Defense, Eliminating Suction Blocking Among Focus for Central Gameplay Team

[cdj]

You can view the page at http://www.thegamingtailgate.com/for...-Gameplay-Team

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In the latest edition of the Madden NFL developers podcast, creative director Ian Cummings & ratings expert Donny Moore were joined by a member of the Central Gameplay team, Larry Richart. Central Gameplay designers help keep a base code & features between the two EA Tiburon football franchises, Madden NFL and NCAA Football.

While remaining vague in discussing the current project(s) Richart is working on, it was disclosed that defense (particularly zone coverage and assignment AI) and eliminating 'suction blocking' are among the focus areas for Central Gameplay, along with other aspects. Fellow Central Gameplay member Mike Scantlebury and designer Kasey Keltner have already been hard at work for months to help get zone coverages & assignment AI at a suitable level.

Also discussed in the podcast was the issue of Real-Time Physics. While the trio agreed it is a long term goal for Madden NFL and is the future of sports gaming, they believe it to be an aspect that will take several development cycles (behind the scenes) to add in to make sure it is at a suitable level before being placed into the game. This includes ensuring visual quirks do not make the game such as 'dead body' animations, player arms getting stuck together resulting in them running in circles, etc.

Cummings revealed that Madden NFL 06 (360) contained Real-Time Physics in development, however despite great elements it is an aspect that will take multi-development cycles to develop while they also remove existing game 'chunks' to prepare for RTP down the line.

Also discussed was the move of NBA ELITE from EA Canada to EA Tiburon. Currently there are developers tabbed and excited to work on the project, however no Creative Director has been named.

Follow through to the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Podcast link for podcast one and two.

[JeffHCross]

Hell. Yes.

[Rudy]

Very nice!

[jaymo76]

I have mixed feelings on this podcast. One second the team tells us that they want to get rid of suction blocking, improve zone D, etc . This sounds great BUT then in the next segment they talk about 2k GAMES THAT PLAY AS SIM (NBA 2K) JUST AREN'T THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GO. I just don't get it...???

[AustinWolv]

Progress, hopefully.

[cdj]

I have mixed feelings on this podcast. One second the team tells us that they want to get rid of suction blocking, improve zone D, etc . This sounds great BUT then in the next segment they talk about 2k GAMES THAT PLAY AS SIM (NBA 2K) JUST AREN'T THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GO. I just don't get it...???

I think that was just their thoughts on the basketball genre and what EA should do with ELITE now that it is at Tiburon. They seemed to wonder if they should go completely after 2K in the sim market or try to make the game more casual - which can still be sim, but not quite as deep or complicated for casual gamers.

[JeffHCross]

Yeah, I don't think Elite (or whatever they call it) could possibly beat 2k in the sim market.

[CLW]

Yeah, I don't think Elite (or whatever they call it) could possibly beat 2k in the sim market.

Yeah they are TOAST as far as the hardcore game is concerned. IF 2K goes back after college hoops I'll be in heaven and it will give me a reason to also by their NBA game as well.