NCAA Football 09 Demo Available: Discuss Here

[Von Dozier]

Quote: Originally Posted by tswells

How hard can it be to put in? NFL 2k5 wasn't made by aliens, they were human beings, just like the EA staff. It didn't take them four years of "Oh, maybe next year." This EA monopoly is the worst thing to every happen to football games, since they can now put out a sub-par, half-assed game and not fear low sales. It's absolutely pathetic. Thanks, EA.

Ouch.

[Illustrator76]

I have mixed feelings about the demo. It impresses me in some areas and lets me down in others.

Pros:
-The graphics and player models look AWESOME, they are nicely proportioned and not too fat or "swollen looking".

-The field and stadiums also look great this year too. The grass has been overhauled to look like, well......grass.

-The playbooks more accurately reflect what each team runs in real life.

-Audible options for the D-Line, LB's and CB's seem to work better and have been expanded upon from last year.

-SLIDE PROTECTION!

-More varied/improved animations, and they look more fluid and less robotic too.

-Run blocking and the running game as a whole seems to be improved over last year.

-Stadium lighting looks great, I love the on field shadows from the sun shining on the stadium.

Cons:
-For me the speed of the game is just too fast. It seems to take some of the strategy away from this game and turns it in to a twitch fest on how fast you can push buttons. "Blank" Pro Football running on normal is the perfect game speed for me, it allows you to set up blocks when running, scan the field when throwing, etc..without you feeling super rushed because the game is running at warp speed.

-I would like to see less automatic broken tackles and more forcing the user to learn what kind of players they have (e.g. power back, scat back) and react accordingly. Again "Blank" Pro Football forces YOU to have to stiff arm with power backs, juke with quick backs, etc...in order to be successful. There aren't HALF as many automatic broken tackles in that game as I see in NCAA 09.

-Also I think some of the special moves are too exaggerated. The juke is one of the worst offenders. It just looks too cartoony seeing a dude juke 3 yards to the left while the defender goes flying by him.

-I would like to see a weapons system similar to Madden for next year.

-At times gameplay just feels flat out stale and boring, hard to put my finger on what exactly is causing this though...


I am really on the fence about buying this game this year. I have a lot more pros and cons but I'm kind of tired of typing, LOL. On one hand I love my College Football and this game IS improved over last year, but on the other hand it just doesn't "feel" like football all of the time to me. After playing MLB 08 The Show, I was absolutely blown away at how well they re-created the game of baseball; from the graphics down to the commentary it really raised my expectations of what to expect from a next-gen sports title. I'm just not getting that feeling from NCAA 09, maybe renting the full version is the best choice for me, because I just can't decide based on this demo.

[Gamecock]

I tried playing 08 earlier and it's amazing how unlike these games are. 08 looked gross compared to how visually this game has improved.

Running is much easier on 08 from what i've experienced with the demo so far though which is my biggest problem..

[countryboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by pjv31

Rent 08, play one game, LSU at OSU. Then download the demo again, play it, then tell me its the same as 08. If you still honestly believe that then I guess this game really isn't for you.

my thoughts exactly

[zeroice]

Quote: Originally Posted by Illustrator76

I have mixed feelings about the demo. It impresses me in some areas and lets me down in others. Pros: -The graphics and player models look AWESOME, they are nicely proportioned and not too fat or "swollen looking". -The field and stadiums also look great this year too. The grass has been overhauled to look like, well......grass. -The playbooks more accurately reflect what each team runs in real life. -Audible options for the D-Line, LB's and CB's seem to work better and have been expanded upon from last year. -SLIDE PROTECTION! -More varied/improved animations, and they look more fluid and less robotic too. -Run blocking and the running game as a whole seems to be improved over last year. -Stadium lighting looks great, I love the on field shadows from the sun shining on the stadium. Cons: -For me the speed of the game is just too fast. It seems to take some of the strategy away from this game and turns it in to a twitch fest on how fast you can push buttons. "Blank" Pro Football running on normal is the perfect game speed for me, it allows you to set up blocks when running, scan the field when throwing, etc..without you feeling super rushed because the game is running at warp speed. -I would like to see less automatic broken tackles and more forcing the user to learn what kind of players they have (e.g. power back, scat back) and react accordingly. Again "Blank" Pro Football forces YOU to have to stiff arm with power backs, juke with quick backs, etc...in order to be successful. There aren't HALF as many automatic broken tackles in that game as I see in NCAA 09. -Also I think some of the special moves are too exaggerated. The juke is one of the worst offenders. It just looks too cartoony seeing a dude juke 3 yards to the left while the defender goes flying by him. -I would like to see a weapons system similar to Madden for next year. I am really on the fence about buying this game this year. I have a lot more pros and cons but I'm kind of tired of typing, LOL. On one hand I love my College Football and this game IS improved over last year, but on the other hand it just doesn't "feel" like football all of the time to me. After playing MLB 08 The Show, I was absolutely blown away at how well they re-created the game of baseball; from the graphics down to the commentary it really raised my expectations of what to expect from a next-gen sports title. I'm just not getting that feeling from NCAA 09, maybe renting the full version is the best choice for me, because I just can't decide based on this demo.

Good points, just a thought, the sliders will take care of alot of problems..Speed of gameplay etc......Atleast i sure hope so. sO LETS GET TO WORK ON THOSE SLIDERS everyone, because we are all going to need them..I suspect the higher levels will play much better. No one plays on Varsity LOL

[grtwhtsk]

Forgive me if this has been asked, but 119 pages is a lot to scan. Anyway, I tried out the PS3 demo and it's coming up as 720P. When I uncheck 720P on my PS3, the demo shows as 480P. Is the game not in 1080P for the PS3?

[Shinyhubcaps]

For the PS3, the demo is a huge step up in every conceivable fashion over last year's soft textures, <30 fps romp.

I really like this demo, but there is one nagging issue, and I'm sure it's already been mentioned, but...

The scorebar says, for the sample game, "LSU" and "Bucks." Now, Ohio State is the Buckeyes, not the Bucks. Plus, if the one team is the school name, go with all school names. The thing I hate most is the inconsistency. Sure, OSU is taken by Oklahoma State University, but Ohio State could be "Ohio St" or "OH St." But no; instead, they write the nickname for their nickname. That's like an MLB game having the "O's" and the "Brew Crew" instead of Orioles and Brewers, or, more logically, BAL vs. MIL.

Sorry, but that bothers me for some reason. Even if you use the nicknames, use the nicknames for both teams instead of one school and one 2nd degree nickname.

[jfsolo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Teddy_Long

Adam, u and the others must consider putting in the team entrances and some game ending celebrations. The game is seriously missing presentation. I would bet the sells would increase by at least 25 percent compared to whatever it will be with '09. Casual gamers have seen the '09 clips and said, "this is '08." There is nothing that really jumps out with '09 unless u r a hardcore gamer (such as me). U put in team entrances, maybe a solid halftime show, and at least 2 game endings (national championship) celebrations and this board (especially casual gamers that passed the ebgame shops) would be going crazy to when they release 2010. And if u guy(s) decide to throw in new qb throwing animations (rivers, manning, etc) as well, Ncaa 2004 will not be the best anymore. lol

I disagree totally. I don't think team entrances, halftime shows, and endgame celebrations would increase sales 1% let alone 25%. This board, and a few others around the net, skews people perspective. EA is always engaging in market research and analysis, you don't think they would have definitely added features that might spark the sale of an additional 1/4 of a million units?

Its hardcore gamers that care about that stuff. And even then its only a certain certain segment of the hardcore customer base that really considers that stuff vitally important.