A-Dub

It's here. I'm playing my first (and likely one of my only) UT games. It feels smoother than the demo but that just may be confirmation bias.

Happy Madden Day, everyone.

Any of you guys hang out on the Operation Sports forums? I couldn't believe the things those folks were calling "dealbreakers." You can't change the names of your players in Owner Mode or the scheduling isn't right in later years of Franchise? EA must hate football!

There's a really good thread over there where a couple of Season Ticket subscribers have been answering questions about Owner Mode though. Sounds like a pretty good time.

Hah, nice try Operation Sports.

Fair point, that sounded like a shill.

I only went there because the Madden subreddit was decidedly lacking. Most of the conversation at OS is petty at best but more often than not it's downright awful.

As for the scheduling? Annoying, sure, but hardly a dealbreaker.

Any of you guys hang out on the Operation Sports forums? I couldn't believe the things those folks were calling "dealbreakers." You can't change the names of your players in Owner Mode or the scheduling isn't right in later years of Franchise? EA must hate football!

There's a really good thread over there where a couple of Season Ticket subscribers have been answering questions about Owner Mode though. Sounds like a pretty good time.

I noticed that too, especially since he was the second wrestler they showed. I'll keep hoping.

I want to play the WrestleMania matches, but it the gameplay looks exactly the same. I think my decision to purchase will hinge on Universe improvements.

So there are a row of question mark spots at the bottom of the 2K14 roster page. Does that mean we have seven more WrestleMania mode wrestlers coming or is it just recognition that there's an entire current roster still to be released? Holding out for Piper and Goldust...

It's their way of putting a placeholder to say 'We still have lots more to show you!' They had seven/eight question mark slots before the Wrestlemania mode roster was released and we only knew about 10-15 names.

But.......Piper.

So there are a row of question mark spots at the bottom of the 2K14 roster page. Does that mean we have seven more WrestleMania mode wrestlers coming or is it just recognition that there's an entire current roster still to be released? Holding out for Piper and Goldust...

Universe mode in '13 was excellent once you downloaded enough CAWs to create the rosters you wanted. I had so much fun creating classic WWF/WCW rosters and recreating the Monday Night Wars all over again and the storylines that were created just by the computer booking matches were great fun to play about with.

If there isn't that much of a difference between WWE '13 and WWE 2K14 I hope that they at least fix the flags issue with cutscenes: they were obviously in the game, but just never seemed to trigger.

I think that was my largest issue - I just didn't get to see most of the content they added to 13's Universe Mode.

Also, if they had some larger, arching stories either with McMahons or warring brands/shows it might've kept me around longer. I know there's the story editor but.....I don't want to.

Still, excited to see what 2K does. Hopefully 2K will reverse the WWE game trend and show us what they've changed with a demo before I put my money down.

That trailer made me want the game so much more, but I was done with the Attitude Era mode in like three or four days. Universe kept me around for awhile, but I never got the cutscenes I was interested in. Wondering if Warrior is worth the preorder or if I'll pick it up at all.

Plus, how many games will we have to go (All Stars not included) without Piper?

Geno Smith's awareness is a 40. I bet once you boost it up, that overall rating will rise nicely.

His other skills are off the charts though. (85 Speed, 92 Throw Power, 82 Throw Accuracy) If you're a good user QB, that awareness rating shouldn't mean jack.

This seems to be the case.

Guess your own awareness.

Yeah, taking a year off from the franchise was just what I needed. I throw the ball like six times a game because running the option is just too damn funny...finally.

Are there any other 360 players that want to get an Online Dynasty together? I'm in one with my friends, but it has hit a stand-still since user-vs-user games started up.

Even more fun: run the occasional option with a sub-80 speed QB. I started a new dynasty with San Jose State and seeing the QB stumble for 12 yards was oddly more rewarding than busting 30 yard runs with Kain Colter.

Of course Clay and Rodgers haven't been resigned...They're the only two I care to use! At least they didn't resign Benson. The whole "can't do anything" aspect isn't an issue as I'll be back in MKE for the weekend. I'm looking forward to this though.

I'm in! Aaaaaaaaaaaand I can't do anything until the offseason. Real thrilled with that 5-year Jennings contract.

Have you sent the invite yet? Either I've not gotten it or I'm looking in the wrong place.

Can anyone give me the rundown on league rules I should know that aren't on page one? Free agency, trades, etc.?

That's very true, but the QB blasts in the Panthers' book never work for me and with the crap run blocking, the triple option takes too long to develop.

To each their own, of course.

Panthers have the best playbook for it.

I think the Skins do. They've got it in a couple really straightforward formations which makes it much easier to read the DE.

DMN, I'm going to send you a PSN request when I get home from ye ol soccer bar this evening. Slaughterhaus50. If it's still possible, I'd like to stake my claim in the Packers for next season.

Would I be able to pick up the Packers or should I wait until the playoffs are over?

If you're going to play Tebow, you need to be running read options at least every third play. Read option is lethal in Madden this year.

As for your passing situation, run hooks and go routes. If they press, hot route to a hook. If they're playing off, send them long or on a go route depending on where the safeties are. Either one should set you up for relative success.

But really, for Tebow, RGIII, CK, Cam Newton and even Aaron Rodgers, the read option is like a base play for me. Call that and then run no huddle and audible out from the line if I want to throw.

How does that stuff work? I dabbled a bit with Cam against DYSI, but I couldn't figure out how to execute the option, it'd just go to the default guy all the time.

I'll do my best to explain it without a diagram. Assuming your RB is lined up to your right, watch the DE on the right side of the line. If the DE loses contain and goes to follow the RB, let go of (X) or (A) and keep it with the QB. If the DE keeps contain and stays in his position, hand hold the button and give it to the back.

If you're going to play Tebow, you need to be running read options at least every third play. Read option is lethal in Madden this year.

As for your passing situation, run hooks and go routes. If they press, hot route to a hook. If they're playing off, send them long or on a go route depending on where the safeties are. Either one should set you up for relative success.

But really, for Tebow, RGIII, CK, Cam Newton and even Aaron Rodgers, the read option is like a base play for me. Call that and then run no huddle and audible out from the line if I want to throw.

Anyone else finding it really difficult to pull off the aerial attack? I can't get past anyone with a shield anymore because I can't pull that off.

Anyone know how to switch to an alternate skin?

I will definitely get this down the line. Just don't have anymore money right now. Spent the last of it getting NHL '12. First thing I'm doing though is trying to unlock the classic teams (if they're locked) so I can put Patrick Ewing & John Starks on the modern-day Knicks

Yeah they're locked, have to beat them in the greatest mode.

You have to jump through hoops to put classic players on modern teams this year, though

What do you mean by hoops? I was considering this so I could put Wilt and Kareem as twin towers...

I changed my Game Face online, but for whatever reason, my PS3 crashes whenever I try to download it.

I had major problems with it last year and with Tiger Woods this year, too.

I love my beard, but I'm considering ditching it for a quality Game Face. It'll grow back...

I created my gameface, which is actually pretty accurate, but my beard got in the way on my pictures and turned the neck of my character brown. My very white guy looks a bit silly with a brown neck.