NCAA is Here, What it Means for Gamers

Feature Article

Submitted on: 07/16/2008 by Matthew DiStaulo

The new release of this year’s NCAA Football game bears with it many meanings.

The most important of all is that there is finally something to do while patiently waiting for the new college and NFL seasons to get underway.

The new online dynasty mode is what really speaks volumes. The ability to play amongst 11 other people across the world and have to recruit and compete against them is incredible. The near seamless online game play makes it a win on all accounts.

Time spent with this game will be well rewarded, especially on offense. It just feels right running the ball, waiting for holes to develop, spinning around tackles and trying to break open.

The pocket feels much better than in recent years too, although still in need of work, and QB accuracy when passing is well portrayed. If you do not plant your feet and step into a throw the result may not be as you imagined. Turnovers don’t feel cheap either.

Defensive players don’t jump on the ball as if they have psychic powers and the new animations make fumbles appear less random. If you watch the replays the ball will be stripped or knocked out in some manner, instead of just randomly falling out of the player’s hands.

The more repetitions you get, the more you’ll come to find that defensive stands do occur, but many more big plays happen than in comparison to Madden and that’s how it should be. The college game is about electricity and excitement and individual performances. There’s nothing better than making a pass out to the flat or giving the ball to the running back from the 20 and having the player break a couple tackles and be gone for six.

They aren’t incorrect in their observations, especially with regards to computer AI, but I feel their passion may have them missing out on a game where the fun factor far outweighs the issues.

The greatest part of a new sports video game is that it refreshes the rivalries amongst close friends. Pop open a few brews, put your feet up, and get ready to commence yelling out insult after insult as you strive for victory. This is truly the ultimate multiplayer game to compete against each other with, and it will surely take time away from NBA 2k8 and NHL ’08 if not make them obsolete (at least until the fall).

Nothing gets your adrenaline rushing more than having your adversary big hit the hell out of your running back to see him do an aerial sideways flip and land on the ground, still clutching the ball. The incredible rush you and your friend get from yelling and cheering and seeing chaos ensue on the television is what makes for great memories.

This occasion also marks the return of loyalists to the 2k football legacy, who will showcase all the glaring issues the newest EA football game has, in their strive for the perfect football game.

They aren’t incorrect in their observations, especially with regards to computer AI, but I feel their passion may have them missing out on a game where the fun factor far outweighs the issues.

One thing for sure though, you would be doing yourself an injustice to not go out and get this game and get the football season started off on the right foot.

This release does show, however, that EA is finally starting to hear the community’s concerns about their product and attempt to address them. I could do without the end zone celebration with the mascots, but the atmosphere has definitely been improved, the fluidity of the game play in general has been sharpened, and the running game may have its best representation in a video game yet.

A developer for NCAA also has claimed that his team is looking into a multitude of issues, including the computer quarterbacks not throwing down field and being overly accurate throwing over the middle as well as poor d-line penetration. Whether we see results from their efforts is left to be determined, but it's nice to see an official response like that.

NCAA Football ’09 may not be a perfect release, and its hype probably hurt its reception by gamers more than it has helped. One thing for sure though, you would be doing yourself an injustice to not go out and get this game and get the football season started off on the right foot.

Between NCAA’s wide open offense, Madden’s focus on presentation and dynamic weather, and the intricate franchise of NFL Head Coach ’09, it’s going to be a great year for football fans of all sorts.

NCAA Football 09 Videos

Member Comments

# 1 Mhancock @ 07/16/08 05:21 PM

Great article. I find '09 very fulfilling and impressive because nobody's perfect. I was so shocked to get a pass completion overturned because the replay clearly showed my receiver trapping the ball, but I wasn't upset! Rivalry games are very intense, as the fans in Ann Arbor moaned and groaned at my Fighting Irish all game, and the loading times are finally nearly non-existant. BUY THIS GAME!!!

# 2 nousername @ 07/16/08 06:18 PM

"They aren’t incorrect in their observations, especially with regards to computer AI, but I feel their passion may have them missing out on a game where the fun factor far outweighs the issues."

So are you guys saying that we should lower our passion and expectations of a great football game just to enjoy a mediocre game?? How about this...how about EA take some notes from 2K5 if they're tired of hearing critisism. Or try this...start lowering the price of your games, then we can start lowering our expectations.

Maybe if people stopped settling (which would be hard since you have exclusive rights), and stopped buying a subpar game, THEN you'll get the idea...money talks baby, BS walks.

If you don't like what some people think or say about the RECYCLED games EA puts out every year, then hand the exclusive license back over and let 2K Sports back "in the game".

I ain't gonna lower my expectations or passion for a great game of football just because EA is either too lazy, or just not good at making a football sim...sorry, not gonna do it. And how am I missing out on a game that would frustrate me anyway...i'll keep that $60 for another game that I could actually enjoy.

I was thinking about getting the game, but for instance, even in the demo I could tell that QBs would be near perfect...their %s are crazy in this game...that's just one of the many problems.

People are starting to realize that EA is doing nothing with their football games but recycling year after year...can't do it with the basketball titles, you have competition...well, actually, 2K is destroying you there, so it's really not even competition after all. I have a strong feeling 2K would be doing the same to you if they were allowed to make licensed football games.

# 3 DJ @ 07/16/08 07:28 PM

Well said. Yes, I get mad at bugs/glitches/imperfections just as much as the next guy, but what ultimately drives my decisions of purchase is the fun factor.

Will I have fun with this game, bugs and all? If I can answer yes to that question, then I'll buy the game.

# 4 BlyGilmore @ 07/16/08 10:21 PM

djwlf - i think that's what matt is saying, and honestly i've been there too. you spend too much time worry about if the pants or other stuff you miss out on what fun the game can be.

# 5 Custom36 @ 07/16/08 10:44 PM

Quote:


	I could do without the end zone celebration with the mascots,

Not so fast my friend!

Sorry...I had to.

I, for one, love the mascot celebrations. Maybe I'm a sucker for this cheesy effect, but I missed it and hope it doesn't leave.

Now, I'm going to go dance with a badger...

# 6 BoomerSooner11 @ 07/16/08 10:59 PM

Great article..and with the endzone celebrations, I think there a nice touch. It's just for teams like OU with no mascot in the game..(we actually have two real pony's and their mascot versions)..it looks weird sometimes, the player just standing in the endzone..staring away..lol.

# 7 prscorpio2681 @ 07/17/08 03:35 AM

Its crazy how people want to just pick apart this game.....as if any other game didnt have glitches...if its fun and the bugs dont take over(which they dont) its a good title to have...the dynasty modes are insanely deep!!!!!!!!

# 8 Old's Cool @ 07/17/08 04:55 AM

I don't understand how people are like.... "sure there's alot of glitches and parts of the game that are clearly broken, but there's other parts of the game that are crazy fun so it makes up for it."

I really don't understand this mindset.

It's like saying..... " my girlfriend is always cheating on me and uses me for my money but she's really hot and easy to get along with so it makes up for it."

# 9 Exonerated @ 07/17/08 08:08 AM

^^^^

Ridiculous analogy.

The game is by no means broken. There is a bug for roster editing and depth chart.

It just depends on the type of gamer you are.

Is is more important for ncaa to be 100% right or 90% right and more fun.

# 10 newper77 @ 07/17/08 08:42 AM

People that think it is fun to return every kick to the 40 yard line and people who think it is fun to run past a safety who is literally standing still and people who think it is fun to watch a QB run an option through the side of the pocket, lateral to a RB who runs parallel to the line of scrimmage to go out of bounds for a 3 yard loss are not people who have the same fun that I do.

# 11 hail2thevictors @ 07/17/08 11:24 AM

Bottom line, the game is fun! Yes the glitches are annoying but they don't happen all the time.

# 12 BlyGilmore @ 07/17/08 12:11 PM

Old - I think that's a little over the top.

I would instead compare it more to a movie. There are some movies out there that are a little crazy, a little over the top, sometimes a bit too silly and yet incredibly entertaining despite their flaws.

# 13 GatorFan1963 @ 07/17/08 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exonerated


	^^^^ Ridiculous analogy. The game is by no means broken. There is a bug for roster editing and depth chart. It just depends on the type of gamer you are. Is is more important for ncaa to be 100% right or 90% right and more fun.

Actually his analogy is dead on. We all know that hot girlfriends get away with things that not-so-hot girlfriends get away with. And there are alot of guys in this forum that look at EA and any NCAA football title as THE hot girlfriend.

I don't think any of us are saying 09 isn't fun....but is it worth the $60 purchase (all things considered)? We are all fans of NCAA and that's why we play this game every year. And having such a glaring bug that requires and immediate patch is a huge issue. Just like a hot girlfriend that cheats on your after you haven't even been together for more than a week should be a huge issue.

But, alot of you turn your heads and ignore what is really happening here. I can deal with small glitches that can be tweaked with sliders...but wait, those don't quite work either. I don't see how some of you can tolerate things that worked in the PS2/Xbox versions and either are now glitchy or missing altogether....and then say this is the best game ever. Really? Ever? But, I digress...

# 14 weapon311 @ 07/17/08 12:51 PM

i love when my db jumps a route to pick the ball off but somehow the wr has an invisible orb around him that forces the db around his invisible orb while the wr catches the ball, and since my db did the right thing by being in position to pick the ball off, the wr is free to take it the other way for six because of his orb animation that pushed my db away from the play. EA football games have the same glitches every freaking year and it sickens me people buy it and support them, its the same game every year. 2k puts out a half-assed game and the gameplay was worlds better than EA has offered this generation. Football is dead on consoles and it sucks.

# 15 rom3 @ 07/17/08 01:06 PM

When EA figures out how to include the last gen features that were in NCAA07 (DII schools, create school, pregame animations and player celebrations) into their new game I might consider buying it. Until then I will save myself $60 and stay with NCAA 07 on the last gen systems. I have several dynasties created and it still plays an incredible game of football.

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