Madden 21
 

First look!

Cue the bitching!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Madden 21 everyone. All we expected, and still found a way to disappoint. Seeing the other games featured in the Series X showcase, they make Madden truly look like the joke it is. Guess we’ll be getting NFL 2K back sooner than we thought....<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottMADDEN21?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottMADDEN21</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ez0Z0iU0fQ">pic.twitter.com/Ez0Z0iU0fQ</a></p>&mdash; Modern Gridiron (@boycottmadden20) <a href="https://twitter.com/boycottmadden20/status/1258441455431016453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Full vidya

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Madden 21 <a href="https://t.co/z4r4dxuUoG">pic.twitter.com/z4r4dxuUoG</a></p>&mdash; RiverBoat Ron SZN (@ECLIPSEGemGT) <a href="https://twitter.com/ECLIPSEGemGT/status/1258427945263214597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

About to be another year of garbage.

I hope 2020 finds a way to kill Madden for good. This year is nuts so it owes us all a favor at this point.

Be interesting to see how they can improve on 20. I like 20 and have played it a shit ton.

Hopefully we get some more franchise improvements.

ROFL. They haven’t improved Franchise mode in the last 8 years....but sure....they’ll do it now.

Last year they did. I did enjoy the improvements.

What “improvements” were those? Keep in mind that improvements don’t count if they were in past games and taken out.

bought the last Madden, won't buy another.

The MUT mode was once fun, but they only care about squeezing every last dime out of their players. They even play mind games on you with their patented DDA. And it's now literally the same thing every year, grind the same solos or buy the same packs to get the same exact players that you had last year...

Franchise was ok but got boring real quick. Tried many sliders and settings, it's either too easy or too hard with nothing in between. Connected franchise would probably be the most enjoyable way to play.

we know you're AntiMA so just go

One thing I'd like to see in Franchise mode is improved salary cap and contract stuff. If they can fix that, the sim will be pretty darn close to perfect.

It was a legitimate question. What improvements did they make?

That's one thing I loved about this last year's Madden. The cap was more difficult to manage, and made building a dynasty much harder.

You also don't automatically sign a FA if you're the highest bidder.

Loved it.

For sure, it’s much harder. I’d just like to see the salary cap rise incrementally like the real one does. Also wish there was a contract restructure process, as well as the ability to do a franchise tag and trade without it hitting your cap with a bunch of dead $$.

The auto generated draft classes were also too weak - even on all madden, if you go deep into a franchise, eventually other teams stop developing star players, except at QB.

Did anyone else feel there was a definite difference in gAmeplay between franchise and MUT?

seemed like MUT was smoother, and had a totally different feel.

they missed a huge opportunity in the 2nd video (looking back video).......

Should have shown the ambulance driving on the field and running over players.

They still using crap Frostbite engine for this game?

If so....do not buy.

Probably won't even consider buying another Madden game until the next gen systems roll out.

It is a god damn shame they don't have a NCAAF game anymore. That 2013 game was the shit.

That's because you have your XP sliders set too low. If you set them right you get the right amount of stars later on in the franchise.

The draft classes, to me, are the best part - because it was way, WAY too easy to just draft an amazing team in the previous year's Madden. I would never miss a pick.

This year I'll actually make a pick and want to hurl something at my wall.

Wish you could actually structure deals. Think it just automatically goes in increments from small to large regardless.

Also, they'd better have put actually ****ing effort into fixing the blocking AI this year. That bullshit they added where a defender running free into the backfield just stumbles for no reason is as lazy as it gets.

I recall this being in NFL 2k5...where you could front or backload contracts, restructure current deals and see CAP projections a few years ahead so you could budget for any big contracts on the horizon.

I guess the time for huge graphical jumps per new console like we saw with ps1—>ps2—>ps3 are over.

Was a good run

Yawn.

I have barely gotten into the game but here is my experience so far. Started a league with my son and a couple friends. He simmed up until the SB to start the league. Scores were all exactly like real life. I thought that was cool. Then simmed SB which Chiefs won by more, something like 35-17. Offseason comes and I'm screwed with the salary cap. It seems as though guys like Clark are making way more than real life but I'll have to look up that figure to see. Andy Reid retired so I ended up with Doug Pederson. Not sure why he got fired but ok. His playbook sucks so I went back to Reid's. And here's something funny, I picked at 31. The Chiefs won the SB yet picked at 31? :spock: My cap is so messed up that I couldn't really cut anyone for 20 without causing myself more headaches and I was barely able to field a team. I only have 53. Can't afford a practice squad. injuries are stupid. I like some injuries but it always seems to happen to the star players. :shake: I guess I will have to look at changing that slider.

Can't wait to reach for the goal line and fumble it out of the end zone LMAO

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User-controlled celebrations lol

I'll take 'shit no one cares about' for $1,000, Aex.

I'm excited about the new stick skill for pass rush moves.

This sounds fun as hell and will make me want to user pass rushers.

Better have fixed the blocking AI.

I led the league in rushing on All-Madden, and was sacked less than 30 times.

You just suck, man.

You can lead the league in rushing if you just run the stretch every play you run.

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ROFL

I've actually watched you play multiple times, in case you've forgotten dumbass, and you just spammed the cheesiest running plays of that years Madden each time. The fact you tried beating your chest over dominating an AI league is ****ing hilarious.

1A. HB dive and cut left.
1B. HB stretch with all your lead blockers motioned out to where you're running to.

I'm JuSt GoOd AnD yOu SuCk omegalulomegalulomegalul

When you actually played someone with legit talent (who's dropped the game because it sucks) you got your ass smacked up each and every time and actually yelled **** in a ragefit.

2nd best player in the league and you give me shit for it

learn to play

the blocking works

LMAOROFLLMAOROFLLMAO Out of what, like 4 or 5? I remember you bragging about playing multiple hours each and every day when you were unemployed for whatever reason, and yet you still came nowhere close to beating the only guy who actually played competitive Madden.

Excerpt from a Madden patch in EA:

Fixed an issue allowing defenders into the backfield unblocked with defensive formations such as Nickel 2-4-5 Odd.

The fix? Unblocked defenders just trip over air now, so even if you've called a legitimately good blitz you're just going to stumble and fall because they're too ****ing lazy to fix it right.

One-score game.

Anyway, the blocking is exquisite! I love running a good counter in Madden 20. Pitch, inside zone, stretch, power, they all work!!!

Excited for the new game, which I am sure you will not play but bitch about.

Can we change his name to EA Clay?

I've spent over 500 hours playing Madden 20.

One of the best bargains in gaming I've ever had.

Yet you won’t admit how ridiculously broken the game is. It’s ****ing sad.

Jesus ****ing Christ, I'd hope you'd be able to just dominate the game with that amount of time investment.

I was in that league. Clay was a try-hard douche.

He was putting together gameplans, scripted drives, and even admitted to watching other player's games to scout lol

I caught a lot of second hand embarrassment from Clay during that time.

Madden the game that also hasn't changed in the sense that if you run the west coast playbook you can literally complete every pass you throw....

LMAO I was in a party with him when he was practicing his script before the first championship game with KCRock. Burnt his cookies iirc.

Also remember him getting legit pissed that I bamboozled you guys and chose the Browns so I had multiple first and second round picks.

Nice.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I do have to say... Madden 21 Face of the Franchise seems like it&#39;s exactly what we wanted.<br><br>1) Start in High school<br>2) 2 seasons of College Football Playoffs<br>3) Choice to convert to HB or WR<br>4) RUN the 40 yard dash at the combine<br>5) Storylines EACH season in the NFL</p>&mdash; RBT (@SamuelBrownRBT) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamuelBrownRBT/status/1272936542139568128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Given the limitations they have because of licensing issues with college teams, that doesn't sound half bad.

Hah! I remember that, you bitch!

LMAO

I hope I don't break down and pick this up. each year the last 4 years, family/in-laws have always either bought it for my birthday; or given a gamestop gift card. last year I was just irritated wtih the game. I played it quite a bit for maybe a 3 weeks to a month, and it has sat on the shelf collecting dust ever since.

I ventured into MUT for the first time last year, grinding through whatever to get packs etc. and the MUT gameplay actually felt entirely different to me. Not sure if that's a real thing or not; but it just had a different feel. Is it possilbe they have 2 sets of code or whatever to run Franchise and MUT?

I also liked to play connected Franchise as a LB, or as a CB. But what would grind my gears is, it didn't matter if you did your role / job in the defense. to get development points (I think that's what it's called) you - as a defender - basically had to let a player catch a pass, then tackle / let him get open so a play would come your way. Same as a LB; if you did your job in the run game / played your assignment / gap...there was no reward.

So after grinding like that for hours and hours...you're better of just running all over the field doing what ever you want. If I recall, I 'think' NBA 2K used to give you points / reward you for playing the role in the offense / play.

that's when i shelved it. I like to play sim style; so just running all over, no regard to assignment or even the defense that is called...bummed me out. Getting intercepted playing QB when throwing a 20 yd pass downfield by a MLB 10 yds from LOS was irritating. getting sucked into blocks as a defender was irritating.

maybe I'm just getting older, or tired of playing a game with the same lingering issues year after year; or a combo of both...I don't play nearly as much Madden as I did a decade ago.

I bought this years version simply because Mahomes was on the cover. Won’t buy another copy until they actually fix the game....especially Franchise mode.

Until Madden decides they care about everything that isn't MUT the game is going to suck and the odds of that ever happening is 0.

I've played Madden since 93 or 94. So I'm not against Madden at all. But if I'm being truthful this game is not where I want it to be. It's not where it SHOULD be based on what they've done with the game in past years. I'm a franchise guy and EA primarily focus on MUT because it makes big money for them. It's a shame because the potential to make it a mindblowing franchise experience is there.

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ESPN 2k5 still the GOAT.

Sounds like they've done a lot of work on the animations. Very, very nice!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Take a closer look at new innovative gameplay updates that deliver authentcity on both sides of the ball ��<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madden21?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Madden21</a> <a href="https://t.co/nMKipJr98q">pic.twitter.com/nMKipJr98q</a></p>&mdash; Madden NFL 21 (@EAMaddenNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/EAMaddenNFL/status/1275459064244383750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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LMAO Holy shit, never even looked at the likes/dislikes. Currently sitting at 15k/39k.

The one thing that really pisses me off about these trailers is that they keep bringing up the celebrations like that is a selling feature. **** that.

In that trailer they show Kerryon Johnson get lit up..Johnson is by far the most vocal active player when it comes to to saying madden is a shit game, ironic eh?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://t.co/4U6Jd8VXtN">pic.twitter.com/4U6Jd8VXtN</a></p>&mdash; HRL New York Jets (@hrl_jets) <a href="https://twitter.com/hrl_jets/status/1275079825825259523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Calling your fanbase clowns for wanting improvements, yea buy this game, this is how developers feel about you at EA.

Those ****s can't even get the easiest details correct without a patch that takes weeks. LMAO Vance Joseph was still the coach of the Broncos at launch. Lazy ****s do the bare minimum and blatantly copy/paste from years prior.

I mean they are classy they are basically selling gambling to children.

Eh. That's a business practice done way worse by other companies. Doesn't excuse it but that's more of a gaming industry problem.

That has been a franchise problem w/ Madden for over a decade.

The draftable players just become a fairly fungible mass of talent. You never have truly unique players emerge unless you played some Rookie level stuff and just goosed the hell out of their stats.

After about 10 seasons it was all similarly situated arrays of guys who fell into pretty easily defined 'archetypes' for their positions.

This is wrong. Now drafted players can become X-Factors.

It's ****ing awesome.

Until they stop caring about MUT you are never getting a good franchise experience...and they will never not care about MUT since idiots spend money on it.

I always get a little excited when I see the trailers each year; they usually look really good.

then I remind myself...that's not gameplay footage.
it'll look exactly the same.
and likely feel 90% the same as the last 5 years.

I honsetly don't see much, visually, different from year to year.
I wonder if they'll have the same commentator lines again.

Their trade system is beyond ****ed. I can trade Xavier Williams and LeSean McCoy to the Bengals for a 1st round pick.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Join Agent K + <a href="https://twitter.com/ClintOldenburg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ClintOldenburg</a> tomorrow night at 8 PM ET for a Special Developer Deep Dive Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madden21?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Madden21</a> Gameplay! <a href="https://t.co/psQWNe6tHl">https://t.co/psQWNe6tHl</a> <a href="https://t.co/syX2SXlng4">pic.twitter.com/syX2SXlng4</a></p>&mdash; Madden Ultimate Team (@EASPORTS_MUT) <a href="https://twitter.com/EASPORTS_MUT/status/1275866487312482304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It's has to be better than it was in the early 2000s.

For 2 or 3 years in there, you could trade your 1st round pick (any spot in the round) for the 1.1 and 2.1 picks.

I mean Jesus, how is that even possible? Like, I can make a program that prevents that from happening and the last thing I tried to program with was visual basic on a DOS system.

I really wish that Madden had the same trade system as the show. It has different weights for pros and prospects. And it has a gauge that will tell you if they’ll accept it or deny it. And the gauge changes based on what you’re offering.

Instead I have to always start negotiations with a 1st round pick and then go down from there....or I’ll get ****ed on value.

You want Madden to be like the show.....keep dreaming, that game is actually good.

I’d settle for a ****ing average game at this point. Not this MUT bullshit. I know it isn’t happening though.

Gone are the days when I would preorder the new Madden and NCAA games every year and then pour 100s of hours into them. It’s ****ing sad that it’s gone. The best I have is a copy of NCAA 14 on my PS3 that I can play with updated rosters.

The show is the best sports game ever made...if its a 95 Madden is like a 30.

I remember those old Madden 00-03 games. I actually created a simple excel spreadsheet to use as a guide for fair trades in franchise mode. You plug in the trade offer and get a response from a "GM"...stuff like "Are you high?"...and "Close but no cigar". It was used on the old ManddenMania website.

Madden 08 is the last madden that was any good....

HUGE list of improvements

https://www.ea.com/games/madden-nfl/...eep-dive-06-25

RUN DEFENSE

QB & PASSING IMPROVEMENTS

KICKING GAME TUNING

WHAT’S NEXT?

I'm laughing so hard at anyone who thinks this game will be worth a ****.

Can you imagine how pissed Clay is gonna be the first time this:

Yields an underthrown ball and a pick on a play where Clay is sure the QB could've stepped into the throw and taken the hit.

Oh that's gonna be a glorious thing to behold.