A conclusion about NCAA Football 2004

[Kodos]

I've concluded that the only way to assure that your cpu opponents have an effective ground game is to play on Heisman. On the second highest level, with the cpu run blocking and running moved all the way up, and my break block and tackling turned way down, my very-average defense (B ranking or so) was number one in the nation in run D. So I bumped it up to Heisman, and that seems to have solved that problem. However, now I have to really adjust offensive sliders in my favor and turn down the cpu's defensive sliders in order for me to be effective on offense. And the kick meter is killing me - it's so fast! Ahh, well. At least my Hoosiers seem to be losing with more realistic frequency now. I just hope things don't get TOO realistic... :)

[B & B]

always going to be a problem matching up stats with PC teams as you will never have the defensive tackle numbers aligned.

that is, unless you play 9 minute quarters and have a 70ppg scoring average.

[Balldog]

Check out Jistic's Heisman sliders at OS:
http://forums.operationsports.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=496832&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

[Butter]

I always start out on All-American and work my way up, but I couldn't really get into Heisman this year. I just never could get anything going on offense, even with the CPU bumped way down on defense. Very tough A.A. sliders is where I shall remain... until NCAA 2005 comes out. :)

[Kodos]

I wish they had a level in between Heisman and All-American. I may have a hard time being competitive on Heisman, even with slider help.

[illinifan999]

Originally posted by Butter_of_69
until NCAA 2005 comes out. :)

Drooooool.........:p

[Pumpy Tudors]

This actually says a lot about the great job that EA did with this game, considering that Kodos the EA Whore is just getting around to griping about this, and the game's been out for five months.

[Suicane75]

I find myself in the minority here, for whatever reason i just couldn't get into the feel of 2004 compared to 2003.
I could never get the sliders to where I wanted them with this years version and after game upon game of messed up stats and constant CPU passing i just put the game away. I know that the perfect sliders are out there, I just got tired of looking for them. I'm a grumpy old man.

[tucker342]

The only real problem I have with NCAA Football is that the other team NEVER gets any rushing game going, which really pisses me off.... other than that, I love that game:)

[Kodos]

Originally posted by tucker342
The only real problem I have with NCAA Football is that the other team NEVER gets any rushing game going, which really pisses me off.... other than that, I love that game:)

That's why I bumped it up to Heisman. The cpu can and will run on you at Heisman level. :)

[Aylmar]

I just finished up a 4 year stint with Illinois State (moved them in as an Indy). My last two years, I went a combined 23-3 against lower level Div I competition (raising my overall record to 28-25) with a Tangerine Bowl appearance vs. Maryland. In the offseason, I was offered the head coaching position at Alabama. Very nice...finally moving up in the world. :)

One thing that I really enjoyed was reading the commentary in my Options screen from the AD. "We just hope you follow your heart and not the money when the big offers start rolling in, coach." Very nice touch, if you ask me.

[Kodos]

Yeah, I get that at IU as well. Stuff like "The rumor is you'll be leaving us after the season" or "The fans are worried that you're thinking of jumping ship." Very nice.

In my second game since moving up to Heisman (sliders adjusted heavily in my favor on offense, cpu defense, especially ints, turned way down), I had a real slugfest with Purdue. They were able to run, I was able to run, both QBs got sacked, but not too often. My main problem right now is the kick meter. Sometimes I forget how quick it is, and I end up shanking kickoffs and punts out of bounds (for which the announcers always chastise me...).

[Butter]

Originally posted by Kodos
My main problem right now is the kick meter. Sometimes I forget how quick it is, and I end up shanking kickoffs and punts out of bounds (for which the announcers always chastise me...).

I had to go to the special teams sliders and turn kick accuracy way up. Still, about 1/3 of my punts were about 10 yarders because of that damned kick meter.

[Kodos]

That's what I did too.

I'm going to look for a kicker with high accuracy rating when recruiting this offseason.

[bigjdotcom01]

I've been playing with heavily favored AA sliders and the CPU does in fact run the ball. I will admit that my defensive stats are a bit skewed towards stopping the run, the CPU does run the ball. Just check out my dynasty in my sig and you can check out the stats for yourself. I am currently finishing up my fourth year with Buffalo.

[Kodos]

Everyone plays differently, I suppose. All I know is my run D was ranked #1 in the land despite the fact that I had no standout players on the d-line. Probably because teams knew they could pass all over me. :p

Anyhow, teams seem more willing to stick with the run on Heisman. I lengthened my quarters to 9 minutes from 8 minutes when I jumped to Heisman to help my defensive rankings go down and my offensive rankings (specifically my run ranking) go up.

[Mota]

What about interceptions? I often let CPU vs. CPU games happen because I just don't have time to play multiple seasons on my own... I'll do some reading or something while my team plays. No matter how low I set the interception ratings for defense, there's at least 3-4 picks on each side. Same thing goes when I control my teams. It's kind of frustrating because I can't get my QB's to have more TD's than INT's in my leagues if I have the games play out.

[moore4807]

I do the same CPU vs CPU play as Mota - took Temple to 4 Bowls in 15 years, won 1 National Championship against Nebraska ( they ran A LOT against my 4-4 D) and won S.F. Walnut bowl twice on All-American settings.
Went Heisman for the following year - not a pretty 4-8 season following the move up, but my #1 CB had 14 Int's in one season shattering the old mark by 5...
Found if I changed all the sliders I actually could run my RB's for more tha 2.1 avg YPC... :)

I wonder if anyone sent EA a suggestion about this?

[Kodos]

I'm having troubles with picks. I threw 7 or so in the Outback Bowl against Auburn yesterday. Needless to say, I lost by a good margin...

Part of the problem was I got far behind early and had to go to the air.

The funny thing is, each time I get clobbered, part of me is like "Well, it is IU..." ;)

[ice4277]

I think its rather unrealistic that you get them to a bowl in the first place ;)

[Kodos]

For the third year running. Out of three seasons!