I hate to say it...

[naednek]

But I haven't touched ESPN in more than 2-3 weeks.  I've been playing Madden the last 2 weeks and having a blast now that I got the running game worked out, and the 1st week I was playing doom3.

I never thought I say it, but I like Madden a lot better.  For those who purchased/played both (over an extended period of time) what are your thoughts.

[Devil]

I kept trying to get to like Madden but couldn't do it. On top of the running game, which can be overcome, the AI cheating has led me to believe I'll never buy another EA football game again.

During the frustration of a Madden game I looked over on the shelf, saw ESPN, and said to myself "Why am I driving myself insane with this game when there is a GOOD game sitting right there?"

I think I'm done.

 :cry:

[denoginizer]

I have been playing Madden and ESPN online pretty consistantly.  Madden is much better than last year.  But it still can be frustrating at times.  The linebackers leaping 5 feet into the air to knock down or intercept passes and yet consistantly dropping balls that hit them right in the chest is killing me.  Also the lack of instant replays online is very disapointing.  Now there has been a major glitch discovered when shifting formations which the cheesers are taking full advantage of.  Online leagues are going to have to outlaw formation shifts it seems.  I do like EA's online service very much though, especially with the premium pass. Meanwhile ESPN has fixed virtually all of my complaints about online league play, fixed the clipping penalty bug, and will release a roster update on the 7th.  

I will continue to play both games through the winter, but to me ESPN is still the best.  I will say that I am only speaking about the online aspects of the games.  I have not really touched the franchise modes yet.

[pr0ner]

ESPN for me, only because I didn't buy Madden, and really didn't want to, either.  



Mike

[naednek]

ya the super leaping CB's drive me nuts.  However I turned down the sliders on knockdowns and that seems to help most of the time.  I still have an extremely hard time with deep balls (like 1 out 20) and on fade outs.

I felt ESPN had too many replays and it was driving me nuts.  Madden has enough, but the way it's done is stupid.  You see them while you are picking your play, which is like ESPN, but it's so zoomed in, you don't get the full picture.  

I do miss the atmosphere of ESPN.  Madden seems so dry in that area.

But overall I think Madden is the better game.

[denoginizer]

Hey PrOner I can see why you like ESPN so much after you kicked my a$$ the last game we played  :lol:

Naednek I think we look at the games from different perspectives.

[Lockdown]

Can you elaborate on the clipping bug being fixed.

I didn't hear about it.  What did they do?

LD

[Eco-Logic]

Clipping penalties no longer deduct yards from your running back's total as they did when the game was released.

I rented Madden and again realized why I love ESPN so much.  No contest for me, ESPN all the way.

[gellar]

ESPN hasn't seen the inside of my XBox since the day Madden was released.

Madden's franchise mode is excellent.

Sergi

[naednek]

ESPN hasn't seen the inside of my XBox since the day Madden was released.

Madden's franchise mode is excellent.

Sergi

word.  My first week of madden I was so frustrated with it.  You can ask Gellar, I told him it's going back.  Then I put in ESPN, and was bored.  So I put Madden back in found some sliders to my liking that still kept semi-realistic stats (still tuning) and I'm loving it.  

If  we could combine Madden's gameplay with ESPN's animation and presentation, it would be the perfect game.

[Tebunker]

See, I'd rather have ESPN's on the field gameplay and Fluff presentation combined with Madden's easy to use interface and deep franchise.

Sega has yet to figure out a simple way to eidt and use rosters and playbooks. Their substitution system is borked as is the depth chart. It's one thing that they MUST rip off Madden. It's just so easy to do things off the field in Madden.

The only on field change I really want in ESPN is to get rid of the really slow animations, especially when they're not necessarry. Why did the receiver just dive backwards six yards like he was reaching for the ball when I led him on a fade? Doesn't happen all the time but enough to be disparaging.

[denoginizer]

If I want a great franchise mode I go with Front Office Football.  I play console based football games to play against other people.  I still think the on-field gameplay in ESPN is superior.  Hey Tebunker, what don't you like about the depth chart manipulation in ESPN? Personally I kind of like the way they did it.

[gellar]

See, I'd rather have ESPN's on the field gameplay and Fluff presentation combined with Madden's easy to use interface and deep franchise.

Sega has yet to figure out a simple way to eidt and use rosters and playbooks. Their substitution system is borked as is the depth chart. It's one thing that they MUST rip off Madden. It's just so easy to do things off the field in Madden.

The only on field change I really want in ESPN is to get rid of the really slow animations, especially when they're not necessarry. Why did the receiver just dive backwards six yards like he was reaching for the ball when I led him on a fade? Doesn't happen all the time but enough to be disparaging.

I'd want bits and pieces of both from the gameplay side.  I really enjoy Madden's momentum running game, as it's so fluid.  However it is frustrating to get your back stuck onto a lineman.  Some combo of the two would be nice... Madden's momentum and flow with ESPN's animations (minus the long and unnecessary ones) would be cool.

On the passing side... I'd pretty much want all things Madden.  The Madden passing game is infinitely more rewarding for me, though there's absolutely nothing wrong with the ESPN game.

Defensively, I'd want the linebackers from ESPN with the DBs and D-Line from Madden.

Obviously I'd want the ESPN graphics, license, and damn near everything from the presentation side other than the sound effects.  Madden's crowd was better this year, though NCAA still pwnz them both.

To dream...

gellar

[gellar]

If I want a great franchise mode I go with Front Office Football.  I play console based football games to play against other people.  I still think the on-field gameplay in ESPN is superior.  Hey Tebunker, what don't you like about the depth chart manipulation in ESPN? Personally I kind of like the way they did it.

Ever want your Defensive End to learn how to play Defensive Tackle?  Not gonna happen in ESPN unless you do it per formation.

Want a TE to double as your backup FB?  No dice, home fry.

You can see the frustration.

gellar

[denoginizer]

I guess my bias of playing these games multiplayer makes me gald it is not easy to put Jevon Kearse at tackle and Tony Gonzales in the backfield.  But I agree that if you want to do that it is much easier in Madden.  Just don't do it in the GG League  :lol:

[Lockdown]

If I want a great franchise mode I go with Front Office Football.  I play console based football games to play against other people.  I still think the on-field gameplay in ESPN is superior.  Hey Tebunker, what don't you like about the depth chart manipulation in ESPN? Personally I kind of like the way they did it.

No dice, home fry.

gellar

I like that.  

"No dice, home fry."   That sounds sorta old school suburban white ghetto.  Nice.

[gellar]

You should talk to the guys in GGIRC.

I'm all about the old school suburban white ghetto.

gellar

[Lockdown]

LOL


Excellent !

[Tebunker]

Just to add to what gellar said, go try and set up the depth chart for special teams.. what, there's no depth chart? I can't pick which two guys I want as return men? It's just easier and smoother to put guys where you want in Madden. Ea has a great interface that's easy to use. Don't even get me started on the obtuse weekly game plan that was lauded as a great thing in the reviews and previews.

Still like ESPN's on field play better, but man I want to run my team with ease.

[pr0ner]

Hmm.  I've never had any problems selecting which players I want as my return men on ESPN.

Mike

[denoginizer]

Hmm.  I've never had any problems selecting which players I want as my return men on ESPN.

Mike

Niether have I.  Interesting....

[pr0ner]

Tebunker just has a case of operator error, methinks.

Mike

[Tebunker]

No no  no, if I put Kennison as my returner, Dante Hall gets kicked out completely from returning. You can't pick you backup or second guy. It just says pick who you want to start. It's not like the rest of the depth chart system.

I know how to use the game, it's just not an easy to use system.

[pr0ner]

No no  no, if I put Kennison as my returner, Dante Hall gets kicked out completely from returning. You can't pick you backup or second guy. It just says pick who you want to start. It's not like the rest of the depth chart system.

I know how to use the game, it's just not an easy to use system.

Sure you can.  Playing online lately, I notice my special teams are borked, but I have no problems whatsoever getting Dante Hall as my number 1 kickoff returner and Derrick Blaylock as my number 2.

Mike

[gellar]

My biggest issue with this comes in playing as the Niners.  In the Dime package, I'd MUCH rather have Julian Peterson as my left end than Brandon Whiting.  It's actually what the Niners do in real life.  Can't do it in ESPN though.

gellar

[pr0ner]

You should be able to do substituions by package in ESPN.  At least, I remember seeing the screens in the game for doing so.

Mike

[Exodor]

Clipping penalties no longer deduct yards from your running back's total as they did when the game was released.

Wha?

Did they send out replacement disks, like Madden did last year to fix the draft import bug?    :?

[Graham]

Clipping penalties no longer deduct yards from your running back's total as they did when the game was released.

Wha?

Did they send out replacement disks, like Madden did last year to fix the draft import bug?    :?

I believe that this was updated through Xbox LIVE.

[Eco-Logic]

Clipping penalties no longer deduct yards from your running back's total as they did when the game was released.

Wha?

Did they send out replacement disks, like Madden did last year to fix the draft import bug?    :?

I believe that this was updated through Xbox LIVE.

Yup, that is correct.