NCAA Football 14 News Post

Realistic Recruiting Expected in NCAA Football 14

01:28 AM - March 11, 2013 by TryHard_Nation

EA Sports and West Virginia University had a meeting last July to discuss how they can create a realistic recruiting process in NCAA Football 14. EA Sports Producer Ben Haumiller stated it has gotten a little stale and wants to give it a fresh look and feel.

Quote:


	"There are definitely features that we've added and things that have happened that are based on the conversation we had with them," producer/designer Christian McLeod said. "There are a couple key points that eventually we'll be able to talk about that are the direct result of the conversation we had." Expect recruiting to be more realistic. That was the only goal Hammond and Dorchester had. They found it odd a player never de-committed. They noticed variables like academics, coaching changes and the success of a season weren't factored into the process. They didn't think junior college recruits were represented in ways that explain their value.

Source - WVU football: EA Sports reflects Mountaineers recruiting (Daily Mail)

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# 21 BV11 @ 03/11/13 08:07 PM

Hope that with the recruiting mechanisms being overhauled, that the recruit database is overhauled as well. I am tired of seeing the same players every year in recruiting. I can't think of any specific ones off the top off my head, but there is always similar players year to year. For example a QB with Face #10, B Speed, A Throw Power, and B Accuracy that you can find every year or 2.

What they need to do is completely randomize recruits. They need to use some kind of interval for generating recruits for each position where there is a baseline average class that will occur most years. Some years there will be a great depth in a QB class, with 10 guys beteween 76-80. Some years there will be 2-3 guys at the top over 82 overall, but no guys between 78-81 behind them.

Some kind of interval like this is what I have in mind roughly:

For example looking at the strength of QB recruiting classes (Would generate this for each position for each recruiting class)

5 is weakest, 10 is highest strength:

Probability of Class strength 5= 10%
Probability of Class strength 6= 15%
Probability of Class strength 7= 25%
Probability of Class strength 8= 25%
Probability of Class strength 9= 15%
Probability of Class strength 10= 10%

This just means a class 10 strength class for a position has a 10% chance of being generated each year, strength 7 class has a 25% chance, and so on. The talent at the top, as well as the depth would play into how highly a positions class strength was rated.

The way recruiting is now just seems too predictable and like there isn't a whole heck of a lot of variety between guys. There will never be another player exactly like Michael Vick coming out of high school, same as Andrew Luck, same as anyone else. Every player is a different puzzle piece that coaches have to decide if they are worth pursuing, and how they would use them if they got them.

# 22 OmahaKnights @ 03/11/13 08:12 PM

So does this mean I can start an Ole Miss dynasty and load up on 5 star recruits with Microsoft points?

Kidding aside, it'll be interesting to see just what they mean. I'm not sure if I would have went to West Virginia, or just West Virginia, but it's their game, I guess.

Does this mean that there will be repercussions for oversigning, academically ineligible players, and so on?

# 23 khaliib @ 03/11/13 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jello1717


	I'm unable to find the words to accurately describe how much I disagree with these statements.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clemsonpanther


	I second the above. madden is a different story but NCAA players are well done, except for in 12 1 position "athletes" and WRs having A carrying but D catching.

I would say go back to some of the threads by GotMadSkillzSon and you'll know were my comments derive from.

I as well as others have been tweaking Ratings for years to try and get AI players to behave somewhat differently which has led to Recruiting serving little need because outside of Speed, that 1 Star player at Sac State played "The Same" as that Blue Chip that signed with Alabama at every position across the board (as far as being AI controlled).

Until there is a difference between a 1 Star and 5 Star player, again, Recruiting is meaningless because your 30 min spent in this phase has the "Same Exact" Gameplay outcome as the gamer who just skip/sim past.

If one chooses to spend time going through and getting something out of the Recruiting, good for them, but there is no error in my statement. Speed has always been the foundation EA football has been built on top of.

Players do not behave differently (1 Star through 5 Star) when the AI controls them.

# 24 BV11 @ 03/11/13 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaliib


	I would say go back to some of the threads by GotMadSkillzSon and you'll know were my comments derive from. I as well as others have been tweaking Ratings for years to try and get AI players to behave somewhat differently which has led to Recruiting serving little need because outside of Speed, that 1 Star player at Sac State played "The Same" as that Blue Chip that signed with Alabama at every position across the board (as far as being AI controlled). Until there is a difference between a 1 Star and 5 Star player, again, Recruiting is meaningless because your 30 min spent in this phase has the "Same Exact" Gameplay outcome as the gamer who just skip/sim past. If one chooses to spend time going through and getting something out of the Recruiting, good for them, but there is no error in my statement. Speed has always been the foundation EA football has been built on top of. Players do not behave differently (1 Star through 5 Star) when the AI controls them.

Yep. I would say the only 2 attributes that REALLY matter besides speed for any recruit is THP and THA for QB. If you have a QB with high THP and THA, and the rest of your team is fast, you are set on this game.

# 25 BLACKjersey53 @ 03/11/13 09:42 PM

Think they've consulted with college offensive lineman on how to run block? Seriously though, any news is good news. Let's get this cover vote stuff out of the way and start getting the good stuff!

# 26 BDawg35 @ 03/11/13 10:31 PM

Skeptical, as always. How many high hopes have been dashed in this series over the years? Hopefully recruiting is at least more interesting. I've fallen asleep many times while recruiting between games.

# 27 Dr Death @ 03/12/13 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDawg35


	Skeptical, as always. How many high hopes have been dashed in this series over the years? Hopefully recruiting is at least more interesting. I've fallen asleep many times while recruiting between games.

Skeptical doesn't even cover it. As mentioned earlier in this thread - but something I'll elaborate on with a bit more detail - this "De-commit" thing could - and probably will - be way overdone by EA. They have no concept of the word SUBTLETY.

If every couple years you had one 5-star player or if you take over North Texas and lose a 3-star, then fine. But what frightens me is that we'll all have a bunch of players "committed" to our team, and then on Signing Day half of them will bail on you. THIS is what EA typically does. It's always ALL or NOTHING with them - they know no middle ground, they have no idea that implementing something new that happens RARELY would actually be cool.

Skeptical... Nah... I'm POSITIVE they will screw this up badly. There's 7 years of games this gen to back that thought process up...

# 28 SkillzKillz719 @ 03/12/13 03:18 AM

Why does Ben even try? lol.

I don't know about you guys, but I would rather just not know a single thing until July 13th and then just make the best of it from there. Because now I will have his PR stuff in the back of my mind when recruiting.

This whole things just comes off as EA saying, "Hey, WVU. Give us a couple worthless tips that we will pretend to listen to and you can get some pub." "Well shoot. Sounds fine."

Going back to what I said though, I'm so tired of this BS by Ben! Please make some one else your spokesman. He knows, we know it, even EA knows it (Or maybe they don't because they don't even know they release a NCAA Football game!?) that he is the epitome of the NCAA franchise. STALE.

I tried to not listen to any news on 13 until release date, but around late May I couldn't take it anymore. This year I'm listening, and 90% sure I will buy (and yes I know this is why they are successful) but I have a really strong feeling if all we get is how players now decommit in an overly dramatic overdone way and Infinity engine 1.25, I will honestly pass.

There's just too many games out there. I am a die-hard fan of college football, but there just comes a point...

This is a thanks but no thanks. Don't give us this. I would rather wait for the video of how its done properly.

Maybe EA just goes on OS and laughs at how mad we get. Who knows at this point lol

# 29 JerzeyReign @ 03/12/13 03:56 AM

Here's hoping they will get rid of hard commits - at least the top guys - in Week 2 of the regular season. How about making National Signing Day special? How about once a kid has narrowed his choices, get rid of the -1 thing and replace it with something like "Mulling Offer". The top school could be ESPN's pick as to what school is leading the race. That part should be completely random so it doesn't give away who is actually leading the race. Then you and your buddies duke it out over the 5 week recruiting period leading up to NSD. Imagine sitting through a little draft type screen as the top 10 or so prospects (maybe storyline prospects) announce where they are going. Then another quick advance populates all the other unsigned guys.

I don't know, I'm just rambling. Its late and I can't sleeep but I sure hope they add some drama to the recruiting process.

# 30 Gap Integrity @ 03/12/13 03:59 AM

Not to get too far off topic, but as a roster editor, I've always thought it would be sweet to be able to edit recruiting classes. How sweet would it be for a few years to be able to create the rivals top 300?? I think it would be fun to recruit real players, at least for 2 seasons.

# 31 ryan @ 03/12/13 04:23 AM

I play CH2K8 religiously....the dynasty depth is amazing and its fun trying to recruit a guy who is dead set on going to his dream school

how can they nail something great 4 years ago and forget now?

# 32 Caveman24 @ 03/12/13 11:37 AM

I can see it now.

Florida Gators 2013 recruiting class

5* Tony Roy has decommitted
5* Jackie Moon has decommitted
5* Luke Richard has decommitted
5* Blaine Dodson has decommitted
1* Troy Cooper has commited

# 33 BraveHeart @ 03/12/13 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan


	I play CH2K8 religiously....the dynasty depth is amazing and its fun trying to recruit a guy who is dead set on going to his dream school how can they nail something great 4 years ago and forget now?

CH2K8 was made by 2K....

# 34 sparkdawg777 @ 03/12/13 01:55 PM

I still don't understand why they don't have a signing day special. You wouldn't even have to have a video presentation of them putting on a hat. You could just do it like coaching carousel with words. I just think signing day is the most exciting day in the college football off season, even for the coaches. It just needs to be more dramatic.

# 35 iCebErgSLiM369 @ 03/12/13 02:36 PM

I miss the old fashioned ps2/xbox recruiting. It was fast, simple, and better implemented. I love spending hours in the preseason comparing and scouting recruits but once I my board up, recruiting becomes tedious and a chore. Nobody wants to spend 20min before every game making fake phone calls. Yes I know you can have the computer do it for you but the cpu spends more time filling your board with randoms than effectively going after just the players you've targeted.

In a test I ran yesterday, first year of a new dynasty, recruiting myself leaving nothing to the computer I pulled in the number 3 overall recruting class with 3* Northwestern. Added depth at every position other than qb, cb and special teams including 4 new starters on the oline which was the most glaring need. Reloading the file and this time allowing the cpu to handle all recruiting responsibilities and starting with the same 25man recruiting board, I ended up with the 30th class which was fine for a 3* program. The problem is its obvious the computer doesn't evaluate your roster at all. For instance i had 9 offensive linemen returning, but only two of whom id feel comfortable starting. The others were lowly rated bums. The cpu didnt recognize the lack of talent at the position and didnt make it a priority because there are enough "bodies". Until the cpu can better identify team needs, better utilize the position change feature, and drop a player from the recruiting board (especially after 2 better guys committ), recruiting is not going to feel fresh and realistic.

Honestly, I'd rather ben and company spend time at west virgina in the film room trying to nail down various blocking schemes. Until all the ratings and schemes are better implemented into deciding onfield results in gameplay, spending all this time recruiting just seems like a waste.

# 36 speedy43 @ 03/12/13 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iCebErgSLiM369


	The cpu didnt recognize the lack of talent at the position and didnt make it a priority because there are enough "bodies". Until the cpu can better identify team needs, better utilize the position change feature, and drop a player from the recruiting board (especially after 2 better guys committ), recruiting is not going to feel fresh and realistic.

That's because the cpu recruits based on your recruiting priorities that you manually have to change in the recruiting settings (sorry if wrong, can't remember the actual name of that sub-menu)

Although, I've never trusted it myself and always turn off all cpu assistance while doing my own recruiting.

# 37 slingblade73 @ 03/12/13 04:34 PM

Recruiting can be corrected easily. Have 85 man rosters. Classes will be realistic. Have a prestige penalty if you cut a player on scholarship.

# 38 PRAY IV M3RCY @ 03/12/13 05:04 PM

They need to first competely overhaul the dynasty interface, and have a section all about recruiting and storylines to keep it somewhat dramatic. I want detailed scouting information on the top recruits, not just a display of their OVR atttributes.

# 39 DorianDonP @ 03/12/13 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbrownsrevenge


	Not to get too far off topic, but as a roster editor, I've always thought it would be sweet to be able to edit recruiting classes. How sweet would it be for a few years to be able to create the rivals top 300?? I think it would be fun to recruit real players, at least for 2 seasons.

NCAA should absolutely allow you to edit AND SHARE recruiting classes online. It would be a hit since college football recruiting is MASSIVELY popular. Being able to download real recruiting classes would be a big deal.

For some reason, EA won't do it though. Just one in a long list of fails this gen.

# 40 SkillzKillz719 @ 03/12/13 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dienissteeinda


	I think they need to start thinking about adding some sort of sandbox game quality to sports sims. Something to do in the outside world during the weeks in between games. I love how pro sports leagues try to present a clean image to the video game world when the reality is... controversy is what brings the fun factor. It's called sports/entertainment for a reason.

I LOVE where you are going with this...

The X-factor for all sports games are the human side of it in my opinion.
I love Road to the Show, but it just doesn't have that extra thing in it that MyCareer does! It's that human element.

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