When I was younger I didn't understand the different ways people like to play either, and I admittedly wasn't great at critically thinking about solutions apart from my own experience with the game then. I too often took part in the "it's broke; fix it" crowd. Had plenty of opinions, but not many solutions. I'd like to think I do better with that now, but I digress.
So looking at everything you said, I both agree with a lot of it, but disagree a bit as well...
I appreciate the conversation - ESPECIALLY your disagreement! IMO, these debates are what drive the game forward and contrary to what seems to be popular belief, my only intention in having these, sometimes heated, discussions to make sure each Madden player reading my posts is aware of the historical trends that have shaped Madden's possibilities and limitations.
Hopefully to summarize it and keep it short here, I agree a lot of people blame their bad actions on EA. I'm guilty of it in the past as well. You can't keep throwing balls into traffic and expect not to get picked off for example. But where I disagree in a sense, is where there is action, there is also reaction. I agree that EA gives control over a lot and you gotta take responsibility for your own actions (pressing buttons, making adjustments, etc), and mistakes of course happen. But, after those actions are taken and the ball is in the air, it's CPU generated reactions, and even the latency gaps when it comes to stuff like 50/50 balls in H2H that people get upset about too, and those things can be beyond their control.
I've had to learn the hard way when playing games like Ubisoft's "For Honor", or COD, that latency and the type of harware you got matters when it comes to split second reactions in game whether you like it or not. Pros are going to have the best hardware and connection speeds, and that is often why they have the one up when it comes down to the split second stuff in many games, and that's just how it is. If we don't like it, we can either invest in better hardware or not play. In a way it makes me feel that pro gaming/streaming has ruined the integrity of what gaming was about when we were growing up, but again I digress.
We're not too far apart in this sentiment. Almost 20 years ago I wrote a college paper called "QB Vision is Turning Heads" about the failures of QB Vision as a passing system. One of my sources, "Effects of latency on online Madden NFL football" by Nichols, J., & Claypool, M. from 2004, discussed lag as a barrier to consistent gameplay online using empirical numbers, that proved game sync could be off by as many as 500 miliseconds - which is enough to soil a player's experience in ANY game... But this study focused on Madden...
On top of that, there's the programmed animations and everything that plays into those, including: Skill Level (Rookie-AM), Game Style (Arcade/Comp/SIM), Gameplay Sliders, SS/XF Abilities, etc...all these different factors play into how the CPU is going to react. Some players just don't know how to properly use these, so like you said, they get mad then because either the Skill Level is too high for them, or they want Pick Artist on every SS defender then wanna complain about the INT's, etc. So in part some of that is still on the User, absolutely.
I'd like to rest on this point you're making in this last sentence... But you continued with some salient points that should not be ignored:
But then there are other times where there are games when even utilizing tools properly, like the "Cover Ball" R1/RB, the CPU still manages to get about 10 hit stick fumbles in a game. OR, User throws a pefect ball over the middle to an open receiver with Mahomes, but the ball magically goes 10 yards to the left into the chest of a defender. It's these things that are outside of User control that can be extremely frustrating and they happen pretty regularly to a lot of people. So there is some give and take to the whole situation where Users are making proper choices and utilizing tools effeciently and still getting bad results, and that's also why people get mad and complain.
First, the "Cover Ball" mechanic drastically reduces fumbles. If the defense tackles with the Strip mechanic, Cover Ball is the perfect counter. Not so much with the Hit Stick... Having been on the wrong side of several Hit Stick fumbles while holding the ball with two hands, they are indeed frustrating, but not to the level of being game breaking, because we have legit football options - like these:
- Give yourself up by tapping Square/X
- Run out of bounds
- Keep the ball carrier fresh
- Make 'em miss (spin, juke, truck, change speeds, etc)
Next, you mention a perfectly thrown ball that goes 10 years off target. If you're referring to the much coveted "blue pass" that suggests a pass is perfectly accurate, but the pass sails 10 years wide - I understand the disgust. But most of the passes I throw that sail off target are either under pressure, on the move, or lead away from coverage with the stick. I fear the suggestion that a pass can be both 'perfect' and 10 yards off target incorporate the crux of the CPU vs User debate...
If this were a real life game, and Mahommes threw an errant pass, we would look first at user mechanics. Footwork, timing, defensive pressure, awareness of the passer, and the specific game situation are ALWAYS part of the discussion. We almost NEVER look to user mechanics FIRST when the same thing happens in Madden - AND WE SHOULD! Because bad mechanics will lose Madden games the same way they do in real life.
I hope I did alright explaining my thoughts on that. They do have to protect the casual players though, because they make up a pretty large pecentage of the playbase. Most people are not pros or kids who have all day to sit in practice mode. Most are guys who wanna come home from work and just pick up the controller and play an hour or two. I undertand the "Git Gud" philosophy, but when making sales, they absolutely have to factor in the casuals who don't have a lot of time or football knowledge because that's a lot of yearly revenue they miss on otherwise. Either way, I think at least just giving options within Settings is great. If a player wants play call limits to reduce repetitive play calls, the option to turn that on/off is great. On the other hand, if the limits were just superimposed on everyone without the option being there, that would not be good at all. Having the option is going to be the middle ground where everyone is happy. That's why with the no huddle idea, I say it wouldn't be a good fit in H2H Regs or MUT, but in Franchise where it can be added as a setting is perfect.
I don't know how perfect the explanation was... But it was effectively communicated, and that's as much as any of us can ask. This point, is probably the best one you mentioned - because it gets to the reality that effects all of us, Madden fanatics and haters alike:
EA's goal is to sell games. To the pros. To the newbies.
Regarding the 'Get Gud' philosophy... I not only agree with it WHOLEHEARTEDLY, I live it. My personal life goal is to never lose the same way twice. I use that same ideal when I play Madden.
For the remainder of this portion let's refer to the father of 3 that works two jobs, we'll call him Bob, doesn't have time to practice against all the things he might face in a Madden game. I get it and the fact that this is the reality for many that play Madden around the nation and globe. They don't have time to simulate OTA's, training camp, nor the week's worth of practice and film study, nor the playbook installs, or any of the preparation that goes into a PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL GAME - while claiming EA fails at producing a simulation.
Bob might complain the defense this, the offense that... But Bob cannot be both 1) too busy to learn the intricacies while simultaneously being 2) educated enough to complain about the intricacies. It would be MUCH MORE TRUTHFUL for Bob to admit he doesn't practice and chalk his inability to enjoy the game to their own faults... But Bob isn't doing that.
Now imagine a real professional football team displaying Bob's work ethic towards the game... How do you think the football would look? I'm guessing the football would look a lot like whatever Bob would complain about when he plays Madden. Suppose the coach of the team that never practiced, in this case Bob, complained about the field, refs, or his opponent's preparedness in the press conference... BOB would get FIRED. Since it's a video game, Bob never considers getting FIRED from his Madden coaching gig because he didn't practice.
But Bob should... because if Bob stops playing Madden because he doesn't feel like he's good enough to compete - he ultimately fired himself. Meanwhile, why is what Bob does or doesn't do effect me or you when neither of us is playing Bob? And moreover, why is Bob even playing in the same queue as seasoned Madden players that are most likely going to foul his experience?
All are equally valid questions worthy of discussion.
Looking forward to the response.
Later
