NCAA 2006 impressions thread

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:37 pm

i think sliders should not be touched until at least 5 games have been played

icvu42 · Post by **icvu42** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:40 pm

Leebo33 wrote:LOL. Some people at OS have FINAL sliders and I haven't even got the game yet.

Hell, people are returning the game before we have our copies.

Rick

vanburen · Post by **vanburen** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:30 pm

Jayhawker wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:I just got blown the hell out on All American Level...56-6..Kansas over Mizzou!
Sounds about right!

Rock Chalk Jayhawks!

as a fellow KU grad, I also love the stories of my hawks kicking ole mizzou's butt. reminds me of last year's game in columbia...

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:20 pm

I'm really feeling this game. I really liked v2004 and so far 2006 is grabbing me much more than 2004 did at the start.

Was smoked by Troy 44-17 and it doesn't feel cheap. Heck, my backup QB is now my starter and today he just couldn't do much against that Troy defense.

I know some don't like the recruiting, but I love the idea of highly touted recruits targeted during the season and the rest of the signings at the end of the season. After each week I'm wondering where a particualr recruit has me on his list.

There are some stat issues, but none that make me want to quit playing the game by any means. The gameplay is there and that's what matters to me.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:30 am

MizzouRah wrote:I'm really feeling this game. I really liked v2004 and so far 2006 is grabbing me much more than 2004 did at the start.

Was smoked by Troy 44-17 and it doesn't feel cheap. Heck, my backup QB is now my starter and today he just couldn't do much against that Troy defense.

I know some don't like the recruiting, but I love the idea of highly touted recruits targeted during the season and the rest of the signings at the end of the season. After each week I'm wondering where a particualr recruit has me on his list.

There are some stat issues, but none that make me want to quit playing the game by any means. The gameplay is there and that's what matters to me.

Dynasty is really where the game is at this year. All those yards I got in my exhibition games running the ball I can't in dynasty. Main reason being how the ratings change from game to game based on how well you do previous game. I won my first dynasty game 21-7 but my qb threw a lot of int's that his qb ovr skill dropped 8 points. So in my next game, he was terrible and I got blown out big time 52-7. I've never given up 52 points in any video football game and it was quite pleasing to see. My RB in my 2nd game also got beat up good. He had 122 yards first game but 2nd game only 54 yards total since the whole offense did bad in my 2nd game. Also as others mentioned home field really seems to make a difference this year.

If this is the only game I can play the rest of the year, I'll be happy.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:44 am

Weaver2005 wrote:Main reason being how the ratings change from game to game based on how well you do previous game.
<snipped>
Also as others mentioned home field really seems to make a difference this year.

These two items, plus the impact players and the "in the zone" feature are the only things I've read that scare me. I don't know if I like the idea of having a bad game and then in subsequent games my ratings drop like a rock. What happens if you have a second bad game. Do the ratings drop further? I'm just worried it could have a domino effect and screw up an entire season for me.

I really don't like "in the zone" from what I've read. Even a guy who's on a roll gets tired, so why make him invincible in the game? Maybe it can be turned off?

Maybe I'm making more out of these than I should be (still don't have the game). Could someon elaborate on "in the zone", impact players, and the ratings adjustments?

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:36 am

The most I have had a player drop is 6-8 points. You can build him back up though so I like the feature. It's not really overdone. I think it has a lot to do with the composure level of the player too.

As for the 'in the zone' thing, it has it's pro's and con's. When I had my Rb in the zone, he was basically unstoppable, he wouldn't even get subbed out by the cpu(this was on AA exhibition). But when I had my DE in the zone, it didn't really seem to make that much of a difference. At one point his in the zone color became gold but I still didn't sense that big of a leap in skill where I could get a sack every snap(dynasty, Heisman).

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:46 am

Yeah, I like the "in the zone" feature. It doesn't make anyone super human, but it's a blast when your WR is ITZ and the CB covering him is INZ - quite a battle goes on each snap.

This has been like MVP was upon boot up.. I'm here at work gameplanning for #3 Texas.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:41 pm

MizzouRah wrote: This has been like MVP was upon boot up.. I'm here at work gameplanning for #3 Texas.

I agree completly, it has been a wonderful week of playing this game without listening to the people who are going to b*tch about every little thing. Unfortunately that time is upon us starting today.

I played a classic against Penn State last night (as Michigan), their QB is an impact player and he tore me to shreads running the option.

I was up 16-14 with 4 minutes left, my QB got pressure and stripped. I held State to a field goal and was down by one. Get the ball back with about 3 and change left, procede to throw a bad pass which gets returned for a 41 yard TD. Now i am down by 8.

I get it back with 2:48 left, I march down the field and tie the game, get the 2 point conversion and with about 36 seconds left figure we are going to OT.

State returns the kick to my 49. 28 secs left

Incomplete Pass - 24 seconds left

State tries a crossing pattern, my OLB hits the TE so hard the ball pops up, my SS grabs it and is off I can see he is not going to make it and time is running low so I duck out of bounds at their 23 with 4 ticks left.

I line up a 40 yard FG into a cross wind and hit the game winner win no time left. It was 2 am and I was dropping happy F-bombs and looking for someone to high five.

Next up is #3 Iowa and I'm not sure how I can stop them.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:44 pm

Danimal wrote:
MizzouRah wrote: This has been like MVP was upon boot up.. I'm here at work gameplanning for #3 Texas.
I agree completly, it has been a wonderful week of playing this game without listening to the people who are going to b*tch about every little thing. Unfortunately that time is upon us starting today.

I played a classic against Penn State last night (as Michigan), their QB is an impact player and he tore me to shreads running the option.

I was up 16-14 with 4 minutes left, my QB got pressure and stripped. I held State to a field goal and was down by one. Get the ball back with about 3 and change left, procede to throw a bad pass which gets returned for a 41 yard TD. Now i am down by 8.

I get it back with 2:48 left, I march down the field and tie the game, get the 2 point conversion and with about 36 seconds left figure we are going to OT.

State returns the kick to my 49. 28 secs left

Incomplete Pass - 24 seconds left

State tries a crossing pattern, my OLB hits the TE so hard the ball pops up, my SS grabs it and is off I can see he is not going to make it and time is running low so I duck out of bounds at their 23 with 4 ticks left.

I line up a 40 yard FG into a cross wind and hit the game winner win no time left. It was 2 am and I was dropping happy F-bombs and looking for someone to high five.

Next up is #3 Iowa and I'm not sure how I can stop them.

Ya it feels like a brand new game with all the new animations and plays. one thing I really like about this years game is the playbook. So far I cannot find any money plays I can run over and over again like I could have in the last 3 verisons. The defense adjusts much better to your playcalling this year than before.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:58 pm

Danimal wrote:
MizzouRah wrote: This has been like MVP was upon boot up.. I'm here at work gameplanning for #3 Texas.
I agree completly, it has been a wonderful week of playing this game without listening to the people who are going to b*tch about every little thing. Unfortunately that time is upon us starting today.

I played a classic against Penn State last night (as Michigan), their QB is an impact player and he tore me to shreads running the option.

I was up 16-14 with 4 minutes left, my QB got pressure and stripped. I held State to a field goal and was down by one. Get the ball back with about 3 and change left, procede to throw a bad pass which gets returned for a 41 yard TD. Now i am down by 8.

I get it back with 2:48 left, I march down the field and tie the game, get the 2 point conversion and with about 36 seconds left figure we are going to OT.

State returns the kick to my 49. 28 secs left

Incomplete Pass - 24 seconds left

State tries a crossing pattern, my OLB hits the TE so hard the ball pops up, my SS grabs it and is off I can see he is not going to make it and time is running low so I duck out of bounds at their 23 with 4 ticks left.

I line up a 40 yard FG into a cross wind and hit the game winner win no time left. It was 2 am and I was dropping happy F-bombs and looking for someone to high five.

Next up is #3 Iowa and I'm not sure how I can stop them.

A story like this is what a good game is supposed to do.

I love all the new running with the ball/tackle animations this year. I like getting stood up at the line and then dragging the tackler a few yards down field.

The fun factor is definitly there...

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:05 pm

One question:

What are you guys using for Sub In % and Sub Out %?

I have them set to 70% out and 85% in, but I'm still not seeing my HB go out much if at all.

I don't want him to come out much, maybe on a good drive for a few plays and I'd like to see the CPU teams use their backup HB sometimes as well.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:42 pm

To be honest, i usually manually sub in out by using the package button (B) before calling the play.

You can sub out QB, HB, put people in different locations, put FB in at RB etc.

Very handy tool.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 3:43 pm

Boom wrote:To be honest, i usually manually sub in out by using the package button (B) before calling the play.

You can sub out QB, HB, put people in different locations, put FB in at RB etc.

Very handy tool.

Yeah, but I also want the CPU teams to at least sub in their backup RB every so often.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:13 pm

Well things went ominously bad for me. My first game I (FSU) got beat 68-10 by Florida. Never in any game, even the very first time I played have I ever been beaten this bad. I started to quit, but I figured I'd play it out just to get used to the controls.

First things first...why change the "switch to closest player" button from A to B? That was one of my main issues and even though I played NFL 2K5 a lot, I never got used to using the B button for this purpose. Can you remap and go back to the old button style? I also don't care for the defensive swim and spin being moved from the shoulder buttons to the right stick.

My qb numbers in my first game? 9-40 158 yards and 5 picks. I threw bullets, lobs, and even tried user catching, but there were always at least 2 guys with ever receiver I threw to. Of my 31 incompletions, I'd guess at least 10-12 were just stone cold drops. One thing I've always been able to do in this game is to complete passes to receivers crossing the field, usually after they clear the middle. Today I had several guys wide open holding their hand up coming across the field only to see the defender make up the two steps and get in position at the last minute.

People have said that they thought the dropped passes were still a problem, which I agree with, but also the super dbs still seem to be here as well.

Maybe I picked the wrong team to play in my first game, but despite the improved running game and new animations, the game feels very familiar to me. The slowdown is definitely gone and I love all the new graphical features and other little things they added, but like I said, the passing game just feels the same. Florida State has a ton of formations and plays, and I can't find one play that will get me a completed pass when I need it. There's just nothing to go to when I have 3rd and 8 because they will either drop it or the coverage will just be like a blanket.

I think I'm going to go in and turn the catch slider all the way up and see if I can at least complete 50% of my passes before I take the game back to EB. I couldn't care less about online play, but if I can't enjoy a dynasty with this game then I don't need it. Madden will be out in a few weeks anyway and I'd much rather play that.

So after 1 offline game and 3 online, I am very disappointed in this game. I'm going to give it a few more games, but the passing game feels just as broken as last year to me. Maybe because I have a 82 rated qb, but there's nothing I can do about that since I don't like USC.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:21 pm

Are you letting the cpu catch for you or catching the ball yourself? I read in the Maddenmania boards that in the tutorial, they mention that this year you have to take control of the WR to catch the ball and avoid drops. I've started to do that this year and my completion rate is much better with manual control WR. I've tested this with weaker teams with avg WR's and still had good results.

As for not finding a play in the playbook you can go to to get a 1st down, I really like that in this game. I could always find a magic play in the previous versions that would get me a 3rd and long converson about 70 percent of the time, this year I can't find any, which is the way it is supposed to be.

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:26 pm

Weaver2005 wrote:As for not finding a play in the playbook you can go to to get a 1st down, I really like that in this game. I could always find a magic play in the previous versions that would get me a 3rd and long converson about 70 percent of the time, this year I can't find any, which is the way it is supposed to be.

Up until last year's version the Deep Outs play in the Ace formation was pure gold. Both wideouts ran about 15 yard outs and I would have the slot and TEs run crossing patterns. Never failed me.

What could be cool about not having a particular money play is that it will force you to use the whole playbook. As long as all the plays have a chance to be successful, that is very much a good thing.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:26 pm

The reason they switched from A to B is so people who bitched about the "speed burst" being different buttons for offense and defense last year would be happy. Now, A is speed burst for both offense and defense and it just makes more sense.

However, you can go back to 2005 controls in your controller options and it'll be what you're used to.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:27 pm

Badgun wrote:So after 1 offline game and 3 online, I am very disappointed in this game.

No one is really surprised. When you go into a game telling yourself you will not like it no matter what you see on the field...you won't like it. Most, if not all, of your comments this week have been critical of the game and what you have 'heard' through other boards and whatnot. I'm not criticizing you, per se, but it's hard for a game to please someone who really doesn't want the game to be good. There really isn't a way for me to state that, that doesn't sound like I'm attacking you...it's more of an observation than anything and it just doesn't seem like you care, or want to like the game. You were just waiting till you got your hands on it to completely rip it apart.

Obviously, I haven't played the game yet...so I'll leave my commentary till later (as you all wait with baited breath I'm sure)...I just don't get the feeling you really wanted to like the game Badgun.

HouOilers · Post by **HouOilers** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:31 pm

Um....so the game is broken because you suck at it? After 1 offline game?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:32 pm

HouOilers wrote:Um....so the game is broken because you suck at it? After 1 offline game?

At least I tried to be a little nicer...LOL...

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:39 pm

Maybe you still had that Lyme disease-I-am-God QB still on the roster.

Or maybe Rix was still in there. Five interceptions sound about right for that guy.

Hmm, 40 pass attempts? Did you get down big early? Did you get down because of the passing game?

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:40 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Badgun wrote:So after 1 offline game and 3 online, I am very disappointed in this game.
No one is really surprised. When you go into a game telling yourself you will not like it no matter what you see on the field...you won't like it. Most, if not all, of your comments this week have been critical of the game and what you have 'heard' through other boards and whatnot. I'm not criticizing you, per se, but it's hard for a game to please someone who really doesn't want the game to be good. There really isn't a way for me to state that, that doesn't sound like I'm attacking you...it's more of an observation than anything and it just doesn't seem like you care, or want to like the game. You were just waiting till you got your hands on it to completely rip it apart.

Obviously, I haven't played the game yet...so I'll leave my commentary till later (as you all wait with baited breath I'm sure)...I just don't get the feeling you really wanted to like the game Badgun.

Ahhhh...gotta love the 'new & improved' DBDynsty! What...are you wearing your girlfriends panties today or something!?!?!

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:46 pm

Badger_Fan wrote:
Weaver2005 wrote:As for not finding a play in the playbook you can go to to get a 1st down, I really like that in this game. I could always find a magic play in the previous versions that would get me a 3rd and long converson about 70 percent of the time, this year I can't find any, which is the way it is supposed to be.
Up until last year's version the Deep Outs play in the Ace formation was pure gold. Both wideouts ran about 15 yard outs and I would have the slot and TEs run crossing patterns. Never failed me.

What could be cool about not having a particular money play is that it will force you to use the whole playbook. As long as all the plays have a chance to be successful, that is very much a good thing.

yes, it forces you to learn the whole playbook, which I think is fantastic. You really have to think about the play your going to call in certain situations vs the defensive alignment. Can't just call a play and heave it up anymore.

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:48 pm

Badgun wrote:There's just nothing to go to when I have 3rd and 8 because they will either drop it or the coverage will just be like a blanket.

Whenever I make a bad throw in NCAA 2006 and it gets picked or I throw into tight coiverage, I go back into Instant Replay and almost every time I ended up throwing to the wrong receiver. Someone was open, I just didn't throw it his way -- usually its a safety vavle HB, FB or TE. If you lock onto a target pre-snap and decide come hell or high water that you're going to throw it to him, you'll struggle mightily.

I hate it when people say, "YOU HAVE TO READ THE DEFENSE!" No videogame in the history of videogames has ever forced you to really read a defense, but I do think that you need to go through reciver progressions quickly and try to find the man with 1-1 coverage. I struggled at first too. As for the drops, keep playing. My first reaction was that there were too many, but I don't even notice it anymore. I drop maybe 2-4 passes per game. My completion % is usually 50-60% but I also throw a lot of underneath stuff and passes to the backs.