NCAA '09 impressions

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:00 pm

http://www.ncaastrategies.com/utopia/sh ... hp?t=57095

Still just one playable camera angle...fu$$in' Tiburon.

Anyways, I'm sure some will be really excited by what they read.

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:49 am

Call me crazy, but isn't it a little early for impressions yet?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:07 am

What are they talking about as far as no "auto-throw"? They want the CPU to pick who to throw to and make the pass for them?

Sounds like a coach mode to me. Maybe that's what they want.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:03 am

Here are Pasta Padre's impressions

http://www.pastapadre.com/2549/ncaa-foo ... #more-2549

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:11 am

sportdan30 wrote:Here are Pasta Padre's impressions

http://www.pastapadre.com/2549/ncaa-foo ... #more-2549

Lots of good information in there.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:37 am

Pete wrote:What are they talking about as far as no "auto-throw"? They want the CPU to pick who to throw to and make the pass for them?

Sounds like a coach mode to me. Maybe that's what they want.

I think it is exactly a coach mode they want;

The main features we stressed for addition next year were QB auto-pass (or a full-ledged coach mode),

Thing sound encouraging but I am worried about the frequency of INT returns for TDs (again).

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:32 am

Pasta stuff got pulled down, anyone copy them by chance?

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:37 am

Some online dynasty info.

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/ ... id=6189867

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:40 pm

Danimal wrote:Pasta stuff got pulled down, anyone copy them by chance?

I didn't copy it, but it was pretty similar to the stuff at NCAA strategies, i.e., interception returns for a touchdown are still a problem, expect shootouts on anything more than 5 minute quarters, only one camera angle, etc. There were also a lot of positives mentioned but apparently not enough for EA to allow them to keep their impressions posted at this time. It will be interesting to see what changes (if anything) in the impressions between now and the newly announced embargo date of May 2nd.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:22 am

Here's close to 10 minutes of gameplay footage, on the easiest difficulty setting.

I know it's only an early video, but I still can't believe people will spend money on this game. Yawn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N1O9YQ2zE8

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:35 am

I was hoping we'd be sh*tting on EA football games before May this year. Mission accomplished!

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:47 am

When I want an NCAA football fix on the 360, I play NCAA 06 for the xbox. There is considerable slowdown as it was not a pretty conversion, but it still plays a better game of football than any of the versions released for the 360. Plus it has a lot more teams and stadiums. You can actually replicate the App State - Michigan game.

Honestly, NCAA 2000 for the psx was more feature-rich than what we will be getting in NCAA 09 for the 360/PS3.

The interception returns for touchdowns have been a game killer for 2 years now and no end in site. There is nothing worse than when you are playing badly and getting pounded and suddenly return a pick for a TD and the who game turns around. It just feels like cheating. It makes the game totally unbalanced and even enforcing the rule of not returning picks does not solve the issue.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:22 am

It's like clockwork...

I don't think some of you would be happy if the game was perfect, and you had nothing to b*tch about...

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:35 am

tealboy03 wrote:It's like clockwork...

I don't think some of you would be happy if the game was perfect, and you had nothing to b*tch about...

You'll never see me bitching in any Show threads. The truth is, Tiburon's game is nowhere close to being perfect, and many of the things we have been complaining about (only 1 camera angle, no qb pocket, etc.) have been problems in Tiburon's game for years. If MORE people would complain, and back it up with their wallets, then maybe EA would get rid of Tiburon or release a game that's actually deserving of the hundreds of millions of dollars they collect every year.

We only want a football game that we can enjoy. Hopefully Backbreaker will release this year and do something to advance the ball in terms of delivering a quality football videogame experience. I sure hope somebody gets it right soon...I'm real tired of not having a good football game to play.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:27 pm

Yeah, the Show is pretty darn cool...and I'm only playing the PSP version.

I guess it's a matter of what you want out of a video game, what you expect it to deliver. I just want a fair representation of the sport, and full on sims are not my idea of fun. I like to run and gun, like to dunk, like to score in a clutch situation...all that stuff I can't really do anymore in real life (never could dunk)! I don't need all the dynasty stuff, don't need it to play a picture perfect game of football. I need it to be 'pick up and play' fun, because that's all I've got time for nowadays. I really don't notice all the things some of you guys pick up on. Just a different approach, I guess.

I'll wait and see how NCAA is when it's actually on store shelves and I can actually play it. Early videos aren't a good barometer, and early build impressions are even more worthless...

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:40 pm

tealboy03 wrote:I just want a fair representation of the sport, and full on sims are not my idea of fun.

<snip>

I really don't notice all the things some of you guys pick up on. Just a different approach, I guess.

I agree, to a certain point. NBA 2K8 can actually be made too realistic where I have to play 12 minute quarters to get good results. 10 years ago I would have killed for a realistic hoops game, but now I play with higher shooting percentages so I can get higher scores with less play time. 10 years ago I wanted realistic free throw totals, but now I can live with much less because free throws just slow down the game.

However, the EA football games last year both had the same major problem IMO and that was turnovers returned for touchdowns. Football games with multiple TD returns is not a fair representation of the sport to me. It such a game changing event that in my mind it would be like a baseball game with a grand slam in every game or a hockey game with at least one goal off a penalty shot. If they can clean that up, and I really haven't seen or heard any evidence yet they have, then I can live with it. If not, I'll be playing NFL 2K5 and NCAA 06...again

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:11 pm

See? That's what I'm talking about. I never did see the 'multiple TD INT return' deal you guys speak of. I saw it here and there, but see it here and there in the real game, as well. Now, I'll admit, and freely, that I don't play on the harder settings, because, well...I don't really enjoy getting my ass handed to me by the CPU, even if the team is supposed to beat my ass. I like the cinderella scenarios. I like close games. Playing a game for an hour, getting pounded for that entire time, just isn't fun to me. For some of you, it is, and that's fine.

I suppose I should just stay out of the sports threads, because so much of it is taken more seriously than I take it. I don't want to do what I've done in the past, and question another's take on it when I don't share it. I just require less to have fun with a game is all, I think.

Take NASCAR, for instance. I can't play the Papyrus game. R Factor sounds like something I would hate. The closest I've come to enjoying a more sim style game was Forza 2-there was just something about that one that I really liked. I'm looking forward very much to GRID, and enjoyed DiRT quite a bit. I really liked Microsoft's Rally game-I forget the name-but I liked the Colin McRae series as well.

I liked The Bigs, but I like The Show, too. Really like it in fact. But I don't micromanage stats, trades, work counts all that much. I just want to hit, pitch, and catch.

I'm an extremely casual gamer in that regard. I'm sure that I'll enjoy the new NCAA game, as I love college football. I'm sure I'll enjoy the new NASCAR game as well.

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:23 pm

Teal, there is certainly nothing wrong with that approach. I basically feel that way about most hockey and basketball games. I even enjoyed March Madness this year.

I probably hold NCAA football to a higher standard. Maybe it is because I play this game more than any other game. It is the only game I actually get at midnight of release.

Part of what I want out of NCAA football is not even EA's fault. The game used to have a tournament mode in the psx version, but the NCAA made EA take that out of the game (or so it is thought - not sure if this was ever confirmed). That was a very fun mode. I am still somewhat resentful about this - not only don't we get a playoff in real life but we can't even have one in a game!

But to put it into context, the frustration I feel about this game is sort of like the frustration I feel watching the Braves lose another 1 run game. It pisses me off and makes me yell at the TV, but it doesn't keep me up at night brooding about it.

I guess I just look at the game improvements we have seen in Call of Duty or any number of other 'franchise' games and it frustrates me that we are not seeing similar improvements in sports games - specifically EA football games.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:54 pm

tealboy03 wrote:See? That's what I'm talking about. I never did see the 'multiple TD INT return' deal you guys speak of. I saw it here and there, but see it here and there in the real game, as well. Now, I'll admit, and freely, that I don't play on the harder settings, because, well...I don't really enjoy getting my ass handed to me by the CPU

I believe you. There have been instances where I didn't see stuff others did like the apparently anemic offense pre-patch in The Show. I wish I didn't see this, but the first time I returned 3 TDs in a half the red flag went up and then I couldn't miss it. And I'm not a guy that plays at the harder settings either. I'm usually at the middle or lower, but it didn't matter in this game what difficulty level it was on. I tried them all.

Video gaming to me is about fun (my biggest fault is posting when I don't like 10% of games, usually in the hope that someone else will find a workaround, and not praising the other 90% of time I'm enjoying my time spent) and a big part of that fun is earning it. I can play on the easiest setting, which I have had to do in many shooters because I suck so bad, and have a blast if it feels like I earned it. I finally bought a racing wheel and I'm having a lot of fun in NASCAR 08 despite the horrific AI, pedestrian graphics, lack of options, and bugs. I just like earning my TDs on defense rather than having them handed to me.

I really see no reason for you not to post in sports games threads. I don't recall anyone ever making fun of you or otherwise saying anything that would make you believe your opinion is not welcomed.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:49 pm

Leebo33 wrote:I really see no reason for you not to post in sports games threads. I don't recall anyone ever making fun of you or otherwise saying anything that would make you believe your opinion is not welcomed.

I agree 1000% with this statement. You should be able to enjoy a game and discuss it even when others tell you that you shouldn't.

Unfortunately, the majority of the posts in most of these threads are usually negative. It's usually the same people posting the same gripes ever year, which of course they are entitled too. I personally want to know what people don't like about a game as much as I want to know what they do.

The part that is annoying (at leats to me) is the most vocal people usually never play the games they are trashing and make their judgments on videos and personal prejudice.

I'd rather hear comments from Teal, Leebo, Scoop, Zeppo etc because I know you guys are real, I have gamed with you and I know you don't carry agendas. While there are other people here who always seem to take the negative track and I have never seen them online, I've never heard of anyone from DSP playing a game with them.

So while it is not a requirement to have played with a DSP pal to post what you think, it certainly carries more weight with whom I listen to. For example I seldom agree with JRod but he garners much more respect from me in his opinions then other people because I know at least he is playing the game.

Bottom line is post and discuss what you like / hate about a game because when more people post it tends to drown out the broken records.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:50 pm

Leebo33 wrote: I really see no reason for you not to post in sports games threads. I don't recall anyone ever making fun of you or otherwise saying anything that would make you believe your opinion is not welcomed.

No, but I have made fun of people who seem so much more serious about these games than I am. The point of it is my behavior, not others. I also don't understand a lot of the terminology and the 'technical' end of things, and have zero to add regarding some of the stuff that's talked about. I'm a casual sports WATCHER, too. I love my college football, will watch golf from time to time, really like college hoops, am sort of ambivalent about pro sports (except my Braves!), and I think that translates into the games I play. I'm more picky about my shooters, really, than I am my sports games.

I don't do alot of talking in sports related threads, anyway, because I don't keep up with anyone other than my team, and I don't find bugs and what not all that often. I'm just not that type.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:50 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
I believe you. There have been instances where I didn't see stuff others did like the apparently anemic offense pre-patch in The Show. I wish I didn't see this, but the first time I returned 3 TDs in a half the red flag went up and then I couldn't miss it. And I'm not a guy that plays at the harder settings either. I'm usually at the middle or lower, but it didn't matter in this game what difficulty level it was on. I tried them all.

Leebo makes a good point. With Madden, it's not like I went into saying let's look at all the flaws. But when you fire up a game and see 6 INTs a half and 3 are returned for a touchdown, the red flag goes up. Then if you see that or on a regular occurrence, it's really hard not to notice something is wrong.

It's all how we play and what we look for. MLB The Show is really wearing thin on me because the lack of walks. For me that's a big thing; for others not going to bother them. But not seeing something and saying that it's not a big thing because you don't see it is two different things. I think we dismiss something as a problem because we don't see it -- which is wrong in my opinion.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:50 pm

tealboy03 wrote: No, but I have made fun of people who seem so much more serious about these games than I am. The point of it is my behavior, not others. I also don't understand a lot of the terminology and the 'technical' end of things, and have zero to add regarding some of the stuff that's talked about. I'm a casual sports WATCHER, too. I love my college football, will watch golf from time to time, really like college hoops, am sort of ambivalent about pro sports (except my Braves!), and I think that translates into the games I play. I'm more picky about my shooters, really, than I am my sports games.

I don't do alot of talking in sports related threads, anyway, because I don't keep up with anyone other than my team, and I don't find bugs and what not all that often. I'm just not that type.

Actually, Teal, it sounds like you're exactly the type of gamer EA is going after these days, with their talk of easier controls and video "tips" that are designed to educate the casual football gamer. I'm the same way when it comes to games like racing games. A lot of guys on these boards are gear heads and complain about GT and other racing games that could be more realistic. I'm not even a casual racing fan, but I have a lot of fun racing games with gorgeous graphics, regardless of whether the AI controlled cars are acting realistically or not. If others want to complain about racing AI, however, I'm not going to try to stop them.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:16 pm

GTHobbes wrote:
tealboy03 wrote: No, but I have made fun of people who seem so much more serious about these games than I am. The point of it is my behavior, not others. I also don't understand a lot of the terminology and the 'technical' end of things, and have zero to add regarding some of the stuff that's talked about. I'm a casual sports WATCHER, too. I love my college football, will watch golf from time to time, really like college hoops, am sort of ambivalent about pro sports (except my Braves!), and I think that translates into the games I play. I'm more picky about my shooters, really, than I am my sports games.

I don't do alot of talking in sports related threads, anyway, because I don't keep up with anyone other than my team, and I don't find bugs and what not all that often. I'm just not that type.
Actually, Teal, it sounds like you're exactly the type of gamer EA is going after these days, with their talk of easier controls and video "tips" that are designed to educate the casual football gamer. I'm the same way when it comes to games like racing games. A lot of guys on these boards are gear heads and complain about GT and other racing games that could be more realistic. I'm not even a casual racing fan, but I have a lot of fun racing games with gorgeous graphics, regardless of whether the AI controlled cars are acting realistically or not. If others want to complain about racing AI, however, I'm not going to try to stop them.

And I'm not going to try to stop anyone from doing it with their sports games. I'm just going to enjoy my games for what they are. Now with shooters, I'll put up with something like Halo, until something like COD4 or R6V2 comes out. I prefer a more realistic 'tone' to my shooters. I like to know that the thing I just sniped was, indeed, human, and not some bug from another planet. If it's a WWII shooter, I expect it to be truthful in some way to the subject matter, and so forth. I hate 'run and gun' bull like Halo, Unreal Tourney, and that sort.

So I understand that people differ. I may just have to start threads that just the casual sports gamers can talk about the games in, and leave the serious threads to the serious gamers...

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:50 pm

So the game sux already?