Damn you Madden 2005 franchise mode!!!

[Clayeth]

You're keeping me away from Doom3...

Seriously though, they've gotten nearly perfect with it this year. The progression of your players, having to keep them and fans happy, making your team look accomodating for free agents, the drafting system... all the information you are given to work with. I've actually been simulating the whole season and spending my time managing the team. In 4 years I've turned Cleveland into a powerhouse, and if Garcia hadn't retired after last season (I lost in the superbowl) I'm sure I would win it all this year. Now I'm stuck with Phillip Rivers as my QB , and Lee Suggs (who has grown into a great RB with a 93 rating) is out for the first 7 weeks of the season.

Only negatives: It seems a little too easy to improve your players, the entire league seems to be a little too good now. But I also get the feeling I'm going to get stuck with 5 or 6 key players retiring one year soon, because in spite of my efforts, a lot of my starters, especially linemen are getting kind of old.

You can place players on a trade block and give specifications on what you will take for them, and other teams will reply, but there is still no system where other teams will offer you trades on their own.

* right now my fans are angry because I traded McCutcheon, I guess they aren't all that bright. He was my third string cornerback afterall. Plus I got a great young linemen to fill the hole I made with a trade to get the first draft pick, got me a monster DT who will likely be starting next season. I also gave them a 2nd and 3rd round pick in return for their 3rd rounder and a decent 4th string cornerback (I guess they expect to pick later than me this season). I suppose I'm going to have to have a fan appreciation day soon and give them free stuff to make them happy again

 

[Clayeth]

What? Nobody else trying this yet?

I was hoping to see some interesting fantasy happenings.

 

[The Dopefish]

I'm all about ESPN NFL2K5 right now.

I don't like Madden because, while they say the defense is better this year, it's not if you're playing. Things are rushed, so you don't have a real chance to rush/blitz.

 

[tool]

I'm waiting for the PC version

 

[SnaKe-Fu]

havent played it yet... playin madden 04 still =(

 

[Shock6822]

ESPN NFL 2K5 >*

 

[Clayeth]

I've heard that from quite a few people. My roomate has it once I get back to school, so I may end up playing it multiplayer and this for franchise. Not actually doing that much playing anyway. Never have enjoyed playing against the computer anyway.

 

[rajput_warrior]

i borrowed my buddies ps2 to rent madden and play it, the franchise mode is insanely good and the fact that ur players start bitching at u because they arent playing is really cool, the ea sports radio show is really dope to, specially when they talked to jim mora (atlantas head coach and the team i was controlling) about how good of a season i was having (15-1). good times

 

[Bean 3:16]

Madden is oh-so-marginally better than ESPN, and it is strictly because the depths that the D can take is amazing. But a bug drawback (to me) is you can't have custom button configs. What game DOESN'T HAVE MULTIPLE CONFIGS?!

 

[rajput_warrior]

Madden is oh-so-marginally better than ESPN, and it is strictly because the depths that the D can take is amazing. But a bug drawback (to me) is you can't have custom button configs. What game DOESN'T HAVE MULTIPLE CONFIGS?!

yeah u can dude, since i dont have a ps2 or anything, but when i rented the game i accidently went into the option, i think u have to do it when ur in the game, but im pretty sure thats not the only way of doing it.

 

[Hunter]

i'm still trying to master Madden 2004.

 

[Clayeth]

No you can't. You can go to a map of the buttons, and it shows you what they do, but you can't change them.

I wish you could too, because the defensive button positioning sucks. You can't get hit half of the action buttons with your thumb while holding turbo.

 

[novak]

Is there an Xbox version out there aswell? I think I'll go pick it up because the game sounds very promising.

 

[Bean 3:16]

No you can't. You can go to a map of the buttons, and it shows you what they do, but you can't change them.

I wish you could too, because the defensive button positioning sucks. You can't get hit half of the action buttons with your thumb while holding turbo.

Exactly...I have used the X button as turbo since 2001, and now I have to use O, which is hella far from Square and the Right Analog Stick.

 

[Clayeth]

Is there an Xbox version out there aswell? I think I'll go pick it up because the game sounds very promising.

Yeah, that's what I have it on.

latest changes to my team: I got tired of paying out the arse for Ray Lewis, plus he's getting old and losing stats pretty quick now. So I traded him and Philip Rivers, along with a 2nd round pick for Vick. Saved me a lot of money, and shouldn't hurt my defense too bad, assuming the computer doesn't do anything stupid like playing in the 3-4 and putting in my crappy backup .