Anyone picking up Madden today?

baggachipz wrote:
Flux wrote:

This madden is probably the best in years from what I am reading so it should be a good year of console football.

The publications say this *every* year. /haterade

I am talking user opinions, not publications.

Played it last night on the 360 too... Much better offering than previous 360 years where it the game was only worth buying on the PS2. Most importantly, they brought back fantasy franchise mode, which is the most important feature when I play.

*Legion* wrote:
Prederick wrote:

That's why the qualification of "semi" is there Mr. "I See EVERY FRAME" :p

I can't help it. My moon eyes have evolved to a state far beyond your pitiful Earth optics.

You and your three dimensions...

On the moon, we have five -- thousand.

baggachipz wrote:
Flux wrote:

This madden is probably the best in years from what I am reading so it should be a good year of console football.

The publications say this *every* year. /haterade

Indeed. Every year this is the year. No wait this is the year.

For those who didn't like APF because of the demo... I feel you're missing out. If you rent it and play it for a while I think you'll find it to be very fun and a very sturdy game.

baggachipz wrote:

The publications say this *every* year. /haterade

This is true. But if NCAA 08 is any indication, it might not be bullsh*t this year.

DSGamer wrote:
baggachipz wrote:
Flux wrote:

This madden is probably the best in years from what I am reading so it should be a good year of console football.

The publications say this *every* year. /haterade

Indeed. Every year this is the year. No wait this is the year.

Maybe that's why I'm not so psyched: Chicago sports fans are used to waiting for next year.

Ain't that right, Wandy?

So I see several folks playing this. Any more comments or opinions?

Donan wrote:

So I see several folks playing this. Any more comments or opinions?

I will tonight, my copy didn't arrive yesterday.

I enjoy it. There seems to be no accelerate key anymore, unless I totally missed it and misread the booklet.

I like that the options for offense and defense are listed in a greyed out box on the screen, which is kind of nice as a reminder, but things go too fast.

I also like the GameSim where you can actually have the computer sim it, but you can jump in at any time and take over if you want.

The controls feel good and I think the running game continues to improve quite a bit over even last year's predecessor.

Individual players feel like...well, individual players now too, especially when their special abilities appear under their avatar on the field. Kind of nice way to really work on what you want your team to feel like and another way of transferring a lot of numerical values to a user-friendly visualization for those of us who take Madden seriously enough to know that going to deep into the game isn't that much fun.

BlackSheep wrote:

I enjoy it. There seems to be no accelerate key anymore, unless I totally missed it and misread the booklet.

Right trigger.

i got it and i already posted my frustation in the wrong forum, but i suck at this game so bad it's not funny. Still the game itself is quite fun. Much better than 01 which was the last time i've played a Madden game.

trowan wrote:
BlackSheep wrote:

I enjoy it. There seems to be no accelerate key anymore, unless I totally missed it and misread the booklet.

Right trigger.

You know, I reflexively hold down right trigger (from years and years of doing this) but the acceleration certainly seems less 'cartoony' than it has in years past, making it seem more realistic and less useful in the workings of the game as a whole.

Some first-hour Madden Impressions:

* The pauses that appear between plays in NCAA are virtually gone here. The only time I noticed any hitches at all was a quick hiccup right before the start of each half. Likewise, loading times in and out of the field of play are much better.

* One thing that infuriated me when playing against the CPU in NCAA is that the offense's personnel package (# of RBs, WRs, etc) would not appear until after the CPU picked a play and the countdown began. Here, it pops up almost instantly, giving you time to actually react to the offensive personnel package and call a play.

* Maybe it's just because I played some NCAA and started to get used to it, but the camera angle here doesn't bother me nearly as much as it did in NCAA. I feel like I can see downfield a lot better than I was in NCAA.

* You can remap controls now, hurrah. "Protect Ball", welcome to the Y button.

The pauses that appear between plays in NCAA are virtually gone here. The only time I noticed any hitches at all was a quick hiccup right before the start of each half. Likewise, loading times in and out of the field of play are much better.

Awesome, that is huge news.

Maybe it's just because I played some NCAA and started to get used to it, but the camera angle here doesn't bother me nearly as much as it did in NCAA. I feel like I can see downfield a lot better than I was in NCAA.

Very good.

You can remap controls now, hurrah. "Protect Ball", welcome to the Y button

Sexy.

My copy should be here tomorrow.

More impressions:

* Fumbles are over-exaggerated. Would be nice if it were toned down a bit.

* They sure are Johnny-on-the-spot with the roster updates. Sammy Knight signed with Jacksonville three days ago, the update I downloaded today already reflects the move.

* The control is great. I am pouncing on passes in the secondary. I got three "user picks" in the last game I played. I swear it's easier to see downfield than in NCAA.

I just played my first game of this year's Madden and I was impressed. It felt fun. The running is much more interesting, even a 3 or 4 yard run has more excitement going on due to the improved animations.

My game had 2 fumbles but I challenged both of them and they were overturned, which was cool but semi-annoying. I would hope for better virtual refs.

What impressed me was how the highlights for the game were actually the turning points in the game, not just the biggest stat gainers.

I'm looking forward to playing it more.

Thanks for the input gang. I have the option of picking up either the 360 version or the PC version. Any pros/cons to either. As an old time PC'er and noob 360'er it would seem that updates would be easier via the PC.

Bear wrote:

As an old time PC'er and noob 360'er it would seem that updates would be easier via the PC.

I think Legion already mentioned player updates have been quick on the 360. If you have a nice big HD TV, I would stick with the 360 version. If you want league play, you should go with the PC version (or All Pro Football 2k8 on the 360).

*Legion* wrote:

* You can remap controls now, hurrah. "Protect Ball", welcome to the Y button.

Where can you do this?

trowan wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

* You can remap controls now, hurrah. "Protect Ball", welcome to the Y button.

Where can you do this?

Same here.. been looking everywhere for this damn option... I'm tired of getting my balls stripped every other play, it seems.

BlackSheep wrote:

I'm tired of getting my balls stripped every other play, it seems.

A protective cup does wonders...

SommerMatt wrote:
BlackSheep wrote:

I'm tired of getting my balls stripped every other play, it seems.

A protective cup does wonders...

Finally figured out the place they hid the controls away and got 'cover ball' changed to the convenient "A" key.

BlackSheep wrote:

Finally figured out the place they hid the controls away and got 'cover ball' changed to the convenient "A" key.

Mind sharing with the rest of us idiots?

I am really enjoying Madden. Anyone know how to turn off auto subs in preseason?

I am having to learn everything from the menus because I don't have a manual (gamefly copy).

Flux wrote:

I am having to learn everything from the menus because I don't have a manual (gamefly copy).

You aren't missing anything, the manual sucks.

Right trigger for sprint. Oh by the way - it isnt documented, but no matter what you assign the left trigger - it will lateral the ball. That may be part of fumbleitis the game has. I have tried remapping it a number of times - because I like left trigger stiff arm and usually it ends up lateraling the ball which is a bit of a pisser. Also if you are big on the stiff arm - ANY highlight stick move or hard tackle will have you putting the ball on the ground about 50% of the time. Also it seems that if you remap the controls off of the default then you lose the on screen display of your audibles and cover changes etc... Seems to occur in the second half of a game and is annoying - I found if I went back to the default and "deleted" my profile (grumble grumble) then it would reset itself and I would get those on screen hints - which I love because I like the defensive playmaker ability but my old brain cant remember what each of them do. Also the enhanced blitzes are still there so if you play the Ravens the Bears the Raiders and the Redskins the linebackers are eating your breakfast before you get two steps into a drop unless you are in the Shotgun. The weapons system rocks and really adds a lot to the game - some of the spectacular catches are incredible as well as a hands receiver really will hold on to the ball (hold the Y button) even while being blasted by the saftey or MLB over the middle. However 9 times out of 10 he will be injured and sit out a couple of series - injuries seem to oocur much more often as well. Overall I really like the game despite some of the same old "problems" of the past.

The remapping controls should be in the My Madden - Game Settings - then User settings I believe - you can also change your fave team and or playbooks there as well. Depth Chart and Audibles are under strategy.

Thanks for the additional insight and info' on Madden Spy'. I will, as I said earlier, break down and get this one just to have franchise play. I really enjoy AFP and the League play is great, but I do miss this aspect.

Right trigger for sprint. Oh by the way - it isnt documented, but no matter what you assign the left trigger - it will lateral the ball. That may be part of fumbleitis the game has.

I found this when I played NCAA a bit. I fumbled *all the time*, until I realized I was throwing a lateral with just the slightest of pressure on the left trigger...pressure that occured as a matter of course when I was playing. I had to completely remove my left finger from the trigger while playing for awhile...pissed me off.

I'm really enjoying Madden. I've played 4 full games in Franchise mode. Yeah fumbles are a little too common, but I can deal with 2-3 fumbles a game.

Superstar mode is great, I have a half-back who I really enjoy playing as. However I realized after a game of playing with him that I really wanted him to be on my Seahawks. I started up a new half-back, saved before the draft and tried about 50-60 times to get him drafted by the Seahawks. No dice. I thought it was cause the Seahawks have such a good RB, but then Indy drafted me and so did Pittsburgh. Anybody know a work around here? Or do I just have to re-draft for another 100-200 times? I might starting him over again and answering the interview questions differently or something, anybody think that might help?