New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by NDAlum

So it's a SCREW JOB!!?? I knew you would come around!!!!

Assimilated!!!

10 char.

[Solidice]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkrich83

Why wouldn't it cause more server bandwidth? One feature basically allows you to play the game via server, which is a lot more bandwidth than any feature last year, and the other is the ability to advance, which I would assume would cause more traffic as well.

with both the super sim DLC and the advance DLC, you could play the entire 60 year dynasty without ever turning on the console.

[mattbooty]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkrich83

Why wouldn't it cause more server bandwidth? One feature basically allows you to play the game via server, which is a lot more bandwidth than any feature last year, and the other is the ability to advance, which I would assume would cause more traffic as well.

Without getting pulled back into the actual DLC is it good or bad discussion (cause I said I wouldn't), as an IT professional I will say that its the added processing requirements that will make these features (more) expensive to support. In both advancing and simming games you are taking AI logic that normally is handled by your Xbox 360 and now they need to have servers ready to be able to run all of those calculations on the server side. Bandwidth will play into it somewhat, but processing would be the larger chunk of this. Recruiting logic was little more than a random number generator so it required very little, simming games and advancing (which essentially sims dozens of games plus sims all the recruiting logic) will take signifcantly more. Without proper infrastructure you could see online game simming take minutes between plays while the servers support a lot of people playing simultaneously and advancing take much longer. Hopefully the added cost goes into the proper infrastructure so that doesn't happen.

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by mattbooty

Without getting pulled back into the actual DLC is it good or bad discussion (cause I said I wouldn't), as an IT professional I will say that its the added processing requirements that will make these features (more) expensive to support. In both advancing and simming games you are taking AI logic that normally is handled by your Xbox 360 and now they need to have servers ready to be able to run all of those calculations on the server side. Bandwidth will play into it somewhat, but processing would be the larger chunk of this. Recruiting logic was little more than a random number generator so it required very little, simming games and advancing (which essentially sims dozens of games plus sims all the recruiting logic) will take signifcantly more. Without proper infrastructure you could see online game simming take minutes between plays while the servers support a lot of people playing simultaneously and advancing take much longer. Hopefully the added cost goes into the proper infrastructure so that doesn't happen.

I have the same technical background, which is why I made what I would call an educated guess on the subject.

[mattbooty]

Quote: Originally Posted by kbmnm247

But there was a computer portion, correct? What makes all of that information so cheap for the servers but the ability to advance my week costs $3 per online dynasty? Why is FIFA UT web app free? That's where my questioning of this charge comes into play. I can't possibly see this causing more server bandwith or stress than the Fifa UT and the NCAA OD do/did.

I don't know what FIFA UT is so I can't speak for that, but as in the post I just put up, these features will require significantly more processing power than what online recruiting in NCAA 11 and the console based OD features do. Which is expensive.

[jeremym480]

Quote: Originally Posted by NDAlum

To be the commisioner of multiple leagues last year you had to pay.

This is correct. Last year it costs 800 MS points ($10) to be the commish of 3 dynasties http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Pr...f-000345410900 .

To be the commish of 5 dynasties cost 1200 MS point ($15).
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Pr...f-000445410900

This year it cost $6.99 plus you get the ability to advance weeks as well as, sumersim and call plays in supersimmed games. Other's can complain and call EA evil all they want to but, to me they're offering a fair price for a product that I want, that's even cheaper than last year might I add so, I call that a deal.

[mattbooty]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkrich83

I have the same technical background, which is why I made what I would call an educated guess on the subject.

Yeah bandwidth absolutely will play a part of it. Advancing will use very little bandwidth as the server must be storing most of the data already so everything happens on the server side... actually calling plays on a game will require more but the data itself should be small in size and it looks like the graphics are pretty basic so they shouldn't require much to transfer and probably can be cached and re-used... (and I'm not arguing with you so please don't take it that way, just throwing out my own educated guess)

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by mattbooty

Yeah bandwidth absolutely will play a part of it. Advancing will use very little bandwidth as the server must be storing most of the data already so everything happens on the server side... actually calling plays on a game will require more but the data itself should be small in size and it looks like the graphics are pretty basic so they shouldn't require much to transfer and probably can be cached and re-used... (and I'm not arguing with you so please don't take it that way, just throwing out my own educated guess)

I agree. I used the term bandwidth as a laymans term to be all inclusive. Most people associate bandwidth as all of those things.