EA's NFL Head Coach

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:03 am

JRod wrote:I am two.

Now that would make you the youngest poster at DSP by a large margin.

j/k (couldn't resist)

-G7

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:21 am

GameSeven wrote:
JRod wrote:I am two.
Now that would make you the youngest poster at DSP by a large margin.

j/k (couldn't resist)

-G7

It would also explain some of his posts

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:46 am

Back to back zingers, I love it.

My birthday is the 26th and I decided to ask for this game. I think it comes out next week so I'll get to read a bunch of impressions before playing it. I normally don't touch franchise modes in football games but this title intrigues me since that's the point of the game. In Madden I'd rather just be playing the game on the field than mucking through the franchise/gm stuff. This game could open my eyes to franchise modes.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:14 am

Now that I messed with it some more, there is a lot to like and a lot that has me thinking i hope this is a bit better in the final game. also the fact that i have no manual and no idea what is going on at points, for example it took me 10 minutes to figure out how to make a draft pick in that part of the demo.

Draft Demo -
I was expecting a bit more depth in terms of getting input from your coaches,and I couldn't trade picks or anything in the demo i saw. There was access to a lot of information in here that I had no idea what to do with. Also the atmosphere was kind of bleh, I guess i was expecting each pick to be announced if i wanted to sit through it.

Practice Demo -
I am really hoping this is just a small part of the weekly prep. It was cool to practice plays and then have the ability to talk to the players between them. but you only get to run 10 plays (which i can deal with) but this can't possibly be all you do for the week. weren't there movies of watching film, scouting opponents players etc? I'm hoping this demo was just a single days on field practice session and there is more to it.

GamePlay Demo -
To be honest if this was all the game was about i would be happy. I just want a game where i can coach and see the action. Using the < and > keys to change camera angles gives you good looks at the action. I have some questions about things, the time you have to do stuff like talk to players seems really fast with the somewhat clunky interface, i assume there are hot keys. Plus I have no idea what is happening fro mthose talks.

Also when I go to talk isn't the game suppose to continue, ie is my QB or offensive coord suppose to call something? Maybe it happened and I missed it, there is so much going on it is hard to keep things straight, but i guess that is realistic.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:12 pm

Thanks for the impressions, Danimal. I'm going to download the demo tonight and try this out. How big is the download?

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:15 pm

300MB

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 1:23 pm

Well shoot, work has been too busy to actually play this game, but from early impressions, as long as they are no glaring bugs and what not.. I think I'm going to love this game quite a bit. Kind of like playing manage mode on High Heat.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:26 pm

I really am beginning to think this game is pretty brilliant; even the demo. Several random thoughts:

1) Hasselbeck is getting too much time, so I switch to a dime, pull Joey Porter off the field and yap in his ear to attack the pass, go for the pick, etc. I then tell Ricardo Colclough to rush the passer and send him on a blitz next play. He drills Hasselbeck, who lobs a lazy duck to Stevens...when Joey Porter races in front and snags the pick. Pretty.

2) I want to pound the rock inside, so I talk to Hartings and Faneca, and tell them to engage their defender and turn them outside. I then go over to Parker and tell him to let the hole open up, then power inside and don't work too hard for extra yards. First run works perfectly. Hole opens, Parker blasts through and he's into the secondary for an easy first down. I call it again, and when Faneca tries to cut the LB, he hurdles him and absolutely blows the play up in the backfield. Exactly what I hoped I'd see if I go to the well twice in a row.

3) I got the opening kick in one game and decided to work it like a legitimate 2 minute drill. I told Ben during kickoff to step into the pocket, don't run, work the center of the field, don't force it, etc. I then started calling crossing patterns and hitches, and he absolutely shredded their secondary. Timing was crisp, receivers were consistently beating the corners off the line, and it was a perfect TD strike to Hines Ward from the 6 with :03 left to end the half. At the end of the game, Ben recorded a 148.6 rating, 66% completions, 100+ yards and a TD. Not bad QB play, and he followed my advice to the letter.

4) Roethlisberger threw 2 picks in one of the first games I played, and completely retreated into a shell. He refused to throw the ball; hesitant, looking left/right/pump fake/left/right, before finally scrambling. On five successive plays to end the half, I got: scramble, scramble, sack, scramble, scramble/fumble. He just completely refused to throw the ball, he was so gunshy. I loved it.

I really thought it may play out a bit "slow", but after about 15 games I think it feels so much more frantic than I ever thought it would be. I'm watching that blue clock count down and I just feel like I'm rushed to get everything crammed in before the next play runs.

I'm in absolute love.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:59 pm

TCrouch wrote:4) Roethlisberger threw 2 picks in one of the first games I played, and completely retreated into a shell. He refused to throw the ball; hesitant, looking left/right/pump fake/left/right, before finally scrambling. On five successive plays to end the half, I got: scramble, scramble, sack, scramble, scramble/fumble. He just completely refused to throw the ball, he was so gunshy. I loved it.

I noticed this too, and I have never seen that in any Madden games. I saw the uber-scramble in NCAA 2004 or so. But Madden could never get the AI right in this area.

I wonder if this will be in Madden too? Although if Head Coach is good, it could turn into a FM like experience.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:10 pm

Man, this game sounds b*tchin. Really eager for the Xbox release next week.

Take care,
PK

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:12 pm

Is there anyway to get it to run full screen? Mine keeps going windowed.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:42 pm

Gangrel wrote:Is there anyway to get it to run full screen? Mine keeps going windowed.

Same here. I'm definitely picking this one up. I didn't quite know what I was doing but I was having fun doing it.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:58 pm

There is an entry in the ini file to go full screen and set the resolution. I'm sure in the full game it will be an option in the setup.

The more I play this the more I like it. The key to the PC interface is learning the hot keys, once you get those down it's very easy to navigate. I also found out that the weekly practice etc is much more detailed then in the demo.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:10 pm

The only thing that turned me off a little is how the gameplay looks at times. I saw a few too many passes to one side of the field when the quarterback was facing the other side. There was also 2 instances where I think I received a penalty on defense because it went from 1st and 10 on an incomplete pass to 2nd and 5. I wasn't notified of any penalty so I was a bit confused. I still had a lot of fun with the demo though. Is there online play with this?

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:45 pm

I didn't have much time to spend with game, but it reminds me of FPS Football quite a bit, at least from the call a play and watch it develop before your eyes portion of it.

It needs to sell well so EA starts to put alot of time in development for next years installment.

Not sure if I want to pick it up on the PC or the PS2, but if it was on the 360, I just might have bought one.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:51 pm

i think that a good set of instructions will help. i really enjoy the demo so far.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:30 am

I had no idea what I was doing, but had fun and could really see myself playing this game a lot. They key will be the GM AI, which has never been a real EA strength in any of their games. But for 40 bills, I think I'll give it a go. Wish it was out for the 360, as this is going to tax my PC pretty good.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:44 am

ea games always run better in the final versions...

and i totally agree..really fun game..cool in practice mode that guys don't tackle anyone...really neat game.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:35 pm

Brando70 wrote:They key will be the GM AI, which has never been a real EA strength in any of their games.

Taken with a grain of salt, in the Draft Demo, I was able to trade the first overall pick to the Giants for Strahan. The Giants turned that pick into Haloti Ngata (chosen 12th overall IRL). On subsequent attempts, I wasn't able to pull P. Manning or Brady away from their respective teams.

Has anyone pulled any very questionable deals as GM in the demo?

Still need to mess around with it some more.

-G7

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:59 pm

Not sure if this was posted...the video below is a very in depth look at the game with its producers. Covers alot of topics.

http://www.filefront.com/?filepath=/soc ... chint1.mov

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:55 pm

I saw over at OS that you're stuck with 5 minute quarters in the game. Is that true? WTF? I loved the way Madden used the accelerated clock, so why take that out? That really screws up the flow of the game IMO.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:12 pm

Because now you're using that clock time to motivate and strategize with your players. I think they should have allowed you to change the clock length as well, but I can definitely see why they'd lock it. If they fine tuned it for realistic stats output, then changing that clock value could screw everything up (see NFL2K's 5min-vs-anything-else stat engine issues).

I don't mind the 5 minute quarters so much as long as I'm averaging 100-120 plays a game.

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:13 pm

Brando70 wrote:I saw over at OS that you're stuck with 5 minute quarters in the game. Is that true? WTF? I loved the way Madden used the accelerated clock, so why take that out? That really screws up the flow of the game IMO.

They would be correct. Come on, why would you want to play a real 15 minute quarter game in a coaching simulation? Sheesh, the nerve of some people.

It also uses the base Madden game engine from what looks like 2005 -- without the slider adjustments. Throw deep. You'll do fine.

The problem with the "I still get 100 plays" is that the CPU AI sees 1:00 to play as REALLY being 1:00 like a real game clock, when of course in Madden that is anything but the case. It just screws everything up. I'd like to play a real football game with real clock management over being able to pep talk my linebackers.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:22 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:
Brando70 wrote:I saw over at OS that you're stuck with 5 minute quarters in the game. Is that true? WTF? I loved the way Madden used the accelerated clock, so why take that out? That really screws up the flow of the game IMO.
They would be correct. Come on, why would you want to play a real 15 minute quarter game in a coaching simulation? Sheesh, the nerve of some people.

It also uses the base Madden game engine from what looks like 2005 -- without the slider adjustments. Throw deep. You'll do fine.

The problem with the "I still get 100 plays" is that the CPU AI sees 1:00 to play as REALLY being 1:00 like a real game clock, when of course in Madden that is anything but the case. It just screws everything up. I'd like to play a real football game with real clock management over being able to pep talk my linebackers.

So would I, but I don't think they were aiming for 100% realism, and more along the lines of how they market it: a "3D strategy sports game". I can't say anything until I play it. I may hate it, I may love it, but simply the fact that it's 5 minute quarters won't make me avoid it.

In all reality, they're probably marketing this to the fathers of kids who play Madden. Not necessarily hardcore sports nuts, but armchair quarterbacks who want to feel like they're a head coach...not necessarily get a 100% realistic version of that coaching experience.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:23 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:
Brando70 wrote:I saw over at OS that you're stuck with 5 minute quarters in the game. Is that true? WTF? I loved the way Madden used the accelerated clock, so why take that out? That really screws up the flow of the game IMO.
They would be correct. Come on, why would you want to play a real 15 minute quarter game in a coaching simulation? Sheesh, the nerve of some people.

It also uses the base Madden game engine from what looks like 2005 -- without the slider adjustments. Throw deep. You'll do fine.

The problem with the "I still get 100 plays" is that the CPU AI sees 1:00 to play as REALLY being 1:00 like a real game clock, when of course in Madden that is anything but the case. It just screws everything up. I'd like to play a real football game with real clock management over being able to pep talk my linebackers.

i think i will wait and see what everyone says before picking this one up