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sdrotar · 03-30-2006, 08:18 PM

Greetings, everyone!
I just got back from playing NFL Head Coach at the EA Tiburon studios in Florida.

I dug as deeply as I could into the title during my short time with the game, and I'll be happy to answer any questions as best as I can.

The game was an "alpha build" - it's still quite some time from being finalized, so certain features weren't working, and the games crashed quite often - so I won't (and shouldn't) be evaluating it as if it was a final product.

NOTE: Please - no questions about specific players or rosters. They weren't complete in this build, and so I didn't bother to check - I was more concerned with the game itself.

georgiafan · 03-30-2006, 08:35 PM

How does the game stack up to other text games like OOTP baseball?

JohnnytheSkin · 03-30-2006, 08:43 PM

I know it's probably not a concern at this point, but will it be a backwards compatible title on 360? Since MS is trying to get the 360 in as many hands as possible, I assume that by June any new Xbox game should be BC.

Also, how "scripted" does the game play. You mentioned the Vanderjagt shank, but did you ever get the feeling that something happened outside your hands? Did your WR's practice great and then on Sunday drop everything?

*Nice dig at Plummer by the way. All season the fans and press were asking when Jake would be Jake...and lo and behold, the biggest game of his career, BAM! The old Plummer returns.*

georgiafan · 03-30-2006, 08:46 PM

can you transfer players from NCAA unto the game? can you explain the draft more that seemed to be pretty intresting

sdrotar · 03-30-2006, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgiafan


	How does the game stack up to other text games like OOTP baseball?

On the surface, at least - rather well.
It's not as detailed in stat-tracking, however.
There are also some navigation issues (it's not as intuitive as it could be), but the developers stressed that this build was not close to final, and they understood the navigation concerns.

sdrotar · 03-30-2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgiafan


	can you transfer players from NCAA unto the game? can you explain the draft more that seemed to be pretty intresting

You will be able to export your "career" team into Madden.
That was the only interoperability feature that was mentioned - there was nothing about NCAA Football, and I don't think there will be.

ExtremeGamer · 03-30-2006, 08:56 PM

My only question is, how is it, I mean, like how did it play?

Nza · 03-30-2006, 08:58 PM

Is there any ESPN overlays etc?

Did you play in-game? How did the game feel from an AI standpoint? In Madden 06 coach mode, it's easy to tell the game suffers from poor AI by looking at the QB play. Maybe if you had the chance, you could give Madden 06 coach mode a spin (if you haven't already) and draw some comparisons?

Did you get a chance to try out any front office stuff, like player signings, the draft etc?

03-30-2006, 08:18 PM	#1
sdrotar OS Managing Ed., 2002-07 OVR: 19 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,055	NFL Head Coach: Hands-on Q&A Greetings, everyone! I just got back from playing NFL Head Coach at the EA Tiburon studios in Florida. I dug as deeply as I could into the title during my short time with the game, and I'll be happy to answer any questions as best as I can. The game was an "alpha build" - it's still quite some time from being finalized, so certain features weren't working, and the games crashed quite often - so I won't (and shouldn't) be evaluating it as if it was a final product. NOTE: Please - no questions about specific players or rosters. They weren't complete in this build, and so I didn't bother to check - I was more concerned with the game itself. __________________ Shawn Drotar Former Managing Editor, OperationSports.com (2002-07)

03-30-2006, 08:35 PM	#2
georgiafan All Star OVR: 12 Join Date: Jul 2002	Re: NFL Head Coach: Hands-on Q&A How does the game stack up to other text games like OOTP baseball?

03-30-2006, 08:43 PM	#3
JohnnytheSkin All Star OVR: 33 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 5,915	Re: NFL Head Coach: Hands-on Q&A I know it's probably not a concern at this point, but will it be a backwards compatible title on 360? Since MS is trying to get the 360 in as many hands as possible, I assume that by June any new Xbox game should be BC. Also, how "scripted" does the game play. You mentioned the Vanderjagt shank, but did you ever get the feeling that something happened outside your hands? Did your WR's practice great and then on Sunday drop everything? Nice dig at Plummer by the way. All season the fans and press were asking when Jake would be Jake...and lo and behold, the biggest game of his career, BAM! The old Plummer returns. __________________ I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. - Douglas Adams Oh, sorry...I got distracted by the internet. - Scott Pilgrim

03-30-2006, 08:46 PM	#4
georgiafan All Star OVR: 12 Join Date: Jul 2002	Re: NFL Head Coach: Hands-on Q&A can you transfer players from NCAA unto the game? can you explain the draft more that seemed to be pretty intresting

03-30-2006, 08:56 PM	#7
ExtremeGamer Extra Life 11/3/18 OVR: 70 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 35,320 Blog Entries: 32	Re: NFL Head Coach: Hands-on Q&A My only question is, how is it, I mean, like how did it play? __________________ Mixer Stream XBox - ExtremeGamer PSN - ExtremeGamer Switch - 4640-8613-7710

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03-30-2006, 08:58 PM	#8
Nza MVP OVR: 16 Join Date: Jan 2004	Re: NFL Head Coach: Hands-on Q&A Is there any ESPN overlays etc? Did you play in-game? How did the game feel from an AI standpoint? In Madden 06 coach mode, it's easy to tell the game suffers from poor AI by looking at the QB play. Maybe if you had the chance, you could give Madden 06 coach mode a spin (if you haven't already) and draw some comparisons? Did you get a chance to try out any front office stuff, like player signings, the draft etc?

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