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[Jewbacca]

Is there something wrong with their choice of colors?!? I mean the models just stick out like crazy compared to everything else... I feel like they should have gone with less bold colors... I don't know.

 

[pxleyes]

We need more shots of Cadillac's package.

This is the kind of shit that proves EA has fucked up priorities. Last time I checked, the damn NFL or reebok logo on the pants isn't going to be seen in game. However, 3D grass would be a nice addition after the last 10 years of a flat plain. If they can pull it off in Tiger Woods and Fifa, there is ZERO excuse here.

EA needs to rethink where they put the resources in games like this quick before it turns into a god damn mess....o wait...it already is.

 

[Borys]

Never forget:

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

whoa! everybody needs to coooooooooooo-oooool out!

 

[dorio]

Never forget:

And never forget that gaf was bitchin about that target render also.

 

[DMczaf]

New pics straight from the Madden dev team to fan sites.

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

damn that looks sweet.

sadly the game looks like piss in motion so far. prove me wrong EA, prove me wrong!

 

[bishoptl]

:lol @ Chad Johnson getting pwned

 

[Smilebit]

Looks like they have depth of field blur now.

 

[Maverick]

Why oh why do i feel like this game is not going to be tight gameplay wise.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

wtf is that star jones in a steelers uniform in the background.

 

[Matrix]

damn that looks sweet.

sadly the game looks like piss in motion so far. prove me wrong EA, prove me wrong!

I think they will prove everyone wrong,my gut feeling is that the final product will look much smoother in motion.

These last few pics are f-ing sweet.

 

[dorio]

I'll be ecstatic if they get this to look as good in motion as NBALive.

 

[Smilebit]

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

looks like #58 is about to nut all over the field.

bottom line is a better majority of the pictures have looked awesome. the problem is that when i see the game in motion, it looks like a complete god damn joke.

NO MORE PICS FROM UNPLAYABLE CAMERA ANGLES EA! give us the real deal!

 

[Mrbob]

Never forget:

PS3 version of course.

Not only does the current Madden 06 360 footage look off in motion, it is running at 30FPS. Hopefully EA has these two things ironed out.

Has anyone thought about pressure sensitive passing? I found out the other day Xbox 360 face buttons aren't analog anymore. The face buttons are digital. How exactly is this going to work with pressure sensitive passing between drilling the ball and lobbing it to the receiver?

 

[shpankey]

Lobs/Bullets/In-Between all can still be done without analog buttons. Hell, that was actually in Madden loooong before they ever came out with pressure sensitive buttons. In fact, they had that feature in Madden all the way back on the Genesis.

I still like my idea of passing with the R-Trigger though (L-Trigger for lefties) and just using the face buttons to pick (look to) whicher receiver... then using the Trigger to throw it to him. With the huge analog range of a trigger, you could REALLY put 'touch' on the ball. the unused Trigger (Left Trigger if you're throwing with your Right Trigger) could be used as a 'tuck-n-run' trigger.

 

[Pimpwerx]

I don't know why they don't have grass in this game. FIFA has the same number of players on the field, and it has grass. AFAIK, the grass is nothing more than the same "fur-shading" effect we see in Conker and Kameo. I think it's just a really noisy normal-map. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. PEACE.

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

I still like my idea of passing with the R-Trigger though (L-Trigger for lefties) and just using the face buttons to pick (look to) whicher receiver... then using the Trigger to throw it to him. With the huge analog range of a trigger, you could REALLY put 'touch' on the ball.

damn for a minute i thought this was confirmed to be in

 

[Doom_Bringer]

PS3 version of course.

You really think so? I think this is the best EA can do! They really missed the target render though. I was hoping the next gen madden would look like that.

 

[shpankey]

damn for a minute i thought this was confirmed to be in

heh, I can only dream. but i bet someday some really smart programmer will think of it also. then i'll have my dream controls for a football game.

 

[Mrbob]

I didn't join the Madden bandwagon until Madden 2005. Glad to see pressure sensitive passing was around in the 16 bit days. I like your idea on passing too shpankey.

You really think so? I think this is the best EA can do! They really missed the target render though. I was hoping the next gen madden would look like that.

Naw I was just joking.

The detail is nice in the target render, but it animated horribly. I don't think the models look too far off. In fact, I think Strahans face in the target render isn't too hot at all.

 

[shpankey]

It may just be me, but I always though the target render video looked like shit. I guess you guys are talking about 'technically'. Technically, it may have been amazing, but artistically it looked awfull. As bad as I don't like the look of Madden right now on x360, it still in my eye looks better than that target shit. One of the biggest probelms with it was the lack of lighting and the cartoony looking player models.

 

[shantyman]

:lol @ Chad Johnson getting pwned

That is straight BS!

 

[truffleshuffle83]

I don't know why they don't have grass in this game. FIFA has the same number of players on the field, and it has grass. AFAIK, the grass is nothing more than the same "fur-shading" effect we see in Conker and Kameo. I think it's just a really noisy normal-map. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. PEACE.

if you look at the pics of the raiders footage blim had you could see the grass, it wasnt like fifa but it was noticable. youre not playing in a field of ankle high grass :lol

 

[Ramirez]

I mean is it just me or with every new pic do things start to look better,in that Townsend pic for example,you can really see the different body types,where as a week ago everyone looked like monsters...fix the running animation,do it EA!

 

[DMczaf]

I mean is it just me or with every new pic do things start to look better,in that Townsend pic for example,you can really see the different body types,where as a week ago everyone looked like monsters...fix the running animation,do it EA!

The pics that look good are the ones that EA's Madden team sends to Madden fansites. The ones that look odd are the pics EA releases to magazines and websites. Hopefully EA starts sending more stuff to the fansites.

 

[Pimpwerx]

if you look at the pics of the raiders footage blim had you could see the grass, it wasnt like fifa but it was noticable. youre not playing in a field of ankle high grass :lol

You got a link? I haven't seen a single shot or vid with anything looking like grass. I would also wonder why none of the high-quality shots show any sign of this. It's the same textures, but not grass. I think Fifa is just using fur-shading on the ground. It's not like they're using polygons or anything. That would look hideous and alias out the wazzoo. This has to be a noise normal-map or something. But I just don't see why Madden doesn't have this. No excuse IMO. PEACE.

 

[truffleshuffle83]

ea forced blim to take it down, i believe it was posted in one of the madden threads recently like last weeek. it was raiders footage of the introduction of the team. the grass was clearly visible and not just a flat surface

it was part of this pic set
http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=66368&page=1&pp=50&highlight=madden+xbox

but the specific pic i am referring to isnt in that thread

 

[DMczaf]

 

[FightyF]

There's another big problem in my graphic whore's eyes that has a simple solution.

The people on the sidelines stick out like a sore thumb because they lack shadows. To me, they stick out BIG TIME. I dunno about you guys. Then again I am the self-professed offical GAF graphics whore.

Simple solution is obviously to use a simple texture to mimic the shadow. 2 triangles, one simple texture, and that's it. So many games in the past, including EA's had to do that during the 32-bit era. It'll do the job here.

 

[FightyF]

Seriously, that looks like 2K5 to me at first glance!

 

[SonnyBoy]

Is it me or are the RAM's olinmen a bunch of clones? I see no distinction between bodies of the players visible. Everything seems scripted, their feet are all placed exactly the same.

 

[DMczaf]

Is it me or are the RAM's olinmen a bunch of clones? I see no distinction between bodies of the players visible.

Clones are dominating 360 Sports games.

 

[CB3]

Clones are dominating 360 Sports games.

:lol :lol :lol the Crowds still suck. Especially that girl with the Blonde hair. Looks like a damn elf

 

[HokieJoe]

I found out the other day Xbox 360 face buttons aren't analog anymore. The face buttons are digital.

Nooooooooooo, don't tell me that!

I'm so screwed when it comes to PGR3 then, because I use the face buttons for brake and gas; and the D-pad for steering. Sucks out loud if true- for me anyway.

 

[Ramirez]

I love the Townsend/Johnson pic,it really looks miles ahead of the other pics to me for some reason,the angle I guess,I dunno.

 

[shpankey]

Nooooooooooo, don't tell me that!

I'm so screwed when it comes to PGR3 then, because I use the face buttons for brake and gas; and the D-pad for steering. Sucks out loud if true- for me anyway.

I'm curious as to why(?). You actually prefer digital steering? And you like analog buttons over the analog triggers?

 

[DMczaf]

http://forums.xbox.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=13851862

"Madden 2006 Xbox 360

EA Sports’ flagship title is back and from what I could see it is better than ever. Many of you know of my distaste for the last few iterations of the Madden franchise. I’ve preferred Visual Concepts/Take Two Interactive’s NFL 2K(x) series since the original made its debut on the Sega Dreamcast. This time around you can see that EA Sports has put its best foot forward and is utilizing the NFL license to its fullest. Madden 2006 looks to be a tour de force of console football and likely the only football game you’ll need – until Madden 2007 and NCAA Football 2007 of course.

Electronic Arts Director of Marketing Jordan Edelstein and EA Sports Senior Public Relations Manager Wendy Spander were on hand to give us the tour of the game, point out its newest additions, offer tips and also laugh along with us at a few of the bugs that are still being ironed out. Jordan pointed out that Madden 2006 for the XBOX 360 is somewhere around 80% complete overall and the visuals were approximately 90%.

I know this - I cannot wait to see the visuals at 100%. This is the prettiest football game around, hands down (Keep in mind that this is a recurring theme for my impressions of almost every game I played at the event as the 360 is a behemoth when it comes to graphics). The players’ heads scanned for the Madden 2006 look phenomenal. My boy Donovan McNabb looks like he just finished filming a Chunky Soup Commercial. The only thing this game is missing is Donovan’s mom running around on the sidelines.

The opening of each game starts with a close up of the players leaving the tunnel, running and high-fiving their way through a tunnel of their teammates for the announcement of the starting lineups. This is your first glimpse into how good the game looks and it is not a cut scene, it is in-engine. Player models are realistic, negating my earlier complaint that Michael Vick looked like a linebacker in a previous photo release by EA. At that time, there was only one player model so everyone looked to have the same build. Now though, you’ll know whom to avoid and whom to take on when you see either a defensive back or a defensive lineman coming to make the play.

The level of graphical detail is mind-boggling. Zoom in on an instant replay and you can see every individual thread and seam on the uniforms, right down to the mesh perforation. Pan toward the players face and if you know the face, you’ll instantly recognize them and have to stop yourself from trying to hold a conversation with the TV screen. The stadiums are so detailed that you can literally find the individual seat you sat in at the last game you attended. The weather effects are very impressive and they do have an impact on the gameplay – i.e. snow will slow things up and make it more difficult for the players to catch the ball. Snow will even accumulate on the field, though EA did not have time to allow for footprints to show up and be altered real-time. It’s a nice thought for the second XBOX 360 Madden, no?

Player animations match the photo realism of the rest of the game as they should. The quarterbacks’ motions look solid, though Jordan said they are working to firm them up as the team was not entirely pleased with how the ball is thrown at times. Solo and gang-tackles look great. Players cutting, running, jumping and diving look great as well. You can tell this game was rebuilt from the ground up. EA didn’t want to import everything from the XBOX version. They wanted to start from scratch and it’s a great thing for all of us that they did.

In order to remind us of the initial artist renderings of Madden shown during the 2005 NFL Draft, Jordan started a game with the Eagles playing the Patriots in the snow. I’ll be the first to tell you that I didn’t like the artist renderings. They looked too much like a cartoon and not enough like authentic NFL football. You may as well forget that old commercial because this football game is the real deal. I don’t mean to harp on graphics, but they’re purty, and this game looks very realistic, much unlike the creepy artist renderings. This game blows those renderings away in my opinion. The launch is off to a good start folks.

EA didn’t stop with a complete overhaul of the visuals. There are a number of additions to the franchise this time around. EA’s contract with the NFL gives them access to everything they need to make the game as authentic and true to life as possible. This also means that EA has access to all audio and video footage from NFL Films. This has allowed EA to incorporate the authentic voices of 18 starting NFL quarterbacks so the cadence and audiles at the line of scrimmage sound as though Payton Manning, Michael Vick, Brett Favre, or 15 other real quarterbacks are making the call and directing their offenses. The same holds true for the defensive side of the ball as you’ll hear middle linebacker’s such as Ray Lewis aligning their teammates on the field and jawing at the offense. It was pretty cool the first time I recognized a players voice. And you want to talk authentic, Ed Hochuli has been face-scanned and he is in the game. I saw him call a penalty and heard his voice and immediately asked Jordan if that was Ed. Authenticity – of course it is Ed, lawyer by day accept on Sunday’s Hochuli. Pretty soon, you might actually think you were playing for an NFL franchise. The key word here if you missed it is authenticity.

With the NFL License also comes the most in depth set of statistics ever in a football game. The entire history of NFL stats/records is in the game and your players can be retired and inducted into the Hall of Fame if their stats meet certain standards. Stats from every year of a 30 year franchise are available for your viewing and the key players from every game you’ve played during that time span can be pulled up in a moments’ notice.

The Franchise Mode is in tact although Owner Mode did not make the cut for this version of Madden 2006. As long as the gameplay is perfectly honed, I’m fine with that omission. Hopefully it will make the cut next time around. But now to the most important element, even if everyone does want to focus on the visuals: gameplay.

Madden plays better than ever. I felt right at home picking up the controller and jumping into an in-progress game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. Running the ball is solid and the player momentum feels very good. You feel like you can really make a cut with a back like Brian Westbrook. The passing game is very tight this time around. Quarterback Vision is available in the 360 version of Madden 2006, as is Precision Passing, but this time you can use Precision Passing without dealing with the troublesome Quarterback Vision. This is a great touch that I think will appease those who hated Quarterback Vision but refused to play the game without being able to adequately lead their receiver to an open hole in the defense. The Hit Stick and Truck Stick are in place and looking good as well. There are still some gameplay issues with the offensive and defensive lines especially, and some illegal tackle animations that need to be removed, such as the horeshoe tackle which is what happened to T.O. last season against the Cowboys Roy Williams. Once these issues are resolved, this could be one for the ages. Here's hoping.

I was on the fence before about Madden. I trashed the pictures and videos I saw and was my usual cynical self. I was all smiles at the preview event while playing the game however. EA shut me up this time, and if they clean up the bugs that were present, football fans will be rejoicing everywhere come November 11, 2005."

 

[PhatSaqs]

http://forums.xbox.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=13851862

 

[Outdoor Miner]

With the NFL License also comes the most in depth set of statistics ever in a football game. The entire history of NFL stats/records is in the game and your players can be retired and inducted into the Hall of Fame if their stats meet certain standards. Stats from every year of a 30 year franchise are available for your viewing and the key players from every game you’ve played during that time span can be pulled up in a moments’ notice.

Finally.

 

[shantyman]

http://forums.xbox.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=13851862

I pray this is true...

 

[Matlock]

http://media.putfile.com/madden96

 

[AB 101]

I guess I am just going to have to wait and see what this looks like on a actual TV screen and play it.

Not real high on it at the moment.

 

[newsguy]

If Madden 360 hasn't surpassed PD0 in it's rollercoaster style impressions, it's certainly on par with it. With that said, I give it the benefit of the doubt because many of the "journalists" trashing it may be having the NFL license hissyfit like every other forum fanboy.

 

[GhaleonEB]

football fans will be rejoicing everywhere come November 11, 2005."

What?

 

[DMczaf]

What?

EBGames.com has Nov 15, when do the games actually ship?

 

[newsguy]

EBGames.com has Nov 15, when do the games actually ship?

That's right. Lots of 3rd party stuff will ship a week early.

 

[J2 Cool]

This game has pre-X05 Gears of War syndrome. Very impressive in screens but fix the animation you bastards! Can't hide behind screens and textures for long. Also, why do we have to settle for grass like this after seeing Fifa '06?

 

[Ramirez]

If they had grass like FIFA it would look ridiculous...football field grass is not very high at all,it's like a foot tall in the FIFA screens :lol