The lights are on
One of the many features hardcore football fans loved NFL 2K5 was the VIP system, which tracked player tendencies and gave you a quick scouting report on your opponent before an online match. According to ESPN, EA Tiburon is adding a similar feature in Madden NFL 11.
If you need an edge during an online match, you can purchase a scouting report that breaks down your opponent's run vs. pass tendencies, which direction he or she prefers to run, favored passing zones, and his or her top receiving targets.
"Online scouting tracks all of your play-calling and what you like to do in different situations," producer Donny Moore told ESPN. "We're tracking every online game that you play: online ranked, unranked, and Madden Ultimate Team head-to-head."
This will be a welcome addition for hardcore gamers looking for a deeper online experience. But unlike the VIP system in NFL 2K5, it may cost you money.
"Scouting is a consumable, so you earn coins in every online game that you play as long as you don't quit or disconnect." said producer Phil Frazier. "You can then spend these coins on scouting reports or other things within the game (gamers will also be able to use real money to buy coin packs or scouting packs, but the prices are not final). It's the same economy that drives Madden Ultimate Team. So you can literally be playing Madden Ultimate Team online, earn some coins, then turn around and either buy a pack of cards or a scouting pack."
Perhaps anticipating blowback for tying the scouting reports to the game's economy, Frazier also pointed out this isn't meant to be a money-making operation for EA.
You're earning these coins by playing Madden online, so this isn't a money-grab for us, he said. "This is about building up your online skills. We're trying to provide a competitive advantage and we're presenting it to you in a way that's authentic to the sport of football."
If you're being scouted, the game will notify you with a red banner across the top of the scoreboard banner. Players can also scout themselves to understand what information an opponent is likely basing his or her decision on. Given the array of information the system gives you to peruse, the scouting seems to philosophically oppose the new GameFlow system, which EA claims cuts down the time players spend navigating playbooks and greatly speeds up the game. It will be interesting to see if to average time spent per game will come down, stay the same, or go up.
Does this sound like a feature you plan on using?
[via ESPN]
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That's cool but even if I played sports games I doubt I'd use this.
That is pretty awesome but I would like to see how the player plays themselves, not by some scouting card that lets me see how. Sure it is an advantage but that somewhat takes away skill from it. You don't have to anticipate much.
Cool I guess. Could become a major disadvantage.
I would never buy this unless its a one time buy bundled with something else. Ill probably just try to earn the coins legit if it all. And besides Im sure theres going to be a simplistic way to beat this. Just sub out guys every other game and run different playbooks to keep the game and your opponent guessing.
I think it's a nice addition. Definitely adds more realism to the game play, but I wouldn't pay for it.
remember, when discussing the topic of the implementation of new features or mechanics that it is a first step and not a final step toward a quality new feature/mechanic. One positive is they are using skill currency, like leveling, instead of charging gamers for an on disc DLC package. or maybe i don't know *** and this feature is gonna bomb.
this is moving closer to what i hope out of madden in the future but it's still a long way off
2nd paragraph, little typo you may wanna fix.
Sounds like an interesting feature, just thinking about how scouting on other games works.
scouting reports proves why video games are slowly but surely taking over lives!
If I liked Madden anymore I would still not use it.
Eventually, EA Sports games will just be an activation code in a box that will give you access to, say, first down in a football game. You want second down? Five dollars! You want the ability to pass the ball? Five more dollars! You want online scouting? Five more dollars! You want online gameplay? Ten more dollars!
Why not use in game currency? Already gotta pay for the game, then online if you dont buy brand new... the future is looking dark for the cheap gamer :)
god knows!?
great idea but i dont think we should have to pay for it.
Stupid. I hate the idea of "simpler". It just adds more newbies to online franchises and is harder to weed out the weak ones from the good ones (cause there are like 30 of them).