News Post

NFL Head Coach 09 First Look and Screenshots

10:31 AM - February 26, 2008 by WDOgF0reL1fe

IGN has posted their first look at NFL Head Coach 09, including quite a few screenshots here.

Quote:


	"The first edition of NFL Head Coach was an exercise in frustration. A great premise and sometimes-exciting gameplay was marred by a UI seemingly hell-bent on getting you to turn the game off or throw your controller on the wall, with the depth needed for such a game to be exciting spoiled by gaping logic flaws and AI issues. As an exercise in the tedium of simulating meetings and getting little done, it was superb; for those people who were looking for an actual fun, exciting simulation of what it's like to be a coach at the highest level of football, well, they were left unsatisfied."

Game: NFL Head Coach 09Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 64 - View All

NFL Head Coach 09 Videos

Member Comments

# 1 Kanobi @ 02/26/08 02:22 PM

Free agency sounds like it's going to be awesome:

Quote:


	Different Interpretations of Player Ratings -- OK, so there's probably a better name for it than that, but we're not PR people, we're journalists. While Madden offers up player ratings that remain true and constant regardless of what system, philosophy, or team the players are on, Head Coach 09 can see players rated drastically different depending upon the philosophy and abilities of a team's coaches and general managers. The Raiders, for example, have a hankering for speed, and will rate players with great straight-line speed (say hi, Darren McFadden) accordingly, while the Colts will look for halfbacks who can catch the ball out of the backfield. These differing views on player ratings come into play when you're trying to make a trade or sign a free agent, with teams more aggressively pursuing players who fit their philosophy. If a free agent has experience in a particular playbook or scheme from playing in it previously, like Cato June did in Indianapolis before he signed with Tampa Bay, teams will note that and it will make him more valuable to them in free agency.

Looks like it was worthwhile sending those ideas from the wishlist thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanobi


	- More Competitive Market for Top Tier FA's: See offers from other teams when scouting elite free agents. - Change In Philospohy Negatives/positively affects player Attributes: same as with changing a player's position. - Philosophy/ Scheme Compatability %: See how well Rookies, Free Agents, and Current Players on your roster fit into your offensive/defensive schemes.

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...d.php?t=173761

# 2 ausar72 @ 02/26/08 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyMac910


	Look at the detail. You can see a player showing and talking to another player about how he made a catch. That's incredibly realistic.

Not only that (although 2K has had that in their game for a while), but the fact that the players actually have their helmets off and are interacting on the sidelines, as opposed to the mindless, generic robot-looking creatures on Madden.

I definitely think they need to integrate whatever they are doing in this title into the Madden game...

I see they are putting in the "next-gen" player models, etc into the game, which is probably why it's not coming out on the PC.

# 3 A.M. Son @ 02/26/08 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausar72


	Not only that (although 2K has had that in their game for a while), but the fact that the players actually have their helmets off and are interacting on the sidelines, as opposed to the mindless, generic robot-looking creatures on Madden. I definitely think they need to integrate whatever they are doing in this title into the Madden game... I see they are putting in the "next-gen" player models, etc into the game, which is probably why it's not coming out on the PC.

Couldn't agree more! I hope like crazy that Madden starts to see this type of depth and breadth of detail that doesn't necessarily happen "between the lines".

# 4 NYG_Meth @ 02/26/08 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausar72


	Not only that (although 2K has had that in their game for a while), but the fact that the players actually have their helmets off and are interacting on the sidelines, as opposed to the mindless, generic robot-looking creatures on Madden. I definitely think they need to integrate whatever they are doing in this title into the Madden game...

Amen. Screens look good so far.

# 5 LBzrule @ 02/26/08 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausar72


	Not only that (although 2K has had that in their game for a while), but the fact that the players actually have their helmets off and are interacting on the sidelines, as opposed to the mindless, generic robot-looking creatures on Madden. I definitely think they need to integrate whatever they are doing in this title into the Madden game... I see they are putting in the "next-gen" player models, etc into the game, which is probably why it's not coming out on the PC.

I'm pretty sure this will be in Madden. The article said the game uses the Madden engine, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Madden have better sideline and presentation aspects this year. Matter of fact I'm pretty sure it will. But how much is the question.

# 6 DLaren @ 02/26/08 06:10 PM

If this game lives up to its potential this will be the only football title I need this year.

# 7 Altimus @ 02/26/08 06:32 PM

Honestly I can't wait for this game.

Hopefully it runs well on both platforms.

# 8 LBzrule @ 02/26/08 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyMac910


	The article says that it does NOT use the Madden engine. That's why IGN said it looks to be a whole lot better.

From ign article.

Quote:


	Enter, then, NFL Head Coach 09, EA Sports' peace offering to those who were disappointed with the original. A new development team was brought in to work on the game and, according to EA developer Josh Looman, the game was entirely rewritten, with neither a line of code from Madden (outside of the Madden gameplay engine) nor the original Head Coach.

That sounds like the Madden engine to me. The code isn't from madden but the gameplay engine is.

# 9 Spectre @ 02/26/08 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBzrule


	From ign article. That sounds like the Madden engine to me. The code isn't from madden but the gameplay engine is.

That's a game-killer for me

# 10 JBucc @ 02/26/08 09:08 PM

I admit this preview does have me somewhat excited. I'm trying to keep it down though to avoid more disappointment. It looks like it's going to have some really fun features on paper with Free Agency and the Combine, but lot's of stuff in EA's sports games look good on paper. We'll see whether or not it actually works, and if it's full of bugs.

# 11 DLaren @ 02/26/08 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IGN


	"Looman noted that the game was still several months away from its release and that all its features had been implemented, allowing the team to spend the rest of the pre-launch period fine-tuning the game and working on ensuring the AI is accurate and intelligent"

This is encouraging for me because it doesn't sound like they're racing through QA to get the game out the door. Hopefully they can iron-out most of (if not all) of the bugs and AI hiccups over the next few months.

# 12 broncos24 @ 02/27/08 12:06 AM

i just hope you can play more then 5 min quaters and their are game sliders.

# 13 Step2001 @ 02/27/08 03:59 AM

Hype - Yeah it has my attention. As you read and see the screens you can't help but get a little excited.

Then you look over at the copy of Madden 08 on your shelf & you are brought back down to earth.

Hopefully what has been said is true. That the game is different from 2 years ago.

Is it wishful thinking to think that EA has centered this game around the hardcore football fans?

Again, I'll wait and see!

# 14 TheShizNo1 @ 02/27/08 10:43 AM

Any talk of it ever being released for the PC?

# 15 noplace @ 02/27/08 02:12 PM

Hopefully the AI is very very good then I might give it a look. Camera angles & TV presentation is crucial here.

# 16 ausar72 @ 02/27/08 02:25 PM

Is this Tiburon?

Just curious...

EDIT: Nevermind, I just figured it out.

# 17 Sausage @ 02/27/08 03:01 PM

What makes me unhappy is that because of this game, Madden's franchise mode will never be very good because of Head Coach 09. If they implemented all the offseason/in-season options in Madden where in my opinion it should be, Head Coach would probably have less of a following. Not a ***** just wish Madden had that "IT" factor, a soul, and better gameplay that mimics what we see on TV every Sunday, Monday, and occasionally Thursday and Saturday. Peace.

# 18 bkfount @ 02/27/08 03:47 PM

I'll wait for it to be out for a bit. I won't be swayed by any previews of EA games. So many times sites just like IGN have hyped up their games just like this.

# 19 Sef0r @ 02/27/08 03:56 PM

All the non game fluff sounds great but one cannot help but wonder if they will ever get the game stuff right.

There are obviously going to be 2 types of games, real time vs sim. Are the stats going to be roughly the same for both modes?

It appears that the quarter length is set to 5 minutes. Lets assume they allow you to change this. Will the other simmed games (i.e. I will only want to play my games) have roughly the same stats as my game that was played at 5 minutes?

Speaking of stats, do you really think that Tiburon are that exact that they will ever get this stuff right. They seem to be pumping up player ratings based on team needs. If I have a West Coast Offense and basically all the players on offense in place I doubt very much that my simmed stats would reflect that type of offence. Played games are slightly different, but then again its using the Madden gameplay engine which will be CPU controlled, you only call the plays....might not work out.

Gameplan. If choose to run more then pass regardless of the situation or score, does anyone actually think the simmed stats would reflect my choices? I choose a specific WR to get at least 70% of targeted passes. Anyone think this will happen?

All the off season stuff doesn't concern me too much because regardless of how I set up my team, if the game doesn't simulate that correctly on gamedays there is absolutely no point in even trying.

# 20 Kanobi @ 02/27/08 06:35 PM

Personally, I just like having an 'alternative' (even though it uses Madden's engine) NFL game that isn't straight-up arcade like Tour. Plus, from the sound of things so far, NFL HC '09 is offering features I've been lobbying for in console football games (NFL2k4 and 2k5 originally) for years now. However, I'm still waiting to hear what they've done with coaching staff dynamic and the hiring process, practice and game preparation, gameday decision-making and player management, etc.

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