Better Gameplay? Observations

[SECElit3]

Hi guys,

I've doing some testing with the game recently, specifically with the tuners and patches. I was hoping some of you might try some of these suggestions and share your opinion on how they effect the game-play.

Now, I have been playing this game religiously since it released. Quite frankly, I love the game. That being said, I found more enjoyment in the game-play before the patches and tuners. So, after hours of building slider sets, testing, reading, tweaking, and seeking input from the community, I considered giving up on the it. After finding myself unable to discard the game, due to love of football, I made the decision to take my testing "back to the drawing board."

I began by removing all of the patches and tuners and testing without them. I also set all of my sliders back to default All-American with the game speed at slow. Immediately, I noticed a difference. Passing with no patches or tuners was extremely simple. Quarterbacks were extremely accurate and I observed no true touch or loft on the ball; the ball moved too fast. Running the ball to the outside was much more effective than with the updates, and there was little to no pressure by the front four. Defensive backs seemed to mirror the WR routes and always be in position to cut in front of the pass. Last but not least, super jumping linebackers were in full effect. It is amazing to me the problems the game had when it was released.

We all know that EA released several patches and tuners for this game. The first, was a tuner made available on release day. The notes for the tuner mentioned some game-play improvements so I am assuming that tuner fixed the above passing issues. So when did the updates begin truly effecting the game-play? It is my assumption that the second patch was the culprit. While I did enjoy the visual effect of the dirty jersey, I believe this patch was the one that sent the game-play into a downward spiral. The third patch, did improve the game-play a little, but fell far short from taking the game-play back to pre-patch 2.

Most of you know that this is something I have been at for quite sometime. I have released 3 slider sets with multiple updates. Not one of those sets provides the game-play I am getting now. I found that deleting the patches, while keeping the tuners, provides the absolute best game-play this game has to offer... but don't take my word for it. If you are someone that can't live without the dirty uniforms, these suggestions are not for you, but if you are someone that can, I would strongly suggest clearing the patches from your system. It is odd that the tuners seem to have a more positive effect on the game-play versus the patches having a negative effect.

I am currently playing with the following settings and am loving this game more than ever: I would love to hear your feedback and observations.

All-American (All patches removed) (Kept Tuners)
Quarter Length 8 min
Default Threshold
Game Speed Slow

All Sliders default with CPU RBA set to 90

No other changes made with the exception of coaching sliders. I have attached them below.

As always, thanks for everything!

[theSpungo]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

When building your slider sets, do you take into account CPU stats? One of the things I care about most are league stats and finding a slider sets to deliver good gameplay in my human vs. cpu match, but also realistic league-wide stats.

For instance, I'm liking your sliders (with a few of my own tweaks) for the gameplay, in fact the games are a lot of fun. However, my stats are a bit too good when compared to the rest of the league.

I'd like more of a challenge to get the most NCAA passing yards in a season, almost more so than having a fantastic game experience.

[playguitar90]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

By default, do you just mean 50?

Also, I know I go to my storage device and press Y to clear the cache or something, which will delete all the patches (and tuners, I'm assuming) for the game. It won't be a problem to re-update the other games, that only takes a few minutes, and a few button presses.

My question is how do I get the tuners without the patches?

[SECElit3]

yes, 50 with the exception of CPU RBA. The tunes are separate files that cannot be removed by clearing the cache. Clear your cache and you should be good.

[SECElit3]

Yes, stats are important to me and I do take them into account when testing the slider sets. However, understand that any slider suggestions I make, suit my play style. It is up to the user to tweak them to provide a game that accommodates his or her needs.

Slider sets are nothing more than suggestions.

[playguitar90]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

yes, 50 with the exception of CPU RBA. The tunes are separate files that cannot be removed by clearing the cache. Clear your cache and you should be good.

Its only patches right? No game saves, etc....and it will affect my gameplay in dynasties, etc that I have already started?

This seems interesting, I really want to try it. Do the patches affect the recruits' ratings in dynasty, etc or is that the tuners? I'll get back here tomorrow after I try this.

[theSpungo]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

Yes, stats are important to me and I do take them into account when testing the slider sets. However, understand that any slider suggestions I make, suit my play style. It is up to the user to tweak them to provide a game that accommodates his or her needs.

Slider sets are nothing more than suggestions.

I understand they're merely suggestions, but the stats should be the same in everyone's dynasty -- as realistic as possible -- and shouldn't change from user to user.

Do changing sliders have any effect on CPU stats? If so, would it be possible to get a quick write-up on which sliders can have the most affect when attempting get certain CPU statistical results?

[playguitar90]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

Okay...here I am, after playing a game with Tennessee at home against Oregon, 7 Minute Quarters. I may have lowered the speed threshold a click or two because I normally play with it at 0. It's more fun that way to me. Game speed normal. Sorry if I didn't follow all of your rules :/

I cleared my cache and took no conscious steps to delete the tuners, so I think I did something right. The one REAL big problem I have with this is the lack of XBOX live. It makes sense not being able to play the Xbox Live game, but it doesn't make sense to me that I cannot connect and chat with my friends at all . That's ALL I do on XBOX. Is there a way to get around this???

Okay, now to the gameplay. I lost 42-28, me scoring a garbage time pass to Luke Stocker for the TD as time expired. The game was in the rain and was sloppy on both sides.

Matt Simms threw 18 completions of 38 attempts in the game, with 3 touchdowns and one pick. His total passing yardage was 308. These aren't inflated stats: I just had to pass a whole lot to keep up with Oregon. He fumbled twice on sacks, which I actually really liked. Oregon took both back for TDs, though, which really was a killer. I felt like the LB's jumped a whole lot to break up my passes, which was really the only complaint I have about the passing game with these. My wideouts only really dropped passes when they were hit, or because of a tough catch in the rain. I had my runningbacks drop one or two, but that's realistic. Lobbing the ball seemed more effective, as I could get over defenders with a nice pass. I could really control the underthrow and overthrow with the stick. Matt Simms isn't really an elite QB, so it is realistic that he missed alot of the kind of passes I threw. Play action worked when I had set up the run, but I was still sacked like 4 times. Play action from the shotgun was not good, but I didn't try to set up shotgun draws AT ALL, which makes good sense. I only really threw long passes because of the alarm I had due to the Oregon fumble recoveries, so my WR's mostly had 15+ yards per catch

My starting runningback, Poole I think, had 21 carries for 75 yards. I got a bunch of 2 and 3 yarders, and every so often I'd go for 8 or 10. I didn't have one run where I broke away from the D, even with the slightly lowered speed threshold. My other guy Oku had like 4 or 5 carries for twenty-something yards. In my dynasty I have my sub in-sub out real high so I can spread it around more.

I usually sim the D, but I played a few drives. They had an equally sloppy game on both sides of the ball, but those two fumble recoveries really made the difference. My DL was stopping James for 2 and 3 yard gains frequently, but then Oregon would hit their stride and pass and run right past my guys. I got two picks on Darren Thomas.

My punts seemed to be a bit shorter. There were no FG tries. The XBOX live thing might kill it for me, as much better as this gameplay was. Maybe I'll just save NCAA for times where my friends aren't on lol. Definitely improved the gameplay. Could use tweaks here and there, and I think if you can come up with a good slider set for these, I think youve squeezed out the best this game can offer, which is pretty damn good!

And also, just want to make sure, the lack of patches won't affect the dynasty updates etc like recruit ratings and in season progression, right? I couldn't take that. The game itself, such as advancing between weeks, was also WAY faster.

[SECElit3]

Thanks for the impressions guitar. It is true that removing the patches will prevent you from connecting to ES Servers. I don't play online anymore, heck I don't even have a home internet connection so the online thing doesn't affect me as much; sick of the cheese I guess.

The removal of the patches won't effect the dynasty progression because those fixes were implemented with the tuners.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

[playguitar90]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

Thanks for the info...I just completed a game with my Michigan State in the second year of my dynasty. I played with 7 minute quarters, default all except CPU RBA at 90, slow threshold, everything you said except the coaching sliders.

31-24 MSU!

Passing-
K. Cousins (MSU)- 11 of 16 for 154 yards, 2 touchdowns, no interceptions, and no sacks.

D. Robinson (Mich)- 18 of 27 for 284 yards, 3 touchdowns, one interception, and 1 sack.

Rushing-
E. Baker (MSU)- 19 car 179 yards 2 TD, (long of 63)
V. Smith (Mich)- 7 car 47 yards
D. Robinson (Mich)- 10 car 39 yards
L. Caper (MSU)- 6 car 21 yards
D. Godfrey (MSU-fullback)- 3 car 11 yards
F. Toussaint (Mich)- 1 car 4 yards

Both teams spread the ball around alot. My biggest notes here is that my slot WR Keyshawn Martin had 2TDs, both from yards-after-catch plays to the flats.

I dominated Time of Possession. Michigan only had the ball for 8 minutes 14 seconds, leaving me with practically 3 whole quarters of possession time. Michigan runs a fast paced spread and had to punt alot, while I run a power-running pro style that has the gameplan on conservative...it makes sense that I dominated here.

This game had less flying linebackers, and (this is my favorite) the only dreaded swim move came from Michigan's impact player DL and my star DL Jerel Worthy. Every time Baker, my starting RB in absence of Leveon Bell, engaged in a tackle I felt like I had a chance to break that tackle. I had almost 100 yards after contact with him. Caper and the other RB's and QB's were not nearly as successful here. I was able to break 2 long runs with Baker.

The gameplay was overall phenomenal, and is definitely worth giving up LIVE for an hour or so. However I noticed something odd--when I popped in Call of Duty: Black Ops, it didn't prompt me for a patch; and I know that game has been patched.

[SECElit3]

Thanks again for that awesome impression. I haven't tried the game at 0 threshold since removing the patches because the game on slow, 50 threshold without the patches feels so smooth.

That is interesting that you noticed the trajectory of the ball and how it is much easier to get loft under it because that is one of my more favorite things about playing without the patches. I have seen some over the shoulder catches that I most certainly never saw post patch.

I have had some amazing games recently, the most notable being a defensive battle with Virginia in my FSU dynasty. I won it 14-13.

[smuurph84]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

Thanks again for that awesome impression. I haven't tried the game at 0 threshold since removing the patches because the game on slow, 50 threshold without the patches feels so smooth.

That is interesting that you noticed the trajectory of the ball and how it is much easier to get loft under it because that is one of my more favorite things about playing without the patches. I have seen some over the shoulder catches that I most certainly never saw post patch.

I have had some amazing games recently, the most notable being a defensive battle with Virginia in my FSU dynasty. I won it 14-13.

SEC thanks for all the hard work I have been using all the different sets of your sliders for a while and they are all great! I'll try these this afternoon.

You ever think about trying to get hired on by EA? with all the time you spent testing this game it seems like a no brainer that they would hire you (your putting in the hours might as well get paid)! all you would have to do is refer them to this site and show them your posts and work. I think you could head up there gameplay dept no problem! lol

[playguitar90]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

Thanks again for that awesome impression. I haven't tried the game at 0 threshold since removing the patches because the game on slow, 50 threshold without the patches feels so smooth.

That is interesting that you noticed the trajectory of the ball and how it is much easier to get loft under it because that is one of my more favorite things about playing without the patches. I have seen some over the shoulder catches that I most certainly never saw post patch.

I have had some amazing games recently, the most notable being a defensive battle with Virginia in my FSU dynasty. I won it 14-13.

No problem. The ball felt more real...I can't think of a better word for it. Like if I bomb it deep and the guy gets hit after he makes the catch, it feels like the ball was in his hands for a split second, and then falls out. I have no idea why they took these things away with the patches...this game is great!

And I've only seen over the should catches...no over the shoulder interceptions yet. The picks I threw were on safeties that I misread and they jumped my route. They were facing the ball, which is a plus.

[RutgersRay]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

How is the patch removed on the PS3?

[RutgersRay]

Re: Better Gameplay? Observations

OK I deleted version 1.03 from the game data utility for my ps3. When i start the game it asks me to install the latest version of the software. I don't. In the game; under settings...load/delete i still see the tuners as being present. I played a game in my offline dynasty. I beat #9 Mich 28-7. After advancing a week i checked my roster and not one player showed any kind of progression. Could the ps3 be different from the xbox? Any thoughts?