We're going to skip ahead as the game was much like the first half. Until crunch time.
We pick up the action at the 2:00 warning, 20-6 Steelers, Browns ball 1-10 at their own 43.
Anderson is sacked - 6 yards (like the 6th sack. Damn Steelers)
2-16 Lewis catches a pass for 13
3-3 Incomplete pass
4-3 Lewis RUNS for a first 3 yds (ballsy call..)
1-10 1:20 t0 go. Lewis carries for 1 yard. STOP RUNNING THE BALL!
2-9 Pass complete to Stallworth for 14
Timeout
1-10 Lewis runs for 3 yards. STOP RUNNING THE BALL!
Timeout. :48 secs to play
2-6 Incomplete pass
3-6 Pass to Edwards for 7
Timeout
1-10 12 yd TD pass to Edwards
So, Cleveland has wasted tons of time here running the ball with Lewis and throwing dink and dunk passes down the field. But...even with :25 secs to go they can still win if they recover an onside kick...
Hey wait...what are they doing...no...they didn't just do that.
They kicked deep.
Game over.
I need a shot of Wild Turkey.
Stats:
Ben R: 31/38 249 1 TD 1 INT
DA: 36/47 288 1 TD 1 INT
Lewis 18 carries 26 yds
Parker 17 carries 30 yards
The reason that the completions are so high is because the AI continually looks short. These numbers show as much -- 249 yards on 31 completions is really low. 8 yards a pop when in the real game Roethlisberger hits 12 yards per completion. That seemingly small 4 yards difference is much bigger than you might think because in this game alone the AI would throw short on crucial 3rd down plays -- 3rd and 12 and thje pass would be a 6 yard curl. That's just silly. You may see that a couple times when no one else is open but it was the primary read!
Whenever the AI went deep -- as in 15+ yards in the air -- that's when the AI knocked down passes. The AI is really bad at throwing the deep ball. It seems to wobble and float where as the 8 yard pass is zipped with amazing velocity. It would appear that the game knows damn well that its best course of action is to dink and dunk down the field. I see that every game.
As for the end of the game stuff...I think that speaks for itself. Come on EA...this isn't hardcore super sim head stuff we're talking about here. KICK THE ONSIDE!
Showing posts with label Madden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Madden. Show all posts
Friday, August 1, 2008
Pittsburgh / Cleveland Spectate Mode Play by Play
I wanted to see how the AI played against itself in spectate mode -- to see if the same issues would pop up. Here is the play by play of the first half of a Pitt/Cle game on 8 minute quarters. No sliders because, yeah, well..
I will skip kickoffs and punts unless they are worth noting.
Pitt ball
1-10 Parker 3 yd rush
2-7 Parker 1 yd rush
3-6 Parker 1 yd rush
Punt
Cle ball
1-10 Anderson incomplete pass (swatted by LB)
2-10 5 yd pass Stallworth
3-5 Sweep Lewis -4 yards
Punt
Pitt ball
1-10 Screen Parker 6 yds
2-4 11 yd pass Miller (TE)
1-10 20 yd pass to Miller
1-10 Parker 2 yd rush
2-8 6 yd pass Ward
3-2 7 yd pass Ward
1-10 Parker 3 yd rush
2-7 Parker -3 yd loss
3-10 Incomplete (deep post, swatted away)
FG NO GOOD
Cle Ball
1-10 Screen Lewis -1 yd loss
2-11 12 yd pass Edwards
1-10 9 yd pass Heiden
2-1 Lewis -2 yd loss
3-3 6 yd pass Winslow
1-10 15 yd pass JJ
1-10 Lewis rush no gain
2-10 Lewis rush no gain
3-10 Incomplete pass to Cribbs, deep go route, broken up
FG GOOD 3-0 Browns
Pitt Ball
1-10 Scramble 10 yds
1-10 12 yd pass ward
1-10 Parker -1 loss
2-11 13 yd pass Holmes
1-10 Parker 1 yd rush
2-9 8 yd pass Miller
END QUARTER
3-1 4 yd pass Ward
1-10 9 yd pass Miller
2-1 Parker 2 yd rush
1-Goal Parker no gain
2-G Parker 7 yd rush TD
7-3 Pitt
Cle Ball
1-10 Sack -5 yards
2-15 Incomplete pass to Edwards. Caught th eball 5 yards out of bounds...
3-15 5 yard button hook to Stallworth...nice call..
Punt
Pitt Ball
1-10 Parker 2 yd rush
2-8 Screen Parker 6 yds
3-2 11 yd pass Holmes
1-10 Screen Parker 1 yd
2-9 6 yd pass Ward
3-3 Backup HB -- 2 yd rush
FG GOOD; 10-3 PITT
Cle Ball
1-10 Lewis 4 yd rush
2-6 Lewis 3 yd rush
3-3 10 yd pass Winslow
1-10 2 yd pass Vickers
2-8 Screen Lewis -1 yd
3-9 dump off pass Lewis 3 yds
Punt
Pitt Ball
1-10 Pass Intercepted by LB Jackon
Cle Ball
1-10 Lewis 4 yd rush
2-6 Lewis 7 yd rush
1-Goal Wright no gain
2-Goal Lewis no gain
3-Goal 4 yd pass Edwards -- FUMBLE. Pitt recovers and returns to midfield.
1-10 Sack -1 yd
2-11 12 yd pass Miller
1-10 Timeout Pitt 1:00 to go
1-10 3 yd pass Holmes
Timeout.
2-7 16 yd pass Ward
1-10 4 yd pass Holmes
2-6 Screen Parker 5 yds runs OB
3-1 12 yd pass Holmes
1-Goal Pass to Miller - TD
17-3 Pitt
Cle Ball
1-10 Hail Mary incomplete
2-10 Sack -5 yds
End of Half.
Stats:
Ben the Toothless Wonder: 21/23 170 yds 1 TD 1 INT
Anderson 12/16 66 yds 0/0
Parker 11carries 16 yards
Lewis 11 carries 8 yards
It is uncanny how the CPU/CPU game plays out almost exactly like the games I play. Most passes are
A) Open
B) Underneath in the middle of the field
And the AI is HORRIBLE and seeing a hole and running through it. On more than o ne occassion, Parker had a huge hole in front of him but was zig zag running for no reason at all, and would get crushed.
You want to know what playing the game is like? This is a very common example.
Second half to follow..
I will skip kickoffs and punts unless they are worth noting.
Pitt ball
1-10 Parker 3 yd rush
2-7 Parker 1 yd rush
3-6 Parker 1 yd rush
Punt
Cle ball
1-10 Anderson incomplete pass (swatted by LB)
2-10 5 yd pass Stallworth
3-5 Sweep Lewis -4 yards
Punt
Pitt ball
1-10 Screen Parker 6 yds
2-4 11 yd pass Miller (TE)
1-10 20 yd pass to Miller
1-10 Parker 2 yd rush
2-8 6 yd pass Ward
3-2 7 yd pass Ward
1-10 Parker 3 yd rush
2-7 Parker -3 yd loss
3-10 Incomplete (deep post, swatted away)
FG NO GOOD
Cle Ball
1-10 Screen Lewis -1 yd loss
2-11 12 yd pass Edwards
1-10 9 yd pass Heiden
2-1 Lewis -2 yd loss
3-3 6 yd pass Winslow
1-10 15 yd pass JJ
1-10 Lewis rush no gain
2-10 Lewis rush no gain
3-10 Incomplete pass to Cribbs, deep go route, broken up
FG GOOD 3-0 Browns
Pitt Ball
1-10 Scramble 10 yds
1-10 12 yd pass ward
1-10 Parker -1 loss
2-11 13 yd pass Holmes
1-10 Parker 1 yd rush
2-9 8 yd pass Miller
END QUARTER
3-1 4 yd pass Ward
1-10 9 yd pass Miller
2-1 Parker 2 yd rush
1-Goal Parker no gain
2-G Parker 7 yd rush TD
7-3 Pitt
Cle Ball
1-10 Sack -5 yards
2-15 Incomplete pass to Edwards. Caught th eball 5 yards out of bounds...
3-15 5 yard button hook to Stallworth...nice call..
Punt
Pitt Ball
1-10 Parker 2 yd rush
2-8 Screen Parker 6 yds
3-2 11 yd pass Holmes
1-10 Screen Parker 1 yd
2-9 6 yd pass Ward
3-3 Backup HB -- 2 yd rush
FG GOOD; 10-3 PITT
Cle Ball
1-10 Lewis 4 yd rush
2-6 Lewis 3 yd rush
3-3 10 yd pass Winslow
1-10 2 yd pass Vickers
2-8 Screen Lewis -1 yd
3-9 dump off pass Lewis 3 yds
Punt
Pitt Ball
1-10 Pass Intercepted by LB Jackon
Cle Ball
1-10 Lewis 4 yd rush
2-6 Lewis 7 yd rush
1-Goal Wright no gain
2-Goal Lewis no gain
3-Goal 4 yd pass Edwards -- FUMBLE. Pitt recovers and returns to midfield.
1-10 Sack -1 yd
2-11 12 yd pass Miller
1-10 Timeout Pitt 1:00 to go
1-10 3 yd pass Holmes
Timeout.
2-7 16 yd pass Ward
1-10 4 yd pass Holmes
2-6 Screen Parker 5 yds runs OB
3-1 12 yd pass Holmes
1-Goal Pass to Miller - TD
17-3 Pitt
Cle Ball
1-10 Hail Mary incomplete
2-10 Sack -5 yds
End of Half.
Stats:
Ben the Toothless Wonder: 21/23 170 yds 1 TD 1 INT
Anderson 12/16 66 yds 0/0
Parker 11carries 16 yards
Lewis 11 carries 8 yards
It is uncanny how the CPU/CPU game plays out almost exactly like the games I play. Most passes are
A) Open
B) Underneath in the middle of the field
And the AI is HORRIBLE and seeing a hole and running through it. On more than o ne occassion, Parker had a huge hole in front of him but was zig zag running for no reason at all, and would get crushed.
You want to know what playing the game is like? This is a very common example.
Second half to follow..
More Madden
I've logged about 7 games now.
I simply cannot play pass defense in this game. I guess your mileage is going to vary on this, but I rarely take control of DBs and the passes from the QB are SO much faster this year I don't see how someone could control a DB for the half a second it takes for a ten yard pass to reach its target. On a deep post, sure, I can switch and take the CB or FS and try to pick/swat a pass. But a normal play? No chance for me. Maybe some of you are supreme ball hawkers, but I'm not one of them. I like to pass rush, and play the DE or the OLB.
Another game against the AI with my DB reaction at 100 and my pass rush at 90 (sliders) and Aaron Rogers goes 24/28. One of those incompletions was a knockdown at the line, one was picked, and thew other two were dropped INTs. I cannot stop the AI from passing well unless I boost that INT slider and pick off 3-4 a game. I really dunno what the reaction time slider is doing, but the CPU WRs are pretty damn open and when they aren't the precision of the AI QB (even a moderate QB like Rogers) takes over. I've been playing Madden since there was a Madden and this is frustrating the beejeebers out of me.
As an aside: The added pass rush doesn't equate into more "rushed" throws. It simply means more sacks. That slider does in fact work.
The Human QB Accuracy slider isn't doing enough. Either that slider isn't doing anything or the QB ratings don't matter. One or the other. With the slider at 10 (out of 100) I see zero difference in the accuracy of my throws. The WR catch slider? Same thing. Mine's at zero right now and it doesn't phase my guys at all.
When I go into practice mode a few things stand out: first off the old adage that the Acc slider only affecting arm strength is no longer the case. Anderson is throwing rockets with it set at 0. And I'll run a play, say, 10 times, and on 2 of those plays, throws by Anderson will be off target -- only when I try to lead, though. A basic button press is always on target. The other 8 throws all look just fine. Does that seem right to you? With Accuracy at 0?
Not to get off on a personal rant/tangent but I really do not get the mindset behind the sliders. I have been saying this for a decade now -- if you add sliders make them extreme. If I put a WR catch slider at ZERO then I should see dropped passes every single series. We're talking a ZERO slider setting. Same with accuracy. A setting of 10 or even a 0 out of 100 should equate to a QB missing the broad side of a large red barn. We should see underthrows, overthrows, throws that are WAY off target. You are not going to see that in Madden.
There is another area where the lack of CPU sliders is hurting the gameplay -- and that's rushing the ball. I can bork my defense enough that the AI can run on me, that's not an issue. But me running? Whew, that is proving tough right now with Jamal Lewis. Even with the block setting at nearly 100 the defensive reaction time is CRAZY good. Holes that are wide open when I receive a handoff close ridiculously fast. Linebackers shoot gaps so fast that you are left with no chance at making a play. Maybe it's new learning curve but I'm netting about 2.5 a carry in about 7 games. And I don't want to boost that Break Tackle slider too much because it starts to look stupid..running over 3-4 guys per play. You know what would fix this? Well, aside from programming it so that LBers don't shoot the gaps like LT on a coke bender:
A CPU Rush Reaction slider. Ahem.
This weekend a buddy is coming over to test out some head to head games. Let's hope that gets the game back on track. I'm really not feeling it vs the AI right now.
Someone mentioned trying a game with the other team set to human and then changing it in game...it's worth a shot.
I'm also going to give Head Coach a spin over the weekend. More on that as I get a look at it.
I simply cannot play pass defense in this game. I guess your mileage is going to vary on this, but I rarely take control of DBs and the passes from the QB are SO much faster this year I don't see how someone could control a DB for the half a second it takes for a ten yard pass to reach its target. On a deep post, sure, I can switch and take the CB or FS and try to pick/swat a pass. But a normal play? No chance for me. Maybe some of you are supreme ball hawkers, but I'm not one of them. I like to pass rush, and play the DE or the OLB.
Another game against the AI with my DB reaction at 100 and my pass rush at 90 (sliders) and Aaron Rogers goes 24/28. One of those incompletions was a knockdown at the line, one was picked, and thew other two were dropped INTs. I cannot stop the AI from passing well unless I boost that INT slider and pick off 3-4 a game. I really dunno what the reaction time slider is doing, but the CPU WRs are pretty damn open and when they aren't the precision of the AI QB (even a moderate QB like Rogers) takes over. I've been playing Madden since there was a Madden and this is frustrating the beejeebers out of me.
As an aside: The added pass rush doesn't equate into more "rushed" throws. It simply means more sacks. That slider does in fact work.
The Human QB Accuracy slider isn't doing enough. Either that slider isn't doing anything or the QB ratings don't matter. One or the other. With the slider at 10 (out of 100) I see zero difference in the accuracy of my throws. The WR catch slider? Same thing. Mine's at zero right now and it doesn't phase my guys at all.
When I go into practice mode a few things stand out: first off the old adage that the Acc slider only affecting arm strength is no longer the case. Anderson is throwing rockets with it set at 0. And I'll run a play, say, 10 times, and on 2 of those plays, throws by Anderson will be off target -- only when I try to lead, though. A basic button press is always on target. The other 8 throws all look just fine. Does that seem right to you? With Accuracy at 0?
Not to get off on a personal rant/tangent but I really do not get the mindset behind the sliders. I have been saying this for a decade now -- if you add sliders make them extreme. If I put a WR catch slider at ZERO then I should see dropped passes every single series. We're talking a ZERO slider setting. Same with accuracy. A setting of 10 or even a 0 out of 100 should equate to a QB missing the broad side of a large red barn. We should see underthrows, overthrows, throws that are WAY off target. You are not going to see that in Madden.
There is another area where the lack of CPU sliders is hurting the gameplay -- and that's rushing the ball. I can bork my defense enough that the AI can run on me, that's not an issue. But me running? Whew, that is proving tough right now with Jamal Lewis. Even with the block setting at nearly 100 the defensive reaction time is CRAZY good. Holes that are wide open when I receive a handoff close ridiculously fast. Linebackers shoot gaps so fast that you are left with no chance at making a play. Maybe it's new learning curve but I'm netting about 2.5 a carry in about 7 games. And I don't want to boost that Break Tackle slider too much because it starts to look stupid..running over 3-4 guys per play. You know what would fix this? Well, aside from programming it so that LBers don't shoot the gaps like LT on a coke bender:
A CPU Rush Reaction slider. Ahem.
This weekend a buddy is coming over to test out some head to head games. Let's hope that gets the game back on track. I'm really not feeling it vs the AI right now.
Someone mentioned trying a game with the other team set to human and then changing it in game...it's worth a shot.
I'm also going to give Head Coach a spin over the weekend. More on that as I get a look at it.
Some Good, Some Bad, and Some Just Plain Awful
Ok so the slider thing...yeah that blows. So we move on and see what else shakes out.
I lost my first game tonight. A 3rd time against Pitt. 17-14. This was NOT using the Madden IQ thing -- I will never lose a damn game if I used that setting. So I went in and made my own (human) sliders.
The QB accuracy is just amazing in this game -- now I admit I rarely play defense in he secondary. I am abysmal at it. I either play a Dlineman or I am blitzing.
Rothlis-whatever went 23/26 for 220 yards 1 TD and 1 INT. That's 2 incompletions and one of those should have been picked. I was helpless. This is WITH the "Reaction" setting at 100. He was throwing frozen ropes all game.
I have Human QB Acc around 35 right now, and Anderson was like 13/21 for 200 yards.
I need to get off 7 min quarters. I am not running nearly enough plays. I'd like an accelerated clock...but hey...
Here is where it gets really, really bad.
17-14 Pitt lead, 4th quarter, 1:50 to go and I am driving. Winslow catches a pass at the 10 -- and fumbles! ACK! Pitt recovers and I am in serious jeopardy of losing to the AI.
Pitt takes the field. Off tackle to Parker.
Time out Cle.
1:40 to go.
2nd down, Rothlis-whatever passes! First down! Now, I think that's a really bad call but I CAN see a coach going for the jugular there...maybe. Prolly not. But still...it was a game clincher.
Time out Cle. 1:28 to go.
Off tackle Parker. Time out Cle. 1:21 to go.
So we're out of time outs and Ben takes a knee. 3rd down with under a minute left and Pitt lets the clock run down and he DROPS BACK TO PASS! He throws a ten yard out that is picked off by Sean Jones.
It's here where I sorta cried inside.
I failed to score, obviously. I lost 17-14 -- but are you kidding me? Take a knee to win the game and you're PASSING? Yeow.
There are times that even with the lack of CPU settings that I am having a lot of fun with this game, but that sort of late game AI is just embarrassing.
I lost my first game tonight. A 3rd time against Pitt. 17-14. This was NOT using the Madden IQ thing -- I will never lose a damn game if I used that setting. So I went in and made my own (human) sliders.
The QB accuracy is just amazing in this game -- now I admit I rarely play defense in he secondary. I am abysmal at it. I either play a Dlineman or I am blitzing.
Rothlis-whatever went 23/26 for 220 yards 1 TD and 1 INT. That's 2 incompletions and one of those should have been picked. I was helpless. This is WITH the "Reaction" setting at 100. He was throwing frozen ropes all game.
I have Human QB Acc around 35 right now, and Anderson was like 13/21 for 200 yards.
I need to get off 7 min quarters. I am not running nearly enough plays. I'd like an accelerated clock...but hey...
Here is where it gets really, really bad.
17-14 Pitt lead, 4th quarter, 1:50 to go and I am driving. Winslow catches a pass at the 10 -- and fumbles! ACK! Pitt recovers and I am in serious jeopardy of losing to the AI.
Pitt takes the field. Off tackle to Parker.
Time out Cle.
1:40 to go.
2nd down, Rothlis-whatever passes! First down! Now, I think that's a really bad call but I CAN see a coach going for the jugular there...maybe. Prolly not. But still...it was a game clincher.
Time out Cle. 1:28 to go.
Off tackle Parker. Time out Cle. 1:21 to go.
So we're out of time outs and Ben takes a knee. 3rd down with under a minute left and Pitt lets the clock run down and he DROPS BACK TO PASS! He throws a ten yard out that is picked off by Sean Jones.
It's here where I sorta cried inside.
I failed to score, obviously. I lost 17-14 -- but are you kidding me? Take a knee to win the game and you're PASSING? Yeow.
There are times that even with the lack of CPU settings that I am having a lot of fun with this game, but that sort of late game AI is just embarrassing.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
No CPU Sliders
Confirmed by Ian of EA at the OS Forum:
So, the good news: I am not going crazy.
The bad news...well...there's no CPU sliders in Madden 09.
There are in fact no CPU sliders. I discovered this myself about 2 weeks***
ago as well, and was kind of wondering when I should break the news. I wish I
had an explanation, but I don't.
There's not all that much more I can say about it... There's one other bit
of bad news that I discovered at the same time, and that is there is no custom
controller configuration any more. Again, I don't really have an explanation.
PS - In the build where I was adjusting sliders, I was adjusting User INT's
to zero - so the human wouldn't pick off the QB as much (since I know people
were originally concerned that the CPU QB threw too many picks). (ducks out of
way of flying chairs). So anyway - I don't know what else to say
really.
So, the good news: I am not going crazy.
The bad news...well...there's no CPU sliders in Madden 09.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Madden PC Gets the Axe
This from Joystiq this morning.So, no Madden 09 on the PC. Frankly, I'm kind of surprised it took this long. Based on the following bit from the article, fans of the PC versions of NBA Live and, more significantly, NHL, probably shouldn't get their hopes up for fall releases of those titles, either:
Moore notes that Madden '09 is not the only PC title receiving the axe, and that it represents a larger decision by EA Sports to cut back on their number of PC releases.The one that concerns me is the Tiger Woods franchise. For me, the PC will always be the better platform for golf games. It always been, and barring an incredible golf game for the Wii, it will continue to be so. A good mouse swing is just plain better than an analog stick. And the PC community that has supported games like Tiger with loads of custom courses is also something that has yet to be matched on a console.
Granted, Tiger Woods pretty much sucked on the PC this year (and has for awhile), but there was always the naive hope that at some point EA Sports would get its act together and take the PC version of the game seriously again. (Yeah, I know. I'm a dreamer.)
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