NCAA Football 11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

[Dbrentonbuck]

Quote: Originally Posted by moylan

either way it affects game play

I saw someone laugh at this (and I have no way of knowing how well it will work in NCAA) but play NHL 10 with the latest adjustments and play it out of the box with no adjustment and see if you think it doesn't change the way the game plays. It definately does. That doesn't mean it will in this game, but it can be done.

[rhombic21]

Quote: Originally Posted by Playmakers

The only problem is how does Rhombic come to a conclusion based on the demo something is broken? I think more guys need to take into consideration this is just a demo instead of going full speed ahead and assuming this how the game will be in the retail version. Now i know EA has a history of releasing certain games broken.....but this game IMO appears to be really solid I would also like to point out on the retail version you can fine tune the pass defense with sliders....you know like jack up the CPU to 100 awareness if you like. There's like several things you can do to make the pasing game more difficult if you so choose.....but I think the best thing we can all do is just waite for the retail version 1st instead of attempting a deep pass on every play or trying on side kicks every kick off

First, sliders won't fix this. This has to do with AI, with players knowing how to cover and where to cover, not with something like player speed or jumping ability or knockdown/INT ability, which can be manipulated with sliders.

Second, it is a demo, and maybe they will fix things. But we're talking about a complete and utter breakdown of pass defense. Short zones are messed up, deep zones are messed up, and man to man defense is messed up. The demo is old code, but realistically there was only a couple additional weeks to work on the game and there are thus going to be a limited number of things they can have addressed during that time, and that assumes that EA was even aware and working on these issues between the demo and final code. Some of these problems (with the short zones) were in the game last year and have still not been fixed, so it's not clear that EA is even aware of the issue, as they have not commented specifically on the AI issues that have been noted. If you go on past experiences, the demo has generally been very close to the final product. And I take the position that we ought to assume it remains broken until EA shows some demonstration that it isn't anymore. Otherwise you are just blindly giving money to EA without any kind of accountability. What in EA's past would lead you to believe that they will/can aggressively move to fix AI problems post-release?

Also, it was 74 points, not 68. Over 600 yards passing.

http://www.filefront.com/thankyou.ph...6907f992a8a0f3

Game was played on Heisman.

[Critical Kills]

Ok rhombic, you win, the game is broken. None of us will buy it now. Let's all play Gears of War instead

[rsump112]

Quote: Originally Posted by rhombic21

First, sliders won't fix this. This has to do with AI, with players knowing how to cover and where to cover, not with something like player speed or jumping ability or knockdown/INT ability, which can be manipulated with sliders. Second, it is a demo, and maybe they will fix things. But we're talking about a complete and utter breakdown of pass defense. Short zones are messed up, deep zones are messed up, and man to man defense is messed up. The demo is old code, but realistically there was only a couple additional weeks to work on the game and there are thus going to be a limited number of things they can have addressed during that time, and that assumes that EA was even aware and working on these issues between the demo and final code. Some of these problems (with the short zones) were in the game last year and have still not been fixed, so it's not clear that EA is even aware of the issue, as they have not commented specifically on the AI issues that have been noted. If you go on past experiences, the demo has generally been very close to the final product. And I take the position that we ought to assume it remains broken until EA shows some demonstration that it isn't anymore. Otherwise you are just blindly giving money to EA without any kind of accountability. What in EA's past would lead you to believe that they will/can aggressively move to fix AI problems post-release? Also, it was 74 points, not 68. Over 600 yards passing. http://www.filefront.com/thankyou.ph...6907f992a8a0f3 Game was played on Heisman.

I am rhombic on this.

I will enjoy this game, even with its limitations. However, it is a shame that I will have to limit my play calling due to ineptness by the CPU AI to cover certain routes and plays.

[UTAllTheWay]

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

Beyond the 'Glamor', I have noticed: Gameplay seems totally geared towards the offense (besides 'Pro Tak', it doesn't seem that much if any emphasis was placed on improving defensive gameplay)

Have you actually watched college football? College is basically all about offense. And honestly, I don't know what you're looking for. College defenses do nothing out of the ordinary. On offense, you have things like No Huddle and "120 Ways To Win" because every offense is unique in college.

On defense, most teams just use basic defense. Some of the teams (like Texas, and some SEC teams) use a lot of different styles and blitzes to try to confuse the other team, but that stuff is already in the game. So really, I'm not sure what you're looking for them to improve on defense. It seems to me they've pretty much hit the top of the iceberg with "Pro-Tak".

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

Too many dropped passes (especially wide open receivers and on big plays)

I'll somewhat agree with you... although, I don't think the number of drop passes is the problem. I'm a huge Longhorns fan, and if you watched the National Championship, you'd see that dropped passes are pretty common. Julio Jones drops passes. Malcolm Williams (#9 for Texas) drops a ton of passes. Aaron Hernandez dropped a lot of passes in college. It's common, it happens, and I think it should happen on the game as well (which it does).

What I have a problem with is the WAY they drop the passes. Most of the dropped passes are because the receiver didn't even try to catch the ball. They just sit there and watch the ball hit them in the face. I don't like that at all. If they need to improve one aspect of it, that would be it.

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

DL play is still awful (can't generate pressure from front 4, but CPU creates tons every play; D-Linemen get pancaked and/or fall down just about every play when attempting to swim past blockers)

I completely agree with you on that one.

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

Too many missed tackles (defense looks like chaos on this game; tacklers are falling and diving in every direction but at the ball carrier)

I'll agree that some of the missed tackles just look stupid (like you mentioned, guys jumping in the wrong direction). But overall, this is college football... these guys aren't professionals. There are missed tackles all the time, and that's the way it is on the game.

One thing that really bothers me, though, is when a ball carrier is running right at a defender, and just before he gets there they go into this weird stuck animation where they just stand in place... and then after a second they finally engage. That's very weird and I hope they fixed it on the retail version.

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

Players appear to be skating on ice, sliding all over the place; In my opinion, the running animation doesn't look much more realistic than NCAA 10

From what I've read, this is something they've fixed for the retail version. I really hope they did, because I'm with you... the "skating on ice" look gets really annoying.

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

CPU too souped up on Heisman (they cause lots of pressure on D, but they can sit in the pocket alllllll day on offense; Typical magical CPU A.I. always knows your silent audibles and shift the right way every time you audible; always knows to pass if you run commit before snap or run if you pass commit, etc.)

This is exactly why I never play on Heisman. That's just the way EA tries to make it a challenge. All-American is where I stay, and that won't change for me until they change their ways.

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

User catch still sucks (WRs are still disabled from facing up and leaping for a catch...like Julio Jones, AJ Green, Malcolm Williams, Jeff Fuller, and all other 6'3" and up college WRs do every week)

That's because that is extremely cheap to use online. They used to allow it, but after a ton of people complained about it from NCAA and Madden, EA decided to limit the ability to do it. I never liked it anyway, so I don't have a problem with it.

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

I’ve played this demo about 30 games or so now and I have yet to see ONE SINGLE pass interference call! Yet, I’ve seen plenty WRs getting bumped and pushed while the ball is in the air.

No argument from me here. That's been a problem for quite some time.

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

Offense seems to move at a faster pace than defense

I'm not even sure what you mean by this... Do you mean they run faster than the defense? If that's what you mean, then I disagree.

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

‘Locomotion’ feels 'off' a tad bit (watch as you juke from left to right how all of the cpu defenders also juke with you in unison)

I've noticed that problem too. Overall, I do like the "feel" of Locomotion, but it just looks stupid when you return a punt, run to the left and then cut to the right, and the entire defense cuts in perfect unison with you. It looks dumb, and that's something they definitely need to fix.

Quote: Originally Posted by IGGYBOY34

Too many fumbles!!! (the only way this can be avoided is by choosing 'Conservative' on the 'Big Run' option in the 'Gameplan' screen)

You can also solve the User fumbles problem by holding onto RB (or whatever the subsequent button is on PS3), but it doesn't do anything about the CPU. So, obviously, I agree with you on that. But with this new system they have in place where they can tune the game and release it to everyone quickly, I have a feeling this problem will be fixed pretty soon.

[rhombic21]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

Ok rhombic, you win, the game is broken. None of us will buy it now. Let's all play Gears of War instead

You do what you want. I just want people to actually acknowledge the problems with the game and to understand why a lot of folks are disappointed in the game.

Personally, I play online exclusively, and if the gameplay on the final disc is like it is on the demo, I can tell that doing so will lead to nothing but anger and frustration, so there is no point in purchasing the game.

And realistically, the only way that EA will take these issues seriously in the future is if people are willing to not buy the game if it won't be fun for them. If you're going to have fun, then go ahead and buy the game. But all I'm saying is that people shouldn't blindly buy the game under the expectation that the final version is going to be wildly different than the demo version. Particularly not until EA has released some kind of direct evidence that they are going to fix the issues that have been noted.

As far as the play style that I used in that game, obviously it was unrealistic. I kicked onsides because it's 2 minute quarters and that's the only way to get a decent number of possessions. And I threw deep every play because I was specifically showing how bad the AI is against those passes.

If you play online, this game is going to be a nightmare, at least as it currently stands on the demo.

[smallvillefan27]

They should have used the Madden 10 QB throwing styles, they look much more realistic, and less akward than the ncaa ones

[SIM RULES]

Rhombic21, I am sad too say that you are correct with your game play assessment. I will post my impressions later, and they are not good at all. Playing online will be horrible, if they do not address the money plays, due to horrible defensive AI. I can run for 200 yards every game or pass for 300 in a 8 minute demo. For those that say I am exaggerating, you obviously have not found the money plays yet. The money plays are due to horrible defensive AI. After you figure out the offense in this demo, the defense becomes an extension of your offense.