Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

[Benicio10]

Does Ian not realize that the kick returning stats balance out because you either get stopped at the 15 or you break it to the house. You barely see much variety in kick return outcomes.

[TreyIM2]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

Many of the issues I posted about on the feedback site are touched on here, and even two I forgot to include which was CPU QB quick snaps(btw, I ONLY play with accel. clock OFF and that doesn't make a diff) and kick return blocking but I did mention blocking, overall, because as a point of reference, NCAA 11 is not AS bad since the blocking in that game feels much better than in Madden 11, overall. I've taken it to the house on kickoffs AND punts in NCAA 11. Not at all in Madden 11.

Ian - If you are reading, CPU QB quick snaps not only affects pre-snap adjustments but the realism the game. QBs IRL don't always quick snap. We just need varying snap times. Many times, teams are trying to milk the play clock before snapping, unless, of course, they are in hurry up O. It would be easier to accept that I couldn't complete my adjustments if I the CPU QB suddenly goes quick snap on a given play than if he were doing it all the time, which is the case in Madden 11, still. Remember how for Madden 09, u guys patched that?

As for kick return blocking, we just ask that our blockers do their job. I stated in my post on the feedback site that I believe that the locomotion is now affecting some things such as blocking with slow, over-animating turns by blockers and the coverage deally where guys are just standing and watching the plays unfold instead of just reacting, at times. Kick return blocking has always been an issue, though. We need that fixed, mayne


I do agree about the twisty-turny deally. I usually don't do it because the heat of the moment and if I do remember to twist, I usually do it the wrong way because of the "inverseness" of which way the players' back turns in relation to the right joystick motion. Doesn't seem intuitive to me...Actually, I don't think I've done it in Madden 11; only in NCAA 11. Eh.

PA DEFINITELY needs to be fixed. Feels like too many jail breaks going on there. Lol. I'll be lucky to hit my FB out in the flat many a time. Plus, I think Sanchize should be faster than many of these D-linemen who seem to be able to chase me down when I have to turbo-ize the situation. I play with auto-turbo but, of course, u have to use turbo to scramble past the LOS as the QB. Maybe that's making some weird difference but then again, in NCAA, my QB(s) outrun(s) the linemen.

Anyway, I'm getting used to Madden 11. Still frustrating aspects of the game that make me wanna throw ish but if things can be patched, I'll be more than happy.

[TreyIM2]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

Does Ian not realize that the kick returning stats balance out because you either get stopped at the 15 or you break it to the house. You barely see much variety in kick return outcomes.

Great point

[TreyIM2]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

It is always interesting that no questions are asked about the Presentation....Come on OS.

And Ian seems to tap dance around the questions: In regards to broken tackles " Again, that is something we are trying to tune and see if we can make it any better -- if it warrants it. We are just always listening to the community and the hot-button issues, and we go from there"

If they were listening to the community, I believe we would have a much better game than what we are playing....

I get the feeling the interviewer was focusing more on things that could be patched, gameplay wise. That's how I feel, right now, myself. Presentation only goes so far in EA games, especially. They need to figure out how to lessen the repetitiveness of their cutscenes and such for next year but there are a few things in this year's presentation that needs to be patched like the challenge cutscenes that may or may not play or even play all the way through. I like the Jeopardy music and the anticipation of the call but it doesn't always happen nor does the split screen of the coaches. They also need to patch the Gatorade two min warning screen. It will cut right into the end of a play that happens to end around the 2min warning. There's more that could be fixed with a patch but I'll leave it there. I need my gameplay fixed, this year, more than anything.

[bigsmallwood]

I get the feeling the interviewer was focusing more on things that could be patched, gameplay wise. That's how I feel, right now, myself. Presentation only goes so far in EA games, especially. They need to figure out how to lessen the repetitiveness of their cutscenes and such for next year but there are a few things in this year's presentation that needs to be patched like the challenge cutscenes that may or may not play or even play all the way through. I like the Jeopardy music and the anticipation of the call but it doesn't always happen nor does the split screen of the coaches. They also need to patch the Gatorade two min warning screen. It will cut right into the end of a play that happens to end around the 2min warning. There's more that could be fixed with a patch but I'll leave it there. I need my gameplay fixed, this year, more than anything.

True Indeed. But they have a lot of fixing to do! lol And unfortunately we are still waiting for these fixes year after year lol

[silence1206]

Nice interview. Glad you guys asked him some questions about the games o vs d balance issues, as well as blocking.

As expected, locomotion is the main issue with the defense right now. So here's hoping they find a way to fix it in the title update. My 2cents is that the defense, esspecially LB's, need to have some anticipation about where they need to move. They make their cuts too late. And by then, you're 10 yards down field.

[packers718]

i dont understand peoples problems with the kick blocking and punt blocking... in my franchise the 6 games ive played i have returned 1 punt for a td and a kick for a td which is pretty normal it doesnt happen all the team but when it does its sweet. Also on online play with the coop ive returned many upon many for TD's and thats the best feeling when it happens now not like o look theres an easy hole on the right side.

[GiantBlue76]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

i dont understand peoples problems with the kick blocking and punt blocking... in my franchise the 6 games ive played i have returned 1 punt for a td and a kick for a td which is pretty normal it doesnt happen all the team but when it does its sweet. Also on online play with the coop ive returned many upon many for TD's and thats the best feeling when it happens now not like o look theres an easy hole on the right side.

You are not understanding what the issue is. THe issue is not the frequency of how often you return a TD. Take a look at the other players on specials that you aren't controlling. There is ZERO realistic blocking attempts. It looks and behaves horribly. No one said it was impossible to return kicks for TDs. That has nothing to do with it. If you look at the blocking on the line and compare it to specials or interception returns, it's like a totally different group of programmers wrote the code.

[LiquorLogic]

OS: Yeah, I noticed in the open field that guys are breaking tackles and wide receivers are breaking tackles more often than not. And not only that, they are breaking them to the house after they wiggle free.

Ian: Yeah, a lot of that comes from the ratings differentiation that we have. We make our guys spread out a lot more so that defensive backs tackling ratings are pretty low. They are not good tacklers for the most part so you’ve got to kind of try and swarm around the ball. Again, that is something we are trying to tune and see if we can make it any better -- if it warrants it. We are just always listening to the community and the hot-button issues, and we go from there.

LiquorLogic : the lack of consecutive hit tackles limits the CBs ability to swarm the ball carrier. Unless the Pro-Tak initiates, only two players are allowed to participate in the animation.

[Franchise408]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

[b]

The "if it warrants it" response to the tackle issue kinda has me scratching my head? If it warrants it?

And it's not just defensive backs that are getting shook off. I've seen smaller finesse back hit square in the hole by defensive linemen and 250lb linebackers who get brushed aside.

This. It's not just low tackle rating DB's that get shedded, it's players like Patrick Willis who get their tackles shedded by the 3rd WR.

[frankstallone83]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

Oh good, they're "looking at it." I feel better.

[at23steelers]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

You are not understanding what the issue is. THe issue is not the frequency of how often you return a TD. Take a look at the other players on specials that you aren't controlling. There is ZERO realistic blocking attempts. It looks and behaves horribly. No one said it was impossible to return kicks for TDs. That has nothing to do with it. If you look at the blocking on the line and compare it to specials or interception returns, it's like a totally different group of programmers wrote the code.

This is definitely a fair point. I think the average in madden is equal to the NFL because at least to me, you either get a really good kick return or a really bad kick return. There's no in between. My only fear is, if they do improve the kick returning, I hope kick returns for a TD don't happen even more often than they do, because I averaged about 1 a game.

[Only1LT]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

There still "looking" at things? Everything sounds so up in the air like they're still wondering if these are problems.

And this...
LOL. He mentioned OS, but I don't think he's listening to this board. Swarm around the ball for what? To get knocked over like a bowling pin? We needed a Pro-Tak follow up question right there.

He did say around the ball, not to it though.

OMG WOW... I can't believe this.



Steve you should've responded with

"Well even if the user swarms around the ball their is still no true gang tackling to ensure the ball carrier will be stopped."

I'm glad that you two pointed this out, so now I don't have to. I couldn't believe I read that.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

I appreciate both the interviewer and the interviewee taking the time to do this.

I'm at a loss though. I really can't believe not one question was asked that referenced proper gang tackling. Yes, broken tackles were talked about, but does anyone care about consecutive tackles for a football game?

Why is it that the Madden franchise is never held accountable for this? Is it that we have settled that they simply won't be fixing it and that's that?

[computerlover]

Re: Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

I have been asking this everytime madden comes out. what gives with the roster situation? i mean NCAA has 70 man rosters, why cant madden have the same? all players that are signed in training camp have nfl contracts, so why dont the rosters reflect this? where is the practice squads? what about the inability to sign another player if your player is done for the season and u put them on IR? even better, why are they locked minimum number of position players? I mean if i have 4 tackles, and one can play guard, why cant he be the 4th guard? why do i have to sign an actual guard to begin play? if i move that tackle to guard, im low on the number of tackles?? come on EA...