The Single Biggest Flaw from Madden 2004

#1 (**permalink**) 03-11-2004

Hi everyone, i'm writing this in hopes that a person from EA Sports actually does take a look at it. I remember once reading that this gets looked at by people from EA, or maybe it was another game. Anyways, I've been reading through everyone's suggestions, and I really think that they're mainly cosmetic, either that or people just dont understand the game (i.e. certain ways to jump over piles, music, etc., for cosmetics, and for people who want the computer to run more need to change their sliders or understand that the computer mainly only runs when the games are really close or when they're winning which i would say is pretty realistic). But, the number one biggest flaw that i've found is the free agent market/trading market. I mean, it's terrible?! I've been playing Madden since '94, and this has always been a problem (Except for Madden 2001 where they instituted a lot of this stuff, but left it off of the PS2, xbox, and other higher systems!). And right now, i think they have the ability to make it more realistic. Here are some thoughts, but i dont even think that they're that good, someone from EA should really get on the ball themselves...

1. Restricted and Unrestricted free agents. I mean, isn't this the number one concept of the modern free agency market?
2. The computer resigns all their own players, unless they ask for ridiculous money. It doesn't seem to make sense, i mean, how many decent players are there ever in the Madden free agent market compared with how many their are in real life? Just look at this year, there's got to be at least 20 huge contracts for big name players done already!
3. No trading between teams. I think this alone needs to be fixed even if the free agency market doesn't get fixed. I mean, that's just something that should've been done from the beginning of moving onto the higher systems, like PS2, xBox, etc.
4. Trade offers. I definately dig the new trading block feature, it makes things very cool. But, why don't other teams have the players they want to get rid of out there?
5. Have the free agency before the re-signing period. I think that would solve everything, right?

I know that the game is starting to move a bit away from the franchise features of the game, because of a lot more people getting into the online stuff. But I personally love progressing a team through 20-30 seasons. Taking a team like Arizona and making them a superbowl champion and then moving on is one of the biggest challenges in the game. Oh, and who doesn't ever have a crapload of money left over at the end of the free agent market? I just see a lot of problems with it. But, i do have faith, i mean, i remember in 2003 when the pass defense system was retarded, and they got on the ball on that. Come on EA, we pay a lot of money for your games, do it right!

phatboyty · #2 (**permalink**) 03-11-2004

1. yeah that would be tight
2.no
3.no
4.dude you said you didnt want trades in last one but yeah
5.no that would be gay

#3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004

Hey dude, i don't think you get it. The first, fourth, and fifth points are suggestions, and the second and third points are complaints.

cashpath · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004

He didn't say he didn't want trades he said currently there are not trades between teams and he would like there to be.

phatboyty · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004

o my bad

rams fan · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004

right on

ItalianStallion · #7 (**permalink**) 03-13-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALMag

5. Have the free agency before the re-signing period. I think that would solve everything, right?

Then who will the free agents be, genius?

cashpath · #8 (**permalink**) 03-13-2004

You can't put free agency before resigning... but they do have to make it a little more realistic.. Have players that want to leave.. players that want to stay and will play for less. Franchise and transition tags.. ur and r free agents.. etc etc etc

broncos1170 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004

There is already #4. If you go to trading block and scan through all the teams, most of them have a player they want to get rid of and it says what they want in return ie. DE, QB. Some 99s like Derrick Brooks are on there if the team already has a younger player who is in the low 90s.

phatboyty · #10 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004

yea your right it is there

qb8stunner · #11 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004

I just found that out the other day! Go figure. I personally would love more of a challenge concerning the finances, I mean, like playing the cap. Although I get dedicated to my players, it would be interesting to be forced to release David Carr, Jamie Sharper, or Aaron Glenn cos of a salary I planned out a season or two prior. They finally have the bonuses working prety good... now they should throw in voidable years and incentives. Of course, you should be able to toggle it on and off. I like all of AlMag's comments, but the free agency period should be from the end of the season all the way through and have it like NCAA in recruiting: you have to wait weeks or maybe even after the draft. Make it harder to get them. And I remember once before that they let the computers go rampant with trades, and they did exactly that, traded everyone and their dog and hot girlfriend hehe

urplel:

#12 (**permalink**) 03-17-2004

Quote:

Then who will the free agents be, genius?

Whats with the hostility? And if the free agency period would be before the re-signing period than any person who had 0 years left on their contract would be a free agent, genius. And the only times that you get to really keep your free agents is if you try to make an offer before the season ends, or if you've never tried to low ball them and you offer good contracts and they're loyal to your team... something along those lines.

Quote:

There is already #4. If you go to trading block and scan through all the teams, most of them have a player they want to get rid of and it says what they want in return ie. DE, QB. Some 99s like Derrick Brooks are on there if the team already has a younger player who is in the low 90s.

Well, that's good and all, and it's something i didn't know about, but I think that you missed the point of what I meant. It's not that I want there to be offers out there, i want it to be like a pop up comes up between weeks and... "The Denver Broncos have offered you RB Clinton Portis for CB Champ Bailey" or something like that. And then you go to the trade screen. I think it would be better for the computer to initiate trades, not just sit there. And if the computer can initiate then more than likely the trading between each other is pretty much right after that.

cashpath · #13 (**permalink**) 03-17-2004

Quote:

Well, that's good and all, and it's something i didn't know about, but I think that you missed the point of what I meant. It's not that I want there to be offers out there, i want it to be like a pop up comes up between weeks and... "The Denver Broncos have offered you RB Clinton Portis for CB Champ Bailey" or something like that. And then you go to the trade screen. I think it would be better for the computer to initiate trades, not just sit there. And if the computer can initiate then more than likely the trading between each other is pretty much right after that.

Hey I'm all for anything that can add to the game, as long as I can turn it off. I like the trading block feature.. I would get annoyed at pop-ups telling me a team wants to trade me jay fiedler for Roy williams... I'de laugh and be annoyed...

#14 (**permalink**) 03-17-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashpath

Hey I'm all for anything that can add to the game, as long as I can turn it off. I like the trading block feature.. I would get annoyed at pop-ups telling me a team wants to trade me jay fiedler for Roy williams... I'de laugh and be annoyed...

Well, I mean, I pretty much am figuring there would be an innate fairness in the trading. I mean, it may not always be something that you want, but the computer usually does have a pretty good judge with that little arrow thingy that it uses to determine fairness in traides. And it may not necessarily be a popup, it may just be you having to go to the trading screen weekly, and check what offers have been made to you. Basically, it just should be you receiving offers in one way or another, and not just the player having to initiate everything.

#15 (**permalink**) 03-28-2004

oh great another thing that i have to leave the schedule for? i would prefer the popups like in nhl or mvp baseball cuz if ur lazy like me its easier

#16 (**permalink**) 03-29-2004

In my opinoin forget the off season all im worried about is playing the game if yall got to worry what players yall got then yall must not have enough passion for football as it deserves madden is a great game because of its gamplay graphics and you feel like your in the game.