Main problem: All of the little things add up

[Mobaby]

Maybe, MAYBE, if you look at this from afar and try to find the silver lining - this game is alright as a whole. Tackling is better, defense is better, running is a tad better, etc. But once you play this game, you start to become a little peeved and fed up. Why?

This is the problem with NCAA 20102: All of the small things add up.

These small things? Ridiculous looking dreads. 3D grass that's only 3D during replays. Super-fast-twitch reaction for defenders (specifically LBs). Not even close to realistic physics engine (people slide and change direction like a cartoon). How the progressive lighting switches right before our eyes in between quarters. Same old commentary. All players feel the same. I could go on, please feel free to add to this list.

But if maybe one or two of these things existed, say EVEN the awfully ugly, unrealisitc, Predator-type dreads, it would be okay. But when you play and you keep noticing small little details that just take away from the experience and realism, it becomes a very big problem.

This goes to show you how lazy EA is. Look at the problems I listed above...would they really be that hard to fix? Nope.

[jkra0512]

That's the difference between EA's Tiberon stupid and SCEA who makes The Show. Sure the baseball game has its flaws and haven't made huge changes in a few years (sometimes SCEA is picked on because of sitting still), but they are tweaking their game, while EA seems to constantly change their game. When you are tweaking a game, and not focusing on overhauling it every year, you can start paying attention to little details. Unfortunately, EA hasn't found a formula that has worked and thus has an aging engine with many flaws at the base level.

You are completely right, the little things do add up and that is my main thing with this game. It's not one huge aspect, like the passing game is broken (it is not). Instead, I see many little things that add up over my playing experience that just doesn't do the game justice. You can sit there and pick them apart all day long with feature this year that have been poorly implemented since Day 1.

I'm not sure if it's laziness or lack of manpower or money, but I wish they'd start reading SCEA's book on how to make a true-to-life and fun sports game.

[pdiehm]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mobaby

Maybe, MAYBE, if you look at this from afar and try to find the silver lining - this game is alright as a whole. Tackling is better, defense is better, running is a tad better, etc. But once you play this game, you start to become a little peeved and fed up. Why? This is the problem with NCAA 20102: All of the small things add up. These small things? Ridiculous looking dreads. 3D grass that's only 3D during replays. Super-fast-twitch reaction for defenders (specifically LBs). Not even close to realistic physics engine (people slide and change direction like a cartoon). How the progressive lighting switches right before our eyes in between quarters. Same old commentary. All players feel the same. I could go on, please feel free to add to this list. But if maybe one or two of these things existed, say EVEN the awfully ugly, unrealisitc, Predator-type dreads, it would be okay. But when you play and you keep noticing small little details that just take away from the experience and realism, it becomes a very big problem. This goes to show you how lazy EA is. Look at the problems I listed above...would they really be that hard to fix? Nope.

it gets worse...I'm playing the big 10 title game in a dome...I see their breath, and it's snowing.

In a DOME. INSIDE...it's snowing.

[tzinc]

I mean aside from aesthetics there are real issues with this game.

Super LBs and DBs no I shouldn't have to be playing around with sliders to fix this.

Unrealistic BCS system whereby a team like IDAHO is in the NC this year WTF>?

Everyone knows the issues with Custom Playbooks and Coaching Carousel.

Check the glitch thread... this is an extremely shoddy program. I am thinking of waiting a few years before I get another one maybe then they will have it fixed.

It is sad when previous issues of the game had less problems.

[grandchampbaby117]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mobaby

Maybe, MAYBE, if you look at this from afar and try to find the silver lining - this game is alright as a whole. Tackling is better, defense is better, running is a tad better, etc. But once you play this game, you start to become a little peeved and fed up. Why? This is the problem with NCAA 20102: All of the small things add up. These small things? Ridiculous looking dreads. 3D grass that's only 3D during replays. Super-fast-twitch reaction for defenders (specifically LBs). Not even close to realistic physics engine (people slide and change direction like a cartoon). How the progressive lighting switches right before our eyes in between quarters. Same old commentary. All players feel the same. I could go on, please feel free to add to this list. But if maybe one or two of these things existed, say EVEN the awfully ugly, unrealisitc, Predator-type dreads, it would be okay. But when you play and you keep noticing small little details that just take away from the experience and realism, it becomes a very big problem. This goes to show you how lazy EA is. Look at the problems I listed above...would they really be that hard to fix? Nope.

THANK YOU FOR EXPRESSING MY FEELINGS WITHOUT ME HAVING TO SAY A WORD!! YES! I AM SCREAMING THIS STATEMENT!!!!

[rudyjuly2]

Totally agree with the op. A lot of the game feels the same and a lot of that stuff isn't good enough anymore. The commentary is a negative, the game lacks personality and the sliding of the players and overall lack of physics is really getting under my skin. I've put up with a lot of this stuff ever since they moved to the PS3 and I'm done. I'm just not having that much fun with the game anymore and don't have the urge to play it. The players move a lot better in the Madden demo and it plays a lot smoother. I prefer college football but when Madden comes out NCAA 12 gets traded in for it. I haven't enjoyed a Madden game in years. I don't know how long I'll play Madden but I can't go back to NCAA 12. It's just too flawed for me to truly enjoy. Maybe my expectations are too high but after 5-6 years on the PS3 I think I have a right to expect more.

More importantly I will do my speaking with my wallet. I will no longer be a purchaser of NCAA Football. They have to truly improve some of the core problems in this game. My concern is that I think the devs actually like it this way and some of this stuff won't get changed. I did not like the direction EA took with NCAA Football this gen nor the continued path its on. The superficial improvements aren't enough at this point.

[Catamount53]

Man I definitely agree with you on this. Its even more annoying this year when they made such a big deal about dreads (ridiculously long and not even attached to the player's heads) and 3D grass (which looks nothing like what you would see on a football field in the first place AND it can only be seen in cutscenes. All of the rest of the time the field just looks blurry).


Also, I would add the helmets/facemasks that are not right. I don't know if anybody noticed, but ALL of the new revo speed facemasks are placed incorrectly on the helmets.

They are little issues, but I feel a little bit worse about buying the game each time I see them.

[Outkizast]

Not to mention the freezing issues... I didn't really have a big problem with this until I tried creating an online dynasty with teambuilder teams. The game freezes EVERY TIME another user tries to join the dynasty. I know this is supposed to be fixed in patch #2 but come ooooon does nobody test this game?