11:45 AM - May 23, 2011 by recoThis video is also available on the OS Youtube channel, please subscribe while you're there.
Game Informer posted a story today detailing all of the changes to NCAA Football 12's biggest modes. However, it appears the outlet may have jumped the gun when it comes to revealing the Road to Glory details because they were removed shortly after publication -- of course, we will attach those RTG details at the bottom of the story since OS user illwill10 saved the info.
Most of the info about Dynasty mode was revealed by IGN on Friday, so even the video Game Informer posted does not provide much new info on this front, but it's still another chance to listen to the smooth-sounding Kirk Herbstreit -- he's so dreamy. In the video, you can see the implementation of custom conferences, the Coaching Carousel and creating a coach.
Beyond the video, one new aspect that we previously did not know about Dynasty mode is the real-world cost of some of the "premium" features included with the Online Dynasty mode.
Online Dynasty Mode
- Commish can advance the week from the web – but only if you pay a one-time fee of $2.99 or 240 Microsoft Points
- You can super-sim your games versus the CPU on the web -- including calling plays, modifying your depth chart, and more. You can also pause the game at any time, sim forward a quarter, etc. Again, however, this will cost you a one-time fee of $2.99 or 240 Microsoft Points.
- Both of the above browser features can be bought in one Commissioner Pack for $6.99/560 MP, and the pack also includes the ability to be commish to up to five dynasties.
Some people will obviously be upset about these micro-transactions, especially because they are web-only features, but it's really up to consumers to decide whether or not these things are worth their money. Last year, folks had to pay extra if they wanted to run more than one online dynasty, and that cost is still here, but it's being grouped in with a bunch of other "premium" features that can be purchased in the "Commissioner Pack" for $6.99. It is also worth noting that it cost $14.99 to commish five online dynasties in NCAA Football 11, while this year the cost is considerably less.
The other interesting part of this story is how the Road to Glory mode will seemingly be devoid of ways to make your way through it in a quicker fashion via micro-transactions.
Road to Glory Mode
- XP you earn during your college career is spent on item packs in the Upgrade Store. These packs are built around groups of attributes for specific types of players. For example, the scat back pack boosts your acceleration and juke ability
- There are 600 item packs total, and they’ll be six different ones available each week. Rarity, cost, and duration vary, but they will all be based around your position
- Upgrade Store items cannot be bought via micro-transactions
Of course, there could be other micro-transactions we have just not heard about yet for RTG, but for the time being, this type of design decision flies in the face of previous EA Sports efforts where you could buy your way to being the best if you did not want to spend the time to build up your character on your own.
Lastly, as promised, here is the full list of Road to Glory details that were originally in the Game Informer story:
This year's [Road to Glory] mode is designed by former Auburn running back Alex Howell. He says his aim is to "create as much of my high school and college experience that I could through Road to Glory."
High School
- Explores your high school years more in depth, so you'll play a full senior season and gain recruiting points that are based on your stats.
- After each game you'll pick three local schools of varying prestige that are interested in you
- Your recruiting board shows which schools you've picked and how far you are to earning a scholarship for each one. You can walk on to any school, but if you have a scholarship, you'll be able to transfer your recruiting points into XP for college
- You'll play and be recruited on both sides of the ball
- You can edit your HS senior season from seven to eleven games, and can import online browser-built Team Builder teams as your opponents. This lets you recreate your real-life high school team's schedule if you want
College
Coach's Trust
- You work your way up the depth chart by earning Coach's Trust Points, and even when you have enough points to catch the player who's higher than you on the chart, you can then only take that position by winning a Position Battle – which is a glorified practice session
- Non-starters will earn Trust Points through practices and occasions when you see the field during mop-up time, etc.
- Coach Trust Points extend to your on-the-field power. QBs won't be able to call audibles or hot routes until they have earned the coach's trust
- Earn enough points and you can have the chance to call plays from "Extra Plays" – an extended selection of plays than what the coach has already called. This is available in varying frequency during a game the more Trust Points you earn
- The development team is also working on improving the AI play calling
XP and the Upgrade Store
- XP you earn during your college career is spent on item packs in the Upgrade Store. These packs are built around groups of attributes for specific types of players. For example, the scat back pack boosts your acceleration and juke ability
- There are 600 item packs total, and they'll be six different ones available each week. Rarity, cost, and duration vary, but they will all be based around your position
- Upgrade Store items cannot be bought via micro-transactions
Misc.
- Calendar system scrapped, and the Road to Glory presentation is similar to the Dynasty Mode's menus
- The mode's menus, replays, montages, etc. will be centered around your player
- Practices are now 25 reps per practice
- Can save all your Road to Glory replays onto your NCAA browser page
- No more study sessions on your calendar
Source - Deep Inside NCAA Football 12 (Game Informer)
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