Kind of contradictory comments here. Says it's on 'the edge of greatness', but says there are still some issues and that the career modes are generally too easy. It's kind of like they're saying it's really good because the last one was average.

I thought that review was one of the worst reviews I'd ever read. The whole time I was reading it, I couldn't decide which side he was going to be on because, as you said, he seemed to contradict himself over and over.

I can't say that I necessarily base much on IGN reviews anyway, but I had a similar impression. Think it says more about the reviewer's writing ability than anything about the game. More confusing than informative.

That's exactly what I was thinking...

I really hope the auto assistance with recruiting works well, because I'm gonna need to rely on it. I like all the additional features, but it's just way too tedious to do every week.

Agreed, that's what I am waiting to hear impressions on. I love the NCAA games but I am not a micromanager at all and I hate getting hung up on little details.

Woot, got the 360 rosters locked and loaded :)

Is there anyway I can use my USB drive to import rosters to my XBOX360...

Don't know - is there a way to copy files from the USB to the 360's hard drive?

I just finished getting them set up on my console. Just a reminder: Everyone make sure they rename them, so it Microsoft doesn't screw over the creator of the file.

Can you find these transfer kits anywhere anymore?

The transfer kits still seem to be available on Gamestop's website.


For those that are finding the CL too easy, it is possible to adjust sliders once each game starts (and they appear to stick from game to game.) I've changed the default Varsity to All-American and am also using some sliders that I've been working on in play now games, but with 5 minute quarters for CL mode. So far, the game has been reasonably challenging for me as a HB.

And this would be the only thing I would need to get the real names?

Could you give me the exact link for them? I'm not finding them at all.

Sliders has nothing do with simming. Sliders are for playing the game.

Now, I can't find it there either. However, here is a link to buy them directly from the main distributor:

http://us.codejunkies.com/shop/produ...l=1&ProdID=323


Also, I agree with Jbmagic, I've got sliders that tune interceptions way down, but I don't think they have any affect when I'm super simming which means that I'll probably only use that for a series or two per game to bump up my number of plays to realistic numbers while playing 8 minute quarters.

Thanks for the linke EF27. Is this all I need to get the actual names transfered?

You'll also need a 64 MB memory card.

I realize that. I played the first half and then simmed the second half.

Btw, I just played Maryland at Oklahoma and had a THOROUGHLY enjoyable loss to them, 20-7. It was great! Dynasty time!

Sorry then. I can't help you. I control the safeties (primarily the FS). To get a good pass rush you need to mix up your blitzes and what also helps is moving the defensive coverage into a blitz and blitzing. Later on, move the coverage into a blitz when you have called a play that isn't blitzing. Sorta like real life. :)

I realize how some people could find the recruiting tedious, but I'm just starting my dynasty and I'm thrilled with how much depth appears to be present. If this all works like it should, I'll be happy to spend tons of time recruiting between games.

No. You need the memory card and transfer kit. Look at it as a one-time cost that you'll use every year for the college games instead of a recurring cost every year and it's well worth the money.

Ditto. I just want to win my next game so my recruiting is easier. I think I've finally got the hang of it...at the cost of making a lot of my footballs...er...recruits upset. You have to make the football happy and then hang up. I just found that you can stop your pitch in mid-pitch by pressing "B". If you let it go too long the happy football may turn back into a regular football face.

See, I think you might be wrong about this. I've seen interceptions get cut down and penalties goe up in simming along with playing the game.

Of course, I started my first dynasty with USC and I decided to recruit a 4 star LT who was from Los Angeles and had USC and UCLA as his top two schools. I did a soft sell on National Championship. Then, I offered him a scholarship in the 1st week of the regular season. He accepted on the spot, saying it was always his dream to play for USC. Love it. Of course, most of my recruits are outside of the city and are taking their time to mull over their options.

Cool, I didn't know that about the "B" button. Thanks :)

Dola -

I know EA rightfully gets grief for the inaccuracies in their rosters, but I just threw a TD pass to my backup LT who was accidently in as my 2nd TE. I was like WTF, he caught that when I realized it was my T. Then, I researched and Charles Johnson was initially recruited to USC as a TE out of HS before he bulked up to become a T. They gave him a 76 catch rating in the game which is better than some of the other TE's on my roster.

I just had a sweet game against Idaho with USC in week 1. I really liked Patrick Turner's block on this play in which Vidal Hazelton took it to the house:

http://www.easportsworld.com/#video-...(XBOX360)/4495

BTW...it's been noted that there is a problem with supersim. It runs way too many plays. That's why your score ended up so high. I don't think it had anything to do with your slider settings.

Nice. Looked real on that block and he came out of nowhere. I'm going to have to figure out how to upload the videos to easports.

I'm assuming that was the wire camera. It would've been cool to see it from the sideline or pressbox camera angle so we could see him coming to make the block. ;)

Yeah, that was the wire cam. I'll try some different angles next time... Anyone know of a good site to upload these files to? I've saved it to my computer, but I'm having trouble uploading it to my current webspace provider.

If I can find a good site, I think I'm going to start a dynasty thread after all.

Ugh. See dynasty thread for utter heart break.

Brightcove works well. I'll use this chance to show off a sweet TD I had tonight in a 20-23 loss to Eastern Michigan.

http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=1119265256

Gamespot review = 8.0 and last year's was...an 8.2? All I've heard is about how bad last year's game was and now it was better? There's no way this game is worse than last year's. I don't believe it.

still no PS3 rosters.:(

I'm waiting for these to start my career.

That was an awesome one handed catch. It was a little weird how he did that jump or got hit afterwards though. My team, Army, is far from great so I don't really have any highlights yet.

According to this thread, http://www.maddenmania.com/forums/sh...163034&page=30
they're almost done.

just noticed that too. this should be good

They have some other good recruiting tips in this thread:

http://www.maddenmania.com/forums/sh...=163375&page=7

There is no way it is worse than last year. Gamespot revised their review scale earlier this year, doing away with tenths and only giving whole points and half points. I can only guess that they also decided they were going to be more stringent in their scoring as well. Shrug, I know that I'm going to have a hard time between choosing on whether to read book 7 or play this all weekend long.

Nice TD! Thanks for the suggestion. That was easy to join and I'm going to start uploading videos there for a dynasty.

So I decided to buy this with the $55 Best Buy gift card work gave me. Since I wanted no part of actually walking into a Best Buy to spend it, I pre-ordered online.

It shipped Monday. I STILL don't have it, although my USPS delivery won't be until this afternoon, so there is still hope for today. Apparently Best Buy decided that since I wouldn't come into a store, they'd find another way to screw me by using some "UPS handles shipping duties for the USPS" scam that can't figure out how to get it here in less than a week. And that can't seem to return a tracking number status fully on the web in less than 5 minutes (it spins and spins, and when I hit "stop" the page is broken in the middle of "it arrived in Atlanta on the 18th).

It's been a long freakin' time since I've had to wait more than 3 days from ship-date for an Internet order, and not been able to get decent tracking info on it while waiting. Best Buy managed both. Way to go!

Started my dynasty beating FCS East, 34-7 (missed extra point on my part). My passing is still horrible, and I still fumble a lot, even when I THINK I'm covering up. The next game took Maryland to Florida International. My starting QB throws 3 interceptions in the first quarter and a half, so I bench him and bring out a freshman. He doesn't give up an interception, but can't really complete a pass either. So, I'm beating FIU 13-7, late in the 4th quarter and they are DRIVING. Good grief! On a 4th and 8 at my 13 yard line with less than a minute to go, I intercept and run it all the way back for the clincher, and we squeak past them, 21-7.

My offense stinks - both of us throw way too many interceptions and I have a tendency to fumble when it's most crucial. I'm hoping the next game against West Virginia will show that a good team doesn't throw so many interceptions. If not, I'm gonna be miffed - I'm getting about 10 turnovers per game, between the miserable teams I'm playing and my horrible decision-making.

FWIW, I'm playing with interceptions at 0 and knockdowns at 100 as well as a few other sliders. It's a slight modification of Mudtigers' from OS. In the last two games, I've thrown 1 interception in each game and the CPU has only thrown 1 between the 2 games. The high knockdown slider is key to helping prevent the interceptions. Also, with Defensive Awareness slightly lowered, the CPU is still completed about 60% of its passes even though I have an excellent defensive team.

I have interceptions at 0 and knockdowns at 70 - I'll give it a shot at 100. Thanks, EF!

Here's three runs (RB #44) from my HS CL games:

http://www.easportsworld.com/#video-...(XBOX360)/4622

Is there some complete agreed-upon AA sliders yet?

Since I don't care about Harry Potter but my wife does, everything works out great. I get football and she gets Potter.

These aren't consensus sliders by any means, but these work for me (they are a modified form of Mud Tiger's from OS):

All-American
8 minute quarter (I use a series or two of Super Sim each game to help get a realistic number of plays each game)

All Penalties maxed except clipping at default.

Default Sliders play a very defensive oriented game in my opinion, these are focused on opening it up a bit and also lowering the number of interceptions. All sliders are the same for the CPU and Human:

QB Accuracy: 50

Pass Blocking: 60 (too many sacks without this bump, but dominant pass rushers still usually get 1-3 a game.)

WR Catching: 45 (makes guys who get nailed drop it a bit more.)

RB Ability: 50

Run Blocking: 60 (good offensive lines open up the holes more on both sides.)


Defensive Awareness: 30 (opens up the game a bit and is important to pass offenses particularly with knockdowns at 100.)

Knockdowns: 100 (lowers interceptions)

Interceptions: 0

Break Block: 40 (gives a bit more open feeling to the offenses - on the downside it occasionally causes the appearance of suction blocking.)

Tackling: 40 (1 on 1 tacklers miss a bit more)


FG Power: 25 (before I did this, my relatively poor USC kicker was hitting 50 yarders - now his max range is about 45.)

FG Accuracy: 25

Punt Power: 25 (too many booming punts without this)

Punt Accuracy: 25

Kickoff Power: 25 (only the stronger kickers kick it into the endzone.)


I've had 4 good games with these and am starting my dynasty with these sliders.

Thanks EF.