Madden 12 Catch-All

Seems like what Bill Abner has said of the game is really true then: There's parts that have never been better and then there are parts that are atroscious. (paraphrase)

Yes, this gets said every year about the series, but this game seems really polarizing because it actually feels different on the field, while a lot of the presentation just falls straight on its face. I'll just quote his review:

The irony is that Madden 12’s presentation is shockingly poor. I’m not talking about the graphics and the animation, both of which are fantastic. The player models and the smoothness at which they move have never been better; the added animations are noticeable after a few plays. The field and jersey degradation—all of that is great. However, the presentation, the sound in particular, is downright awful. For a sports game junkie to lead off a review talking about the sound says a lot.

The duo of Johnson and Collinsworth is a mess – they call the wrong player names, they call many players simply by number, they have no idea that the game they are calling is a playoff game, and the level of repetitiveness is at an all time high. The final straw was after a brilliant 80 yard interception return for a touchdown, Collinsworth saw something different as he said something ridiculous about how this particular cornerback takes too many risks and he got burned going for the pick. It’s unconscionably bad. Normally, the play by play in a Madden game is bland enough to at least not get in the way of the experience – but this is grating. EA can keep its specific team run outs and authentic camera placements.

I'm sure the commentary will get old. It's just shiny to me now. The coordinator chatter is more valuable to me since it actually clues me in on playcalling plus I like the mini-RP feel of having it on the headset.

Jayhawker wrote:

They have some weird issues in using names.

During my game last night I noticed that they weren't even calling the team names while reading back the score. And I didn't get anything at halftime either.

Another thing, I noticed that they'll occasionally throw out a comment that they're breaking for commercial. Is this just filler or are they actually planning to feed in ads at some point?

GioClark wrote:

I'm sure the commentary will get old. It's just shiny to me now. The coordinator chatter is more valuable to me since it actually clues me in on playcalling plus I like the mini-RP feel of having it on the headset.

I might try that. I have not been using the Gameflow much. Am I not remembering it right from last year, or did they improve it from what they did last year. I liked that I could opt for a run pass or Gameflow play. It seemed to provide more than justo ne option, which is whatI thought it was last year.

But I might like just cutting out the commentary and just focus on the coordinator. I might be more interesting.

I wonder -- did they have any troubles with rookie names because there was no NFLPA until the last few weeks? Since the union disbanded over the summer, they couldn't have included those names unless the union reconstituted itself or they made contracts with the individuals.

I'm sure they recorded it all anyway, but I was wondering if this would have to be in a day 1 patch or if they went gold after the union got back together.

The Commentary portion is just egregiously poor. Abner is spot on, the gameplay is very good, but the presentation is just sh*t. Kellen Winslow is announced as my QB when he catches a TD. The commentary selection logic is flat borked, no ifs, ands, or buts. Shame given how much money EA puts into this game and makes from it. That being said, actually playing it is FUN.

I've been considering picking this up, but I haven't played a Madden title since Madden '01... the first game I bought with my PS2. All the reviews I've read critique the game from an incremental standpoint, leaving me with little context for what they're saying. I wouldn't mind getting lost in a football game for the next few months but it's hard for me to tell if this is actually a good game when all the critique only stacks it up against recent Madden releases. Enable me, or don't.

Evo wrote:

I've been considering picking this up, but I haven't played a Madden title since Madden '01... the first game I bought with my PS2. All the reviews I've read critique the game from an incremental standpoint, leaving me with little context for what they're saying. I wouldn't mind getting lost in a football game for the next few months but it's hard for me to tell if this is actually a good game when all the critique only stacks it up against recent Madden releases. Enable me, or don't.

It's a good solid game you will enjoy. Personally, I think NCAA 12 is a much more fun game to get lost in. But if the NFL is your thing, Madden is a good game.

Has anyone started a GWJ Community yet?

Marcelle Dareus made the stop on two kickoff returns today. This was particularly surprising, as (A) Dareus does not play special teams and (B) I was playing as Tampa, and Dareus was, in fact, drafted by Buffalo.

Also, Josh Freeman is apparently a fourth-year QB per the commentary, even though he is actually entering his third year.

It is mind-boggling how terrible the commentary is. I suspect I'll just be turning it off.

GioClark wrote:

Has anyone started a GWJ Community yet?

I was curious about this myself. If one gets up and running please let me know.

Tagged for future community creation.

Community created:

Name: Gamers With Jobs
Abbrev: GWJ
Password: stangwj

Jayhawker wrote:
Evo wrote:

I've been considering picking this up, but I haven't played a Madden title since Madden '01... the first game I bought with my PS2. All the reviews I've read critique the game from an incremental standpoint, leaving me with little context for what they're saying. I wouldn't mind getting lost in a football game for the next few months but it's hard for me to tell if this is actually a good game when all the critique only stacks it up against recent Madden releases. Enable me, or don't.

It's a good solid game you will enjoy. Personally, I think NCAA 12 is a much more fun game to get lost in. But if the NFL is your thing, Madden is a good game.

Thanks. I picked up Madden on PS3 and I'm enjoying it a lot. I usually enjoy the NCAA games a bit more - I got them every year on PS2 til around 2004, I think - but I'm paying more attention to NFL this year since I'm doing a fantasy league for the first time in a few years. I take it most of you are on Xbox? I don't see a GWJ community so I'll have to create one.

The only thing bugging me so far is how easy it is. I think I'm going to have to crank the difficulty up, it is stupidly easy to run on the default difficulty (Pro?). I'm seeing huge holes open in the line and lots of defenders falling down. I started a franchise with Detroit, and of course Stafford picked up a season-ending injury in the preseason. Calvin Johnson is God-like, I could throw it to him every down. I'll crank the difficulty up a notch.

Also, does anyone have any advice for the sliders? I have most of them all at default setting right now. The only exception is that I set most of the penalty sliders up to 75 and I still see maybe one or two penalties on both sides per game, and one of them is usually me jumping the gun on the snap with my D lineman.

Yeah, running the ball even on All-Pro is still too easy.

I usually check for sliders at OS. I usually start with the threads that have the most responses. You wil find the best feedback there that will tell you if they are what you are looking for. And never take sliders as Bible. They are just a different place to start from

I used Mkharsh's settings and found them to be pretty darn good.

Skill Level: Custom
Playcall Style: optional (I use conventional - Madden selection: 1 of 3 in window)
Quarter Length: 12 minutes
Coaching Tips: off / optional
Play Clock: on
Strategy Pad: optional
Coordinator Audio & Subtitles: off / optional
Accelerated Clock: on
Minimum Play Clock Time: 15 OR 20 seconds (user preference)
Camera Settings: standard / optional
Auto Strafe & Auto Sprint: on
Injuries: 15
Fatigue: 65
Game Speed: Slow
Player Min Speed Threshold: 50 (raised from 35)
Coach Mode: off / optional

Penalties: Everything @ 100 EXCEPT...
Offsides: 60
False Start: 60
Holding: 54
Facemask: 53
Clipping: 52
Roughing The Passer: 54

USER PLAYER SKILL:
QB ACC: 20 OR 15 (user skill preference)
Pass Block: 35
WR Catch: 45

Broken Tackles: 15
Run Block: 35
Fumbles: 45

Reaction Time: 35
INT's: 15
Pass Rush: 35

Reaction Time: 0
Block Shedding: 35
Tackling: 35

CPU SKILL:
QB ACC: 65
Pass Block: 65
WR Catch: 45

Broken Tackles: 35
Run Block: 65
Fumbles: 45

Reaction Time: 65
INT's: 35
Pass Rush: 60
Reaction Time: 70 (raised from 65)
Block Shedding: 40 (raised from 35)
Tackling: 35

SPECIAL TEAMS:
FG Power: 45
FG Accuracy: 45
Punt Power: 45 OR 50 (user skill preference)
Punt Accuracy: 65
Kickoff Power: 50

Jayhawker wrote:

Yeah, running the ball even on All-Pro is still too easy.

I usually check for sliders at OS. I usually start with the threads that have the most responses. You wil find the best feedback there that will tell you if they are what you are looking for. And never take sliders as Bible. They are just a different place to start from

I used Mkharsh's settings and found them to be pretty darn good.

I notice a lot of people playing on slow gamespeed. Is that typical? Is that the setting most use for online games? I haven't tried online head to head yet because I don't think I'm ready for that.

Don't translate your AI gameplay to online gameplay when it comes to the game. Online the games are on all pro and a thinking opponent doesn't call the goofy stuff you'll see the AI call. I believe online the gameplay is at normal speed. Prepare for lots of frustration if you enter the online realm, ps3 is even more cutthroat than 360 from my understanding.

Speaking of the online play the GWJ 360 Madden League is still available. I will for one join the community and for another the teams represent fairly well... Buffalo can barely run the ball and the routes of the WR are poor to from the noobs so I am enjoying it