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Madden 10 Features
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EA Sports and the Madden 10 design team will be slowly releasing information on Madden 10 features on a weekly basis as we get closer and closer to the release date. The theme this year is if you see it on Sunday you'll see it in the game. This means there is going to be a big emphasis on presentation, but they are also trying to move away from features that are more 'arcade' style and move towards features that are more 'sim' style.
Don't worry, that doesn't mean that Madden 10 will be putting an emphasis on a 'sim' mode -- or even including an official 'sim' mode. It just means they are going for more realism and less gameplay 'gadgetry' -- which is a good thing for us hardcore football fans.
Madden 10 Features
Here are the Madden 10 features that have been announced:
Procedural Awareness. In a nutshell, this is the ability for players to dynamically turn their head. Which means defensive backs won't snap their head around and pick the ball off, they'll have to turn and track the ball first. Receivers will also need to track the ball, while the defense as a whole will track the ball carrier, and the ball carrier will track 'threats'. Now if we can just get those safeties peeking into the backfield and reading the quarterback's eyes.
Expanded Stat Range. This one is a huge change. Instead of having small ability ranges, like a receivers route running ranging from 62-99, they are expanding it, so in Madden 10 the route running will range from 35 to 99. This means there will be a much bigger difference between super stars and starters, and a big difference between starters and backups. It should also bring in the ability to create mismatches.
QB Improvements. There are a few things Madden is focusing on for quarterbacks, the biggest of which is breaking accuracy into short, medium and long accuracy as well as adding throw on the run and play action as abilities. This should do wonders for creating variety at the QB position. Another big improvement will be "layered blending" which will allow different animations to be blended on various parts of the body -- which will ultimately allow QBs to throw while being hit rather than taking the sack. Of course, that could also lead to a risky throw.
Adaptive AI. This is possibly one of the neatest of the Madden 10 features. Essentially, the computer can track how often you run certain plays or types of plays and react accordingly. Throw a lot out in the flat? They'll put a player in zone over there. Run the QB a lot? QB Spy defenses get a boost in priority. Run the same play over and over? The defense will get a boost to their play recognition. This should help mix things up a bit.
Injuries. The injury system has been overhauled to give it a more realistic feel. In addition to having trainers help injured players off the field and the injury cart for severe injuries, minor injuries will present you with the decision of whether or not to continue playing the player at the risk of possibily triggering an even more severe injury.
Better AI Play Selection. A big complaint on previous versions of Madden was the poor play selection of the AI that often didn't jive with the team, like a run-heavy team suddenly passing a lot. One of the nice Madden 10 features is a reworking of the AI that allows the developers to really tune how each team calls plays, so the Colts will now pass the ball on first down much more often than the Vikings.
Madden 10 Features - Small Tweaks
Here are a few of the minor Madden 2010 features that have escaped thus far:
- WR-DB improvements. WR route running has been retooled and DBs will react better to the WR including improved press coverage and jostling with the WR while going downfield. This will put a better emphasis on agility ratings and route running ratings so that speed won't always be the biggest factor in getting open.
- Lead blocking control being axed. This one isn't finalized yet, but they put it up for vote on Operation Sports and the overwhelming majority of fans were for getting rid of this feature.
- Assisted tackles will be tracked in the stats.
- Weapon icons and other graphical options will be turned off by default. This will give the game much more of a Sunday feel without the need to play around in the options screen.
- More consideration will be given to a player's weight to make sure it has a bigger impact. It already helps in some instances like getting around linemen, but it will be taken into consideration in other areas like tackling.
- More realistic player progression with young players progressing faster and older players digressing faster.
- Computer-controlled teams will make smarter moves in free agency, so no more cutting Peyton Manning to sign a punter.
- Wildcat Formation. Check out the Wildcat screenshots.
Know of any other features being added? Let us know in the comments section.
Check out the new NCAA Football 10 features.
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