Madden 2010 sliders and realistic franchise play..

[IndyColtsFan]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
I haven't touched the sliders yet, but what I'm really having difficulty is throwing to my main receivers. I can throw to my tight end and my slot receivers just fine, but unless my outside receivers are coming in on a drag route, I can't throw to them. Almost no matter what route they run, the pass will inevitably get jumped on by the CB or Safety, and 6 times out of 10, it's a pick. It gets really frustrating, especially when the game speed is set at slow, but all of a sudden these DBs have super human speed and pick you off.

I am having this issue also. Drag routes seem to be the only semi-consistent way for me to hit the outside receivers or maybe, rarely, a short slant over the middle. I will have man-to-man isolation on the outside and I still can't go deep -- the receiver SHOULD beat the corner off the end as he goes deep, but he rarely, if ever, does. Even on the rare occasion he does beat the CB, the safety will make it over like 95% of the time and defend the pass. In 09, you could just lead the receiver and the ball would usually make it there before the safety. Not so in Madden 10.

In Madden 09, the receiver would beat the corner a good percentage of the time. Not on Madden 10. At first, I thought it was game speed and my timing was off, but I turned the speed up and I am seeing the same thing. In my Colts vs. Vikings game, I was only up 3-0 at half. I decided to start hitting shorter routes in the second half and won 38-3. The only "long" pass I hit was to Dallas Clark (TE), and it was a 15/20 yard pass that turned into a 44 yd TD after he juked the deep safety.

 

[Cuda1447]

Man, Its frustrating hearing all these problems you have. I can honestly say most of the problems I've had have been fixed with sliders. I don't have any issue hitting my main receivers. The deep ball is difficult, but you can burn them 1 on 1. Jump balls (i.e. fades in endzone corner) are very difficult, thats one thing that I wish my receivers were a bit better at. Hooks/Curls/Crosses/Slants are all very easy for me to complete. Really the only routes I can't complete with consistency are streaks. I don't seem to throw more than a pick or two a game either.

The sliders I originally posted are quite a long ways from where my current sliders are. I'll post some update later tonight, I just haven't had a chance yet. Also for fatigue, try adjusting your depth chart. I don't have the problem with WR's subbing in as DB's. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen that even once. And I've jumped fatigue up to 58.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Man, Its frustrating hearing all these problems you have. I can honestly say most of the problems I've had have been fixed with sliders. I don't have any issue hitting my main receivers. The deep ball is difficult, but you can burn them 1 on 1. Jump balls (i.e. fades in endzone corner) are very difficult, thats one thing that I wish my receivers were a bit better at. Hooks/Curls/Crosses/Slants are all very easy for me to complete. Really the only routes I can't complete with consistency are streaks. I don't seem to throw more than a pick or two a game either.

The sliders I originally posted are quite a long ways from where my current sliders are. I'll post some update later tonight, I just haven't had a chance yet. Also for fatigue, try adjusting your depth chart. I don't have the problem with WR's subbing in as DB's. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen that even once. And I've jumped fatigue up to 58.

I need to play with the sliders and maybe the game speed a little more. I like Madden 10, don't get me wrong. I am just a little frustrated with the passing game. I do fine on defense for the most part, it is just offense where I struggle. At least it appears I am not alone in my struggles.

 

[Cuda1447]

When you put the game on slowest game speed the passing game becomes much easier. You have more time before you have pressure on your QB and it slows the game down a little so you can make your reads and find the open receiver.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
When you put the game on slowest game speed the passing game becomes much easier. You have more time before you have pressure on your QB and it slows the game down a little so you can make your reads and find the open receiver.

I don't think pressure has been my biggest issue with the passing game. It just seems to me that the plays take much longer to develop than last year. Last year, the emphasis on offense seemed to be on route timing. If you read the D correctly and knew your routes, you should have been able to throw the ball before the receiver even made a break and complete it the majority of the time. I just haven't seen that in Madden 10 yet, but in fairness, I need to play a few more games.

 

[Cuda1447]

Updated slider settings at the top.

 

[Cuda1447]

A sack tip for those having trouble. Do NOT use the turbo button on defense. It seems to activate the QB's internal clock to get rid of the ball, regardless of pressure. Since I've stopped using the turbo button on D during pass plays, my sack totals have gone up a few per game, to what I would consider pretty realistic stats.

 

[playa11234]

I have been saying this for years. Difficulty levels and sliders undermine the whole point of having player ratings in the first place. To have the ai cheat by boosting their ratings is completely unrealistic and does not provide an authentic football experience. Imagine getting beat repeatedly by Brady Quinn and the Cleveland browns only because you play on a higher level?

WHy have player ratings if your computer opponent is going to have 11 superstars on its team at higher levels?

My crazy idea is to do away with difficulty levels and sliders-- put all of the emphaisis on ratings. Make every player plays acording to their ratings no matter who it is human or ai.

The level of difficulty for any given game will depend on how good or bad your opponent is, which in turn depends on the actual players on the team. Play against a team with alot of talent and be prepared to bring your A game. Be prepared to formulate a strategy based on who is on their roster. Be prepared to attack their weak side on offense, or use your power back to exploit the wak side of the defensive line. On the flip side take a deep breath and go easy at it when your next opponents are the browns and brady quinn. In the same league as Payton Manning? Focus your general management energies on building on good pass defense.

There are so many possibilities when you keep the game HONEST...strategy, trades, free agency, etc..those things would matter a whole lot more.

IMO, difficulty levels have run their course, it is time to rely on player's abilities to provide the challenge.

 

[Cuda1447]

Thanks for bumping my old thread playa, but to be quite honest.... that's a horrible idea. Pretty simple why, let me lay it out for you.


I am very good at football games. I juke well, read coverage very well, pass to open receivers well, etc. Someone else who does not play as much may not read coverage as fast, will pass to covered receivers and does not have teh stick skills while running. The result with your system. One of us the game is going to be extremely difficult, the other it may be extremely easy, regardless of the players ratings. If the game is toned down to average player, I could use the Browns and DESTROY the best team in the game. Is that realistic? No. If it was tuned for an advanced player, a basic player could have an all pro run blocking team with AP in the backfield, against the 2nd string browns. But guess what, he doesn't have stick skills? Result, 20 carries for 37 yards.

Bottom line, sliders are a MUST as the quality of the players varies widely.



What is a bigger problem however, is the motherfucking goddamn advertisements DURING THE GAME. I will never buy another Madden because of this (I hope). And I have bought every Madden since '99.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

What is a bigger problem however, is the motherfucking goddamn advertisements DURING THE GAME. I will never buy another Madden because of this (I hope). And I have bought every Madden since '99.

Unfortunately, as NFL fans, our choice is limited to either Madden or nothing at all. The ads don't bother me so much and I think it does help the presentation a little (and it needs all the help it can get).

I don't know if it is because I am getting older or if it is because I am just getting burned out, but I am starting to tire of Madden. I really don't think Madden has added anything revolutionary to its game since 2005 (which I believe was the first year of defensive playmaker); note that at that time, they still had actual competition and that was probably what really motivated them.

Madden 11 is going to be a tough sell to me. Every year I say that I am not buying Madden but every year, I break down and buy it. The only way I would consider buying it is if they greatly improve the online franchises; even then, I am not sure I would bite judging from how our online franchise here died pretty quickly.

 

[playa11234]

Thanks for bumping my old thread playa, but to be quite honest.... that's a horrible idea. Pretty simple why, let me lay it out for you.


I am very good at football games. I juke well, read coverage very well, pass to open receivers well, etc. Someone else who does not play as much may not read coverage as fast, will pass to covered receivers and does not have teh stick skills while running. The result with your system. One of us the game is going to be extremely difficult, the other it may be extremely easy, regardless of the players ratings. If the game is toned down to average player, I could use the Browns and DESTROY the best team in the game. Is that realistic? No. If it was tuned for an advanced player, a basic player could have an all pro run blocking team with AP in the backfield, against the 2nd string browns. But guess what, he doesn't have stick skills? Result, 20 carries for 37 yards.

Bottom line, sliders are a MUST as the quality of the players varies widely.

I would have to disagree with you-- I do not think the game would be harder for some and easier for others regardless of ratings.

If ratings were a REAL factor that made some teams better than others difficulty would depend on the team that you played against, regardless of generic skills such as being able to read pass coverage..as a matter of fact it would be more difficult for you if you played a team with a tough secondary, and easier for you if you played a team with a poor secondary.

When the game is more difficult because of the caliber of the team that you are playing due to personnel ratings are such a factor then the game is more authentic than the typical ai cheat factor.

This is about having a realistic experience from team to team....not going 0-11 against every opponent in your season because you are playing on ALL MADDEN

 

[Cuda1447]

I don't think you understand what I was saying Playa. That's alright though. We will have to agree to disagree.

 

[JoPh]

just use the sliders from operation sports. those guys know stuff.

 

[playa11234]

I don't think you understand what I was saying Playa. That's alright though. We will have to agree to disagree.

Fair enough bud...and i did understand what you were saying. Where we disagree is that you think by not having difficulty levels and sliders it will tone down the game for the average player, but I do not think it would.

I think it would keep the game challenging for any player regardless of their skills...but it would just depend on how talented their opponent is. That will also bode well for franchise because their is the motivation factor for general management activities to make your team better.

Honestly when I play madden at high levels I can care less about gm activities because I know it will not make a difference due to the fact that my opponents abilities are dictated by difficulty levels not how talented their players are.

THis idea stems from a question I have always had about difficulty levels and sliders...why even have player ratings and a distinction between good and bad teams...if difficulty levels and sliders will make even the suckiest player and his team play like superstars..you are completely taking ratings out of the picture...so you think that not having the levels and sliders will tone down the game, but I say unfortunately levels and sliders gives us the option to do just that for ourselves...so i can use a bad team and just for the heck of it turn down sliders and such so I can beat the patriots and pick off tom brady all day, who has like a what-- a 99 ovr rating? The reduced slider will make him look like brady quinn instead of tom brady!

I just do not see the point...but your points are well taken. Keep gaming bro.

 

[playa11234]

Let me read you what someone wrote on another site:

----------------------------

Thinking about returning this game, such a let down. Don't care about the money I spent or anything but I recommend don't waist your money. Rent it!!! Far as graphics and prresentation, cool great! But gameplay sucks! I have played on ALL MADDEN difficulty for as long as I can remember and I can never remember it to be this frustrating. My CPU controlled players are acting as if they are on pro and the CPU opponent is on unbeatable. My cornerbacks/linebackers just sit there in zone plays. I understand they have a zone to "stay in" but to just sit there until the ball carrier is on the ground??!? **bleep**!? I pass to an open reciever, no catch. I hike the ball, the defender/s are extremely fast, and makes one move on my O line and I don't even have time to get the ball out!? I mean Iv'e heard of blitz plays but c'mon... The broken tackles in this game or soo fake it just looks dumb. Deshaun Jackson breaking tackles??? Huh? A FB gets a screen pass and breaks 2 tackles and takes off for a TD!!??? Wish I had these replays to show..... I am very good and have great defense in Madden and been playing for a long time and I'm soo dissapointed in this game! For realistic, yeah MADDEN LOOKS REAL BUT THE GAMEPLAY ISN'T AT ALL!! Hope they come out with a fix update for this crappy game! I haven't even played one online game yet! One nobody plays ALL MADDEN diff. i guess n I have been jus in aww of how bad this game is. Sucks to be a EA Madden head right now....

But if I turn it down to ALL PRO, I will destroy any team in the game??? Or my players will catch 99% of my passes, or block every guy in sight and knock him flat on the ground or I will have alot more time in the pocket and less tackles will be broken by the CPU opponent? Why is that??? Hmmmmm Something needs to be fixed EA. And fixed real soon! Bunch of lames

------

I think that this fustrated player said it all--- why even have ratings

 

[oznerol]

Honestly when I play madden at high levels I can care less about gm activities because I know it will not make a difference due to the fact that my opponents abilities are dictated by difficulty levels not how talented their players are.

This is not true. Play on all-Madden with the Browns, then play with the Saints, then tell me that both experiences are identical. They aren't, because player ratings still matter.

Granted, the game definitely downplays the importance of offensive and defensive linemen (upping the difficulty basically makes them useless, regardless of their rating). But overall, the ratings still matter and building up your team is still worthwhile even when playing on all-Madden.

The general intent of the difficulty level is not for realism - it's for challenge. The AI needs work, and I agree that upping the difficulty should never dumb down your own players, but it doesn't really break the game. And if anything, the sliders are a really nice solution to tweak the game to fit your level. If all-Madden is ridiculous for you and your players are always dropping passes and your defenders act like idiots, but all-Pro is too easy and you're throwing for 500 yards and completing all your passes, you can just pick a difficulty and set the specific sliders to levels that match your skill level.

 

[Marine4Christ88]

I like the sliders so far....

I was playing a franchise with the Detroit Lions (for a challenge) and started on All-Pro.I won 6 in a row and felt it was unrealistic (obviously).

I then switched to All-Madden and was 2-6. Granted some games I only lost by less than a touchdown. However, I was dropping wide-open passes and the defensive rush was ridiculous.

That's when I found these sliders...but I'm concerned after only my first game and here is why...

Keep in mind that it is year 2 and I have the Lions at an 81 rating and the Vikings (the team I just played) are only at 83 (some rookie QB who is terrible!!!) He is 58 overall!

I won the game 55 to 14!!!

The concerning stat was I had 6 interceptions...is this a result of a terrible team or the sliders too low?

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[bigticket]

(the franchise cpu sliders are more accurate if you play in all madden level)

i hope help you with this

normal speed
treshold & fatigue 50

player level all madden

cpu sliders

qb acc 19
pas blk 6
wr 6

brk tak 45
run blk 15
fmb 25

rct tme 65
inter 25
pas rsh 100

rct tme 32
brk tak 32
tak 32

UPDATES 10.01.2010 IN BOLD

this sliders works.
if you play vs steelers play vs steelers
and if you play vs tampa play vs tampa.

i play with falcons 12-4 my first season 4-1 in my second season.
good stats,but the best , LOFTON , 109 SOLO TACKLES.6th in solo tackles
ranking.and playing in all madden only 1 rb torched 2000yds.

ENJOY!!!

new franchise notes 10.01.2010
now 49ers sliders 4-3

pass with smith its's a challenge 1425yds 11td 8int in 7 games

rush game with gore sometimes easy sometimes no 708yds 5td

vernon davis 32rec 485yds 5td

and........

patrick willis 2nd in solo tackles with 65 3sacks 1 int 2fmb rec

my team pass defense is the worst i have,but i'm 26 team in pass defense.

the best sliders i've played.good stats and very very difficult.

ENJOY!!

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Interesting thread...I might try these sliders when I get home.

I played a season on Pro as the Vikings and went 15-1 and won the Super Bowl, with my only loss being an OT game in which the Seahawks scored a passing TD, recovered an onsides kick, then scored another passing TD within like two minutes. Then in OT, they won the toss, completed a bunch of passes and kicked the winning field goal. I think they completed 17 passes in a row or something like that.

Adrian Peterson ended up with like 2,500 yards rushing and 30 TDs...on 7 minute quarters! I didn't pass much because I didn't have to, but Favre had like 2,000 yards, maybe 20 TDs, a few INTs and like 60% completion.

The main problem I have with the game is:

1. Running is too easy and passing is too hard. Even on All-Pro, AP could run all day. 3rd and 7? No big deal! Just run and get the first down. A pass would probably result in (for me, anyway) either a sack (since the CPU seems to always be hanging on my feet), an INT or an incomplete pass.

2. It is impossible to sack the opposing QB. I blitz...no pressure. I play man...no pressure. I play zone...no pressure. The Vikings have three 90+ rated D-linemen, and I'd say about half of the games ended with me never getting a sack. That is ridiculous.

3. Cheese plays. I hate it when the 70 rated CPU RB sheds FIVE tackles and runs for 70 yards on a clock-wasting play just before half time. I hate how the 75 rated CPU QB with horrible receivers turn into Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. I hate random, cheap plays that more often than not feel like the CPU cheating and playing catch-up.

I have tweaked the sliders a bit, and it's a little bit better, but if there was some way to fix those three big issues, I think I would play Madden 10 a lot more.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I think it would keep the game challenging for any player regardless of their skills...but it would just depend on how talented their opponent is. That will also bode well for franchise because their is the motivation factor for general management activities to make your team better.

Honestly when I play madden at high levels I can care less about gm activities because I know it will not make a difference due to the fact that my opponents abilities are dictated by difficulty levels not how talented their players are.

I see what you're saying here. It seems your criticism that player abilities don't make enough of a difference is warranted, although your proposed solution of not having sliders at all is extreme.

It's nice to be able to tweak the game to match your abilities. It would be good if you didn't have to tweak it so much to get a realistic football experience. But some people are just better in one area or another, or they're better or worse at the game, so there has to be some means of changing the difficulty.

It might make sense for the franchise mode to adjust the difficulty not with sliders that make players perform better or worse than they do in real life, but by offering you different teams that are better or worse. So "hard mode" would be the Lions, while "easy mode" would be the Colts. Or they could add in goals for a season, where you can get bronze, silver, and gold medals for accomplishing certain things with a team. The goals would be different depending on the team.

The problem is that since Madden is the only game in town, it has to do everything for everyone, which is one of the many reasons for the sliders in the first place. You can't just tell a casual Madden player from St. Louis that their beloved team is too hard for them to play and they have to play as the Chargers no matter how much they like the Rams. That's why there have to be difficulty sliders.

But I do agree that it would be nice if you could tell the difference between players a little more easily than you can now.

 

[playa11234]

The main problem I have with the game is:

1. Running is too easy and passing is too hard. Even on All-Pro, AP could run all day. 3rd and 7? No big deal! Just run and get the first down. A pass would probably result in (for me, anyway) either a sack (since the CPU seems to always be hanging on my feet), an INT or an incomplete pass.

2. It is impossible to sack the opposing QB. I blitz...no pressure. I play man...no pressure. I play zone...no pressure. The Vikings have three 90+ rated D-linemen, and I'd say about half of the games ended with me never getting a sack. That is ridiculous.

3. Cheese plays. I hate it when the 70 rated CPU RB sheds FIVE tackles and runs for 70 yards on a clock-wasting play just before half time. I hate how the 75 rated CPU QB with horrible receivers turn into Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. I hate random, cheap plays that more often than not feel like the CPU cheating and playing catch-up.

I have tweaked the sliders a bit, and it's a little bit better, but if there was some way to fix those three big issues, I think I would play Madden 10 a lot more.

EXACTLY...especially problem #3 Like I said before why even have ratings

 

[playa11234]

I see what you're saying here. It seems your criticism that player abilities don't make enough of a difference is warranted, although your proposed solution of not having sliders at all is extreme.

It's nice to be able to tweak the game to match your abilities. It would be good if you didn't have to tweak it so much to get a realistic football experience. But some people are just better in one area or another, or they're better or worse at the game, so there has to be some means of changing the difficulty.

It might make sense for the franchise mode to adjust the difficulty not with sliders that make players perform better or worse than they do in real life, but by offering you different teams that are better or worse. So "hard mode" would be the Lions, while "easy mode" would be the Colts. Or they could add in goals for a season, where you can get bronze, silver, and gold medals for accomplishing certain things with a team. The goals would be different depending on the team.

The problem is that since Madden is the only game in town, it has to do everything for everyone, which is one of the many reasons for the sliders in the first place. You can't just tell a casual Madden player from St. Louis that their beloved team is too hard for them to play and they have to play as the Chargers no matter how much they like the Rams. That's why there have to be difficulty sliders.

But I do agree that it would be nice if you could tell the difference between players a little more easily than you can now.

Extreme for sure....even a bit innovative. But isn't that what madden needs after all these years of putting out something that is weighed down by the same problems over and over again?

A idea that is innovative, even audacious.....I think having no difficulty levels would have its detractors at first but once they experience the realism, the sincere AI opponent, a more engaging franchise mode because of a different experience from opponent to opponent, and a firmer basis for gm activities, they would warm up to it...i honestly believe that it would be the best madden ever in terms of gameplay.

You do however make some very valid points...especially the sentimental value that some gamers place on their favorite teams...but my remedy for that would be that they start a franchise and work hard to make that team better.

 

[AstroManLuca]

A idea that is innovative, even audacious.....I think having no difficulty levels would have its detractors at first but once they experience the realism, the sincere AI opponent, a more engaging franchise mode because of a different experience from opponent to opponent, and a firmer basis for gm activities, they would warm up to it...i honestly believe that it would be the best madden ever in terms of gameplay.

You do however make some very valid points...especially the sentimental value that some gamers place on their favorite teams...but my remedy for that would be that they start a franchise and work hard to make that team better.

Sorry but I completely disagree with this.

First, everyone has different abilities. Some people might be insanely good at Madden and can breeze through on All-Madden. Others, like me, find All-Pro to be just right or even a little too hard sometimes. There's no way you can make a game like Madden not have difficulty levels and still appeal to more than a tiny fraction of its current fan base (which is enormous, BTW).

Second, they've already spent tons of time promoting how the game adapts to the skill of each player, and they're not going to toss that out. Figure out a better way of doing it? Sure. But a single, uniform difficulty level wouldn't happen.

Remember that Madden is not supposed to perfectly reflect how every team would play. There is user interaction that changes how things go. Put in a good player and all of a sudden one team is overachieving compared with how they'd play in real life. Put in a sucky player and you could see a great team get steamrolled by every opponent, because there'd be no way to adjust the difficulty based on who's behind the controller.

Lastly, not everyone wants to mess around with franchise mode stuff. The most I've ever done is occasionally trade some players or sign a free agent. I don't like having to manage every last detail, so your "solution" of forcing players who want to play a bad team to rebuild them through Franchise mode isn't much of a solution at all.

 

[playa11234]

Remember that Madden is not supposed to perfectly reflect how every team would play. There is user interaction that changes how things go. Put in a good player and all of a sudden one team is overachieving compared with how they'd play in real life. Put in a sucky player and you could see a great team get steamrolled by every opponent, because there'd be no way to adjust the difficulty based on who's behind the controller.

Or have a sucky player play on rookie level, turn all the ai's sliders down and watch they steamroll the Patriots using the Browns...

But Fair enough...i expected detracters. Diffulty levels and sliders are such a staple in the series I would not expect everyone to subscribe to my rationale.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Or have a sucky player play on rookie level, turn all the ai's sliders down and watch they steamroll the Patriots using the Browns...

But Fair enough...i expected detracters. Diffulty levels and sliders are such a staple in the series I would not expect everyone to subscribe to my rationale.

It's just a question of making a game fun vs. making it realistic. If all you care about is realism and making it impossible for anything to happen in the game that couldn't/wouldn't happen in real life, why even bother with having the user control it at all? Actually it sounds more like you want one of the Head Coach games where you have some control over your team but your ability to control a QB or RB isn't there, thus removing that aspect of the game.

It would be nice, I guess, if the game was able to adapt to you without allowing you to do things that couldn't happen in real life. But without any sort of difficulty adjustment at all, you're going to see really bad players going 0-16 with the Patriots and really good ones going 16-0 with the Rams. Is that any different from the reverse?