NCAA Football 13 Demo Roundtable

[RaychelSnr]

Our staff breaks down the NCAA Football 13 demo released last week and gives the low down on what they think about the game. Is it a buy or no buy? Click through the jump to find out.

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[drlw322]

I see a lot of you guys think the updates are annoying and I think part of that is because you guys area tually not immerse into your own dynasty given this a sim week ten experience and you haven't invested time into this mock dynasty.

Another thing is since it has already been simmed you getting the same results everytime which would take the experience away also.

I can imagine them putting in some CPU generated highlights next year, not all updates but maybe just like 2 highlights a game. And updates that you are looking for because it effect your user team ranking. That would help a lot more. But I don't want this feature to go away, just improved upon.

You know how ea is, if everyone say that it is annoying and skip it, they would just trash it next year like all the other features they introduce for one year and is never improved upon or get rid off.

One more question ? Is game track still in the game.

[msuboy11]

The in game updates were bad, with how robotic they sound. The rest was awesome! I feel like I'm in more control with new passing game! Quarterback throws looked a lot more flui an realistic! I have a feeling this will be sweet!

[Pmoney327]

Re: NCAA Football 13 Demo Roundtable

I'm banking on the studio updates to present better with a named roster.

[Jadakiss88]

First they need to go the NBA 2k route and put in a team chemistry meter..that's not saying they need to include a micro-management system for this but Chemistry between players is huge and at times the hot/cold streak meter doesn't mean anything except for when you are on the road and at times doesn't matter then. To prove my point play a game on the road on any of the NCAA games and take out your starting QB and put in your third or fourt string QB...the CPU goes completely dumb and they react completely different than they would with your #1 QB (at sometimes they even play sloppy) the defense in most cases should actually receive a boost.

[GuideMe1]

I agree..in-game updates sound completely scripted. Other than that, demo was pretty sweet! My main concern is when is EA going to get rid of the absolutely arcadish Gameplan feature. I'm playing a sim-style game, supposedly, and then I see the whole defense swarm to one side of the field in a nano second(by way of Run Committ). IMO, that Run/Pass Committing, D-Line jumping the snap every play(another Gameplan feature)...etc, are a total contradiction to what EA says that they are trying to deliver to us.

[Smallzin]

I traded NCAA 12 to my cousin 5 months ago. Downloaded this demo and honestly, it feels like same old same old that the game has been for a couple years. Tweaks here and there but the same old game.

[scottyo60]

I'm banking on the studio updates to present better with a named roster.

That's my initial feeling about studio updates. I think by the end of a dynasty season it will become fun to have the updates and scores at the bottom when games matter.

[Annarborborn]

The demo last year was not like the actual game. I think you guys like most reviewers either do not really watch the sport or you do not relate to what actually happens in real football. I thought the passing was spot on. I am sure the settings were not set to a good level for the most challenge, but I saw nothing that I was not impressed with. I was impressed that when I made a play I understood why, not some CPU action that looked or felt superhuman. I am sure in the real game things will be a little different or tweaked as they always are from a demo. Now if you talk about the final game in these terms then I might be concerned. But here is another issue, I do not play or like online play. I tweak settings to fit what I am good or bad at so I can play a realistic game. I also felt that the demo was to illustrate just the new features and not the entire game. The studio updates are not likely to take place in a longer game as often. The updates were clearly time based and only in 3 minute quarters you will have more of them. I play 10 minutes quarters in my dynasty and I am sure they will not happen that often. Even with that said who cares when you are playing a dynasty and before you had no idea what your conference or teams around the country were doing. Now you have some idea with the previous versions.

The game is not perfect and I doubt will be perfect. I just loved the improvements and when I threw an interceptions I felt it was because of my lack of execution, not a computer making a play that does not take place in real football. I also felt I could call coverages that could shut down certain plays or put my players in places to stop those plays. I also loved the QB scrambling as I was torched by a few QBs when the scrambled and I was not in the right place or did not call the right defense or did not have the right tendencies set. Great game so far, but time will tell.

[misterkrabz]

I traded NCAA 12 to my cousin 5 months ago. Downloaded this demo and honestly, it feels like same old same old that the game has been for a couple years. Tweaks here and there but the same old game.

I agree...feels the same to me also. Couple new animations here and there but overall not all that different and it still isn't fun.

[TreyIM2]

I definitely like the demo, which I didn't think I would do, especially with expectations of Madden's RTP and the fact I really wasn't tryin to get NCAA this yr, anyway. I find myself returning to the demo daily, actually. Lol.

I can definitely agree that the updates are a bit too frequent in the demo but I usually skip them. LOVE the ESPN ticker. It just gives more to the look of the game.


The PS3 visuals don't look as great as they could, as usual, in the demos for this games. It's just a demo, tho, right? Heh...

I dig the passing, mucho, and some of the new catch animations a great! I actually forgot to use the new lob on a pass and an LB trailing my TE a bit in zone coverage LAID OUT so beautifully to pick off my errant pass toward the sidelines and landed on his back. I couldn't help but applaud how it looked, even tho I turned the ball over. Lol.

I likee a lot and hope I don't go back on my word of NOT buying the retail version.

[ghettogeeksta]

I agree with your assessment. You forgot to mention the horrific open field/outside blocking. Blockers still can't compute a defender at a 45 degree angle which is why nano blitzing is still in the game and defensive ends can't get and pressure on the quarterback. With that being said this game is not the bad, the new catch animations are really a nice addition.

[Jadakiss88]

@Annarborborn I think most complaints come from the fact that it actually looks like NCAA 12 and alot of people are used to more updates in graphics than in just gameplay. Also, I played the HELL out of 12' and I used a Heisman Slider set that I picked up from OS and I promise you it feels exactly the same as if I used that same slider set in 13'. I understand it's a demo but demo's are in a sense the first impression for alot of us since games are expensive now a days and EA drops a Madden and NCAA yearly.

Some people do get a little nit picky because 1) they don't understand what true sim football is because they don't have that experience on the field 2) they feel that it should be picked apart since 12' was hampered with some many issues that went unfixed, but as the consumer (some like me yearly consumers) you have that right to voice your opinion ridiculous or not.

I had already figured that in short routes (especially comeback, hooks, and hitches) would quickly become cheese routes with the new DB-WR interaction the EA implemented. Hopefully, it's tuned down a little. And maybe it's just me knowing my offense and already being comfortable with QB - WR/TE/RB timing but I was throwing passes well before the receiver looked my way and even at times throwing it to the wrong shoulder and the receiver would make the catch. They should have put in a chance to choose difficulty so people could have explored the demo a little deeper.

[huntt26]

Love the studio updates and bottom line - hopefully they can tweak them for next year's game

Having an ability to sort or group bottom line scores like they do in real life - with a 'top stories' section and the games organized by conference. Some stats would be nice in the ticker as well.

[Annarborborn]

@Annarborborn I think most complaints come from the fact that it actually looks like NCAA 12 and alot of people are used to more updates in graphics than in just gameplay. Also, I played the HELL out of 12' and I used a Heisman Slider set that I picked up from OS and I promise you it feels exactly the same as if I used that same slider set in 13'. I understand it's a demo but demo's are in a sense the first impression for alot of us since games are expensive now a days and EA drops a Madden and NCAA yearly.

Some people do get a little nit picky because 1) they don't understand what true sim football is because they don't have that experience on the field 2) they feel that it should be picked apart since 12' was hampered with some many issues that went unfixed, but as the consumer (some like me yearly consumers) you have that right to voice your opinion ridiculous or not.

I had already figured that in short routes (especially comeback, hooks, and hitches) would quickly become cheese routes with the new DB-WR interaction the EA implemented. Hopefully, it's tuned down a little. And maybe it's just me knowing my offense and already being comfortable with QB - WR/TE/RB timing but I was throwing passes well before the receiver looked my way and even at times throwing it to the wrong shoulder and the receiver would make the catch. They should have put in a chance to choose difficulty so people could have explored the demo a little deeper.

The game of football does not change that much from one year to another. If that bothers them, then do not buy the damn game. This is a sport based on real actions, not Halo.

You do not have to have experience on the field, just watch a game or break down tape. The game is supposed fun. And if someone is worried about how the game looks or face mask colors but do not recognized how different the passing game has drastically changed, then they will never be satisfied. I am not looking for perfection, I am looking for a replica of the real game. If the game changed that much from one year to another, I would be concerned honestly.