Madden NFL 11 News Post

Madden NFL 11: Ian Cummings Interview

11:20 AM - August 19, 2010 by RaychelSnr

OS recently had the chance to speak with Madden NFL 11’s creative director Ian Cummings during a conference call. Check out the interview below.

Operation Sports: How does the "shoulders squared locomotion" feature function? Can you comment on the philosophy behind it? It would appear that players naturally want to turn it up field -- when was this idea brought to the table?

Ian Cummings: The locomotion system for us was about really getting back to the core of the game, you know? We just had so many problems that we couldn’t really solve with the old system, and so one of the big facets of locomotion is actually layered animation. And, typically a run cycle is a small clip of animation, but what we have been able to do with layers (we implemented a little bit of it in Madden NFL 10 with quarterbacks being able to throw out of sacks early) is really the ability to separate the parts of upper body from the lower body.

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Member Comments

# 21 ANDROMADA 1 @ 08/19/10 12:39 PM

Great read. thanks for the info.

# 22 poopoop @ 08/19/10 12:46 PM

Everytime this guy get asked a question he just offers sympathy and basically says also feels the same way, then doesn't give any concrete info on how/if they're going to fix it. The end result is a bunch of empty answers that don't really say anything.

# 23 djordan @ 08/19/10 12:48 PM

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

Quote:


	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.

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."

# 24 Dog @ 08/19/10 12:48 PM

i find it interesting that ian has all these great ideas, yet a lot of them dont make it into the game. whats holding them back? a lot of the stuff he talked about would be really good additions to madden

# 25 bigsmallwood @ 08/19/10 12:49 PM

After this interview, I am more than certain that Ian and crew have no intentions of making Madden mirror the game we watch on Saturday and Sundays. I have a personal solution though!

Shouts to OS for getting the interview!

# 26 Benicio10 @ 08/19/10 01:03 PM

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.

# 27 TreyIM2 @ 08/19/10 01:04 PM

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.

# 28 TreyIM2 @ 08/19/10 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Great point

# 29 TreyIM2 @ 08/19/10 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsmallwood


	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.

# 30 bigsmallwood @ 08/19/10 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreyIM2


	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

# 31 silence1206 @ 08/19/10 01:42 PM

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.

# 32 packers718 @ 08/19/10 01:54 PM

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.

# 33 frankstallone83 @ 08/19/10 02:38 PM

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

# 34 at23steelers @ 08/19/10 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazdevil20


	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.

# 35 Only1LT @ 08/19/10 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BezO


	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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by djordan


	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.

# 36 DaveDQ @ 08/19/10 03:14 PM

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?

# 37 computerlover @ 08/19/10 03:28 PM

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...

# 38 Mrcabone @ 08/19/10 04:50 PM

Hopefully they tune the defense,it will play a big part in my decision to keep Madden past Oct.5(NBA 2K10,Elite).i love playing defense and out smarting dudes online but this year even when I call the correct defense my LB ,DB just stands there, or if they swat the ball it lands in the reciever hands anyway.

# 39 RawRebel @ 08/19/10 04:57 PM

I wished he would have asked Ian if they are doing anything for the abnormal amount of injuries that happen in a game. Also why are your top players playing on special teams?

# 40 DaSmerg @ 08/19/10 05:18 PM

Interesting interview. Interesting insights. Myself, this was the telling line from the interview.

Quote:


	IAN: "...We had to switch our entire server architecture on the back end this year to get aligned. All the major EA Sports games had to incur some pretty major costs. So we had to re-implement a lot of our existing features..."

I own and operate my own business...I get it. Operating within a budget and project costs.

Here's where I have a ...Shaggy? though...are any of the current EA Sports titles dollar losers? Between the dollars that just Madden and FIFA alone generate. Ian I hope you aren't saying that development dollars were taken away from the past Madden cycle (and potentially next) because of short sited corporate penny pinching.

While I found the interview on a whole (as in questions asked and answered) to be positive, it just left me...I don't know...for lack of a better word...wanting.

I get the whole positive relationship thing. But once in a while, it's good to hold someone accountable's "...feet to the fire...", so to speak. There's a couple of non-answers in there and questions regarding game play really could have been more pointed leaving less wiggle room in the answer. On a personal level, it would be terribly amusing to see a Bill O type grilling with Ian and the responses that would generate, I don't think dear olde OS would be such a beneficiary of such treatment. That being said, some of us out here in Madden land are running short on optimism and happy thoughts.

I really wish that Ian would simply take ownership of some of the pretty blatantly obvious build decisions that the team has made for Madden in the past 3 years. This current team seems more inclined to make a more watered down game for the masses. I am not implying some sort of wrongedness or a gotcha type thing. If that's what they want to do, and they can make money doing it, awesome! But at least some folks out here can just worry about looking elsewhere.

Thanks for the interview OS. It's nice that Tiburon has opened up on what used to be the black box of Madden development.

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