is about IMHO. Used to be you could completely ignore that stat on your QBs ratings, now you can't.

It may not be the best way to implement it, but at least it's implemented.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:37 am

matthewk wrote:About the vision cone. A lot of people are saying how it truely represents what a QB goes through. Well, I've been doing the same thing without the cone for years.

How were you able to look in one direction to fool the defense and then throw in another without the cone?

I think it adds another incredible amount of strategy to the game. Sometimes if I see what appears to be favorable coverage on Hines Ward or another stud receiver, I will "lock on" him and not worry about looking off. There are other times, if it looks like a blitz isn't coming, I will put the cone on someone I don't want to throw to and then switch it the receiver I really wanted to throw to.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:39 am

A real-life QB has to swivel his neck and look around quickly, with only limited vision. The Cone simulates this.

Unless you are named Brady, Manning or Farve which their passing cones kind of debunk that limited vision theory. No swivel required with these guys. I think it is great some of your guys like it. I really had no complaints with it other then having the cones on defense. Some people loved the read-lead from Fever and I could not stand it. As long as they give you the "option" to remove it then great. Just make sure and fully remove it when that option is selected.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:42 am

I'm getting better with the cone, but I'm throwing a lot of picks due to the precision passing (usually overthrows). I think I get so excited that my brain was able to process all the information and get the pass off that I push the stick forward as I throw. I need to relax.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:45 am

pk500 wrote: 1. It better simulates what a QB does when going through his progressions. When we check our receivers in video game football, we have the advantage of the overhead view. We can scan the entire field without moving our necks one centimeter unless we were playing First Person Football in the 2K series. A real-life QB has to swivel his neck and look around quickly, with only limited vision. The Cone simulates this.

I guess I always felt that this was offset by the fact that I am not an NFL QB, but a glorified couch potato when playing a game. A real QB has the advantage of being a well conitioned athlete that has does this every day for hours. From playing QB in flag football leagues I know you also do have peripheral vision. I can't imagine a good QB having such a narrow view as Vick seems to have with the cone.

pk500 wrote: 3. It sure seems the game is programmed to have the CPU defense follow the Cone almost as if the LB's and DB's were following your eyes, as they do in reality. You really want to switch the Cone to a secondary receiver as late as possible because otherwise the linebackers and safeties will shake off their primary assignments to help on the secondary and tertiary receivers quickly. I know that sounds far-fetched, but it sure seemed to be the case when I played the game last night, and the manual warns you not to telegraph passes to second, third and fourth receivers by moving the Cone too quickly away from the primary.

So how does work for guys like Manning and Favre, whose cones cover almost the entire width of the field? In the NFL a LB can't see any better where Vick is looking than Favre. Maybe because some QBs "lock on" to receivers more than others?

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:55 am

matthewk wrote:So how does work for guys like Manning and Favre, whose cones cover almost the entire width of the field? In the NFL a LB can't see any better where Vick is looking than Favre. Maybe because some QBs "lock on" to receivers more than others?

I haven't used the QBs with "big cones", but I'm assuming that the defense will still react towards the receiver that they are looking at, but the benefit of the large cone is that if you choose to throw to another receiver the accuracy penalty will be insignificant.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:56 am

Matt:

I haven't played yet as Brady, Manning or Favre, so I can't really comment on them. I only wish J.P. Losman's cone was bigger!

I also think the Cone simulates more than just Vision. It might simulate pocket presence, too. Vick seems to take off and run quicker than a lot of QBs, not because he has happy feet but because he's a great runner. So that might account for his smaller cone. I don't think the guy is blind or has lousy peripheral vision.

Take care,
PK

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:01 am

I miss the good ol days when "Big Cones" really meant something

Like
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/Monobrow/star-1.jpg

Okay well back to the Cone Lovefest, I will go back to playing NCAA 2006 and 2K5 which are both passing cone free.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:04 am

Ah, thanks for the Charlotte Church photo, BDitty. She definitely ranks in my worldwide top five of "Chicks With Whom It Would Almost Be Worth Risking Jail Time To Bang."

She is a beautiful girl, and WHAT a voice. Stunning. Anyone who thinks Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey and the rest of the pop divas can sing should listen to Charlotte Church.

I like her new lung capacity, too. Wonder if they're the product of teen estrogen or valve stems?

Note to self: Back to football before I fog over my screen,

Take care,
PK

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:07 am

pk500 wrote:Ah, thanks for the Charlotte Church photo, BDitty. She definitely ranks in my worldwide top five of "Chicks With Whom It Would Almost Be Worth Risking Jail Time To Bang."

She is a beautiful girl, and WHAT a voice. Stunning. Anyone who thinks Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey and the rest of the pop divas can sing should listen to Charlotte Church.

I like her new lung capacity, too. Wonder if they're the product of teen estrogen or valve stems?

Note to self: Back to football before I fog over my screen,

Take care,
PK

She does have one terrific voice. Did not mean to show the picture due to the size so I am linking it.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:15 am

ScoopBrady wrote:I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere yet so I'm not sure if it is possible, but it appears that we can play a franchise with another person online. It looks like you can upload your franchise save into your EA Sports Locker and a friend can download the save. My guess is I can play a game in the franchise and upload the save and you could then download it and play your game and upload it afterwards. It would take a lot of communication but it looks like it can be done. You can also share rosters and settings easily this way. That's pretty cool.

Scoop, have you been able to confirme this? I would imagine this would be for both PS2 and Xbox versions. I actually bought the PS2 version.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:32 am

tjung0831 wrote:
ScoopBrady wrote:I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere yet so I'm not sure if it is possible, but it appears that we can play a franchise with another person online. It looks like you can upload your franchise save into your EA Sports Locker and a friend can download the save. My guess is I can play a game in the franchise and upload the save and you could then download it and play your game and upload it afterwards. It would take a lot of communication but it looks like it can be done. You can also share rosters and settings easily this way. That's pretty cool.
Scoop, have you been able to confirme this? I would imagine this would be for both PS2 and Xbox versions. I actually bought the PS2 version.

It works. I'm running one with 3 other guys from OS. One person creates the franchise, then uploads it to his locker. The members will take turns downloading the file, playing their game, saving it, then uploading it online. You can play a Monday night game, before a 1pm Sunday game, so you don't have to play them in order, according to time.

Everything you can do in a offline franchise, is there in a online franchise. I could see myself doing a lot with this feature.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:39 am

Sully,

That is interesting. Can you post exactly how it is done.

Any Xbox users want to try and multiplayer franchise, nothing big 3 or 4 of us?

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:46 am

Danimal wrote:Sully,

That is interesting. Can you post exactly how it is done.

Any Xbox users want to try and multiplayer franchise, nothing big 3 or 4 of us?

It's very simple. One person creates a multi-user franchise, and saves the file.

You're basically just uploading that franchise file into your EA locker, and passing it around to the guys you're participating with. For instance, I created it last night, and uploaded it. DookieMowf signed on to XBL, went to EA Messenger, selected my name, viewed my EA locker, then downloaded the save file. He went into franchise mode, and loaded the file, played the game, saved it, then uploaded it to his locker. This morning, I signed on to XBL, and downloaded it out of his locker, and am now playing my game.