NCAA Football 11

[bkrich83]

I haven't put a ton of time in with it, but so my thoughts are pretty early on.

Graphically speaking, I can't say I've seen a better looking football game.

Locomotion and the new blocking schemes make it worth the 60 bucks alone. I have not had this much fun running the ball in a long time. Real option blocking, real stretch/zone plays, real power O's etc. No game has ever blocked those plays right, ever. That being said, their is the occasional bonehead blocking decision, but seriously this was a HUGE improvement.

Still early, but this is the most fun I have had with an NCAA game since NCAA 04.

[dbdynsty25]

Still early, but this is the most fun I have had with an NCAA game since NCAA 04.

Absolutely correct.

[bkrich83]

Still early, but this is the most fun I have had with an NCAA game since NCAA 04.

Absolutely correct.

YAY I got one right!!

[dbdynsty25]

Still early, but this is the most fun I have had with an NCAA game since NCAA 04.

Absolutely correct.

YAY I got one right!!

As I always say...that BK kid is great.

[bkrich83]

Absolutely correct.

YAY I got one right!!

As I always say...that BK kid is great.

5 years later, I still laugh uncontrollably at that.

[Danimal]

How is the cpu running game? Are they averaging more than 2 yards a carry?

Some teams do, but for the most part on AA default they aren't very potent. But play Alabama or some like that and they will run on you.

But if you want a better run game out of the cpu I think slider tweaks are needed on AA anyway.

[JRod]

No, JRod, I haven't found the perfect game. But, then again, I'm not on an insatiable quest to find one, either; nor am I content with always accentuating the negative. Games are for entertainment purposes, and to be enjoyed...not picked apart incessantly.

But whatever; it's the MO, so by now I shouldn't be surprised...or annoyed, really. Do your thing.

Whatever...you can't seem to understand that criticism isn't malicious. If you want to talk about the game then do so but don't respond trying assume what I think.

I'd rather talk about the game than the fragile egos around here, where they get bent out of shape if we talk about negative parts of a game.

[GTHobbes]

How is the cpu running game? Are they averaging more than 2 yards a carry?

Some teams do, but for the most part on AA default they aren't very potent. But play Alabama or some like that and they will run on you.

But if you want a better run game out of the cpu I think slider tweaks are needed on AA anyway.

Thanks for the response, Dan. I'm also encouraged by BK's comments about the running game. One of the things that I love about BB is that counters, stretch plays, traps and draws all work VERY well if you mix up your plays. I couldn't remember any football game getting those plays right, and it sounds like both NCAA and BB have come through on that front this year.

[JRod]

On AA the game plays rather easy. I have Notre Dame but I haven't lost since I'm in week 4 and 3-0. Games get harder as the season does along, and this has been a trait of how NCAA and Madden increase difficulty later in the season.

I've had to increase CPU running sliders because they were getting shut down too easily. I've also lower the CPU passing sliders because they were going robo-QBs early on.

There are less ints this year, only because your AI players will be in perfect position for the ball and swat it, or just whiff the INT. That's okay but they fixed the Pick-6 problem of previous years by toning down the INT rate. In a game you will see these INT opportunities a lot. And sometimes it happens because the CPU player will come back for a ball, and the offensive player just stands there. That makes comeback routs and curls harder to pull off this year.

I wish they could fix the passing trajectory of some balls over the middle. There are still too many swats by LBs to wide-open receivers down field.

And finally, I'm having a hard time completing screens. I don't think they are broken, but it's strange how the screen blockers don't really block until the ball is in the air or caught. So the defenders just cover the RB and the blocks let him through. I don't know what the gameplay trick is to pulling a screen.

And as a PS3 note, I don't know if my settings are messed up or what but this game doesn't look as good as the Xbox version I saw in the store. I know it's not a direct comparison but Madden 10 (360) was a much better and refined looking game. NCAA seems like they turned off detail to have the game run smoothly.

[GTHobbes]

There are less ints this year, only because your AI players will be in perfect position for the ball and swat it, or just whiff the INT. That's okay but they fixed the Pick-6 problem of previous years by toning down the INT rate.

Speaking of Pick-6'es, I had one other quick question. Have they improved pursuit angles this year, or do the guys still chase after the guy who intercepted the ball single file-style all the way down the field? I think that's had as much to do with the rampant Pick-6'es in Tiburon's games as anything.

[JRod]

How is the cpu running game? Are they averaging more than 2 yards a carry?

Some teams do, but for the most part on AA default they aren't very potent. But play Alabama or some like that and they will run on you.

But if you want a better run game out of the cpu I think slider tweaks are needed on AA anyway.

Thanks for the response, Dan. I'm also encouraged by BK's comments about the running game. One of the things that I love about BB is that counters, stretch plays, traps and draws all work VERY well if you mix up your plays. I couldn't remember any football game getting those plays right, and it sounds like both NCAA and BB have come through on that front this year.

I haven't seen any broken running play like in years past. There still some suction blocking and players they are able to shed the defenders the moment you go past but those are gameplay quirks central to NCAA and don't really abuse the engine. I think if anything there's the potential to have a lot of high scoring games over low scoring ones because the offense seems to be favored this year. I need to play a poor school because the better ones on AA seem to be able to move the ball easily.

[Teal]

No, JRod, I haven't found the perfect game. But, then again, I'm not on an insatiable quest to find one, either; nor am I content with always accentuating the negative. Games are for entertainment purposes, and to be enjoyed...not picked apart incessantly.

But whatever; it's the MO, so by now I shouldn't be surprised...or annoyed, really. Do your thing.

Whatever...you can't seem to understand that criticism isn't malicious. If you want to talk about the game then do so but don't respond trying assume what I think.

I'd rather talk about the game than the fragile egos around here, where they get bent out of shape if we talk about negative parts of a game.

Fragile egos??? That's funny as hell!

Like I said, do your thing. Complaining seems to be your soup du jour, so enjoy yourself-I'm off to play football...

[dbdynsty25]

And finally, I'm having a hard time completing screens. I don't think they are broken, but it's strange how the screen blockers don't really block until the ball is in the air or caught. So the defenders just cover the RB and the blocks let him through. I don't know what the gameplay trick is to pulling a screen.

The blockers are not allowed to block until the pass is complete, unless the ball is thrown backwards, so that's by design.

[Danimal]

Well I don't want it to appear that I am just saying the opposite of everything JRod says but I haven't seen shred one of Robo-QB at all. In fact i thought the QB's were too inaccurate until I saw the post game numbers.

Best game put up against me on 7 minute quarters / AA was 18-26 301 yards. I am seeing QB's mis fire a lot during my games, behind receivers, over thrown by a mile etc. I don't think I have seen anyone in the 70% plus completion rate yet. So take that for what it is worth.

As far as pursuit angles I'll be honest I am so enamored with how the players are moving that I haven't payed that much attention. i haven't seen anything to make me go "ugh" at this point.

At this point these are the things on my negative list:

Penalties- On default there are none, bump the sliders up a 5 or 10 points and there are a ton. But typically you get a lot of holding, some clips and false starts. Haven't seen anything else yet.

Arm Strength - This is something for me to watch, I saw the Vols QV throw one (at least he stepped into it and wound up) from his 14 yard line to my 24 in the air. Seems like a hell of a throw, maybe that guy has a canon I don't know.

CPU Option - I've seen the cpu make some terrible decisions on pitches. I've seen a handful of defenders pick them out of the air. It's not that the defense shouldn't of picked it (even though that play is rare0 because they were in position. But the decision to pitch it is odd at times.

CPU Man Coverage - Unlike the demo when this was too loose, good QB's make the cuts exactly at the same time as WR. I'm told lower the sliders to 30-40 fixes this haven't tried it yet.

[sportdan30]

I'll have to check out the visuals of NCAA on the 360, because I simply don't get the knock on the PS3 appearance. To me, it looks heads and shoulders better than it did a year ago. It was simply horse s**t the way it looked last year.

I've noticed a little bit of robo QB, but man this is college football. There are going to be some QBs who can shred defenses, especially given the fact that the college game is way more open than the NFL game. Plus, the fact that corners are generally smaller than NFL corners.

I still find playing defense a game of craps. I guess I don't know how to read the play before the snap, or I just don't have time to react and change my formations.

Still a blast to play and can't wait to get home!

[JRod]

In my game it was who the first two teams of the season are that ND faces. So it's Purdue then Michigan I believe. In both those games the CPU only missed 3-4 passes. It wasn't the old robo-Qb but it was more than just having a good game. So I've lowered them because, you aren't going to see pro numbers in college.

As for the screen, then the play just doesn't develop right, the defender is allowed to get between the blockers and the RB too many times. Of after it's thrown there's a delay between the blockers attempting to block. If the defense call a deep zone that's when the screen is the most effective but really the screen is to offset pursuing defenses. It's not broken but it just doesn't develop right.

[dbdynsty25]

I'll have to check out the visuals of NCAA on the 360, because I simply don't get the knock on the PS3 appearance. To me, it looks heads and shoulders better than it did a year ago. It was simply horse s**t the way it looked last year.

It's not saying that they look BAD per se on the PS3...it's just that nearly every game that is multiplatform looks better on the 360 for whatever reason. It's just true. They either look very similar or the edge goes to the 360. I can't even remember a single game that looked better on the PS3. Maybe Batman Arkham Asylum?

[Aristo]

In my game it was who the first two teams of the season are that ND faces. So it's Purdue then Michigan I believe. In both those games the CPU only missed 3-4 passes. It wasn't the old robo-Qb but it was more than just having a good game. So I've lowered them because, you aren't going to see pro numbers in college.

As for the screen, then the play just doesn't develop right, the defender is allowed to get between the blockers and the RB too many times. Of after it's thrown there's a delay between the blockers attempting to block. If the defense call a deep zone that's when the screen is the most effective but really the screen is to offset pursuing defenses. It's not broken but it just doesn't develop right.

Maybe the AI is just too good for you to comprehend. Isn't that the standard answer for why a game that sucks is actually good?

[JRod]

In my game it was who the first two teams of the season are that ND faces. So it's Purdue then Michigan I believe. In both those games the CPU only missed 3-4 passes. It wasn't the old robo-Qb but it was more than just having a good game. So I've lowered them because, you aren't going to see pro numbers in college.

As for the screen, then the play just doesn't develop right, the defender is allowed to get between the blockers and the RB too many times. Of after it's thrown there's a delay between the blockers attempting to block. If the defense call a deep zone that's when the screen is the most effective but really the screen is to offset pursuing defenses. It's not broken but it just doesn't develop right.

Maybe the AI is just too good for you to comprehend. Isn't that the standard answer for why a game that sucks is actually good?

WTF. This s*** isn't needed.

I beat both those teams handily on AA. In fact I haven't been challenged that much on AA. I only lowered them to get more realistic stats not to make it easier. I'm 4-0 with ND. And to make it harder, I don't hot route, change blitzes or anything like. I increased the CPU run game so they can have longer sustained drives.

[JRod]

There are less ints this year, only because your AI players will be in perfect position for the ball and swat it, or just whiff the INT. That's okay but they fixed the Pick-6 problem of previous years by toning down the INT rate.

Speaking of Pick-6'es, I had one other quick question. Have they improved pursuit angles this year, or do the guys still chase after the guy who intercepted the ball single file-style all the way down the field? I think that's had as much to do with the rampant Pick-6'es in Tiburon's games as anything.

Can't really say, as the INTs are toned down. I think it's better but then NCAA has the speed discrepancy feature so it's really tough to tell.

[Murph]

I fulfilled a dream today and wasted a bunch of my company's time by trying out the web interface of Online Dynasty and recruited a whole week's worth.

I've got 24 recruits on my board now and wanted to see how the web interface differs from the one in-game.

I am what's wrong with America.

[bkrich83]

I fulfilled a dream today and wasted a bunch of my company's time by trying out the web interface of Online Dynasty and recruited a whole week's worth.

I've got 24 recruits on my board now and wanted to see how the web interface differs from the one in-game.

I am what's wrong with America.

How is the web interface? Most feature there?

[JRod]

I fulfilled a dream today and wasted a bunch of my company's time by trying out the web interface of Online Dynasty and recruited a whole week's worth.

I've got 24 recruits on my board now and wanted to see how the web interface differs from the one in-game.

I am what's wrong with America.

This did look awesome. Too bad you couldn't do this for a regular franchise mode.

[Murph]

I fulfilled a dream today and wasted a bunch of my company's time by trying out the web interface of Online Dynasty and recruited a whole week's worth.

I've got 24 recruits on my board now and wanted to see how the web interface differs from the one in-game.

I am what's wrong with America.

How is the web interface? Most feature there?

For recruiting, everything is on the web interface too. The only differences I've noticed so far are cosmetic. The web version doesn't have the fancy/spinning effect on the random topic to discuss with a recruit. It just pops up. Little things like that.

[Murph]

I fulfilled a dream today and wasted a bunch of my company's time by trying out the web interface of Online Dynasty and recruited a whole week's worth.

I've got 24 recruits on my board now and wanted to see how the web interface differs from the one in-game.

I am what's wrong with America.

This did look awesome. Too bad you couldn't do this for a regular franchise mode.

In a way, you can. Just start an Online Dynasty with just one player (you). It's basically the same as the offline version, but you have access to the web stuff.

You can even set it to private so others can't see that you just crushed FCS East 72-0.