News Post

NCAA Football 09 Interview

05:38 PM - March 7, 2008 by iamemmittsmith

GameTap has posted an interview with Kendall Boyd, Product Manager for NCAA Football 09.

Quote:


	GameTap: "What's the hook for NCAA Football 09? How has the gameplay changed?" Kendall Boyd: "The big focus this year is about wide-open gameplay and the college atmosphere. If you went to the National Championship last season, it was all about electricity. We want you to be able to feel the electricity as best you can when you go in and play the game. You do that by making it a more wide-open experience in terms of giving guys more ankle-breaking jukes. At the same time, when you hit the hole immediately at the line of scrimmage, you'll find your opening. But if you're playing against a lesser team, that hole will open, and after running five or 10 yards, it might come down to a footrace. Blocking is one of the big keys to that and [it's] the area the dev team is really concentrating on right now."

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Member Comments

# 21 jballa838 @ 03/08/08 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomb9887


	there better be D2 teams i wanna play with sum app state

App State is DI-AA (now FCS) not D2.
But I hope they add FCS teams, plus D2 would be cool because my brother would play for his school just to be in NCAA.

# 22 Anaxamander @ 03/08/08 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chibi


	You know what would sell me on the game? "We've managed to balance it out so that there aren't any fifteen-turnover games this year." I don't care about jukes if the guy's just going to fumble, and I don't care about cheerleaders if Rice Stadium is packed for a 1-7 team. And formation subs for God's bloody sake.

Amen. I wish they would just come out and tell us stuff like that in the beginning, but honestly we probably won't find out about formation subs until someone on this board finds the game early, because usually people who are able to actually interview EA don't know or care about that kind of thing.

# 23 hawkeyekid @ 03/08/08 12:23 PM

Great, I swear that I heard this last year.

I didn't think blocking was that bad last year. It was the "Jump the Snap" that ruined blocking. Say you're going to fix that and I'll take you seriously.

I ran away from lots of players last year. I don't think that was a problem.

How about fixing turnovers? How about instead of cheerleaders on the sidelines, we get entrances? How about all the things in last gen that just didn't make it in (bowl patches, endzones, etc.)?

Playbook substitutions, rosters that you can fully edit, no roster bugs, better pregame, etc.?

I'm done with Madden. I don't want to be done with NCAA.

# 24 ex carrabba fan @ 03/08/08 12:55 PM

Since 2000 I would hang on every new screenshot, interview, video, tiny morsel of news, anything that concerned the new college game. But that's all down the drain now, after last year enough was enough. Next gen football has been "playable" yeah, but that isn't nearly enough.

Anyone see the five or six second video clip on Sportscenter last night? It was of D-Mac running and juking in practice mode. Albeit it was labeled "work in progress" it looked and seemed exactly like last year's unnatural running animations.

# 25 VWarrior @ 03/08/08 02:23 PM

"When you looked at it on PS2, the cheerleaders were part of a cutscene. Now, you'll be driving down the field and you'll see them on the sideline doing stunts and cheers in unison, and it's really cool. That's the kind of stuff we want the fans to appreciate. The subtle things."

No Mr./Ms. Boyd. Thats the kinda of stuff the fans have been waiting for you to implement.

# 26 Altimus @ 03/08/08 02:54 PM

Quote:


	"The PS3 version will run at 60 frames per second."

PS3 gamers, rejoice.

# 27 hawkeyekid @ 03/08/08 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VWarrior


	"When you looked at it on PS2, the cheerleaders were part of a cutscene. Now, you'll be driving down the field and you'll see them on the sideline doing stunts and cheers in unison, and it's really cool. That's the kind of stuff we want the fans to appreciate. The subtle things." No Mr./Ms. Boyd. Thats the kinda of stuff the fans have been waiting for you to implement.

Good call. If they would have taken 10 minutes last year or the year before, they would have read lists and lists of what people wanted. WE DO appreciate that stuff. That's why we buy The Show and NBA 2k and College Hoops 2k and NHL 08.

# 28 AuburnAlumni @ 03/08/08 05:24 PM

Blah blah blah.

I still play the hell out of NCAA 08 and I think it's a very good game, but come on EA.

You spout the same crap every year. "Improved atmosphere" has been one of the headlines for the last 20 years it seems.

Skip all of the fluff....no more stupid "Dorm Room" mode or Mascot games, etc.

How about this...

1. Quit taking out "added features" that have been in and out of NCAA for TEN YEARS NOW. That means don't take out Create a play...leave it in. Don't take out Homefield advantage....TONE IT DOWN BUT DONT TAKE IT OUT. Don't take out Create a Sign. Don't take out FORMATION SUBSTITUTIONS FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY!!!

2. Concentrate on GAMEPLAY...and I don't mean how to perform 287 special moves with the damn analog stick. How about.....decreasing every DBs ability to jump 60" and swat a ball down without even looking for it? Allowing the CPU QB to THROW DEEP? Making LBs play more like College Linebackers and less like some Bionic Ray Lewis with a 50" vertical, hands of Jerry Rice, and awareness of a Super Computer?

3. Take a giant cue from Sega's 2k College Basketball series and add in a preaseason show, a weekly wrap up show, and a BCS preview show. And don't tell me it can't be done...friggin' 2k's been doing it for 3 years now.

See EA. It's not that hard to improve on what I think is the second best sports title BEHIND College Hoops.

But I doubt I'll see much if any of the above. Instead I'll get "super duper spin move/crazy juke mode" and "create your own cheerleader".

# 29 thmst30 @ 03/08/08 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomb9887


	there better be D2 teams i wanna play with sum app state

Quote:

Originally Posted by jballa838


	App State is DI-AA (now FCS) not D2. But I hope they add FCS teams, plus D2 would be cool because my brother would play for his school just to be in NCAA.

From what I heard they once again left out 1-AA. Thanks EA, Your the Best!

# 30 edubbs @ 03/09/08 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuburnAlumni


	Blah blah blah. 2. Concentrate on GAMEPLAY...and I don't mean how to perform 287 special moves with the damn analog stick. How about.....decreasing every DBs ability to jump 60" and swat a ball down without even looking for it? Allowing the CPU QB to THROW DEEP?

I agree.

NCAA and Madden have the WORST cpu controlled QB AI of any game out there. It is not fun at all, defending little dink and dunk passes the entire game when playing the cpu.

If they do not give the CPU QB's the ability to attempt deep passes in either game this year it will be a shame.

Every team in both NCAA and Madden run the same passing offense and it's just horrible programming IMO..... that should have been fixed a long time ago.

# 31 SageInfinite @ 03/09/08 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edubbs


	I agree. NCAA and Madden have the WORST cpu controlled QB AI of any game out there. It is not fun at all, defending little dink and dunk passes the entire game when playing the cpu. If they do not give the CPU QB's the ability to attempt deep passes in either game this year it will be a shame. Every team in both NCAA and Madden run the same passing offense and it's just horrible programming IMO..... that should have been fixed a long time ago.

Co-Sign

# 32 countryboy @ 03/09/08 12:52 PM

thankfully I am engrossed with The Show right now or I would be counting down the days to July 15th.

128 days to go...

I like the article and all, but I agree with the above posters, I wanna hear about subtle changes they have made to the AI, the dynasty mode, and the turnover glitch that plagued last years game.

Now do I think the turnover glitch and the super human DB glitch will be in this year's version of the game given the fact that they were exposed last year? No I actually don't, but until I hear that they have been addressed, then I am going to remain skeptical.

# 33 LBzrule @ 03/09/08 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edubbs


	I agree. NCAA and Madden have the WORST cpu controlled QB AI of any game out there. It is not fun at all, defending little dink and dunk passes the entire game when playing the cpu. If they do not give the CPU QB's the ability to attempt deep passes in either game this year it will be a shame. Every team in both NCAA and Madden run the same passing offense and it's just horrible programming IMO..... that should have been fixed a long time ago.

Well one would have to wonder if that was done purposely though because when you look back to the PS2 and Xbox days the QB's never threw short passes, they were always long bombs and most of the time always complete. And who could ever for get Robo QB with that laser 360 degree off the back foot strike 40 yards down the field and the one handed grab by the WR.

# 34 davin @ 03/09/08 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBzrule


	Well one would have to wonder if that was done purposely though because when you look back to the PS2 and Xbox days the QB's never threw short passes, they were always long bombs and most of the time always complete. And who could ever for get Robo QB with that laser 360 degree off the back foot strike 40 yards down the field and the one handed grab by the WR.

It was worse when the QB from a team like San Jose State could do that with ease on you.

I'll take the CPU QB not throwing INTs as much and maybe a little more deep ball action, but not much more. I have finally gotten to the point where the other team uses 10+ play drives and doesn't score in 5 plays.

# 35 rudyjuly2 @ 03/10/08 01:39 PM

60 fps on the PS3 is good. I definately agree about having the cpu QB's go deep more. That's a huge part of college football and they used to do it all the time on the PS2 version if they could. 60 fps, bringing back current features and fixing the cpu QB AI are my biggest hopes. The fact they wanted to bring back the super juke makes me happy. The speed of the players and the wicked moves on the PS2 may have been exageratted but it was fun. I want the PS3 version to get that PS2 feel again.

# 36 jrod1981 @ 03/10/08 01:55 PM

I dunno but i'm a fanboy, so i'm stoked and will be picking this up. Here's to hoping for a great game!

# 37 Moshood @ 03/10/08 02:00 PM

Unless the turnovers have been toned down I'm passing on 09.

# 38 feeq14 @ 03/16/08 04:21 PM

I know im in the minortiy when i felt that NCAA 08 was near perfect. I would have liked less turnovers and more power running playbooks, but other than that I thought it was great. All I really want is custumizable playbooks

# 39 UNC_Pete @ 03/17/08 11:58 AM

I'm waiting on this one. Unless the LB and secondary AI is improved substantially I won't be buying it. (I assume I won't be buying it..)

# 40 Sausage @ 03/19/08 01:06 AM

If I don't see these enhancements it is a rental at best:

First things first wait until the big patch is released.

Second thing I will look for is television presentation from coin toss, new commentary, better stat over lays, sideline animations, refs, facemask penalty, cheerleaders, goal nets, dynamic crowd, alternate unis, and edit ability. Also important games should be mentioned by the commentators and the crowd should be more rowdy.

Third thing
Now onto gameplay:
*Better A.I. play, not everyone just plays online, we need good A.I. to hone our skills.
*Dynamic tackling (gang/individual/etc.)
*Better O-line blocking and interaction with the D-line
*Greater differentiation from a great player to a good player to an average player
*No pauses in playbook screen

Fourth thing
*Dynasty upgrades
-quicker transitions from all the screens
*Tournament mode
*Rivalry games

There has been more than enough time and excuses. If not they have already lost 3 sales because my buddies care about my opinion. That is a .0000003 sales hit, lol. If enough people can keep themselves from buying a shoddy product, then in 09' we can get more poo shoved in our face. Peace.

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