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[FrenchMovieTheme]

apparently i have discovered EA's recipie for pissing your customers off, and just sucking complete balls all around. The ingredients are as follows:

1. Offer "premium" (key emphasis on the quotes) services such as advanced tournaments, and online leagues.

2. Get a nice chunk of change from Dodge to offer the service to your customers for free.

3. Use 100% half assed implementation. DON'T offer online leagues for NBA Live or any other game, only for Madden.

4. Re: Madden leagues; make them complete and total shit. The stat tracking? Make it shitty. The schedule making? Dick it up so bad that the commissioner of the league has to set each individual matchup game by game! It's too easy to just randomly generate a system that DOESN'T give multiple-bye weeks to random players, despite only setting it for 1 bye week per player.

5. Make sure that "Premium" = "Minimum" in regards to online leagues.

6. In order to appease fans of the game who demand better performance and a change in the leagues, simply change the main banner graphic on the page. They'll love it for certain

7. Give the comissioner of the league next to NO power or abilities. Someone doesn't show up for a game while his opponent is ready and willing? Fuck it, just call it a tie! Got a dead beat owner? Uh oh, everyone he plays in the league is going to get a tie on that week! You can literally go undefeated in an online league simply BY NOT DOING A GOD DAMN THING! yessssssssss

8. Why have a reliable system in reporting the games? If someone wins, there should be a CHANCE that it is reported as a non-played game, thereby giving both players a tie (even the true winner!).

9. Make sure the online league has no option to play on All-madden difficulty.

10. When the playoffs for the league roll around, simply make the league disappear. Then, send out an email saying that a player who finished last in his division won the superbowl in your league. EA MUST BE BUTTA!

11. Finally, when your customer looks for an email link, make it as difficult as possible to find. Then, when they do reach you, post the following message:

Unfortunately, we do not answer email directly from this email address. Please visit our new and improved Support Homepage at http://eatech.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/eatech.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php. From there you can check recent support updates, browse our knowledge base, and ask questions to get personal assistance with your particular issues.

Thereby linking you back to the exact place you had gotten the email from before!


So, there you have it. For you business/PR majors and/or future business owners, take a look at the above! That is how you create a successful business!

EA you truly are the king of kings!

 

[Mrbob]

Awww fuck playoffs is my time to extract vengeance. EA has denied me this now!

BTW I wonder if Dodge knows their money is basically being flushed away in one giant turd?

 

[Bob White]

Haven't play Madden since I got "Vick'd" at the Madden Challenge a few months ago. Also, the way EA 'fixed' the quicksand glitch put a sour taste in my mouth.

So yes, fuck EA.

 

[Fifty]

Good post FMT. I wish someone from Tiburon or EA would read this. Pretty sad that they're unwilling to update the rosters often, or update the player ratings (AT ALL). Pretty sad that the leagues are pathetic beyond all possible reason. I love Madden, that's why I'm doing these leagues, but Sega's leagues just kick the shit out of this half-assed piece of shit. They call it "Premium Pass" Premium my ass. Tiburon's team should have more than enough time and money to give us roster updates (with player ratings) as often as possible (or at least every fucking month, come on!!) Too busy? Well EA can hire 2 freaking guys just to work on basic things like the few roster changes that happen every month...and updating players. Use these guys to fix basic flaws in the system...Hell, that can be their only job. It's just sad... Fantastic game, disgusting lack of effort for the "PREMIUM PASS"

 

[ChrisReid]

Awww fuck playoffs is my time to extract vengeance. EA has denied me this now!

BTW I wonder if Dodge knows their money is basically being flushed away in one giant turd?

No, no, no, the Dodge thing is quite a devious plot. When you sign up for the premium stuff, they say it's worth $20, but Dodge is footing the bill *this year*. In reality, Dodge is just paying EA to advertise a little bit to the Madden audience as EA provides basic tournament support. *Next year* all the people who signed up will now be billed the $20 for the same set of meager services as the Dodge promotion ends.. Don't forget to cancel your "premium pass" before Madden 2006 if you don't want to pay $20 for tournaments and message boards and crap.

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

Glad I gave up on football gaming this year. EA leagues sound like complete shit. Both games have way too many problems.

 

[Mrbob]

Good post FMT. I wish someone from Tiburon or EA would read this. Pretty sad that they're unwilling to update the rosters often, or update the player ratings (AT ALL). Pretty sad that the leagues are pathetic beyond all possible reason. I love Madden, that's why I'm doing these leagues, but Sega's leagues just kick the shit out of this half-assed piece of shit. They call it "Premium Pass" Premium my ass. Tiburon's team should have more than enough time and money to give us roster updates (with player ratings) as often as possible (or at least every fucking month, come on!!) Too busy? Well EA can hire 2 freaking guys just to work on basic things like the few roster changes that happen every month...and updating players. Use these guys to fix basic flaws in the system...Hell, that can be their only job. It's just sad... Fantastic game, disgusting lack of effort for the "PREMIUM PASS"

EA had to drop the price of Madden to $29.99. They just don't have the money to handle an extra expense like this!

 

[Matrix]

"10. When the playoffs for the league roll around, simply make the league disappear. Then, send out an email saying that a player who finished last in his division won the superbowl in your league. EA MUST BE BUTTA!"

EA SPORTS Gamer,

Your tournament has been completed. Congratulations to the winner and
thanks for playing!

Game: Madden NFL 2005
Event: GAg Me.season
Winner: matrixadw
Winner's Rank: 5491


:lol

I knew all my hard work and losing would pay off

 

[Fifty]

Don't forget to cancel your "premium pass" before Madden 2006 if you don't want to pay $20 for tournaments and message boards and crap.

Shit, I've got to do that. Fucking EA suckered us all. I should cancel soon or else I'll forget.

 

[nathkenn]

Good post FMT. I wish someone from Tiburon or EA would read this. Pretty sad that they're unwilling to update the rosters often, or update the player ratings (AT ALL). Pretty sad that the leagues are pathetic beyond all possible reason. I love Madden, that's why I'm doing these leagues, but Sega's leagues just kick the shit out of this half-assed piece of shit. They call it "Premium Pass" Premium my ass. Tiburon's team should have more than enough time and money to give us roster updates (with player ratings) as often as possible (or at least every fucking month, come on!!) Too busy? Well EA can hire 2 freaking guys just to work on basic things like the few roster changes that happen every month...and updating players. Use these guys to fix basic flaws in the system...Hell, that can be their only job. It's just sad... Fantastic game, disgusting lack of effort for the "PREMIUM PASS"

i'm from tiburon and i'm reading it, course theres not shit i can do about it
you can expect some sweet stadium models in the future atleast

 

[Fifty]

i'm from tiburon and i'm reading it, course theres not shit i can do about it
you can expect some sweet stadium models in the future atleast

Stadium models?!


Tell your boss to cater to the fans, not America's architects.

That's great and all, but someone should do something about these leagues. It's just ridiculous.....They'll say something on the forums every so often, but it appears just to be a smokescreen.

 

[DMczaf]

i'm from tiburon and i'm reading it, course theres not shit i can do about it
you can expect some sweet stadium models in the future atleast

Sounds great, after the horrible online leagues, no pass interference calls, horrible online support, weak Premium Pass features and the formation bug I said to myself "Hey guys, wouldn't this game be better with some sweet looking stadiums?!"

The EA/Tiburon gods have answered my call! Thank you EA...thank you. You guys have my $20 for next year's Premium Pass!

 

[dskillzhtown]

Someone from EA posted on Maddenmania today that the servers are going down tomorrow (Tuesday) for some updates and the roster update will be up before the Thanksgiving games. Nothing more specific was said unfortunately. I was willing to cut EA some slack as this was their first year trying this out, but don't make promises you can't keep. If you do, don't keep making more promises you can't keep on top of the original ones.

I really don't have an explanation for what is going on. My peeps at Tiburon have pretty much gone e-mail silent.

 

[DMczaf]

I really don't have an explanation for what is going on. My peeps at Tiburon have pretty much gone e-mail silent.

Calm before the storm...

 

[dskillzhtown]

i'm from tiburon and i'm reading it, course theres not shit i can do about it
you can expect some sweet stadium models in the future atleast

Well...if you wanted to get some inside info about what the true plans are for online support (if there are any), could you post it here for us? I mean, I would like some realistic expectations set.

 

[Fifty]

Nate Dog, why can't you do anything about it? Surely you can talk to the guys who work on that stuff if you're not in that department..or at least tell us what they're thinking. It's driving all the real Madden fans crazy.

Also.....Stadium models?!?! No one notices the stadiums, unless they watch the intro before the game or unless they're a fanboy arguging a game's merits. The stadiums are fine...but I suppose that's what your job is and that's all you can do.

Now what the producers should be assigning work on: the player models, the animations, the penalties, the online services, the (formation) glitches....Establishing a patching system should have been done early on. Ugh. Hardcore Madden fans are like abused wives.

 

[DMczaf]

2004 - Present
EA, Tiburon
Environment Modeler

:lol

Sorry about that nathkenn, I guess you really have nothing to do with our problems

Oh well, you are our only link to Tiburon so you take the wrath!

 

[Miguel]

2004 - Present
EA, Tiburon
Environment Modeler

:lol

Sorry about that nathkenn, I guess you really have nothing to do with our problems

Oh well, you are our only link to Tiburon so you take the wrath!

:lol
RAWR!

When you all come back to playing tournaments on PS2, I won't judge you guys. I won't call you turncoats. I won't shun you from our glorious 4 team tournament. No sir...not at all...

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

*UPDATE!!!


give me a fucking BREAK DUDES! so i go to EA's shitty "support site", and i obviously can't find the answer to my question so i email them from there. you can check the status of your email on that page (it will list responses and activity on the issue). i "email" them on sunday night. i check last night (since it said 24 hours until i get a response, and i had no response to that point) and it says that the message had "activity" with it the following (monday) morning. that means some a-hole in tech support or whatever looked at the message AND DID JACK SHIT ABOUT IT! so i "update" my question (per EA's suggest in their original email stating i'd receive an answer in 24 hours), and i still get no response.

look its one thing to have shitty, horrible customer service and a joke of a "premium pass", but if you're going to have those things at least MAN UP about it and say "Hey, EA customer we apologize. our company is complete dog shit, we are lazy, we dont know what we are doing, and we dont know how to fix the problem because we have our workers working 6 days a week, 18 hours a day in order to fix a graphical bug in lord of the rings. please cancel your premium pass immediately because it is clear this is likely the worst "premium" service that has ever been offered by a company."

but no, they cant do that. instead, they just ignore you. go EA go!

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

oh and DM i saw your post @ the official forums. of course there is no answer, nor will there ever be

 

[DMczaf]

oh and DM i saw your post @ the official forums. of course there is no answer, nor will there ever be

Im surprised they didnt delete the post.

 

[dskillzhtown]

Well...played a game today.

-Roster update is there
-Pass Interference is called now
-SEEMS DBs are reacting to slant plays better
-Fatigue seems to be more of a factor as you can't run your RB 10 times in a row anymore without him getting tired.

That is all I saw, or all I noticed. Not sure if there were any league updates, but I think we should start season 2 after the holiday.

 

[Ramirez]

Worst roster update EVAR.

How can the Steelers still be rated so shitty and the Chiefs remain a 90 overall? :lol

 

[Fifty]

I thought they said that fatigue was going to always be off for ranked games. I didn't know they changed anything.

 

[Ramirez]

Im still not convinced on the PI either,it happened once in mine and Dskillz's game and there was absolutely no contact that I could see.

 

[dskillzhtown]

I thought they said that fatigue was going to always be off for ranked games. I didn't know they changed anything.

I meant in our unranked game. Fred Taylor came out alot sooner than he did usually. On the PI, I had NEVER seen a PI called online. I checked a few Madden sites and they have noticed PIs being called now. But I think those people were killing WRs before the ball got there.

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

guys keep in mind that EA doesn't update the "Overall stats" for a team. however, they DO change individual player ratings. so, seeing the chiefs at a 90 doesn't mean they are actually a 90. EA is just too lazy to change the overall i guess. they bumped up a few niners on my team (eric johnson) and brought others down, but my overall ratings all stayed the same.

 

[DMczaf]

What's this?! EA responded! OMG!

Hello,

I apologize for our delay in responding to your issue. Due to a problem here at EA we had some inquiries which were delayed for some time. In looking at your issue here it is my sincere hope that you have resolved this issue. If this is an issue that is still occurring please let me know with as much detail as possible and I'll respond with an answer as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

EARepWalsh
EA Sports Online

I just got the million dollar answer

 

[Fifty]

"In looking at your issue here it is my sincere hope that you have resolved this issue. If this is an issue that is still occurring please let me know with as much detail as possible and I'll respond with an answer as soon as possible."

Wtf kinda answer is that? Maybe it would help to know your question.

 

[nathkenn]

I wish I could help you guys but no one is going to listen to a new hire environment modeler =P

I dont even think i've met anyone who handles that kind of stuff, mostly just other artists and my managers, i know a lot of people want to make the games the best they can be but most of the time our hands are tied =/
i'm glad nobody notices the stadiums that means less heat on me when the overtime kicks in hehe, you guys havent seen any of my stuff yet but maybe this time next year

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

you want stadium input? ill give you some input. candlestick park (fuck off monster park) is a sham and a mockery in this game. they have the endzone "scoreboard" down decently, but the seating is horribly modeled. in the real candlestick, there is a section on one of the endzones that stretches a different way in the left corner. no one EVER sits in those seats (infact, everytime i have been to a niners game they have been blocked off). yet, i never see this replicated in madden. pass that on to the suits buddy!

 

[nathkenn]

I dont think i'm doing that one but i'll make sure it gets in there
a picture of that section would help, anything else?