NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

[nxt]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

Again you don't get it for better or for worse those previews are only going to reach the hardcore gamer. Not the casual gamer that is 90% of their consumer base not the hardcore guy. To many people fail to realize this FACT we aren't as important as we think we are. The moment you realize this the easier this process becomes.

That's a great way to think! We aren't important. Why even form an opinion. That's just the way it is. We can't do a thing about it. Just sit down, shut up, and take it like a man. OK.

[umd]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

Oddly enough this was for NCAA 2005, arguably the worst game they've ever put out.

05 wasn't arguably the worst game in the series, it WAS the worst game. Thank goodness they turned it around from that on PS2 and Xbox. It was the only poor release of NCAA on those systems.

Which is why the series has become extremely disappointing since hitting the better hardware.

Ironically, wasn't 05 developed by the old Madden producer?

[MassNole]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

05 wasn't arguably the worst game in the series, it WAS the worst game. Thank goodness they turned it around from that on PS2 and Xbox. It was the only poor release of NCAA on those systems.

Which is why the series has become extremely disappointing since hitting the better hardware.

Ironically, wasn't 05 developed by the old Madden producer?

I don't know, to me NCAA 2008 was the worst one, it was the first time I ever got rid of the game before the next one came out. But NCAA 2005 was a total and complete disaster. My favorite was my WR's ability to drop a screen pass when they had nothing but green grass in front of them but when they would lose 5 yards they turned into some super human combination of Jerry Rice/Lynn Swann/David Tyree to catch the ball.

[PAPERNUT]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

What I'd like to know is if it's truly a matter of EA not wanting negative impressions out there, how does pushing them back a week help?

I'm not pleased about some of the things I've read in these impressions but I think somesome of you are just seeing conspiracies all the time when it comes ot EA.

This doesn't add up to me. Now, if a week from now the articles are reposted but all the negative stuff is gone then you guys will have a point but until then EA gains nothing by delaying negative impressions by a week.

I think the closer you hold impressions to release, the easier it is for them to come back with the we did not have time to correct that before release line. Call me an EA *****, but if they cannot look at the many sites that are out with peoples thoughts about what is wrong and needs to be fixed, then there is a problem with the developers. 2 simple things to fix: ints and fumbles. If they cannot do that for 09, then I will pass again.

[Russell_SCEA]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

That's a great way to think! We aren't important. Why even form an opinion. That's just the way it is. We can't do a thing about it. Just sit down, shut up, and take it like a man. OK.

Man its impossible who said we aren't important if you read it again it clearly says "we aren't as important as we think we are" I'm 100% sure thats what I posted. Who do you think has more pull in what goes into and what comes out of a game or any business model for that matter 10% of your consumer base or 90% of your consumer base its simple economics.

EA loves their hardcore gaming base and the feedback they get from the guys who come out other wise they wouldn't spend tens of thousands of dollars on these community days. In contrast the devs and producers can only do so much case in point the vision cone hardcore feature hands down. It wasn't polished but most of us could see the idea what happened casual fans complained and the feature was scraped.

[KG]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

I don't know, to me NCAA 2008 was the worst one, it was the first time I ever got rid of the game before the next one came out. But NCAA 2005 was a total and complete disaster. My favorite was my WR's ability to drop a screen pass when they had nothing but green grass in front of them but when they would lose 5 yards they turned into some super human combination of Jerry Rice/Lynn Swann/David Tyree to catch the ball.

Ahh...I can never remember which versions are which. I just seem to remember the issues from the past. Good thing OS is here to map them out.

[MassNole]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

Other than the game play NCAA 2005 actually had a lot of new features including:
- Online play for the Xbox (2004 introduced it on the PS2)
- Rosters were expanded to 70-75 players
- The Athlete position was created in recruiting
- Home Field Advantage
- Big Hits

So even though the game play left a lot to be desired it at least added a lot of other features. IIRC the drops problem was largely based on the QB's Accuracy rating, I remember when I had a QB with 99 accuracy the drops diminished to nearly none.

[SageInfinite]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

I don't think people hate EA, if they did they wouldn't have any reason to even be in this forum. I think it is mainly that a lot of us have in the past had some of our best gaming experiences playing EA football games in the era where they were constantly pushing the envelope in terms of innovation with their football games to make them more realistic, in recent years we have been disappointed because the games have lacked the qualities that previous titles did that really engaged us.

We were used to every year being able to be excited about the new football games from EA and having them deliver a package that brought us a ton of enjoyment. I can't forget that upgrade between 2001 on the PS1 and 2002 on the PS2. That is probably the ultimate example of my expectations being exceeded.

Many of the efforts of last-gen were fantastic and I feel those games really did achieve a lot in terms of being a football simulation. To me it's more like I know that they are capable of making the kind of game that we all want, because they have before, but for some reason they keep taking steps backwards which is very frustrating to those of us who have enjoyed the series for so long.

[countryboy]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

They really just hate EA? They aren't just angry because they want them to make better games?

Believe it or not, there are people out there that hate EA.

[PAPERNUT]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

I don't think people hate EA, if they did they wouldn't have any reason to even be in this forum. I think it is mainly that a lot of us have in the past had some of our best gaming experiences playing EA football games in the era where they were constantly pushing the envelope in terms of innovation with their football games to make them more realistic, in recent years we have been disappointed because the games have lacked the qualities that previous titles did that really engaged us.

We were used to every year being able to be excited about the new football games from EA and having them deliver a package that brought us a ton of enjoyment. I can't forget that upgrade between 2001 on the PS1 and 2002 on the PS2. That is probably the ultimate example of my expectations being exceeded.

Many of the efforts of last-gen were fantastic and I feel those games really did achieve a lot in terms of being a football simulation. To me it's more like I know that they are capable of making the kind of game that we all want, because they have before, but for some reason they keep taking steps backwards which is very frustrating to those of us who have enjoyed the series for so long.

Excellent post. Agree 100%. Send that to Peter Moore please!

[razcan]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

One think I am not clear on about the menus... We now have the option of highlighting the play or using a corresponding button ala last-gen to pick the play? Is this correct? It would be huge IMO.

Thanks

[rudyjuly2]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

I think some of you are being too negative and jaded. Granted, EA hasn't delivered a truly next gen football gaming experience and so I can understand but some of you act as those gameplay reviews were horrible for EA. They spoke of a lot of good things in their hands on experience and they said they really enjoyed the game. Of course they mentioned the pick-6 and cpu QB AI but they hadn't had that much time with the game just yet. They are still getting more time with it (which we'll have to wait for). I was excited about some of the things they wrote and Pasta didn't say every game was a shootout either.

As for EA pulling the plug, I agree its a little fishy. I do see that Gamespot had an online dynasty preview this week and I totally believe EA hands out exclusive NCAA info to many different sites on a planned schedule. They probably try to give out new info every week to generate interest and maybe they wanted these guys to wait. On the other hand, these guys were very open on their site about the ability to post things right away and I never understood media days to show off a game and then not let you talk about it. If the reviews were totally negative I might be more inclined to believe that's why EA had them pulled. But there was a lot of positive stuff in there so I'm not buying into that theory yet.

A lot of the little things I wanted fixed seem to be moving in the right direction (better player weight, improved PS3, some old features back, more big plays which I like). I think everyone wanted the cpu qb AI to be fixed - that includes too many picks and not throwing deep. From what I read, the pick-6s were more user vs. user (still not a great sign). It does concern me that they wouldn't have had this fixed already at this point. Its a big red flag but they did have this early community session to get feedback for the game in order to correct things. I just hope some of this stuff does get fixed but some of you guys are jumping off the bridge a little early imo. Slider and difficulty level adjustments might fix some of this stuff as well.

[Spectre]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

Shocker. EA realizes there didn't do jack about the most glaring issues with the game and a Community Day participant reports on it so there is a "gap in communication". What a joke. Here's a tip EA; fix the issues and we won't have much to be disappointed about.

Here's the real "gap in communication": We recommend/beg for improvements regarding glaring gameplay issues and EA chooses to ignore us. EA should just make the arcade version where there are 9 INTs, 3 pick-sixes, 7 fumbles, 11 "jump the snap" sacks and 125 point shootout games on 5 minute quarters on the Wii and leave the real football on the PS3 and 360.

Good post

From all indications, this looks like its going to be an arcade-fest.

[ODogg]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

Good post

From all indications, this looks like its going to be an arcade-fest.

yes. i imagine by the time i'm returning my 3rd interception for a TD in my first game i'm going to want to cry.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Official First Look: NCAA Strategies

Its still a little unclear to me as to how much human vs. cpu time they got in and how many human vs. human games they played. It sounds like the abundance of pick 6s were against each other. I know whenever I get the new game, it takes me at least 6 or 7 games to get a feel for the changes to it. Hopefully we'll get some good write-ups on May 2nd.