There has been a lot of consternation this year regarding our move to All-Madden difficulty for our Madden leagues. Not so much because guys don't enjoy more of a challenge, but more so because of the way the game goes about creating that challenge.
EA, and probably quite a few sports games, use ratings boosts or penalties to make the difficulty levels easier or harder. That was certainly a nice feature when it was added to games back in the 90's and was probably the best we could hope for through much of the 2000's. However, in today's age of video games, isn't it time for a better system to challenge users?
The problem with ratings boosts and penalties is the outcomes you get feel very fake at times. You see a mid-grade backup QB play like Tom Brady or a marginal running back breaking tackles and trucking people like Marshawn Lynch. You're not getting a smarter game or a game that tests your level of football acumen (in the case of Madden), you're just getting the Level 13 boss from your favorite action/adventure game.
We really need to move past this system of increasing difficulty through attribute boosts now though. Many of us thought we would get this when Madden moved to Ignite back on Madden 13. Ignite boasted the human intelligence aspect of the engine and made us all believe the game would be smarter and challenge us all in new ways as players. While we've definitely seen some improvements to AI, the developers haven't been able to transition that to difficulty levels yet. Hopefully, moving to Frostbite will allow them to finally capture that much needed aspect of the sport.
With that in mind, here is a general concept of how I feel AI should be handled on each difficulty level going forward. This would make the games much more enjoyable as users compete on the higher levels.
Overview
I'll start by acknowledging that these ideas are likely much easier to conceive than actually implement. Not everything that we think should happen can happen. However, I think all sports games at this point should operate off of a system like this. These gaming systems are much too advanced and the technology around us is far too superior now to be functioning off of principles that have been in play for the last 20 years.
The basic idea of this new system (for any sports game) would be to increase difficulty through strategy and knowledge of the game vs artificial stat boosts or penalties. This probably means an entirely new AI system but, as mentioned, this is very much needed at this point. Users would succeed at the higher difficulty levels based on their knowledge of the game and its strategic principles and their execution of those. EA tried something similar back around Madden 13 with dynamic AI. This wouldn't necessarily be the same type of system but may operate on some of the same ideals.
Baseline Difficulty
The first step is to establish a baseline difficulty for the game. For many years now, Madden has used All-Pro as the default difficulty. Pretty much every guy who has played Madden for any length of time knows that they have to be able to compete on All-Pro. That's the perception at least, but we know we are getting stat boosts if we go down in difficulty so we know we have to figure out how to win on "default" All-Pro. There is also a large portion of the community that feels that they have to play on All-Madden and prove they can play the game on the highest difficulty. This has served the game well for many, many years. However, its time for a change.
Games like MLB The Show not only have more difficulty levels, but they also have a Legend difficulty that only a very small percentage of their users can compete on. Madden needs to move in this direction as well. I propose adding a new beginner level and making Pro the new default level for programming.
Beginner Difficulty (new users)
This would be the easiest difficulty and the place where new players to the game would start. Only very basic football knowledge would be required. Users on beginner difficulty would be able to succeed largely by using the same basic 4-5 plays on offense and 2-3 basic concepts on defense. The AI would be very basic and let new users experience success while learning the nuances of the game.
Rookie Difficulty (inexperienced users)
Rookie has traditionally been the easiest difficulty level but gets a step up now. Rookie doesn't have to be the beginner level because users are "rookies" to the game. Rather, rookie says I'm no longer a beginner and have actually been "drafted" to an NFL team. I understand what I need to be doing and now its time to hone my skills.
Rookie difficulty would take a step up and require users to use around 10-12 different offensive plays on offense and 5-6 concepts on defense to be successful. The AI would be smart enough to adapt to their play if they keep running the same 4-5 plays they ran on beginner. However, the AI would struggle with users who were diverse enough to execute a slightly more diverse gameplan against it.
Pro Difficulty (default difficulty)
The new default. This should be the level that the vast majority of Madden player spend their time. Users on Pro difficulty would be expected to utilize at least 5-6 different formations and execute a variety of different plays from each (maybe 15-20 overall). The AI would be able to sense tendencies to a degree, but as long as the user wasn't runnign the same plays in the same situations over and over, they could experience success. Defensively, users will be facing a larger variety of plays and formations and will be expected to mix up man and zone concepts as well as well timed blitzes to be successful.
All-Pro Difficulty (Top 25%)
All-Pro now becomes the first level of the new "advanced" AI. This is where actual football knowledge would come in to play. A fairly decent understanding of both offensive and defensive concepts would be needed. Users would need to be able to identify MOFO and MOFC coverages as well as possible blitz pickups. They would need to use around 10-12 different formations and know at least 4-5 different plays in each to keep the AI off balance. On defense, users would need to understand over and under fronts and gap principles and force responsibilities. They would need to understand what Cover 2, Cover 3, etc takes away and gives up. They would need to recognize patterns in the AI and be able to call plays and make adjustments to take those tendencies away. Users would also have to understand disguising coverages and the different blitz principles. They would have to have some kind of idea of where their opponent is weak and how to attack it. All-Pro should be for higher level players and guys who played and understand football and its concepts. Think good high school and college players.
All-Madden Difficulty (Top 5-10%)
The new creme dela creme of difficulty levels. Only experts need apply. All-Madden should not be enjoyable for any user who does not have a very deep understanding of football and football strategy. This difficulty level should be for high level college players, NFL players and high level high school, college and NFL coaches. All-Madden should be the truest simulation of NFL football. The AI should know what you like to do on 3rd and long and what you like to call defensively on 1st and 10 and it should be able to exploit that. Users should be expected to use a variety of formations (15+) and very rarely use the same play from the same formation more than once. The All-Madden AI should be able to anticipate a user's tendency and adapt to what they do. They should jump your routes if you throw them too often. They should blanket receivers you throw to too often. They should fool you with disguised coverages. Defensively, you should have to set up the offense and try and fool them. You should be able to make Cover 3 look like Cover 2, man to look like zone, etc. You should have to use blitzes from different angles and you should absolutely have to know your opponent's strengths and weakness and how to attack them. Users should not be able to be repetitive and neither should the AI.
Last Words
I'm sure this all sounds great in theory and that it is extremely hard to implement in the game. I understand that. But its time for the status quo to change. Madden needs to set the standard with gameplay. Rex Dickson has stated that he wants competitive Madden to look like football on Sundays. Well, this is where it starts. Games teach their players how to play their sport to a large degree. Madden has been teaching its players to run 4 verts every 3rd down, run outside consistently and to blitz heavily for far too long. Its time that Madden teaches those who want to play the game on the higher levels what real football is. Its also time to give new and inexperienced users another difficulty option and allow them the rise through the ranks organically. Its time for Madden to look like real football on Sundays when played at its highest levels.
EA, and probably quite a few sports games, use ratings boosts or penalties to make the difficulty levels easier or harder. That was certainly a nice feature when it was added to games back in the 90's and was probably the best we could hope for through much of the 2000's. However, in today's age of video games, isn't it time for a better system to challenge users?
The problem with ratings boosts and penalties is the outcomes you get feel very fake at times. You see a mid-grade backup QB play like Tom Brady or a marginal running back breaking tackles and trucking people like Marshawn Lynch. You're not getting a smarter game or a game that tests your level of football acumen (in the case of Madden), you're just getting the Level 13 boss from your favorite action/adventure game.
We really need to move past this system of increasing difficulty through attribute boosts now though. Many of us thought we would get this when Madden moved to Ignite back on Madden 13. Ignite boasted the human intelligence aspect of the engine and made us all believe the game would be smarter and challenge us all in new ways as players. While we've definitely seen some improvements to AI, the developers haven't been able to transition that to difficulty levels yet. Hopefully, moving to Frostbite will allow them to finally capture that much needed aspect of the sport.
With that in mind, here is a general concept of how I feel AI should be handled on each difficulty level going forward. This would make the games much more enjoyable as users compete on the higher levels.
Overview
I'll start by acknowledging that these ideas are likely much easier to conceive than actually implement. Not everything that we think should happen can happen. However, I think all sports games at this point should operate off of a system like this. These gaming systems are much too advanced and the technology around us is far too superior now to be functioning off of principles that have been in play for the last 20 years.
The basic idea of this new system (for any sports game) would be to increase difficulty through strategy and knowledge of the game vs artificial stat boosts or penalties. This probably means an entirely new AI system but, as mentioned, this is very much needed at this point. Users would succeed at the higher difficulty levels based on their knowledge of the game and its strategic principles and their execution of those. EA tried something similar back around Madden 13 with dynamic AI. This wouldn't necessarily be the same type of system but may operate on some of the same ideals.
Baseline Difficulty
The first step is to establish a baseline difficulty for the game. For many years now, Madden has used All-Pro as the default difficulty. Pretty much every guy who has played Madden for any length of time knows that they have to be able to compete on All-Pro. That's the perception at least, but we know we are getting stat boosts if we go down in difficulty so we know we have to figure out how to win on "default" All-Pro. There is also a large portion of the community that feels that they have to play on All-Madden and prove they can play the game on the highest difficulty. This has served the game well for many, many years. However, its time for a change.
Games like MLB The Show not only have more difficulty levels, but they also have a Legend difficulty that only a very small percentage of their users can compete on. Madden needs to move in this direction as well. I propose adding a new beginner level and making Pro the new default level for programming.
Beginner Difficulty (new users)
This would be the easiest difficulty and the place where new players to the game would start. Only very basic football knowledge would be required. Users on beginner difficulty would be able to succeed largely by using the same basic 4-5 plays on offense and 2-3 basic concepts on defense. The AI would be very basic and let new users experience success while learning the nuances of the game.
Rookie Difficulty (inexperienced users)
Rookie has traditionally been the easiest difficulty level but gets a step up now. Rookie doesn't have to be the beginner level because users are "rookies" to the game. Rather, rookie says I'm no longer a beginner and have actually been "drafted" to an NFL team. I understand what I need to be doing and now its time to hone my skills.
Rookie difficulty would take a step up and require users to use around 10-12 different offensive plays on offense and 5-6 concepts on defense to be successful. The AI would be smart enough to adapt to their play if they keep running the same 4-5 plays they ran on beginner. However, the AI would struggle with users who were diverse enough to execute a slightly more diverse gameplan against it.
Pro Difficulty (default difficulty)
The new default. This should be the level that the vast majority of Madden player spend their time. Users on Pro difficulty would be expected to utilize at least 5-6 different formations and execute a variety of different plays from each (maybe 15-20 overall). The AI would be able to sense tendencies to a degree, but as long as the user wasn't runnign the same plays in the same situations over and over, they could experience success. Defensively, users will be facing a larger variety of plays and formations and will be expected to mix up man and zone concepts as well as well timed blitzes to be successful.
All-Pro Difficulty (Top 25%)
All-Pro now becomes the first level of the new "advanced" AI. This is where actual football knowledge would come in to play. A fairly decent understanding of both offensive and defensive concepts would be needed. Users would need to be able to identify MOFO and MOFC coverages as well as possible blitz pickups. They would need to use around 10-12 different formations and know at least 4-5 different plays in each to keep the AI off balance. On defense, users would need to understand over and under fronts and gap principles and force responsibilities. They would need to understand what Cover 2, Cover 3, etc takes away and gives up. They would need to recognize patterns in the AI and be able to call plays and make adjustments to take those tendencies away. Users would also have to understand disguising coverages and the different blitz principles. They would have to have some kind of idea of where their opponent is weak and how to attack it. All-Pro should be for higher level players and guys who played and understand football and its concepts. Think good high school and college players.
All-Madden Difficulty (Top 5-10%)
The new creme dela creme of difficulty levels. Only experts need apply. All-Madden should not be enjoyable for any user who does not have a very deep understanding of football and football strategy. This difficulty level should be for high level college players, NFL players and high level high school, college and NFL coaches. All-Madden should be the truest simulation of NFL football. The AI should know what you like to do on 3rd and long and what you like to call defensively on 1st and 10 and it should be able to exploit that. Users should be expected to use a variety of formations (15+) and very rarely use the same play from the same formation more than once. The All-Madden AI should be able to anticipate a user's tendency and adapt to what they do. They should jump your routes if you throw them too often. They should blanket receivers you throw to too often. They should fool you with disguised coverages. Defensively, you should have to set up the offense and try and fool them. You should be able to make Cover 3 look like Cover 2, man to look like zone, etc. You should have to use blitzes from different angles and you should absolutely have to know your opponent's strengths and weakness and how to attack them. Users should not be able to be repetitive and neither should the AI.
Last Words
I'm sure this all sounds great in theory and that it is extremely hard to implement in the game. I understand that. But its time for the status quo to change. Madden needs to set the standard with gameplay. Rex Dickson has stated that he wants competitive Madden to look like football on Sundays. Well, this is where it starts. Games teach their players how to play their sport to a large degree. Madden has been teaching its players to run 4 verts every 3rd down, run outside consistently and to blitz heavily for far too long. Its time that Madden teaches those who want to play the game on the higher levels what real football is. Its also time to give new and inexperienced users another difficulty option and allow them the rise through the ranks organically. Its time for Madden to look like real football on Sundays when played at its highest levels.