how significant are FCS teams to you?

[grabursock55]

In the NCAA football series, there used to be FCS teams available to play as.
In the 2000 installment, you could play an FCS season along side an FBS season (1-AA and 1-A at the time) The game would keep separate rankings for the FCS teams, and stats as well.

after that, FCS teams were still included in the game, and were available to swap into dynasty to replace an FBS team. I believe there were about 80 or 90 FCS teams in the latest installment for the last gen consoles.

Now, here we are... several years removed from the most recent game with FCS teams. All we have now is teambuilder. Teambuilder would be perfectly fine if we could import more than 12 teams in a dynasty, but alas, we can not.

With FCS teams in the game, there are so many new ways to keep the game fresh. The coaching carousel was MADE for a simultaneous FCS/FBS dynasty in my opinion. Can you imagine starting a career with a team like the Lafayette Leopards, building a program and getting offers to join the ranks of the FBS schools as a coach. OR maybe you could even choose to bump your team up into the FBS from the FCS if you feel the time is right.

If you dont care about using FCS teams in a dynasty, what about when you are using oregon in your dynasty, and you are looking for a tune up game in week one? gone are the days of FCS NorthWest. Now you will play against portland state. And what about the users who play as temple? Temple has a long standing rivalry with the villanova wildcats and they play each other in the first week of every season. Also, Wouldnt it be amazing to be playing your own game, when all of a sudden the upset alert comes on the screen : 'Ohio State 14, Youngstown state 17, :23 4th". FCS teams upsetting FBS teams are a major part of college sports.

Tell me what you think. Are FCS teams an important part of the NCAA football series? I sure think so.

[HawaiianRush]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

I fully agree, this would be awesome to have in the NCAA title but how many more years do you think EA is going to play ignorant and not even acknowledge that people want this then start to implement it 5 years later...

[grabursock55]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

I mean, we already gave them 7 years since the last XBOX game to have FCS teams. I think weve waited long enough.

Even if they just did what they did in the old game where they had a generic stadium and stuff. that would be fine with me

[MrOctober430]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

I loved swapping FCS schools in NCAA 06 and playing an FCS dynasty.

Don't know why they can't add FCS schools via DLC.

[grabursock55]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

I dont see why this is such a huge deal for them to put them back in the game. I thought we would have them for SURE by now

[pembo0630]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

Great idea, it would really add a lot of immersion to dynasty mode to have NAMED FCS schools available on the schedule.

As far as being able to actually play as an FCS school, that might be a stretch. That would require tons of work to essentially add 50+ new stadiums to the game, 50+ new teams with their own unique attributes and players and fight songs. Not only that, but they would have to implement a rather intricate playoff system, it's like a whole new game. It would be a ridiculous amount of work and I'm not sure they would find it worth it.

I would be fine with only having 15-20 FCS schools during early implementation. They would work just like the current FCS schools except with actual schools instead of "FCS Midwest". Maybe later they could expand and potentially add the option to start a dynasty in the championship subdivision.

[B4lt1m0re Fan]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

Not only do they make the game much deeper, they also make the game much better. The teams in there now, quite frankly, are pathetic. I've never once seen them play any teams close at all. Typically that's the case, but they clearly do play some teams close. Towson played LSU remarkably close, but on NCAA, 'Towson' gets blown out every time. Like everyone else said, I think it'd be more fun to take a FCS school to a higher level, meaning either FBS or turning a terrible program around. Despite how bad they are, the most infuriating thing I have with the current FCS teams is that they only made like 10 of them so you have weeks where FCS East is playing 3 or 4 schools during one week. They should stop with the additional stuff, the new Heisman mode for example, and put these teams back in the game.

[pembo0630]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

Here is something I posted in the NCAA 14 wishlist topic.

To continue, a lot of people want FCS teams. Hell, everyone in their right mind would agree that it would be awesome to start as OC for Delaware, move up to HC at Sam Houston State, then get your first big boy coordinating job at UTEP or SJSU. It would be epic, gratifying, satisfying, and unbelievably immersive.

That is simply not realistic for the time being.

#1, there is not a large enough market for the addition of division 1-AA schools. Yes, many of us on operation sports would love it. Many of us on Op sports are more 'hardcore' than casual, though. It would require a tremendous amount of work to be implemented properly (how many teams would be added? would their fight songs/traditions be included as well? what about their stadiums? A playoff would have to be scripted too...) It would be like an entirely new game. To be frank, I'm not sure if it could all fit on one disc. A download would solve this problem, but the design, scripting, and implementation of a feature casual gamers might not appreciate would take an incredible amount of manpower away from solving issues currently in the game.

I would love to see it. I am confident we will see it one day. That day, I believe, will be with the next generation of consoles. That way they can either include FCS teams on the disc or release them as a download (you could use a code in the manual of NCAA to get it for free). They will be able to do a lot of cool stuff once these shiny new consoles come out in a year or two. More processing power and improved graphic cards will bring a lot of changes to crowds, sidelines, players, etc, and I believe FCS schools will eventually be a part of that. I do not see ALL FCS schools returning in early implementation, but I am confident we will one day be able to play as the Colorado Christians of the world again by 2015-2016 (like we could over a decade ago).

It would add so much to the game in terms of immersion; it's mind-boggling that they removed FCS schools. NCAA '00 had it. NCAA '00. Come on, son.

[Sportsfan0290]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

I'm an international fan I loved that feature in the old NCAA's. Having the opportunity to play as Appalachain State or FAMU and even Grambling instead of FCS SE was way better. I think EA are just lazy when it doesn't take that long at all to add them to the game. Also I remember the old ones had penalties for players missing class where did that go too? I hope we get FCS schools back next year instead of getting 12 import teams to use which sucks.

[TDenverFan]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

Great idea, it would really add a lot of immersion to dynasty mode to have NAMED FCS schools available on the schedule.

As far as being able to actually play as an FCS school, that might be a stretch. That would require tons of work to essentially add 50+ new stadiums to the game, 50+ new teams with their own unique attributes and players and fight songs. Not only that, but they would have to implement a rather intricate playoff system, it's like a whole new game. It would be a ridiculous amount of work and I'm not sure they would find it worth it.

I would be fine with only having 15-20 FCS schools during early implementation. They would work just like the current FCS schools except with actual schools instead of "FCS Midwest". Maybe later they could expand and potentially add the option to start a dynasty in the championship subdivision.

I'd be fine with a few generic stadiums. (Very Small FCS Stadium (3000 cap), Small FCS (6000), Regular (10000), Large (15000), Very Large (25000))

Rosters could be generic, as well as fight songs.

Uniforms would be a hassle, but they don't have to be perfect.

[OmahaKnights]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

I'd say it should be something to put off until next gen. From what I understand, the disc space simply isn't there to handle that many teams. And can you imagine recruiting? This current gen simply can't handle it.

That being said, it would greatly add to immersion of the game, and there are some FCS schools with decent fanbases. I think that EA needs to start making the rounds and talking with SIDs about it now if they're going to go through with it, since it would involve adding a lot of schools and designing a lot of stadiums. Some news regarding it would be nice, though I highly, HIGHLY doubt they'll say anything before the next gen systems are out.

If they go through with it, I'd like to see them add a couple things to make sure it's done well, such as conference invitations, and the ability to move conferences up and down, especially since there have been a couple murmurs about anywhere from half to all of the Big Sky moving up to FBS.

[unctarheel19]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

I disagree with the not enough demand comment on page 1.... If the were put into the game that sum1 that attends the real fcs school...stundent or athlete...wouldnt want to use their team in an fcs dynasty? The demand is there..

Also... I dont think adding it would require extra manpower... Theyve already got a basic formula on how to include fcs school from the 2000 yr i think... They can use that as a base. They dont particularly have to create an accurate version of the fcs schools actual stadiums... Just use a variety of 3 or 4 generic stadiums...and create a special stadium for the top teams like app state..eastern washington...etc. Or release some dlc packs of fcs stadiums that we can purchase if someone wants a specific stadium.

[grabursock55]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

I think we might see FCS teams before long. I mean, I'm sure they would use the fairly generic route they took in years past with the three different stadiums and generic rosters, but that would be absolutely fine with me! Teambuilder was an acceptable substitute for one year, or for someone who wants to take an FCS team and pretend they got promoted to the FBS. But NOTHING would beat the game mode we are describing where teams can build an FCS dynasty then move up and test their worth in an FBS conference (if they get an invite, as someone said...(awesome Idea, by the way)) Or as someone else said, you could start as an OC at an FCS school, move to HC at the FCS level, then make the jump to the FBS if you want, or decide to continue your dominance at the FCS level. THAT would create an amazing amount of immersion in dynasty. Im sure a lot of people would do different things, someone might take lehigh and try to get them into MAC in just a few years, while others (like myself) would stay down in the FCS for a longer period of time.

Another aspect that would be interesting to see unfold would be the recruiting part of the game with FCS teams. Every year, the FCS teams would be battling with the lower level FBS schools for a gem 2 or 3 star recruit. While on the FBS level, that player might not make an impact, at the FCS level, he could be the difference between going .500 on the season or making the FCS playoffs.

Speaking of playoffs, I dont think that would be terribly difficult to put into the game. They are going to be putting a playoff in probably next year for the NCAA football series, so im sure they could expand it to fit the 24 team bracket of the FCS level. Plus, they used to have a playoff at the end of the season in old games, so if they could do it on the PS1, why not Xbox360 or PS3? lol

[grabursock55]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

hey, just a side note to all of you FCS fans out there.... If you do like this idea, please like the FCS Teams idea on the game changers site! I feel like thats the best way to get them into the game

http://www.easports.com/gamechangers/ideas?campaignId=27783

as of 10/21/12,
we are sitting with 140 votes, thats up 3 from yesterday, but we are still on the second page! lets get up to the front page!

10/23/12
hey guys, a little update for you, we are up to 145 votes and moved up a spot on the list! good job and lets keep it up!

[grabursock55]

Re: how significant are FCS teams to you?

anyone catch any of the FCS upsets from week one? Does anyone think that maybe that will give us FCS fans a little leverage for adding the teams this year??

and if we could get some life back in this thread, that might help too! This version of NCAA football is so great, but I couldnt help but think it would be perfect if we were able to do an FCS dynasty with the playoffs and promotions to FBS