I wonder why EA hasn't improved the sidelines in NCAA/Madden

[GatorBait06NC]

Done anything to improve the sidelines in their football titles. The only thing they have ever improved was now the ridiculous looking scarecrow, Hitler look-alike, players don't all wear the same number.

I look at NCAA and they are going all out to get stadiums looking 100%, getting bands and away fans in the right place, cheerleaders, and a bunch of other stuff. But still have cardboard sidelines full of players that look nothing like the players on the field.

I know it's work to put more realistic players on the sideline, but it can be done. 2k did like 5 years ago with that All-Pro football game. Players on the sideline would interact with players running out of bounds. It would be nice to see players, coaches, and other personal in a more real form on the sideline. Catching players as they run out of bounds.

All the effort that EA puts into sights and sounds, realistic sidelines are overdue. They don't matter as much as releasing the game without a major bug, but still. It's 2013.

[bdoughty]

This is one of my pet peeves. Every time I look at those NCAA/Madden sidelines I just shake my head.



EA is just schizophrenic some times. Just look at something as basic as shadows moving across the field.

It's in the game every play.
Had to take it out, new lighting engine.
We will change it every half
We will change it every quarter
We will change it every play.

Something like that, it boggles the mind.

[gschwendt]

Ian Cummings (former Madden lead) at one time essentially came out publicly and said "don't expect sidelines to change this gen". It came down to the fact that when the guys in charge of deciding what to focus on in this generation said that they wanted the focus to be on the 22 players on the field followed by the stadiums... once you commit the polygon budget to that, you can't rightly take it back in year 4 or 5 because then people will complain that the graphics got worse.

100% guess but I'm betting that when Madden 25 comes out for next gen, one of the first things you'll see are upgraded sidelines.

[Jayrah]

Ian Cummings (former Madden lead) at one time essentially came out publicly and said "don't expect sidelines to change this gen". It came down to the fact that when the guys in charge of deciding what to focus on in this generation said that they wanted the focus to be on the 22 players on the field followed by the stadiums... once you commit the polygon budget to that, you can't rightly take it back in year 4 or 5 because then people will complain that the graphics got worse.

100% guess but I'm betting that when Madden 25 comes out for next gen, one of the first things you'll see are upgraded sidelines.

Is there a like button for this post???

[bdoughty]

Is there a like button for this post???

Why? Ian did the same thing with the dynamic stadium shadows in Madden. In fact it took a year longer to get them back in Madden if I recall. He was a bit hypocritical in regards to the comment above. I remember plenty of bitching, including myself when they pulled it for both games. It was annoying going back to playing a game where it was afternoon all game long.

[Rudy]

I know it's work to put more realistic players on the sideline, but it can be done. 2k did like 5 years ago with that All-Pro football game. Players on the sideline would interact with players running out of bounds. It would be nice to see players, coaches, and other personal in a more real form on the sideline. Catching players as they run out of bounds.

All-pro football's graphics were weak. On the PS3 it resembles a PS2 game. The game didn't have to run hard at all since it didn't push any boundaries graphically on the field so it had the extra power to do sidelines better.

Tommy is correct. These current systems are tapped out on power. They have maximized the graphics and framerate on the field and improving the sidelines would hurt it. We'll have to wait for next gen to see better sideline interaction.

[bdoughty]

Tommy is correct. These current systems are tapped out on power. They have maximized the graphics and framerate on the field and improving the sidelines would hurt it. We'll have to wait for next gen to see better sideline interaction.

I can think of a lot of games that are tapping the current systems potential. NCAA and Madden are not on that list.

[bdoughty]

All-pro football's graphics were weak. On the PS3 it resembles a PS2 game.

NFL 2K5 (PS2)



APF 2K8 (PS3)

Spoiler: show

[Jayrah]

Why? Ian did the same thing with the dynamic stadium shadows in Madden. In fact it took a year longer to get them back in Madden if I recall. He was a bit hypocritical in regards to the comment above. I remember plenty of bitching, including myself when they pulled it for both games. It was annoying going back to playing a game where it was afternoon all game long.

Mostly because of this: "100% guess but I'm betting that when Madden 25 comes out for next gen, one of the first things you'll see are upgraded sidelines."

[Jayrah]

NFL 2K5 (PS2)



APF 2K8 (PS3)

Spoiler: show

I don't get the APF comparisons. Gameplay has a few things that are better in places where the EA series is lacking (mainly db/wr and ol/dl interaction), but the overall product outside of those few things can't touch what we have in EA right now. Graphics are porous in the overall game and the loss of immersion from real football surroundings and teams for ME personally is something I can't deal with. And if not for the after play comedy in the system of Madden 13, I think it FAR outplays the 2k5 comparisons.

[ram29jackson]

you mock socks and you're bothering about sidelines ?

meh sidelines...meh

I paid over 60 bucks for a game that never patched the problem when the offense audibles it destroys my defensive hot routes.

and lead passing is a joke, theres still a force field that even though my receiver is behind/past the defender my lob pass is pushed into the defenders hands even on medium to short passes.
sidelines meh

[bdoughty]

I don't get the APF comparisons. Gameplay has a few things that are better in places where the EA series is lacking (mainly db/wr and ol/dl interaction), but the overall product outside of those few things can't touch what we have in EA right now. Graphics are porous in the overall game and the loss of immersion from real football surroundings and teams for ME personally is something I can't deal with. And if not for the after play comedy in the system of Madden 13, I think it FAR outplays the 2k5 comparisons.

Had you taken the time to read the quote, I was replying to Rudy that APF 2K8 on the PS3 does not look like a PS2 game. It had absolutely nothing to do with the EA games.

[bdoughty]

you mock socks and you're bothering about sidelines ?

Yes, one of these things is not like the other. You can actually see the sidelines during gameplay and the lack of a chain crew is a relevant part of football.

[ram29jackson]

Yes, one of these things is not like the other. You can actually see the sidelines during gameplay and the lack of a chain crew is a relevant part of football.

socks on moving players involved in central gameplay is more important then lifeless sidelines

especially when they now have colored socks and you don't really get to see them online at all because they are too short

[bdoughty]

Tell it to someone who cares.

[dhook27]

Tell it to someone who cares.

Thank You

[ram29jackson]

Tell it to someone who cares.

that's a whole other sect of people

[ram29jackson]

Thank You

the socks and sideline people need to/ better band together or you'll both fight a losing battle

[Jayrah]

Had you taken the time to read the quote, I was replying to Rudy that APF 2K8 on the PS3 does not look like a PS2 game. It had absolutely nothing to do with the EA games.

TOTALLY missed the quote lol. BUT my thought still stands and it was mostly built off of things I've heard over the past 3 years of people bitching that this is one of the greatest games of the football gaming era and NCAA and Madden need to model their game after it.