At the End of MUT 25...

...I actually win six-in-a-row in House Rules. It didn't come without some serious adversity: I scored my 20th point in the sixth-consecutive current House Rules match on a safety, and the game didn't award me the win. It didn't even give me the win after a kneel down, which ordinarily works in similar circumstances. I was forced to run out the clock with just under two minutes left and my opponent needing only a touchdown to win. I punted out of bounds, and ended up picking off his final heave of the game.

I don't know why my experience with this game is so different from everyone else's. Even when everything breaks right, and I bust through a run of easier opponents and a couple of mid-level F-word spammers (I'm the only one using this phrase, so I hereby claim the trademark on "F-word Spammer"), I have to deal with crazy, goofy stuff. But in the end I got my free 99 OVR Redzone Royale. And yet, that's not what this post is about.

(As a final side-note, F-word isn't nearly as bad when you have Surge Mylanta at MLB. I got him on the Auction House for just over four million today, so I haven't nearly paid him off even after winning a one-million coin item. Even so, he got me a clutch pick in game six that was probably the difference between a win and a loss.)

I am feeling a lot of conflicting emotions right now. But let me get to the point: I know my persistent gripes about this game are grating on some people, and while I feel like the ones most irritated by this are the very ones that contribute heavily to the negative play experience semi-casuals and mid-level grinders face every day on these servers, I'm pretty certain there are some decent guys that I've called out as cheaters without really knowing anything about you. I hate the way I've been addressed by a handful of guys I'll not name here, but there was a shred of value in some of their retorts, while several others shared some really helpful information. I remember all of you for how you've dealt with me, and I appreciate most the guys who tried to reason with me.

I'll go into MUT 26 knowing there are a ton of If-You-Can't-Beat-'Em-Join-'Em types here, and I hate that self-serving approach to the core, but I'll try harder to be civil toward you. If I slip up in this regard down the road because I have a bad run of games because Electronic Arts struggles to program a fair and fun game that rewards tactics over lineup and cheat-play spamming, just know that when I truly have my wits about me, I really am a decent guy. I had a lot of low moments this year playing this game, and I question whether this game threatens to make me a worse person just by the way it kindles what I've known for years to be an unhealthy ultra-competitive streak.

I learned a ton this year, and as I prepare to walk away from my 99 OVR team to go through this days-of-hours-long grind once again with MUT 26, I find that my biggest goal with regard to MUT has to change: I need to learn not to care when I lose, regardless of the reason why. I wouldn't mind your help learning to do this.

This game makes all of us worse people, because it preys on our dopamine, which means we either spend money or time.

That being said it's the only football we got, and tbh it's a compelling model they've constructed with building your team through the grind or the spend from whenever you start (day one or later) to Rookie Premiere, after which we get to do it all over again.

I've not cared about cheese, everyone is looking to score coin and the cards they desire through either time or money spent, so no worries  when it comes to others' gameplay, we're all in this together.

Play the game how you'd like to and enjoy the reprieve from the horror that is the modern world :D

I’m happy to read that you overcame what you thought to be impossible. I always believed you could do it!

While you certainly have made plenty of seemingly emotional posts about your H2H gameplay experiences, I have enjoyed reading the majority of them.

You set a good goal for yourself for 26, finding a way to not get so upset about losing in this game is important for your own mental health.

Cheers my friend, good luck in 26!

SlowAndSteady said:

I’m happy to read that you overcame what you thought to be impossible. I always believed you could do it!

While you certainly have made plenty of seemingly emotional posts about your H2H gameplay experiences, I have enjoyed reading the majority of them.

You set a good goal for yourself for 26, finding a way to not get so upset about losing in this game is important for your own mental health.

Cheers my friend, good luck in 26!

Thanks! I esteem you as one of the more helpful folks around here, and while I won't apologize for much of the rational content of my more-than-"seemingly emotional" posts (you're very gracious there), I know that at times I was flailing like a drowning man, and I was lashing out at a handful of guys that were really trying to help me.

Realistically, I eventually found some legitimacy in comments that were brutally honest, even if almost disrespectfully blunt: My answer may ultimately lie in quitting Madden until it changes for the better. I head into MUT 26 on the knife's edge as to whether I should continue playing. I'm not a violent type, but I have a strong ethic as to justice, and I understand why when people try to pull off in an in-person card room the kind of stuff people routinely do in MUT, security and police are called simultaneously, generally for the long-term safety and well-being of the offender, who will also be immediately and permanently barred from the establishment for their transgression.

phatalerror said:

...I actually win six-in-a-row in House Rules. It didn't come without some serious adversity: I scored my 20th point in the sixth-consecutive current House Rules match on a safety, and the game didn't award me the win. It didn't even give me the win after a kneel down, which ordinarily works in similar circumstances. I was forced to run out the clock with just under two minutes left and my opponent needing only a touchdown to win. I punted out of bounds, and ended up picking off his final heave of the game.

I don't know why my experience with this game is so different from everyone else's. Even when everything breaks right, and I bust through a run of easier opponents and a couple of mid-level F-word spammers (I'm the only one using this phrase, so I hereby claim the trademark on "F-word Spammer"), I have to deal with crazy, goofy stuff. But in the end I got my free 99 OVR Redzone Royale. And yet, that's not what this post is about.

(As a final side-note, F-word isn't nearly as bad when you have Surge Mylanta at MLB. I got him on the Auction House for just over four million today, so I haven't nearly paid him off even after winning a one-million coin item. Even so, he got me a clutch pick in game six that was probably the difference between a win and a loss.)

I am feeling a lot of conflicting emotions right now. But let me get to the point: I know my persistent gripes about this game are grating on some people, and while I feel like the ones most irritated by this are the very ones that contribute heavily to the negative play experience semi-casuals and mid-level grinders face every day on these servers, I'm pretty certain there are some decent guys that I've called out as cheaters without really knowing anything about you. I hate the way I've been addressed by a handful of guys I'll not name here, but there was a shred of value in some of their retorts, while several others shared some really helpful information. I remember all of you for how you've dealt with me, and I appreciate most the guys who tried to reason with me.

I'll go into MUT 26 knowing there are a ton of If-You-Can't-Beat-'Em-Join-'Em types here, and I hate that self-serving approach to the core, but I'll try harder to be civil toward you. If I slip up in this regard down the road because I have a bad run of games because Electronic Arts struggles to program a fair and fun game that rewards tactics over lineup and cheat-play spamming, just know that when I truly have my wits about me, I really am a decent guy. I had a lot of low moments this year playing this game, and I question whether this game threatens to make me a worse person just by the way it kindles what I've known for years to be an unhealthy ultra-competitive streak.

I learned a ton this year, and as I prepare to walk away from my 99 OVR team to go through this days-of-hours-long grind once again with MUT 26, I find that my biggest goal with regard to MUT has to change: I need to learn not to care when I lose, regardless of the reason why. I wouldn't mind your help learning to do this.

I just want to say I really respect your self-awareness. It’s not easy to put yourself out there like that and admit when something's getting to you, especially in such a competitive space like this. I think a lot of us can relate to the highs and lows of this game, and it’s clear you’ve put in the effort to not just win, but to grow and learn from the experience.

It’s easy to get caught up in the frustration when things don’t go our way, but I love that you’re focusing on the bigger picture now—staying focused on your goals, having fun, and finding balance. That’s the real win at the end of the day, and I’m sure you’ll come out stronger for it. Just remember, it’s all about enjoying the grind and not letting the little things mess with your enjoyment of the game.

Stay focused on the long-term goals, keep improving, and most importantly, keep having fun. You’re on the right path, and I’m sure you’ll crush it in MUT 26.

Good luck, and don’t be afraid to take a step back when things get too heated. Sometimes, it’s about stepping away to find your rhythm again.

Stay positive!

phatalerror said:

Thanks! I esteem you as one of the more helpful folks around here, and while I won't apologize for much of the rational content of my more-than-"seemingly emotional" posts (you're very gracious there), I know that at times I was flailing like a drowning man, and I was lashing out at a handful of guys that were really trying to help me.

Realistically, I eventually found some legitimacy in comments that were brutally honest, even if almost disrespectfully blunt: My answer may ultimately lie in quitting Madden until it changes for the better. I head into MUT 26 on the knife's edge as to whether I should continue playing. I'm not a violent type, but I have a strong ethic as to justice, and I understand why when people try to pull off in an in-person card room the kind of stuff people routinely do in MUT, security and police are called simultaneously, generally for the long-term safety and well-being of the offender, who will also be immediately and permanently barred from the establishment for their transgression.

“Quitting Madden until it changes for the better”, this is something I will likely be doing as well. I plan to play 25 until I get too bored or can’t find H2H matchups any longer. After that it’s farewell unless something drastically changes for the better.

phatalerror said:

...I actually win six-in-a-row in House Rules. It didn't come without some serious adversity: I scored my 20th point in the sixth-consecutive current House Rules match on a safety, and the game didn't award me the win. It didn't even give me the win after a kneel down, which ordinarily works in similar circumstances. I was forced to run out the clock with just under two minutes left and my opponent needing only a touchdown to win. I punted out of bounds, and ended up picking off his final heave of the game.

I don't know why my experience with this game is so different from everyone else's. Even when everything breaks right, and I bust through a run of easier opponents and a couple of mid-level F-word spammers (I'm the only one using this phrase, so I hereby claim the trademark on "F-word Spammer"), I have to deal with crazy, goofy stuff. But in the end I got my free 99 OVR Redzone Royale. And yet, that's not what this post is about.

(As a final side-note, F-word isn't nearly as bad when you have Surge Mylanta at MLB. I got him on the Auction House for just over four million today, so I haven't nearly paid him off even after winning a one-million coin item. Even so, he got me a clutch pick in game six that was probably the difference between a win and a loss.)

I am feeling a lot of conflicting emotions right now. But let me get to the point: I know my persistent gripes about this game are grating on some people, and while I feel like the ones most irritated by this are the very ones that contribute heavily to the negative play experience semi-casuals and mid-level grinders face every day on these servers, I'm pretty certain there are some decent guys that I've called out as cheaters without really knowing anything about you. I hate the way I've been addressed by a handful of guys I'll not name here, but there was a shred of value in some of their retorts, while several others shared some really helpful information. I remember all of you for how you've dealt with me, and I appreciate most the guys who tried to reason with me.

I'll go into MUT 26 knowing there are a ton of If-You-Can't-Beat-'Em-Join-'Em types here, and I hate that self-serving approach to the core, but I'll try harder to be civil toward you. If I slip up in this regard down the road because I have a bad run of games because Electronic Arts struggles to program a fair and fun game that rewards tactics over lineup and cheat-play spamming, just know that when I truly have my wits about me, I really am a decent guy. I had a lot of low moments this year playing this game, and I question whether this game threatens to make me a worse person just by the way it kindles what I've known for years to be an unhealthy ultra-competitive streak.

I learned a ton this year, and as I prepare to walk away from my 99 OVR team to go through this days-of-hours-long grind once again with MUT 26, I find that my biggest goal with regard to MUT has to change: I need to learn not to care when I lose, regardless of the reason why. I wouldn't mind your help learning to do this.

Great post, dude -- i applaud you for having this level of self-awareness and ability to reason with yourself.  This game has a way of bringing out the worst in us.  I respect everyone who has that fiercely competitive streak in them.  That's not something you can really teach -- we either have it or we do not.  It can be both a blessing and a curse, for sure.

Hope to see you here throughout M26 cycle.  I've been casually dabbling with CUT26 in between scheduling games of M25 squads.  I'm still trying to not pre-order Madden 26, hoping to do my little part of voting with our wallets.  No clue what the future has in store, but i can confidently say that nothing can, nor will change with this once great and storied video game franchise, as long as EA continues to hold that exclusivity agreement with the league.

I'm definitely guilty of the "if you can't beat em, join em" type -- i wish it weren't so, but having football knowledge isn't relevant to Madden gameplay.  Quite the opposite, it often punishes us for trying to play fatball, when we should just be grinding video game shit.  Oof.  Anyhoo, bravo for the amazing and insightful post.

phatalerror said:

...I actually win six-in-a-row in House Rules. It didn't come without some serious adversity: I scored my 20th point in the sixth-consecutive current House Rules match on a safety, and the game didn't award me the win. It didn't even give me the win after a kneel down, which ordinarily works in similar circumstances. I was forced to run out the clock with just under two minutes left and my opponent needing only a touchdown to win. I punted out of bounds, and ended up picking off his final heave of the game.

I don't know why my experience with this game is so different from everyone else's. Even when everything breaks right, and I bust through a run of easier opponents and a couple of mid-level F-word spammers (I'm the only one using this phrase, so I hereby claim the trademark on "F-word Spammer"), I have to deal with crazy, goofy stuff. But in the end I got my free 99 OVR Redzone Royale. And yet, that's not what this post is about.

(As a final side-note, F-word isn't nearly as bad when you have Surge Mylanta at MLB. I got him on the Auction House for just over four million today, so I haven't nearly paid him off even after winning a one-million coin item. Even so, he got me a clutch pick in game six that was probably the difference between a win and a loss.)

I am feeling a lot of conflicting emotions right now. But let me get to the point: I know my persistent gripes about this game are grating on some people, and while I feel like the ones most irritated by this are the very ones that contribute heavily to the negative play experience semi-casuals and mid-level grinders face every day on these servers, I'm pretty certain there are some decent guys that I've called out as cheaters without really knowing anything about you. I hate the way I've been addressed by a handful of guys I'll not name here, but there was a shred of value in some of their retorts, while several others shared some really helpful information. I remember all of you for how you've dealt with me, and I appreciate most the guys who tried to reason with me.

I'll go into MUT 26 knowing there are a ton of If-You-Can't-Beat-'Em-Join-'Em types here, and I hate that self-serving approach to the core, but I'll try harder to be civil toward you. If I slip up in this regard down the road because I have a bad run of games because Electronic Arts struggles to program a fair and fun game that rewards tactics over lineup and cheat-play spamming, just know that when I truly have my wits about me, I really am a decent guy. I had a lot of low moments this year playing this game, and I question whether this game threatens to make me a worse person just by the way it kindles what I've known for years to be an unhealthy ultra-competitive streak.

I learned a ton this year, and as I prepare to walk away from my 99 OVR team to go through this days-of-hours-long grind once again with MUT 26, I find that my biggest goal with regard to MUT has to change: I need to learn not to care when I lose, regardless of the reason why. I wouldn't mind your help learning to do this.

One of the biggest things is how prepared you are for next year. I went through a lot of the same things, and revealed a whole uncovered level of toxic sore loser side i never even knew was in me, and I'm not a kid. Gave my shot at it this year and its beyond frustrating because updates may drastically change feel and results of catches/knockouts/ints, even if you dont roll a god squad upon every release you still need to keep up with the joneses by being smart about your roster with whatever you can earn and pull. Oh and you have to be prepared to not touch a challenge  that drops early so you dont get locked out of a program token or welcome player. You may have to go in and out of menus to get the daily rewards yet be aware of beneficial glitches, or when packs arent opening right, leaving you at the mercy of EA. Dealing with desyncs. Dealing with wins not counting. 

You can get good just buying the game and not running the same plays or cheese, but a lot of the time youre running into it and may need to wtf theyre exploiting. Yeah there's ways to stop everything, but it's a losing battle against horrible fumble scoops if they realize the ball is out at all, crazy knockouts, and braindead coverage sometimes. Eventually you see them happen for you too, but its so sweaty that you just take what you can get. 

But yeah I feel horrible for how mad I got at times.

Watch Fight Club. There are a few messages that may resonate with you as you grow into manhood.

The things you own end up owning you
 

This is your life and it is ending one minute at a time

SlowAndSteady said:

“Quitting Madden until it changes for the better”, this is something I will likely be doing as well. I plan to play 25 until I get too bored or can’t find H2H matchups any longer. After that it’s farewell unless something drastically changes for the better.

This is the best way to go...I like football but I don't like Madden enough to throw them money when they keep screwing over the player base...Madden 25 will be my Madden 26...

Congrats on your feat!!! I didn’t have the same outcome. Maybe a dozen 5-0s but no 6-0 in any event this year. Yesterday I was on a 4-0 streak and in my 5th game was winning 18-0 and had an extra point FG. About to kick and wrap the game up, then my opponent somehow forced a desync. This gave me a loss. I have a screenshot to prove it. The PSN of this guy is  lone-honeydew16. This community is something else. Bunch of spoiled kids that need to have a reality shock outside a TV screen and learn some values in life.