Madden Football

by Brian (DaBolts) on Feb 9, 2009 7:56 AM PST

OK the offseason is officially here. The other day my son picked up some video games for his Nintendo ds and I saw a Madden 07 for $5. I figured that was a pretty good deal since the new one was $50. At first I thought they must have given me the wrong disk, because the newest Charger team was 2005; I guess it takes them a year to get the new stats in. The graphics are pretty amazing, but darned if I haven't learned some things from the play by play stuff they do in the background.

I also like all the formations you can choose and then you pick out the plays from there. The quarters are greatly reduced so you can get a full game in within a reasonable time frame. I have been running the Chargers; the only issue is it seems a bit too easy to get the feel for, you can pretty much whomp the computer in AI mode. It just gives you a better feel for what a quarterback goes through too; how many guys are covering which receiver, do you need to go to the check down target, and to do all that while avoiding the rush. I let the computer avoid the rush and just choose which target to pass to.

I don't have much knack for running yet, typically 3-4 yards is what I get even with LT. I make moves too slowly to be effective I think. On defense too, it's pretty cool to see the different forms of zone coverage; what happens when you blitz the corners and so on. I've just played other teams a few times; and you get a better appreciation for different offense types and the plays out of a 4-3 defense too. One thing you don't get a feel for is rotating players out; the starting 11 just play every down and don't seem to tire out at all. It's nice that you can see a run defense and put somebody in a hot route with an audible too. I don't quite have a handle on changing defenses at the line yet. In any event I think I may keep an eye out for Madden 08 so I can take the '06 Chargers; that must be good fun. I was just wondering how many of you played and if you learned much from it.

Poll

Do you play Madden or any other video football game and have you learned anything from it?

Uh, yeah and I learned a lot; and you can put down that stone tablet now, they have this amazing stuff called paper now.

18 votes

I play, but didn't really learn anything from it.

4 votes

Never palyed; what am I 12?

2 votes

I played, but only picked up a few things.

6 votes

30 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Madden 09

The last Madden has the best Charger team in my opinion. Before last year the last Madden game I had bought was Madden ‘95. Now that I’ve bought the last two, I’m done buying it for a while… It’s way too easy against the computer, even on the hardest setting. I really like playing other people, and since you can update the rosters online I don’t see a point for me to buy another one next year. But that raises a question… Will I still be able to update the rosters without owning the newest version next year?

by Jonny Dub on Feb 9, 2009 8:27 AM PST reply actions

Downloading Rosters

That’s cool. There is bound to be a charge for next years rosters I reckon; but probably less than the cost of a new game.

On the AI; it’s strange to me that they don’t have a mode that just amps up the speed of the opposing players to where it competes evenly.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Feb 9, 2009 9:10 AM PST up reply actions

they kindof do

but it’s not a “mode”. somewhere in the setting should be what are called “sliders”. depending on what mode you’re in, the sliders move around. for instance, INTs for the AI might be set at 30 on easy, 80 at the hardest. for an impossible game, you can turn their sliders all the way up and yours all the way down.

by John Gennaro on Feb 9, 2009 9:42 AM PST up reply actions

Excellent

With sliders they are kicking my ass. I just need some fine tuning now…

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Feb 9, 2009 8:10 PM PST up reply actions

yes and no

there are ways to get the newest roster (mainly downloading rosters on your computer and using a transfer kit) but they would not work online. as far as i know, when the newest madden comes out it keeps anyone on an older version from getting the new roster updates from EA. a big reason for this is that each year they add new ratings (such as “catch-in-traffic rating”) that wouldn’t cross over onto your version, which would cause a major error.

by John Gennaro on Feb 9, 2009 9:41 AM PST up reply actions

Damn

that EA Sports.

by Jonny Dub on Feb 10, 2009 8:54 AM PST up reply actions

IT'S IN THE GAME

Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Feb 10, 2009 11:44 AM PST up reply actions

i'll admit it

i’m a diehard sports video game fan. ive bought and played madden every year since ‘93 (with Montana as a Chief on the cover) and spent entire weeks of my life to that game and EA’s college football. 2009 may have been my least favorite version ever, but the last few years it’s put out great games.

as a newbie to gaming, you may want to try out NFL Head Coach 09. it’s more of a “simulation” game, giving you the responsibilities of the GM and head coach. you control your roster, you call the plays. everything else is left in the virtual hands of your players and coaches. it’s much easier for someone who doesnt frequently play sports games, but i think its just as much fun. much more in-depth than madden.

by John Gennaro on Feb 9, 2009 9:33 AM PST reply actions

Montana version

My Chargers team kicked so much ass that year

by matthewverygood on Feb 9, 2009 11:08 AM PST up reply actions

Madden

The more I played, the better I got at reading blitzes, recognizing coverages knowing who would be open where and when. I’ve learned a lot about what works when which has improved my understanding when I watch as a fan.

by Cormican on Feb 9, 2009 1:49 PM PST reply actions

This

is what I’m finding; it’s pretty well put together to teach you as you play.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Feb 9, 2009 8:12 PM PST up reply actions

I have been Hooked on EA's NCAA Football games for the past 9 years.

I have learned a lot about QB reads and when to play what defenses from playing it (ie zone or man and when and when not to blitz).

by Grey Suit on Feb 9, 2009 3:47 PM PST reply actions

I can’t stand the crappy roster restrictions. Why do I need 3 DT, 4 DE, 11 offensive linemen? You can’t get the actual rosters because the actual rosters often violate the minimum requirements at certain positions. Also, the lack of a long snapper as a position sucks.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Feb 9, 2009 6:47 PM PST reply actions

huge madden lover

in college we used to set up franchises where multiple ppl on the floor controlled different teams and it was the greatest thing ever.

my madden 07 team was ridiculous. i traded rivers to the titans for Young and a first round draft pick (before i get killed for that, keep in mind that VY in madden is absolutely unstoppable) and i picked up TO as a free agent.

straight dominance.

"I suggest more bike" ~KSK

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com
www.drinkerswithawritingproblem.blogspot.com

by justdave on Feb 9, 2009 10:50 PM PST reply actions