Backbreaker News Post

Backbreaker Fact Sheet and Screenshots

09:27 PM - December 1, 2009 by Steve_OS

Check out the official fact sheet for Backbreaker. We've also included 5 more screenshots.

Quote:


	"Setting a new standard in football video games, Backbreaker rushes the genre with a new playbook for hard‐hitting action. Players take control of an unmatched on‐field experience boasting realistic, physics‐based AI for an endless variety of unique sacks and tackles, making canned animations a last‐season memory. With crisp high‐definition graphics and a third‐person camera angle that follows the perspective of the ball handler, Backbreaker puts players in the heart of the game. Rookies can easily pick‐up‐and‐play thanks to Backbreaker�s intuitive Arcade Mode control scheme, while veteran players can enjoy the game�s more difficult Pro Mode that turns off AI assists. Featuring 11 versus 11 matches, Backbreaker also boasts online multiplayer for up to four players and split‐screen multiplayer modes. With total team customization, players can create their own rosters and adjust their team�s colors, logos and more. Going on the offense from kickoff to end zone, Backbreaker is how football was meant to be played on next‐gen consoles. Players can hit the gridiron with Backbreaker for Xbox 360� and PLAYSTATION�3 platforms in spring 2010."

Backbreaker screenshot gallery - Click to view

Game: BackbreakerReader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 51 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 Hova57 @ 12/02/09 09:24 AM

If game does look good and play well i suspect come madden 13 it will be in ea. I think some questions has to be asked . how is the running game? How is blocking ? Will be able to transform into a sim type game or just arcade? How easy is it to code for what EA wants to do?

# 22 Hova57 @ 12/02/09 09:26 AM

offensive and defensive line play has been made such a big deal the last couple of years I wonder how well it is. looks good I wonder if player models can be slimmed down

# 23 brza37 @ 12/02/09 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWatcher


	If it has no franchise I couldn't care less. It's really strange to me how some people have made a franchise mode more important than what goes on between the white lines. That perplexes me to no end. It's almost like they don't care if the game plays terrible, just so long as they can play 20+ fantasy seasons with fake rosters... I don't get it.

I don't put franchise above gameplay. If that was the case I could just as well play a text based game. But I think one without the other is useless. In my opinion you need both in order to have replay value.

# 24 CreatineKasey @ 12/02/09 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWatcher


	If it has no franchise I couldn't care less. It's really strange to me how some people have made a franchise mode more important than what goes on between the white lines. That perplexes me to no end. It's almost like they don't care if the game plays terrible, just so long as they can play 20+ fantasy seasons with fake rosters... I don't get it. But I'm from the old school where Season mode was the important thing and I guess that's always been enough for me. That never trumped the game on the field. The mode could be spectacular, but if the game didn't play well it was pointless because I'd never stick around to finish a season.

Watcher, you're right on. We can do some of the franchise type stuff outside of the game if we really really want to, but we cannot in any way fix gameplay that's bad on our own.

# 25 FroznYogurt @ 12/02/09 10:14 AM

I heard they cut $10 off the usual $60 price tag, so it's going to be $50.

# 26 FroznYogurt @ 12/02/09 10:21 AM

Yeah right here, 3rd bullet. Publisher is 505 games, and it may be set for April 27th 2010. http://www.pastapadre.com/2009/11/21/the-line-drive-1121

# 27 TheWatcher @ 12/02/09 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brza37


	I don't put franchise above gameplay. If that was the case I could just as well play a text based game. But I think one without the other is useless. In my opinion you need both in order to have replay value.

I just think hardcores have become spoiled with franchise modes, which is kinda weird since in Football games there have always seemed to be so many complaints about their functionality.

Replay value really is an individual perception. For example, I don't like playing with fake rosters in an NFL game, so I personally see no replay value in franchise modes beyond one season. I get no satisfaction from building fake players for 20+ seasons. I want to be able to do what coincides with the real NFL, meaning having the exact rosters, etc... This would be no different for me with BackBreaker.

For me, replay value is in how well the game plays, and if it plays well enough for me to keep coming back and playing again. So I think there are at least two ways to view this.

# 28 CreatineKasey @ 12/02/09 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWatcher


	I just think hardcores have become spoiled with franchise modes, which is kinda weird since in Football games there have always seemed to be so many complaints about their functionality. Replay value really is an individual perception. For example, I don't like playing with fake rosters in an NFL game, so I personally see no replay value in franchise modes beyond one season. I get no satisfaction from building fake players for 20+ seasons. I want to be able to do what coincides with the real NFL, meaning having the exact rosters, etc. For me, replay value is in how well the game plays, and if it plays well enough for me to keep coming back and playing again. So I think there are at least two ways to view this.

Me likewise. A game with very solid gameplay is what keeps me coming back. When you can devise and execute football strategies and get different outcomes.... it becomes a game that feels alive. APF is the best at this IMO. The ebb and flow of a game, along with gorgeous interactions and using football answers to solve football problems makes the game something to behold when playing another person.

If Backbreaker can capture that balanced gameplay along with their superior physics and player interactions, they will have a winner in my opinion. People can go on and on about APF not doing as well as expected and I think it had more to do with marketing and less to do with franchise modes.

The only people that freak out about franchise are mostly guys who solely play offline franchise still. For me, franchise was a placeholder for online gaming to try to give more meaning to playing the CPU. Now that online gaming is so prevalent and accessible, offline franchise has a much smaller role in my opinion.

# 29 Hova57 @ 12/02/09 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcus82


	as far as it being foolish for Madden to change engine's - I don't think you understand the process of implementing a new piece of software. EA can do a parallel produciton and testing to ensure that they can get the new engine to work properly and only then would they switch it out. This will cost extra money that EA has decided to keep in its pockets. I'm not upset with the business decision but it means that we will always be stuck with the same old, archaic engine. after reading the fact sheet I have a few issues with the game maybe someone can help me out. 1. No canned animations - I'm all for flailing arms and legs after a massive collision but every hit in a football game isn't a knockout blow. There is such a thing as a "sure tackle" wher eyou wrap a man up and take him to the ground. In short we need animated tackles in a football game. besides the animations in madden were never the problem, it was the fact that the animations are triggered randomly and wer void of any football physics. 2. Physics - so far i only have read talk about physics as it relates to randomized tackle animations. How does this translate into blocking, pursuit and in game action. the lack of description on these points worries me. 3. Experimental Camera Angles - Madden has its flaws but there are some things that they have nailed throug years of trial and error. I'm not sure if wacky camera angles are the best way to win over the footballing audience. There are some things that should be reapplied, in my opinion the camera angle should be straight copy of madden or APF. 4.Pass with right analog? - again, we keep going back to madden because the button configuration just works. Deviation just for the sake of deviation doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. If they truly believe that using the right analog will vastly improve the control of the game and football experience then I say go for it (i doubt that is the case). I know you must try new things in order to progress an idea but make sure it is a progression. I think this type of critique of the game is necessary for the game to be successful. There needs to be competition in the football game market but in order for competition to survive the product has to be on par with the industry leader. I won't even complain about the character modelling. at the end of the day its the gameplay that i'm concerned about

it sounds like a good game, but i have those same concerns. i think on this board more than any the pursuit for perfection is on top of the list. no matter how many say they can look past it , they really can't . The player models and controls more than just the graphics and physics can really break a game

# 30 ausar72 @ 12/02/09 11:58 AM

At this stage of the game, with the way that graphics are nowadays, these screenshots are pretty much worthless. The game looks good for the most part, but if we are going to get screenshots, at this point we need to see images of how the game is going to actually play, not really screens of tackling and jumping etc..., but HOW the game is going to function in terms of play-calling screens, weather, the actual uniforma and player customizing screens, etc...

If they don't have any of that to show, then it's really not worth getting too hype over. They keep show the same type of screenshots with the players flying around. We need to see a bit more to progress this thing.

# 31 KBLover @ 12/02/09 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatisback


	What he said^ I dont see why people are getting so upset at no franchise mode. Like Madden's franchise mode works great. LOL

They are probably hoping for a franchise mode...because they enjoy playing franchise mode in sports games - don't see how that's hard to understand.

I know I'm hoping there's a franchise mode. It's not about whatever Madden does, it's that I like taking control of a team and carrying it through years of a league, not just restarting the same season with the same rosters over and over again.

# 32 plaidchuck @ 12/02/09 01:34 PM

As far as I'm concerned the game is GTA Football without any AI

# 33 StormJH1 @ 12/02/09 02:29 PM

Alright, Duke Nukem Forever: Football Edition! "Q2 2010"? I give this game a 30% chance of being released before June 30, 2010. Anyone familiar with its history (dating back to 2007 when we first started having these discussions) knows what I'm talking about.

If this were really intended to be a "proof of concept" project or "technical demo" for EA to observe and acquire, then what they should've done was put out a $15 or $20 "Tackle Alley" game on XBLA and PSN, like, 3 years ago. If this thing ships as a full retail game with no franchise mode, borderline PS2-gen graphics and no real depth, it's going to be a disaster, and there won't be any time or motivation for EA to pick up a physics engine from them within this generation (assuming it doesn't suck anyway).

I find it funny that this game has no more crediblity than the "Black College Football Xperience" than a buzzword concept ("Euphoria"), yet everybody assumed that game would be terrible, while assuming that Backbreaker will be awesome.

# 34 StormJH1 @ 12/02/09 02:31 PM

Also, I'm not sure why everybody thinks this "Roadie Run" camera will even be playable. A lot of people hate the Superstar cameras in Madden, and almost everybody hates the 1st person camera in 2k5, but that may be your only choice for playing BB.

# 35 fikedemon @ 12/02/09 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StormJH1


	Alright, Duke Nukem Forever: Football Edition! "Q2 2010"? I give this game a 30% chance of being released before June 30, 2010. Anyone familiar with its history (dating back to 2007 when we first started having these discussions) knows what I'm talking about. If this were really intended to be a "proof of concept" project or "technical demo" for EA to observe and acquire, then what they should've done was put out a $15 or $20 "Tackle Alley" game on XBLA and PSN, like, 3 years ago. If this thing ships as a full retail game with no franchise mode, borderline PS2-gen graphics and no real depth, it's going to be a disaster, and there won't be any time or motivation for EA to pick up a physics engine from them within this generation (assuming it doesn't suck anyway). I find it funny that this game has no more crediblity than the "Black College Football Xperience" than a buzzword concept ("Euphoria"), yet everybody assumed that game would be terrible, while assuming that Backbreaker will be awesome.

First the dev team for this game is I think 25 people. You cant expect the time table for something as ambitious as this game to be perfect. Yes it started out as a tech demo. But it grew into something that ALL football fans looking for a sim experience. Will it deliver maybe or maybe it wont. But its different. And different is good. They're not trying to copy Madden. It will FAIL. With full customization and now confirmed franchise mode this game stands a chance to strike gold.

# 36 -DaVe- @ 12/02/09 02:50 PM

IDK what's people's love affair with franchise mode? It's like that's the end all be all for some people. Franchise mode will never be implemented correctly so it's a waste to have it IMO.

# 37 PVarck31 @ 12/02/09 03:15 PM

It could have the greatest franchise mode in the history of gaming, but if the gameplay isn't good then its worthless. I see a lot of post simply assuming the gameplay will be great. I have feeling a lot of people will be let down. I honestly hope its awesome, but a first attempt at 11 on 11 football from an unknown developer, using an unproven engine, has me a bit worried. I guess you could say it worked before, but Visual Concepts had done football before NFL 2K.

# 38 kjcheezhead @ 12/02/09 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjake62505


	I am just glad to see some life from the Backbreaker guys. I am happy to have another football game! I dont care if it beats Madden I could care less. If madden continues to improve it will be good for all football game players. I dont understand the fan boy type for any game/console or anything else.

Me either. For some reason, owning a ps3 means you have to hate 360 and vice versa. And enjoying madden means you have to hate any other football game in existance.

This game will not threaten madden sales wise and it may go badly, but at least it's a new football title. Playing madden, with the same gameplay and same controls year in and year out becomes stale after awhile. I can't wait to try a new passing game and watch new tackle animations and see what else these guys tried.

# 39 Skyboxer @ 12/02/09 04:14 PM

Anyone who has bought Madden over the past 5 years IMO should go out and support Backbreaker at least for now.
EA never gave anyone hope that Madden warranted another purchase but tons dropped the 60.00 on it every year, me included. Not because we love EA but we love football.

I will support backbreaker and give them the same chance I've given EA. Even with no franchise in year 1 I will give them the 60.00.

Show me each year you are making strides and I'll support it, don't do that and I won't.

A philosophy I should have used with Madden.

Now before anyone that loves EA/Madden pops up I do feel Madden 10 was a good job and while it still needs work at least IMO they improved it.

However bottom line is I love the sport and not the company.
If Backbreaker is truly customizable (And I don't even care if I can make it an NFL looking game) and they eventually make a franchise or even online only franchise I will be happy.

I just want an improved football game each year.

# 40 polamalu82 @ 12/02/09 04:23 PM

I couldn't agree more with what Skyboxer just said. This game is helping to push the envelope of football games. If your scared it might be bad rent it first. If you like it then buy it. If not then don't. It's that easy.

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