The Latest Madden 10 Previews (Read 77 times)

[M3 Commish]

As various media sites have received beta copies of Madden 10 it appears that today one level of an embargo has been lifted. Two previews worth checking out have gone up so far today. Over at Operation Sports there is an extensive breakdown with general impressions of the game. Meanwhile Gamespot’s Brian Ekberg provides insight into the Online Co-Op experience and provides some early thoughts about the Online Franchise.

Reading through the Gamespot blog it confirms that essentially, just as the IGN preview and videos made apparent last week, the Co-Op looks to be an empty and unrewarding mode this year. I don’t even see how they can sell this as a way to learn Madden given the differences in how it is played compared to the traditional game. Again though I think this was just the groundwork for a 3vs3 or 4vs4 Online Team Play type mode to come in Madden 10.

Eckberg also notes that Online Franchise will require a code found in new copies of the game and shows off a couple of screenshots of the iPhone app. Noted are some of the drawbacks such as no salary cap and restricted trading options. Hopefully since the mode is run server side areas that are lacking will be improved upon around release or during the course of the year. I suspect just as Online Dynasty did for NCAA Football 09, Online Franchise will extend the life of Madden longer for many people than ever before. Given that EA should be there to support it.

[M3 Commish]

Online franchise is one of the other big additions to Madden NFL 10 and I've been playing in an online franchise against EA producers and fellow journalists since last week. As for my impressions, the short version is: It's a big step up from last year's poorly conceived online leagues, though there's still work to be done.

Up to 32 players can take part in an online franchise, one for each team in the NFL. If you have less than the full amount, you can have the AI control non-player teams, which wasn't in last year's game. When creating a franchise, you can choose to play with traditional team rosters or start from scratch with a fantasy draft. As you might expect, each week of your franchise season, you'll have a game to play (unless you're in a bye week) against either a CPU team or a real life opponent. Presumably, at the end of the season--I'm only a few weeks into mine--there will be an authentic playoff series, culminating in a Super Bowl championship between the final pairing.

You'll need a code to authorize your online franchise (either when joining or creating a franchise) and that code will be packed in the retail box, thus leaving those who rent the game out of luck, it seems. Still, for many, online franchise is the reason to buy Madden 10. That realistic feel of an online franchise--with authentic leagues and divisions, as well as individual statistical leaders tracked throughout the season--is a big upgrade from the incomplete online leagues of last year. Add in the ability to manage your franchise team via the EA Sports Web site or via the upcoming free-to-download iPhone app (see screens), and there's a lot to like. Still, there's definite work ahead to make online franchise as compelling as it could be. Trade logic is still fairly rudimentary--you can't trade draft picks--and there doesn't seem to be any financial information in this mode. For example, you can sign any free agent available to you without having to worry about salary cap restrictions. Here's hoping that it won't take too many more iterations of Madden before the online franchise is as deep as the one found offline.

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Damn, no trading draft picks!

[kompressor]

Nothing new both of the preview

The trading of the drafts picks can be done offline if some one wants to trade picks. Basically the trade would be made on the forms, the person who trades for the pick will tell the person who he wants when that pick is up and after the draft the players can be traded.

[M3 Commish]

If there's a will, I suppose there's a way. Good stuff, Komp. +1