NCAA '09 impressions

btmmayor · Post by **btmmayor** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:56 pm

Inuyasha wrote:Leebo : Wow, that's amazing that we're both exactly at the same point with this game. 93.2%.

Please, please don't tell me that the

was just accidentally left out of that post.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:55 am

Hate messing w/ sliders but I did. I turned down cpu passing accuracy minus 10 and also lowered cpu pass blocking minus zero. Also increased my running ability by 10.

It really helped.

My first game was me Texas Tech vs Rice. It was a close game since I could not stop Rice, so i thought the sliders weren't working. But then I had more successful plays stopping them instead of just getting int's. It was a good game, I pulled away at the end. Texas tech is a good team to use for dynasty and I may do that, they're sort of in the middle. They got cool uniforms too.

2nd game to test my sliders was me Hawaii vs Wyoming. It was a tight game played in heavy snow. I won by kicking fg's and I had success stopping Wyoming. They still go a good bunch of plays of me but it felt really fair.

So much better night of gaming with NCAA for me. I got a good pass rush too w/ the slider settings and I found out using the L button gives you a jump on the snap if you time it right. Last night I was a bit bummed out since it was like a offensive score fest where the only chance you had to stop the cpu was by an int. but tonight it felt more fair with the slight slider adjustments. Bump it up to 94.5%.

So....anyone actually get the wii version? Impressions?

jcalvert · Post by **jcalvert** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:24 am

Rodster wrote:I've just learned to take the advice from others on another forum. I'm treating it for what it is a videogame. When I took that route and not to take the game too seriously I started to enjoy it.

Amen!

Everyone (myself included) tend to jump on the negatives first. I swore two ways to Sunday that I would approach this game for fun, and not look at all the negatives. What did I do in my first game? Started looking at replays to check player positioning. I suck.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:12 pm

So.. seems like a mixed bag.

I saw it yesterday at best butt.. and almost did my usual - buy it. Just doesn't seem like it's getting much praise besides how good it looks.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:20 pm

MizzouRah wrote:So.. seems like a mixed bag.

I saw it yesterday at best butt.. and almost did my usual - buy it. Just doesn't seem like it's getting much praise besides how good it looks.

It's frusturating, isn't it? Especially when you consider Mizzou is one of the top teams in the country, and you're not able to enjoy the game because there are problems with it. I feel the same way with Kansas. They have maybe two or three years where they'll be in the top 25, and I can't get excited about playing the game.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:21 pm

MizzouRah wrote:So.. seems like a mixed bag.

I saw it yesterday at best butt.. and almost did my usual - buy it. Just doesn't seem like it's getting much praise besides how good it looks.

Well after my slight slider changes I played more after I posted and I am having terrific games. I did use some 4-5 star teams and you guys are right on the kickoffs, if your player on your team is fast, it's pretty easy to get a big gain or break one. But I think Danimal was mentioning there is a slider change for that as well so I'll have to do that.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:29 pm

Just got back from Blockbuster with my free rental of NCAA 09 for the Wii. I should have some time this weekend to try it out, so I'll let those who are interested know how it is.

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:27 pm

Has anybody heard of this game making 360 consoles die? the reason I ask is because I was playing the game and having a great time. Then I decided that I would like to download some rosters. I d/l PastaPadres, or at least, try to. I didn't get the rosters, but the next time I tried to play NCAA 09, I got the dreaded rrod.

Although I don't blame NCAA for my crash and burn, I wonder if that may have had something to do with it? That was my 2nd rrod, with the first coming in April of this year. I can't complain because I was able to get 2 and a half years with this console while other peoples were dying.

But, alas, don't cry for me Argentina, I will still be enjoying this years game on the PSP and PS2. Oh well, no biggie. Life will go on and be even better when I get to enjoy my favorite sport in sweet sweet hd glory.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:37 pm

ddtrane wrote:Has anybody heard of this game making 360 consoles die? the reason I ask is because I was playing the game and having a great time. Then I decided that I would like to download some rosters. I d/l PastaPadres, or at least, try to. I didn't get the rosters, but the next time I tried to play NCAA 09, I got the dreaded rrod.

Although I don't blame NCAA for my crash and burn, I wonder if that may have had something to do with it? That was my 2nd rrod, with the first coming in April of this year. I can't complain because I was able to get 2 and a half years with this console while other peoples were dying.

But, alas, don't cry for me Argentina, I will still be enjoying this years game on the PSP and PS2. Oh well, no biggie. Life will go on and be even better when I get to enjoy my favorite sport in sweet sweet hd glory.

Not sure about RROD, but I do notice/hear that the NCAA game disc is always doing something and never sits quiet. I notice it is doing more work than the other games I have.

snaz16 · Post by **snaz16** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:49 pm

I didn't think the roster problem would bring down your 360,just crash it. I'm staying away from the rosters until the patch.
I've only gotten 2 games at AA,and see some of the same things everyone else is seeing in regards to crossing patterns and kicks. I read on OS that a partial solution(and it worked to some extent for me)is to stay away from Man defense. I use mostly zone D where the LB and DB's collapse towards the middle,and blitz on the obvoius passing downs. It helps somewhat. YMMV.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:52 pm

Inuyasha wrote: Not sure about RROD, but I do notice/hear that the NCAA game disc is always doing something and never sits quiet. I notice it is doing more work than the other games I have.

It seems like all of the EA Sports game discs make a lot of noise with constant reading and loading, can't wait for the fall update that allows us to load and run the game from the hard drive.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:05 pm

I'll be online tonight if anyone wants to do a unranked game, 3 min qtrs. Just want to test out online. Message me on xbl if interested.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:09 am

Well I tried 5 star team vs 5 star team and one word : WOW

Why Wow? Because the game turns into NFL BLITZ NCAA STYLE! NCAA BLITZ I guess you would call it. all it is is up and down the field both teams. There's no way to stop anyone and the cpu has no way of stopping you. there is no strategy nothing! No wonder Jared's been seeing different games than I was.

I think I'll stick w/ the mid level teams since that's how I like it. I get good games and maybe I'll start a dynasty with some middle range teams in a middle range conference.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:41 am

I'm still glad I don't see what other people see. In my dynasty with TJ, I was #12 Auburn hosting #19 Tennessee and blasted them 38-0. Perhaps it's Heisman vs. All-American, I have no idea. But the top tier teams on AA are definitely not "automatic". You have to be very crafty with your playcalls and where you send pressure from, when you blitz, when you lay back, when you press and when you drop linemen into coverage even. I don't think I call the same defense more than once every quarter or so.

I have no idea, but especially with the CPU, it's not infallible. Not by a mile. I actually like it a lot MORE that they're so hard to stop, because sometimes they mount a 14 play drive on me, which never, EVER happened in the past. I just absolutely love this game.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 2:08 am

ddtrane wrote:Has anybody heard of this game making 360 consoles die? the reason I ask is because I was playing the game and having a great time. Then I decided that I would like to download some rosters. I d/l PastaPadres, or at least, try to. I didn't get the rosters, but the next time I tried to play NCAA 09, I got the dreaded rrod.

Although I don't blame NCAA for my crash and burn, I wonder if that may have had something to do with it? That was my 2nd rrod, with the first coming in April of this year. I can't complain because I was able to get 2 and a half years with this console while other peoples were dying.

But, alas, don't cry for me Argentina, I will still be enjoying this years game on the PSP and PS2. Oh well, no biggie. Life will go on and be even better when I get to enjoy my favorite sport in sweet sweet hd glory.

DD:

EA Sports' games have killed off more than my fair share of 360s. I think it's because of a few reasons. I think EA games require the 360 to search for a lot of items on the disc. This makes the 360 work harder, meaning hotter thus putting a lot of stress on the machine. I also wonder how clean they program their games, because there are only a few non-EA games, that I own, that require the 360 to work this hard.

NCAA 07 caused my launch 360 to die. FIFA caused a disc drive in the other to go bad. It was probably going bad anyway but the FIFA game was too much for it. NHL was also hard on my 360, I had a few freezes in that game.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 2:17 am

TCrouch wrote:I'm still glad I don't see what other people see. In my dynasty with TJ, I was #12 Auburn hosting #19 Tennessee and blasted them 38-0. Perhaps it's Heisman vs. All-American, I have no idea. But the top tier teams on AA are definitely not "automatic". You have to be very crafty with your playcalls and where you send pressure from, when you blitz, when you lay back, when you press and when you drop linemen into coverage even. I don't think I call the same defense more than once every quarter or so.

I have no idea, but especially with the CPU, it's not infallible. Not by a mile. I actually like it a lot MORE that they're so hard to stop, because sometimes they mount a 14 play drive on me, which never, EVER happened in the past. I just absolutely love this game.

I have it on Heisman, and while the CPU is tough, I liken it to tough but beatable if you play smart. All-Pro was too easy as Notre Dame (overrated in the game BTW) was 6-0 with CPU favored sliders before I started over with Boston College on Heisman.

I was going to put this on OS but it will just be eaten up by the sharks over there.

The passing game is a bit easy and there's too much space, but the end game stats are pretty spot on. If you have good DBs you can stop the CPU passing attack.

Now the slow LBs making slants and crossing patterns easy, is apparent but I think the game is finally showing the outdated engine it's using.

The plays are all the same from years past. It's not just the plays are the same but the structure and the design are the same. You still have 4-5 pass options, with the philosophy that someone will be open unless the perfect play is called. Most aren't designed for the star receivers. And they are all geared for the 10-15 pass range when in early games there was no short game passing.

I like the game but I still get the feeling that it's the same old EA Sports, where they improved last year's problems but introduced this year's problems.

2K Sports had the reputation of not being able to finish their games. EA Sports just can't help not to break their game. It's almost as if they sit around and brainstorm how they can break this year's game in order to claim to fix it next year.

With all this said, NCAA is a fun game but the problems it does have aren't frivolous.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 2:52 am

TCrouch wrote:I'm still glad I don't see what other people see. In my dynasty with TJ, I was #12 Auburn hosting #19 Tennessee and blasted them 38-0. Perhaps it's Heisman vs. All-American, I have no idea. But the top tier teams on AA are definitely not "automatic". You have to be very crafty with your playcalls and where you send pressure from, when you blitz, when you lay back, when you press and when you drop linemen into coverage even. I don't think I call the same defense more than once every quarter or so.

I have no idea, but especially with the CPU, it's not infallible. Not by a mile. I actually like it a lot MORE that they're so hard to stop, because sometimes they mount a 14 play drive on me, which never, EVER happened in the past. I just absolutely love this game.

I will try it again w/ upper rated teams. It could have just been one of those games for me. But I got to admit, I don't really play too seriously on defense so maybe that's why. I more of a casual gamer nowadays so if the play looks halfway decent to me for the situation, then I'll call it.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:13 am

Most of my games resemble TCrouch's "golden copy." I jacked up kickoff length and I can live with the other problems because a lot of the game is so good. I'm on default AA because every time I touch a slider it messes something up. I'm going to play a season without touching another slider except special teams which seem to work as intended. I'm still getting too many interception returns for TDs (not nearly as bad as last year) but the CPU is too and even took a kickoff return back against me so at least its fair.

The thing I'm enjoying most about the game which has plagued the series for years and years is the apparent elimination of "catchup AI." Maybe it just seems that way because they drastically reduced fumbles (that's a GOOD thing) but I don't feel like the outcome of plays or games is predetermined. On offense the running game is a lot better especially the option game and "choice" plays. I'm really starting to appreciate the animations and momentum physics. On defense I think the pass rush is improved and the CPU once in awhile will make a little side step or step up to get a pass off when I think I have the sack. I'm not finding the CPU passing unstoppable at all, but then again Penn State is rated high and I've played average offenses. I have Illinois coming up so that will be my first real test.

Last year after a few days with the game I was ready to sell it. Now, I'm up at 7AM ready to get a game in before I go for a run.

jcalvert · Post by **jcalvert** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:39 am

JRod wrote:The passing game is a bit easy and there's too much space, but the end game stats are pretty spot on. If you have good DBs you can stop the CPU passing attack.

My biggest problem with the passing game is that the CPU completes 70-75% of its passes per game. I guess it could be user error (I am really not that good at games these days), but this happens with all manner of teams.

JRod wrote:I like the game but I still get the feeling that it's the same old EA Sports, where they improved last year's problems but introduced this year's problems.

Well said. The slider crap is un-f'ing real. I am no longer a slider whore, but the first thing I would do in this game is lower CPU pass completion percent and increase substitution frequency. If there was ever the need to patch, this is it.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:56 am

After playing 10 games on AA with 7 minute qtrs.

The game has its warts..sure does...They have all been brought up...but it easily meets the number 1 and 2 criteria for me...

1)Its fun...I have enjoyed every single game.

2)Its challenging. You cant afford to play stupid.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:07 am

Quick Wii impressions from a few quarters of play:

The graphics are horrid. Noticeably worse than the Xbox and PS2. The grass has almost no texture to it. As a result the fields look very flat, and there is no difference between turf and natural grass.

There are no cutscenes other than post-TD celebrations. The play selection is clunky as well. It's like playing NCAA 2000 on the PS1.

There are 1AA schools and auto-naming of rosters, but no create a school.

The gameplay isn't bad, but I can't think of a reason to pick this over an older versoin for the PS2 or Xbox, unless you just have to have Wiimote controls.

The controls are similar to Madden on the Wii. I don't like that you can't use the pointer for selecting plays though. It's all done with the thumbstick and the A button. The coaches cam and making adjustments is awkward and usually requires multiple button to be pressed at once. I would have thought with the wiimote they could have come up with some better ideas for pre-play adjustments.

Overall: Not worth $50 by any means. EA mailed this one in with very little effort, just like they did with NBA Live on the Wii. I doubt I'll keep it the full rental period. I'm already bored with it, and I have '08 and '06 on the Xbox for a better experience.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:22 pm

I bought the PS2 version of this years game and it really plays a great game of football. The defense works. I am playing it on my PS3 and the graphics aren't to bad at all. I am all about gameplay and so far that hasen't been to shabby. I am pleased.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:46 pm

Put me in the camp with Terry and Leebo. I'm having nothing but fun with this game and the only problem I've really seen is with the kickoff coverage. As mentioned, bumping up the kickoff distance masks it quite well. I'm playing on AA and noticed that when I tried to lower the qb accuracy it upped the interceptions. Now I'm playing pretty much on AA default with slight tweaks to help the running game.

On a side note the PSP version is outstanding. It's very tough as well. I'm having problems on AA where the 360 version AA seems just right.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:53 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:Put me in the camp with Terry and Leebo. I'm having nothing but fun with this game and the only problem I've really seen is with the kickoff coverage. As mentioned, bumping up the kickoff distance masks it quite well. I'm playing on AA and noticed that when I tried to lower the qb accuracy it upped the interceptions. Now I'm playing pretty much on AA default with slight tweaks to help the running game.

On a side note the PSP version is outstanding. It's very tough as well. I'm having problems on AA where the 360 version AA seems just right.

Todd,I am going to rent the PS3 version to satisfy my graphics questions. Do you mind posting your next gen sliders?

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 2:00 pm

Whatever you say about the game, I think everyone agrees it is very FUN to play. I can't put it down. I woke up and first thing I did was turn on the console to play another game.

This time I tried even teams and did random choice and got Texas cpu and Me as North Texas.

What a great fun game. N Texas is really an offensive team, like most of their plays are shotgun. I won the game 10-7 and was able to stop the cpu offense on drives, amazing!

The only thing though for both sides, if it's 3rd and long, most of the time each team will convert.

Also, the feel of being there with the stadiums is great. Really felt I was playing on North Texas' stadium.

I think I will continue to do random teams until i find the right settings. I like the different styles of play for each team and the stadium designs.