NCAA Strategies Q & A with NCAA 10 Designer Ben Haumiller

[1ke]

ClW, your question is hilarious. You know its not getting answered though, and oddly enough, you have to think EA got this idea from somewhere or some people.

I just dont think they would go out and put this feature in without any input that it was wanted or would work, thats why to me its just meh.

 

[ThunderHorse]

I'm so freaking iffy about this game...

I've heard next to nothing about actual game play improvements, and more about things like the team builder and this season showdown, which, aside from the Team Builder, I gather no one really gives a fuck about.

the first blog talked about pursuit angles, and the defensive help button, we've yet to hear anything else gameplay related aside from different camera angles and "supposed pocket formation" (in quotes because we've yet to see it in video, just in pictures, which are OLD pictures)

I loved NCAA 09, but don't fuck me over on 10, until I hear some gameplay changes, I don't think I'm going to buy the game.

 

[1ke]

^^^^ Damn that is an answer...

The feature is still just meh to me. But im not gonna lie I do feel better with the things he said. They didnt just do it for no reason. People may not like their reasons, but they had em.

Thats all i could ask for really. Maybe now CLW you wont play like such a JERK!!! aahhhahah

 

[βїģĐмợ]

That is undoubtedly EA's "best" response to the harsh criticisms of Season Showdown. I also believe that was in fact their analysis in the decision making process. However, I still believe Season Showdown was a waste of time.

I'll address each of Ben's points now:

#1 School Pride - Sorry I just don't buy it. If you follow a small school you know your "team" has no shot in this mode. Moreover, any adult fan of even the big schools isn't going to really care about who wins what essentially is going to become a virtual popularity contest. They care about how the REAL team does IN REAL LIFE.

#2 quality of online play - I understand what they are trying to do but I don't think they went far enough and I don't think this will work/help. The goal (and a good one IMO) is to stop "cheesing". However, #1 I don't think cheesers are going to care about hurting Season Showdown (Assuming they did care cheesers can also more than set off any points lost via sportsmanship by additional "skill" points they achieve from abusing the AI) #2 The only aspects are kicking (punt fg on 4th down) and taking knees at the end of the game. You can still destroy someone 100-0 as long as you take knees when "Ask Corso" would have told you to. You can still drop back 30 yards no penalty. ETC...

#3 additional reason to keep playing NCAA through the entire college football season and beyond - Sorry don't buy it. If the gameplay/presentation are good people will play throughout the year (see MLB The Show). Moreover, features like Online Dynasty were huge hits (and rightfully so). If you improved on things like that and made additional gameplay/presentation improvements people would enjoy the game all year long. If the gameplay/presentation still aren't up to snuff some gimmick like Season Showdown isn't going to keep gamers playing the game.

#4 reach as large an audience as possible - I think this is the most valid aspect of what Ben had to say justifying why Season Showdown was put into the game. IMO, the target audience for this feature is not "us" (hard core gamers) but instead the casual gamer and younger crowd that might really get into this mode. However, EA should just admit this and quit hyping it/shoving it down our throats with weekly updates about this "feature".

Is there like an applaud smiley here? I agree with every point you brought up. The fact is, countless hours went into brain storming and developing this "feature" when resources could have been put into things like updating the shitty run styles or adding just chain gangs, or maybe even bowl patches 1 more new stadium. There is no way EA can justify this crap, no matter how long and "detailed" their responses are.

Season Showdown = fail

 

[βїģĐмợ]

There is this smiley:

:applause:

But hitting the "Thanks" button is also always appreciated.

haha, still learning my ways around here