Madden 08 Hands On

eman · Post by **eman** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:30 am

While were ranting....

The interface on the 360 - it's flat out stupid. I cant believe how difficult it is to cycle through simple stats. Speaking of stats, what happened to in-game stats? Is it that hard to flash a stat graphic every once in a while? What happened to quick audibles? That's gone. I also miss the D hot route feature. Finally, I can't create formations or edit my playbook and that bothers me but at least I have fantasy challenge! *end sarcasm*

The new button layout bugs me on the 360 but this is more a personal preference. R2/RT to speed burst? L2/LT to strafe? I really like the strafe feature but it just doesn't feel right back there on the LT button. Personally I thought the old controller layout/buttons were perfect. I dont see how it's improved by moving these two buttons.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:34 am

eman wrote:While were ranting....

The interface on the 360 - it's flat out stupid. I cant believe how difficult it is to cycle through simple stats. Speaking of stats, what happened to in-game stats? Is it that hard to flash a stat graphic every once in a while? What happened to quick audibles? That's gone. I also miss the D hot route feature. Finally, I can't create formations or edit my playbook and that bothers me but at least I have fantasy challenge! *end sarcasm*

The new button layout bugs me on the 360 but this is more a personal preference. R2/RT to speed burst? L2/LT to strafe? I really like the strafe feature but it just doesn't feel right back there on the LT button. Personally I thought the old controller layout/buttons were perfect. I dont see how it's improved by moving these two buttons.

That's why I went the PC route this year and I kept my copy of Madden 07(360). I tried this years demo and I wasn't impressed although I must say it runs silky smooth. Just like you mentioned, too many of the little things are still missing that are on the PC version.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 2:47 pm

After hearing all the rave bout the pc version I think Im going to pick it up...but I do have to say I am really enjoying the 360 version...Alot.

Post by **Jared** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:08 pm

Since I've been out of the country the past few weeks, I haven't picked up Madden yet and have only played the demo. It seems like a turnover-fest...fumbles and INTs everywhere (and it seems like others at OS for example are complaining about it). Is it that bad in the actual game? If so, have people found decent fixes? I actually like the gameplay...but I don't want to buy a game that's a turnover-fest.

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:14 pm

Jared wrote:Since I've been out of the country the past few weeks, I haven't picked up Madden yet and have only played the demo. It seems like a turnover-fest...fumbles and INTs everywhere (and it seems like others at OS for example are complaining about it). Is it that bad in the actual game? If so, have people found decent fixes? I actually like the gameplay...but I don't want to buy a game that's a turnover-fest.

It is that bad. People at OS are reporting 14 turnover games in CPU-CPU contests, meaning that it's not a question of player decision. I know I played a game where I had three fumbles on the same play, and not in a stumbling around and not securing a loose ball kind of way- a guy fumbled, the defender picked it up and ran 30 yards, then fumbled, and an offensive player picked it up, ran 15 yards and fumbled. One play, no jukes or anything like that.

It's funny, because the fumbles actually bother me less than some of the picks. I appreciate introducing the random element of football into the game, even if it's overdone. The picks, on the other hand, happen because the DBs cheat, and that's just frustrating.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:18 pm

I've really enjoyed the game on Pro. My turnovers have been mostly stupid throws and fumbles on jukes in traffic and the computer, outside of a random turnover fests (just restart that game), hasn't been too bad. The last step for me is improving the CPU red zone performance a little bit.

Post by **Jared** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:23 pm

In playing the demo, I've been trying to play conservatively (always use the cover up button once in traffic, don't juke), and I'm still seeing lots of fumbles. I've got serious desire to play some NFL...but unless they patch it, I'm afraid that the game will just be frustrating, at best.

Anyways, I welcome more opinions on the turnovers.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:40 pm

Jared wrote:In playing the demo, I've been trying to play conservatively (always use the cover up button once in traffic, don't juke), and I'm still seeing lots of fumbles. I've got serious desire to play some NFL...but unless they patch it, I'm afraid that the game will just be frustrating, at best.

Anyways, I welcome more opinions on the turnovers.

They arent that bad in themselves( Ive only had one really crazy game in about 15 where the cpu had I think 6 in the first half alone and 4 went for scores) Its the amount of Ints returned for TDs thats bad. I am averaging about 1.5 a game.

I think alot of it is momentum based...once the AI starts throwing picks it cant help itself.

Every game is different. Ive had the cpu throw from 0 to 7 ints in a game.

EDIT: Just played a two turnover game vs the Saints. Each side with one and theres coming on 4th and goal with 12 secs remaining....so it is possible to have a good game.

If only EA(scum) had not released a buggy beta copy (turnovers and no AI replay challenges)this would be my favorite football game ever.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:37 am

Super DB's really do exist...

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:57 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Super DB's really do exist...

Amen

Beck looked good again last night.

jcalvert · Post by **jcalvert** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:57 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Super DB's really do exist...

That is classic stuff! I wanted to make it three images in a row. LOL

Seriously, I can live with the turnovers; I guess they make the game more interesting but not so much realistic. As others have said, the bigger issue with the turnovers is the number returned for a TD.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:20 pm

Jared wrote:In playing the demo, I've been trying to play conservatively (always use the cover up button once in traffic, don't juke), and I'm still seeing lots of fumbles. I've got serious desire to play some NFL...but unless they patch it, I'm afraid that the game will just be frustrating, at best.

Anyways, I welcome more opinions on the turnovers.

Jared, they are high, but I think the roster update lessened the fumble issue. I'm not seeing a ridiculous number -- Usually 1 or 2 per game. I had five last night in a very rainy game in Chicago, but that's the worst I've seen.

Most of the interceptions I have seen are pretty legit -- bad throws by me or the CPU. However, there are a lot of turnovers returned for TDs.

I think there's a simple litmus test -- if you liked Madden in the past, you'll probably like 08 despite its issues. If you haven't like Madden than 08 on the 360 probably won't change your mind.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:28 pm

I get fumbles when I use special moves with average or below average RBs. But guys like LT hardly fumble for me.

eman · Post by **eman** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:25 pm

It seemed like every game I played on the 360 featured at least two interceptions returned for TD's! I could avoid fumbles with the R1/RB button. Avoiding interceptions required very careful passing - I felt it was overly difficult. EA needs to program defenders knocking the balls down more. Every DB in Madden has Champ Bailey ball skills... it's ridiculous.

I traded Madden (360) and Gears of War for BioShock this weekend. I'll grab Madden for the PC soon.

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:25 pm

Jared wrote:In playing the demo, I've been trying to play conservatively (always use the cover up button once in traffic, don't juke), and I'm still seeing lots of fumbles. I've got serious desire to play some NFL...but unless they patch it, I'm afraid that the game will just be frustrating, at best.

Anyways, I welcome more opinions on the turnovers.

Exactly, i dont think the cover up button does anything for fumbles, some games just seem better then others. What bothers me is the fact that even if there is only 2 fumbles th fact remains i still worry that it might happen every carry. I really feel the hit stick 2.0 is to blame for most of the fumbles, so no matter wat yu do if you get popped good you will likely fumble.

I even had one game the no one could hold on to the damn ball, 12 turnovers. One play all the cpu did was bump into me. I did a dive trying to make a tackle completely missing the carrier because he did some jump back move, when he went to go forward again i was lying infront of him and it caused im to go into some wacky collision animation and out pops the ball. If i had my cam charged i would have recorded it.

What i am hoping for is a roster update/edit that tweaks a stat fixing the issue. I really want to like the 360 but i might set up camp with the pc version,

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:37 pm

It's kind of shocking that EA didn't do the obvious thing and get Rex Grossman to be the coverboy. Then all the turnovers would begin to make sense...

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:00 pm

seanmac31 wrote:It's kind of shocking that EA didn't do the obvious thing and get Rex Grossman to be the coverboy. Then all the turnovers would begin to make sense...

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:02 am

Well for all it's warts I keep playing this game and I think it is because I am not having a lot of success with it. I am playing a franchise on Pro with some heavily tweaked sliders as the Bears.

I started off 6-2 and have procede to drop 4 straight games to go to 6 - 6. the loses were in all sort of flavors. I lost in a shootout to the Seahawks 41 - 31. I lost to the giants 9 - 6 in a defennsive struggle.

As each loss occurs my player seem to be getting worse, which leads me to wonder if there is morale in this game and what kind of role it plays. I also wonder how fatigue effects players on a season basis. The first 8 games I was maybe getting sacked 1 or 2 times a game. These last 4 I am getting sacked an average of 5 times a game.

Benson no longer seems to have any explosiveness in his step, he still churns up yards but his gains are of the 2 - 5 yard variety. All in all most of my player just look tired.

Has anyone played enough of a franchise to notice any similar effects? Does season long fatigue actually exists and does it have this big of an impact?

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:25 am

Mind posting your sliders? I was thinking of trying some Pro sliders.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:35 am

I'll post them tonight. I used Abner's sliders as a base and then tweaked a few things, because of some of the results I was getting at first.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:08 pm

Yeah, I'd like to check them out as well Danimal.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:22 pm

Just had the Bengals miss a fg and have it called good....I was like wtf so I watched the replay and sure enough its ide right put counts anyway...Sweet bug...

Anyone else notice all the PIs called against you when the other teams qb throws the ball into the line and it pinballs around?

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:33 pm

XXXIV wrote:Just had the Bengals miss a fg and have it called good....I was like wtf so I watched the replay and sure enough its ide right put counts anyway...Sweet bug...

Anyone else notice all the PIs called against you when the other teams qb throws the ball into the line and it pinballs around?

I've had catches made a yard or two outside the lines be called a catch and TD. Happened more than once. Not frequent but did had to restart because it ruined a game.

HipE · Post by **HipE** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:24 pm

Danimal wrote:Well for all it's warts I keep playing this game and I think it is because I am not having a lot of success with it. I am playing a franchise on Pro with some heavily tweaked sliders as the Bears.

I started off 6-2 and have procede to drop 4 straight games to go to 6 - 6. the loses were in all sort of flavors. I lost in a shootout to the Seahawks 41 - 31. I lost to the giants 9 - 6 in a defennsive struggle.

As each loss occurs my player seem to be getting worse, which leads me to wonder if there is morale in this game and what kind of role it plays. I also wonder how fatigue effects players on a season basis. The first 8 games I was maybe getting sacked 1 or 2 times a game. These last 4 I am getting sacked an average of 5 times a game.

Benson no longer seems to have any explosiveness in his step, he still churns up yards but his gains are of the 2 - 5 yard variety. All in all most of my player just look tired.

Has anyone played enough of a franchise to notice any similar effects? Does season long fatigue actually exists and does it have this big of an impact?

I'm not sure if it is related to fatigue, but I'm really struggling at the end of my first season. I started out 11-0, but then was blown out by the Bengals, came back from a 38-19 4th qtr deficit to beat the Pats, lost in OT to the Jags and was blown out by the Rams, dropping me to 12-3. I'm still running for big yards with Parker, as he is over 2100 yds for the season now with a game to play. I am absolutely fumbling a ton though, I'm losing three or four a game now. All of these are happening with me covering the ball as well, I never even use any jukes, but I don't think it really makes a difference. The strangest thing I'm seeing is that the CPU is no longer turning the ball over. They have thrown a total of 2 ints in my last 4 games, neither of which were returned for tds. I'm curious to see if this game gets even more difficult once the playoffs start.

All in all, I'm still really enjoying the game, it is definitely my favorite Madden since 05 on the Xbox. I'm sure I'll be playing a few seasons at least, I'm getting a good challenge and the game is still very fun to play. The on field presentation doesn't bother me, but I'm really missing some of the off field stuff that was in 05. I need newspaper articles and position battles or something to not make the season seem like a bunch of exhibition games with stat tracking.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:26 am

Can anyone download the offical rosters for the PC from EA's website?

I get to a page where it says "to download them click here", but the link behind the "click here" isn't actually there, and there is nothing else to click!