Helmet Graphics Over The Years

[UConnfan]

It seems like for the first few version of NCAA on current gen on the 360 and PS3, helmets looked more realistic with better reflections and more "shine" especially for gold and silver helmets.

Now it seems that helmets lack "pop" and gold and silver helmets look similar to what we saw on the PS2. I believe the same thing has happened on the Madden series as well.

Is there an actual reason the developers changed the helmet graphics over the years?

[Peacefrog]

I'm willing to bet that with so many teams switching to "matte" or "flat" colored helmets (see: Ohio Bobcats), that they tried to replicate the look. Except this is EA, so they didn't commit 100% to making it work, and now neither style of helmet looks particularly appealing.

EA gonna EA!

[Earl1963]

I popped NCAA 2004 in on PS2 and helmets look much better on that old console. No excuse for this. But they can get away with it because no competition. Sad really.

[The_Rick_14]

I believe it happened around the same time they introduced HDR lighting which is what makes the rest of the lighting in the game so good. Unfortunately certain helmet materials seem to have been affected negatively because of it.