With all this talk about Road to Glory ...

[BDawg35]

... I worry about just how much effort was put into improving the many gameplay flaws in NCAA Football.

I know, I know. EA is going to tout a feature in a game and isn't going to spend P.R. time and money touting that the CPU now "mass subs" in blowouts and doesn't keep passing just because you're in a run-stop defense, how the CPU won't fake-punt three times a game on fourth-and-eight a midfield, etc., etc. However, these flaws have been in the game for a few years now and have gone unaddressed, while we get a lot of talk about a feature that I'm guessing (maybe I'm wrong) that very few gamers actually use. My experience (again, maybe I'm wrong) is that guys either play online, dynasty mode or head-to-head with friends in Play Now mode.

All of the fluff about Road to Glory just worries me that key gameplay issues aren't being addressed. And, I know, EA has people working on many aspects of the game and that they may very well address some of these issues, but since they've gone unaddressed for this long, I'm not holding out hope.

I know ... I worry too much about a video game. NCAA is the one must-buy for me every year. I want it to be an enjoyable experience, not an exercise in frustration.

[CrimsonCream]

Re: With all this talk about Road to Glory ...

I figure if it hasn't been touted to the community they haven't touched it. They've been pretty open about minor details such as pylon physics and such so if they had addressed these issues we probably would know.

Maybe they aren't really aware of these ongoing issues. If not, we need to raise our voices and get noticed.

BTW - BDawg, I used to thoroughly enjoy reading your dynasties on MM. Are you still doing reports? If so, where might I find them?

[canes21]

Re: With all this talk about Road to Glory ...

... I worry about just how much effort was put into improving the many gameplay flaws in NCAA Football.

I know, I know. EA is going to tout a feature in a game and isn't going to spend P.R. time and money touting that the CPU now "mass subs" in blowouts and doesn't keep passing just because you're in a run-stop defense, how the CPU won't fake-punt three times a game on fourth-and-eight a midfield, etc., etc. However, these flaws have been in the game for a few years now and have gone unaddressed, while we get a lot of talk about a feature that I'm guessing (maybe I'm wrong) that very few gamers actually use. My experience (again, maybe I'm wrong) is that guys either play online, dynasty mode or head-to-head with friends in Play Now mode.

All of the fluff about Road to Glory just worries me that key gameplay issues aren't being addressed. And, I know, EA has people working on many aspects of the game and that they may very well address some of these issues, but since they've gone unaddressed for this long, I'm not holding out hope.

I know ... I worry too much about a video game. NCAA is the one must-buy for me every year. I want it to be an enjoyable experience, not an exercise in frustration.

I really don't know what issues you're talking about. I hardly ever see the CPU fake punt. Maybe a couple times a season. And if I am in a run stop defense, the CPU should be passing. I don't get where you're going with that. Are you talking about late in a game, when they have the lead? They usually run on me when they do have the lead.

As for Road to Glory, you are wrong. A lot of people use the feature and a lot more will use it with all the improvements now.

[Pokes404]

Re: With all this talk about Road to Glory ...

I find it a little odd that they still haven't released the 2nd gameplay blog. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt, and say that they wanted to wait until the game was almost gold so they could talk about everything that was worked on. I'm giving them a little slack, but they'll probably end up hanging me with it. I can tell from looking at a lot of these videos that not a whole lot is different. I'm going to wait for word from EA and I'll definitely give the demo a shot, but if that is the case, this game will probably just be a rent this year.

[goalieump413]

Re: With all this talk about Road to Glory ...

You fill gaps where they exist. And RTG was one huge gap.

This game mode needed an overhaul. It needed a dedicated lead to rewrite a lackluster, worthless mode, into something that gamers will enjoy. Yes, it's built off the same engine, flawed or not, that the play-now and online modes are, but don't worry. Any flaws in those modes that need patching (and raise your hand if you've never heard of a release day patch) will likely get addressed sooner than later.

They've removed suction from the game, which will help a lot. In fact, short of the horrific punt return madness, the game didn't need much in the way of on-field gameplay work.

[osubeavs721]

Re: With all this talk about Road to Glory ...

You fill gaps where they exist. And RTG was one huge gap.

This game mode needed an overhaul. It needed a dedicated lead to rewrite a lackluster, worthless mode, into something that gamers will enjoy. Yes, it's built off the same engine, flawed or not, that the play-now and online modes are, but don't worry. Any flaws in those modes that need patching (and raise your hand if you've never heard of a release day patch) will likely get addressed sooner than later.

They've removed suction from the game, which will help a lot. In fact, short of the horrific punt return madness, the game didn't need much in the way of on-field gameplay work.

agreed,
Other than the QB scrambling when they should and Superman LB's , the suction should have fixed a lot of what was problematic with the gameplay. Im excited for 12

[BDawg35]

Re: With all this talk about Road to Glory ...

BTW - BDawg, I used to thoroughly enjoy reading your dynasties on MM. Are you still doing reports? If so, where might I find them?

Thanks. I did a few seasons of a Central Michigan dynasty over at Digitalsportscene in NCAA '11 but didn't have time to do the reports and let it wither and die. I'm PLANNING/HOPING to do a Michigan dynasty in the new two-division Big Ten Conference in NCAA '12 over there, but EA gave Michigan ratings that are WAY too high, especially on defense. So, not a fun rebuild. Maybe I'll custom-conference a MAC team into the Big Ten.

I really don't know what issues you're talking about. I hardly ever see the CPU fake punt. Maybe a couple times a season. And if I am in a run stop defense, the CPU should be passing. I don't get where you're going with that. Are you talking about late in a game, when they have the lead? They usually run on me when they do have the lead.

As for Road to Glory, you are wrong. A lot of people use the feature and a lot more will use it with all the improvements now.

It usually happens to me in fourth-and-less than 10 when the CPU has the ball between the 50 and my 45 in the first half of a close game. It's almost like those factors trigger an automatic fake, even when I know it's coming and call a regular defense. They just run their fake and I stuff it. It's almost always a run, even fourth-and-7.

Yeah, I wasn't sure what the demand is for Road to Glory. Just because my friends and I don't play it, doesn't mean it isn't popular. I enjoyed playing Road to the Show in MLB The Show a few years ago, so I assume it's the same kind of dynamic.

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Re: With all this talk about Road to Glory ...

You fill gaps where they exist. And RTG was one huge gap.

This game mode needed an overhaul. It needed a dedicated lead to rewrite a lackluster, worthless mode, into something that gamers will enjoy. Yes, it's built off the same engine, flawed or not, that the play-now and online modes are, but don't worry. Any flaws in those modes that need patching (and raise your hand if you've never heard of a release day patch) will likely get addressed sooner than later.

They've removed suction from the game, which will help a lot. In fact, short of the horrific punt return madness, the game didn't need much in the way of on-field gameplay work.

Clearly somebody never tried running a triple option pass play. The AI uses a pass block scheme rather than a run block scheme. So what usually happens is your QB gets moved right into your retreating OT and you either get hit right away or end up running some awkward path to avoid getting hit.

There is more than just suction that was wrong. DB coverage was atrocious(but hopefully that was fixed. I know they claim it to be fixed but, forgive if I am skeptical).

Lack of containment in general. Outside run plays dominated this year.

Still a lot of hickups in line play in my experience.

[BDawg35]

Re: With all this talk about Road to Glory ...

Just watched a video on Road to Glory. That mode sounds very intriguing. Could be a lot of fun.

I'm a traditional dynasty mode guy and don't have the time to play that I used to have, so I probably won't get into it too deep, but I may start one up and kick the tires a bit.