NCAA Football 09 Demo Available: Discuss Here

[Moostache]

This Demo Version is NOT the same thing that we played in Orlando last month!!!!

There are a TON of things wrong with this demo that makes me believe it is from a build closer to the one that was played by a few community leaders in NYC at the NFL draft in April.... roster errors, minor graphics glitches and frame rate issues and hiccups and some REALLY bad option defense are among them...

Playing on Varsity is really hard to tell just how much of these issues is because of not playing on Heisman and how much is due to the particular build that was issued on the demos. For reference, the timeframe for getting a demo approved by both MS and Sony is usually about 1-2 MONTHS! That would mean if you want a demo to release early (like NCAA is this year) that you have to prepare a completely separate code for it - at least different from the code that will be used for the retail discs anyway.

So? Big deal , right? Well, yes, it IS a big deal....NCAA is still going to have some flaws in it, but I believe the build we played was a lot closer to the final retail build and that the actual game, played on higher difficulty levels is SIGNIFICANTLY better than this demo shows!!! If you LIKE the demo, you are going to LOVE the retai game and Madden is gonna absolutely blow your mind!!!


XB360 game 1 -- LSU (me) 21 OSU (CPU) 0
XB360 game 2 -- OSU (me) 28 LSU (CPU) 3

PS3 game 1 -- LSU (me) 14 OSU (CPU) 10

** I played the PS3 game at 3:30 AM after falling asleep in my chair waiting for my PSN download to finish...woke up and decided to try playing it anyway before going to bed for real...my first pass of the game was a pick-6 and after that I kind of woke up a bit and finished the game.**

Impressions?

THIS demo version is NOT identical on XB360 and PS3...there are more frame rate issues and a bit of weird controller glitches and hiccups in the PS3 version that were FIXED in Orlando.... graphically the games are pretty much dead even in this build and control wise the buttons are mapped the same. Using a Dual Shock 3 instead of the 6-Axis controller is definitely the way to go as the PS3 version DOES support rumble ( a HUGE pet peeve of mine with the 6-Axis controller that is now addressed since I got my Dual Shock 3 controller)!

Gameplay is just flat out bad in this demo. Pure and simple. The Varsity difficulty is a joke - defense does NOT pursue THAT badly in the retail version (or at least the 'near-retail' version I have played), nor do they play the option so poorly (demo option D is a joke!!!), nor is THAT easy to pass and roll out of the pocket (it was still a bit too easy in Orlando, but the demo version is freaking ludicrous!!!). Of the issues I have seen in the game, only the QB ability to roll out was nor MAJORLY different in my opinion bewteen this demo and the build I played more extnesively - the option D was completely better in Orlando (especially the ability to get off the late-pitch while being tackled....maybe I have not done enough option on the demo to see it, but I have not seen anyone talk about inaccurate pitches, which DEFINTIELY were in the build in Orlando too).

One thing that does seem a bit different in a 'good' way is the manual pass rush moves with a DL actually work better...you don't seem to get insta-stuck to a blocker and this allows you to manually create a decent pass rush at times with a DT or DE even if you don't blitz...though it is far from guaranteed heat...I am not sure if this was all that different in Orlando to be honest. I think I was in the definite minority who did not think the pass rush was as neutered as most. I thought there were some blitzes that got decent pressure, although I did not look for too much pressure in straight 4-man pass rushes.

One other thing I do know is that I am 100% certain of is that there are more than one "money" route combinations in the game and THAT was not fixed in the retail version...in fact its MUCH worse in this demo than it was in the Community Day build...but make no mistake, there are things in the game -regardless of build- that are going to make some people pull their hair out in frustration. The choice is pretty clear though - either adapt and overcome or be bitter and rage about it. The game seems to be met with a lot of the same opinion that I had on initially playing - the game is fun...and ultimately, the amount of fun people have with it will be determined individually. As we get better at the controls and find more holes in the AI , the ability to move past that and hold onto that inital reaction is going to change for everyone.

[ballaspence9493]

Quote: Originally Posted by heavy_hitter

I have played this franchise since the beginning. I have bought this game every year. Since 2004 I have been disappointed with the NCAA series. This game is again, GARBAGE!!! Let me rephrase that, the demo is garbage. Look behind the bells and whistles and you all will see it. In another two months people will see the same thing about this game as they did 08. All this game is going to be is 08.5.

aigh. fine. thts ur opinion. w/e. if u hate it so much. then stop posting and go play some GHIII in prep for GHIV

[nxt]

If this demo is so outdated, then why put this version out as the demo? Why not put something closer to the final build?

[Scott]

Quote: Originally Posted by nxt

If this demo is so outdated, then why put this version out as the demo? Why not put something closer to the final build?

The same reason they serve appetizers before a meal.

[countryboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by heavy_hitter

Everyone likes the Demo because it is new. You all don't see past the glitter of playing something new. The Demo is GARBAGE!!! I can go on forever about things that are wrong. Most of you are worried about DUMB stuff like "Are their dreads" or "Are Auburns uniforms the right color. The game looks great but still plays like crap.

you've said your peace now kindly move on.

[Blazelore]

Quote: Originally Posted by Moostache

This Demo Version is NOT the same thing that we played in Orlando last month!!!! There are a TON of things wrong with this demo that makes me believe it is from a build closer to the one that was played by a few community leaders in NYC at the NFL draft in April.... roster errors, minor graphics glitches and frame rate issues and hiccups and some REALLY bad option defense are among them... Playing on Varsity is really hard to tell just how much of these issues is because of not playing on Heisman and how much is due to the particular build that was issued on the demos. For reference, the timeframe for getting a demo approved by both MS and Sony is usually about 1-2 MONTHS! That would mean if you want a demo to release early (like NCAA is this year) that you have to prepare a completely separate code for it - at least different from the code that will be used for the retail discs anyway. So? Big deal , right? Well, yes, it IS a big deal....NCAA is still going to have some flaws in it, but I believe the build we played was a lot closer to the final retail build and that the actual game, played on higher difficulty levels is SIGNIFICANTLY better than this demo shows!!! If you LIKE the demo, you are going to LOVE the retai game and Madden is gonna absolutely blow your mind!!! XB360 game 1 -- LSU (me) 21 OSU (CPU) 0 XB360 game 2 -- OSU (me) 28 LSU (CPU) 3 PS3 game 1 -- LSU (me) 14 OSU (CPU) 10 ** I played the PS3 game at 3:30 AM after falling asleep in my chair waiting for my PSN download to finish...woke up and decided to try playing it anyway before going to bed for real...my first pass of the game was a pick-6 and after that I kind of woke up a bit and finished the game.** Impressions? THIS demo version is NOT identical on XB360 and PS3...there are more frame rate issues and a bit of weird controller glitches and hiccups in the PS3 version that were FIXED in Orlando.... graphically the games are pretty much dead even in this build and control wise the buttons are mapped the same. Using a Dual Shock 3 instead of the 6-Axis controller is definitely the way to go as the PS3 version DOES support rumble ( a HUGE pet peeve of mine with the 6-Axis controller that is now addressed since I got my Dual Shock 3 controller)! Gameplay is just flat out bad in this demo. Pure and simple. The Varsity difficulty is a joke - defense does NOT pursue THAT badly in the retail version (or at least the 'near-retail' version I have played), nor do they play the option so poorly (demo option D is a joke!!!), nor is THAT easy to pass and roll out of the pocket (it was still a bit too easy in Orlando, but the demo version is freaking ludicrous!!!). Of the issues I have seen in the game, only the QB ability to roll out was nor MAJORLY different in my opinion bewteen this demo and the build I played more extnesively - the option D was completely better in Orlando (especially the ability to get off the late-pitch while being tackled....maybe I have not done enough option on the demo to see it, but I have not seen anyone talk about inaccurate pitches, which DEFINTIELY were in the build in Orlando too). One thing that does seem a bit different in a 'good' way is the manual pass rush moves with a DL actually work better...you don't seem to get insta-stuck to a blocker and this allows you to manually create a decent pass rush at times with a DT or DE even if you don't blitz...though it is far from guaranteed heat...I am not sure if this was all that different in Orlando to be honest. I think I was in the definite minority who did not think the pass rush was as neutered as most. I thought there were some blitzes that got decent pressure, although I did not look for too much pressure in straight 4-man pass rushes. One other thing I do know is that I am 100% certain of is that there are more than one "money" route combinations in the game and THAT was not fixed in the retail version...in fact its MUCH worse in this demo than it was in the Community Day build...but make no mistake, there are things in the game -regardless of build- that are going to make some people pull their hair out in frustration. The choice is pretty clear though - either adapt and overcome or be bitter and rage about it. The game seems to be met with a lot of the same opinion that I had on initially playing - the game is fun...and ultimately, the amount of fun people have with it will be determined individually. As we get better at the controls and find more holes in the AI , the ability to move past that and hold onto that inital reaction is going to change for everyone.

Wow your whole tone sounds frustrated. I thought the demo was okay but I know thats not the final build. I just wish the game played a little faster. Perhaps it does in the final build.

[Moostache]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

Yeah just a tad faster would be cool. (Might be in final version though) However I don't want it close to Madden speed.

This seems to be a very personal taste for everyone...I find the game to move a bit faster in this demo than I recall at the Community Event (although I may be alone in that opinion, and believe me its entirely possible that my impression now is influenced by my viewing experience at home - on a projector in a light controlled media room - than at the CD on a 22" monitor in a brightly lit room).

My personal choice would be to have the gameplay move even slower still. I look at NHL 2008 as a good example of this...my brother was a HUGE NHL-series fan and he HATES NHL 2008 because there is no speed burst and the game is "too slow"...almost everyone else I have talked with about NHL 2008 says the game speed is spot on...of course, NHL also DOES offer a slider for game speed though....

[JBucc]

I don't get why you only get to choose between finesse move and power move when you're controlling a D-lineman. Didn't we used to have spin, swim, rip, club, etc? Where did that go? Maybe that was only Madden or that "other" game I'm thinking of? It's kind of frustrating when I'm playing with a DE and all I can do is engage and bang on RB or LB and hope he does something.