Operation Sports Logo Header
Home
Operation Sports Logo Header
Author Bio
Wil McCombs

Home Town: Indianapolis, IN
Sports: Football, Baseball, Hockey
Games: NCAA Football, Madden, NHL, WWF No Mercy
Teams: Bears, Cubs, Illiniois, Blackhawks
OS Username: OS: Wil McCombs
Tags: -
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Madden NFL 09 vs. NCAA Football 09: Battle Royal
03:25 PM - August 27, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
The question on many gamers minds who haven't picked up NCAA Football 09 or Madden NFL 09 is which game is actually better. Will McCombs is taking this natural sibling rivalry and raising it a notch today in order to determine which game is better and worth your hard-earned $60: Madden NFL 09 or NCAA Football 09.

Quote:
"From July 15 to the present, I have had a rather difficult time prying myself away from my Xbox 360 in the few hours of free time I have during the work week. Between NCAA’s breakaway gameplay to Cris Collinsworth’s analysis of my dubious passing blunders, I have become a full fledged junkie for EA Sports' formidable tag-team of football sims."

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS2 / PS3 / Wii / PSPVotes: 95 - View All
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Madden Superstar Mode an Exercise in Awful
01:08 PM - August 19, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Have you played Madden NFL 09's Superstar Mode yet? If not, consider yourself one of the lucky ones that hasn't had to endure the pain just yet, at least according to Wil McCombs. McCombs examines the mode in his article, Madden Superstar Mode an Exercise in Awful.

Quote:
"Perhaps I’m both a sadist and a masochist. Is there really any other explanation?

Every year, I devote just a little bit of time to Madden’s Superstar mode. Not because I really think that I will enjoy it. No sir. I do it simply, because it is so brutal. But why, you ask, do I immerse myself in this agony, even for a moment? I have a two-part answer."

Game: Madden NFL 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes: 88 - View All
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Madden NFL 09: Ups and Downs
03:23 PM - August 7, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Madden NFL 09 is due for release next Tuesday and it seems like there are more opinions on whether to be excited for the game or not around OS these days. Wil McCombs checks in today with his own thoughts on whether you should be excited for Madden or not in his article, Madden NFL 09: Ups and Downs.

Quote:
"So how many of you have bought into the madness? Are you all pressed up against the windows, your breath fogging up the glass, your eyes all sad and puppy dog-like, whimpering for the clock to strike 12 on August 12th? Has the EA Sports marketing hype machine injected that sweet addictive substance straight into your veins, making us a gaggle of itching, drooling junkies hungry for that late-summer fix?"

Game: Madden NFL 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes: 88 - View All
Friday, August 1, 2008
NCAA Football 09 Passing Strategy: Part 2
04:26 PM - August 1, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs is back today to wrap up his NCAA Football 09 passing strategy series. Today, McCombs takes a look at how to read defenses and make decisions based off of reads. You will be guided through four plays and how to go about reading the defense and how to make throwing decisions based off of those reads. Check out the article, NCAA Football 09 Passing Strategy: Part 2.

Quote:
"A couple of you noted the relative ease of passing the ball in NCAA 09. I agree, especially when 09 is placed side by side to its predecessor, NCAA 08. The wide-open game play has rendered CPU-controlled defenses useless against the aerial attack. However, the inspiration for these strategy articles was drawn from facing human opponents, an activity that will likely increase for all of us with the inclusion of online dynasty mode. Human opponents, although often simplistic in defensive playcalling, are much more astute at recognizing patterns in your game. By manually placing a linebacker or safety in your favorite throwing lanes, a living, breathing opponent can be quite successful at thwarting your typical passing attack."

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS2 / PS3 / Wii / PSPVotes: 95 - View All
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
NCAA Football 09 Passing Strategy: Part 1
05:19 PM - July 29, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
This week, we are starting a new series of articles talking about how to run different pass plays against different coverages with the hope you will pick up some knowledge and improve your passing game. Wil McCombs runs through four plays in part one of his NCAA Football 09 Passing Strategy Guide.

Quote:
"If you thought I was a NCAA junkie before, you’ve now got more ammunition than you will ever need.

A few weeks ago, I wrote and article citing tips to defeat human opponents. Within my ramblings, I proposed the idea of running through your entire playbook in practice mode against different defenses in the hopes of developing a keen sense of awareness with as many plays as possible. The more familiar you are with your playbooks and how plays are countered by various defenses, the more dangerous you will become as an opponent."

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes: 95 - View All
Thursday, July 10, 2008
NCAA 09: Tips for Dominating Human Opponents
06:00 PM - July 10, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs checks in today with an article that follows up on last week's article that took a look at how to dominate the computer. McCombs writes this week on how to dominate your human opponents this year in NCAA Football 09.

Quote:
"Only a handful of days remain until midnight, July 15th, 2008, the collective Christmas Morning for fans of EA Sports' NCAA Football series. If you are anything like me, you have spent the past few weeks bouncing between NCAA '08 and the NCAA '09 demo, putting a fine coat of polish on your stick skills. Most likely, they have accumulated a thin layer of rust since being forced into hibernation in the early months of 2008."

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS2 / PS3 / Wii / PSPVotes: 95 - View All
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
NCAA Football 09 Beginners' Tips
03:21 PM - July 1, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
With just two weeks left until NCAA Football 09 is released, our very own Wil McCombs has decided to give the beginners to the NCAA Football series a bit of a primer so they can feel ready when July 15 comes. Check out his article, NCAA Football 09 Beginners Tips.

Quote:
"Even though lambasting human opponents is far more satisfying, NCAA gamers spend a good share of time squaring off against the computer AI, especially in dynasty play. Thus, for beginners, discovering ways to pummel CPU foes is a crucial first step. Here are some basic suggestions."

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes: 95 - View All
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Mutant League Football Offers Modern Day Lessons for Developers
04:18 PM - June 25, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
What does Mutant League Football have to teach modern day software companies? Operation Sports Wil McCombs explains how Mutant League Football still offers lessons for sports game developers today.

Quote:
"Had AP2K8 completely committed to a single gimmick, it would have carved out an identity, and therefore a niche in the marketplace. It should have tried to be ONE thing Madden wasn’t, rather than nearly everything Madden wasn’t. Had it done this, we might be seeing an All-Pro Football 2K9. In my humble opinion, the game would have been best served to play the nostalgia angle, and be a "Golden Age of Football" type game. Nobody wants to play a sim with a fictional league, especially when Blitz: The League is doing at least an admirable job at filling the arcade football void."

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Gorging On Grappling: Wrestling Games in 2008-2009
04:19 PM - June 19, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs checks in today with a look at all of the upcoming wrestling games for the next 6-12 months or so. Check out his article, Gorging on Grappling: Wrestling Games in 2008-2009.

Quote:
"Not to say that I’m not a little skeptical. Like all new, and (so-called) revolutionary features, there is the possibility for abysmal failure. Because this system is based upon combining different animations, it could be difficult to create a maneuver that isn’t rather funky-looking. But I choose to remain cautiously optimistic."

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Formation Subs: Yay or Nay?
03:04 PM - June 11, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs checks in today with a look at formation subs, and why they should make it into NCAA Football 2010. Check out his article, Formation Subs: Yay or Nay?
Quote:
"Picture this, along with assigning six audibles to each formation, you also have the ability to assign two custom personnel packages. You also have the ability to name them. Now, you can show your offensive genius by creating new and exciting personnel packages to accentuate certain plays, AND you can access them seamlessly through the normal playcalling screen."

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Xbox 360 / PS2 / PS3 / Wii / PSPVotes: 95 - View All
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
A Godsend in NCAA Football 09: Formation Audibles
06:14 PM - June 4, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs is back this week with a look at why formation audibles are a significant addition to NCAA Football 09. Be sure to check out his article, A Godsend in NCAA Football 09: Formation Audibles!

Quote:
"After two weeks of articles oozing with negativity, I thought it my be therapeutic to relinquish my role as Operation Sports’ resident pessimist, (at least for one week) and talk about something I’m very, very excited about."

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3Votes: 95 - View All
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Why Next-Gen Sports Games Disappoint
02:59 PM - May 29, 2008. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Wil McCombs
Will McCombs checks in today with an in-depth look into the world of next-gen sports gaming. Why Next-Gen Sports Games Disappoint focuses on the reasons why many of the Xbox 360 and PS3 sports games to date have left sports gamers asking for more.

Quote:
"Sadly, no company will ever make “enough money.” Those of you who are already in the working world learned this quickly, and those of you who are not, soon will. Companies are always searching for ways to increase their year-over-year profits, even if it doesn’t seem to make sense to everyone else."

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Reasons to Hate the Madden Mulligan Feature
10:23 PM - May 21, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs returns from his long hiatus to give us another article, this time discussing why he hates (and why you should also hate) the Madden Mulligan feature. Check out his article here.
Quote:
"A while back, I brought to light the debate of restarting your console mid-game, to avoid the agony of defeat. While the feedback of said article was largely not in favor of such an activity, I have a sneaking suspicion that last year’s Madden/NCAA turnover system led to an all-time high in in-game restarts."

Game: Madden NFL 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes: 88 - View All
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Grand Theft Auto Goes Racing!
04:47 PM - May 6, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs checks in this week with a lively piece looking at the online racing offerings in Grand Theft Auto IV. Be sure to share your online experiences with GTA Race mode as well!

Quote:
" I know what you’re thinking. Why the Grand Theft Auto articles?

First of all, back the #&*! up. Even though we are fanatically dedicated to sports gaming, we must sit back and take note at a landmark achievement in gaming when it presents itself. And Grand Theft Auto IV is certainly such an achievement. Even though we haven’t officially reviewed it here at Operation Sports, it is worth stating that IV is everything we hoped for, and a whole lot more."

Friday, April 18, 2008
Creating the Perfect Wrestling Game
01:49 PM - April 18, 2008. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Wil McCombs
Wil McCombs checks in this week with his take on what the perfect wrestling game would be.

Quote:
"Wrestling fans know what makes the perfect wrestler. It’s a guy who can execute a perfect fisherman’s suplex, sink a forty-foot putt, and even throw a pass to himself. Although maybe he wasn’t perfect. After all, I did hear an unsubstantiated rumor that he once defecated in a brown paper bag underneath the ring, mid-match. Nobody’s perfect, I guess."