Re: NCAA Football 13 Demo Is Out, Post Your Impressions Here
Here's my 2 cents after playing the demo. This would be a decent game if it were NCAA 12. This is the type of game we should have got last year. With Madden's new Infinity Engine not being in this year's game we really aren't getting a full effort. The demo is not terrible but it's hard to get a true judgement because i actually think the game will play much better once we get some sliders and can change the speed. That being said there are certain things that need to be addressed that have been layed out for them in terms of how to do.
Biggest things they need to work on next year, presentation and player movement and included in player movement would be gameplay because player movement would effect everything.
Madden is at the point of having virtual Phil & Jim, i'm not saying we need virtual Herbie (although virtual Erin Andrews would be nice) but we're seeing broadcast get pushed more and more so i don't want to hear crap about limits or disc space. NBA 2k does an excellent job of making their crew sound like a broadcast team sitting there watching the game. They talk about what's going on, interrupt each other during big plays, talk about individuals, storylines, and most importantly, talk about what's going on during your season/association. Same can be said for MLB the Show. They sound like a real tv booth. Now both games do have lines that get repetitive but NCAA it sounds like a bunch of 1 liners.
The ESPN updates have been terribly implemented. Not only am i getting an update every 3 plays but the updates and for the same game everytime a team scores. TCU 3 WVU 0, 3 plays later, TCU 6 WVU 0. Really? You need to update me that TCU kicked another field goal? And what's with the teams scoring so fast? They add an ESPN scorebar but i felt like the score was changing every 2 seconds. That could be because the qtr length was short so the other games were going by fast but i hope we aren't getting update so rapidly in the final build. And the updates sound horrible. Plus he rambles and might stay on 1 game for too long. It just sounds awkward.
The real next step is to add a team. You have ESPN/ABC at your fingertips. We saw Jim Nantz do Madden & Tiger Woods. Get Brent in there and add him to Kirk & Erin Andrews and make them the ABC team. Use Nessler with Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe for an ESPN team. Use Rece Davis & Jesse Palmer with either Heather Cox for an ESPN2 team. I understand all of those would be a lot but at least another team to add some variety and not make each game feel the same. The commentators need to talk about what's going on in your dynasty throughout the game, there should be stats that come up that relate to your dynasty/team history/series history.
They need to show us some sort of starting lineup. Every game these days shows us a starting lineup. Just put up the names, don't even need to use the player model picture, names + position + number + year just like in real life. Who cares if they are no named players like #2 QB, we all end up getting named rosters anyway. It just adds to the broadcast.
Along with the audio presentation they really need to update the visual presentation. The way they enter in a game just feels so bland. Then the team intros are just too long, too boring, too quiet. There is just way too much dead air that it makes everything boring. Just because you're showing them walk out of the locker room doesn't mean you need to keep the commentary quiet. This is a time where they can talk about what this game means, how it ties into the season, series history, etc.
Camera angles need to change. They change every year but they seem to slightly push it back or tilt it but it's not good. Aside from needing the tv angle broadcast view for those that want it, they should just make the behind angle be from that wire view. That way the people who still want the view from behind the offense can still get it with authentic tv style presentation and maybe offer a view from behind the defense if we want to set it up that way on defense. They used to have that. Make it like MLB the Show where you can set the camera one way when you're on offense, one way on defense. But give us a little more variety.
Replays are awful. Get rid of these closeup angle replays. Use realistic tv angle replays. EA has a problem trying to make it you're on the field there but its a tv broadcast. They can't decide which they are so we get a half assed version of both. They need to go full tv style broadcast because that's where games are going and that's what people want to see. I'm not saying make the broadcast angle the default, but make the default more from the wire angle.
Update accessories. This game looks ugly when everyone is wearing that ugly style revo helmet that a lot of the KSU players are wearing in the demo. There is no excuse not to have certain facemasks, especially the popular ones. They have Nike, Adidas & Under Armour in the game, utilize their accessories more. Other than just gloves, arm sleeves, wristbands, etc. GIVE US MORE CLEATS. You have those brands, those brands make more than 1 or 2 styles of cleats. Update and expand. And go the NBA 2k route and allow us to individually change the color going with the team colors, or if we want to make it something different. Some guys on Oklahoma might wear Crimson & white cleats while others wear white & crimson. Give us eye black, fix those predator dreads and get these guys looking like real athletes with different body types. If they could get the look down then it hides a lot of flaws.
Player movement. These guys just don't move like athletes at all. There is no feeling of body weight. Now i understand they'll get Madden's new Infinity Engine next year which will help, but they need to expand on what they have. Every running back shouldn't run alike. They should allow us to choose a running style, a style for little guys who juke, big guys who run over, normal guys who are elusive, etc. and get some people in there to do their mo cap who actually run normal. The juke moves the way players shift just look awkward. When you control Lebron James in NBA 2k and you move around the court as him you can feel the way he is moving and he looks like a real athlete moving. The footwork in NCAA needs to be improved and footplanting really needs to be evident. There is no excuse for guys sliding or not really stepping into the ground but rather just moving over the grass. Throwing motions also need to be improved and need to be individualized.
You improve the way the players move, make weight & speed & strength matter, make them plant their feet and no longer slide then it will improve the way the OL/DL interact. Add to that improved & more realistic player models & true authentic broadcast and you have a game that doesn't need gimmicks to sell.
So here would be your back of the box selling points
*The most authentic ESPN Broadcast ever
ESPN/ESPN2/ABC tv style presentation with additional broadcast teams
*Get the look & feel of college football
White/Black/Red/Blueouts, authentic nike/adidas/under armour equipment
*updated teambuilder
now have the ability to edit uniforms mid-dynasty as well as many other additions
*Most authentic gameplay to date with new Infinity Engine
Presentation, Gameplay, Teambuilder, and your gimmicks be for the accessory/equipment people.
For your Game Mode addition you introduce the ability to be the AD or go as the Coach so you either can hire/fire coaches and stay at the same school and try to build that school into a powerhouse and expand the stadium and other AD additions or go as the coach from school to school and try to come up as the coordinator like it is now.
I didn't think the demo was awful. The studio updates bothered me because of how often, pointless and boring they were and the presentation bothered me but i just felt like this is the game we should have got last year.
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