Madden Free Agency

[Eisen-verse]

Yep, As you can see by a lot of my postings lately... I've gotten back into Madden.

 

Well... that was until the off-season came and I forgot completely (as I haven't played Madden in a few years now) how un-real the off-season free agency signing is. Some of the biggest stars in every position are all being released.

 

I understand it's not a 100% true simulation but this is just ridiculous.

 

wow.

 

Sorry. Had to rant.

 

EDIT: It's almost as if after the second year the NFL goes into a fantasy draft and everyone gets to pick up superstars that would normally stay put with their original teams. People like Hines Ward... I mean... He is the Pittsburgh Steelers!

[Comradebot]

Curious, does the second season STILL start with damn near every position empty in free agency like it did in 08? I loved 08 until I saw that crap. How can EA NOT play a season or two in franchise mode before shipping the game? How hard would it be to simulate a season, go in, and go "hey, all but three fullbacks in free agency got deleted. Maybe we should fix this."

[Comradebot]

 

EDIT: It's almost as if after the second year the NFL goes into a fantasy draft and everyone gets to pick up superstars that would normally stay put with their original teams. People like Hines Ward... I mean... He is the Pittsburgh Steelers!

 

And who's on the cover?

 

What team's jersey is he wearing?

 

And who does he play for now?

[mjdgoldeneye]

After the first year it makes sense, game wise... The game is made to balance finances for each team and some teams have too many expensive players.

 

A few guesses: Is Clinton Portis there? How about Richard Seymour?

 

If neither of them are there, as soon as the preseason starts, when you can sign free agents again, one or both will probably be there (to your benefit, possibly). (After roster updates, maybe who gets dropped changes a bit...)

 

The Madden have basically figured out that so long as they don't have competition, they can make very subtle improvements year to year and still sell games. Really, they were quite clever to strip everything down when they went from the last gen up... I'm still waiting for features from 04 and 05 to make it back in...

[Eisen-verse]

Yea i get the Favre thing but at the same time the off-season has just gotten to the point where it's too many of these "team Icons" moving to new teams.

 

It's realistic to see a handful of big names jump to new teams but it's almost as if in the 2nd year the NFL completely changes its landscape and you end up having to truly research your next opponent because their entire roster is pretty much different.

[Eisen-verse]

Also....

 

How do you upload your NCAA 09 draft classes into the Madden Draft? I thought in years past you did it right before the draft but I could be wrong. I went into the off-season mode and couldn't find anything to do so!

 

Thanks!!

[mjdgoldeneye]

Also....

 

How do you upload your NCAA 09 draft classes into the Madden Draft? I thought in years past you did it right before the draft but I could be wrong. I went into the off-season mode and couldn't find anything to do so!

 

Thanks!!

 

You have to do it when you start the season because of scouting. You must have missed it when you started franchise.

[Eisen-verse]

oh really? Was it on the first screen when you create your franchise?

 

I probably missed it

[mjdgoldeneye]

oh really? Was it on the first screen when you create your franchise?

 

I probably missed it

 

You can't progress without the "Do you want to import an NCAA 09 draft class?" screen coming up. Just make sure you read all of the pop-ups and you'll be good from now on.

[D16NJD16]

There is a very simple solution

 

Stay away from next gen Madden.

[Eisen-verse]

You can't progress without the "Do you want to import an NCAA 09 draft class?" screen coming up. Just make sure you read all of the pop-ups and you'll be good from now on.

 

I'm guessing that probably popped up before I went into an off-season mode. Boo. I don't want to start a whole new franchise, however, it would be more fun to have peeps like Tebow and such in the game.

 

Oh well. Computer generated people here i come!

[mjdgoldeneye]

I'm guessing that probably popped up before I went into an off-season mode. Boo. I don't want to start a whole new franchise, however, it would be more fun to have peeps like Tebow and such in the game.

 

Oh well. Computer generated people here i come!

 

Also, just ignore scouting. It's a waste of time, basically... You get no particularly useful info on a handful of guys you'll never draft anyway...

 

Also, I ignore the training system now too...

 

The new Madden games are stellar on the field (when they don't crash or throw a completely bugging call or animation at you) and mediocre everywhere else, really... (Franchise is good enough to enjoy, though...)

 

And, not to hijack the thread, but I figure I'll share this here rather than start a new thread:

 

A had a really good draft class a few years back in my Tampa Bay franchise. I think it was my first offseason, as that year much of my team team retired (Derrick Brooks, Jeff Garcia, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway, etc.). I traded away Ronde Barber and Cadillac Williams as I figured I'd rebuild. I had 2 first round picks because of the trades (I think) and I took a RB and a CB. In the second round I took a WR. I ended up with my current franchise back, Jack Connor (who is a little low on football moves, but he has 99 speed), a great-and-improving CB named Tayshaun Hayden (89 overall I think), and an agile (but small) wide receiver who has amazing hands named Julian Clay.

 

After 2 or 3 years in, I went 15-1 and won the Super Bowl with Josh Johnson as my QB too... (He's in the NFL now and has abysmal stats in Madden... He's progressed to an 80 in my game, but I can't lose with him! I signed Hasselbeck a year later, and ended up trading him after 4-5 games... )

[i effin rule]

You're playing on PS2 aren't you? I think the last gen game differs very much from the current gen, so you may not even have some of the stuff people are talking about. You may not be able to import a draft class on yours. If you are, its at the end of the pre season. After to select to advance to the regular season it should ask whether or not you want to import a draft class.

 

This leads me to my next point. I've not had the problem with super star players being free agents at all, when not using an imported draft class. Sure a big name player will pop up every once in a while, but it isn't a big pool of them like I've seen when using draft classes. The reason is that the imported players are rated far too high. The highest non imported player I've ever drafted was an 81, and he was a Top 5 HB. Meanwhile when using a draft class I've seen Tebow be as high as 94. You'll see a lot of big names available because teams are drafting 70's and 80's well into the 4th and 5th rounds and thus the teams cut their old, more expensive players in favor of the younger ones.

 

So my warning would be, if you think the FA market is bad now, I definitely wouldn't import draft classes.

[Comradebot]

Curious, does the second season STILL start with damn near every position empty in free agency like it did in 08? I loved 08 until I saw that crap. How can EA NOT play a season or two in franchise mode before shipping the game? How hard would it be to simulate a season, go in, and go "hey, all but three fullbacks in free agency got deleted. Maybe we should fix this."

 

So, anyone care to please answer this?

 

Please?

[mjdgoldeneye]

So, anyone care to please answer this?

 

Please?

 

Are you talking PS2?

 

I've been talking 360 as I figured by now everyone would have a next gen console of some type (sorry).

 

On the 360 I never noticed that problem at all...

 

The last gen versions are obviously going to suck because the developers don't put any effort into them now. If they sell, they sell.If not, they stop making the games for that system!

[Eisen-verse]

I've been talking 360 as I figured by now everyone would have a next gen console of some type (sorry).

 

I wish. I can't justify dropping 300 bucks for a new system when bills are piling up. hah.

[mjdgoldeneye]

I wish. I can't justify dropping 300 bucks for a new system when bills are piling up. hah.

 

Whatever you do, don't buy the rubbish "Arcade" system.

 

If you get a 360 at any point, get the version that comes with the hard drive. It is very much worth it!

 

(Basically, Arcade + Hard Drive is the same price as the 360 that comes with it anyway, and without a hard drive, you really can't do jack with the system... Memory cards barely hold some games and others they don't hold at all!)

[mjdgoldeneye]

Also, a rant:

 

Get rid of the mostly pointless weapons system and bring back roles! They were actually relevant and useful!

[i effin rule]

So, anyone care to please answer this?

 

Please?

 

It was fixed last year with a patch on the 360, not in this years.

[Eisen-verse]

So.... I continued on with my game even though the first few years I saw people like Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, and Phillip Rivers moving to different teams in a matter of a year or so.

 

However, that wasn't half as bad as where I am now...

 

I'm four years into my game with the Raiders and just got into free agency and literally everything has gone crazy!

 

Everyone and their Grandma has been released by their respective teams. Almost all teams have over 100 million dollars in free cap space and some of the biggest names are now free agents.

 

Last years second place MVP Reggie Bush is available after an amazing season, While the saints (A big time team in my game) released Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Drew Brees all in the same year.

 

The Browns released their 98 overall QB in Derek Anderson and also released their 85 overall backup Brady Quinn (So I guess that's how you deal with a QB problem... release them both)

 

Calvin Johnson is no longer playing for the Lions at the age of 26 (years upon years left in his career)... Then again that could be because they suck so bad.

In Free Agency, Literally every position goes 5-10 deep in 99's overall and then about 10-15 deep in 90's overall.

 

Has anyone else seen it this bad? It kind of ruins my game... Especially after putting 4 "years" into it.. Just seems unbelievably un-realistic.

[Comradebot]

So.... I continued on with my game even though the first few years I saw people like Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, and Phillip Rivers moving to different teams in a matter of a year or so.

 

However, that wasn't half as bad as where I am now...

 

I'm four years into my game with the Raiders and just got into free agency and literally everything has gone crazy!

 

Everyone and their Grandma has been released by their respective teams. Almost all teams have over 100 million dollars in free cap space and some of the biggest names are now free agents.

 

Last years second place MVP Reggie Bush is available after an amazing season, While the saints (A big time team in my game) released Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Drew Brees all in the same year.

 

The Browns released their 98 overall QB in Derek Anderson and also released their 85 overall backup Brady Quinn (So I guess that's how you deal with a QB problem... release them both)

 

Calvin Johnson is no longer playing for the Lions at the age of 26 (years upon years left in his career)... Then again that could be because they suck so bad.

In Free Agency, Literally every position goes 5-10 deep in 99's overall and then about 10-15 deep in 90's overall.

 

Has anyone else seen it this bad? It kind of ruins my game... Especially after putting 4 "years" into it.. Just seems unbelievably un-realistic.

 

 

That seems... terrifying. Weird thing is, while playing 08, it seems that maybe one or two talented players get released at the end of the year. Which, admittingly, kinda sucks. Nothing like being stuck with the same crappy O-Line you've had for the last two years because not a single talented offensive linemen has been released, and none ever seem to be present in the draft.

 

Sound to me like maybe EA overcompensated on that issue and turn the NFL into baseball. I swear, they don't bother to even test Franchise mode. I'm sure there gameplay testing is just two guys using the Patriots against the Colts 20 times then they call it a day. Or they do have a guy who tests Franchise mode, but he doesn't speak English and EA's too cheap to fly his translator over from Estonia.

[Eisen-verse]

That seems... terrifying. Weird thing is, while playing 08, it seems that maybe one or two talented players get released at the end of the year. Which, admittingly, kinda sucks. Nothing like being stuck with the same crappy O-Line you've had for the last two years because not a single talented offensive linemen has been released, and none ever seem to be present in the draft.

 

Sound to me like maybe EA overcompensated on that issue and turn the NFL into baseball. I swear, they don't bother to even test Franchise mode. I'm sure there gameplay testing is just two guys using the Patriots against the Colts 20 times then they call it a day. Or they do have a guy who tests Franchise mode, but he doesn't speak English and EA's too cheap to fly his translator over from Estonia.

 

Yea, I know that EA Sports feels that we will just buy Madden regardless of how much time and effort is put into stuff like this (and fact is... most will), however, the Franchise mode needs a real overhaul to make it see more realistic. I've tried twice now to salvage the game as I've put "4 years" into it, however, I can't seem to make myself continue on with Free Agency if all of these names are available. It makes you feel like you're playing in some alternate universe where teams decide every couple of years to schell it's entire roster and re-create a brand new one despite those they drafted, previously picked up in free agency, etc.

 

For a team like the Saints to literally gut their entire offense... It just doesn't even seem remotely realistic. Now, I know... Madden is a game and not real life, however, with sports games you play then so you can feel like your part of the environment of said sport. If you see something like this happen you instantly can't relate with it & feel like the computer is just out to destroy itself in the end. hah.

 

I could see releasing a few big names here and there but this is just a mess. haha.

[mjdgoldeneye]

So.... I continued on with my game even though the first few years I saw people like Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, and Phillip Rivers moving to different teams in a matter of a year or so.

 

However, that wasn't half as bad as where I am now...

 

I'm four years into my game with the Raiders and just got into free agency and literally everything has gone crazy!

 

Everyone and their Grandma has been released by their respective teams. Almost all teams have over 100 million dollars in free cap space and some of the biggest names are now free agents.

 

Last years second place MVP Reggie Bush is available after an amazing season, While the saints (A big time team in my game) released Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Drew Brees all in the same year.

 

The Browns released their 98 overall QB in Derek Anderson and also released their 85 overall backup Brady Quinn (So I guess that's how you deal with a QB problem... release them both)

 

Calvin Johnson is no longer playing for the Lions at the age of 26 (years upon years left in his career)... Then again that could be because they suck so bad.

In Free Agency, Literally every position goes 5-10 deep in 99's overall and then about 10-15 deep in 90's overall.

 

Has anyone else seen it this bad? It kind of ruins my game... Especially after putting 4 "years" into it.. Just seems unbelievably un-realistic.

 

To be completely honest, do you think EA really puts any effort in maintaining the integrity of the last gen version of it's yearly exclusive sports franchise?

 

If you want things to not suck, I recommend upgrading to 360 or PS3. When looking at the big picture, EA can't really be criticized for something as small as an unrealistic franchise mode on a nearly obsolete system!

 

EDIT: Note that my posts from a while ago were from when I assumed you had a current gen console. This doesn't happen in the 360 and PS3 versions.

[Eisen-verse]

EDIT: Note that my posts from a while ago were from when I assumed you had a current gen console. This doesn't happen in the 360 and PS3 versions.

 

So the next gen games are a little bit better about free agency balancing and such? If so, then I may look more into getting one just to combat that problem alone. Other than that, I love playing the game... Just the Free Agency is the only thing that makes it so I get annoyed and bored quickly.

[mjdgoldeneye]

So the next gen games are a little bit better about free agency balancing and such? If so, then I may look more into getting one just to combat that problem alone. Other than that, I love playing the game... Just the Free Agency is the only thing that makes it so I get annoyed and bored quickly.

 

After the first year or 2 there are a few big names in particular who tend to drop. (Some teams look to open up some cap room. Richard Seymour drops pretty often, for example.)

 

However, rarely will you see more than maybe 5 or 6 players above 85 go into free agency. Normally it's a few midrange RB's, a decent O-lineman or 2, and old kicker, and a few random other guys thrown in.

 

I've never played this year's PS2 version, so I can't compare the franchise modes, but the features in general in the current gen games are fun.

 

How much has the PS2 series been stripped since around 06 or 07? When I went from PS2 to 360, I missed a lot of features. You can't micromanage your food or ticket prices anymore among other little things.

 

(EA cleverly stripped the games so they can add old features in slowly to make Madden look like it's progressing... Around 04 and 05, Madden reached it's peak as far as enjoyability goes and although they're really stepped up on making the existing features solid, the little things made the game awesome to me!)