Official NCAA 12! Thread

[SHOGUN]

One team works on gameplay and another works on presentation. It's not exactly an either-or proposition.

[BrntO4Life]

So they spent all of this time basically for a trailer. How fucking misguided can you be? I do not care about UGA and neither does anyone outside of Georgia so fuck off EA.

I was going to thank until you decided being a dick about something so minor was the best course of action.

I'm hardly an NCAA fanboy, but they can't just work on one aspect of the game. Gameplay needs a shitload of improvement, yes, but I'd rather them improve all areas gradually, otherwise we get what happened post-NCAA 2004.

[spiker]

One team works on gameplay and another works on presentation. It's not exactly an either-or proposition.

Right. I get that. I'm not complacent enough to thank them for some presentation upgrades that will be largely under-utilized. Like I mentioned before, the presentation upgrades could also be to things that every team will see in every game. Cannons and mascots and entrances don't get me going.

Now if the presentation team wants to add more in depth stat overlays, make the crowd more dynamic especially as it relates to sound, set up the option for neutral site games, do any of the hundred little things like MLB The Show does well - I'm all for it. There are dozens of things that can be improved upon before putting FSU's entrance in the game.

I'm not missing FSU's entrance if they didn't add it this year. I'm not missing cannons or cheerleaders or mascots. I just want a game where the CPU forces me to run more than one play when I'm on defense.

I was going to thank until you decided being a dick about something so minor was the best course of action.

I'm hardly an NCAA fanboy, but they can't just work on one aspect of the game. Gameplay needs a shitload of improvement, yes, but I'd rather them improve all areas gradually, otherwise we get what happened post-NCAA 2004.

Oh well. What happened post 2004 is that EA bought the NCAA license, got lazy, and ported their last gen engine over to a next gen engine instead of rebuilding it for the new technology. Many of the gameplay problems are legacy issues carried over from the original port to 360/PS3 with bandages slapped on top. They're doing what they can but largely just resting on their laurels because there is no competition in the market. It's the same issue that Madden has.

[BrntO4Life]

Oh well. What happened post 2004 is that EA bought the NCAA license, got lazy, and ported their last gen engine over to a next gen engine instead of rebuilding it for the new technology. Many of the gameplay problems are legacy issues carried over from the original port to 360/PS3 with bandages slapped on top. They're doing what they can but largely just resting on their laurels because there is no competition in the market. It's the same issue that Madden has.

Unlike Madden, NCAA had no competition to begin with. The NCAA 2K series was god awful and Sony's attempts were just as poor.

Post-2004, the gameplay was what many considered "perfect", so they sat around "improving" other parts of the game and not touching up the actual gameplay.

I stated in my OP that "gameplay was key", but the total package is just as important in this console generation. If NBA 2K had awful presentation, it wouldn't be what it is now, which is a fantastic approach to simulation basketball.

EDIT: And we haven't seen everything yet. I hope they add better stat overlays, broadcast-style cameras, and little "TV timeout" breaks between quarters (and a halftime show would be amazing). They aren't going to show their whole hand right now.

[FirstTimer]

Stat overlays need to be added/corrected. Seeing only one or two stat overlays a game is annoying. To me that's an important presentation addition. Not a half time show for Ugga. Or an indian on a horse.

[spiker]

Stat overlays need to be added/corrected. Seeing only one or two stat overlays a game is annoying.

It's not even close to what it could be. There's a lot of room for improvement there. But hey, we got a cool trailer with Bevo in it.

[TeflonDonny]

One team works on gameplay and another works on presentation. It's not exactly an either-or proposition.

I've never liked this line of reasoning. While it's true that there are two different teams, they both draw from the same pool of resources. The NCAA team could be choosing between paying a couple guys OT to work on presentation versus hiring 2 new people to focus on gameplay. In a way it could be an either or proposition. Like all companies they have to decide what they want to spend their time and money on and as well as what will have the greatest return on investment.

[spiker]

Unlike Madden, NCAA had no competition to begin with. The NCAA 2K series was god awful and Sony's attempts were just as poor.

True but it was still competition. EA just couldn't sit around and put out marginal release after marginal release. They actually had to work to be better than the competition - whether it was good or bad. We don't know what the competition would look like for next gen but we know whatever game EA put out, competition would force it to be better.

Post-2004, the gameplay was what many considered "perfect", so they sat around "improving" other parts of the game and not touching up the actual gameplay.

I stated in my OP that "gameplay was key", but the total package is just as important in this console generation. If NBA 2K had awful presentation, it wouldn't be what it is now, which is a fantastic approach to simulation basketball.

EDIT: And we haven't seen everything yet. I hope they add better stat overlays, broadcast-style cameras, and little "TV timeout" breaks between quarters (and a halftime show would be amazing). They aren't going to show their whole hand right now.

The post-2004 NCAA games on last gen were good but they stopped making significant upgrades to the game after 2006 because their focus shifted to next gen. NCAA 2004 on last gen still does a lot of things better than NCAA 11. It's all because of the lack of competition. The fact that they've had 6 iterations of this series on next gen and it arguably still trails behind a last gen version of the same game is pathetic.

I agree with your presentation wish list but I'm not holding my breath. I expect new Nike receiver gloves or upgraded shadows or some bull like that. I didn't even know what a Pro Combat uniform was until EA shoved it down my throat as a selling point last year.

[spiker]

I've never liked this line of reasoning. While it's true that there are two different teams, they both draw from the same pool of resources. The NCAA team could be choosing between paying a couple guys OT to work on presentation versus hiring 2 new people to focus on gameplay. In a way it could be an either or proposition. Like all companies they have to decide what they want to spend their time and money on and as well as what will have the greatest return on investment.

Very good point. What you are spending on Team A can't be spent on Team B. Further cutting into their budget is the premium that they pay to be the exclusive provider of an NCAA video game.

[FirstTimer]

It's not even close to what it could be. There's a lot of room for improvement there. But hey, we got a cool trailer with Bevo in it.

Very true. But what cracks me up is people are seeing the trailer and then some pics that have textured grass(like FIFA has had for years now?) and are already running out to preorder the game or saying they are going to buy it based on a mascot trailer and pictures of grass.

Rly?

Then you have fags like Boucher groaning me when I say "fuck presentation fix the gameplay".

Cut out the stat overlays, cut out the pregame, and halftime shit and the instant replay highlight reels for all I care and make the game play correctly. All that other shit becomes moot if the game doesn't play right.

NCAA11 was a big step in the right direction IMO, but what scares me is I think EA knows it and would be more than willing and capable of putting out a "meh" product that is nothing but an updated roster, some textured grass and Bevo, and calling it "New and Improved!"..when under the hood it's not. I have no doubt the game will look better, but if it plays like shit or dynasty/recruiting is fucked up again it's all pointless.

[BrntO4Life]

Very true. But what cracks me up is people are seeing the trailer and then some pics that have textured grass(like FIFA has had for years now?) and are already running out to preorder the game or saying they are going to buy it based on a mascot trailer and pictures of grass.

Rly?

Then you have fags like Boucher groaning me when I say "fuck presentation fix the gameplay".

Cut out the stat overlays, cut out the pregame, and halftime shit and the instant replay highlight reels for all I care and make the game play correctly. All that other shit becomes moot if the game doesn't play right.

NCAA11 was a big step in the right direction IMO, but what scares me is I think EA knows it and would be more than willing and capable of putting out a "meh" product that is nothing but an updated roster, some textured grass and Bevo, and calling it "New and Improved!"..when under the hood it's not. I have no doubt the game will look better, but if it plays like shit or dynasty/recruiting is fucked up again it's all pointless.

I absolutely agree with you IF they don't do anything.

However, I don't agree with lambasting them for putting out a hype video just to get the information train rolling. Come June and they haven't announced anything substantial, blast away.

But I think after '11, the NCAA team deserves the benefit of the doubt. They've already stated that the tackling system has been redesigned and I think the video at least shows that.

[spiker]

I absolutely agree with you IF they don't do anything.

However, I don't agree with lambasting them for putting out a hype video just to get the information train rolling. Come June and they haven't announced anything substantial, blast away.

But I think after '11, the NCAA team deserves the benefit of the doubt. They've already stated that the tackling system has been redesigned and I think the video at least shows that.

Call me cynical but about this time last year they said they fixed blocking AI in NCAA 11 and it's still broken. How many times have I tried to follow a FB or a pulling guard and they get confused at the LOS and spin around in circles and not block the LB that they are supposed to block? Nice fix. Zone reads are basically worthless. They take too long to develop. Same thing with any PA Pass. Thanks for cutting my playbook in half EA. I wonder how many of these 25 new plays will actually work like they are supposed to?

[BrntO4Life]

Call me cynical but about this time last year they said they fixed blocking AI in NCAA 11 and it's still broken. How many times have I tried to follow a FB or a pulling guard and they get confused at the LOS and spin around in circles and not block the LB that they are supposed to block? Nice fix. Zone reads are basically worthless. They take too long to develop. Same thing with any PA Pass. Thanks for cutting my playbook in half EA. I wonder how many of these 25 new plays will actually work like they are supposed to?

I actually had much more success with the zone read in NCAA 11 compared to previous titles. And there will always be issues with blocking. I have FBs make boneheaded plays and then they come back and make great blocks. It's hit or miss, just like real football.

I would estimate it worked around 25-35% of the time, when that number should be closer to 50%. They're getting there.

[FirstTimer]

However, I don't agree with lambasting them for putting out a hype video just to get the information train rolling. Come June and they haven't announced anything substantial, blast away.

I'm not blasting EA for putting out a hype video and getting the ball rolling. I've been buying games long enough to know how it works. What I am blasting is the people who are already jizzing over this game based on that hype video and at this point seemingly forgetting thet things that REALLY do need to be fixed all because a video shows a 5 second clip of some Florida players rubbing an alligator head.

Credit to EA, they still know to possible run the smoke and mirrors campaign if they haven't fixed anything, but anyone getting amped up enough to buy this game based on some textured fields and a bulldog biting at another player is a clown and missing the point and shot their wad way to early.

But I think after '11, the NCAA team deserves the benefit of the doubt. They've already stated that the tackling system has been redesigned and I think the video at least shows that.

Until they improve the game year in and yEar out for 2-3 cycles then I will continue to be cynical.

Zone reads are basically worthless. They take too long to develop. Same thing with any PA Pass. Thanks for cutting my playbook in half EA. I wonder how many of these 25 new plays will actually work like they are supposed to?

Triple options and zone read plays last year were beyond worthless. They took way to long to develop and the offense ran them like they were stuck in quicksand. How EA can mess up one of the most classic college plays, and one of the newest basic college plays is beyond me.

[SHOGUN]

I absolutely agree with you IF they don't do anything.

However, I don't agree with lambasting them for putting out a hype video just to get the information train rolling. Come June and they haven't announced anything substantial, blast away.

But I think after '11, the NCAA team deserves the benefit of the doubt. They've already stated that the tackling system has been redesigned and I think the video at least shows that.

I feel the exact same way.