Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

[RaychelSnr]

Earlier this week, EA announced that Madden was moving over to the Frostbite Engine. In the long run, this will likely be a pretty positive move for the franchise. The Frostbite engine has shown a lot of promise since its inception. However, some OS staffers have some worries about this upcoming year of Madden. Read their thoughts after the jump and add your own in the comments!

Read More - Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

[scottyp180]

Overall consensus here definitely matches my sentiments and likely the majority of sports gamers. In the long run I think this will pay huge dividends but who knows what the results will be for madden 18. My guess is that we will see areas that are definitely improved while other areas either take a step back or need some more polish.

Hopefully this is a little bit better and smoother than the transition to the ignite engine. The ignite engine showed promise the first year, can't remember which year it was, and definitely resulted in a much better product in the years to come but man was that first game a bit of a mess. There would be some moments that could never be done in madden before and looked great and then there would be some messy, ugly animations that were awkward and unrealistic. Players tripping and falling over eachother is something that sticks out in my memory.

With madden 18 I just want the game to overall feel like it's a step forward and not a step back. I think the series has made some strides over the last few years and while I think the frostbite engine will definitely be worthwhile in the long run I'm concerned this first game will feel like a mixed bag.

[outkaz79]

I just hope they don't implement Frostbite features in Madden like they do everything else. Example: Madden 18 featuring the Frostbite engine and new dynamic weather. Madden 19 now with better lighting and facial scans. Just put it all in. You all ready know what Frostbite is capable of

[brandon27]

Re: Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

Personally, I'd be a bit surprised if they deliver something that feels like an unfinished product for Madden 18. It seems like Rex and his crew understand the demands of the fanbase, and it seems that they'd be aware of the backlash they'd face if features that presently exist, were left out of M18. Any good will they've built up, would surely be out the window at that point given how fickle the Madden fanbase can be.


I'm not a huge Fifa player. I usually download it through EA Access, play the 10 hour trial sporadically then if, and when it runs out I let it be until it hits the vault and I then play it again sporadically when it's available to me again. I played Fifa 15 quite a bit, 16 I just haven't had as much time to play. I hadn't even downloaded the trial yet for 17. I did last night after seeing the Madden to Frostbite news. I must say, I always thought Fifa was a great looking game. Fifa 17 though, looks much better in Frostbite. So, I'm pretty excited for what that will bring to Madden. In the quick game I played, I didn't notice much different in the player movement or gameplay. I'm also not a hardcore Fifa player either though.


Bottom line for me.. at this point, we just have to sit and wait. I'm curious to see what Frostbite can offer Madden. I think initially it's upgraded visuals and environments. Would be interesting to see if a mode similar to the Journey in Fifa makes it's way to Madden this year. It seemed like they moved Fifa over to Frostbite without loosing a lot of features and modes. At least, in my quick time in Fifa 17 last night. I'll poke around in it a bit more over the weekend probably.


I for one though, will be surprised if Madden 18 takes a hit due to the switch. It may need a bit more tightening up post release, but I'd just be surprised to see the team let it slip. This crew working the game seems to take great pride in it, and the strides they've made, so I'd be surprised to see it slip.


Time will tell I suppose.

[UFCMPunk]

Re: Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

I just hope they don't implement Frostbite features in Madden like they do everything else. Example: Madden 18 featuring the Frostbite engine and new dynamic weather. Madden 19 now with better lighting and facial scans. Just put it all in. You all ready know what Frostbite is capable of

Only one way to figure this out, tweet to Rex and Clint. Ask them specifically how long they have been working on Madden transitioning to Frostbite, so we can get a better idea of a timetable. They said they worked on the current Connected Franchise Mode for 2 years before it showed up in Madden 13, so the key here is how long have they been working on Madden using the Frostbite engine.

[phenom2311]

I hope it gives the game a more organic, natural looking running animations.

[mestevo]

Re: Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

I'm sure it'll be a great first step, looking forward to it.

[Flazko]

I'm pretty excited. I've been a long time madden player and I've always felt that madden's visuals have always been lacking (Especially. Madden has been improving on gameplay throughout the years and now it's time for the visuals to be enhanced. I'm also really hoping that they focus on the interactions more this year, DL vs OL, CB vs WR. We all know madden needs some work for a number of things like better ball placement by qbs, better fumble recovery, updated challenge system and numerous other elements of gameplay but I think with better graphics and maybe some dynamic weather thrown in, Madden 18 would be a pretty solid game. I actually was hoping the physics engine would be eliminated and they would go to using crisp animations but after seeing this news, I'm really hoping it works out and we can also get some good interactions along with it.

[Jr.]

Re: Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

My biggest concern is with Franchise. Will they be able to take all of the things they've added and put them in the new game? If not, what gets left out? I only play Madden for the online Franchise that I'm in.. if that's bare bones, I can wait until it gets built back up.

[jfsolo]

Re: Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

Personally, I'd be a bit surprised if they deliver something that feels like an unfinished product for Madden 18. It seems like Rex and his crew understand the demands of the fanbase, and it seems that they'd be aware of the backlash they'd face if features that presently exist, were left out of M18. Any good will they've built up, would surely be out the window at that point given how fickle the Madden fanbase can be.


I'm not a huge Fifa player. I usually download it through EA Access, play the 10 hour trial sporadically then if, and when it runs out I let it be until it hits the vault and I then play it again sporadically when it's available to me again. I played Fifa 15 quite a bit, 16 I just haven't had as much time to play. I hadn't even downloaded the trial yet for 17. I did last night after seeing the Madden to Frostbite news. I must say, I always thought Fifa was a great looking game. Fifa 17 though, looks much better in Frostbite. So, I'm pretty excited for what that will bring to Madden. In the quick game I played, I didn't notice much different in the player movement or gameplay. I'm also not a hardcore Fifa player either though.


Bottom line for me.. at this point, we just have to sit and wait. I'm curious to see what Frostbite can offer Madden. I think initially it's upgraded visuals and environments. Would be interesting to see if a mode similar to the Journey in Fifa makes it's way to Madden this year. It seemed like they moved Fifa over to Frostbite without loosing a lot of features and modes. At least, in my quick time in Fifa 17 last night. I'll poke around in it a bit more over the weekend probably.


I for one though, will be surprised if Madden 18 takes a hit due to the switch. It may need a bit more tightening up post release, but I'd just be surprised to see the team let it slip. This crew working the game seems to take great pride in it, and the strides they've made, so I'd be surprised to see it slip.


Time will tell I suppose.

Concur with this 100%

I'll be beyond stunned if there is anything not brought over from M17 in terms of gameplay and in CFM. According to the team, MUT, competitive and CFM all grew quite a bit in terms of participation numbers. Obviously they don't want to lose any of those gains, and unlike some other Franchises, Madden is always scrutinized with hyper critical eyes.

Subjective opinions about aspects of gameplay, graphics, or sound, being worse will obviously happen for sure, but it if some existing mechanic or feature(with the exception of maybe tackle battles) is actually left out, people are going go off the rails.

[fballturkey]

Re: Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

My biggest concern is with Franchise. Will they be able to take all of the things they've added and put them in the new game? If not, what gets left out? I only play Madden for the online Franchise that I'm in.. if that's bare bones, I can wait until it gets built back up.

Changing the gameplay engine shouldn't affect franchise much. It's possible they do some different things with ratings, perks, etc in the new engine that have knock on effects for franchise but we shouldn't (and had better not) see a Franchise to CFM type of step back again.

[DeuceDouglas]

Re: Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

Agree with pretty much everyone and the consensus at this point seems to be a lot of unknown. As to what Ryan said about people who have been clamoring for a new engine for so long being hesitant I think it has a lot to do with what happened with Infinity and, more recently, Ignite where a lot of things were promised but failed to ever materialize.

I think anyone expecting Madden to be built from the ground up though are going to be hugely disappointed but I highly doubt they'd risk stripping the game down with this transition. I think it's a good move that should hopefully be beneficial long term but as far as Madden 18 I'm really only expecting pretty much the same gameplay with a lot of aesthetics with crowds, weather, and lighting as well as a similar story mode to FIFA and 2K. I don't think we have to worry at all about any kind of Madden 06 situation or any feature or gamemode purge.

[Jr.]

Re: Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

Changing the gameplay engine shouldn't affect franchise much. It's possible they do some different things with ratings, perks, etc in the new engine that have knock on effects for franchise but we shouldn't (and had better not) see a Franchise to CFM type of step back again.

I guess it depends how much of the coding for franchise can be transferred over, or if they have to redo it all.

[qdog]

I just hope they don't implement Frostbite features in Madden like they do everything else. Example: Madden 18 featuring the Frostbite engine and new dynamic weather. Madden 19 now with better lighting and facial scans. Just put it all in. You all ready know what Frostbite is capable of

Yoe alredy know thats what going to happen.. they going to milk you for yrs to come giving you bit by bit . Smh

[fballturkey]

Re: Madden NFL 18 on the Frostbite Engine: Reactions

I guess it depends how much of the coding for franchise can be transferred over, or if they have to redo it all.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that the UI/CFM/MUT etc are coded in Ignite or Frostbite or whatever. I think those engines just control the on the field play (and maybe game simming.)