Differences between the final few games?

[moTIGS]

I recently acquired a PS3 for the first time in about eight years, and I'm hoping to get back into NCAA Football. The last game in the series I know I played was 08, after which real life largely got in the way.

I know most people these days go for 2014, but used copies of that aren't exactly cheap from what I can find (like $150 minimum). Going back to the previous few years, though, it looks like copies are relatively easy to find and much more reasonably priced.

How much did the game change between, say, NCAA 12 and 14? Worth continuing a search for 14? Or is its popularity a byproduct of it being the last one?

[ndfan1993]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

$150!? I just saw one at my local used bookstore for $5.

[Grantdawg]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

$150!? I just saw one at my local used bookstore for $5.

Buy it put it on Ebay then. $130-$160 is the going rate.

[Collegefbfan]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

Okay you can get 13 for 20-30 bucks on eBay. It is great and the CPU plays better defense on it. Trust me I just got through cussing like a sailor at my Minnesota dynasty almost losing to winless Iowa State.

I am not a huge fan of 12 because of the Superman LBs. Enough said.

NCAA 11 is great but no custom playbooks. That is its only major flaw for me. I really enjoyed 11 and have played it some lately.

[Limasbravo]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

They're all very enjoyable. Just small changes, like recruiting, and I myself don't have anything major I don't like.

I'm not sure if I like 10 or 2014 better. Maybe the only thing keeping me playing 2014 is that Teambuilder is still active, you can still download teams. I've got a lot of teams downloaded.

Which, not sure how that works. If Teambuilder is gone, can you still use them? You need to login to use them, but if Teambuilder is gone, you can't log in.

10 I like the recruiting and like the presentation a lot more. The graphics I like more. I only got a PS3 and then got 2014, so I don't have any Teambuilders for the other ones.

[BlackhawksSox]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

I recently acquired a PS3 for the first time in about eight years, and I'm hoping to get back into NCAA Football. The last game in the series I know I played was 08, after which real life largely got in the way.

I know most people these days go for 2014, but used copies of that aren't exactly cheap from what I can find (like $150 minimum). Going back to the previous few years, though, it looks like copies are relatively easy to find and much more reasonably priced.

How much did the game change between, say, NCAA 12 and 14? Worth continuing a search for 14? Or is its popularity a byproduct of it being the last one?

Once you download the NCAA 14 files off the disc, you don't actually need the disc anymore. So you COULD buy the disc, download the files, and then re-sell it.

[Limasbravo]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

Once you download the NCAA 14 files off the disc, you don't actually need the disc anymore. So you COULD buy the disc, download the files, and then re-sell it.

How do you do this?

I AM NOT doing this to sell my copy, just wanting to hedge against the disc becoming unreadable, skipping, etc

[NoleFan]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

I've been back on 14 myself over the weekend. There's really a lot to do between games with the way I've started playing my dynasties and I like that.

[bigbob]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

How do you do this?



I AM NOT doing this to sell my copy, just wanting to hedge against the disc becoming unreadable, skipping, etc

The thought is if you buy NCAA 14, that you will most likely end up with the Revamped Mod (a bunch of people modded NCAA, updated a bunch of visual things, logos, colors, etc). Through the process of putting the Revamped Mod on your PS3, you burn the game to your console and no longer use the disc.

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk

[TarHeelPhenom]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

I recently acquired a PS3 for the first time in about eight years, and I'm hoping to get back into NCAA Football. The last game in the series I know I played was 08, after which real life largely got in the way.

I know most people these days go for 2014, but used copies of that aren't exactly cheap from what I can find (like $150 minimum). Going back to the previous few years, though, it looks like copies are relatively easy to find and much more reasonably priced.

How much did the game change between, say, NCAA 12 and 14? Worth continuing a search for 14? Or is its popularity a byproduct of it being the last one?

If you were on Xbox 360 I would send you 10, 11, and 12 for no charge at all so you could try them out.

[Colorado_Kid]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

I recall some of the earlier games had all the college football teams but can't remember the last game to do it.

[Fall_DIFH]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

I recall some of the earlier games had all the college football teams but can't remember the last game to do it.

It was 07 on the PS2 but the rosters were identical to 06 so really 06 for accuracy purposes

[conception]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

I only ever played 12 and 14. They were pretty similar save for recruiting, which is very streamlined in 14. In 12 it was rather laborious but there was a lot more sense of mystery into it. 12 you had to do all the calls and go through topics with the players. Some people really liked that. Myself, I liked not having to spend too much time between the games, while having enough thrill from the recruiting process that I was always looking forward to these guys getting on my roster and then developing.


Graphics were a step up in 14. Cleaned up. I played both a ton, and I seemed to enjoy gameplay just a bit more in 12. My safeties made more impact in that game while I also had more ability to hit my slot receivers deep.


Was 14 better than 12? I'd say yes. But is it over a hundred dollars better? I wouldn't say that.

[WoolyGuy]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

NCAA 14
It seems like the most offensively overpowered game in the series to me. Without a LOT of slider tweaking, it feels like an arcade game to me. For instance, without setting the QB sliders to 0 or 5, your QB will complete almost every throw. Even with a lot of tweaks, the defense feels fundamentally broken, even compared to other versions.

The play also feels more scripted in this version too, which I am guessing is a result of all the slider adjustments. This is especially true of the play on the LOS. Regardless of ratings, the line play seems to be a stalemate until some script kicks in and either the OL blocks the DL forever, or the whole DL line comes through like tsunami. Of course I am biased here, having tried many times over the years to play 14 and eventually giving up because the defensive issues.

The recruiting is fundamentally different in this version. You don't make all the calls and jump so many hoops to recruit each week. You simply apply points and change them whenever you see fit. Much simpler. Some people really like that, some miss the more involved versions.

Then again, take my assessment worth a grain of salt, because it's by far the most popular version of the game. Yes, it's the last version, but it's more than that. Most people seem to really embrace this version. That has to mean something. It's also the most supported and customizable by a LONG shot. There are so many incredible additions and tools for this version by the amazing community, that this game is probably worth the money even at $150 dollars. What the guys at CFB Revamped have done is stunning. Their mod and tools are worth the money to get NCAA 14.

If you are looking for a CFB game to get your fix (and like the rest of us, I know you are ), honestly this is it. Pick up a few extra hours at work and buy it I would say. This game is going to be supported for years and years to come, so it's the one to get I think.

NCAA 13
This feels like a better balanced game to me. It feels like the usual EA NCAA football game. Same usual flaws, but generally the defense and offense works like you expect. You tweak some sliders here and there and find some kind of balance you can work with. Many people felt the deep ball was a game killer on this version. After 14, it seems to be the most played version for PS3/XBOX360. I liked this version.

NCAA 12
From what I have played, and the overwhelming consensus from posters here, NCAA 12 was the most defensively oriented game of the series. That doesn't mean the defense was necessarily overpowered IMO, but that it was the most balanced version of the game made. Out of the box, NCAA 12 needed fewer adjustments and slider tweaking than other games. I also thought this version had the best lighting and atmosphere.

The big complaint was LBs who picked off way too many passes over the middle. This was a game killer for many, while others felt it made you have to read the defense and use touch passes where needed, hence the more balanced defense. In general though, the defense seems to work better in all phases of this game. The camera angle options were also a problem for some people. I think this is my favorite PS3 version of the series.

PS2 Versions
A core group still plays the old PS2 versions too, both on console and PCSX2 emulator. NCAA06 is the favorite I think, with a dedicated group that plays it and puts out up to date rosters too. Personally, I think NCAA09 PS2 was my favorite game of the entire series.

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My advice, if your computer can handle it, is to play any version on the PS3 emulator, RPCS3. It's much easier to customize anything you want. It will save your game disc from eventually getting ruined in a console. That's important if you want to still be whooping on your friends in the nursing home in years to come. And you know that's where this is going too, with hundreds of people keeping a game alive that was left for dead by EA nine years ago. Yeah, our hands will stop working, but there's always coach mode!

[OBinKC]

Re: Differences between the final few games?

Before I installed Revamped, I would’ve been the first to tell you that NCAA 14 is just too easy to invest all of that money on. A few years ago, I quit playing ‘14 and started playing ‘12, then ‘11, and then did the PS2 tour, picking ‘06 as the best. They all have their advantages and levels of challenge which is great. I regret that I’ve never played ‘13, but instead of finally buying it, I installed Revamped instead.

I don’t know if Revamped did something with the defensive AI or I’ve just been away too long or what. But I’m actually getting a challenge from the defense. Not a ridiculous challenge like Superman LBs or stuff like that, but I’m also not able to light up the scoreboard with the same rudimentary schemes I used to use. They seem to be adjusting to things more than I remember.

Then there’s the fun of building offenses and playbooks, which I think Revamped is the best now with its new plays.

Recruiting is still easy, though. You still need to use a set of house rules to build your team realistically. That’s one glaring issue for die hard players. It’s really all about what you’re looking for.

I really wish I would’ve played ‘13 for comparison, but I will say that if you decide to get ‘14, you can’t go wrong if you’re planning on installing Revamped.