Originally Posted by Ksyrup (Post 1785477)

FWIW, as one of the few LG holdouts, I bought the PS2 version over the weekend and am really enjoying it. The gameplay has been tightened up, and as soon as I get a good feel for slider settings over a couple of seasons running my dynasty at a lower-level school, I'll be ready to move up to a real school and take on a challenging AI. I've noticed improved angles, smoother gameplay/player movements, players getting run down on long returns, a more difficult option offense (I used to wear out the opposition with 3 or 4 option plays, which I can still do, but it's more realistic), and oh yeah...SUPER SIM IS SO GREAT. I was up 27-0 in my first game at halftime, and simmed through the rest of the game, stopping occasionally. What would have taken me an hour to sleep-walk through took me 30 minutes, and I won 34-3.

I guess my biggest thing is the "new" (for me) recruiting model, which I'll have to get used to. But otherwise, I'm glad I upgraded from 07.

Originally Posted by Radii (Post 1809107)

Oh man. My 37" HDTV arrived today, I CAN SEE MY RECEIVERS. This is way way better than Christmas :D

Originally Posted by Radii (Post 1812479)

I landed a 5* HB at NC State, #29 overall recruit in the nation. I didn't make any promises to him. He comes in rated well(high 70s) but I have a stud HB as a senior this year. I also have a backup rated about as well as the 5* guy coming in. If I redshirt the 5* guy, how likely is he to transfer? I'd love the extra year of development but obviously I don't want to take too big a risk in losing him.

Originally Posted by Phototropic (Post 1812739)

Do you happen to recall any of his interest levels? As long as he wasn't highly interested in playing time, I would think you'll be ok.

Originally Posted by BigDPW (Post 1813156)

Okay I downloaded the patch this morning and played my first game (with default sliders)... NC State (me) vs. Clemson

My Thoughts:

Gunners on punt coverage definitely are improved. They can break off from the block much better and put more pressure on the return man much like years past.

The linebackers seem to cover curl routes much better. On my first play from scrimmage I threw a 10yd curl to my WR and the LB sat in the zone picked it and took it to the house. I don't recall the LB ever being there on that play before the patch. All I ever had to worry about before was if the CB would hit the WR to break it up.

I was able to pressure the QB adequately (considering I was NCSU) I thought for the first time ever with this game... Usually I had to bring a blitzer to disrupt things but occasionally got pressure with 4 down lineman coming only... YMMV... I will have to see what I can do to disrupt the QB as a superior team to make a firm judgement on this.

I know they didn't say that the kickoff coverage was improved but it seemed to be a little better to me... I rarely broke KO returns before this patch anyway but where I was usually starting off at the 40-50 yd line now I am starting 25-35 yd line regularly after KO returns.

On the default sliders I thought the game played great. I was able to hit dump offs, curls, deep ins, posts, flys, crosses and also had trouble completing some of those routes as well throughout the game. It felt very balanced to me.

I was able to pick a couple of Clemsons passes and stay in the game down to the final play where I had driven 50 yds to the 10 yd line with no timeouts and a chance to punch it in for a 1 point win when I hurried to the line (20 secs left) and audibled to a pass play and quickly snapped and threw only to have it picked by a roving CB at the goal line which he took to the house to put them up 2 scores as time expired...

Originally Posted by Tigercat (Post 1813198)

Somewhat related, EA is opening its first permanent game testing center on the campus of LSU, as of right now it will just test NCAA and Tiger Woods games. Sounds like a step in the right direction as far as quality control.

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp...1&nav=menu57_1

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors (Post 1814585)

I'm dying to try the game now post-patch, but I don't know what slider set to use. So confused. :(

Originally Posted by MizzouRah (Post 1814584)

I've noticed some great things post patch, mainly the kick and punt coverage is much improved as well as the pursuit angles.

I'll see how everything goes once my first season is over, but so far it's been one of my favorite console football games I've played in a long... long.. time.

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27 (Post 1814608)

The coverage is huge, I no longer feel like I'm cheating when I get a big return (which is rare.) I agree that the pursuit angles seem at least a bit tighter and it makes a difference. The DE's are definitely more effective as well, particularly when they are high rated.

Originally Posted by Icy (Post 1814747)

Grrrrrr PS3 patch is not out yet :/

Originally Posted by dervack (Post 1814781)

The first one is here. Were these fixes that 360 fans talking about only in the second patch?

Originally Posted by Icy (Post 1814792)

Yes, sadly, the 1st patch was just to fix the roster editing problem, the 2nd one is the gameplay fixing one.

Originally Posted by MizzouRah (Post 1814584)

I've noticed some great things post patch, mainly the kick and punt coverage is much improved as well as the pursuit angles.

I'll see how everything goes once my first season is over, but so far it's been one of my favorite console football games I've played in a long... long.. time.

Originally Posted by Galaxy (Post 1814834)

You should sign up for the waiting list for one of the FOFC online dynasty leagues. You'll have a blast.

Originally Posted by Anthony (Post 1815648)

i'm not in agreement of "i dominate weaker teams, get a tough matchup against equal teams and get beat by the powerhouse teams" sort of thinking. i like to think that any game is winnable for me - why waste my time in my Stanford solo dynasty if i know right off the bat i won't be able to beat USC? why play that game then? why should i be happy with participating in a game that no matter what i do i have no chance of winning it as soon as the coin toss is over?

i like to think that no matter what team as long as i execute my gameplan perfectly then i have a small reasonable chance (instead of no chance) to win. and really, that's what college football - or any football, nay, any sport - is about. it's not about USC having a larger amount of more dominant players than my Stanford team. it's that they don't have a such a small window for failure that i do. they have more players with which to consistently execute their gameplan with. it's not the fact that they have better players, period. since my Stanford team has such a small margin for error i need to choose my plays perfectly to win. i don't like sliders that instantly make hard team unbeatable. when i'm playing Baylor i can try some new plays out and get a little more loose with my playing, i don't have that luxury with playing an Ohio State or USC - but the ability to win the game should be there whether its Baylor or USC. i'm in some NCAA online leagues where thanks to these hookey dookey sliders i'm all but assured of never being able to have Duke or Michigan State beat the Georgia's and Florida's of the world. what kind of fun is that?

Originally Posted by Kodos (Post 1817669)

We welcomed HA's Michigan State Spartans to Bloomington for our first Big Ten showdown of the season.

The first quarter saw a ton of offense. MSU scored on a 3-yard Lou Williams run on their opening drive, which featured a lot of no-huddle.

Trailing 7-0, Kellen Lewis led the offense out onto the field. Lewis hit WR Ray Fisher on a short pass, and Fisher took it the rest of the way for 69 yards to tie things up 7-7, still in the first. Michigan State answered with another touchdown drive, this one coming via a 44-yard run by junior RB Seth Brown.

Looking to answer once again, our offense moved its way into the red zone. Senior WR Brandon Walker-Roby found some open space in the end zone, and Lewis hit him for a 6-yard touchdown reception. After fifteen minutes, the game was deadlocked at 14-14.

Things cooled down in the second quarter, as MSU settled for a 38-yard field goal on their next possession. Seeing a chance to take the lead for the first time, Lewis and the offense took the field once more. They did not disappoint the fans, as Lewis took it in himself from 12 yards out after a nice drive to put us on top, 21-17 as we headed toward the half.

With a chance to put some space between ourselves and the Spartans, the offense came out fired up for our first possession of the second half. Things looked great as we quickly moved into their half of the field. Junior RB Bryan Payton took it 37 yards off of the option pitch to give us a 28-17 lead in the early third quarter. MSU cut it back to 28-24 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from senior QB Matthew Jackson to sophomore WR Dennis Moore, but we came right back with another TD run by Payton from one yard out.

We entered the 4th quarter with a 35-24 lead. Once again, a score came off of a big play. Junior QB Kellen Lewis broke it all the way on an option keeper from 38 yards out to give us a solid 42-24 lead. MSU was not ready to lay down yet, as they came up with a big touchdown run from Lou Williams to draw within 42-31.





The idiot's mom must not have taught him that the object of the game was to win, as ol' "No Clue" Lou was clearly quite pleased with himself as he showboated his way down the field. To help remind dimwit Lou of what the game is played for, Hoosier RB Bryan Payton drove the point home with his third rushing TD of the game, which came from 5-yards out, to make it a three-score game at 49-31. The Spartans tried to get a cosmetic score late, but they failed, and the Hoosiers reclaimed the Old Brass Spitoon in convincing fashion, 49-31.



In all, the game saw almost 1000 yards of offense. Indiana amassed 242 yards on the ground. Payton led the way with 101 yards on 16 carries for 3 TDs. Kellen Lewis added 89 yards and 2 scores of his own on the ground, while completing 10 of 14 attempts for 212 yards, 2 TDs, and one interception. The Hoosiers are now 4-0, but still seeking respect in the polls. With a ton of recruits in town, we got just the kind of game we hoped for.

GO BIG RED!