News Post

Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

06:15 PM - July 24, 2008 by RaychelSnr

It has now been well over a week since NCAA Football 09 was released and we have seen just about every reaction possible about EA Sports newest game. Our very own Patrick Williams was in the middle of the release frenzy and checks in today with an article discussing his thoughts on how the releases reaction was received among the community in his latest article, Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story.

Quote:


	"Summer is usually a time for relaxation in the sports world. Summer lacks any real dramatic sports news. At most, all you can hope for is some kind of off-the-field NFL scandal or hot topic -- and this year has not let us down, thank you Brett Favre and the Packers organization. Still if you love sports -- and since you are here you most likely do -- and play sports video games, you know that summer means a new beginning for the next season�s titles."

Game: NCAA Football 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
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Member Comments

# 41 GoVols1985 @ 07/24/08 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASB37


	This would be all good and dandy.....if the CPU sliders actually worked. This is yet another thing that absolutely boggles my mind. How can this get past testing?

Yeah, I agree, that is pretty bad.

# 42 yamabushi @ 07/24/08 08:34 PM

Chase,
I could care less about College FB, video or otherwise (playoffs please), but I do peruse the forums and read about 90% of the front page articles. And its hard not to notice what appears to be a pro EA, pro NCAA slant.

Just my 2c.

# 43 ChaseB @ 07/24/08 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thmst30


	Chase we love you man, keeping it real in this thread and taking everything in stride. Now as for the complaints about the OS Review score. The thing about reviews these days that I find so wrong is that, as you stated, its ONE persons OPINION. Thats not what a review should be, it should hardly touch on the writers opinion at all. A review is a place to put down the straight up facts about a game, both the positive and negative, and then let everyone decide for themselves if they will buy it. EVERY review site out there today is guilty of loading up the reviews with their OPINIONS and leaving many FACTS out. Leave your opinions at home or post them in the forums, for the review we just want the writer to lay it all out on the table and thats it. Again, its nothing against the reviewer or OS, everyone out there is guilty of destroying what reviews are supposed to be about.

Well I don't want to completely take this in a reviews direction, but what you bring up is something I've thought about many times. I'm really OBSESSED with preview guidelines and review guidelines because it is a lot of what I do here (though I didn't edit the NCAA review because I was at E3), and in general yes they are a big part of traffic and the site's credibility -- though I'm not entirely in agreement with that for obvious reasons.

However, I tend to not agree with what you're saying because while I do agree you need to post facts and all that, most of the fact stuff should be done via previews and also you can always go to the official site to get that information. I don't think it's a reviewer's job to put forth every little fact because then that's consumer reporting, that's not a game review. You have to connect with the reviewers and know their tastes. Maybe you tend to agree with one reviewer, but not another -- I think that's a good thing.

Plus it's hard to say what's a fact or not a fact at points if you get into that territory. Something gameplay-related might be a positive to one, but not another or whatever. Obviously you point out glitches when you find them and all that, but a simple checklist of facts isn't what a review should be about. It has to be interesting to read and you need to bring a perspective to the table that helps readers understand what you're trying to say. Basically, I think a good review makes someone realize why they're enjoying a game by bringing up something that maybe they didn't notice before. They think about it for a bit and then maybe you remember that review and understand what the reviewer was speaking about. If you're simply trying to make someone think why they should or shouldn't buy a game then that's an outdated way to think. You bring up forums etc. and people can talk about the game in that way, and look at previews, and videos, and developer interviews and so forth. It's not like the old days where you didn't see these games and thus waited for reviews to see if games were worth it. Nowadays a review has to do more than that to me.

I'll just briefly say I am in the boat of more opinionated previews as well. Not falling into reviewing the game, but being negative if there's negatives, don't simply just write one sentence about them or pretend like it will be fixed in a later build. Also N'Gai Croal wrote a great piece about previews in a recent Edge which pretty much sums up how I feel about previews, in a nicely articulated fashion.

# 44 ChaseB @ 07/24/08 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yamabushi


	Chase, I could care less about College FB, video or otherwise (playoffs please), but I do peruse the forums and read about 90% of the front page articles. And its hard not to notice what appears to be a pro EA, pro NCAA slant. Just my 2c.

Do you see that for all EA games, or just the football ones at OS? Obviously we aren't going to artificially be harder on EA just so no one thinks this is an issue because then you're not doing your duty as a writer, but I'm just curious in general.

# 45 thmst30 @ 07/24/08 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseB


	Well I don't want to completely take this in a reviews direction, but what you bring up is something I've thought about many times. I'm really OBSESSED with preview guidelines and review guidelines because it is a lot of what I do here (though I didn't edit the NCAA review because I was at E3), and in general yes they are a big part of traffic and the site's credibility -- though I'm not entirely in agreement with that for obvious reasons. However, I tend to not agree with what you're saying because while I do agree you need to post facts and all that, most of the fact stuff should be done via previews and also you can always go to the official site to get that information. I don't think it's a reviewer's job to put forth every little fact because then that's consumer reporting, that's not a game review. You have to connect with the reviewers and know their tastes. Maybe you tend to agree with one reviewer, but not another -- I think that's a good thing. Plus it's hard to say what's a fact or not a fact at points if you get into that territory. Something gameplay-related might be a positive to one, but not another or whatever. Obviously you point out glitches when you find them and all that, but a simple checklist of facts isn't what a review should be about. It has to be interesting to read and you need to bring a perspective to the table that helps readers understand what you're trying to say. Basically, I think a good review makes someone realize why they're enjoying a game by bringing up something that maybe they didn't notice before. They think about it for a bit and then maybe you remember that review and understand what the reviewer was speaking about. If you're simply trying to make someone think why they should or shouldn't buy a game then that's an outdated way to think. You bring up forums etc. and people can talk about the game in that way, and look at previews, and videos, and developer interviews and so forth. It's not like the old days where you didn't see these games and thus waited for reviews to see if games were worth it. Nowadays a review has to do more than that to me. I'll just briefly say I am in the boat of more opinionated previews as well. Not falling into reviewing the game, but being negative if there's negatives, don't simply just write one sentence about them or pretend like it will be fixed in a later build. Also N'Gai Croal wrote a great piece about previews in a recent Edge which pretty much sums up how I feel about previews, in a nicely articulated fashion.

OK, I see your side of it as well. I can certainly live with that. I actually just re-read what I typed and it came out all wrong.

# 46 rp71284 @ 07/24/08 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseB


	Do you see that for all EA games, or just the football ones at OS? Obviously we aren't going to artificially be harder on EA just so no one thinks this is an issue because then you're not doing your duty as a writer, but I'm just curious in general.

I know this isn't directed to me, but this year, I don't think there has been one negative article regarding NCAA/Madden. If they had a negative view, there was always a "look on the bright side" view as well. Besides football, Fifa & NHL usually get good praise, and they usually earn it. NBA Live gets ripped no matter what site we're talking about.

Another thing that happens too often is previews are always positive. I know you're just an editor, but EA should take a look at the SOCOM blog to see how you get feedback, instead of issuing wordy press releases and flaunting new features to game sites. They're not even in the private beta stage, and they've been taking criticism daily. They even gave in to some of the requests of people commenting on the blog.

# 47 ChaseB @ 07/24/08 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rp71284


	I know this isn't directed to me, but this year, I don't think there has been one negative article regarding NCAA/Madden. If they had a negative view, there was always a "look on the bright side" view as well. Besides football, Fifa & NHL usually get good praise, and they usually earn it. NBA Live gets ripped no matter what site we're talking about. Another thing that happens too often is previews are always positive. I know you're just an editor, but EA should take a look at the SOCOM blog to see how you get feedback, instead of issuing wordy press releases and flaunting new features to game sites. They're not even in the private beta stage, and they've been taking criticism daily. They even gave in to some of the requests of people commenting on the blog.

OK, good to know.

# 48 jfsolo @ 07/24/08 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoVols1985


	Yeah, I get what you're saying, and it does suck that you guys can't play the kind of game you like to play. I just wish that when I say I am enjoying the game, realistic or not, somebody wouldn't immdiately say something like "well you obviously don't know anything about football" and "you should go play NFL Blitz then." you see what I'm saying? Just because I want something differant from a video game than other people, it's like I don't love football as much as them.

I'd like to see a few of these posts made by long time members of the community attacking any other members for enjoying the game, because I haven't been seeing that.

I've seen a few newcomers and hit and run posters doing some of that, but the overwhelming number of disgruntled regulars have been spending all their time cataloging the numerous flaws in the game and imploring the developers to do something about it.

You may not enjoy it, but incessant complaining is not the same thing as attacking you. If any conflict between posters who can tolerate the flaws, and those who can't has arisen, it been when been those who are satisfied with the game have entered threads making comments such as, "you guys just don't know how to play defense". This is the only time that I have seen regular posters engage in any back and forth with people who enjoy the game.

Where are all the positivity threads like "The little things"? Why aren't people creating those threads to discuss what they like about the game? Are they concerned that someone is going to troll the thread and attack them for liking the game.

Many posters are really upset at EA Tiburon for the programming choices they made with this game, and have been expressing that anger quite clearly, but I haven't seen them calling into question the "fanhood" of other posters.

Many are questioning the objectivity of the writing staff, and of the site, but that's another post entirely.

# 49 Dudd @ 07/24/08 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 867-5309


	Also for the people posting the likes of the Bill's (Abner and Harris) you have to realize that they do not speak for the majority of gamers. They make some of the hardcore blush. Sure fix the problems, they are there in spades but love it or hate it, they are games. Games are supposed to be fun. Call me silly but running 40yard tests hour upon hour does not seem like a person is having fun. These guys are not speaking for the masses and in fact, Harris loses points for the silly the game is **** comments. It is far from that. I have owned every Madden/NCAA since their inception and follow Pro and College football as much as the next guy. Stop insinuating that just because a person is having fun with the game is football moron. Some people can detatch between video games and reality. Sure they might want things fixed and notice the problems but they also try to find good in games. I have read both Bill's over the years and I rarely ever see where they try to do that.

How often do you read these guys stuff? I've been reading Bill Harris's blog since his gone gold days, and he is by far the best best reviewer of sports games out there. Just because someone is thorough and documents the problems with the game doesn't make them insane and impossible to please. He's posted glowing reviews of NHL 08, MLB the Show, just to name a few. Hell, he even liked last years game, even though I think he said he spent most of his time simming the actual games and focusing on recruiting. Even when I disagree with him on games, I can see where he's coming from. Just like the article, it seems like you want to paint everyone who has problems with the game as some sort of masochistic bogeyman who can never be pleased, which is a load of crap and just obscures the fact that there are clearly real problems with this game.

# 50 ehh @ 07/24/08 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pared


	I look back and the NCAA series has always been heralded here at OS. NCAA 2004... 2005... I look at those games and don't recall them having all these issues... sure, they weren't perfect, but did almost all of the major new additions have problems, as well as the gameplay?

Exactly, and the reason why these games weren't roasted like '09 (outside of '05) is because outside of the dropped passes glitch there were weren't any "broken" items in the games. Sure, the momentum meter and impact player may have been blown out of proportion and too effective but that's the way EA intended for it to work, it wasn't broken.

As for the article, it is a complete slap in the face to the posters who come in here and put in a lot of effort to help make the game better and provide EA with what the problems are, basically making their jobs easier, yet are labeled as whiners and nitpickers in the article.

Quote:


	the fact that people who dislike something are more vocal than people who actually care about it. Because if you were on the boards during all the impressions, or should I say complaints, then it became a little trying. Several die hards proclaimed the game was busted and that they wouldn’t be purchasing this year -- mind you this was still before the game was even officially released. Glitch after glitch began to surface, and as more and more people received their games, the question was how could this be going bad again after things looked so bright and promising? It shouldn’t come as a surprise though, reactions like these tend to happen when you mostly focus on the negatives. And with the masses getting the product and reporting on just the bad functions, overlooking any possibility of fun or happiness with the game, the forums became a bit of a downer to read.

Those paragraphs are the biggest crock of BS I have ever read. Just look back over the history of releases on OS, when a game is good or great the masses will agree here. The base of OS vets only focus on the negative when they rightfully should, when it is overpowering the positives.

Do you really think guys like AA don't care about the game and want the game to be bad? Do you think he was waiting for July 15 so he could open his copy of NCAA and jot down every possible bug he could find and only focus on the negatives? The guy was more pumped than anyone on the damn boards before it came out. The second EA drops a great football game guys like him will praise the ever living hell out of it.

To think that gamers are focusing on negatives and not trying to enjoy the game when the basic foundation of the game is broken is such a load of BS. What if OS was the same as NCAA? The "submit reply" button worked once every five times you clicked it, the quote button simply never worked, when you voted in polls it didn't calculate the results properly, etc. Would you say, "Well, you can get in a post every once in a while so have fun with what ya got!"

So to quote the article one more time, yes, myself and several other people will continue to trust "Average Joe" in the forum when it comes to impressions, what else are we suppose to do especially after seeing blatantly biased articles like this on the front page of OS?

# 51 ChaseB @ 07/24/08 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudd


	How often do you read these guys stuff? I've been reading Bill Harris's blog since his gone gold days, and he is by far the best best reviewer of sports games out there. Just because someone is thorough and documents the problems with the game doesn't make them insane and impossible to please. He's posted glowing reviews of NHL 08, MLB the Show, just to name a few. Hell, he even liked last years game, even though I think he said he spent most of his time simming the actual games and focusing on recruiting. Even when I disagree with him on games, I can see where he's coming from. Just like the article, it seems like you want to paint everyone who has problems with the game as some sort of masochistic bogeyman who can never be pleased, which is a load of crap and just obscures the fact that there are clearly real problems with this game.

Yea whenever I've been playing a game when Harris is I tend to agree with what he said. FYI, I think his big criticism of the Show this year was that the RttS was kind of messed up when you were a RP. Basically you would pitch almost every day when some sort of roster issue occurred.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 867-5309


	As long has they have been posting about the NCAA series on the internet. See I have been around awhile - I used to go by the name bdoughty, which saying that will get me banned, oh well. Speaking of the bogyman... Like Jason in Friday the 13th, I always pop up again.

Is the fact that you use a Tommy Tutone song as a user name a bannable offense?

# 52 ChaseB @ 07/24/08 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehh


	So to quote the article one more time, yes, myself and several other people will continue to trust "Average Joe" in the forum when it comes to impressions, what else are we suppose to do especially after seeing blatantly biased articles like this on the front page of OS?

Like I said when I put forth my review philosophy a few posts ago, I agree with going this route in many cases -- hence why I think writing a review as simply a buy or don't buy is outdated thinking.

People will always be skeptical and untrustworthy of certain things and so it's better to talk with the people you trust, whether that be a reviewer or the people you know on the forums.

# 53 ChaseB @ 07/24/08 09:16 PM

Anyway, I'm heading out for now since I just DLed the Pixel Junk Eden demo (played it at E3 and it was flipping awesome). Also need to decide whether or not I should DL the Siren game.

You're welcome to keep posting about all this and I'll be back later I'm sure to keep talking about it.

# 54 Pared @ 07/24/08 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehh


	So to quote the article one more time, yes, myself and several other people will continue to trust "Average Joe" in the forum when it comes to impressions, what else are we suppose to do especially after seeing blatantly biased articles like this on the front page of OS?

That's a great point. I know when some random user has acquired a copy of the game early I take their comments with a grain of salt...

But when a solid, respected member here... comes and can discuss the game early to the community... and they have the ability to be objective... many forum members stand up and take notice.

I know it isn't the same as a review, per se... but when it's held in a higher regard then a game review... I would think it should raise a red flag throughout the administration.

But back to this article... I honestly feel it's the "straw that breaks the camels back" due to the frustration of this title... there's so much we want to enjoy about the game; However the rose-colored representation this game has seemingly been getting at OS has really worn thin amongst the community.

Again, in my opinion. Anyone is free to disagree.

# 55 callmetaternuts @ 07/24/08 09:50 PM

It may be just my humble opinion, but with all due respect, these EA/NCAA articles have got to stop. We get one about every day and its like we're being force fed this stuff. Thats cool that we all have differing opinions, but if you look at the NCAA forum, there is more negative than positive, and to read an article like this, while it may be his opinion, just seems like its being written from a cave, or with his head in the sand. I dont mean to be a jerk, but cmon, thats like Ian posting where ever it was and saying something to the effect of "After all the knee-jerk reactions, its almost unanimous that everyone is enjoying the game" O really? Where are those people and how big of a sample did you take?

The game has some fantastic points and it has some awful, terrible points that shouldnt have made it past the first play through. It might sound whiny when some of us post, but we all spent our money on this, sure its 60 bucks big whoop, but this was a game that used to be fun, and now, its almost a chore to play. But the catch is, ITS THE ONLY NCAA GAME WE HAVE!

EA and NCAA are just a lightning rod for criticism right now, and it seems that with each day without more news combined with each new article like this, things are just getting more heated.

There are those of us who have been critical of the game, but rightfully so. We pay just as much as the people who love it and show sunshine down our throats. I know i have done my best to be respectful, but post the issues i have seen, which is alot. But ive also defended EA and Adam where needed. This isnt like we are out for blood for the sake of it. Alot of derive alot of joy from college football and want to take our team to glory and this is the only vehicle we have.

I dont know all of OS and MM's history. I dont think that OS is sponsored by EA or that we (i guess by we i mean OS) have a hidden agenda, but this sure does make people question that. How anyone can say that the response has been unanimous (either way) is beyond me, or to say we are on the verge of a perfect game makes no sense. With some changes and updates, yes, we MAY have a good game, but until that game gets in our hands, how can we know?

We know that all games have glitches, and i think most of us accept that, but a few glitches and every major new feature having glitches are two different scenarious. This isnt criticism just bc its EA, cmon. If ANY company put out a game like this, they would be roasted.

Id like to believe we are almost to the point of a great game. I went from ecstatic to get this on July 15th to almost dreading picking up the controller. I try to give this game a chance everyday, and i get disappointed. When was the last time the dynasty threads were so few? There arent any threads saying "Tell us about your dynasty" right now, and heck the impressions thread is almost dead at this point, that seems weird.

I can appreciate the candor of who ever wrote the article, and maybe they see something different, but lets keep all sides in play when we start discussing these things. Just seems like a good idea to let these articles die for a bit.....it obviously isnt helping anything.

And AA, im disappointed i wasnt mentioned on your little honor role a few pages back........for shame

# 56 AuburnAlumni @ 07/24/08 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehh


	Exactly, and the reason why these games weren't roasted like '09 (outside of '05) is because outside of the dropped passes glitch there were weren't any "broken" items in the games. Sure, the momentum meter and impact player may have been blown out of proportion and too effective but that's the way EA intended for it to work, it wasn't broken. As for the article, it is a complete slap in the face to the posters who come in here and put in a lot of effort to help make the game better and provide EA with what the problems are, basically making their jobs easier, yet are labeled as whiners and nitpickers in the article. Those paragraphs are the biggest crock of BS I have ever read. Just look back over the history of releases on OS, when a game is good or great the masses will agree here. The base of OS vets only focus on the negative when they rightfully should, when it is overpowering the positives. Do you really think guys like AA don't care about the game and want the game to be bad? Do you think he was waiting for July 15 so he could open his copy of NCAA and jot down every possible bug he could find and only focus on the negatives? The guy was more pumped than anyone on the damn boards before it came out. The second EA drops a great football game guys like him will praise the ever living hell out of it. To think that gamers are focusing on negatives and not trying to enjoy the game when the basic foundation of the game is broken is such a load of BS. What if OS was the same as NCAA? The "submit reply" button worked once every five times you clicked it, the quote button simply never worked, when you voted in polls it didn't calculate the results properly, etc. Would you say, "Well, you can get in a post every once in a while so have fun with what ya got!" So to quote the article one more time, yes, myself and several other people will continue to trust "Average Joe" in the forum when it comes to impressions, what else are we suppose to do especially after seeing blatantly biased articles like this on the front page of OS?

If I didn't care about the game, I wouldn't have spent HOURS and HOURS editing stadium sounds for 2 solid months or spent 100 bucks total to get the game just a few days early.

Like you said ehh...I WANT this game to be as good as possible because for me, this is THE game.

Madden's cool...and I'll probably buy it IF the impressions from folks who have it are much better than NCAA, but honestly, I'm a College Football guy. I'd play NCAA 24/7/365 if it were solid all the way around. Right now...it's ooooooh so close. But it's not there.

# 57 callmetaternuts @ 07/24/08 10:04 PM

LOOOOOOOUUUUUUDDDDD NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOIIIIIISSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS

# 58 Spanky @ 07/24/08 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brk1078


	GIVE IT FREAKING TIME. And those who think that the defense sucks, USE SLIDERS. goshdarnit.

Shirley, you're not serious, are you?

Use sliders? Is that supposed to be funny?

# 59 ehh @ 07/24/08 10:21 PM

"And don't call me Shirley!"

# 60 Bill_Abner @ 07/24/08 10:21 PM

Wow. That was a fun 7 pages.

I really don't mind being (indirectly) called an Average Joe. I really did like the Dodgeball movie.

But I thought a lot of my pre-release blogging with the retail version of the game was fairly positive, and despite a lot of the sky is falling posts and the posts from members here accusing me of flat out lying about what I was seeing, I tried to document areas that I thought needed fixing (Ghost Jukes, QB completion rate, QB simmed stats, freezing defenders, poor kick coverage, etc.) but by and large I thought I was pretty even keeled. Also, I didn't start one thread on OS about this. I was just blogging away in my free time.

There are still things about NCAA 09 I like quite a bit. I do think that a lot of the gameplay problems in this year's game are hard to ignore -- they sorta jump right out at you.

Now, a lot of people freaked out more than I anticipated when I started touching on the negatives. But not once did I *ever* tell anyone not to buy NCAA 09 or that they were a doofus for doing so--at least not here. (my published review is a shade more direct...still no doofus calling, though).

All that said, I don't have a problem with the article. It's clearly an Op-Ed piece, which is what that stage is for.

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