NCAA Football 10 News Post

NCAA Football 10 - Designer Chat

08:22 PM - March 24, 2009 by Russell_Kiniry_EA

Hey guys my name is Russell Kiniry and I'm one of the Designers on NCAA Football 10. I work in (and spend my free time in) game-play and Dynasty.

Going to cut right too it... this week’s blog (which I'm wrapping up now) pertains to game-play. So your concerns are being heard.

Another touchy topic right now: The screen shots from last week’s blog. They were bad; no getting around that... the goal was to show some extreme angles of the camera (not game-play). The offense line that Greg had running at the time was not even close to what the game represents. I actually plan on addressing this a little tonight on insideblog.easports.com (I’ll edit this post when it goes live as long as I’m allowed to post links

).

Really I just hope I can help clear up some of the misconceptions we have this year with features/additions we've already talked about.

-Russ

Edit: Here is the link to the Pocket Blog.

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# 81 Russell_Kiniry_EA @ 03/25/09 05:54 PM

We are working on the Recruits (with a close eye on ATH) to get a few more players that can play multiple positions.

I have been looking at the position changes rating hits, and I agree that getting a negative 4 in speed does not seem right. The reason for this hit originally was to stop exploits, but I do not feel like that is a valid reason anymore and will likely be removing those penalties (AWR will stay for sure, but SPD, ACC, STR penalties are high on my chopping block).

-Russ

# 82 MorePlays445 @ 03/25/09 05:56 PM

Once again I want complete playbooks...also why was Tebow only a 95 rating last year especially as the season goes on you should update ratings on the game. Donald Brown of UCONN rating was in the 80's. Please keep more up to date charge 10 dollars more if u have too.

# 83 JAYMO76 @ 03/25/09 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_Kiniry_EA


	We are working on the Recruits (with a close eye on ATH) to get a few more players that can play multiple positions. I have been looking at the position changes rating hits, and I agree that getting a negative 4 in speed does not seem right. The reason for this hit originally was to stop exploits, but I do not feel like that is a valid reason anymore and will likely be removing those penalties (AWR will stay for sure, but SPD, ACC, STR penalties are high on my chopping block). -Russ

Russ, the ATHLETE issue is huge. By definition an athlete should be good at several positions but ATHLETE in next gen has been useless. I really hope this glitch can be fixed so an athlete will be strong in multiple positions.

# 84 wde1723 @ 03/25/09 06:28 PM

What you said about the ratings has really excited me. I would love to see this because in last years game ratings didn't seem to matter other than speed.

# 85 SHO @ 03/25/09 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_Kiniry_EA


	We are working on the Recruits (with a close eye on ATH) to get a few more players that can play multiple positions. I have been looking at the position changes rating hits, and I agree that getting a negative 4 in speed does not seem right. The reason for this hit originally was to stop exploits, but I do not feel like that is a valid reason anymore and will likely be removing those penalties (AWR will stay for sure, but SPD, ACC, STR penalties are high on my chopping block). -Russ

Will you also work on players attributes according to height/weight? Too many times in recruiting where 5-11, 200 defensive ends and 6-0, 257 d-tackles are coming in with C+ and B- strength while the mammoths (6-3, 260, 6-1 290) only end up with C- or C level strength.....

# 86 mierk @ 03/25/09 07:15 PM

Russell (and OMT), thanks for being available for questions.

Are you guys going to be able to address imbalance in CPU recruiting and depth charts -- ie, teams with 6 QBs but only 3 OTs? Or starting a 65 rated walkon RE when they have a pair of LE's in the 80s? Has there been any thought on the general philosophy of some positions that should be fairly interchangeable -- FS/SS, RE/LE, RT/LT? If not, can you explain the thought process behind why they are relatively inflexible and what you are hoping to prevent or encourage?

# 87 OMT @ 03/25/09 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mierk


	Russell (and OMT), thanks for being available for questions. Are you guys going to be able to address imbalance in CPU recruiting and depth charts -- ie, teams with 6 QBs but only 3 OTs? Or starting a 65 rated walkon RE when they have a pair of LE's in the 80s? Has there been any thought on the general philosophy of some positions that should be fairly interchangeable -- FS/SS, RE/LE, RT/LT? If not, can you explain the thought process behind why they are relatively inflexible and what you are hoping to prevent or encourage?

We've fixed the issue with the CPU recruiting a bunch of LTs when they need a RT. The problem is you are only recruiting Ts, and you don't know if they are left/right until you sign them. The depth chart logic puts the best player with that natural position (left or right), but the CPU never does position changes.

Now the CPU will do position changes if the backup on one side is better than the starter on the other side. Note, this does not actually happen during Position Changes in the offseason, so if you look at CPU teams before starting a new season, the change won't have happened yet.

# 88 mierk @ 03/25/09 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMT


	We've fixed the issue with the CPU recruiting a bunch of LTs when they need a RT. The problem is you are only recruiting Ts, and you don't know if they are left/right until you sign them. The depth chart logic puts the best player with that natural position (left or right), but the CPU never does position changes. Now the CPU will do position changes if the backup on one side is better than the starter on the other side. Note, this does not actually happen during Position Changes in the offseason, so if you look at CPU teams before starting a new season, the change won't have happened yet.

I was under the impression that ratings or performance-wise, there was no distinction between LT/RT -- I haven't noticed a hit when I have done position changes. What I was talking about was the way teams will over-recruit for certain positions but under-recruit for others. There is no need for teams to have half a dozen QBs on the roster, especially when they don't have appropriate numbers at a different position.

And I haven't gotten far enough in my own dynasty to see this in action since I just got my new Xbox in December, but I saw threads from other users saying that 3-4 years into dynasty, CPU teams would be playing WRs and RBs on the line because they didn't have enough beef up front.

# 89 deadlyCane @ 03/25/09 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_Kiniry_EA


	We are working on the Recruits (with a close eye on ATH) to get a few more players that can play multiple positions. I have been looking at the position changes rating hits, and I agree that getting a negative 4 in speed does not seem right. The reason for this hit originally was to stop exploits, but I do not feel like that is a valid reason anymore and will likely be removing those penalties (AWR will stay for sure, but SPD, ACC, STR penalties are high on my chopping block). -Russ

This is music to my ears. Yeah, SS and FS should be somewhat interchangeable with nothing more than a 3-5 point AWR hit. Similar for OLB/MLB even though I wouldn't be upset if the hit was a little greater for the linebacker positions but nothing more than a 7 or 8 point hit. Zero hit for moving from ROLB to LOLB or vice versa.

While on the recruits, i would love to not see so many guys over 95 speed. After 2-3 years in an OD every freaking user team has a few. I would also venture to say we shouldn't see anymore than 15-20 96+ speed guys in a 4 year span (or no more than that in a dynasty at any one time). Twenty might even be too large a number. In the same token no more than 2 99-rated speed guys in any 4-year period. And the top speed for recruits in the 40-yard dash should not be 4.16. It should be somewhere around 4.27 or 4.28 for a 99 rated guy and 4.30 or 4.31 for a 98 rated player. Basically nothing below 4.27.

Thanks for taking the time to consider our input.

# 90 jfsolo @ 03/25/09 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMT


	We've fixed the issue with the CPU recruiting a bunch of LTs when they need a RT. The problem is you are only recruiting Ts, and you don't know if they are left/right until you sign them. The depth chart logic puts the best player with that natural position (left or right), but the CPU never does position changes. Now the CPU will do position changes if the backup on one side is better than the starter on the other side. Note, this does not actually happen during Position Changes in the offseason, so if you look at CPU teams before starting a new season, the change won't have happened yet.

This makes me very, very happy. This has been an issue for literally at least a decade, and now it seems to be fixed. As mierk talked about, the thing now would be to make sure that the CPU doesn't over or under recruit certain positions creating absurd roster imbalances, e.g. having six QB's, but only 3 CB's

# 91 imraged @ 03/25/09 08:23 PM

I posted this in the wishlist thread a while back and I didn't really feel like retyping it. Some of the things I asked for have already been addressed in this topic but I'm interested to see if Russell or Adam can touch on my comment about player development.

Quote:


	I know this is probably already been said, but I just want to express myself. One thing that has always bothered me is the way positions are handled in this game. Whereas in the game players come in with their position predetermined, it's not uncommon in real life for guys to have played at one position but be projected to play at another in college. The ATH identification in the game doesn't really solve this problem. My main issue isn't with moves from WR to DB for example, my issue is with relatively simple moves from one spot on the Dline to another, whether a recruit will play on the Oline or the Dline, or a guy playing either safety spot without taking a ridiculous penalty in ratings. It's the same for HB to FB. It's not uncommon to see a high school HB play FB in college. Player development also ties closely into this issue. As it is now, the player has zero control over how the players develop. This needs to be changed. If I have elite athletic facilities I want to be able to take a 260 pound prospect and make him into a 300+ pound nose tackle; or have the option of only having him gain 10-20 pounds and have him play end in my 3-4. Another thing that has bothered me about the measurebles of prospects is the number of highly rated QBs who are under 6'2''. This rarely happens in real life unless he is a dual-threat QB yet I see 4 and 5 star guys every year who are 5'11" to 6'1".

# 92 md0t @ 03/25/09 08:41 PM

okay EA guys Russ and OMT - WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING ABOUT SUCTION BLOCKING/TACKLING?

screaming WTF at my television still has not solved this issue, any BRIGHT ideas?

# 93 Allaboutme @ 03/25/09 09:35 PM

Oh this isnt a big deal , i like what im hearing but are we gonna be able to challenge replays in user vs user games in 2010? for some reason you cant and i wish it wernt so some plays in my OD i would very much so like to reviewed, and it doesnt get reviewed and some plays i could live without it being reviewed and the cpu does it.

# 94 AuburnAlumni @ 03/25/09 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_Kiniry_EA


	So I'm going to try and cover your questions by explaining what our goals are on the line... Mainly because the line play is still a work in progress and not everything is functioning correctly yet. 1. The D-Line has to matter, blitzing should not be the only way to get pressure What I mean is simply we want the defensive line to be able to make an impact on the running and passing game, guys should be able to get off blocks and make plays. 2. Higher rated players should dominate (when faced up against lower talent) on both sides of the ball Ratings need to be able to drive the action, while I don't want to create a situation where a 90+ DE beats a 75 OT 100% of the time, you should be scared that every play that DE can be in the backfield. Also I'm going to have to double check but I'm pretty sure most of the huge impact blocks no longer play for inteior linemen. It is sort of silly a 280 pound player gets pushed back in the air 3 yards. But they still can be cut blocked, so you will see some D-Linemen on the ground. -Russ

This makes me happy. Hopefully it actually comes true and we see viable improvements both in line play and in differences in ratings.

# 95 ODogg @ 03/25/09 10:51 PM

This is a very open ended and difficult to put-into-words question but i'm going to ask it anyways. I would like to know if the gameplay has become more dynamic, more interesting and more lifelike? By that I mean have ball physics improved, will we see scrambling QBs scramble and slow ones realize they are too slow to scramble all the time, will players express emotion before, during and after big plays, will we have some pageantry, finally get some realistic crowd noise (ie a big hit where someone gets laid out makes the crowd go WOo-ahhh), etc, etc, etc?

Jeesh, I guess what i'm asking is this: Have you ever played The Show 09 and saw what makes that game so great and managed to get some of that attention to detail and dynamics of competition into this year's game?

Because bottom line although NCAA 09 on the surface wasn't a bad game it simply got boring after not too many games because the game seems so sterile and repetitive, which is difficult to explain as to how to fix but again, playing the Show can show you areas to improve.

Injecting some emotion, details and passion into the game would be a wonderful way to start.

# 96 Allaboutme @ 03/25/09 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg


	This is a very open ended and difficult to put-into-words question but i'm going to ask it anyways. I would like to know if the gameplay has become more dynamic, more interesting and more lifelike? By that I mean have ball physics improved, will we see scrambling QBs scramble and slow ones realize they are too slow to scramble all the time, will players express emotion before, during and after big plays, will we have some pageantry, finally get some realistic crowd noise (ie a big hit where someone gets laid out makes the crowd go WOo-ahhh), etc, etc, etc? Jeesh, I guess what i'm asking is this: Have you ever played The Show 09 and saw what makes that game so great and managed to get some of that attention to detail and dynamics of competition into this year's game? Because bottom line although NCAA 09 on the surface wasn't a bad game it simply got boring after not too many games because the game seems so sterile and repetitive, which is difficult to explain as to how to fix but again, playing the Show can show you areas to improve. Injecting some emotion, details and passion into the game would be a wonderful way to start.

I for one still play ncaa just as much as when i first got it, but some friends have started to play less, but i believe thats in every game that you purchase. eventually u will stop, my question is how long as MLB the show 09 been out for that comparison of longevity? Ive had 09 since first day and i still enjoy it to this day.

# 97 ODogg @ 03/25/09 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allaboutme


	I for one still play ncaa just as much as when i first got it, but some friends have started to play less, but i believe thats in every game that you purchase. eventually u will stop, my question is how long as MLB the show 09 been out for that comparison of longevity? Ive had 09 since first day and i still enjoy it to this day.

You are correct that games lessen in time but honestly I think you're missing my point, EA's NCAA series playtime gets shorter and shorter for me (and I think I speak for a lot of folks) each year now since the series came to next-gen. Back on the PS2 I would literally be playing the previous year's game up until the time the new one would come out. Then on next-generation the time has lessened with each release. Last year I played it for slightly longer than a month on and off.

Personally I will not be playing The Show 09 probably 6 months down the road but that's because i'm not a big baseball fan, not because The Show isn't able to hold my attention. The bottom line is that even for NCAA 09 the game felt stale after just a couple of weeks and there is no WAY that should happen that quickly to a die-hard, fanatical football nut like myself.

# 98 sportzbro @ 03/25/09 11:45 PM

Alright, I haven't seen this mentioned on here yet:

Preset Attribute Ratings (Create-a-Recruit) - let me explain

While in dynasty I typically will create 3-5 players for the upcoming class. It is really annoying though when all of the sliders on the ratings are preset at 78 (I believe that is the number). No matter what position the player is, all of them are set at that default number.

Example: When I create a QB for the upcoming class, I don't want to have to go all the way down the attribute list and lower ratings like Impact Blocking, Man Coverage, or Kick Return. These are irrelevant for that position.

Instead, the ratings that correspond to that position should be the only ones preset highly, and the rest could be preset somewhere between 0-50. In the case of the QB, you would essentially see a 78 rating as the default number for the attributes that matter (Throw Power, Throw Accuracy, Awr, etc.). Of course though you would still have the ability to adjust any of the ratings to your liking.

Any chance you guys can give this a look?

# 99 hornfan @ 03/26/09 12:53 AM

Thanks for answering questions guys. The game sounds great so far! I have one question and it is an important one... Will the computer throw deep this year?!? There was really no play action game at all last year. The computer would only throw short to medium passes and it got really old. The deep pass is one of the most exciting plays in football. Thanks again!

# 100 TCF @ 03/26/09 01:17 AM

its great seeing the EA guys on here answering questions and talking about the game. been so busy i forgot about NCAA coming out in 3 months.

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