Backbreaker Video: Passing Game

[NoDakHusker]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blzer

Can someone explain the "after-touch" mechanic in this game? Is it meant to be used while in your throwing motion to lead the runner a specific way, or is it used after releasing the ball to put an animation on the receiver so he can catch it a certain way? I was really confused about this. If it's the former, I'm surprised they didn't go the Maximum Passing route that the NFL 2K series used where you use the left analog stick while throwing to lead your receiver a certain way, because it also encourages you to stand still while throwing so you don't accidentally underthrow it on a fade-away, etc/. Using the right stick for a few motions is a little much, like flicking up for a short bullet and then flicking left before releasing it to lead your receiver left, etc. If it's after the pass, can someone explain to me what we're actually doing to affect the ball/receiver?

This confused me as well, because the way he talked about it made it seem like you do it after the pass is thrown...it wasn't explained very well.

[bonannogiovanni]

Quote: Originally Posted by ndhusker90

This confused me as well, because the way he talked about it made it seem like you do it after the pass is thrown...it wasn't explained very well.

I'm sure it's after the pass is thrown, then you can lead your receiver in four directions.

[Blzer]

Quote: Originally Posted by bonannogiovanni

I'm sure it's after the pass is thrown, then you can lead your receiver in four directions.

But this is where I'm lost. Why wouldn't the receiver be attempting to try and catch the ball at all costs anyway?

[thelwig14]

I am looking forward to the demo...but I think this is the first gameplay mechanic where "overthought" it...Madden and icon passing is pretty spot on...the routes and sideline awareness are where it needed to be fixed.

[yardz23]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blzer

But this is where I'm lost. Why wouldn't the receiver be attempting to try and catch the ball at all costs anyway?

probably because we'll be using it to throw away from defenders, but still at the reciever. You know, like on come back routes the qb will hit the inside shoulder to keep the ball on the opposite side of the receivers body to the defenders. possibly?

[LoostheMoos]

Quote: Originally Posted by thelwig14

I am looking forward to the demo...but I think this is the first gameplay mechanic where "over-thought" it...Madden and icon passing is pretty spot on...the routes and sideline awareness are where it needed to be fixed.

Oh no...Madden and "spot-on passing" do not belong in the same book...let alone the same sentence!!!!

This passing mechanic for BB has me excited if for no other reason than it looks to be a variation of what EA originally tried to do with the QB Vision Cone. To this day a don't know why so many people hated that feature so much. Yes, if you tried to only use the stick to move the cone it was very difficult and cumbersome, but it also had the option of using the icons to 'snap' the cone from one WR to another. The one thing I LOVED about the Vision cone was being able to set my primary read pre-snap and using the cone to draw defenders away from my truly intended receiver.

BB having the LT/"Focus" mode as a way of representing the QB locking in on a WR, is EXCELLENT in my view...if anything I wish the screen would get MORE opaque for everything outside of the QB's line of sight to the targeted WR the longer they stare down the WR...then it could slowly bleed back out as you switch receivers. I want MORE difficulty in switching from a second read to a third read than from a primary to a secondary...then in future iterations of the series NM could add things like ratings-based QB abilities that would be reflected in the sped a QB could switch reads and such....HEAVEN!!! lol...

Gamers have become spoiled as hell when it comes to passing in videogame football...which is one of the reasons that online and head-to-head match-ups have devolved into passing contests going all the way back to the first madden on Sega Genesis! People expect to be able to throw the ball to any receiver, at any time and still be able to make plays on the ball...this expectation, and the craven collapse every year by EA to allow this in their games (* and truth be told in almost every other football game to date - with a few noted exceptions *), allows gamers to play unrealistically and they just accept it. Here we have a mechanic that shows an awful lot of promise, and I am hoping like hell that it all comes together into an excellent game...

Need that demo yesterday dammit!!!

[Blzer]

Quote: Originally Posted by yardz23

probably because we'll be using it to throw away from defenders, but still at the reciever. You know, like on come back routes the qb will hit the inside shoulder to keep the ball on the opposite side of the receivers body to the defenders. possibly?

Then that would be the former thought, where we are actually changing where we throw it (that is, when the QB still has the ball), not after he releases it.

Again, this is where I'm lost.

[canes21]

The passing mechanic with all four directions is during the throwing animation. Press to the left and you'll throw to the left of the WR, up and its high, etc. etc. Rob has touched on this before.