Quick formation subs are actually in the current version. As indicated you hit the x button to cycle through your options.

Bad news indeed. Last year fumbles, this year pass rush. Can it really be that hard to fix one thing without breaking another?

Yikes...doesn't sound too good so far. Game is 45 days away and people over there are already talking about a patch.

It's like, am I gonna be a sucker and buy it on day 1? Probably. Damn if I don't want to rent it first though. But I think even with a limited pass rush, I'd still get my money's worth out of the FOFC multiplayer dynasty.

We'll see.

BTW, I rented NCAA 08 and have been playing it a little. Turnovers are only a little better. I've had 3 games out of 8 in my current season (2 of those are post-patch) where the teams combined for 7 or 8 turnovers. I had 3 TO's all of those games and the AI had 4 or 5. 80% of them were INT's.

Playing Campus Legend mode again is pretty cool...but those damn INT's ruin everything. If that mode was functional it would be pretty sweet. I'd seriously play a 4-year career several times through without all the damn turnovers. Is it bad that the Ohio State QB leads the nation in interceptions when he's a top-10 rated QB? Plus we were 2-6 at one point...good lord. I do like to lose to Akron by 2 TD's or to Northern Illinois 33-12 (!!!).

Madden has suffered for years with an unrealistic pass rush with strong DT's getting an unreal number of sacks and rush ends being completely ineffective, but I thought NCAA was fine the last couple of years. Hard to understand how they could have gone and completely broken this.

This sounds like a potential game-killer if it's that bad. Let's see if EA has left themselves enough time to do anything about it.

People sure are trying really hard to find something to hate about this game.

Nah, just been burned too many times by EA games that promise the world and then "oops, there is this one little issue" :D

Out of interest, why don't you think that the fact that you can't get any rush from your front four isn't a big deal? If it's as bad as it sounds then it is going to affect the passing game, the entire way you play defense not to mention giving horrible stats for dynasties (which for this board is probably going to be a big deal)...

I'll reserve judgement. But everyone who has an advance copy of this game reporting this issue = not good.

There have been many follow-up posts on Operation Sports about the lack of pass rush, and apparently, the previewers were testing primarily on Heisman level, since "the defense plays the best on that mode." Also, they were playing evenly matched teams.

I've watched some gameplay videos, which were probably on AA, and the pass rush doesn't look non-existant. So, it's possible this won't be as big of an issue for us if we use AA in our leagues which is what I think the early plan has been. Of course, it could still be an issue.

I feel like a standard 3 to 4 man rush in football video games has always been hit or miss. Game killing bugs I consider to be something like linebackers being able to jump 10 feet in the air an pick off anything over the middle on any given play, or franchise bugs that garauntee there wont be enough FA's for some teams to fill out their roster within 3-4 years causing the entire franchise to crash. These games will never be near perfect, so I have to set my priority list before I start hearing about these so called game killers. "It's a little tough getting pressure on the Quarterback", that's nowhere near the top of my priority list.

Yeah, if that's the big bug-a-boo this year, then it should be fine.

Will you be able to shift the o-line protection? I hope the challenge calls/booth review feature is a little more random.

Yes, O-Line shifts are in the game this year.

Woot!

Some videos that I haven't seen before which make me think that the pass rush issues won't be a big deal. USC gets a good pass rush on Tebow on some of the plays, but his mobility allows him to roll away and make some unrealistic throws. Turning down QB accuracy should help with that.

http://www.vimeo.com/1109377

http://www.vimeo.com/1111114

I don't see the "Take #1 hb in the nation to the atm to get commitment option" in recruiting.. whatever will usc do now? ;)

Here is a link to some videos. The is one with Pat White running the option to see how it has improved from 08'. I think the improvements there are nice.

http://www.maddenmatrix.com/

The developer over at Operation Sports has said the demo should be out on the PS3 and 360 at the same time, and that it would be out "soon" and "in June." He has also hinted that it will be out within 2 weeks.

Also, per the developer this year the demo will have commentary with a "reduced sampling rate" that might be noticable on "fancy surround systems" but will be higher quality in game.

It will feature LSU vs OSU for the main game and will also have a mascot game (EA wants to push that for some reason) with Texas vs Florida.

Oh yeah. Mascot games are BIG.

Bevo will stomp a mudhole on a gator.

Demo confirmed for the 360 and PS3 on the 19th of June.

I can't wait, even though it will only be 2 minute quarters and it will be locked to varsity difficulty.

Isn't it crazy how EA manages to sucker most of us every single year?

yes.

Yep.. every stinking year.. I'm passing on NCAA for the time being, but I know there will be plenty of impressions to read.

Gees, I have not bought any football game since 2004 NCAA, and those videos are much pretty then the old PS2 games. :D

I might have to rent this at least. With OOTP and Saints Row 2 I am not sure I could purchase but I might have to try.

An exclusive license will do that to you :(

I still dont see the problem with NCAA. I buy it yearly and play the hell out of it. If that makes me a sucker, so be it. I understand there can be problems, but I've hardly noticed them.

With Madden, I know it's more prevelent, and I just don't have fun with that game, but man, every year NCAA is a blast.

x2

Running back 1-2 interceptions for TDs in every game kind of killed the immersion for me.

Same here. If that issue wasn't there, I would still be regularly playing last year's version.

Me too. And that game where I had 5 INT's in the first half (me picking the AI). They ended with 8 TO's that game and I had 3 defensive TD's. Or the game where I had 9 INT's vs the AI and 2 defensive TD's. This is on All-American with 5 minute quarters. It's like, the game would be challenging if they didn't end every damn drive with a turnover.

This is post-patch, BTW.

Demo is scheduled for tomorrow, so I figured I should convert this into an impressions thread. Can't wait for the demo!

Argh. I thought it had released and generated 5 pages of conversation already. ;)

Sorry for the fakeout. :)

yeah, my friend at EA called to tell me that. He's just happy that the production is almost over...although he said it was nothing compared to Tiger Woods last year in regards to workload.

I'm looking forward to it as well, but it will be hard to get good impressions since it is only on Varsity.

Uh ... are you lost? :)

ditto

Definitely thought I was in the OOTP thread. :) I thought I deleted it pretty fast though.

The demo is out. I'll have to wait until tonight to take a look.

I probably won't have time to try it until tomorrow evening, but I'm counting on you guys for some impressions ;)

Count me as unbelievably impressed. I liked everything about the demo...other than the fact I lost. They have some really neat little things. Quarterbacks getting rattled and their pass patterns and receiver buttons not showing up prior to the play. Chances for you to read defenses after interceptions to pick up experience points for your qb. Good use of bands, cheerleaders, mascots, officials, etc. in terms of game play. I think people are going to be VERY happy with this game and that's not even counting on any of the online stuff.

Don't go getting our hopes up!

I have been toying with the idea of somehow hooking up my 360 to the internet. This makes me want to just a little more....damn.

Yeah, color me impressed as well. Had one interception, but it was definitely my fault and the guy was tackled almost immediately. I was able to stop my opponent as well - I didn't see the opposing QB go 14 for 15 or anything like that.

One thing I do like added is the statistical overlays. It seems in previous years you'd find out how your RB was doing sporadically at best. This year, a little unobtrusive pop-up shows up after every play. There's a 50-50 split (it seems) between showing the results of the last play: "HB #5, 4 yard gain" or showing the stats for the player involved: "QB #2, 7/9 45 yds". I even had one that popped up near the end that said by team had 3 QB Hurries on the day. I love that - really immerses you in the current game when it lets you know how you're succeeding/failing without having to pause and manually look at the statistics.

Oh - and that whole thing about not being able to rush the passer is a load of hooey.

If I recall correctly, you have been one of the most accurate critics, Craig, so I'm happy to hear you like the demo so far. :)

Temper this with the fact I only played 2 games - and they each only last 8 mins. I'm going to give the PS3 version a try later in the day when that's available to compare/contrast the two. I pre-ordered the PS3 version, but if there's a noticeable difference (or if I can't get used to the control scheme), I'll be switching back to the 360.

Downloading now, though not sure when I'll get to play. Today is a busy day, unfortunately.

I thought all of the little stats graphics, score graphics, etc. were all very well done...crisp, clean, and readable.

I'm going to have to try and figure out a way to hook up my 360 and lug my PS3 downstairs so I can get these demos.

I'll start it d/l and then check it out tonight. I still don't think I'll purchase it.. but who knows with me.