News Post

EA Focused Once Again on Visuals And Atmosphere

04:07 PM - July 8, 2008 by RaychelSnr

With just 6 days left until NCAA Football 09 drops onto store shelves, Patrick Williams checks in with an article discussing how EA is focused once again on visuals and atmosphere. Check out his article and be sure to leave feedback on whether you think EA's focus is sound!

Quote:


	"It is no secret that EA has heard the consumers' cries for more atmosphere in games. Atmosphere is a word I have typed numerous times when referring to titles such as Madden, NCAA and NHL 0, and it is something that adds so much to the gaming experience."

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Member Comments

# 21 Phobia @ 07/08/08 06:45 PM

All I want is to see physics like grand theft auto IV has. I don't know about you but the thing about madden and NCAA that has always made me upset. If you are running with a halfback and see the edge open and burst for it. The outside linebacker steps in to make a hit but is way to your right side and the animation that pops up is you getting drilled backwards. The physics your mind has already calculated happening don't and it thows this big "UHHHHH???????" into your mind completely taking you out of the reality of the game.

In GTAIV it is just as much fun to push someone down the stairs and just watch how the fall, stumble, try to land right, BUT fall on their head as it is to do the missions.

The Physics are so good they are enjoyable on there own. Football titles have lacked the correct physics and that has caused some serious gameplay issues.

For instance, watching MLB THE SHOW and the players use correct form. Postioning their body before the throw. Hearing the announcers talk about how "He was almost out of postion but managed to correct his body and make the throw" type of stuff is just amazing. Seeing real fundamentals put in the game is what we are all after and THE SHOW did it excellent.

# 22 OMT @ 07/08/08 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia


	PWNED!!!!!!!!!!!

Shoot. Didn't mean it to sound that way.

Just trying to provide some better insight into the development process and hopefully clear up some long held assumptions.

I apologize for the tone of my post.

# 23 PVarck31 @ 07/08/08 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbrandon


	I feel for you if you really thought ea would put much effort in improving gameplay and AI. Our love for football has made fools out of those of us wanting a better playing game ea is all about gimmicks and hype. My brother has worked there for years but will remain nameless for obvious reasons.

I find it a little funny that you have been bashing both EA football games like its your job, and you just now mention your brother works there. So you are basically saying your brother sucks too right?

# 24 Anti Honor @ 07/08/08 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMT


	Then ask your brother, and he'll tell you that we have a seperate game team who's job is to improve gameplay and AI. They have totally different staff, management, budget, etc from the team that does the visuals and the atmosphere. Changing the lighting, for instance, has no effect on AI. None. They are totally different engineering principles and skill sets anyway, so that guy doing rendering wouldn't be the guy you want tuning offensive line play (for instance).

I sure wish I could have a conversation with whoever is in charge of actual game play then. Because every time I ask a question, the only response I get from here is - ''not my area, sorry.''

Forward this to whoever is in charge of game play - ''Believe it or not, college quarterbacks actually do throw deep.'' Thanks in advance.

# 25 #85_on_a_mission @ 07/08/08 07:34 PM

All I want from EA is a realistic....sim football game. If its in the game...it should be in the game. If 2k can come close to doing this...I dont see why EA cant do the same.

# 26 SevenArmz @ 07/08/08 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #85_on_a_mission


	All I want from EA is a realistic....sim football game. If its in the game...it should be in the game. If 2k can come close to doing this...I dont see why EA cant do the same.

Because there is no other college football game you can buy! That is the only reason i continue to buy it. I love college football that much. But deep down i would like to see everything that was in last gen apart of next gen without sacrifice of this and that to save resources and space!
How can you tell the public that they will never see FCS schools? Do you know how many Hampton, NSU, Virginia State alums that still play thier last gen version just so they can have these schools? Your really being sour to a good fan base!

# 27 janglar @ 07/08/08 09:03 PM

First and foremost, we are less than a week away from "The Only Game That Matters......Period!"; AKA, the real Christmas season. I have always been a stickler for visuals, details, and atmosphere in football games, but gameplay is always priority number one. Aside from making gameplay the main objective, here are the visual details I would like to see included or refined in 2010 (Giving mad props to those who have posted these earlier)
In no particular order of importance:
1. Neutral stadiums and ability to choose stadium for scheduling dynasty games. NCAA 2001 for PS1!!! had every neutral field that was in play for real games. A huge (at least to me) forgotten feature of creating a dynasty schedule in 2001 was the ability to choose a stadium for every game. For realism purposes you could get a neutral matchup that maybe the game schedule makers forgot, or you could mostly make up fantasy match ups in pro or neutral stadiums. I would schedule a game with Texas at Cowboy Stadium, Notre Dame at Soldier Field or Hoosier Dome, ect. It's in the game EA.....
2. Progressive mud on field and uniforms during rain games on grass
3. Pregame ESPN GameDay and team specific entrances. The smoke at Miami, the script Ohio, play like a champion at Notre Dame, the big T at Tennessee, the Harley at Oregon, ect.
4. Impact player to watch pregame warm up footage with up to date season stats and NCAA/Conference ranks.
5. More detail, atmosphere, fan interaction, and post game presenation and celebrations for rivalry trophy games. Last year you got a yellow background banner with a congratulation message for winning a random trophy message......NO! I want to see the fans extra jacked for the game, the trophy holding team's cheerleaders bringing the trophy out before the game (possibly having it sit on their sideline during game), the winning team celebrating at the end of the game with the trophy, possibly in traditional team specific fashion (the Wisconsin/Minnesota Paul Bunyun Axe winner chopping at the losers goal post, the Stanford/Cal student body lineup exchanging the Axe)
6. New post game animations

My turniquette and surgical tubing is ready, I'm tapping my vein.....

# 28 Old Gold and Blue @ 07/08/08 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janglar


	First and foremost, we are less than a week away from "The Only Game That Matters......Period!"; AKA, the real Christmas season. I have always been a stickler for visuals, details, and atmosphere in football games, but gameplay is always priority number one. Aside from making gameplay the main objective, here are the visual details I would like to see included or refined in 2010 (Giving mad props to those who have posted these earlier) In no particular order of importance: 1. Neutral stadiums and ability to choose stadium for scheduling dynasty games. NCAA 2001 for PS1!!! had every neutral field that was in play for real games. A huge (at least to me) forgotten feature of creating a dynasty schedule in 2001 was the ability to choose a stadium for every game. For realism purposes you could get a neutral matchup that maybe the game schedule makers forgot, or you could mostly make up fantasy match ups in pro or neutral stadiums. I would schedule a game with Texas at Cowboy Stadium, Notre Dame at Soldier Field or Hoosier Dome, ect. It's in the game EA..... 2. Progressive mud on field and uniforms during rain games on grass 3. Pregame ESPN GameDay and team specific entrances. The smoke at Miami, the script Ohio, play like a champion at Notre Dame, the big T at Tennessee, the Harley at Oregon, ect. 4. Impact player to watch pregame warm up footage with up to date season stats and NCAA/Conference ranks. 5. More detail, atmosphere, fan interaction, and post game presenation and celebrations for rivalry trophy games. Last year you got a yellow background banner with a congratulation message for winning a random trophy message......NO! I want to see the fans extra jacked for the game, the trophy holding team's cheerleaders bringing the trophy out before the game (possibly having it sit on their sideline during game), the winning team celebrating at the end of the game with the trophy, possibly in traditional team specific fashion (the Wisconsin/Minnesota Paul Bunyun Axe winner chopping at the losers goal post, the Stanford/Cal student body lineup exchanging the Axe) 6. New post game animations My turniquette and surgical tubing is ready, I'm tapping my vein.....

Agreed, I'd love to see the Mountaineers stay on the field after a win and hear Country Roads played, along with all the great traditions in college football.

Also more in depth coverage of the teams and players would be cool too. And like another poster said, a physics engine like GTA4 would greatly improve gameplay and make the game more realistic.

# 29 statum71 @ 07/08/08 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghettoshark


	I could care less if the visuals are almost real. I want a fun playing football game again. Madden/NCAA on last gen was solid, not because of top notch graphics or atmosphere, but because the game felt right. And in the end, that's the most important thing to a video game.

My friend, you must not have an HDTV. Visuals make all the difference in the world.

# 30 OMT @ 07/08/08 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti Honor


	I sure wish I could have a conversation with whoever is in charge of actual game play then. Because every time I ask a question, the only response I get from here is - ''not my area, sorry.'' Forward this to whoever is in charge of game play - ''Believe it or not, college quarterbacks actually do throw deep.'' Thanks in advance.

Ask Ian Cummings on the Madden board. He was in charge of gameplay last year.

# 31 Russell_SCEA @ 07/08/08 09:54 PM

Quote:


	Progressive mud on field and uniforms during rain games on grass

Wtf is progressive mud lol

# 32 ODogg @ 07/08/08 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russell05


	Wtf is progressive mud lol

mud so real it leaves grit in your mouth. only from an HD set of course.

# 33 Solidice @ 07/08/08 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg


	mud so real it leaves grit in your mouth. only from an HD set of course.

what? no mud smell? lame.

# 34 ODogg @ 07/08/08 10:37 PM

The actual headline should be "EA focused once again on visuals. And atmosphere?" considering the game looks great but is really lacking in atmosphere still.

# 35 icicle22 @ 07/08/08 11:55 PM

Didn't NCAA 08 have progression in lighting? I swear late afternoon games went dark over time so the 1st quarter was orangy-dusk looking and by the fourth quarter it was dark with lights. I remember being upset that Madden 08 didn't have this feature. Now it's gone in NCaa 09 and didn't make it to Madden either? On the same platform/generation system? Is this accurate?

# 36 ODogg @ 07/09/08 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icicle22


	Didn't NCAA 08 have progression in lighting? I swear late afternoon games went dark over time so the 1st quarter was orangy-dusk looking and by the fourth quarter it was dark with lights. I remember being upset that Madden 08 didn't have this feature. Now it's gone in NCaa 09 and didn't make it to Madden either? On the same platform/generation system? Is this accurate?

# 37 Solidice @ 07/09/08 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg

lol i like this one

# 38 OMT @ 07/09/08 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solidice


	what? no mud smell? lame.

Have you tried scratching your TV first?

# 39 Solidice @ 07/09/08 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMT


	Have you tried scratching your TV first?

holy geez!! it work! i suggest everyone try this now, you wont regret it! can't wait for their to be dog piles so i can smell that!

# 40 SteelerSpartan @ 07/09/08 03:13 AM

So there isn't any field degradation???

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