NCAA '09 impressions

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:56 pm

I've played 20-30 games of the demo and the most turn overs i had in a game is 3. Some games I have none, I'd say the issue is resolved almost to the point in that the turn overs feel on the low side.

I'm not sure how I feel some times it plays so great and then other times I am left scratching my head. I've had maybe 5 penalties in all those games and while it is nice to see a play in action and say "oh face mask" and then have it called. When it happens once in a blue moon who knows.

Some of the animations are so spot on it looks terrific and then you see a kicker throw a flying shoulder block and take down someone and it looks terrible.

In the demo, at least on varsity the AI can't stop a slip screen to save their lives. Also the option is still too easy to get off while being taken down.

I'll get it because I buy every football game, whether it will have legs I have no idea.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:07 pm

Anybody been following the media online dynasty event thing? Not to cause any false alarm, but it looks like pick 6's and fumbles are still very much a part of the game (at least the version they're using):

http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/blogs/view/bid/2070

hellbent · Post by **hellbent** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:41 pm

It'll be interesting to see how the turnover situation plays out in the final build, on the higher difficulty levels, and with user vs. CPU games. One would think (hope?) that EA would make sure that the turnover issues were fixed in this year's game, given that they patched both Madden and NCAA for these issues last year. Granted, the patching was not exclusively for these issues, but they were among the items addressed in the patches.

With NCAA 08, it often felt like the turnovers would come in bunches if the QB would throw an early pick or there was an early fumble. I'm just speculating, but to me the issues seemed to be tied to composure rather than the game engine itself. I would go some games where there would be just 1 turnover by the CPU, then play the next game and pick off 5 passes in the first half. How good the QB was statistically did not seem to make a difference.

As for what little can be gleaned from the demo - the "fun factor" is pretty high thanks to more responsive controls, crowd reactions, and improved running game. IMO, it is getting closer to capturing the overall feel of the last-gen games. Can't wait to read some impressions from the final build.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:41 pm

The demo doesn't have turn over problems its that simple. I've played enough games to be confident of that.

Whether the final build does I can't say, how they could f*** that up 2 years in a row is beyond me though.

EDIT: I just read the dynasty recaps, so two reports of a pick 6, one in each game and they were both user vs user games and that's alarming?

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:11 pm

no create a team this year again.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:21 pm

Inuyasha wrote:no create a team this year again.

Not a big deal but still a deal...one of the cool parts of NCAA 2003 was creating a UIC team and playing out the dynasty...

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:46 pm

fyi, Bill Abner has a copy of the 360 version. He's has said he's going to be posting initial impressions later this evening.

http://nutweasel.blogspot.com/

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:47 pm

sportdan30 wrote:fyi, Bill Abner has a copy of the 360 version. He's has said he's going to be posting initial impressions later this evening.

http://nutweasel.blogspot.com/

Sweeeeeet

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:50 pm

First half impressions are up.....

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:55 pm

4 ints in the first half....oh oh.

2 more Ints

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:24 pm

Yeah not good.

I don't get it I've played tons of games with the demo and am not having turn over issues. How the hell can you screw that up?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:42 pm

Danimal wrote:Yeah not good.

I don't get it I've played tons of games with the demo and am not having turn over issues. How the hell can you screw that up?

I didnt have any either...I thought they were gone.

Im still holding out hope Abner is just getting a bad sample...a random event.

it is not what I was wanting to read though.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:42 pm

Danimal wrote:Yeah not good.

I don't get it I've played tons of games with the demo and am not having turn over issues. How the hell can you screw that up?

This gives me hope. Thanks Bill.

One Word: Heisman
I know these are coming fast but I really want to see if I can get this to work right. This INT thing absolutely ruined NCAA 08 for me (off line) and damn it..I want it fixed.

Heisman might be the answer.

I went in and maxed out CPU ACC and made my INT and Kndwn both at 0. If THIS won't work, folks, we're screwed for off line play. Plain and simple. I am currently playing OSU @ USC -- seeing as how that is sort of a big game this year.

Kinda funny: the FIRST play was one of the new "tipped passes." It looks ultra slick. USC QB throws over the middle and the WR jumps and it goes through his hands (and he gets plastered by the safety) and goes straight up in the air -- and was picked. Now I know I am trying to fix this INT issue but MAN that looked cool--and very realistic. It wasn't one of those canned INTs animations that we all know and love. This looked organic.

And best of all -- at the half it's 13-10 OSU and that was the only USC INT. USC QB is I think 8/13 at the half. Beanie has 70 yards on the ground. AND -- Heisman feels extremely playable this year. If you are an NCAA vet--trust me. Start on Heisman. Don't even mess with AA. Well, if you are playing with a good team at least. Even so, it plays SO much better.

More later..

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:48 pm

Hope is good...

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:00 am

I'm having quite a bit of fun with the demo. Turnovers have not been an issue at all for me. I'm not sure which version to get though. I have been slowly migrating all non-racing purchases to the PS3 so I'll probably go that route. There's some very slight cut scene slowdown on PS3 that doesn't show up on the 360 but otherwise they seem real close.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:48 am

I saw a very odd occurance in the demo. I came out in Nickel Cover 3 and LSU lined up in a 3WR formation. My nickel back was on the side with 1 WR, so I audibled to flip the play. Both my nickel back AND the far CB moved over to the other side, meaning all my CBs were on one side of the play. The WR was completely uncovered, and the CPU snapped the ball before I could do anything about it.

Then, instead of throwing to the guy who was wide open, the CPU throws into triple coverage, resulting in a pick. I know the demo is on varsity, but I can't understand how the AI doesn't throw to the uncovered guy.

The demo's not bad and there are some things to like, but once again, I think an EA football offering looks weak compared to other next gen sports games. I've played probably 60+ games of The Show 08, and I'm still more excited to play a game of that than a demo of the first football game of 2008. Not a good sign.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:07 pm

sportdan30 wrote:fyi, Bill Abner has a copy of the 360 version. He's has said he's going to be posting initial impressions later this evening.

http://nutweasel.blogspot.com/

why did he start his own blog?

http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/

is a great read

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:51 am

Possible major glitch with the downloaded rosters from EA Locker......video attached.

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/n ... g-now.html

grtwhtsk · Post by **grtwhtsk** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:42 am

sportdan30 wrote:Possible major glitch with the downloaded rosters from EA Locker......video attached.

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/n ... g-now.html

That looks real bad...unbelievable.

Do the teams disappear from the unedited rosters (if you went back to the default rosters that came with the game)?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:34 pm

Thats embaressing...

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:45 pm

It's only edited rosters, I think default or default generic names rosters are fine.

Kind of sucks if you wanted real named rosters.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:52 pm

Danimal wrote:It's only edited rosters, I think default or default generic names rosters are fine.

Kind of sucks if you wanted real named rosters.

Cool...Thanks for that clarification...I feel better now...

Im getting it and was going to get it anyway but wtf!? dont those monkeys test these features? I like the rosters

and this year it was going to be easy to do....

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:59 pm

They are taking a black eye over it and rightfully so. When your biggest supporters are calling you out for this and some game play issues and the game isn't officially out yet then you know you're not off to a good start.

At least that the devs are there and taking it, the bad thing is that a patch won't be seen until Aug / Sept with the certification process. Thats not an official EA time frame just my guess.

Wilk5280 · Post by **Wilk5280** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:06 pm

I've downloaded pastapadre's "named" rosters with no issues at all. I haven't looked up what this editing roster glitch is because I've had named rosters for 2 days now and no complaints with them.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:09 pm

PRBoom wrote:I've downloaded pastapadre's "named" rosters with no issues at all. I haven't looked up what this editing roster glitch is because I've had named rosters for 2 days now and no complaints with them.

I'm not sure what the cause is but apparently if you edit the rosters then teams will disappear. I don't think that anyone knows the exact cause, of course this raises the question on how Pasta created the rosters. The theory is he got them from EA because their are characters in the names that no one editing could put in.