Is Madden's Gameflow a Revolution or a Gimmick?

[raguel]

The biggest problem I have with gameflow is that the defense doesn't recognize situations like the 2 minute drill, and in early downs it will stay in the base defense even if the cpu comes out in 3+ wr sets.

[RGiles36]

Quote: Originally Posted by bgeno

Defensively, I'm a little confused. Maybe someone can help: Is it based entirely on the personell the offense trots out on the field? Say, it's 1st down, but they come out with 3 WR, will Gameflow choose one of my plays from my nickel choices or one of my plays from my general/regular (I forget what it's called)? I've been choosing my own play on 1st down on defense because I want to be in one of my base sets, regardless of offensive personell. What is Gameflow's defensive play-calling formula? Is it based entirely on personell?

For gameflow, I'm not certain. But using 'My Gameplan' under the conventional play calling option, I can't figure out how defense is called. The gameplan screen suggests that it's chosen based on offensive personnel. However, I've found this not to be the case. When teams run 3 wide on 1st or 2nd down, 'My Gameplan' defaults me to my base 3-4 plays. I'm not sure if it's broken, or maybe it's just my mind playing tricks on me.

Suffice it to say that I've had to stick nickel plays in my normal just so I'm not caught off guard.

I've also noticed that sometimes if the CPU comes out in 3 wide, my dime packages come out instead of nickel???

[bgeno]

Quote: Originally Posted by blklightning

if you can pick plays faster, that just means you're able to run more plays in a game.

Which translates to faster games. If you need 13-minute quarters to get 100 plays without Gameflow, but you can get 100 plays in 10-minute quarters with it, that's at least 12 minutes less time it takes to play a game.

[madchuck100]

Does anyone even use Gameflow Online.

[therockstar2005]

At first, I thought that Gameflow actually worked pretty well. It got me out of my old playcalling habits, got me to actually use screen passes and other crazy stuff. It seemed pretty good.

For about five games...

But then I got frustrated with some of the calls. I particularly just got frustrated that I would not be doing well and that I really wasn't responsible for it. Even when you set up the options of what plays you want the cpu to choose from, the cpu is still calling your plays.

The way I thought gameflow would actually work is that, in given situations, you just already have these plays picked out and then you can choose from one of them yourself. That way, you'd still save some time searching through formations, but you'd actually be the one calling it. Besides, isn't that how playcalling actually works, where the coach has a selection of plays and then he chooses one?

[RaiderKtulu]

Quote: Originally Posted by bgeno

Which translates to faster games. If you need 13-minute quarters to get 100 plays without Gameflow, but you can get 100 plays in 10-minute quarters with it, that's at least 12 minutes less time it takes to play a game.

Not exactly... It does mean faster games, but not the way you're saying. If you're using the accelerated clock, the clock is going to run down to 20 seconds every time, regardless of whether you call your play at 30 on the clock or instantly at 40 with gameflow. It doesn't change the total number of plays called. What it does do, is save somewhere between 5 and 15 seconds of real time per play.. except during the final 2 minutes where it actually makes it even easier to call too many plays. So, going for simulation - around 120 plays per game... it'll generally save somewhere between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on how fast of a playcaller you normally are.

Personally I'm not in that much of a hurry when I play, and some situations require more thought than others. If I'm playing Superstar mode, sure, it's realistic to have to run what the coach calls. I'm cool with gameflow there (if it works in that mode, I haven't actually looked). If I'm playing Madden's normal God of Football mode, I'll run whatever play I want, thankyouverymuch.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by RaiderKtulu

Not exactly... It does mean faster games, but not the way you're saying. If you're using the accelerated clock, the clock is going to run down to 20 seconds every time, regardless of whether you call your play at 30 on the clock or instantly at 40 with gameflow. It doesn't change the total number of plays called. What it does do, is save somewhere between 5 and 15 seconds of real time per play.. except during the final 2 minutes where it actually makes it even easier to call too many plays. So, going for simulation - around 120 plays per game... it'll generally save somewhere between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on how fast of a playcaller you normally are. Personally I'm not in that much of a hurry when I play, and some situations require more thought than others. If I'm playing Superstar mode, sure, it's realistic to have to run what the coach calls. I'm cool with gameflow there (if it works in that mode, I haven't actually looked). If I'm playing Madden's normal God of Football mode, I'll run whatever play I want, thankyouverymuch.

At least in this game you have options. In other games, sometimes you aren't as fortunate.

As far as GamePlanning, the more I utilize it, the better I enjoy it. I pick all the plays on offense and defense. That way, they are my plays, not the CPU's. I will do that every week in franchise mode based on the opponent I will be playing. It takes a bit of time, but well worth the personalization.

[NC State-31 UNC-27]

useless on defense

decent on offense but I'll never use it because it just isn't smart enough...doesn't take enough game (clock and score) situations into account....I shouldn't be passing on first down with 3 minutes to go in the game and a 17 point lead