NCAA Football 2008

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

This is why I always buy the NCAA game used a couple of weeks after Madden comes out. I have a few weeks to figure out if the NCAA game is any good and I can get it at the cheaper price.

I thought you don't get the football games?

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Bee

I was actually a little worried that it was too easy to become the starter but it doesn't sound like that's the case. In my game, I went to Arkansas as the 2nd string QB and after the very first practice I was named the starter and haven't looked back.

I'll again point out that Casey Dick is horrible as are all of the Arkansas QB's.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

I thought you don't get the football games?

Look back in this thread. I mentioned that the NCAA game is the one game I will buy used after a month or two if it gets positive feedback. I haven't bought it in 3 years, but the Sportsgamer guys and Bill Harris (who are both EA critical) like the game. Add in that most of the PS3 owners say that the lower framerate isn't a hinderance in any way, and I may purchase it used. Note that I still have a few weeks to make that determination, so that may change by then as well.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Look back in this thread. I mentioned that the NCAA game is the one game I will buy used after a month or two if it gets positive feedback. I haven't bought it in 3 years, but the Sportsgamer guys and Bill Harris (who are both EA critical) like the game. Add in that most of the PS3 owners say that the lower framerate isn't a hinderance in any way, and I may purchase it used. Note that I still have a few weeks to make that determination, so that may change by then as well.

Well you should, so far it's so much better than last years.

[Bee]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I'll again point out that Casey Dick is horrible as are all of the Arkansas QB's.

That explains why they were like the only team in the country that didn't want me as the 4th stringer.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by CleBrownsfan

See - that is exactly what I would probably do when Madden comes out. I know I wouldn't play both but Gamespot will probably give a $20 credit towards when Madden come out. So I guess I have to realize is NCAA really worth $40 to play with for a month?

I would think of it the other way: Is that $20 you would get back enough to not have the game sitting around when you feel like firing the game up in a few months? I tend to play football games all year round, in spurts, so once I make the decision to buy a game, I know I'm going to be playing it for awhile. For example, I don't think there's ever been a year where I wasn't playing Madden during the month leading up to the NFL draft.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by vex

You, me and a couple of other people have all had the person in front of them on the depth chart get injured. Feature/bug?

I haven't made it to the next game yet (will tonight), but the #1 is supposed to be back and good to go for that one. So we'll see if he goes down again and opens the door for more action.

Only game I got into as the #3 was in a serious blowout, got no action in the other 3-4 games until I made it to second string.

[DeToxRox]

Anyone up for a game around 7est?

[sabotai]

I guess their servers are still getting pretty hammered. I have not been able to upload at all today.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Anyone up for a game around 7est?

i would be, but would we have to talk to each other? i don't have much to say when i play.

[DeToxRox]

No we don't. It infuriates me in sports games to talk to people.

[DeToxRox]

Just installed the FK Rosters. A godsend

[DeToxRox]

Oh god, having the roster names makes me so f'ing happy.

[Hoya1]

question guys,

Did EA take out the "create school" option? This is something I've always done before, and I can't find it.

[kingnebwsu]

Hooray for rosters!!! Any guesses on the average review score for the 360 version of NCAA? Between IGN and Gamespot, I'm going to guess an average of 9.1. Anyone else have a guess?

[kingnebwsu]

No create a school option this year

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by kingnebwsu

Hooray for rosters!!! Any guesses on the average review score for the 360 version of NCAA? Between IGN and Gamespot, I'm going to guess an average of 9.1. Anyone else have a guess?

They are always a bit inflated at those two sites, so I'll guess a 9.5 average.

[Hoya1]

Originally Posted by kingnebwsu

No create a school option this year

dammit. that sucks

[vex]

The new dynasty recruiting would be awesome with create-a-school.

[Hoya1]

I always create my own school, and then build it into a national powerhouse. Anyone have any recommendations for a replacement school.? I'm looking for an very low rated school, with nice uniforms, and a nice stadium

[INDalltheway]

played my first two online games.. 2-0 baby! comeback win in my first game with Tennessee and a blowout with Michigan over WV. goldenglove21 for anyone that wants to play a little.

[IMetTrentGreen]

I just played my first online game. Lost 3 fumbles and fell victim to the dreaded "DBs suddenly let guys run right past them with under a minute left" defense and lost on a last second FG.

Looking forward to more of this.

[INDalltheway]

http://www.easportsworld.com/#video-5392/HOME/3004

A pretty good user pick.. I was the FS the whole way, and just figured he was coming back to the guy on the crossing route. (everyone seems to love those routes) Not exactly sure why I used Iowa, but they weren't too bad. Albert Young is pretty tough and the QB was good enough for me.

[Anthony]

i'm going on in a few. astoria23

[KWhit]

What, no Kingjackoff77?

[illinifan999]

Originally Posted by Hoya1

I always create my own school, and then build it into a national powerhouse. Anyone have any recommendations for a replacement school.? I'm looking for an very low rated school, with nice uniforms, and a nice stadium

I'm using San Diego State, jersey's are pretty cool, 2* prestige i believe I started out with, and you're playing in qualcomm.

[Hoya1]

Originally Posted by illinifan999

I'm using San Diego State, jersey's are pretty cool, 2* prestige i believe I started out with, and you're playing in qualcomm.

good stuff. I'm going to check them out too.

[illinifan999]

Wow, as a reciever in CL 2nd round of state playoffs get these stats:

9 catches for 331 yards, 5 TD's.

4* performance. Damn. That was just a ridiculous game though, seemed like everything was working.

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by illinifan999

Wow, as a reciever in CL 2nd round of state playoffs get these stats:

9 catches for 331 yards, 5 TD's.

4* performance. Damn. That was just a ridiculous game though, seemed like everything was working.

I think the only time you can turn in a 5* performance is in the championship game. When I tried playing a QB I had a game where I was 9-10 for 309 yards and 6 TD with another 75 yards rushing with 1 TD and only got a 4* performance as well.

This reminds me I think that things should count against you in practice. If I go to a school and in practice I complete 2 passes out of 10 chances and throw 3 interceptions I should fall further down the depth charts not stay at the same level or move up.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by illinifan999

Wow, as a reciever in CL 2nd round of state playoffs get these stats:

9 catches for 331 yards, 5 TD's.

4* performance. Damn. That was just a ridiculous game though, seemed like everything was working.

Daym.. are you on AA?

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Bearcat729

I think the only time you can turn in a 5* performance is in the championship game. When I tried playing a QB I had a game where I was 9-10 for 309 yards and 6 TD with another 75 yards rushing with 1 TD and only got a 4* performance as well.

This reminds me I think that things should count against you in practice. If I go to a school and in practice I complete 2 passes out of 10 chances and throw 3 interceptions I should fall further down the depth charts not stay at the same level or move up.

I turned in a 5 star in the 2nd round. 197 yards rushing, 58 receiving, 3 TDs.

[illinifan999]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Daym.. are you on AA?

yeah with default sliders.

[DeToxRox]

Not to shamelessly self promote but I started a dynasty with videos/pics over in the dynasty forum. Lemme know what you think. Some good campus legend stuff going on there as well.

[Groundhog]

I have to say, the addition of videos and pics in dynasties is awesome.

[Grammaticus]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

They are always a bit inflated at those two sites, so I'll guess a 9.5 average.

1UP gave it an 8.5, but then gave the xbox version something like a 9.1

I think the only real gripe they had was no online dynasty. I think it deserves a 9.0.

[Logan]

So, uhh...can anyone give me some tips on how to actually develop a pass rush?

[IMetTrentGreen]

Play against Drew Bledsoe.

[CraigSca]

I played the first game of my Maryland dynasty last night. 8 min quarters, AA with interceptions reduced on the sliders.

Our first game was against FCS East. At the end of the first it's tied 3-3 and I'm thinking, "this is pretty good, I'm not going to run away with this." Then, I start moving the ball quite easily for a TD, intercept the next pass for a TD and, by halftime, I'm up 38-7. I decide to supersim the rest of the way - BAD DECISION. We win, 96-10 ?!!? I think I might have to start over now - as my offensive statistics are WAY skewed and it doesn't feel like my team anymore.

The first few days of NCAA are the most tenuous for me. I want to jump in and play, but I always find it hard to find sliders that will allow me to easily beat the chump teams (but not 96-10) and yet get beaten handily by the teams that should. I should probably go back to "Play now" until I'm fully satisfied.

[Ksyrup]

From what people have posted earlier, the catch-22 with supersim is that if you're going to use it a lot, you can only play 5-6 minute quarters.

[Richard Weed]

Originally Posted by Logan

So, uhh...can anyone give me some tips on how to actually develop a pass rush?

4-4 Defense, blitz all LBs. Control your Safety and cover the Tight End. If he blocks, look to cover the HB or FB. If it's a 3 or 4 WR set, cover the middle.

Usually someone will get through or someone will get their hands up to block to pass at the line.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

From what people have posted earlier, the catch-22 with supersim is that if you're going to use it a lot, you can only play 5-6 minute quarters.

Good ol' EA introduces a feature that most of us have waited for, and then they have to go and screw with the execution of it. It's not a game killer for me, and I sort of understand why they did it (they seem to think most people want 5 minute quarters), but it didn't have to be this way. If someone's playing 10 minute quarters and they go to supersim, they could've made twice as much time run down between plays, for instance. That way, the stats and number of plays line up OK, and people can still use supersim.

THANKS, EA!

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Good ol' EA introduces a feature that most of us have waited for, and then they have to go and screw with the execution of it. It's not a game killer for me, and I sort of understand why they did it (they seem to think most people want 5 minute quarters), but it didn't have to be this way. If someone's playing 10 minute quarters and they go to supersim, they could've made twice as much time run down between plays, for instance. That way, the stats and number of plays line up OK, and people can still use supersim.

THANKS, EA!

Yeah, this is my biggest complaint about the game. I've decided I need to play between 8 and 9 minute quarters to get a realistic number of plays, but if I'm going to go with either one for my dynasty, I can only ever use Super Sim for very short bursts of time in a game or it is going to completely screw up my stats.

Edit: This will probably force me to only play dynasty games when I have plenty of time on the weekends, and only play CL games when I have less time. At least, most people seem to be enjoying CL and I'm going to give it a shot this afternoon.

[Radii]

I finally got my RB at Georgia Tech up to #3 in the depth chart in about week 8. As soon as I did, I was starting. The #1 back was out for the season, the #2 guy isn't injured but I was on the field!

My ratings skyrockted from 78->91 during those first 8 weeks of practice. In my second game(a Thursday night game vs Virginia Tech) I was now #2 in the depth chart. My speed was 97, accelleration 99, and Herbstreet twice referred to me as "the fastest running back he's seen all season". I had a good game vs Va Tech, though we lost 20-19 after missing an extra point on a 3rd quarter TD. The next week I dropped a dart on my foot during the week in the extra activities part of it, and my overall rating went down to 90 from 91, and my speed dropped to 94, accelleration 97.


In 3 games I've run for 100 yards twice(against Army and Duke) and 95 yards vs Virginia Tech. We have UNC, Georgia and a Bowl game to go. Given that my ratings are this good as a freshman, I'm expecting to contend for the Heisman at some point in my career. It seems a bit too easy on All-American to get this good.

Also, 6 minutes seems to work best for me for CL... when I'm on the field. If the game is completely gettig simmed, 5 seems better.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Richard Weed

4-4 Defense, blitz all LBs. Control your Safety and cover the Tight End. If he blocks, look to cover the HB or FB. If it's a 3 or 4 WR set, cover the middle.

Usually someone will get through or someone will get their hands up to block to pass at the line.

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a shot when that defense is appropriate. However, I meant more like "execution" of a pass rush. I can't seem to do anything with the shoulder buttons. Is it a timing thing? Do you combine the speed burst with spin moves? I also am against using the "jump the snap" button...seems a little cheap to me and I hate when the CPU does it.

[Anthony]

i will need to decrease the gametime to 5 minute quarters. i had it at 8 min for my CL, and my freshman RB was named the starter by week 11 and set the school rushing record with 315 yards and 3 total td's. i mean, the coach kept calling running plays (like he should have done since he was having so much success with the run), but i didn't expect to be this good this fast.

whatever, i had a lot of fun playing. first game was against WV, so i don't know if that means we should have dominated them (i'm Miami). very fun game, but i still plan on trading it in for Madden in August.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Logan

I also am against using the "jump the snap" button...seems a little cheap to me and I hate when the CPU does it.

I don't think jumping the snap is cheap. It's just anticipating the snap which should be rewarded. It's not like you can just keep jamming on the "jump snap" button without penalty. As long as there's a risk to doing such a move, it should be OK. Cheap would be something like running a money play over and over again because the AI doesn't have a way to stop it.

[Ksyrup]

The cheapness of the jump the snap move, at least in the 2007 version (not sure if anything has changed), is that it really doesn't function as the name suggests. Jumping the snap should be about anticipation, meaning that you shouldn't be able to hear the snap and then perform the function. However, the way it works, as long as you hit the button within a second or so, even after the snap, you still get rewarded. But that's just reacting to the snap and starting the play, that's not "jumping the snap."

[Phototropic]

Originally Posted by CraigSca

The first few days of NCAA are the most tenuous for me. I want to jump in and play, but I always find it hard to find sliders that will allow me to easily beat the chump teams (but not 96-10) and yet get beaten handily by the teams that should. I should probably go back to "Play now" until I'm fully satisfied.

Same here. As soon as I win a game against a decent opponent I have to fight the urge to start my dynasty.

[Emiliano]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

I have to say, the addition of videos and pics in dynasties is awesome.

Indeed. I'm all happy with my good ol' Xbox version just arrived in the mail, and then I see these clips...

Damn you EA and your f****** region lock!!!

However, we can save pictures on old-gen! Woot!

[CleBrownsfan]

IGN's review is up:

hxxp://xbox360.ign.com/articles/806/806766p1.html\

Closing Comments
Is it a leap and bound beyond last year's game? You bet. NCAA Football 08 is easily improved over a weak effort that was delivered last season. It's on the edge of greatness as well, particularly thanks to a deeper Dynasty mode and inclusion of Campus Legend mode that helps add to the replayability of the title. However, the game still features a number of technical and balancing issues that keep it from being a truly great football game. However, football fans won't be let down by this game, and they should definitely check it out.

IGN Ratings for NCAA Football 08 (X360)
Rating Description
out of 10 click here for ratings guide

8.0 Presentation
The presentation of the game is much better, thanks to the inclusion of The Weather Channel feature and new animations. Too Bad the Motivation feature is weak.

8.0 Graphics
Thanks to new animations, the game looks much better, but some of the old glitches are still present in this year's game.

8.0 Sound
The trio of Herbstreit, Corso and Nessler are still solid, but you still wish that there were more fight songs, cheers and noise present in the game.

8.5 Gameplay
The new break animations, improved hit stick and tackles really improve upon the gameplay.

8.0 Lasting Appeal
The game is much deeper than it was last year, but with Campus Legend being too easy and elements of Dynasty out of your control, this isn't as great as it could have been.

8.3
Impressive OVERALL