NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

[stewaat]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

Your avatar has somehow, after 20 seconds of starring, forced me to reply again. There has got to be some voodoo going on here! Err... Oh yeah... do you think a slider fix will make your pass rush preference's work? Or is that not covered there? I'm not a slider lab guy myself.

Sliders will not fix the pass rush problems. There just isn't any aggressiveness by defenders and the things needing fixes are:
- Pursuit angles
- Elimination of OL cutting DL
- Make the ratings matter
- Give the DL a burst off the line
- Give LBs realistic speeds

I don't think gameplay is flawed (*puts on flame ******ant suit*). There are areas that need improvement, sure. But SO MUCH goes into game play it will make your head spin. Personally, I have always controlled a defensive lineman, 70% of the time a tackle, and I don't find much difference between 08 and 09. I get to the QB a couple times a game and that is what I would expect.

Please keep in mind that gameplay is a totally different team. We split that out into a specialized team a couple years ago. So I'm not an expert on this stuff. I think the problem is that the short passing stuff is always there. That is why they don't go deep, and that is why the QB rarely feels pressure. I mean... if the easy 5-7 yards is there, why not just take it unless it is 3rd down and you need more?

But as I said before.. I'm a feature guy, not an X and O guy. Variety is very important to making a game that sells right?

I'm not flaming but to say you don't think gameplay is flawed is going to be viewed as ridiculous...I think that as well.

However if you mean gameplay in the sense that you can play a game, get somewhat realistic stats, and have a fun time doing it...I will agree.

If you mean gameplay as in an accurate simulation of the real life football then you sir, are way off. The speed "cheats" alone make this impossible. Not looking for perfection but just somewhat accurate simulations!

Hey Auburn I am preparing myself for some frustration on this one. Its becoming clear that some of the gameplay fixes hoped for in "patch 2" are going to run smack dab into a brick wall of the EA corporate vision of "wide open gameplay" God, I hope I am wrong but the handwriting may be on the wall on this one based on what I am reading.

I agree 100% with you man.

[callmetaternuts]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

To echo stewaat's post above (and my novella a few posts about that), the things on defense that need to be fixed are a bit on the high side. Pursuit angles are just garbage. I think this has to do with sideline awareness. The CPU needs to use the sideline as an extra defender, but if you get to the sideline, they all angle for the pylon. In fact, on any return (punt) you can just go back and forth left and right, keep cutting back towards middle of field for a few yards and the go back to the sideline and you will get them so far offline that they angle for the pylon, givnig you a clean runway to score.

The slowness of the DL off the line is bad too. I try to jump the snap, since thats the only chance i have (and its a bad chance at that) and EVERY TIME i time it right, my DL does a little shimmy that slows him down, thats ridiculous. They need to be plowing towards the QB.

The defenders need to be aware of someone in their zone, or if the ball is in the air, maybe, go make a play on it.....i dont think thats asking too much. Too many LB's or DB's watch someone come in their zone and they just wave as they pass them, or will see a curl route being thrown and they stand there until its caught. GO HIT THE BALL CARRIER, dont just stand there.

Like stewaat said, this isnt intended to flame you or bash you, i reallyd o appreciate your insight and efforts to reach out to us, but with that comes the fact that you will hear our unedited thoughts on the game.

Lets get the defense fixed, and fixed quickly and correctly. It has to be done.

On a somewhat unrelated note, ive said since Day 1, that wide open gameplay was achieved, and had to be achieved at any cost. The game caters to the mass markets that watch Sportscenter and see Reggie Bush and Devin Hester running around. You dont see highlights of QB hurries, or passes batted down, you see 80 yard runs with 6 broken tackles, 2 spins and a partridge in a pear tree. They accomplished what they wanted (not Adam, the corporate suits) and it didnt matter at what costs. The goal going in was wide open gameplay, we have wide open gameplay, its just a shame at what cost.

I hope it can be remedied to appease us and the casual gamers. (Maybe two modes in the future??) Im really really really hoping that this can be fixed. Dont let us down Adam (if it were only up to just you, i get that you have a boss, we all do.........meh)

Keep us in the loop and we appreciate the feedback, insight and updates (and we know they arent promises, just intentions)

[Vince]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

i'm sorry, but already in some of my games i'm getting pressure even with the "glitch".

i really think fixing the sliders will solves most of the problems...especially QB accuracy.

[RealCanesFan]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

I don't think gameplay is flawed (*puts on flame ******ant suit*). There are areas that need improvement, sure. But SO MUCH goes into game play it will make your head spin. Personally, I have always controlled a defensive lineman, 70% of the time a tackle, and I don't find much difference between 08 and 09. I get to the QB a couple times a game and that is what I would expect.

Please keep in mind that gameplay is a totally different team. We split that out into a specialized team a couple years ago. So I'm not an expert on this stuff. I think the problem is that the short passing stuff is always there. That is why they don't go deep, and that is why the QB rarely feels pressure. I mean... if the easy 5-7 yards is there, why not just take it unless it is 3rd down and you need more?

But as I said before.. I'm a feature guy, not an X and O guy. Variety is very important to making a game that sells right?

OMT thanks for everything you have been doing to keep us informed. Other than the patch for the rosters and the fact that you guys left out our all white storm trooper jersey's, I think the game is awesome. It is exactly what was advertised wide open game play. I am not having a problem 1 getting to the QB.
I know a bunch on here will trash me and say I am smoking crack, but I say leave the gameplay the way it is!!!!
I think the ones complaining of a lack of pass rush are the cheezers that like to blitz on every down. This year you actually have to have a little skillz to play Defense and some people cant stand it.

I am loving NCAA 09...best game you guys have made yet!!!!!

[callmetaternuts]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

Adam - one question on the custom sounds. If im FSU and im playing at UF, i know that hopefully, after the patch, i can set up some UF sounds and hear them, but will i be able to hear anything i set up for FSU like my band is on the road?

Or is it simply at home stadium you hear home team sounds (@ Doak, i hear FSU sounds) and at away stadium you hear the home team sounds (@ The Swamp i hear UF Sounds)

after that, we can turn our attention back to the Defense discussion

[simgameonly]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

OMT thanks for everything you have been doing to keep us informed. Other than the patch for the rosters and the fact that you guys left out our all white storm trooper jersey's, I think the game is awesome. It is exactly what was advertised wide open game play. I am not having a problem 1 getting to the QB.
I know a bunch on here will trash me and say I am smoking crack, but I say leave the gameplay the way it is!!!!
I think the ones complaining of a lack of pass rush are the cheezers that like to blitz on every down. This year you actually have to have a little skillz to play Defense and some people cant stand it.

I am loving NCAA 09...best game you guys have made yet!!!!!

If by a miracle there is a patch that addresses the gameplay simply dont download it. To ask it not be made available to people seeking a more realistic experience is asanine. To classify people wanting a sim like experience as cheesers is pretty funny, especially from a canes fan. Priceless, thanks for the humor though.

[RealCanesFan]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

If by a miracle there is a patch that addresses the gameplay simply dont download it. To ask it not be made available to people seeking a more realistic experience is asanine. To classify people wanting a sim like experience as cheesers is pretty funny, especially from a canes fan. Priceless, thanks for the humor though.

1st of all I never asked it not be made available. I simply said I didn't think the gameplay was that bad.

2nd.
Whats wrong can't sack App. St's QB without a patch. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with the gameplay. And it is just that; my opinion. Is it a little easier to return kick-offs and punts yes, but isn't that what was advertised with this years game? Wide Open Game Play
Learn how to improve your skills instead of having EA make it easier for you.

[countryboy]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

simgame and realcanes, knock off the bickering.

[Tonka]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

Yeah....this isn't a knock on Adam, but his comment that he expects to only "get to the QB" twice a game and he's happy with that scares the absolute crap out of me.

I'll keep saying it til I'm blue in the face. Pass rush does not mean "sacks". It means, as many have stated, constant pressure and harassment of the QB, thereby forcing a decision quicker than they want or "blowing up the play" altogether.

That's not good to see thoughts like that coming from the NCAA team. The ratings should mean something on the line.

I'd agree if it was a 74 rated DT playing against an 84 rated OG or Center. But a 95 rated DT? Or a 98 rated DE? Scary stuff.

I agree with this completely AA, but there is an added problem which OMT has touched a little bit and that is the QB's tendency to throw short because the option is there. The main reason why there are so many short throws is because of cpu controlled DB's are slower when on pursuit or they just stand around waiting for a catch before the do anything.

The speed "cheat" that you mention AA, where the defense is just enough slower during at least the beginning of a play, so that the offense can abuse those quick slants through the middle and also the overpowered screens and flat routes. I'm in my 4th year Buffalo Bulls dynasty and I've managed to recruit a nice group of players. I have a sophmore cb with a speed rating of 98, overall he's 84, that constantly gets owned in the first few seconds of a play in man to man against WR's who are 75-80 ovr with a speed rating not higher than 92. It really shouldn't be like that.

Another issue is the fact that even if, and I've toyed with this a lot just to see what the cpu qb does, I jump the snap and within a split second I have a clear shot at sacking the qb, but in 95% of the time one of 2 things happen. 1. The qb, no matter his ratings, has a sixth sense about where an open reciever is even though I'm in his face and within a second he throws a perfect pass or...2. It's like the QB is covered in oil and even though I have a strong 89 rated MLB who explodes into the backfield after a jumped snap, the tackle is totally ineffective due to the fact that my players slips off the QB who then can reposition and make a throw.

Other tendency problems that I hope can be tuned in patch two is the fact that over 3 and a half seasons of dynasty matches I have yet to see the cpu QB throw the ball away when he has no pass options. This is part due to the "Berlin Wall" issue which gives the QB up to 12(!) seconds to throw. This leads to some of the interceptions that are unnesseccary, where the cpu has no pass options but decides to throw anyway. Some more QB tendency issues that irk me is, for exapmle, when the cpu is down by 14 late in the 4th quarter and they have to eat up 10-20 yards on 4th down. What does the cpu do? You guessed it. No deep balls are thrown, instead the short pass is yet again applied.

I have no idea what can be fixed or tuned in the second patch, hopefully some of these issues, but i do hope that the cpu QB's tendencies can be tuned at least, along with giving the defense a little more speed and by making ratings matter more on defense in general. I also agree with that a better defense doesn't mean we want a sack fest, it just means that a good team should be able to put a lot more pressure on a team whos offense isn't as solid, which should lead to more errant and thrown away passes and a better, more true to life completion %.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

Thanks Adam for that list. I don't think kickoff returns are that bad but punt returns are far too easy (on AA).

I DO think sliders could fix some of these issues even if not completely. The lack of a pass rush could be helped by exagerrating the sliders a little more. Its more of an issue on Heisman I think although my comments are mainly about offline play where I can use sliders.

If they fix the returns and sliders I would be in heaven. The one other big thing for me is to get the cpu to throw deep. That's more important to me than the pass rush issues.

[hud519]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

not a stupid question at all...

if you have xbox live, as soon as you put your game in it will say there's an update. plus, if you're here on these forums there will be quite a buzz about it. but you'll know...

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated!

[DrUrsus]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

Well, there is some stuff that is already in the patch. This is stuff we identified and started on before the game hit shelves. Now that more issues are coming out we are identifying the ones we want to fix the most. I was going to do an official patch announcement of some kind when I knew, and still will, but I'll give a sneak peak based on what I know cause I love your avatar so much.

We fixed 2 recruiting exploits
Fixed a rare online desynch
Added half time highlights
Changed custom sounds so you can hear your opponent's while on the road
Fixed the exploit that custom sounds will tip you off when your opponent is going to fake punt/kick on 4th down
That's all I can remember off the top of my head. There are some others but I don't have the patch list in front of me as I'm posting at home right now.

It is still up in the air as to the stuff that we didn't have identified until the game went public. They are all on the gameplay team so I am not involved in their decision whether or not to fix them. The NCAA team's top two issues we want fixed is kick coverage and sliders.

It is best to wait on an official announcement, because any of this could change at any minute. I'll let everyone know once everything is locked down and finished, cause I don't want to mislead anyone. ONCE AGAIN, these aren't promises!

Thanks, OMT. I would agree that fixing kick coverage (Kickoffs and Punts) and the sliders are TOP priority (besides the roster glitch, online dynasty problems from what I have read (although I have no familiarity with that one personally). Those are the true gameplay game killers to me. One thing that would be very nice in a patch or especially next year is to have the CPU throw a DEEP pass sometimes. Thanks for the info. I appreciate the discourse.

[RealCanesFan]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

simgame and realcanes, knock off the bickering.

Sorry I couldn't resist chiming back. I will knock it off.

[callmetaternuts]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

Not to cause a big ruckus (and again, i get that no promises are or can be made about what will or wont be patched and when it will come out) but if you look at the thread starting by Ian awhile back, look at what issues are being looked at.

EDIT: I want to mention that Adam said he didnt have the list in front of him when he listed what might be patched. Maybe they are working on all of this, and if you are, then i apologize for jumping the gun. Just pointing out that based on the info we have, which isnt concrete or final, there are a few outliers.

Hey guys.

Just wanted to let you know there definitely are folks looking into the following gameplay complaints - we will be able to let you know very soon if they are truly bugs, and if so, if they are patchable :

Posts seen most often / categorized as most severe:
- DL pass rush
- CPU QB percentages
- Kick / Punt Returns are too easy

Still require more research / investigation
- Players in pursuit often turn the wrong way (see LB's on swing passes?)
- DB "stand straight up" issue
- Delay CPU snapping a few seconds
- CPU deep ball
- CPU throwing short
- Rocket catch
- More penalties
- Substitution sliders

As for the crashes and stats disappearing and roster editing stuff and the like...keep in contact with Adam (OMT) on their status.

To re-iterate, we don't want to have a knee-jerk reaction and tune the game too far in the other direction with a small set of sample feedback...thus explaining the amount of time we'll take into researching these complaints. The majority of NCAA's resources are being dedicated to the roster issue - it seems to be the much higher priority.

- Ian

Now, i know Ian said they would be looked into, but if you look at that list, 2 of the aforementioned issues (3 if you count the rosters which will be updated in patch 1) but the issues that are A) posted the most B) deemed most severe (DEFENSE!) arent being mentioned.

Adam, i know you are merely the messenger in this regards, but is defense even being considered as a patchable item in some form, whether it be DB AI, DL AI< DL speed etc?

Just trying to get a feel for where we are as opposed to where we were and where we are going. That list that Ian laid out seems to be pretty dead on still, granted that was before the slider issue......Just want to see the game reach its potential and knock our socks off<!-- / message -->

[edaddy]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch Announcement

Yeah....this isn't a knock on Adam, but his comment that he expects to only "get to the QB" twice a game and he's happy with that scares the absolute crap out of me.

I'll keep saying it til I'm blue in the face. Pass rush does not mean "sacks". It means, as many have stated, constant pressure and harassment of the QB, thereby forcing a decision quicker than they want or "blowing up the play" altogether.

That's not good to see thoughts like that coming from the NCAA team. The ratings should mean something on the line.

I'd agree if it was a 74 rated DT playing against an 84 rated OG or Center. But a 95 rated DT? Or a 98 rated DE? Scary stuff.

I agree with you..Fortunately I saw the writing on the wall from prior statements regarding gameplay by EA reps. They actually don't see a problem with this or it's actually not enough of a detriment to warrant a gameplay patch..And if they don't see a problem we are out of luck. They will stick to the wide open gameplay mantra this year and that's all there is to it. Any unbiased and objective person can see the deliberate speed cheats and lack of pass rush in the game..as well as the superhuman phsycic quarterback ..EA banks on people who want a casual arcade like experience and I can't fault them it makes them a ton of money..Madden will be out in 2 weeks and NCAA will be a memory for alot of gamers. So the heat will be off of OMT and the NCAA team.They know that ..they will make minor adjustments with the second patch and since it becomes less of a priority it will be out in maybe October...I rented and will wait until it's at a bargain used price like I do every year. I have gamefly so it really doesn't matter to me. The EA reps are here for spinning purposes and sales ..they do a good job of it as people fall into the trap every year... AA just enjoy the game as is the fix you as well as a buch of folks are looking for aint going to happen!!!!