This is why I gave up on EA’s sports games a few years back. I mean, I expect that type of behavior if I’m playing freakin’ NBA Jam (remember how the CPU would get instant shoves, steals, and couldn’t be knocked down if it was losing? IT’S ON FIRE!) but Madden/Live are supposed to be sims. They’re perfect against another human player, but I don’t always have that luxury.
Madden’s for parties. Sega’s NFL/NBA series gets my single-play vote.
So true. Madden is a great game to play against a friend/roommate (my old roommate was always the Vikings and would make the “NAAAOOOOMMM” horn sound whenever he got a first down), but I can’t take EASports against the CPU.
The “TriplePlay” baseball series was the first level of disdain, but NBA Live 2003 iced it for me. Count me in on all the previous gripes, plus a couple more: (1) There’s no such thing as knocking down a pass in that game; the CPU will just reach out a mechanical arm and pick off the bullett-est of passes. (2) Dell Curry once made a juke move and drove past me for a thunderous dunk. Dell Curry ! I turned the game off at that point.
I go non-EASports for sports games now; for instance, I really enjoy High Heat Baseball. The graphics are a grade low, but at least the game feels right when I play it.
Oh my FRICKEN God!!! Do I know what you mean!!! I can’t stand that. I’ve actually gone to the instant replay to see just how in the world my pass got stolen, and you know what I saw??? The computer actually changed the natural course of the ball so the CPU could steal it!! I mean, the ball wasn’t anywhere NEAR the CPU player. It’s like the CPU player magically DRAWS the ball to his hands! Like he’s holding a magnet and the ball is made out of metal! Now if that’s not cheating, I don’t know what is!!
Another time, I was guarding Tracy McGrady. I was playing very good “D” on him. He drove… I moved my player and managed to stay in front of him… but the computer aparently didn’t like that, so McGrady simply went THROUGH my guy!!! One again, I went to the replay. Yup, sure enough, I was in great defensive position, but McGrady was actually IN me!! It was half-McGrady, half-Kobe!!
That should have been a charge! 
I get this on EA’s FIFA soccer also. If I really start to slaughter a team, all of a sudden my defenders slow down, don’t pursue, and the computer nails repeated 40 yard goal shots or solo-dribbles through my goalie into the net. Frustrating as hell.
Ah Lenny & Carl you reminded me of something.
I can be standing inbetween the person throwing the post pass and the person recieving me just to have the ball go straight through me. No I don’t mean by me and my guy missed it, the ball goes straight through my chest!