Backbreaker Preview - Natural Motion based football title

[MizzouRah]

A patch would be great! Unfortunately it'll come too late to change the mind of those already set against this game.

Not for me, I'll definitely look to read impressions post patch.

[webdanzer]

Why would they need a patch for a great, great, awesome, great, great, game?

I bet the patch will be awesome, great, awesome, great, great awesome!!!

[ScoopBrady]

Why would they need a patch for a great, great, awesome, great, great, game?

I bet the patch will be awesome, great, awesome, great, great awesome!!!

LMAO.

[toonarmy]

Yeah, it's cool that a smaller developer is taking the effort to patch a game that has not sold well to date. Virtually every large sports game (good and bad) gets at least one patch to address issues, so it's good to see the developer of BB caring enough to make this fun game even better. I have been rotating BB, PES 2010, and RacePro lately, and am having a blast with all three.

[GTHobbes]

"Originally Posted by Todd
Hi Guys,

Just a quick note - don't discount anything being fixed in the patch. It covers a *lot* of the issues raised on this forum and there is no point decided what is in or out before we release the fix list.

I can't give you date for when we will release it as we are still addressing issues. But trust me, you will know as soon as possible.

Thanks guys, just wait patiently for a bit longer.

Todd"

[GTHobbes]

I can't believe how much time I've spent with this game -- a LOT more time than any other football game I've played over the past 30 years. I'm starting to feel like the guy from the movie, King of Kong -- I've got 60 some wins online this month and am sitting at # 3 on the PS3 leaderboards, hoping to pass up the guy at # 1 (who I've beaten twice already).

It's so satisfying to beat team after team using a smashmouth running game, a smashmouth defense, and solid special teams. It's even more satisfying to finally have a game that surpasses 2k football. Great stuff.

[GTHobbes]

Don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but it sounds like some sort of replay or recording function may be part of the upcoming patch:

"Originally Posted by Todd
Hi Guys,

We have made the patch available to a few guys early (we are allowed to do this with the console manufacturers) to give them time to create review videos, this is ultimately to help the Backbreaker patch make the biggest splash possible. It isn't favouritism, its just sensible marketing and pretty standard practice.

Hope that makes sense - we do appreciate all the hard work that goes into your YouTube videos so please keep making them - it'll be even easier soon!

Todd."

I've now got more than 70 games in online this month (was up until 3:30 this morning playing some guy who's been giving me really good games), and I'm more impressed with this game now than when I bought it (which is saying a lot). If they really are able to add user replays through a patch, I'll be ecstatic.

[Danimal]

I'm going to give this game another shot when they release the patch, but the game itself is pretty much dead. No patch is going to increase sales at this point and their numbers are really poor. Historically week 1 is your best sales week and their sales have trickled to nothing, it's a little too late to worry about marketing it now.

I appreciate the fact they are still trying, but if they want to make a "splash" now they need to drop the price to 19.99 or less

[GTHobbes]

I'm going to give this game another shot when they release the patch, but the game itself is pretty much dead. No patch is going to increase sales at this point and their numbers are really poor. Historically week 1 is your best sales week and their sales have trickled to nothing, it's a little too late to worry about marketing it now.

I appreciate the fact they are still trying, but if they want to make a "splash" now they need to drop the price to 19.99 or less

Dan, I mostly agree with you that sales were dead on impact and probably will not pick up much moving forward. But I showed some guy at work this new fan-made video yesterday and I think it was enough for him to give the game a shot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxcU-bZUBfc

This video doesn't even capture a 100th of the cool stuff I've seen in this game. If they are able to make it so that those of us with the game can call up replays and record them for YouTube, we might see a few more people pick up the game at $19 (I think it's $39 now) as we get past the Madden launch and into the NFL season. I'm still not having any problem at all finding guys to play online, really, so the more the better but I'm pretty happy with the size of the fan base installed already.

[Danimal]

Like I said I will try it with the patch, if they fix the game play issues I can get used to the camera. I'm a whore when it comes to football games, I buy everyone I can find, I even bought some iPad one a few weeks back which is God Awful from gameLoft.

[GTHobbes]

Like I said I will try it with the patch, if they fix the game play issues I can get used to the camera. I'm a whore when it comes to football games, I buy everyone I can find, I even bought some iPad one a few weeks back which is God Awful from gameLoft.

LoL...I'm the same way. If you do end up giving BB another chance somewhere down the road, I hope ya go with the PS3 version so we can get some games in online against each other.

[Rodster]

Gamestop was having a sale on BB for $24.99

[Danimal]

This is a good video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxcU-bZUBfc

I can't figure out how to embed videos in the new forum software, anyone know how?

[Teal]

This is a good video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxcU-bZUBfc

I can't figure out how to embed videos in the new forum software, anyone know how?

Yeah, Hobbes put that up about 4 posts ago, old man...

[vader29]

I can't figure out how to embed videos in the new forum software, anyone know how?

When replying to a thread, the options box below the smilies says that [flash] is OFF, so perhaps Jared just needs to turn it on for the embedded videos to work maybe?

[dbdynsty25]

When replying to a thread, the options box below the smilies says that [flash] is OFF, so perhaps Jared just needs to turn it on for the embedded videos to work maybe?

Or they used iOS as the framework.

[MizzouRah]

That is a WICKED video!

[matthewk]

I am really hoping the patch comes through and fixes most of the big issues. After swearing I'd let it sit until a patch came out, I find myself playing this more than anything else lately.

I've gotten much better at the game since my first run at it. There is a definite learning curve because it plays so different. That has made the game a lot more enjoyable, but there are still problems the patch needs to fix. I'm not looking for a mirror of the NFL or NCAA. I like that this is different, just like the CFL or AFL is different from the NFL. I can live with things that are not "NFL accurate" like the number of sacks per game or the yards per carry.

The biggest thing for me is that the game continues to be fun. If the patch does half of what I hope it will, I'll be playing this until BB2 arrives.

[GTHobbes]

Sounds like the patch list is coming very soon -- saw this posted on the BB boards today:

"Re: We're really f'ing close.

Parts of the patch information were leaked via an apexisfree video. Confirmed information include new replay camera angles, and better passing motions."

The apex video's apparently been pulled, but someone was able to grab a screen shot of a replay screen:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/720/ ... camera.png

[Danimal]

I bought this game finally, it sits in shrink wrap until the patch.

Sadly GT I got the 360, it's what I game most on.

[GTHobbes]

I bought this game finally, it sits in shrink wrap until the patch.

Sadly GT I got the 360, it's what I game most on.

Good to hear, Dan...I do wish you had gone PS3 though. Regardless, I think you'll really appreciate a lot of what this game offers, after you get the hang of the controls. There's just so much about the game that screams real football.

[JRod]

More excited about the patch than NCAA or Madden! It probably won't help but I haven't sold BB yet.

[GTHobbes]

Got in 6 games online this weekend (all wins, 3 were really close), but still waiting on more patch news. Somebody on the BB boards posted this today --

"Apex has the patch, thinks it will go up on wednesday
It's a shame that it's come to this. Having to scrounge information from a youtube user's channel comments.

http://www.youtube.com/user/apexisfree

Let me just organise it a bit:

0pposableThumbs (13 hours ago)
Info on the patch please : D

apexisfree (8 hours ago)
Its not Perfect but its way Better

apexisfree (8 hours ago)
I Think it goes up Wednesday

And a little bit more:

cree811 (8 hours ago)
Gideon is the Qb ai better? less ints?

apexisfree (5 hours ago)
Yes the a.i's QB is a Handful Now Trust me

And most recent:

apexisfree (2 hours ago)
Wait until yall see the Running game"

The running game is my bread and butter, so it will be interesting to see what his last comment is referring to.

[GTHobbes]

Details on the patch are still trickling out -- this is what somebody on the BB boards has compiled so far based on Todd's comments today:

"Looks like a major patch named Greathouse.

For those keeping score at home (posted so far)

fixed/addressed:

- too many INTs (solved in multitude ways)!
- QB motions now faster!
- The RB will now be more resistant to falling over when colliding with his team mates! This introduces the new mechanic of "Stumble recovery". If you stumble rapidly press the Action button to recover quicker.
- Full replay system!
- Glance button that allows you to look straight ahead and read the defense. This has specifically been added to allow you to check for the blitz.
- Massively reduced the number of jump throws
- AI missed extra points
- blocking field goals glitch
- punting issues
- On offense, playing as a WR you have to go into focus mode (L2/LT) to perform a catch - note, this is only if you elect to play as a WR from the start.
- On defense, you must enter focus mode (L2/LT) to attempt an interceptions/Bat.
- AI punt/kick return AI. The AI will decide if it should catch and return the ball depending on yards/time/score.
- 'Muffed' opening kickoff scored as Safety, not Touchback
- Dline will now jump very often to block the pass. If you play as a Dline you just tap down on the right-stick to go for the swat (from a block).
- Can't Call TO on Punts/FG's
- Game crashes/freezes when pausing after kickoff or calling timeout
- Can now scroll through and then back to the beginning when trying to select plays
- QBs fumbles not really all fumbles
- Defense attacking ball. The deepest safety will wait for the catch before tackling, but all other safeties/CBs/LBs will engage and time their tackles or go for the pick/bat.
- Incomplete pass called fumble
- More Pass interference penalties called
- Endless pile on glitch
- Roughing the kicker
- Made some improvements to address lag"

[GTHobbes]

The devs just released this statement on the BB boards:

“We are lucky to have such a passionate community who have supported us throughout the development of Backbreaker and continue to do so post-launch,” said Todd Gibbs, Head of Game Development, NaturalMotion Games. “Greathouse will give them what they have asked for, packed as it is with additions, changes, tweaks and requests taken directly from our online forums, reviews, as well as from individual players who spent time at our offices testing the latest features. I am extremely proud of what the team has managed to achieve in just a month.”

Major features in Greathouse include:

• Brand new replay system with the addition of seven fully functional cameras, including free flight mode and a cinematic ‘ball-lock’ option.
• More than 100 new plays added, including an additional nine formations.
• Improved Quarterback camera view and passing game.
• A user-catch system, giving the player a much greater level of control over the on-field action.
• Interception control, the user is now given full control over interception attempts when controlling a defensive player.
• Comprehensive review of the penalty rulings following an analysis of reported errors.

“We were stunned by the sheer volume of user videos that were posted on YouTube following the release of Backbreaker,” said Ant Lewis, Lead Designer, NaturalMotion Games. “It is obvious that the community loves the realism and live nature of the game and wants to share their unique moments. The new suite of cameras introduced with Greathouse will give them complete creative control over their footage and we are excited to see what appears as a result.”