Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Had no idea, i thought we were being sold football today, not some last boyscout, starship troopers BS! What next? James Caan playing rollerball!?? Do i need a laser cannon to get a first down now??

Cmon Bro

Really just stop with all that.

We all knew the players looked like this for a while(more than likely because, of legal issues). The game comes out in about 2 months and a half. I'm sure you'll find out sometime in between then. This is usually when all the info starts coming out about the game so we should see more and more. They still have quite some time before the game releases.

[gamerk2]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

My thoughts:

Passing: concerned a bit about automatic pass strength, but considering how few people actually DONT use bullet passes short range to begin with, its not high on my radar right now. Worth watching though.

Looks decent; I'd have like to seen how scolling between recievers looks like though.

Running: Looks great. Notice a few of the plays were reverse side draws, which seems to indicate pretty wide playbooks, although thats way to early to know for sure. Handoffs looks correct for the situtation, although it seemed the QB was snapping the ball out in too short a time. Really seems important to pick the right hole though.

Blocking: Saw very few instances of an actual pocket, but part of that was because of all the chaos up front. Don't know how much of that was AI versus defensive stunts. [Knowing the called plays would REALLY have helped out in this regard.]

As for O-linemen picking people up after their initial assignment, the worst I can say is that its no worse then it currently is in Madden. Could use some improvement in that area. I need to see a LOT more to come to a conclusion in this area.

Defense: Generally took proper approch. DE's seemed to come stright in during a lot of plays, but until we know how the playbook is structured, we don't know if thats an AI issue or a playbook issue (Think "Base" versus "Fan" setups from 2k football). Seemed to be a lot of stunts on the line, but again, I don't know if thats just the play, or an AI issue.

Nothing looks "wrong" per say, but the game showed its indi roots a bit.

[huskerwr38]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Really just stop with all that.

We all knew the players looked like this for a while(more than likely because, of legal issues).

Well I don't think EA owns the license to the way a football player looks.

Anyways, a comment on the camera view. Why can't we just have a create your own camera view? I know the people of Backbreaker wanted to get you right down into the action, but what if we don't want to be right down in the action? Why can't the people decide for themselves where they want the camera with a custom camera? Why do the developers have to decide where the camera should be and what is better for everyone? If a person wants to be super close so they are right in the action then let them create a custom camera view then.

[kjcheezhead]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Well I don't think EA owns the license to the way a football player looks.

Anyways, a comment on the camera view. Why can't we just have a create your own camera view? I know the people of Backbreaker wanted to get you right down into the action, but what if we don't want to be right down in the action? Why can't the people decide for themselves where they want the camera with a custom camera? Why do the developers have to decide where the camera should be and what is better for everyone? If a person wants to be super close so they are right in the action then let them create a custom camera view then.

Actually, he might be right. If they made them with NFL style pads and a gamer creates a Steve Smith "likeness" in a Carolina uniform, there is a potential for a lawsuit. The player model protects against that because he still wouldn't look like Steve Smith. Stupid, I know, but that's the world we live in.

[Afrikan]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Well I don't think EA owns the license to the way a football player looks.

Anyways, a comment on the camera view. Why can't we just have a create your own camera view? I know the people of Backbreaker wanted to get you right down into the action, but what if we don't want to be right down in the action? Why can't the people decide for themselves where they want the camera with a custom camera? Why do the developers have to decide where the camera should be and what is better for everyone? If a person wants to be super close so they are right in the action then let them create a custom camera view then.

at the end of the day, it is Art....it is their vision that they want to share with us.....

movies like Any Given Sunday were inspirations for the studio....sound also part of the game play......to be able to feel (rumble) and hear (sound) the pass rush coming from your blindside, if you decide to focus on a receiver to pass a more accurate ball...

again, they put alot of work into this game.....it is their art, for us to enjoy......some developers are very stingy with letting others affect their own vision....I think NM has been fine with adjusting certain things for the gamer's sake....but not so much so that it would take away from their Art.

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Actually, he might be right. If they made them with NFL style pads and a gamer creates a Steve Smith "likeness" in a Carolina uniform, there is a potential for a lawsuit. The player model protects against that because he still wouldn't look like Steve Smith. Stupid, I know, but that's the world we live in.

Exactly. If they made player look extremely alike in uniform shape, color, and likeness(i.e. name, team, birth place, college played, weight, height, etc) then they could most likely bring it up a potential law suit. If this game was a pretty big success I don't think EA/NFL(more likely) would think twice about a law suit. The biggest reason IMO why I think they have the big pads, every player wearing the visors, and the taking place in the future talk just in case a potential law suit did happen to pop up.

A law suit could be brought up fairly easily just by player likeness. In the second iteration if the first one does well enough I hope they can at least take the every player wearing the visor out at the least. The futuristic uni's IMO is to make sure that if they did happen to go to court it would give them the best chance to deal with a law suit.

This is just my opinion of why they did it like this though.

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Well I don't think EA owns the license to the way a football player looks.

Anyways, a comment on the camera view. Why can't we just have a create your own camera view? I know the people of Backbreaker wanted to get you right down into the action, but what if we don't want to be right down in the action? Why can't the people decide for themselves where they want the camera with a custom camera? Why do the developers have to decide where the camera should be and what is better for everyone? If a person wants to be super close so they are right in the action then let them create a custom camera view then.

Certainly understandable. Makes sense, to a certain extent. Custom camera would be sweet, but it would completely change the entire "backbreaker" gameplay makeup and NaturalMotion's vision. Football is not a "comfortable" sport. It's a challenge. This new "backbreaker cam" would take us one step closer without having to suit up.

If given the immediate opportunity, most people would likely opt for the zoomed out sky vision view. But in doing so, it would completely remove the "on-the-field" football experience NaturalMotion is trying to achieve. Otherwise, I might as well just play APF2k8 (an absolute fabulous game in itself). NaturalMotion should really try and strive to achieve what 2k football has accomplished as far animation and gameplay.

We just have to give this 3rd person camera view a fair shot. I am not a fan of first person shooters (fps), at all. And might as well add in 3rd person shooters. But look at the success they have regardless if the game is good or not.

EDIT: I personally look forward to this new "backbreaker cam." But in all honesty, I don't agree with those proclaiming that traditional sky-vision wouldn't work for this game. Football is football; Whether the camera is from a 3rd person point of view, or sky-view. The game of football doesn't change. Attach a helmet camera to a 49er's linebacker for the entire game sequence, and football still plays as football. Nothing changes but the camera view. This is why I will make the following assumption: If the developers want to pull the camera back (and give the sky-view option), it should not be that difficult to implement, seeing as how we already have glimpse of sky-vision. Football is football regardless of camera view. Does offering traditional camera option change the on the field football mechanics? Football is football, but it does change NaturalMotion's intended "on-the-field-football-experience" vision.

Actually, he might be right. If they made them with NFL style pads and a gamer creates a Steve Smith "likeness" in a Carolina uniform, there is a potential for a lawsuit. The player model protects against that because he still wouldn't look like Steve Smith. Stupid, I know, but that's the world we live in.

Exactly. If they made player look extremely alike in uniform shape, color, and likeness(i.e. name, team, birth place, college played, weight, height, etc) then they could most likely bring it up a potential law suit. If this game was a pretty big success I don't think EA/NFL(more likely) would think twice about a law suit. The biggest reason IMO why I think they have the big pads, every player wearing the visors, and the taking place in the future talk just in case a potential law suit did happen to pop up.

A law suit could be brought up fairly easily just by player likeness. In the second iteration if the first one does well enough I hope they can at least take the every player wearing the visor out at the least. The futuristic uni's IMO is to make sure that if they did happen to go to court it would give them the best chance to deal with a law suit.

This is just my opinion of why they did it like this though.

My question is: What would the legal ramifications be with other official leagues around the world including the Canadian Football League, United Football League, Arena Football League, etc.?

I have no background in law. But what would be the legal ramifications for allowing full customization in a video game? Couldn't "Backbreaker" simply be consider their own "league" but in virtual world with the customization feature at a gamer's disposal to create virtual rookie prospects after the initial default generic stars retire?

Instead of needing to invest millions and millions of dollars to create a tangible real life league with full gear, suit, pads, stadiums and the whole works, and having NaturalMotion's CEO being the commissioner/president of the league, what's the legal ramifications of having NaturalMotion's Backbreaker league a "virtual league" where teams are allowed to change their uniform at will and "recruit" whatever virtual player they see fit?

Canadian Football League:
CFL Western Final: Calgary 17, Saskatchewan 27 - November 22, 2009 <object width="425" height="344">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pQ7NJs6MC1Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></object>

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!videos=mMksjMrpQqQ&v=pQ7NJs6MC1Y

<o></o>

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

I don't know much about law either when it comes to this but, I believe there can most likely be a law suit over something like this. Actually I believe a bunch of retired players sued EA for their likeness in a video game without them being paid. EA had created retired NFL players without paying them and since Its madden(NFL) there could be no denying that it was retired players in the game.

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/04/19/report-retired-nfl-players-plan-sue-ea-madden

I really don't much about law but, I know it can probably be done. Not that they'll succeed and shut down BB or there fully customizable system if there were a law suit(gotta win first). Another reason why I believe you can only play your friends and not just anyone you want with a customized NFL team or any customized football team online(afraid of law suit).

This probably didn't answer your question but, maybe it helped(probably didn't).

[randombrother]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

Remember people the worst part of a lawsuit usually is the time and expense having to deal with it whether you win or lose. The only ones who wouldn't bat an eye at one in the case of the football game is Microsoft or Sony. EA might have cash but they ain't got Bill Gates cash. EA would think twice about a frivolous lawsuit against M$ versus one against NM. The thing that M$ and Sony need to get through their skulls is EA is on the verge of trying to monopolize videogame sports and if that happens then console sales will decline. EA has shown a propensity to put out some substandard stuff lately. And if they're the only ones making sports games people will just stop buying consoles (sports folks) and that hurts them.

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

^^ randombrother, valid points.

snippet...Actually I believe a bunch of retired players sued EA for their likeness in a video game without them being paid. EA had created retired NFL players without paying them and since Its madden(NFL) there could be no denying that it was retired players in the game.

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/04/19/report-retired-nfl-players-plan-sue-ea-madden

...snippet

We both can only speculate. But from what it reads, EA purposely created those historic players then scrambled their characteristics with intentions.

What I am proposing is that NaturalMotion is simply only creating current uniforms (already adopted by all leagues around the football world) with completely generic players, with full customization being a feature that users would manipulate (and not NaturalMotion themselves).

NaturalMotion would not replicate the NFL (or another league) but their own virtual generic league. Would any suit hold water given that NaturalMotion had no intentions to officially create the NFL and player's likeness. NaturalMotion only supplied a "full customization" feature. NaturalMotion did not create league likeness or player likeness; that was at the sole discretion of the gamer.

In other words, NaturalMotion has no intent on creating player likeness.

[hatisback]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

^^ randombrother, valid points.



We both can only speculate. But from what it reads, EA purposely created those historic players then scrambled their characteristics with intentions.

What I am proposing is that NaturalMotion is simply only creating current uniforms (already adopted by all leagues around the football world) with completely generic players, with full customization being a feature that users would manipulate (and not NaturalMotion themselves).

NaturalMotion would not replicate the NFL (or another league) but their own virtual generic league. Would any suit hold water given that NaturalMotion had no intentions to officially create the NFL and player's likeness. NaturalMotion only supplied a "full customization" feature. NaturalMotion did not create league likeness or player likeness; that was at the sole discretion of the gamer.

In other words, NaturalMotion has no intent on creating player likeness.

Bottomline is if they did that, and people were able to share their teams, unis, players etc., NM would be held liable. See the NCAA lawsuit.

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

^^ randombrother, valid points.



We both can only speculate. But from what it reads, EA purposely created those historic players then scrambled their characteristics with intentions.

What I am proposing is that NaturalMotion is simply only creating current uniforms (already adopted by all leagues around the football world) with completely generic players, with full customization being a feature that users would manipulate (and not NaturalMotion themselves).

NaturalMotion would not replicate the NFL (or another league) but their own virtual generic league. Would any suit hold water given that NaturalMotion had no intentions to officially create the NFL and player's likeness. NaturalMotion only supplied a "full customization" feature. NaturalMotion did not create league likeness or player likeness; that was at the sole discretion of the gamer.

In other words, NaturalMotion has no intent on creating player likeness.

Doesn't seem like they would be able to then but, the legal system crazy with tons of loop holes. I really wouldn't be surprised If EA or the NFL could sue them over something about this. I'm sure someone will probably come in this thread eventually will probably tell you the answer.

Like you said we can only speculate since we don't know for sure but, I got a feeling they could. I think they would make the uni's way more realistic, be set in the present and not the future, and be able to play with anyone online with customized jerseys and not just our friends if they couldn't sue IMO. You can only play friends and have your customized uni show up but, If you play a random person the jersey's become generic but, the rest stays the same I believe(i.e. rating and players).

People are able to sue for some crazy things now a days even though It would seem like they wouldn't be able to. If EA can't sue great...thats awesome, If they can then that is no surprise to me. A surprise to me would be if EA couldn't sue them so someone please...surprise me lol.

[creed200569]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview (IGN)

Everyone knows this game isn't stealing any sells away from madden. If they did then they'd just be fooling themselves.

What r u kidding me. Of course this game is gonna steal sales away from Madden. So many ppl are tired of that garbage EA puts out every year and this game offers gameplay that has never been seen in a football game ever. BB wont sell more than Madden in its first year probably but I guarantee it will put a dent in its sales and you;d be fooling yourself if you didnt think so. This kind of engine is what ppl have been talking about since the launch of next gen and you dont think that we play a factor in Madden sales??

This game lacked what All Pro needed. A extremely deep team creator,edit player names and teams,customise endzones,franchise mode with drafting and a few other things,Road to BB mode,and good graphics. There is nothing but hype for this game around me here by Tampa. Everytime I go to gamestop,someone is talking about this game and how they cant wait to play it. I dont care about who reviews this game. Its just one person and ppl will be biased towards Madden like this degenerate at IGN who gave Madden 10 a 8.9 when it clearly didnt deserver higher than a 7 with all its problems,especially on gameplay.

[CreatineKasey]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview (IGN)

What do you guys think of the lack of pockets forming? I watched the videos repeatedly and always saw a lack of a pocket being formed. Outside defenders always squared up with the blocker and went from there. Nobody took an outside shoulder and tried to "rip" past the OT. If we fan the DL, do you think our men will do that? The blind side could be huge in this game.

Also, does anyone know if we'll be able to "strip ball" with a DL? That's a massive part of football. It's not a part of the Madden series either, and APF was very specific with QB ball strips. To be honest, the APF QB ball strip was my favorite animation in that entire game. I spent so many games just trying to get it to trigger! It only triggered on backside hits.

Note: I'm sorry if criticism of the game angers some of you guys, but I still hope to play a good game of football. I want a non-EA product to choose from a ton also, but that doesn't give them a free pass from my criticism.

[adamgod8]

Re: Backbreaker Hands-On Preview (IGN)

What r u kidding me. Of course this game is gonna steal sales away from Madden. So many ppl are tired of that garbage EA puts out every year and this game offers gameplay that has never been seen in a football game ever. BB wont sell more than Madden in its first year probably but I guarantee it will put a dent in its sales and you;d be fooling yourself if you didnt think so. This kind of engine is what ppl have been talking about since the launch of next gen and you dont think that we play a factor in Madden sales??

This game lacked what All Pro needed. A extremely deep team creator,edit player names and teams,customise endzones,franchise mode with drafting and a few other things,Road to BB mode,and good graphics. There is nothing but hype for this game around me here by Tampa. Everytime I go to gamestop,someone is talking about this game and how they cant wait to play it. I dont care about who reviews this game. Its just one person and ppl will be biased towards Madden like this degenerate at IGN who gave Madden 10 a 8.9 when it clearly didnt deserver higher than a 7 with all its problems,especially on gameplay.

Ultimately though, it is Madden that is taking away sales from Madden. If Madden was a good, fun, engrossing game to play, people probably wouldn't even consider this game. (I know some would including me, but not to the degree people are looking at it now)....But people aren't going to not buy Madden because now they have Backbreaker...people are going to stop buying Madden because Madden has let them down year after year, and simply want something else. IMO