The better version of Apex

[Tengo Juego]

I subscribed to this guy on youtube a little over a month ago. Basically evaluates Madden in the same way that Apex does, but in a MUCH more sophisticated way. He doesn't come up with ridiculous terms or anything, just discusses what he thinks is wrong with Madden.

I understand some people don't care about these things, and some just have an easier time overlooking these things, but for those who care, I think its worth your time.

Heres his channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/RyanMoody21#play/uploads

 

[Aso]

I think he's annoying. Plus he is analyzing Madden 09 and saying whats wrong unlike apex who analyzes Madden 10 videos and NCAA 10.

 

[Point Blank]

I enjoy Apex's videos more. This guy isn't bad though.

 

[Tengo Juego]

The jokes and nonsense in Apex's videos are what turn me away. I'm not watching to laugh.

 

[Point Blank]

Yeah that vid is hilarious :laugh:

 

[Sven Draconian]

Both Apex and Moody are fucktards. Absolute, total, fucktards. Atleast Apex is somewhat comical, Moody is just wrong.

Moody's first ever video was completely assinine. He doesn't understand the coverage that was called, but spouts off his opinon anyway. The AI did a relatively good job on the video and he acted like it was the worst coverage in football history. He's a classic example of why people should be weary of the internet, anybody can post a video and sound authoritative...even if they are clueless.

Otherwise, these tools go out of their way to pick apart animations and issues with the game. This is especially silly since they use instant replay which compresses the video so it looks worse than it did live.

Obviously the physcis in the game are atrocious, that's undeniable. However, the examples these guys use are often wrong and their soltuions would serve to make the game worse. I'm reminded of Matt Millen, it's easy to sound smart when you control the discussion, but that doesn't mean they really understand what is going on.

 

[Spidey]

This guy is certainly easier to listen to than Apex but thats not really hard. My 7 year old cousin sounds more intelligent. The video itself isn't as good I don't think.

I can't stand Apex. I don't get how people find him comical. I can't think of one time I laughed watching his vids. zOMG!!! He said potty training!!! I maybe would have laughed at that when i was in third grade and even then I doubt it.

The idea behind his videos is great. I love that he's picking apart the game, which will hopefully lead to better future games. I'm glad he makes the videos. I just wish he could present them in a way that doesn't make him sound like a retarded 5 year old. That said, more power to him. I hope he continues to do the vids as it helps the game. I just won't watch them. Every time I do I want to launch myself off my balcony.

 

[Tengo Juego]

Both Apex and Moody are fucktards. Absolute, total, fucktards. Atleast Apex is somewhat comical, Moody is just wrong.

Moody's first ever video was completely assinine. He doesn't understand the coverage that was called, but spouts off his opinon anyway. The AI did a relatively good job on the video and he acted like it was the worst coverage in football history. He's a classic example of why people should be weary of the internet, anybody can post a video and sound authoritative...even if they are clueless.

Otherwise, these tools go out of their way to pick apart animations and issues with the game. This is especially silly since they use instant replay which compresses the video so it looks worse than it did live.

Obviously the physcis in the game are atrocious, that's undeniable. However, the examples these guys use are often wrong and their soltuions would serve to make the game worse. I'm reminded of Matt Millen, it's easy to sound smart when you control the discussion, but that doesn't mean they really understand what is going on.

They might not be in the best position to decide the way to go about fixing these issues, but you cant sit there and deny what they show is faulty gameplay.

Moody's first video(to the best of my knowledge) was APF 2K8 regarding situational awareness. So I'm not sure what you're referring to. Can you give me a link to the video you say is asinine?

I just don't agree at all with you just dismissing the things they show in their videos because you don't like the way they deliver it.

 

[Sven Draconian]

They might not be in the best position to decide the way to go about fixing these issues, but you cant sit there and deny what they show is faulty gameplay.

Moody's first video(to the best of my knowledge) was APF 2K8 regarding situational awareness. So I'm not sure what you're referring to. Can you give me a link to the video you say is asinine?

I just don't agree at all with you just dismissing the things they show in their videos because you don't like the way they deliver it.

The video I was referring to was Madden 2009 coverage issues that need to be resolved.

I don't dismiss thembecause of their delivery, I dimiss it because they don't really make a point. To begin with, they demonstrate their point in replay mode, which is not a true representation of the game. Frames are skipped to save space so things don't look as good as they do live. Things look choppy and a lot of transitions are missed.

Secondly, it's an engine based on animations. Sometimes the animations aren't going to look great, that's an unfortunate reality at this point. Harping on that isn't going to fix the game, it's a technology issue.

Lets look at this video.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN6ulKmss00&feature=channel"]YouTube - Situation Awareness In Coverage Not Represented In Madden 2009 Fixed In 2010?[/ame]

He gets upset because a running back runs his route. Before the play he refers to the fact players don't react to the play right, for example, defenders staying in their zone.

Rule #1 of zone defense= Don't leave your f*cking zone. When I'm coaching defensive backs, the quickest way for the kids to get ripped is to leave their zone. You leave your zone, big plays happen.

More on to the point of the video, which is that #1- Addai runs into the offensive line (Again, slow motion replay distorts the actual animations. Maybe Addai effected the block, maybe he didn't, but that replay is inconclusive because it wasn't captured live). Secondly, what does he want Addai to do? Not run his route? The little arrow/drag down the LoS is a very real play, and a very real defensive strategy is to force the running back into the wash.

Secondly, he wants the back to pickup the blitzing corner. Why? check release routes are intended to pick up linebacker blitzes, and I don't know if that was even a check/release pattern.

More importantly, what if I called that play because I wanted to dump it right over the blitzing corners head? I'd be PISSED if my back decided to block the corner instead of run his route. If I catch you in a blitz and go to dump it too my hot read, he better not have decided to block instead.

---------------------------------------

Obviously some of the animations they show off are bad. Obviously madden has some poor situations. No denying that. The AI plays very poorly at times, no denying it. Unfortunately, these two don't know good play from bad so nothing they say can be taken seriously. I'm not even saying they don't point out flaws, more that they point out flaws that everybody already know. They make videos declaring that the sky is blue. On the occasion that they do find a legit flaw I'm reminded of an expression dealing with blind squirrels and nuts.

 

[Tengo Juego]

First problem he had was the RB just simply running RIGHT into the lineman and actually moving the blocker and DE to get through. Ugly animation, ok. It would be nice for Addai to react to that and take a different path to continue his route but w/e... moving on.

He then explains that Ugoh was interfered with...Ugoh in that case shouldn't worry about that D-lineman going inside anyway. Thats why he has a Guard and a Center...

The blitz pick up. It looked like a straight up out route. Not a check route, so yeah, you're right. It was the right thing for Addai to do. Side note: Have you really had success with dumping the ball to the RB/FB in situations like that? I don't think I've ever been able to just drop a ball over defenders. But ball physics and trajectory is an issue of its own...

I'm starting to understand why you would dislike the two. They don't always look at all possibilities when they evaluate these plays. I guess the reason I watch is because I see little things in the game and I relate to the situations.

I really wish all the sliding, morphing/clipping, players being slowed down or sped up to accommodate for the AI, would be toned down at the least. Its impossible to eliminate completely, but I just wanna know if it can be better.

 

[Sven Draconian]

First problem he had was the RB just simply running RIGHT into the lineman and actually moving the blocker and DE to get through. Ugly animation, ok. It would be nice for Addai to react to that and take a different path to continue his route but w/e... moving on.

He then explains that Ugoh was interfered with...Ugoh in that case shouldn't worry about that D-lineman going inside anyway. Thats why he has a Guard and a Center...

The blitz pick up. It looked like a straight up out route. Not a check route, so yeah, you're right. It was the right thing for Addai to do. Side note: Have you really had success with dumping the ball to the RB/FB in situations like that? I don't think I've ever been able to just drop a ball over defenders. But ball physics and trajectory is an issue of its own...

I'm starting to understand why you would dislike the two. They don't always look at all possibilities when they evaluate these plays. I guess the reason I watch is because I see little things in the game and I relate to the situations.

I really wish all the sliding, morphing/clipping, players being slowed down or sped up to accommodate for the AI, would be toned down at the least. Its impossible to eliminate completely, but I just wanna know if it can be better.

The Ugoh situation is an entire different issue, and that is that the DL stunts blow. That is an ugly, ugly loop by the DT. It's hard for me to pin down what the AI should really do with such an ugly animation. That D-tackle is never going to get that edge rush on his stunt so why should Ugoh really respect it?

The RB/OL interference is what it is. That really happens in football (albeit, without the morphing issues, but who really knows how it looked in real time).doesn't bother me so much because it's still an animations based game. 2k is even more egregious in this department (and I played the crap out of APF 2k8) with players just running through players. Not to say that either is ideal, more that as long as we have animation based gaming that type of stuff is going to happen. Why worry about it? Sure, the running back bending his path or "getting skinny" to sneak through the line would be nice, but that's pretty cosmetic IMHO.

I really hope that the slower game speed of '10 helps to aleviate the AI morphing-to-cover-up-fuckups that are so prevelant in Next-Gen. That has been the direction Madden has been taking for years, instead of fixing the AI they just make the game play faster so the fuckups aren't so obvious.

Sidenote: I can throw that pass, but you need to hold the ball for an absurdly long time (wait until the corner is within the "pocket")..or you need to drop back farther so the corner is out of the way. Definately can't just lob it up because it either A) Doesn't lob or B) puts the back into a stupid catch animation.

 

[Tengo Juego]

Same here about the slower gameplay. NCAA 10 really could have used a game speed slider, or just slowed down period.

I've honestly never had success with dump passes outside of screen plays. I'll have to mess with it more in the demo come Thursday.

 

[Sven Draconian]

Same here about the slower gameplay. NCAA 10 really could have used a game speed slider, or just slowed down period.

I've honestly never had success with dump passes outside of screen plays. I'll have to mess with it more in the demo come Thursday.

NCAA 10 is way too fast. Ball velocity is the worst, those slants and drags are so easy to hit because the coverage can't react to the ball fast enough. It really detracts from the online game because zone coverage is worthless and if you man up they'll just throw the slant and drag.