I Will Say It First: This Game is PROGRAMMED to be Played on Default...

[skundy]

Cpu run blocking isn't the prob with default. The prob is A) RB's don't run with authority and B) all user players tackle like champs. The fix is lowering user tackle, I recommend 25, and upping cpu RBA, I recommend 90.

Do that and you will see cpu RB run with real authority and you still won't have all that many broken/missed tackles

[The_Gaming_Disciple]

Quote: Originally Posted by Millennium

So, after this long testing default, what are your findings? I love the idea of default, and looking through your box scores there are some good things. There are also some very odd things, such as lack of a CPU rush game. Also, how are Minnesota's stats versus the nation?

So far, I can only say, that on default, the cpu just does not target their impact players. The only game this has happened was in my game against Penn State. I could not stop their WR A. Robinson. I used man coverage, press, zone, and double teams. He truly shined as an impact player. Then in my next two games, the cpu did not utilize their impact players at all. It just seems that the cpu picks random plays and only audibles if your defensive call is the right one.

In other words, I do not believe, in my honest opinion that any true simulation football will be achieved in the NCAA series unless their is "dynamic" play calling by the cpu. In other words, the cpu analyzes match ups pre game and also during the game to neutralize your weak areas and takes advantage of their strengths.

However, this may just be something developers can not do in a football game with all of the dynamics that go into it.

If the cpu has an impact WR and a decent QB, I want to see the cpu look for mismatches against their receiver. Once I, as the user, shut down their impact player (if possible), then the cpu should adjust and try to exploit other mismatches on the field, or begin to open up the running game.

If the running game is the cpu teams strengths, then they should pound the ball all game in order to weaken the defensive line, adding in play action and draws to keep the defense off balance. Also they should take shots downfield if the run game is consistently stuffed. CPU play calling needs to be "dynamic" and living.

Obviously its not dynamic now, when the cpu consistently calls that dumb screen pass on 3rd down and long situations...

As in real life, recently teams have adjusted their offense to neutralize Jadeveon Clowney and make him ineffective if possible. This should be evidenced in the game and even mentioned by the announcer's. Make me as a user player not want to throw or run to a certain area of the field because I know that impact player is their ready to make a big play. However, do it in a way that I do not feel "cheated" when it happens.

For example, if the cpu player is a MLB, and I chose to run up the middle, or right at their impact player with my halfback, this action on my part, in addition to my halfbacks ball carrying ability, injury rating, etc, should be factored into if I fumble,get injured, gain no yardage etc, from making that decision to go heads up with an impact player as in real life.

How many guys do you know in the NFL would say, "Yea, I intentionally ran right towards Ray Lewis, to see if he really could hit hard." - Not one of them - because they would no longer be breathing that's why...the same should be true of this game...

We ask about certain penalties, penalties should not be factored in with a slider. Penalties such as holding should be dictated upon the rating of the O-Linemen. An O-Linemans hands and footwork, also his stamina should determine how well he will be in blocking and pass protection.

If the O-Lineman has low attributes in this category, that should determine how often he is compelled to hold, clip, whatever, when he has been beaten off the block.

A slider can not do this when you have an O-Lineman rated 98 overall pass block A, Run Block, A...your asking him to do something code wise that the cpu application itself cannot carry out, being that there are contradicting commands being given...hence the introduction of bugs..and glitches...

I'm not taking shots...but I wish some guys on here would just truly watch what is happening on the field of this game, and begin to think about some of the faulty code that is being implemented with regards to how the game carries out commands.

Think about it, once again, you can't raise the penalty slider of holding to 54-99, then ask, proverbially, your 98 overall rated Guard or Tackle to "hold" when he has A in Run Block and A in Pass Block.

It's a contradictory command code, hence introducing the dreaded "breaking the system or bug to enter the game."

[skundy]

The play calling is most definitely not great but I would have to disagree with you about a couple things. I've had the cpu have success with the run and then when I stack 8 in the box they hit me with play action.

I've also had them moving the ball down field really well with the pass and then spread 4 wide and gouge me with a draw play. Or say they are in the red zone and I come out ready to blitz and they hit that corner shot.

I've seen a reduction in the infamous 3rd down screen play. My theory is that if you adjust the sliders so that the cpu can have more success running the ball or with the pass then they don't use the screen as much. In the last 3 games I've seen it less than 10 times, and I use to see it **** tons. I just played Boise and they burned me with the draw 3 or 4 times on 3rd down

I find myself trying to stay away from the cpu impact players on D, especially d lineman I try to run to the opposite side, they be beastin. Corners, LB, and safeties just make better reads on plays. I can't tell you how many times I've had an impact safety or LB blow up a read option like he was the unibomber.

I most certainly agree with you on your holding analysis. Its completely utterly broken in this game. Madden has had the footwork attribute for what a couple years now I think, I know holding worked really well in Madden last year. I haven't played this years yet so Idk how the penalties are.

The game ain't perfect but eh I still think its the best NCAA to date.

[The_Gaming_Disciple]

Are you having success with a custom slider set?

I am reporting what I am encountering on default gameplay.

[Cardot]

Quote: Originally Posted by The_Gaming_Disciple

However, this may just be something developers can not do in a football game with all of the dynamics that go into it.

I think they can, they simply choose to focus on things other than CPU decision making/Play Calling. Look no further that the CPU's inability to call time outs at the correct time that has plagued the series for years. There are a lot complex things to program a football game....but when to call a time out shouldn't be one of them. It just isn't a priority.

One thing that has always baffled me about EA default settings is who they are aimed at? The default quarter length of 5 minutes would suggest it is for the more casual crowd. But at 5 minutes, games are very low scoring...especially in '14 where I am seeing very few big plays. Meh, sorry for the tangeant.

[The_Gaming_Disciple]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cardot

I think they can, they simply choose to focus on things other than CPU decision making/Play Calling. Look no further that the CPU's inability to call time outs at the correct time that has plagued the series for years. There are a lot complex things to program a football game....but when to call a time out shouldn't be one of them. It just isn't a priority. One thing that has always baffled me about EA default settings is who they are aimed at? The default quarter length of 5 minutes would suggest it is for the more casual crowd. But at 5 minutes, games are very low scoring...especially in '14 where I am seeing very few big plays. Meh, sorry for the tangeant.

I agree with your contention.

[The_Gaming_Disciple]

Wisconsin utilized their impact player Corey Clement, HB.

He was unstoppable this game; the cpu AI chose the correct lanes to follow, as well as wait on his blocks to set up.

I will be reverting back to normal speed on my "next season." The entire time on slow speed players are running bogged down after the handoff and catch. This does not happen on normal speed with 0 Threshold.

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Wisconsin Badgers
Nov 22, 2014	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-3 (4-2))	3	7	0	0	10
#8 Wisconsin Badgers (8-2 (5-1))	7	17	3	0	27

Team Stats Comparison
	MINN	WIS
Total Offense	278	384
Rushing Yards	7	277
Passing Yards	271	107
First Downs	14	14
Punt Return Yards	7	0
Kick Return Yards	159	0
Total Yards	444	384
Turnovers	2	0
3rd Down Converstion	8-13 (61%)	5-8 (62%)
4th Down Conversion	1-2 (50%)	0-0 (0%)
2-Point Conversion	0-0 (0%)	0-0 (0%)
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	2-1-0 (50%)	4-1-2 (75%)
Penalties	0-0	1-5
Posession Time	19:28	12:32

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		MINN	WIS
5:45	(WIS) TD Wisc: C. Clement, 4 Yd run (K. French kick)	0	7
0:39	(MINN) FG Minn: R. Santoso, 42 Yd FG	3	7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		MINN	WIS
7:02	(WIS) FG Wisc: K. French, 34 Yd FG	3	10
4:26	(WIS) TD Wisc: K. Zagzebski, returned fumble 63 Yds (K. French kick)	3	17
2:22	(WIS) TD Wisc: C. Clement, 80 Yd (K. French kick)	3	24
0:11	(MINN) TD Minn: J. Harbinson, 12 Yd pass from P. Nelson (R. Santoso kick)	10	24
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		MINN	WIS
3:17	(WIS) FG Wisc: K. French, 33 Yd FG	10	27

Minnesota Golden Gophers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT P. Nelson 27/34 79% 271 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD D. Kirkwood Jr. 13 61 4.6 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD D. Wolitarsky 10 133 13.3 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK D. Kirkwood Jr. 0 1 L. Plsek 0 1 T. Olson 0 1 J. Campioin 0 1 C. Bak 0 2 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD D. Wells 5 0 0 0

Wisconsin Badgers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT J. Stave 8/12 66% 107 0 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD C. Clement 26 278 10.6 2 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD C. Clement 2 4 2.0 0 S. Arneson 2 17 8.5 0 R. Love 2 44 22.0 0 K. Doe 1 11 11.0 0 J. Fredrick 1 31 31.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD D. Hillary 7 0 0 0 V. Biegel 6 1 0 0 M. Trotter 5 2 1 0 D. Landisch 4 1 0 0 K. Zagzebski 3 1 0 0 B. Gilbert 2 1 0 0 C. Obasih 1 1 0 0

[The_Gaming_Disciple]

A great final win at home for our seniors. Ski-U-Mah!

Michigan State Spartans at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Nov 29, 2014	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
#20 Michigan State Spartans (8-3 (5-2))	7	3	0	0	10
Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-4 (4-3))	7	7	0	0	14

Team Stats Comparison
	MSU	MINN
Total Offense	222	279
Rushing Yards	66	144
Passing Yards	156	135
First Downs	14	17
Punt Return Yards	0	6
Kick Return Yards	0	62
Total Yards	222	347
Turnovers	1	2
3rd Down Converstion	4-8 (50%)	6-10 (60%)
4th Down Conversion	0-1 (0%)	1-1 (100%)
2-Point Conversion	0-0 (0%)	0-0 (0%)
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	1-0-1 (100%)	1-1-0 (100%)
Penalties	0-0	0-0
Posession Time	13:14	18:46

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		MSU	MINN
3:49	(MINN) TD Minn: K. Maye, 32 Yd pass from P. Nelson (R. Santoso kick)	0	7
2:51	(MSU) TD MSU: A. Sims Jr, 50 Yd pass from C. Cook (M. Manning kick)	7	7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		MSU	MINN
6:46	(MINN) TD Minn: D. Kirkwood Jr, 3 Yd run (R. Santoso kick)	7	14
3:21	(MSU) FG MSU: M. Manning, 35 Yd FG	10	14

Michigan State Spartans PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Connor Cook 15/20 75% 156 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Nick Hill 16 75 4.6 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Andre Sims Jr. 3 79 26.3 1 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Skyler Burkland 0 2 Connor Kruse 0 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Jon Reschke 9 1 0 0 Shilique Calhoun 6 2 0 0 Damon Knox 2 1 0 0 Arjen Colquhoun 0 0 1 0

Minnesota Golden Gophers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Philip Nelson 12/17 70% 135 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Donnell Kirkwood Jr. 26 126 4.8 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Donnell Kirkwood Jr. 3 34 11.3 0 K. Maye 2 45 22.5 1 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Tommy Olson 2 0 Caleb Bak 1 0 Marek Lenkiewicz 0 2 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Damien Wilson 5 0 0 0 Ben Perry 4 3 0 0 Derrick Wells 4 0 1 0