NCAA 07 XBox 360 Thread

hellbent · Post by **hellbent** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:10 am

kevinpars wrote:What sliders are folks using? I played ND as Michigan last night with AA sliders heavy toward the AI and with interceptions at 0 and still had 4 interceptions. No way Brady Quinn throws 4 interceptions at home in a game where the Irish open with a 14-0 lead. Not that I love the Irish, but it felt unrealistic to win the game where i could not stop the pass but took advantage of turnovers. I am seeing this a lot. But if I turn the AI anymore toward the AI, then it will be impossible to stop them. I just want to cut down the number of interceptions that my team is getting. Any thoughts??

I was running into the same issues with picking off the CPU until I made the jump to Heisman. The most picks I’ve made in a single game since then is 3 (with Iowa against North Texas), with many games getting just 1 pick. Lots more passes are defended, and to get picks you usually have to take control of the defender, otherwise it just gets swatted.

I’ve played NCAA since NCAA 99 on the PSX across multiple platforms and this is the first time I’ve found Heisman level to be the best choice for accuracy, realism, difficulty, and fun. The only issues I am having right now are in finding good settings for the CPU run game – it’s either feast or famine. For example, I had CPU Run Ability set at 60, and Run Blocking at 80, and got torched on the ground as Penn State at home vs. Idaho. I adjusted the settings back down to blocking at 75 and run ability at default, re-played the game, and Idaho ran for like 20 yards on 16 carries.

There is definitely some variability to the games, which is great for actually playing through a season, but is a nightmare for trying to balance the gameplay. WVU should be able to run over most C-rated teams on default Heisman settings, but unless I up the running sliders for the CPU, they will flat-out suck offensively. So, I up the sliders, and weaker teams start running as if they have Vince Young and Reggie Bush running the option. Still, I’d rather see weaker teams give me a challenge occasionally instead of going 12-0 every year and picking off 4-5 passes every contest…

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:33 am

I think you are right. I am going to start up with Heisman the next time I play

billharris44 · Post by **billharris44** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:41 am

Heisman is really, really good this year.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:05 pm

Yep, I like Heisman now that I have more games under my belt, but I agree the CPU needs to have a running game.

I would like to see what some DSP users are coming up with slider wise for Heisman. I've also been thinking about bumping up to 9 mins as 8 seems a tad low as far as total plays go.

bkrich83 · Post by **bkrich83** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:06 pm

billharris44 wrote:Heisman is really, really good this year.

My biggest problem with Heisman, is the Defensive backs all play beyond their ability. Ratings and matchups in the passing game no longer matter, imo.

Kevin, to answer your questions, I have knockdowns at 40, and Int's at 10, and had a team total of 14 interceptions on the season, in year one of my dynasty.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:11 pm

Like I said previously, and obviously no one agreed, the one thing that this game suffers from is animations. The fact that you can hit a guy when he's in an animation already (whether it's breaking a tackle or getting tackled) is HUGE. I don't know how many times I've just run right at a group of guys, broke the one tackle and then by the time the rest of their guys recover from getting hit by the animation, I'm long gone. I just wish there was a way for them to stop that from happening. It's only happened TO me a few times, so it's not a huge deal, but it really is the only glaring flaw that I've found in around 50 games.

hellbent · Post by **hellbent** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:55 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:Like I said previously, and obviously no one agreed, the one thing that this game suffers from is animations. The fact that you can hit a guy when he's in an animation already (whether it's breaking a tackle or getting tackled) is HUGE. I don't know how many times I've just run right at a group of guys, broke the one tackle and then by the time the rest of their guys recover from getting hit by the animation, I'm long gone. I just wish there was a way for them to stop that from happening. It's only happened TO me a few times, so it's not a huge deal, but it really is the only glaring flaw that I've found in around 50 games.

Agree about the animation problems. The few slider tweaks I’ve done outside of the kicking game (for CPU running and Human running) are to help regulate the biggest issue I have with the game – pursuit and tackling, both AI and animations.

CPU defenders don’t adequately swarm in their pursuit of HUM runners – this is why I’ve had to tone down my RB Ability to half of default settings, even on Heisman. The issue is compounded when you have animations that actually prevent the CPU from gang-tackling in any way. Kickoff returns are especially plagued with these problems, where you can run up to a crowd, and in true Bruce Lee fashion, take on one opponent at a time when surrounded rather than have the crowd of defenders collapse on you. My only 2 kicks returned for TDs thus far came after I juked one defender, stepped out of a tackle while there were 4-5 CPU defenders around me, waiting for the animation to finish. I then turned on the afterburners and streaked down the field – when their pursuit animations caught up, it was too late.

I occasionally see this happen when I’m running the ball on set plays, particularly when scrambling with the QB. Even when you’re past the line of scrimmage, the CPU defenders seem content to come after you one at a time, as if they’re afraid you’ll still throw a forward pass. Again, reducing the RB ability slider has helped this for me.

Same thing with the CPU running game. While the animation issues are not the only cause of the problems, it sucks to stop a CPU runner cold in the backfield after perfectly timing the snap count, only to see them spin away and run past your teammates who are frozen in their tracks, apparently in awe of the runner’s talents. Runners will run for 1 yard, 1 yard, minus 3, then take a 60 yarder to the house after breaking one tackle, racing past unblocked, yet concrete-shoed defenders. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, it’s frustrating.

That being said, this is still OVERALL the best football game I’ve played in years, maybe ever. So, you take the good with the bad.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 2:42 am

Georgia lines up for a 56 yard field goal against UT in year 2. UT prepares for the fake.... kick was GOOD!

Another long one(57 yarder), this time UT knows its for real.. with the same result!

I love user picks!

KNOCK IT DOWN!

Quit clowning around!

Thats not a Steve Spurrier coached QB.

Behind enemy lines Vol 1.

Behind enemy lines Vol 2.

billharris44 · Post by **billharris44** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 1:50 pm

I just had a landmark event happen last night. I actually saw a CPU field goal go wide.

So it's not just an urban legend.

bkrich83 · Post by **bkrich83** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 3:40 pm

Sweet pics BD.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:26 pm

bkrich83 wrote:Sweet pics BD.

Thanks... I made a mistake on the field goal ones. I posted the same pic twice.. corrected now.

I also wanted one of the score board after the UGA/UF game... I think I would have titled it, "You know you are playing a video game when Georgia leaves Jacksonville with a win."

Your turn

bkrich83 · Post by **bkrich83** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:30 pm

OK couple of Dynasty pics.

My true Freshman WR finally makes a play vs. ND.

Sideline Catch!!!

Guard got to me before I could get to the QB.

User picks do kick ass.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:32 pm

Nice!

"My true Freshman WR finally makes a play vs. ND. "

Based on the looks of his mouth, I think he was as suprised are you were.

bkrich83 · Post by **bkrich83** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 9:28 pm

bdunn13 wrote:Nice!

"My true Freshman WR finally makes a play vs. ND. "

Based on the looks of his mouth, I think he was as suprised are you were.

LMAO, you maybe right.

BTW, I did put a dynasty site together.

http://www.dynastymanager.com/dm360.cgi ... 3&s=ncaafb

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:25 pm

Played some Heisman games today and I'm really impressed at how fun it is this year on this level. Restarted my dynasty and had a great first game on Heisman defaults. Both teams had over 100 yards rushing and everything else was pretty decent stat wise.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:47 pm

Ok so I broke down and bought a memory card and transfer kit and spent the last hour trying to get the rosters loaded to my 360, I deleted my dynasty that I had started and the roster save that was on before inserting the memory card and when I go into File Management - Load & Delete in the game the memory unit shows no roster file, doesn't show any file for NCAA. I know there is an NCAA file on the card because it shows one in the memory management in the dashboard blade. WTF am I doing wrong? It should not be this difficult.

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:50 pm

you have to transfer from your memory card to the hard drive on the dashboard 1st.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:58 pm

TheGamer wrote:you have to transfer from your memory card to the hard drive on the dashboard 1st.

Thanks, that worked.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:58 am

BTW, I just have to reiterate that the image retention thing is driving me f***in crazy. I get it after every game, and while it goes away with a few hours of TV or other games, I'm reluctant to play the game again until I get the screen "wiped."

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:18 pm

Brando70 wrote:BTW, I just have to reiterate that the image retention thing is driving me f***in crazy. I get it after every game, and while it goes away with a few hours of TV or other games, I'm reluctant to play the game again until I get the screen "wiped."

Have you tried cranking down your picture settings? I haven't noticed any image retention with NCAA, but then again I haven't really played more than two games in a row. I did notice recently, for the first time, some image retention from Oblivion after a few marathon-ish sessions a few days in a row over the weekend. I only noticed it while watching a movie on TV where the screen flashed full-white, and it was the first time I'd ever seen any hint of it. Freaked me out. I do agree, it would be best if the game designers took the issue into account and gave the user options as to what crap he wants to see on his screen, and I fully agree that EA really screwed the pooch by having that bottom line bordered by full white always there even when you pause the game. But if you are seeing image retention after just one game, well, wow.

grtwhtsk · Post by **grtwhtsk** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:04 pm

Brando70 wrote:BTW, I just have to reiterate that the image retention thing is driving me f***in crazy. I get it after every game, and while it goes away with a few hours of TV or other games, I'm reluctant to play the game again until I get the screen "wiped."

Same here.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:14 pm

grtwhtsk wrote:
Brando70 wrote:BTW, I just have to reiterate that the image retention thing is driving me f***in crazy. I get it after every game, and while it goes away with a few hours of TV or other games, I'm reluctant to play the game again until I get the screen "wiped."
Same here.

It Pays to have your Xbox hooked up to a crappy 32 inch 1994 model yr TV...

Phototropic · Post by **Phototropic** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:15 pm

grtwhtsk wrote:
Brando70 wrote:BTW, I just have to reiterate that the image retention thing is driving me f***in crazy. I get it after every game, and while it goes away with a few hours of TV or other games, I'm reluctant to play the game again until I get the screen "wiped."
Same here.

Ditto. Mine's not going away but it is really light and doesn't seem to show up when I'm watching movies. I'm just going to play and if it causes problems one day I'll have to deal with it I guess.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:22 pm

XXXIV wrote: It Pays to have your Xbox hooked up to a crappy 32 inch 1994 model yr TV...

lol - I remember someone saying something similar a couple of year ago at another forum. He argued you had an advantage playing on a big widescreen tv as opposed to a small 4:3 tv. His reasoning was when you played QB on the big WS, it would take longer for the blitz to get to you and you would have longer to throw.

The sad part is the guy was serious. Its not our schools that are failing us, its the damn gene pool.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:14 pm

Zeppo wrote:
Brando70 wrote:BTW, I just have to reiterate that the image retention thing is driving me f***in crazy. I get it after every game, and while it goes away with a few hours of TV or other games, I'm reluctant to play the game again until I get the screen "wiped."
Have you tried cranking down your picture settings? I haven't noticed any image retention with NCAA, but then again I haven't really played more than two games in a row. I did notice recently, for the first time, some image retention from Oblivion after a few marathon-ish sessions a few days in a row over the weekend. I only noticed it while watching a movie on TV where the screen flashed full-white, and it was the first time I'd ever seen any hint of it. Freaked me out. I do agree, it would be best if the game designers took the issue into account and gave the user options as to what crap he wants to see on his screen, and I fully agree that EA really screwed the pooch by having that bottom line bordered by full white always there even when you pause the game. But if you are seeing image retention after just one game, well, wow.

They are fairly low -- I have a Panasonic plasma, and the settings range from -40 to 40. I have my brightness for videogames set at 6 or 7. I've had that setting since I reached my 100 hour break-in period, and I've played all kinds of games without issue -- Oblivion, RE4, CoD2, and lots of Madden 2006 and MVP 05.

I'm going to try cranking the brightness down when I play and see if it helps. It's not an issue yet because a) it does go away and b) I can't notice it unless the TV has no signal coming in and I'm really close. It appears to be image retention, which is not permanent, as opposed to burn in. Plasmas are pretty hearty these days, I'm just being careful.

Anyway, I can't really blame EA for this, I just wish they had followed the Madden 06 model where the ticker disappears during the plays. Plus, the bright white of the borders and EA logo is what's really causing the problem.