Madden 2010 Blog Update

[carpanfan96]

Made some changes to Franchise mode. Link

When we sat down and started taking a look at the logic, the #1 area that stood out to us was how teams handled player decisions in the offseason. After a simulated season, many teams were cutting players left and right in free agency to upgrade much lesser needs (like punter and full back). In fact, that first year we saw the Colts cut Peyton Manning to sign a punter.

We dug through some of the logic and found out that CPU teams were just being too rigid when it came to upgrading positions on their team. They all felt like their #1 priority was to field the best team possible, but when it came to clearing cap room they could possibly just cut the player who would save them the most. Thankfully, this has been addressed. Teams are much more mindful of the amount of cap room they have in free agency now...if they have no room, they'll pass on that new punter.

Another thing we addressed was contract amounts. We've scaled player ratings differently this year, so we needed to make sure a starter in the league was paid like a starter. It'll be tougher to cherry pick in free agency now, as an 80 overall defensive end is going to ask for the money he'd be paid in real life. We also increased signing bonuses and salaries for elite players. We found that the max a player could get paid was about 60 million over 7 years in previous versions of the game. We fixed that so you'll see elite players like Asomugha and Haynesworth sign those $100 million dollar deals.

We're also focusing on the re-sign player stage, making sure that teams intelligently decide whether to keep or release their upcoming free agents. If a team cannot afford to re-sign a player, he'll become a free agent. It's that simple.

[scpanther22]

the draft changes..look good i use to hate when teams took QBs and did not need them..and haveing the sleepers and busts will be a nice touch

The Draft

The other big thing we've looked at so far is everything surrounding the Draft. After joining the team, I ran through a season and started doing some in-season scouting. Three issues presented themselves immediately:

• When I scouted a player, it was a pretty cumbersome experience. I had to click on a player, enter a sub-screen and then click on him again just to start the first level of scouting.

• After I scouted a player for a few weeks, the comments never seemed to change. Beyond that, they were pretty vague and really told me very little about the player.

• The screen for in-season scouting was actually quite buried as well. Placing it within the "owner mode" sub-menu meant that very few people would necessarily know to go use it.

To fix these issues, we first made the interface a lot easier to use (which we'll show screenshots of quite soon). Second, we re-vamped the scouting system so that you unlock more comments as you scout the player longer. The comments can go from being broad (We think his awareness is no higher than 80) to telling you exactly what his key ratings are if you scout him the entire time. It won't tell you his overall rating, but it will give you his potential, which is what you should make your decision off of.

One nice addition that we were able to take from Head Coach was how we handle the rookies in the Draft. We now create every rookie by hand, just like you saw in NFL Head Coach '09. You might even see a few famous rookies make a re-appearance from those drafts.

In addition, we also have the ability to determine where a player SHOULD be drafted and what his potential is. So we can create busts and sleepers just using those systems. Drafting a player in the top 10 will no longer guarantee that he is a great player in Madden NFL 10. Unless you do some scouting (like the real teams do), you might just pick up this year's Vernon Gholston. On the flip side, you might also find the next Tom Brady or Marques Colston in later rounds. One piece of advice...don't be enamored with workout warriors. Running a 4.2 forty or benching a small concrete block does not automatically make you a good football player.

The big thing we're working on as we speak is the Draft logic. I promise you...you will not see the Colts take a QB in the first round and then in the 3rd, 5th, etc. These type of logic tweaks are happening across the board and the draft is no different.

[Lilsmitty09]

good they fixed that..lets hope theyll put in practice mode at least for franchise, and make the presentation better (paint carolinas endzones black when in playoffs, and make sportcenter weekly highlights like in 2k9)

[Taom82]

everything I've read on 2010 makes me seriously consider picking up a 360 to play that and head coach 09. (I absolutely hated the way head coach played on my xbox and only played it on the pc. curiously, there is no pc version of head coach 09)

I enjoy playing against friends but most of the time I spend on 2k5 and madden is spent in franchise mode.

[Nu Guns]

Any word about tweaking the online fantasy drafts and leagues?

[CatMan72]

Looks like they're really addressing some of the core issues with franchise mode - I play almost exclusivley in franchise mode and I always laughed when the Patriots release Tom Brady or the Colts release Peyton Manning while each still has a 99 rating.

The scouting of a draft class was also totally useless and I found many times where the comments would contradict one another. One additional beef I have about importing the draft classes is that there only seem to be a handful of models a player is brought in as - need more variety so the players appearance can be more accuratley ported over from NCAA 09.

[Pantherman]

Yea it seems they have done a good job on franchise part very well. But they have alot more franchise blogs comin between now and august. So hang onto you hat for this long franchise ride. It is going to be excited.

[tarheelpride]

the link doesn't work 4 me...