Madden NFL 08

[Zombie]

FINALLY THEY GOT IT RIGHT!!!

I am simply LOVING THIS GAME!!! Everything so far (360 Version) is just perfect and awesome. It's smooth, fluid, fast, everything! I have no complaints. Now I haven't played multi-player yet so I don't know how that is just yet. If that is the same as the single player then it's going to be a long time till I play another game. I might even skip on Halo (not entirely but may not get right away) if this holds up. One thing I noticed which I'm kinda pissed is it's bringing over my stats from last year's online play. I don't care about my W/L record (6-21) but it's the DNF% (did not finish) because it looks like I quit games which I DO NOT! All of them have been disconnects from the server. So that kinda bugs me.

It's been really easy learning the controls, and I like them a little better. Like the stiff arm is now "A" button instead of the Left Bumper, and the "weapons" is pretty cool. I can see those becoming a little "cheesy" online, but there are counters as well so we'll see how that turns out.

Anyone up for some games??? Come out and challenge!

[The Dream Master]

I might buy this sooner or later, but I'm having too much fun with NCAA Football at the moment (I'm generally a bigger fan of college football than pro).

[Zombie]

Just finished my first online game, and I must say it was a FUN experiance, of course being that I won my first game in a BLOW OUT 24-0 and the guy asked for "mercy" at halftime made it even more fun. However, the gameplay, connection, everything was a HUGE improvement over last years online play.

It was a tiny bit "laggy" but it could have been the other person, but it was defitnitely ALOT better then last year. I remember sometimes not being able to do anything and it would just drop you.

I'm glad I didn't "boycott" EA like I was planning and thinking of "not" getting a Madden game ever again. Still no complaints!

[The Dream Master]

Yeah, I was gutted when EA got the exclusive license for the NFL because I liked the 2K series more; however, I gave Madden 06 a chance and enjoyed it. I generally don't buy Madden every year, but it's been a couple of years now, so maybe I'll pick up 08 sometime soon.

[Violent VictiM]

So far I am not liking Madden. Some of the things are different, and I must say a vast improvement as far as in game features go. The audible system is so much better, but I feel the receiver spotlight works entirely too well. I've also found it next to impossible to run in this game.

I'm sure it'll grow on me, but for now I just gotta play and get addicted like I did to '07.

[Gringo Loco]

I would like to buy this, but I am on a budget. So I'm stuck with All Pro Football for a while. (Which I love cuz I win against my brother haha. And I have O.J. on the Assassins team :eek: )

[The Dream Master]

And I have O.J. on the Assassins team :eek:

:lol:

Yeah, it seems like Madden is tweaked just enough every year that I don't like it at first. Once you grow into it, though, you get hooked. I went through the same thing with NCAA Football a month ago.

[Gringo Loco]

The more I hear people like it, the more I'm thinking of scouring over Ebay and waiting for a cheap purchase. I got All Pro for $39.50 shipped and it was opened but not used very much so I think I got a good deal on that. Like I said, I hope to hear other people enjoy this one as I might pick it up.

[Spade]

I'm sure it'll grow on me, but for now I just gotta play and get addicted like I did to '07.

I'm with you on that one. At first I didn't like the game but after a few hours of playing it I'm beginning to change my mine.

Take care and God bless.

Spade

[Jason's Storm]

IGN, rated the X-Box version as the best with an 8.4. The Wii version next with 8.0, as the AI can be pretty stupid, and it can get you with cheap sacks. They rated the PS3 version the worst with 7.2.

~JS

[jayTL]

I suck at it. I need to get better (espicially with the run) before thinking of playing online

[BlakeTyner]

I think I'm still playing Madden 05. It's not that I don't want anything newer, it's just that I can't really justify buying any new PS2 games now that the PS3 is out, and I can't justify buying a PS3 because I don't have a broadband connection at home, and I really don't want to spend all that money for something that I can't use to its fullest potential.

Rock - me - hard place

:cry:
~Blake

[Jason's Storm]

You should see if your neighbors have an unsecured wireless connection. Although, mine's not.

~JS

[BlakeTyner]

Oh, if there was broadband available, I'd have it. But there isn't (except satellite, and that has a nasty equipment cost plus dial-up uploading.)

What chaffs my ass is that there's a fiberoptic cable laid right under my driveway, but I don't know who owns it or what it's being used for. At this time, there isn't cable strung this far out (we're on DishNetwork) and my little neighborhood is 500 feet or so past the outer limit of DSL. *Sigh*

I do have DSL at work and cable at a friend's house, but it ain't the same.

~Blake

[Jason's Storm]

Call your state's line locating service. If you have one, like my state, they say, you have to call 48hrs before you dig in an area. That way you don't cut a powerline and blackout the half the town. Just call them and tell them you're going to dig in your front yard and they tell all the companies who may have lines there to come and mark their lines. Of course, you don't have to dig your yard up to find out.

~JS

[FreddyKR]

Is it worth the buy? I was disappointed with last years Madden, so I don't know if I want to get this one.

[Violent VictiM]

Is it worth the buy? I was disappointed with last years Madden, so I don't know if I want to get this one.

If you're going to invest the time, it's worth the buy. But it's definitely a game that's going to take awhile to get right. There's so many new features that dedication is a necessary key.

[FreddyKR]

Alright, maybe I'll pass, I got school and water polo coming up so I won't have time for shiiit, except I'll make time for Halo 3 :D

[Zombie]

This is like the best Football game EVER IMO. I haven't gotten tired of this game AT ALL! I'm contempt with single player and I like online. This is going to be tough NOT to play at least once a day. This is going to take away my time from other games.

I'm learning more and more each time I play. The one thing I'm not understanding and maybe someone can help?

Weapons -

Some players have more then just one weapon. How do you use a different weapon over the other? For example, I just played using the Pats. Brady has 3 weapons, Smart QB, Cannon Arm, Precise Passing. Only icon that would show was the Smart QB. I never saw any of the other icon's nor did I find a way to change the weapon. I went through EVERY menu/option in the game and nothing about multiple weapons?

Do they use all of them at once and it just shows the highest rated one?
How do you use the "Smart XX" Weapon for anyone? I know when the light bulb fills up you're supposed to hit RT+LB (Xbox 360) and it'll show the play, but how do you fill up the light bulb? I hold like the "scan field" button so I see everyone till the ball is hiked and it doesn't fill up at all. I even do that while holding RT+LB till the play starts and nothing. Every once in a great while it just fills up a tad but I've never been able to use it, so right now that's like the most worthless weapon IMO. So hence the reason trying to use a different one or have a different weapon icon showing.

Mismatches -

OK, so I learned the offence mismatch now. At first I thought when it was a mismatch and if had a red line to the receiver that ment the defensive guy was "better" then your guy so don't really use/pass to him, however it's the complete opposite.

Is there one for the defence? like for me to know my guy is better then the offensive player(s)

******************

That's about it for now, for questions.

What people do you like to control when on defence and how do you use that said position?

I've mainly always even in all the other Maddens and NFK 2Kx games just use the D-Line and try to get to the QB. This like game I mainly used Teddy Buschi or that position, every now and then I used someone on the D-Line but mainly Buschi. I really didn't know what to do with him though. Also it's hard because you can't see all the way to the left or right so if a receiver is there it's hard to see what he does so I end up just kinda staying in the middle or once the ball is thrown I press B and then Y real quick for an INT or Deflect.

[BlakeTyner]

That's about it for now, for questions.

What people do you like to control when on defence and how do you use that said position?



I don't have the new game, so I can't answer most of your questions, but I can give you some basic football strategy.

I'm going to assume that you know the gist of football, but not all the positions, so I'll put the positions in parenthesis. I'm not trying to make you feel dumb at all, so if you do know the positions, my apologies.

The player you should select on defense really depends on the offensive strategy that you're up against. As you know, most beginners take one of the guys in the middle of the defensive line (tackles) and basically try to swim-move their way into the pocket to get the quarterback. I'm guilty of it myself from time to time, and my guy in the middle of the defensive line (nose tackle - he lines up opposite of the center) generally gets a lot more sacks than a real nose tackle would get.

However, if you just want to get at the quarterback, generally your best bet is to take one of the guys on the end of the line (defensive ends.) The reason for this is because most of the tackles are interested in one thing only - not allowing the offense to make any gaps for the tailback or fullback to run through. Defensive ends, typically, are just as concerned with pass rushing. If you call a blitz, then my suggestion is to take a tackle and let the computer assume control of the blitzer(s). Your job is to give them room. When you don't call a blitz, you can effectively still blitz the quarterback with the defensive end, particularly on play-action and option passes. Even if you don't nail his ass to the ground (the fullback or an offensive tackle will try to protect him from you) you're still likely to cause a hurry-up or a mistake.

That's all well and good, but playing nose guard or defensive end is (usually) not what you should be doing. Neither should you worry about the guys that line up opposite the receivers (cornerbacks.) As you mention, most times you can't see the corners anyway, and playing them yourself is problematic, because if the QB throws to anybody else, you're not in position to make a play. Let the computer handle the cornerbacks.

So, if I don't recommend that you play the nose tackle, the defensive ends, or the cornerbacks, who do I recommend you play? Well, again, you have a few options. These are the ones that I recommend you always (or almost always) play:

The middle linebacker (in reality he's generally the captain of the defense and calls out plays and adjustments.)

A safety (my preference is for the strong safety, as he's the safety who lines up against the strong side of the offense. It's just odds - the strong side contains the tight end and a WR, so you're able to cover 2 people instead of just one.) Some of my friends play the free safety, and that's fine, but you have better potential to be a playmaker as the strong safety.

The nickel or dime back. These are cornerbacks, who I told you not to bother with earlier, but in the nickel or dime, they're not lined up opposite the WR - meaning they're not tied to one player. When you call nickel or dime, these guys become "extra" backs, at the expense (usually) of a linebacker. If you're playing against a team who likes mid- to long-range passes, you'll be in the nickel and dime a lot (or you should be.) Basically you're still playing the middle linebacker, but a faster one.

If you practice at it, you'll be nearly unstoppable on defense, even against other human players. You need to really start getting down to the nitty gritty fundamentals of football, and recognize what each offensive scheme is - what to expect from a power-I for instance, versus split backs. What to expect when they use 2 tight ends, etc.

~Blake (who spent too much time in his youth playing football, on the field and on the screen.)

[The Dream Master]

Blake, that's a great fucking little tutorial right there. It pretty much mirrors my own strategy on defense, except I like to take control of corners when I blitz.

I'll just add this: Blake touched on it a bit, but you should pay attention to the formation the offense uses. It tells you on the play-calling screen if they're using a bunch of wides, or how many backs they're using. If they come out with 4 or 5 wides in an obvious passing situation, I usually bring in my dime packages and blitz at least one corner because the QB isn't protected very well.

[BlakeTyner]

Blake, that's a great fucking little tutorial right there. It pretty much mirrors my own strategy on defense, except I like to take control of corners when I blitz.



Thank you, sir. I'm beginning to think you and I were separated at birth or something. ;)

I occasionally take the blitzing corner, but honestly I'm just not that good at it (or at least not as good as the CPU is at it.)

What I'd like to do in Madden, that I don't think is possible, is to put the strong safety into man coverage while the rest of the defense plays zone. We did that a lot in high school, and it was pretty damn effective. Basically, when the offense puts the TE in motion, the SS stays manned to him and goes in motion as well. The quarterback then reads the defense as man coverage, and doesn't anticipate the zone. The QB that could accurately read our defensive scheme was rare indeed, particularly at the high school level.

I'll add this, as well: when I play Madden, I almost always play Texas Power offense. Lots of I-formation, with a big beefy fullback and a blocking tight end. You give me a halfway decent tailback and I'll average 4 or 5 yards per carry. I think where people mess up on Madden is when they think that a tailback that only gets a couple or three yards per carry is bad. If you can do it consistently, it's very good. The HB should be the workhorse of the team, with mid-range slants to the WR every few plays. Those mid-range slants and outs are tough to cover. True, you don't typically break for 80 yards and a TD, but it sets the pace of the game, keeps you in control of the ball, and does quite well.

I don't have anything in particular against West Coast Offense, but it just ain't my bag. It's not how I played in high school. Lots of cats want to air the ball every couple of downs for the big money yards (I call them "Primetime Plays" because you generally get automatic instant replays.) Not me. I'll gladly give up some of my QB's distance for speed/agility in the pocket. Set up a play-action scheme out of I-right, then whiz it off to the WR for 7 or 8.

~Blake

[The Dream Master]

Holy shit, my favorite formation is the I as well, especially the power I. I run the ball a ton, too, because it makes the play action all the more effective. Whenever I do pass, I'm usually wearing out the tight-end or passing to the wide open full-back. Also, whenever I have two fast backs, I'll sub in my second-string running back at FB and pass to him.

You know, I don't think there are any plays where the SS mans up and everyone else plays zone. I've never seen it, anyway. I know there are ton of plays that are exactly the opposite, where the FS or SS takes the "robber position." I also know of a few plays where the LBs take a zone in the middle of the field while everyone else mans up as well.

[Zombie]

I'm defitnitely getting better at D by experitmenting with positions and learning the plays and how they make people shift. Now I haven't tried online just yet since practicing because I'm a 3 game losing streak right now. I was thinking it was going to be a good year (well still will be, still very very early) sicne I won my first game.

However, I've been doing pretty good online. I usually do really good in the first half but then after half time NOTHING seems to work. Can't stop the other guy or can't get anything going for me, when I do and start moving the chains I end up fumbling or throw an interception, then I lose my lead and the game.

I think also playing as JUST The Bills hurts my chances at winning as well. in 06 I played 95% of the time as the Bills so I know I can win with them, but on the other side they're a little "worse" this year as far as overall rating on Madden. I believe they were like an overall rating of like 82 or 87 and now this year a 67! So I've been practacing with other teams. I'm liking the Pats kinda. They have a great offensive line that doesn't let people through or can hold them off for a long time. They're D is awesome as well. I was tearing up the Cpu with them.

Also tried the Eagles and they were ok to. I forget McNabb can run the ball, but when I rememberd and I ran it with him I did pretty good. I ended up getting over 100yrd rushing with him and their other RB (thats how I got the rush for 100yrs with 2 players achievement, and I got the 90yrd pass with the Pats as well as 600yrds of offense). I don't really want to use another team online or at least not using a very high overall team since people will think I'm a "noob" or something, and I won't get that many points to level up even if I do win.

The one thing that's frustrating is the Offensive & Defensive Audibles. Is there a setting or way to have a default list instead of having to change them in EVERY game? I hate having to pause the game right before kickoff to go and browse the list looking for plays to audible to during the game and the other player doesn't give you time and will hit start which will start a 30 sec countdown timer. So is there anyway to change that before the game? Even if it's just your franchise team's book?

[The Dream Master]

Zombie, I'm pretty sure every Madden game up to this point has given you the option to choose your audibles somewhere on the main menu before you start a game. It may be somewhere near the playbook options. Anyway, you can change them that one time and save it so that those are always your audibles.

[Violent VictiM]

The one thing that's frustrating is the Offensive & Defensive Audibles. Is there a setting or way to have a default list instead of having to change them in EVERY game? I hate having to pause the game right before kickoff to go and browse the list looking for plays to audible to during the game and the other player doesn't give you time and will hit start which will start a 30 sec countdown timer. So is there anyway to change that before the game? Even if it's just your franchise team's book?

Zombs, at the Trophy Room, press start, go to My Madden, then Strategy. Voila. I don't know if that changes them for your online game as well, I rarely audible so I never changed them. I usually do pretty good with whatever the game gives me by default.

So I don't like this game. When, in life, ever have you seen Tom Brady throw 5 INT to a single covered receiver? Especially now that it's Dante and Randy, that shouldn't happen.

I saw Thomas Jones fumble twice during the regular season last year. In the game I played the other day against my friend, his first THREE carries were fumbles. Then two later on in the game. Yea, Palamalu is fast, but he's not really devastating in terms of upper body strength. Two of the fumbles were on low cuts, but still, c'mon.

I never played Superstar mode in any of the previous Madden's, so when I discovered it here I fell in love instantly. I was late to a toga party because I was going 16/20 with Brady Quinn. Great mode.

Got 37 of 48 Achievements for 755 G.

My gamertag is Ken e Em if anyone wants to get spanked. Feel free to add me, just send me a message so I know you're from here.

[jayTL]

I feel that the turnovers are fair...it's jsut more realistic in terms of dont pass when your reciever isnt open, and dont juke when about to get hit.

[The Dream Master]

The fumbles can't be any worse than what I've seen in NCAA '08--I swear, there are at least 4 or 5 fumbles a game when I play.

[Zombie]

I think what people are forgetting with fumble's is hold your RB button to cover/protect the ball. The person or cpu can be using the A button to strip the ball. Also like above, don't juke or mainly highlight stick when about to get hit. Remember to press the RB button!

[The Dream Master]

In NCAA, it apparently doesn't matter if you cover the ball up or not. They seem to happen regardless of that. I heard it's a lot better in Madden, though, which is a good thing.

[jayTL]

man..none of my online games last a kickoff..everyone either quits of I get disconnected.

[Zombie]

That's weird. I have not had anyone quit nor any disconnects/dropped connections. First game was a tiny bit laggy but not by much, since then it's been like playing offline.
ADDED:
Oh, also, if you have a router. Make sure to put your ports like this. I did this last year. It did improve it lag wise and disconnects wise. However there was disconnect glitches in the game like if you did a QB sneak on like 3yrds or less (I assume about that much because that's the only time I've done a QB sneak along with seeing the other person do one) it would automatically just drop the game, saying the other person disconnected but we were both still talking looking at the same screen and then we both got a DNF/Quit and a Loss no matter what the score was.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/jmontoya/Capture.jpg
ADDED:
OH and also make sure to have DMZ enabled.

When you get to your router admin screen, it should show like Applications & Gaming, you go there and do the port range forwarding, and then in the same area but at the top there's a DMZ field and click that to enable.

I called EA Support last year because I was so pissed and fed up with the online play and they walked me through doing all that. If you don't know how, just give them a call and they should be able to help you. I guess it also depends on who you get. Some might say they don't "support" how to enter it in, but if you at least know your way around and ask for help/confirmation on where your going to do that then they should agree to at least help a little. If you get a dick and he doesn't want to go outside of his scope of support call back in or try your ISP.
ADDED:
I just had the GREATEST endings to a game EVER! This last game was all Defense the whole game. We went into half 3-3 (although he could have did a FG but he didn't call a TO and clock went to 0) So go back and still back and forth and then FINALLY I end up getting the first TD in the 3rd quarter...

It's still just back and forth and ALOT of punting going on. Finally he get's an interception and puts him in great position and he gets a TD with like a little over 2 mins. I'm not panicking just yet because I figure I can run it into FG range and take as much off the clock as I can, assuming also he thinks I'm going to be passing it to try and score right away, however that doesnt happen and I end up having to punt and then i stop him and I have one more chance with like a min or less left. He ends up stoping because I'm scared to throw an INT and just willing to take it into OT. So I go to punt with like 14 or 11 secs left....

The guy just tries a punt block and his guy is all alone, he doesn't call for a fair catch and starts to run it and I hit him and he FUMBLES IT!!!! All alone with like 3 of my guys right there. I pick it up and run it in for a TD with 0 secs left! I took the win 17-10!

I've had some crazy stuff happen before at the end, but that has to top everything I've ever seen or done. He was cussing up a storm and I just laughed at him the whole time I was running it in. Then I said "should have called for a fair catch, GG" laughed some more and ended the game before he could try to glitch or disconnect.

It was AWESOME! Also a great day today. I think I went 4-1 today's online games.

[Utellme]

This is my first post since getting this game.It's ok but theres a lot of improvements EA did not make for this game.As far as online play i don't even waste my time with that anymore way to many cheaters glitchers etc.

[The Dream Master]

Zombie, that's a hell of an ending to a game, my man. You couldn't have scripted that any better.

Not to turn this into an NCAA '08 discussion, but I have a killer ending to a game myself. Some context: this was my first year of the "Campus Legend" mode, and I was playing for my Clemson Tigers. We were 8-3 going into the last regular season game against rival South Carolina Shamecocks. Anyway, the game starts out horribly, as we are getting drilled and I'm getting pissed off because in Campus Legend you only get to control your player when you're on the field, while everything else is simmed (I was a HB). Going into the fourth quarter, it was 24-7. I scored an early touchdown to cut it to 24-14, but Carolina tacked on a FG. So, with just under 4 minutes left, I'm down 27-14. When we get back on offense, we run a short out play to my RB and I take that shit all the way to the house (70+ yards in all), so I'm down 27-21 with all my timeouts left. The defense then holds the lead and we get the ball back with under a minute, but we start inside our own ten yard line. On the first play, the QB throws a quick pass up the sideline to the WR, who shakes off his defender, and then jukes the saftey and goes all the for the touchdown with 20 seconds left. They didn't do anything when they got the ball, so ballgame, 28-27. It was such an improbable victory unless you consider the fact that South Carolina kind of lends itself to such crushing defeats at the hands of Clemson.

I have to tell you, if the real game goes down like this, I'll die out of sheer happiness.

Yes, I am ready for football season already (season kicks off for us two weeks from today, as we open with FSU on Labor Day night).

[Zombie]

I almost had a game like that last year on Madden Online. I was down like 20 or 21 to 0 and after the half I got caught up to 14-20 (now I'm thinking it was 20 because I remember I got the ball back and was close to score and would have taken the lead or at least tie) and I'm like 3rd and 1 or 2, then I do a QB sneak and boom, dropped connection! I was pissed, the guy was pissed to because I was starting to become a challenge for him and we both got the loss. I think we played again and he beat me or I might of beat him? But it would have been better coming back from that many and win it in the end but we'll never know lol.

That's one thing that people need to do is be patient with Madden, even if your down by 1-2 TD's just keep playing and play smart and you can come back. I noticed that ALOT of people panic and try to score real quick, so they tend to pass alot and then end up throwing an interception, I'm guilty of that to but mainly at the very end when that's all that there is to do. Or I'll throw them off and run for 15-20yrds and try that way.

I played my D like I was against the cpu and did extremly well, and like one mentioned, can't be on the offense all the time, so I've made playing D fun. Now I don't mind what side I'm on as long as I'm trying to do scoring. I've gotten like 2 maybe 3 "full" interceptions myself. What I mean by that is by using one of the LB's or Safeties and watching the QB and jump in front of the pass, not by like using the D line then switch players when he passes. I've gotten INT's that way to, but I pride the one's I get without switching right before the INT to the person.
ADDED:
I only need 7 more achievements for this game. I tell you, trying the 40 rushing attempts was HARD. I guess just depends who you use and how you do it. I did that with the 250 rush yrds. So I concentrated on getting the 250yrds first then taking it for small carries. I didn't think I was going to make it because my guy got hurt like 2 or 3 times but still came back. Then at the end I just needed 2 more and only like 37 secs left and I hit a TD. So I tried an onside kick and was going to let them just score. Would you believe my luck and i recovered it and got my 40 yrds. and finished with like 338 rush yrds.

The two that seems like EVERYONE has that I just can't get is the deflect 4 passes with one player and force 2/3 fumbles. I know the rest now are gonna be tough but I'll probably be able to get them within a week.

Gotta love points lol

[BlakeTyner]

Sounds like you're getting pretty good, Zombie. It's always nice when you're in just the right position to make a play.

~Blake

[Zombie]

Man the cheese players are coming out already and coming faster then normal. Been getting alot of people going for it on 4th down, this last one he went on it on 4th and 16 and then 4th and 13. Fuckin stupid little kids, punks who can't or doesn't want to play defense. However out of my last 5 games I'm 4-1 and the one I lost was so so close and lost in OT. Also alot of people blitzing and bs. People's game play habits should be recorded and should be limited to what rooms or people they can play.

Oh well, just a frustration you have to put up with because people can't do other things and just care about one side of playing football.

[BlakeTyner]

If I was playing against somebody who was steady blitzing, I would so own them. My WR would be fatigued, but he'd earn it. :D

~Blake

[Zombie]

That's what I've been figuring out. Also depends on my line and QB, when they do that when I'm the Bills which I'll mostly be as long as they aren't a team in the mid 80's or higher as overall rating, if they are then I'll switch to using the Chargers. When I'm the Bills I tend to get sacked to fast because my O-Line just sucks!

I've been having way to many awesome ending games lately!

Last night, I think it was tied or I was just down by like a FG or 4 pts, and I had like 3 or 6 secs and was about on my 40yrd line, called a hail mary and threw it and Evans caught it in the end zone! I jumped up talking shit cause the guy thought it was over lol

Then just now, was up by 6 and figured I would be able to stop him or at least not let him get a TD and one of his receivers got past mine and he got a TD with 46 secs left and went up by 1. I got the ball, threw it and got to about the 50ish line called a TO, did a PA Play and bam got it under the 20 yrd line and just let the time go down to 3 secs left, called a TO, and got a FG and won by 2, 30-28!

At least my games gives the other guy hopes so they won't quit, but then if I screw up then I'll lose so need to start watching out there. That happened with a Loss yesterday and I threw an INT and he got it within FG range and ran the clock down. I got it back but couldn't do anything. My record this year so far is 8-5! Waaaaayyyy better then last years 6-21.. Over all I'm 13-26 since the 07 stats carried over and will carry over from here on out which I still don't agree with. I would have rather started fresh.
ADDED:
I just started to mess with "EA's Sports World" that they advertise when regristring the game on the 360, and you get an avatar and what not. You get to buy items as well for your avatar buy doing things in the game and earning "points/credits".

Well, low and behold, they actually have a Jason style hockey mask! From what I gather when creating the avatar you have two versions, one that appears on the website and one that appears in the game like in the lobby or while your picking your team vs someone online. The one online I don't think you can use/have the Jason mask on your avatar but for the "web" you can.

Here's a screen of it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/jmontoya/madden.jpg

If you have Madden then go to www.easportsworld.com and login. I had alot of trouble logging in like it saying my password was incorrect, but when I went to register it said I was already registered. I used the login option that's like in the upper right corner area. Don't type to fast or your letter won't be entered. Took me awhile but finally was able to get into it.
ADDED:
Funny, I went and read the EA Sports Madden 360 Online forums just to see if there's been any known glitches that has been happening or fixes for other things that is known, and came across another post about someone saying pretty much the EXACT same thing I did about the cheesy players coming out early. So it's defitnitely not just me that's noticing these people. Alot of people tell him how to "stop/counter" them but the thing I agree with him is that it ruins the game as a whole.

I like to play as "real" as I can or keep it sim'd as much as possible. I don't get mad at all if someone tries to go for it on like 4th an 1/2 or inches, (4th an 3 is kinda pushing it) no matter what the quarter is or the score. I do the same thing sometimes depending on how the person's D has been holding up, but if it's 3yrds or more then people just need to Punt it. I would rather have to work my way down the field to score then to be between 12-30 yards from the end zone when I stop them and I get the ball. Also blitzing on EVERY play just get's old. I may blitz 2 times in a row but that's to also throw them off and on their 3rd play I'll go to a passing set up and get an INT or something. I don't care about the play's that's like a combo blitz/pass-coverage because you dont have your entire D just rushing the QB.

The biggest thing they could do and I would welcome it back with huge open arms would be the "fair play" option for ranked games. That would at least eliminate going for it on 4th down unless you were down/losing and was less then 2 mins in the half's. Sure it would suck so much not being able to go for it on 4th and inches but still would want it back in a heart beat.

I still see ALOT of people having connection issue's? I still have not had one game to where it's dropped the connection (knocks on wood) or had the player quit yet. Even when i have been up by alot. So my DNF% has been going down thankfully, but I don't know what those people are doing or what kind of connection they have. Something tells me though that they're on like a DSL connection and or someone else is using a PC on the same internet connection. Maybe also that port forwarding/allowing has helped me as well?

Oh well, can't have EVERYTHING perfect. Just amazes me the great legnths that some people will do just to try and win or if they're not going to win no one is going to win so they use some glitch/exploit to get the connection to drop or using the same plays over n over.

So if someone wants to play a non glitcher/cheese player hit me up online. It can be ranked or unranked but I perfer ranked.

This is now officially the longest game I've played straight everyday. I have other games that I've played alot but usually take a break and play something else but not this one. Hell I hadn't even looked at anything else other then turning on my xbox and just going straight to playing this. I haven't even removed it from the disc tray and today as the first time since having it that I browsed the marketplace to see what has been released.

[Zombie]

I Finally got ALL the achievements in Madden! I'll tell ya the hardest ones to get is recover 2 fumbles with one person, 200 punt return yards, force 3 fumbles with one person, and sack the QB 7 times with one person... THe deflect 4 passes is eh'ish, but I was doing it wrong and would hit Y instead of A to knock it down whcih I didn't know then finally figured it out.

Last year only ended up with 590 GP, Madden 06 I got all 1000 but I did that kinda cheap by simming lol, but this year they were practicle and just had to play... So now with them out of the way, just time to get my Wins up in online play...

Anyone up for a RANKED game come out and challenge!! I'll use my Bills as long as you use "your default" team and if they're like under 85 overall, but if its a team over 85 I'll switch to another team to even it out.. I usually play in the nights during the week 1-3 games and anytime during the weekend...

Also have anyone checked out the Jason mask avatar? I'm surprised that hasn't gotten that much attention for being the kind of forum we're on lol

[jayTL]

I find a few things fustrating about the game:


No Tournament mode. I used to Love stuff like that.
no watching cpu games. I dont understand why you cant just watch a football game.

[Utellme]

I find a few things fustrating about the game:


No Tournament mode. I used to Love stuff like that.
no watching cpu games. I dont understand why you cant just watch a football game.
These 2 options are still there at least on mine it is

[jayTL]

on the 360 version?

Because I cant seem to find them..

[Zombie]

Talk about cheese players. Last few games have been sorry ass players. This last one I score, I stop him on his 20yrd line or so and it's 3rd and long and he goes for it on 4th down. No huddle play and does the exact same play that he almost threw the INT and threw again to the same person but this time I got the INT and TD. So I tell him shit about it and about to friendly quit even though I'm winning because I don't want to win a game like this. It's more a waste of my time. So after he get's it back he throws on his 2nd play and fumbles it and I get it and on my first play throw a TD because he's just blitzing. So then the ass just keeps encrochment over and over till it boots him trying to glitch to boot us both or to make the game freeze.

Luckily it didn't and I just went on vs the CPU since I had a 21-0 lead. Normally it's not that bad but he was the Chargers and I was the Eagles and the game setting is on All Madden since it was Ranked. I eventually win but I ate the clock up the entire game. Even playing with him, I figured if I was going to play against him I'll keep the ball from him as long as I can.

Then the game before him yesterday I think, nothing but blitzing after blitz. I just kept HB Screening him and getting huge yards and or TD's but still.

These people just take the fun out of the game. I don't even know why they play to be honest? I seriously can't wait till Halo 3 comes out. Not because I'm going to switch to that game but it might just get alot of these cheesy players out of Madden and into Halo and they can go glitch/cheese on there since I won't be playing it that much.

[Zombie]

PLEASE HALO 3 COME OUT ALREADY!!!!

This fuckin ass tried to glitch disconnect on me at the very end because he was down by 8 and only 4 secs left. The ass was playing cool till the 2nd half nano blitzing almost every play, then going no huddle over and over doing the same unstoppable play and going for it on 4th down. Only reason he scored cause he pulled that crap. When we were going regular he couldn't do anything and he got a Safety because my guy didn't pass and just pumped faked so my fault, no big deal.

Because he did all that shit I fucking ran the clock and thankfully he used two TO's before the 2 min warning (idiot) and then the one just after and I still got the 1st down and so just ran to get the clock down to do a FG to go up by 8 thus giving him no chance.

He almost succedded also because half the screen got stuck but luckily I was able to continue through, but fucking Payten Manning throws a bomb and they call Pass Interfearence on me and brought the CPU to their 29yrd line with 0secs since the "penelty", so luckily I let him throw to a close guy and just tackled him... I would have been PISSED if the CPU got the TD and tied it on a 2pt conversion to get it to OT and it won because I already had the game won... I would have been even more PISSED had it glitch froze and I ended up getting a quit and a loss even though I was winning...

Then the asshole tries to send me a message saying "My Bad".. My bad my ass busllshit fucking lying panzy mother fucker! I know of the glitch on trying to disconnect right at the kick off that keeps the game stuck just spinning around and you have no choice but to turn it off....

Then the asshole last night goes and gives me a bad player review because HE QUIT! Luckily my Rep Stars and all is so high anyways that it doesn't bring it down but it's BS it let's people retaliate back like that because they get all hurt when they get an ass kicking. Then you look at their "career" and see all they do is Quit and DC.

That's why I HATE EA for bringing the stats over from last year because it has alot of people with a DNF% and I know or assume it's from Madden 07 and people getting dropped from the server and not their fault so it's really hard to tell who's really quit or not.

Like me for instance, I have not quit, disconnected, or anything this year at all. Nor has the server dropped the connection or my internet hasn't gone out in the middle of the game (Knocks on wood!) so I'm technically at a 0% DNF rating..

Here's my stats for Madden 06 on Regular Xbox -

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/jmontoya/madden06.jpg

Here's my Madden 07 stats. Unfortuanally it doesn't show like how 06 showed them, but my overall record was 6-21. So that's what 12 other games that's not recorded that ALL ended in a DNF rating because of the person either glitching or mainly the server dropping the game or glitched on plays even when I was winning. So online it doesn't so that, but when I look at my stats in 08 it shows those -

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/jmontoya/madden07.jpg

And right now EA Sports World won't let me log in correctly. Just keeps loading up a page for Tiger Woods PGA and to upload a picture. Won't let me get into my Madden stats page..

I fucking HATE EA!!! Their login crap isn't working. I supposedly have 2 other accounts and it just won't let me login. I put the right user/pass and it just brings me back to the main login page..

I know Bungie doesn't make people go all these troubles to view Halo 2 stats and they just upgraded their site for Halo 3 to view online stats..

EA is soooooo behind in customer support and nothing is easy for them..

Man This just bums me out with EA. I love this years Madden but everything else EA just sucks. It's obviously not about achievements points either because I've gotten all 1k of em but still just playing this game..

Well copied my current year's stuff..

OVERALL I'm 17 wins & 28 losses and my DNF Rating/% is 11%. It was like in the 20's I think from last year so it's coming down.

For 08 though I'm - 11 wins & 7 losses and my DNF is 0%... I'd be so much happier to see that as my overall record and just erase 07's horrible year. Only way to do that though is to just get a new Gamername and wipe EVERYTHING from my 360 Madden related. Hell to be safe I'd probably would have to wipe the whole HD and use new email and a whole bunch of junk just to get reset, Then with my luck I'd have a worse record lol.

Man, I'm having a serious tough time. I'm just trying to get on to change my avatar by seeing what's new to "purchase" and what not and I just can't get to "my locker"

Frustrating shit I tell ya... Ok guess I'll submit lol Kinda rambled enough ya think?

What's everyone's Online Stats so far????

[jayTL]

I need to play online..I'm still just doing exhibition, trying to get better.

[Sketch Sanchez]

Apparently the game has a few glitches, some people are more angry that the game got such high scores despite these glitches than being angry that they exist at all

http://boards.1up.com/zd/board/message?board.id=games&thread.id=352849
Franchise Mode Ruiner: You cannot play for more than maybe five or six seasons before your franchise is ruined. What happens? Well, you see, when you fire a coach or his contract is up, he goes off to sign with another team. However, the settings for that specific coach still read as User-Controlled. Hence, when he goes to his new team, the computer does not resign anyone and the roster stays half-empty for that team. So when you go to play them, nothing happens. It wont sim. It wont play. Then you try to go and get them some free-agents but you can't. The franchise is now bricked.


Training camp can't be played because they dont have a controller select screen. You can't start the play, you can't do anything. The only way to remedy this is to first start a CPU vs. CPU game and run a play, and then quit it and then go and start your training. Then the games freeze half the time any way.


The player rating progression does not work. Matter of fact, it at times can work backwards. Rookies like Calvin Johnson will get 2,000 yards receiving and lose AWR but #5 receivers who catch 4 balls all year will jump up 4 full points. This is well documented on the forums at www.maddenmania.com .


Editing a rookie player (anything at all..number, uniform, whatever) will fuck him up. No matter what you do, when you're done his contract goes to 4-years and he instantly becomes 26 years old.


The highly-touted Rookie Scouting option does literally nothing. You have the same info at the beginning of the season as you do at the end.


Fumbling. Players fumble way too often.


Not to mention minor things like the menus sucking and taking forever to load, which doesn't seem like much to you but when you play Franchise mode religiously and have to wait like 3 seconds to make any screen change, it gets to be ridiculous. Also, if you ever get to year 6, take a look around and notice the ridiculous stats. Everyone throws for like 4000 yards and 40 TDs.

[Zombie]

A lot of those things are parts I don't dwell in so don't hurt my opinon for Madden. I also don't see a problem with the fumbles either. Everytime I fumble I'm usually using the highlight/hitstick, putting an arm up (so one hand is covering the ball), spinning, stuff like that. Usually when I'm going to get hit I try to hold the RB button which protects the ball. I think it's made it fair for people who just tries to hitstick or highlight stick everything or trying to spin out of a pile up. It basically evens it out.

The INT's I think are fair to. I've never seen an INT where I thought it was impossible to have them catch it. I have seen when it was impossible for them to NOT catch it and wide open but they drop it?

Franchise I usually got one maybe 2 years. I dont do the other stuff either. My main focus is online and thats what has been fixed so far (minus the cheese/glitch ass players)
ADDED:
OMG! It FINALLY had to happen.

I was winning 7-0 and was like at the end of the 1st quarter or start of the 2nd. I get stopped on 4-2 and not being a dick or a cheesy player I punt the ball. It touchbacks and immediatly says the other person quit or lost connection however it does not give me the option to continue or anything other then "End Game". So I end the game send the person a message asking WHY he did that. He doesn't respond, so far nothing is showing on my stats about the game ever taking place. So, so far I'm ok just pissed cause was doing pretty good.

Then I noticed that person is STILL playing. So I ask about that and he responds that he cont vs Cpu. So now looking like I quit or disconnected from the game. Little while later it shows that he's still playing but now it's an Un-Ranked game. Yet it was Ranked and it was showing he was in a ranked game earlier and thats all I'll play anyways. So I confront him about that and he stops responding now that I caught that. I still see the score changing.

FInally a little later on all of a sudden it' in my stats/recent games as playing that person and I got a LOSS and a D/C!!! So now my 4 game winning streak is screwed. My DNF% for 08 that was at 0% is now 4.5% (12% as a whole, after I got it down to 10%) and now an overall record of 20-29.

Granted it may not be a "big" issue as it's just the first time, but it bugs the hell out of me because I didn't do it nor did anything to cause it. My last 5-6 games and I've only played like 1 decent player. The rest I've had to give a bad review to avoid them and or file a complaint. Also just showing how almost all games now are not being that "fun" and getting ruined. Sure I may have got a W from them but after playing almost an hour against a chesse/glitch player.

If I would have lost that game fair and square then I would have lost. I just don't like getting a loss when I winning and then had no control of the game and getting a DNF for the game.

If this continues then my opinion about Madden 08 will change and I will stop playing once again and this time will be the last one... For sure this time.

[Utellme]

Sketch theres even more flaws than you listed.And online play is just a waste of time unless you liked to play glitchball.

[Zombie]

I thought it was GREAT that they took Vick out of Madden so all the PUSSY playing kids couldn't be "as" cheap anymore, but it didn't make one differance because now every one of those no talented pussy cheap ass players just use the titans and Vince Young. Had I known dumb ass young was that fast I wouldn't have played this stupid kid. This time I did quit the game. Just kept going for it on 4th down and nano blitzing every single play along with calling shotgun and running all around the field.. Why in fucks sake do they make the qb so uneven and fast like that. they're not even fast like that in real life.

[BlakeTyner]

Well, I picked up Madden '08 for the PS2 today. I really wanted new rosters (read: Tony Romo) and I figure it's been long enough since I bought Madden '05. I've been playing some today, and there's not a whole lot of changes. The PS2 version has some pretty severe slowdown right after plays, but so long as it's not during the play I can handle it.

(I should note that I don't have a next-gen console yet. I'm not spending that kind of money until I have a broadband internet account, which may be a while since I live out in the sticks.)

~Blake

[Zombie]

Just had to talk bout my last game! I'm sooo pissed! Guy played fine, was someone on my buddy list. A little skeptacle though cause played him twice in a row and I have NEVER had so many turnover's mainly fumbles in one game. Hell my very first play fumble, he gets and gets a td eventually. Then I get back and second play of the game for me after I just gave him a fumble and td and just got the ball back (4th if you count the kick return as a play) and ANOTHER fumble! I'm like WOW! I have never had that nor even seen that in a game. Not to mention the game before that I was using the Saints and Bush fumbled like 3 times or so not to mention my WR.

I of course didn't blame the guy or anything, was just a little weird I was fumbling soooo much like that. When the game first came out, yeah I agree there was kind of alot of fumble's but since the last roster update from EA it seemed to really tone down on em and they were like hard to force one then before. So I just continued playing, just that something is in the back of my mind as this guy could have possibly entered something to maybe cause my to fumble so much. These weren't even huge hit stick hit's or anything that would look like it would cause it, just the ball falling through their hands.

So anyways, last game I'm down by 3, I had at least 2-3 chances to at least tie or get the lead. The one chance and I was down by his 30-20 yrd line, you guessed it... My guy just happened to fumble while being pushed out of bounds that just so stayed in for his guy to get. I stopped him but now out of TO's.

My very last play I threw a bomb and my guy FINALLY caught it and he had a good 3 yrd lead but still just as a caught I was getting brought down. I tried rushing them back to spike cause it brought me to like the 15 yrd line and time is just going, this is after catching it and having like 12 secs or so and 3... 2.... 1.... 0... Ran out of time and could have at least tied it.

So it was just whatever, I lost no big deal. I've never heard of a "fumble cheat" but then I don't go looking for stuff like that. Thats another reason I wasn't just going to call him out or accusing him of anything because I have no proof (other then all the fumbles) on something being out there. Also my last game my QB (JP Losman) had MORE rushing yards then my actual RB's. A Thomas had 12 and Lynch (who got pulled after his 2nd straight Fumble) had -2 while Losman had 19 and he's not even a rushing QB. Even when I was the Saints, I think I had like 24-27 yrds with Bush and less then 100 yrd passing with Breese.

THose games just got me pissed. Kind of my worst games ever, his D could just be top notch but the very first game we played he won in OT just barely, second game was tonight and was even then I was just shut down fumbaling and throwing int's, and then third game, same things as last game but kept him only to 13 points and I just got to 10.

Hell yesterday, I got the game to OT and I won the KO, I'm doing the return and part of me thinks I should have did a touchback but I still ran the return and the one and only fumble of the game I had was in OT on the kick return in which his team recovered and then boom, FG, game over I lose.

Football/NFL OT should allow both teams to have a shot at scoring. So like if I had that fumble and he recoverd, did the FG I could get one more chance of either tying or getting the lead with a TD or if he stops me then they get the win or vice versa, if I score then I either have to stop them and what not. Kind of like Tennis where you have to get like two in a row if it's tied on match point.

But if like the team gets a TD then the other team get's their try they HAVE to get a TD in order to keep the game going, they can't just settle for the FG, it would have to be equal amount of pts the team that scored first.

That certainally would make OT games much more suspensefull and all.

[BlakeTyner]

Eh, I like the sudden death overtime. But I see your point.

~Blake

[Utellme]

Madden 08 for PS3 is hoorible i took it back for the ps2 version.

[Zombie]

This is pissing me off. I'm in the AFC Championship in franchise mode and have played it 3 times. All 3 times I've won to advanced to the SUper Bowl. However it has been freezing EVERYTIME at the very end of the game. Fist time was during the end of the game "saved" replays, it was getting choppy then all of a sudden froze (should have just ended game and saved right away). Then the next two times all right away immediatly at the end of the game before it gets to the replay screen, like when Faulk gives the post game commentary.

Is this some known glictch? I'm so pissed because the last 2 games I had GREAT rushing yrds and was over 200 in one game and I think almost at 300 this last game. And it's against the Colts so I'm kind of tired of playing against them because how AI Manning has to keep calling audibles/hot routes like on every play. It's cool cause it's like mimicking real life manning but just gets old/boring having to keep playing that just to finish hoping it doesnt freeze again.

Damn it sucks even though it's single player. I had like 4-5 INT-TD's, a Punt Return TD, almost 300 rushing yards, almost 200 passing yards, no sacks I dont think but I know I didn't let them get rushing yards that much and held them below 20-30 yrds in rushing. That would have got me tons of task trophies and possibly to my level 3 ring. ARGGGHHH frustrating. Oh and level is on Pro. But I think I'll try again but put it to rookie to try and mimic theis last game and to just win since technically I've already won already anyways.

[Violent VictiM]

Zombie forgot to mention that we played each other yesterday. I was the Chargers. He was the Cowboys. I won, final score being 38 - 7. I figured he left it out because of sheer embarrassment, so I'll let it slide.

I was going to finish with a really sweet QB rating, actually the best I've ever finished with, but the last play of the game I just said fuck it and went for a TD and got picked. Final rating was like, 98.6.

[Zombie]

lol, nah I got owned that game. My team (dallas, but not my "real" team) couldn't do anything. Got one TD but that was just luck and open guy on a blitz I barely got the pass on. I would have stayed the Bills but when they're overall is 67 and you had an 87 overall team I don't think so. This year I've matched up close to what the other person has because I'd really get blown out.

It was a good game though, just couldn't really capatalize on ANYTHING! Hell my first play think you got me to fumble and got the td so right away was 14-0. But just need to practice again and get used to it, timing and everything is off from playing Halo and not enough of Madden, even though I was planning on playing Madden more then Halo but Halo just rules and fun as hell.

[Zombie]

Does anyone ever watch Madden Nation on ESPN 2? I try to watch each show, and I don't know if other's get the same way, but everytime I watch it I just want to go pop it in and play for awhile. It's like how the Rocky movies kind of gets you pumped to go workout, this gets you pumped to play some Madden online.

The one thing that's annoying is their "traash talking", well it's not to annoying its the one thing they always say. "LETS GO" "LETS GO"! ha ha ha, that just makes me laugh all the time. It's like learn something new.

[Just Jeans]

I just spent the last three or four hours gettin' my monkey ass schooled by Blake. I'd offer to play online against some of you cats, but I'm bound to get EATEN ALIVE.

[BlakeTyner]

Don't let him fool you...give Jeans enough time to adapt to all the buttons, options, routes, audibles, etc. and he'll be schooling *me*.

He'll pwn you outright in the rushing attack minigame.

~Blake

[Just Jeans]

He'll pwn you outright in the rushing attack minigame.

What can I say? I zag when you expect me to zig. :wiggle:

I thought it was GREAT that they took Vick out of Madden...

He's still in the PS2 version, apparently.
ADDED:
I've been playing most of the morning; I've won 1 game, and lost 3. :misery: I've done a lot of the training camp stuff, but it doesn't seem to be helping me in-game. I still can't work out the audibles.
ADDED:
The good news: I just beat the Packets 112 to 3 (I put it on Rookie -- it seems that's too easy even for me.)

The bad news: the game froze up as the game ended, so I didn't get so save any of the Madden Challenge stuff I beat during that 48 minute game. :misery:

[TheShowstoppa]

I just re-rented this Wednesday and I plan on playing it a lot come today or tomorrow. I love this game but I got hooked more on NCAA College Football 2008 instead, which is odd since I watch more pro than college Football.

If worse comes to worse, I'll just keep the game and "buy" it from Blockbuster. I did get this and Mass Effect. I think I'll go hook them up now! :D

[TheShowstoppa]

Okay - Has anyone noticed if they rent the game that they have trouble actually playing it? Like the game has glitches or something... It's annoying. I have to take my copy back tomorrow and get another so I can FINALLY play it.