Madden NFL 11 News Post

Madden NFL 11 Blog: GameFlow and The Strategy Pad

05:36 PM - July 30, 2010 by Phil_Frazier

Check out the latest Madden NFL 11 blog, discussing gameflow and the strategy pad.

Quote:


	"Ian Cummings here, taking some quick time out to talk to the community after the demo has been out for a few days. First off, one great bit of info has been the positive response around GameFlow. Based on our telemetry, 95% of games played have had GameFlow as the default style of playcalling. We do realize it is the default option, which can obviously help inflate those numbers, so more telling is that of every single play called in the demo, 80% of the offensive plays and 86% of defensive plays were chosen via GameFlow vs. the conventional way. This is very positive stuff for us, as we obviously weren't quite sure how the general public would react to such a drastic change to the way the game was played. Secondly, I wanted to talk about the primary hot-button issue in the community with the release of our demo, the Strategy Pad. As we expected, this feature has caused quite a stir lately, so we wanted to provide some context as to why we tried to unify our pre-play controls to one location. We realize that the Madden veterans have been using the old pre-play system for years, to the point where it had become second nature. Any longtime Madden gamer could probably change the route of 2 receivers, pinch slide protection, and keep a back into block within a second. Despite the comfort with the way things were, it often caused major confusion for someone new to the Madden franchise or really any gamer who isn't familiar with the controls. I've heard a few comments on Twitter to the effect of "if it ain't broke, why fix it?" Well, when we started looking at data, it was in fact broke. Based on the playtests we ran and more importantly telemetry we gathered from the online connected consoles, we saw some pretty major areas that needed improvement."

Read More - GameFlow and The Strategy Pad

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Member Comments

# 81 Only1LT @ 07/31/10 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2krunk4u


	as far as getting stuck in an audible???? you cannot argue that. as far as how many people use the gameflow thing??? you can argue that.

Of course you can. How many people got "stuck" in an audible because the other player or CPU snapped the ball and not because they engaged it by accident? Do you know? I don't? I can't see how EA would either based on just a simple number of people having the adjustments engaged at the snap of the ball. Never look at stats in a vacuum. ALL stats are flawed. Not all stats are accurate either. Just because EA gives you a number, doesn't mean that this is a real number. I am not saying they are lying, but I put nothing past anyone. I can make up stats right now about anything I want.

Not saying that EA IS lying or fudging or what ever, but to deny the possibility would be illogical. To accept stats as proof of something, without doing even the slightest bit of extrapolation or looking at them from all angles and even leaving open the possibility that their validity is questionable, is also, likewise, illogical.

# 82 Only1LT @ 07/31/10 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamaster14


	yeah, you cant argue with the stats. 80% is certainly a large sample. and there metrics indicated people struggling with the controls on some level. if you are going to have a beef with EA on this one, it should be with how they respond to the problem and their solutions... not WHY they responded. clearly, it was wise to respond. i just think their solution was poor, and their track record kind of reflects that. problem: people stuck in audible menu after hitting A/X solution: completely revamp the system why not K.I.S.S. and just add a "cancel" button to the audible menu so u could easily back out. and if the large menu overlay is a problem have a button to hide it like NCAA. most of all, if you do revamp, you always need to keep the old system. at least for a year, then you can use metrics to see how many people prefer the new way. and adjust going forward as needed reminds me of decisions such like incorporating random blitz angles where guys dont go where the arrow is pointing to combat nanos instead of fixinf the underlying issue

Again, you can ALWAYS, argue stats. I don't care what subject you are talking about. If stats were so infallible, then humans would never make mistakes, because everybody and their grandmother has stats!

# 83 Only1LT @ 07/31/10 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Then don't ask Tony LaRussa. He is the guru of stats and has only managed two teams. The thing with stats it helps you play with the percentages and then you can make the decision. Just saying. oops- LaRussa has managed 3 teams, but the longevity is still there.

Always an exception to every rule. I might be able to pass the bar by drawing Mickey Mouse ears on my answer sheet grid. Doesn't mean that I would recommend that everyone prepare for it that way.

And for the record, LaRussa's stats penchant for over reliance on stats has gotten him in hot water many times as well. He has managed his way out of quite a few victories the last few years.

# 84 crumpled_heap @ 07/31/10 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyP


	But there will be an update, so there's good news heh....

not really....one less patch they'll be able to do to fix bugs n stuff

# 85 roadman @ 07/31/10 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	Always an exception to every rule. I might be able to pass the bar by drawing Mickey Mouse ears on my answer sheet grid. Doesn't mean that I would recommend that everyone prepare for it that way. And for the record, LaRussa's stats penchant for over reliance on stats has gotten him in hot water many times as well. He has managed his way out of quite a few victories the last few years.

I don't know, based on stats,(haha, couldn't resist that one) I'd consider him top 5 manager in the modern day of baseball.

10 pennants, 4 WS titles.

Is the exception to every rule based on probability or stats? (haha, couldn't resist that one either)

# 86 Only1LT @ 07/31/10 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	I don't know, based on stats,(haha, couldn't resist that one) I'd consider him top 5 manager in the modern day of baseball. 10 pennants, 4 WS titles. Is the exception to every rule based on probability or stats? (haha, couldn't resist that one either)

Lol. So by that logic then, Tony is actually nothing special as manager. You or I could just look at the same data and make strictly stat based decisions and achieve the exact same results lol.

Does anyone have either Wilpon or Steinbrenner's number? I'm thinking about a career change lol.

# 87 K_GUN @ 07/31/10 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only1LT


	Not sure about numbers 1 and 2, because I haven't tried them, but number 3 is the same as before. After selecting the WR that you are hot routing, hit R3 (PS3). I assume it is the same on 360, but since I don't own one, I can't be sure.

thanks bud...i also finally figured out 1 & 2.......from here on out it's all about building muscle memory

# 88 dannyr326 @ 07/31/10 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamaster14


	Thank you EA for giving us gamers an OPTION to choose which set of controls we want to use. It takes alot of humility to go ahead and agree to patch this before the game even drops, and i commend you guys for that... going forward i hope that this is valuable for the devs and the community. i hope madden 11 is based around giving the users the option of how they want to play the game: multiple controller configurations multiple camera angles the ability to turn any and everything off sliders galore game rooms and lobbies for all styles, along with custom game rooms online glad the old system is back... maybe a second patch with PS2 controls? those were really the best and we could do stuff like shade WR's or bump 1 guy and play off the other

Madden team,
Please bring back the "old" PS2 pre-play controls with the ability to shade receivers, bump a single man/etc.
They were by far the best. (great, quick, intuitive.)
I see a few other people agree with me.

# 89 brezz2001 @ 07/31/10 05:56 PM

I'm not a huge adjuster preplay, so stratpad doesn't affect me too much. However, I hope that EA also looks at lengthening the time before the snap for the CPU. That would give the stratpad the best chance of succeeding.

I don't think they need to go crazy, but maybe an extra 5 seconds or so would make a big difference.

Brian

# 90 carnalnirvana @ 08/01/10 08:27 AM

if strat pad is left in for 2 more years i'll be ok. but if i fight with it this year only to see it removed and replaced next year i feel like a test dummy, becuase i have used it minimally as is and it has affected how i play the game.

now i dont mind learning something new even if its more complicated than the old system all i ask is if you wanna beta test something do a beta demo......

# 91 callmetaternuts @ 08/01/10 09:09 AM

Ian quoted that 95% of plays called were called by Gameflow. I don't know if I'd get too excited over that just yet. Most people are trying it out, so of course more people will use it. I'd wait until game release and find out how often its being used.

It's nice to see them considering a fix for the strat pad. We can argue all we want about certain features being there or not being there, but you can't rag on the Madden team for not reacting to this stuff. Even as someone not interested in Madden 11 (yet), I have to give kudos to Ian and company on this one.

# 92 Valdarez @ 08/01/10 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil_Frazier_EA


	Saw this comment and have seen similar comments before. More than 80% of Madden gamers have a console that's connected to Xbox Live based on our numbers. Our telemetry comes from any game that is played on an internet connected console. Not just from 'online games'. We get lots of useful data. Phil

That seems fairly high overall. Do you account for rentals, and the fact that a game could change hands multiple times via used game sales?

By the way, thanks for the blog. The no big deal thing didn't come across very good before.

# 93 Valdarez @ 08/01/10 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callmetaternuts


	Ian quoted that 95% of plays called were called by Gameflow. I don't know if I'd get too excited over that just yet. Most people are trying it out, so of course more people will use it. I'd wait until game release and find out how often its being used. It's nice to see them considering a fix for the strat pad. We can argue all we want about certain features being there or not being there, but you can't rag on the Madden team for not reacting to this stuff. Even as someone not interested in Madden 11 (yet), I have to give kudos to Ian and company on this one.

I'm willing to bet most people play on default settings anyhow, and most gamers aren't even going to take the time to figure out that they can disable gameflow. Be defacto the default way to play will be the 'preferred' way to play if they use data alone as the determinant. While I believe EA has the data in house, I don't believe they have the in house expertise to make good use of their accumulated data.

# 94 killer miller31 @ 08/01/10 09:46 PM

gameflow is an option..and now strategy pad is an option..when really if you play just 2 games and have half a brain like myself you have it down..so i want it to stay the default online control so i dont have to change it....but anyway i just dont get why people are so mad that we have more OPTIONS!i guess theres just no pleasing some people

# 95 kehlis @ 08/01/10 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killer miller31


	gameflow is an option..and now strategy pad is an option..when really if you play just 2 games and have half a brain like myself you have it down..so i want it to stay the default online control so i dont have to change it....but anyway i just dont get why people are so mad that we have more OPTIONS!i guess theres just no pleasing some people

When this first came out (not this thread), there wasn't an option.

I don't think I have seen anyone upset about having options since they announced they would patch the old way back in.

# 96 Franchise-Star-21 @ 08/01/10 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehlis


	When this first came out (not this thread), there wasn't an option. I don't think I have seen anyone upset about having options since they announced they would patch the old way back in.

I been away for a couple days ,

So there is a patch for the old style coming asap or down the road after the game releaseS?

# 97 BlueNGold @ 08/01/10 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franchise-Star-21


	I been away for a couple days , So there is a patch for the old style coming asap or down the road after the game releaseS?

Yes.

Spoiler

# 98 killer miller31 @ 08/01/10 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehlis


	When this first came out (not this thread), there wasn't an option. I don't think I have seen anyone upset about having options since they announced they would patch the old way back in.

now they are saying they want the old way to be the dafault online control..and trust me gameflow is an option and people have been complaining like crazy!! just read this and the rest of the boards lol.

# 99 kehlis @ 08/01/10 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killer miller31


	now they are saying they want the old way to be the dafault online control..and trust me gameflow is an option and people have been complaining like crazy!! just read this and the rest of the boards lol.

In your last post you said you don't understand why people would complain about something if it is an option.

If people are debating about something that isn't an option to them, how is your point relevant?

Don't get me wrong, I don't play online. It doesn't matter to me at all...

But your last two posts pretty much contradict themselves...

# 100 killer miller31 @ 08/02/10 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehlis


	In your last post you said you don't understand why people would complain about something if it is an option. If people are debating about something that isn't an option to them, how is your point relevant? Don't get me wrong, I don't play online. It doesn't matter to me at all... But your last two posts pretty much contradict themselves...

no man they are saying they dont want to have to pause the game to change to the old control when they start online games...lol so i was meaning they will have the option they are just being that picky about it was my point cause i saw a few people acting crazy over it lol...sorry for the bad wording in my last post

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