Madden 12....

[Imported]

I'm still waiting for my copy to arrive via GameFly, but didn't the NFL change the spot of the kickoff to cause more touchbacks (to help prevent injuries)? Maybe that's just the game mimicing it.

Yes, they did. People above said they were having issues kicking touchbacks though.

Another question.. peoples experience with kickoff and punt returns? I've yet to break any for 20+ yards. Last year I could usually count on one return for a TD a game.

 

[Imported]

I'd also be down for a AT Madden league.. I don't typically play online so it'd be a nice change.

 

[chalmers]

Yes, they did. People above said they were having issues kicking touchbacks though.

Another question.. peoples experience with kickoff and punt returns? I've yet to break any for 20+ yards. Last year I could usually count on one return for a TD a game.

I don't have the game but I'd consider that a good thing. Most kickoffs are returned for about that yardage, and very few are returned for TD's.

 

[dougp]

I haven't had a single issue kicking touchbacks, not sure what y'alls problem is.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'd also be down for a AT Madden league.. I don't typically play online so it'd be a nice change.

I would be too, but I give up on running them. I'll participate, but after running the last AT Madden and NCAA leagues, someone else can be commissioner.

 

[dfuze]

I finally got Madden in the mail yesterday from gamefly and after playing 1 game in franchise I'm kinda glad I didn't buy it. I have to agree with all I've read here, announcing and field goal views really suck. Something else is bothering me though, something about the way players look seems to be off, like they took a step or two backwards. Gameplay isn't bad for the 1 game I played so far, but I don't think I'll keep it past the end of the month when I cancel gamefly.

 

[Sulaco]

The problem with that theory is that you may not get the online code and would need to pay $10 extra to get a new one from EA, meaning you'd be paying more than if you had bought the game new in the first place. So the cheapest route is to do as I did -- buy from Amazon and get the $20 credit.

Oh, without a doubt, if you want to go online, you'd have to make sure the copy you're buying does indeed include the online code.

But as you can see, that's actually not at all hard to do:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

In fact, MANY of those listed for around $53 are listed as BRAND NEW/Factory sealed.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I finally got Madden in the mail yesterday from gamefly and after playing 1 game in franchise I'm kinda glad I didn't buy it. I have to agree with all I've read here, announcing and field goal views really suck. Something else is bothering me though, something about the way players look seems to be off, like they took a step or two backwards. Gameplay isn't bad for the 1 game I played so far, but I don't think I'll keep it past the end of the month when I cancel gamefly.

The players in general look good until they show their faces -- they all look like they're wearing makeup.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Oh, without a doubt, if you want to go online, you'd have to make sure the copy you're buying does indeed include the online code.

But as you can see, that's actually not at all hard to do:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

In fact, MANY of those listed for around $53 are listed as BRAND NEW/Factory sealed.

But why would you pay $53 to someone selling a new copy when you could get it from Amazon and get the $20 credit? I ended up getting an iPhone case for free that way.

 

[Imported]

Looks like the exchanging of draft picks has been changed this year.. Can't get teams to swap picks before the trade deadline anymore. Oh well.. although I got teams wanting to trade their 2013 first round for my 2012 first round. Hmm.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Looks like the exchanging of draft picks has been changed this year.. Can't get teams to swap picks before the trade deadline anymore. Oh well.. although I got teams wanting to trade their 2013 first round for my 2012 first round. Hmm.

I heard the franchise mode was really good this year BUT EA totally botched the interface and it is a pain to navigate. If time permits, I'll try it this weekend as I think my brothers and I will start a league.

I just need to pick a team to use since I'm sure they won't allow me to play the Colts. I need to find a stinky team with some potential. I don't think they'll let me pick the Lions but I might just try.

 

[American Gunner]

Looks like the exchanging of draft picks has been changed this year.. Can't get teams to swap picks before the trade deadline anymore. Oh well.. although I got teams wanting to trade their 2013 first round for my 2012 first round. Hmm.

I wonder how realistic this will be. Will the Redskins trade all their future picks for washed up players like real life? And will the Pats end up with 45 picks like normal?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I wonder how realistic this will be. Will the Redskins trade all their future picks for washed up players like real life? And will the Pats end up with 45 picks like normal?

That's a feature EA will include in a future release. I can already see the advertising:

"New! Realistic team draft profiles! Watch as:

--The Redskins trade or sign washed up free agents
--The Raiders trade or sign washed up free agents
--The Pats stockpile draft picks
--The Eagles rip off the Cardinals by trading mediocre backup QBs to them!"

 

[American Gunner]

Aww Indy, why did you have to bring up the cards? I left the colts out of it.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Aww Indy, why did you have to bring up the cards? I left the colts out of it.

Let me help you:

"And watch Bill Polian and the Colts squander more first round picks on idiotic choices."

Better?

 

[chalmers]

That's a feature EA will include in a future release. I can already see the advertising:

"New! Realistic team draft profiles! Watch as:

--The Eagles rip off the Cardinals by trading mediocre backup QBs to them!"

I guess you know more than NFL scouts do? So Kevin Kolb, being mediocre and a backup QB, will over the next 5 years finish at average or below in all important statistical categories compared to the 31 other starters? Heck even if he finished dead in the middle...that's pretty good considering you said he's a backup quality quarterback...that means he's being compared to all starters instead of all backups.

 

[American Gunner]

Let me help you:

"And watch Bill Polian and the Colts squander more first round picks on idiotic choices."

Better?

It still stings, but that does help out a little.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I guess you know more than NFL scouts do? So Kevin Kolb, being mediocre and a backup QB, will over the next 5 years finish at average or below in all important statistical categories compared to the 31 other starters? Heck even if he finished dead in the middle...that's pretty good considering you said he's a backup quality quarterback...that means he's being compared to all starters instead of all backups.

Would these be the same scouts that made brilliant moves like recommending JaMarcus Russell be drafted #1 overall? The same ones who made Alex Smith the #1 overall draft pick in 2005 (IIRC)? The ones who made Aundray Bruce the #1 overall pick in 1988 (IIRC)? Shall I keep going?

AZ gave up too much for an unproven QB. The Eagles saw them coming and screwed them. Don't take my word for it either:

And the consensus first reaction seems to be that the Eagles pulled some kind of Jedi mind trick on the Cardinals and fleeced them. Which is fine.

It might work out for the Cards. However, Kolb has had 7 starts in his 4 year career and that isn't exactly a proven quantity. Is he better than anyone AZ had on its roster? Absolutely. Was he worth a second round pick AND giving up one of AZ's best defensive players? That looks pretty uncertain right now.

Hmmm, maybe I should pick the Cards in my Madden franchise. That might not be a bad idea actually.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

It still stings, but that does help out a little.

Dude, you have no idea how mad I am at the Colts for screwing up so many first round draft picks over the years. It is quickly becoming a joke.

 

[American Gunner]

The only thing I will say about the Kolb trade is, I am not that mad about losing DRC. He was overrated, and would not fit the new system. I wish they didn't give up that high of a pick, but they are sold on him. And so far in the preseason, they look like they might be right. Kolb has looked pretty good at times.

 

[chalmers]

Would these be the same scouts that made brilliant moves like recommending JaMarcus Russell be drafted #1 overall? The same ones who made Alex Smith the #1 overall draft pick in 2005 (IIRC)? The ones who made Aundray Bruce the #1 overall pick in 1988 (IIRC)? Shall I keep going?

AZ gave up too much for an unproven QB. The Eagles saw them coming and screwed them. Don't take my word for it either:



It might work out for the Cards. However, Kolb has had 7 starts in his 4 year career and that isn't exactly a proven quantity. Is he better than anyone AZ had on its roster? Absolutely. Was he worth a second round pick AND giving up one of AZ's best defensive players? That looks pretty uncertain right now.

Hmmm, maybe I should pick the Cards in my Madden franchise. That might not be a bad idea actually.

All I asked and meant by my question was what qualifies you to call someone who has had only a few starts a mediocre and backup quarterback?

 

[chalmers]

There's plenty of NFL QB's that have played enough games to be called mediocre and backup quality.

Alex Smith
Rex Grossman
Tavaris Jackson

Those are 3 starters that I can think of that would make total sense in that trade scenario as making the trade ridiculous. There also also a bunch of backups right now that have made many starts that could be called that. Kolb hasn't had a chance to play a full season, and until he's played at least a couple years...I would think it's pretty unfair to call someone mediocre and backup quality.

 

[GregGreen]

Yes, they did. People above said they were having issues kicking touchbacks though.

Another question.. peoples experience with kickoff and punt returns? I've yet to break any for 20+ yards. Last year I could usually count on one return for a TD a game.

Yeah, definitely have been having issues with the lack of touchbacks. EA got it half right, the gunners are getting to where they would in real life, but a lot of the kickoffs are only going to the 1 or 2 or 3 yard line, so you have no choice to take a touchback. Combine this and you end up with guys 5 yards away from you as you catch it -- makes it pretty tough to break a return.

That said, I think I've broken a couple 30-40 yard kickoff returns and a couple 20-30 yard punt returns. No TDs yet though.

 

[GregGreen]

A few people have mentioned here that they have had NO issues kicking touchbacks. I've played around 15 games at this point (I've always been the Bills) against a different team each time. I always hit the ball between 95 and 99% -- not a single touchback. I could do it last year (which used the same system if you didn't play '11). The teams I've played might hit one touchback per game until I played the Ravens today. Every kick he had besides one he messed up went 4 or 5 yards deep in the end zone. Hopefully they'll fix this issue because it sucks the way it is.

Also, saw some comments on how the FG and kickoff angles suck. If you hit RT, it takes you to the classic view. For kickoff, I don't think it's worth the time to hit that one button but for FGs it is really useful because it is waayyyyy easier to aim.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Kolb hasn't had a chance to play a full season, and until he's played at least a couple years...I would think it's pretty unfair to call someone mediocre and backup quality.

Fair enough. I do think he is an upgrade over what Arizona currently has but I think the price paid was too steep. I guess it remains to be seen.