yes yes... feel free to add to the list. Every year, videogame football fans have to buy Madden. We're addicted. We're angry that the NFL has an exclusive agreement because if there were competition, the game would get better at a much faster rate. So here are some things I hate about the most recent rendition.
Anyhow, it's been a frustrating morning of Madden for me so I was inspired to write this post! I know I could speak with my wallet and not buy it, but I love videogame football, football, and videogames... it's right up my alley! Alas, I just have to hope the NFL decides to not renew that exclusive agreement, next time it expires.......
- Lag - I played NFL2K on my dreamcast over a dial-up 10 years ago with about the same amount of lag as Madden nowadays. I know it's not just me. My opponents often miss extra points because the lag is so awful. And why is something like a kicking meter dependent on the connection? The kicking meter should be on the client side, and the result of the button pushes is the only thing that should be transmitted, getting rid of all lag. Anyhow, just poor design decisions
- Opening game sequence - It doesn't matter which teams you pick. Every game starts with your team doing a rendition of the Drew Brees / New Orleans saints cheer. Wtf? No team does that except the saints... and for us to see every single team do it... every single time? Why?
- Quitting / DNF (does not finish) - This was an issue last year so I'm surprised to see it get even more confusing this year. I just was beating a guy 14-nothing, and then i forced a fumble. It was in the second quarter. Mysteriously the connection fails right after that. I get an option that says "Your opponent has quit." There is only one option I can select: "Quit". So then when I click "Quit" it asks me, "Are you sure you want to quit?" Well, no... i'm not sure... but if I click no, it takes me right back to the previous screen. It's just really annoying and quirky. They do keep track of a DNF percentage, but there have been many times when my opponent has quit on me and MY percentage goes up. Wildly annoying!
- Chatpad support (PS3 specific) - Last year, you could trash talk with the PS3 chatpad. I didn't own one, but I saw messages pop up from time to time, and I thought it was pretty funny. What did I do in the offseason? Buy a chatpad... What did EA do in the offseason? Disable chatpad support...
- Commentary Repetitiveness - This has been a complaint for a LONG time, and my PS3 uses blu-freaking-ray discs. There is enough space on there for a LOT more audio. Not only should there be more audio, but I'm surprised the AI engine isn't better at this point. It's ridiculous that if you do a FB pass, there might be some commentary about how great of a WR that player is.
- Opening Video - I actually really like the opening video. I watched it the first time I got the game. Aw heck - I may have watched it twice. Nobody who plays Madden a couple times a week watches it, though, and it takes forever to load, and forever to skip. Why not only have this show for the first 50 plays or something?
Anyhow, it's been a frustrating morning of Madden for me so I was inspired to write this post! I know I could speak with my wallet and not buy it, but I love videogame football, football, and videogames... it's right up my alley! Alas, I just have to hope the NFL decides to not renew that exclusive agreement, next time it expires.......