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.

Thanks for the sliders, EF. Every year when you fill us in on your NCAA, Madden, or College Hoops slider modifications, I print them out and set them next to the XBox 360. My wife then goes to clean up the living room, picks up the paper, and says, "Oh, no! Not one of these again!"

I think she's a little disturbed at the small pile of paper that's building up. It's cute. :)

That's a sweet run. I especially like how you cut back in before scoring the touchdown and shove that guy down to the ground. :)

I guess Im the only one whose playing it on regular xbox :(

Dola

Is there anyway to check to see a QB's "handedness"

How do you edit the coach names for the PS3 version? I cannot figure it out!!

My second KO return of the Season in my current Dynasty

http://www.easportsworld.com/#video-8721/HOME/5015

A little trucker action

http://www.easportsworld.com/#video-8721/HOME/5015

Blown coverage

http://www.easportsworld.com/#video-8721/HOME/5015

I had a great blown coverage play in one of my games. I had a stud WR with 99 for hands and speed and I tore up BSU's secondary all game. Finally I did a play where he did a post and the other WR did a corner. Needless to say all three DB's bit on the pump fake and the WR was left wide open for a 55 yard TD

in my 2nd game as a starter in CL, i played against VT. they held me to under 100 yards. i definitely saw the difference in defense. somewhat harder and i didn't have any huge gains. i also shortened the quarters to 5 minutes. so i guess when i went buck for 315 yards my 1st game it was due to West Virginia sucking and there just being too much time on the clock with 8 minute quarters.

I'm starting for Georgia Tech now. My freshman year I played 6 games and ran for 705 yards and 7 TDs. Va Tech held me to 96 yards, and UGA to 80 yards. I topped 100 yards easily vs UNC, Duke, Army, and Notre Dame. All the games i appeared in were 5 minute quarters.

My ratings going into my sophomore year are 92 overall, 97 speed, 99 accelleration, 90 breaking tackles. My awareness is in the low 70s, that's my only item that's suffering at all.

It seems way, way too easy, given that I started my freshman year as the 5th string RB with an overall rating of 78. I expect to put up Heisman like numbers this year.

Finally able to get a video loaded

Check out me juking the defender off his feet!

http://www.easportsworld.com/#video-2897/HOME/4854

Nasty...I like how you finished it off as well.

I really like the screens in this game.. They're MUCH MUCH better than any previous versions. When a defense sniffs it, they usually sniff it the way they should. But, when it doesn't work its because they ran it wrong where the QB didn't drop back like he should and he gets sacked easily(in campus legend where I'm the RB).

Just lost 17-13 against #11 Louisville, but it was a great game.

Things I like:

Subbing in and out tired players seems to be much better than any previous version.
OL Blocking is the best of any version.
The CPU can actually run on AA defaults
You can tell who's fast and who's not.
The variety of tackle animations is unreal.
I only saw one INT last game and that was by me on an errant throw by the CPU QB as he was being hit.
Passing seems much better and easier, imo.

Things I don't like:

Too many fumbles, haven't touched sliders yet.
Too many reviewed plays imo.. and I've yet to see a play stand.
Some questionable CPU playcalling, but that remains to be seen.

Overall I like what I'm seeing and the game has reminded me of 2004? I think that's the verison I played 4 or 5 years with. Haven't really started a dynasty yet, but CL has become boring now.. I like playing the games much better than just being one player.

The game is much, much.. much better control wise and the gameplay seems to be varied, which is great for replayability.

What sub in/out settings are you using?

I am using 85% out and 95% IN

Finally got around to playing my first full game of NCAA, lost 35-20 with Iowa vs. Iowa State. They shut down my running game otherwise I could've probably won but they forced me to pass and I threw three picks, one of which was returned for a TD. They also sacked me 5 times, one caused a fumble which was returned for a TD.

I wish they'd think about programming better fumble reactions, where the players would actually attempt to recover the fumble by going to the ground.

Defaults so far.

Way, way too many reviewed plays, and I have also never seen a play stand (25 games, give or take).

The calls are so blatantly wrong that I know a review is coming, so I just hit A-A to pick a punt return because it's such a slam dunk that it's going to be reviewed that I know I won't get burned on the play call.

Of course, the silver lining to this is that I haven't seen a call not been reviewed when it should, or not be overturned when it should. Seems like the game creates fumbles just so that there can be reviews that are called right.

I get that feeling as well. One call my receiver was definitly out of bounds on a catch, they called it incomplete. .but as soon as I saw it was being reviewed I new I had a completion!

I've only seen one played reviewed and it stood. It was a sick play actually, My QB was going down on a sack and he threw it about 15 yards and the WR had to come back and made the catch on the goalline before being knocked to the ground on the 4 yard line. They called it a TD and I was stunned that it was. I was about to kick a FG when it was called for a review and it stood.

I've had 3 stand and roughly 8 be overturned.

I have only had 6 plays reviewed in 7 games, 2 stood, 4 overturned,

Here is a vid from my breather game against 1-AA (Eastern Washington) This is probably the sickest option I have seen. The QB is going down and pitches blindly behind his back to the RB who takes it home. It's the second video, can't get a direct link for some reason.

http://www.easportsworld.com/#video-...IMEY(PS3)/5015

I'll be glad when EA gets the EA Sports World site moving a little faster. These highlights are fun to watch, but it is dog slow when loading right now.

what file extension do you use when you download a file off EAsportsworld to upload it to brightcove?

I'm not changing the extension at all. I'm just going with the default.

Yeah, I'm an idiot, thanks! For some reason I thought it was saving it with no extension at all.

Just ordered NCAA08 and NASCAR08 for PS3 today, both should be in my mail box on Saturday when i get back home from my holidays. How good/bad is finally the Ps3 version? As i'm on holidays and with limited intenet connection, i haven't read reviews etc.

Just as a follow-up to my "stutter/sprint" issue I discussed a few days ago...I've trained myself to lay off the sprint button until I've been running for a few seconds, starting to turn upfield, already chasing someone down, etc and I haven't seen much of it. Interestingly, I did have it happen one time shortly after a kick return began, when my guy stuttered. However, the only thing I was doing with the controller was pushing up on the L stick to run straight. Therefore, I've chalked it up to some sort of quirk with my controller.

I noticed a weird bug. In CL mode, when my RB was second string and was on the field goal team, every game during the first PAT attempt I would get a missed kick and the announcer would say something about an incomplete pass or something like that. This happened every time for me. It was fine for the rest of the game after the first attempt. Since making first string, it hasn't been an issue.

I actually rented a copy of the NCAA game over the weekend because the game has had generally positive feedback. This may come as quite the shock to those of you who know how much I dislike EA as a whole.

I actually enjoyed the game quite a bit.

I didn't notice any major stuttering in any part of the game. The PS3 animations were actually really good, which surprised me quite a bit. Recruiting is improved. I'm not crazy about the new way you select plays, but it's not a gamekiller by any means.

I can assure you that I won't be lifting my general EA boycott for most games, but I'll likely pick up a used copy of this game in the near future.

Is there a consensus on how sliders effect the outcome of plays that are simmed? Specifically, if I use EF27's sliders in campus legend mode, and auto sim plays that i'm not invovled in, are my results going to be extra wacky because part of the game is played and part is simmed?

I'm using Autosim for 4 minutes in the 2nd quarter and 4 minutes in the 3rd to get a more realistic number of plays run. I don't notice any wierd stats. Running seems a bit more wide open with some teams in supersim, but it actually helps bring the average into better balance as I think YPC for the CPU is a bit low with my sliders (although that could be due to USC's great run defense.)

just rented it w/ my free Blockbuster online coupon so Ill get to play it tonight around the youtube debate.

Are you guys really having that much trouble with turnovers that you have to adjust the sliders? In two games, I've had 3 total turnovers in each and then another game I had 3 for each team. Most of the time, they're just bad passes though. Are you adjusting to prevent them from catching everything and knocking things down or is it because there are just too many>

With default sliders, I've seen the CPU throw 5 picks in a game. I'm not worried about my own interceptions which can be controlled by smart decisions, but without adjusting sliders, I think there are quite a few too many interceptions each game. Even with sliders, the interceptions are a bit high, but not as bad.

It's amazing to me, however, that EA can't see these issues when play-testing.

Okay, stupid question (likely), but how are you guys finding the EA site for searching for video's and pictures that you've uploaded? When I uploaded my first video, I caught it on the main page and kept a link so I haven't had any problems, but Mike (Blade on here) just got the game today, has uploaded a couple video's and neither of us can find them on the site. I've tried doing searches for his nickname from the PS3 network as well as my own and while my videos are up there using that name, a search for my name (Nikle) does not return any results. And to clarify, it is my PS3 network name that is showing up on the profile page on the EA site so I have no idea why it wouldn't show up in the search (people).

I tried checking out the profile links to see if I could just plug in the username but there is an id tag associated with each name in the address bar so that plan is shot too. Any help would be appreciated.

I've been largely unsuccessful searching for videos on the EA site.

Because 90%+ of the people who play NCAA and Madden don't care that there are a few more interceptions per game than there should be, unfortunately.

so all of your recommended sliders were CPU sliders and not users?

All of my sliders were for both CPU and Human. I think the two sides are evenly matched on All-American, and I'm not trying to disrupt that balance. I'm just trying to tune down the interception totals and open up the game a bit more.

Finally got my copy yesterday (Best Buy sux, BTW). Started my Legends career with a power RB out of my old high school. Some notes:

1) No one has mentioned yet that everything in the game starts up defaulted to Virginia Tech? Big logo on the floor, default school, etc. I thought that was a nice touch.

2) Legends mode is too cool. Played 2 games of the high school playoffs last night. Thanks to super-sim on the parts I'm not playing, I can blow through a game in like 20 minutes, which is PERFECT for my schedule. And I love doing things besides throwing and running the ball. My QB got sacked and fumbled, and I came flying from the sidelines to knock the D-Lineman down. We also completed a pass to the sideline where the receiver broke one tackle, and I was close enough to come in from the side and knock off the one other guy that was catching up to tackle him, sprining him for the TD. I had a ton of fun.

3) The negative was 3 fumbles by me (at least one of which I was screaming at the coach to challenge because I thought I was down). My big issues on the fumbles is you don't always realise you fumbled. On one of them I bounced off a would-be tackler and went about 4 steps before realising the ball was on the ground and everyone was fighting over it. Much of this seems to be remembering to tuck the ball in as you get hit, because my fumbles are coming when I'm trying to juke or stiff-arm or otherwise beat the tackle (which seems realistic to me).

2 4-* performances, and I've to two top-25 teams watching including #7 Wisconsin.

I used EaglesFan27's slider last night, and lost to Cincy with IU. Lots of picks. I'm just not making good decisions with the ball, but neither were they. The running game works well enough, although I think I get away from it too much, which is leading to some of my passing problems.

I'd just like to add that I love the recruiting. I don't know how much of an impact my decisions are really going to have, but I look forward to calling the prospects each week. I had two recruits, including a 5-star WR, visit my Memphis campus to watch me play against Duke. I may have just used my imagination to fill in gaps here, but I decided to throw the ball a little more than usual because I wanted the WR to see that he'd be a big part of the offense. The game may not actually care about that sort of thing, but it was fun for me.

Both recruits gave their visit a B- grade, which I guess shouldn't surprise me. I mean, it's not like I beat a powerhouse team or anything, although Duke was somehow 2-0 at the time. I offered the WR a scholarship, and he seemed happy and he thanked me, but he has two other visits scheduled later in the season with bigger schools. I know I don't stand much of a chance, but I'm spending an hour on the phone each week with this guy because I want to give it my best shot.

I'm really looking forward to getting my first signing, whoever it may be. I want all of this recruiting work to pay off. :)

I haven't even looked at recruiting yet. I'm totally concentrating on the Campus Legend part of the game. I've started about a half dozen different careers and am now sticking to my RB at West Virginia near the end of his second season. This is by far the most fun I've had with a console football game.

I'd be interested to hear more about the recruiting process -- mainly how much time you guys devote to each prospect. I haven't started my dynasty yet but would hate to go in and completely screw things up from the start.

I would imagine that it will vary some based on each school and their characteristics, but the way I did it with USC is that I spent 30-45 minutes on my top 10-15 guys the first week using the find pitch option to examine some of their preferences. If I found at least three that were high and one that was the most, I stopped trying to find their pitch and started spending 30 minutes or so hard pitching it in the following weeks. Of course, it helps that USC is highly rated in every category except for early playing time. So far, I have my top 15 all considering us their #1 choice. Now, in week 9 or 10, I'm trying to do the same process with the next 15 guys on my board. I'm not sure how that will play out, yet.

I had a bunch of guys hang up on me last night. But one guy committed!

You know, it didn't even cross my mind other than to think "oh yeah, big football school" and to immediately change it to my favorite team, until you pointed it out now. that is a nice touch.

Sadly neither did I...now it really does make sense.