Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

[ChaseB]

I think it's mostly this:



It's now been a week since the game was "officially released" and the rosters, sliders, and online dynasties still don't work. We've known for months that there was no defensive pressure, returns were broken, and that short passes were impossible to stop, but were assured by stooges and developers that those problems were minor and would be fixed by release.

As AA said, the new features range from poorly implemented to unusable, and the gameplay has serious problems. This isn't complaining just for complaining, this is the most buggy console game I've ever seen.

During editing should I have switched care out for like? Would that have cleared it up more? Otherwise I once again have to plead ignorance because he's talking about pre-release, and in the article doesn't really say everything is rosy now etc.

[AuburnAlumni]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

Im so sick of hearing "despite the problems NCAA 09 is still a lot of fun".

The game is still fun because the majority of us are huge CFB fans and its pretty hard not to have some fun with the game when you can play with your favorite team.

Is this game a total disaster? No, but stop shoving "this game is a lot of fun" down our throats when people that enjoy the defensive side of the game are pulling their hair out because of the unrealistic QB & OL play.

I agree. I'm sick of folks acting like we are "whiners" or don't know what we are talking about.

"The game is FUN, quit complaining."

Well guess what?

Not being able to play sound defense IS NOT FUN for me.

Having CPU controlled teammates take horrid angles, never get off a block, and do that STUPID "greased pig" animation anytime a player makes a juke move, stumbling around like the 3 stooges....That is not fun for me.

It's not fun for Bill Harris. It's not fun for Bill Abner. It's not fun for Rhombic. It's not fun for LBzrule.

It's frustrating, it's annoying, and it's damn near infuriating, especially considering the game played so well in NCAA 08 on defense.

"Then why do you keep playing it?"

Because I love College Football. Because I have no alternative. Because I WANT THEM TO FIX IT. How do games get better? Folks suggest improvements and they are made.

Unfortunately, for many on here, anyone who think the game is broken in certain AI departments are just "whiners, complainers" and "don't know how to play the game."

Like I said, look who is being the most vocal and unforgiving.

It's not the "9 post wonders".

It's well estabilished, 30+ year old grown men who love this game and this sport and want it to be the best it can be.

[ASB37]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

Every bit of negativity has been warranted in my opinion.

Why? Well, regardless of what you think about the actual gameplay, Almost every major feature upon release was flat out broken.

1. Editing Rosters made your game freeze. Can't do that.
2. Stadium Sounds were causing issues for folks. Can't do that.
3. Online Dynasty was disappearing, being hijacked, etc. Can't do that.

That covers every major "new feature" in the game.

Gameplay is an opinion. But in all honesty, the folks that are really tearing NCAA a new one in the AI department are not "9 post wonders". These aren't 12 year old Timmy.

Bill Abner, Bill Harris, Rhombic, etc. These are ESTABLISHED WELL RESPECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS . And it's not like they think the game "is a bit easy on offense", etc. These folks, like myself, are saying there are MAJOR issues.

Again, it's everyone's individual tastes on gameplay, etc. But there is a very vocal..and IMO...very KNOWLEDGEABLE section of the NCAA community that is highly disappointed with what this game looks like right now . I agree, obviously, with Rhombic and Co. and I think that...pre patch..this game is an arcadish score-fest with horrendous Defensive AI.

Could Defensive AI be adjusted? Could the ridiculous speed cheat for offenses be toned down? Could a Defensive line actually play to their abilities instead of getting pancaked and stonewalled by All Pro Offensive lines at Akron and Ball State?

Sure they could. Will they? Who knows.

But it would be very reasonable to suggest that this launch has been one of the messiest, bug filled, AI deficient in memory.

Just my .02.

Completely agree AA....i don't care how many articles come out that say a few members are having fun....great that's really good for them....this doesn't change the fact that this game has extreme issues all around. It really blows that this is the first year i have been absolutely disgusted with NCAA's offering. I might have been unhappy in years past with too many dropped passes or something like that but this game is broke on so many levels it is just wearing me down. I got through 2 seasons of dynasty and never once did i feel like this game has been playing up to par. I will never ever buy another EA game before or around release. I have learned my lesson finally after a decade of EA bs. So i guess in that regard NCAA was a success.

[muggins]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

Honestly, this looks like something PastaPadre and the EA sports defense force would write.

[GoVols1985]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

I agree. I'm sick of folks acting like we are "whiners" or don't know what we are talking about.

"The game is FUN, quit complaining."

Well guess what?

Not being able to play sound defense IS NOT FUN for me.

Having CPU controlled teammates take horrid angles, never get off a block, and do that STUPID "greased pig" animation anytime a player makes a juke move, stumbling around like the 3 stooges....That is not fun for me.

It's not fun for Bill Harris. It's not fun for Bill Abner. It's not fun for Rhombic. It's not fun for LBzrule.

It's frustrating, it's annoying, and it's damn near infuriating, especially considering the game played so well in NCAA 08 on defense.

"Then why do you keep playing it?"

Because I love College Football. Because I have no alternative. Because I WANT THEM TO FIX IT. How do games get better? Folks suggest improvements and they are made.

Unfortunately, for many on here, anyone who think the game is broken in certain AI departments are just "whiners, complainers" and "don't know how to play the game."

Like I said, look who is being the most vocal and unforgiving.

It's not the "9 post wonders".

It's well estabilished, 30+ year old grown men who love this game and this sport and want it to be the best it can be.

And I'm sick of people saying to me "if you enjoy this game, you don't know anything about real football." God forbid I can enjoy something without it being perfect in every respect. (not directed at you personally, but what you said gave me a good opportunity to get my point across).

[ChaseB]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

So you're mad more about the general coverage around the Web and OS rather than just this article?

I'm just trying to figure this all out because I'm trying to get back in the loop as it relates to this NCAA release. The only other thing I've posted was in the glitches thread, since I was curious how this one writer who I generally respect wrote about NCAA's issues, and if it was a main thing affecting the experience many of you were having.

I'm all about having an open dialogue about this since the staff/writers is broken up somewhat to cover the various games. I don't tend to cover the sim football games for example (minus events like E3 where I was the only one there) but I still like to try and follow almost every game to at least have knowledge of all series.

[PlyrzNumber1]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

During editing should I have switched care out for like? Would that have cleared it up more? Otherwise I once again have to plead ignorance because he's talking about pre-release, and in the article doesn't really say everything is rosy now etc.

With all due respect, why would you write about "the release story" if you don't have a clear picture of the all the events that have played out over the last couple of weeks?

Your article is making it sound like this year is the "same ole". It isn't the "same ole'". This game has several key broken elements, and community members are speaking up in frustration with it, and our comments are being filtered and downplayed because an EA developer is here. Your article further perpetuates the frustration.

[Sabin]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

And I'm sick of people saying to me "if you enjoy this game, you don't know anything about real football." God forbid I can enjoy something without it being perfect in every respect. (not directed at you personally, but what you said gave me a good opportunity to get my point across).

Problem is to bring in this wide open gameplay the defence basically had their balls chopped off.

The people that dislike the game cant convince people that enjoy the game to hate it, but anyone that wants a realistic defensive game has NO chance that right now. Sure you can have the odd defensive game, but eventually the CPU QB is going to go off on you and their is no way to counter it realistically.

[ChaseB]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

With all due respect, why would you write about "the release story" if you don't have a clear picture of the all the events that have played out over the last couple of weeks?

Your article is making it sound like business as usual. It isn't business as usual. This game has several key broken elements, and community members are speaking up in frustration with it, and our comments are being filtered and downplayed because an EA developer is here. Your article further perpetuates the frustration.

I didn't write it, just edited it for grammar and all that. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

If you feel you guys are being misrepresented by the writers that's totally alright to say though, that's why I'm talking with you guys right now -- I'm trying to find out what's up.

The article is more about business as usual in a sense just because he's speaking in a general sense at the beginning about how football releases tend to go every year. Since I've been apart of a few of these releases when I was more into football I do tend to agree with how the release window breaks down.

[Cebby]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

During editing should I have switched care out for like? Would that have cleared it up more? Otherwise I once again have to plead ignorance because he's talking about pre-release, and in the article doesn't really say everything is rosy now etc.

I think it's just the overall thought that we as a base would go out, spend a week looking for the game, drop $60-80 only to complain about the game.

Go to the NBA 2k board and try and find me complaining. Go to the CH2k board and look for some of AA's posts. Go look at the 06 and 2004 threads on this board. The few people may be vocal on this board, but it's the same people who have been vocal that 2004, 06, NBA/CH 2k8, and NFL 2k5 were some of the best sports games ever.

The tone of the last few paragraphs that people were focusing only on the negatives and a general message of "stop complaining and have fun". If anything, now that we have EA people on the board, we should make sure they know that we are unsatisfied with broken features and things that should not happen in a football game. Personally, going 23/27 passing, averaging 40 yards on punt returns, and giving up 18 rushing yards a game because the AI is content to run QB choices/reads almost exclusively is not that fun to me. I'm not sure it's a petty negative complaint that the AI doesn't know that the sideline can stop a runner or that 60 speed quarterback probably shouldn't get 18 carries in a game. The forums became a downer, not because the people were negative nancies, but because EA released a bad game. The last few paragraphs seem to blame the forum users for EA's mistakes.

[elprez98]

Wow. You can't tell me that this one wasn't a bit biased. Its like the OS front page has become more editorial than fact. We are talking about "feelings" now? We refer to unsatisfied gamers as "Chicken Littles?"

Oh what a tangled web we weave.....I'm sorry Steve but what we talked about before, I just can't believe you. This never....I mean never happened on a football release. Not since '03 and I've read every one. This is an editorial, period.

[Pared]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

Damn...

I've always tried to fight to about the objectivity of OS... but goodness man, that article shouldn't have been published.

It almost makes it seem like the article was written ahead of time and planned to be released before the issues were even discovered.

I look back and the NCAA series has always been heralded here at OS. NCAA 2004... 2005... I look at those games and don't recall them having all these issues... sure, they weren't perfect, but did almost all of the major new additions have problems, as well as the gameplay?

An article like this just makes me feel like whomever is writing them are either out of the loop or have a particular slant.

You can say you're enjoying the game; You can say there are many who are upset about issues with the game (that are facts)... but to make it seem like those who mention problems with the game are just complaining to complain... as if they can never be pleased?

Wow.

[GoVols1985]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

Problem is to bring in this wide open gameplay the defence basically had their balls chopped off.

The people that dislike the game cant convince people that enjoy the game to hate it, but anyone that wants a realistic defensive game has NO chance that right now. Sure you can have the odd defensive game, but eventually the CPU QB is going to go off on you and their is no way to counter it realistically.

Yeah, I get what you're saying, and it does suck that you guys can't play the kind of game you like to play. I just wish that when I say I am enjoying the game, realistic or not, somebody wouldn't immdiately say something like "well you obviously don't know anything about football" and "you should go play NFL Blitz then." you see what I'm saying? Just because I want something differant from a video game than other people, it's like I don't love football as much as them.

[ChaseB]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

I think it's just the overall thought that we as a base would go out, spend a week looking for the game, drop $60-80 only to complain about the game.

Go to the NBA 2k board and try and find me complaining. Go to the CH2k board and look for some of AA's posts. Go look at the 06 and 2004 threads on this board. The few people may be vocal on this board, but it's the same people who have been vocal that 2004, 06, NBA/CH 2k8, and NFL 2k5 were some of the best sports games ever.

The tone of the last few paragraphs that people were focusing only on the negatives and a general message of "stop complaining and have fun". If anything, now that we have EA people on the board, we should make sure they know that we are unsatisfied with broken features and things that should not happen in a football game. Personally, going 23/27 passing, averaging 40 yards on punt returns, and giving up 18 rushing yards a game because the AI is content to run QB choices/reads almost exclusively is not that fun to me. I'm not sure it's a petty negative complaint that the AI doesn't know that the sideline can stop a runner or that 60 speed quarterback probably shouldn't get 18 carries in a game. The forums became a downer, not because the people were negative nancies, but because EA released a bad game. The last few paragraphs seem to blame the forum users for EA's mistakes.

OK, fair enough. I still don't think the final message is stop complaining and have fun. One of his points is that people tend to talk about negatives more than positives though, which I mean I think is fair, it tends to be easier to articulate negatives than positives as well.

[AuburnAlumni]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

I didn't write it, just edited it for grammar and all that. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

If you feel you guys are being misrepresented by the writers that's totally alright to say though, that's why I'm talking with you guys right now -- I'm trying to find out what's up.

The article is more about business as usual in a sense just because he's speaking in a general sense at the beginning about how football releases tend to go every year. Since I've been apart of a few of these releases when I was more into football I do tend to agree with how the release window breaks down.

What's up is that article is basically a propaganda piece.

What "Sun" do you see? Not a single patch has even been released yet, which is why my Online League is still in a holding pattern due to freezing rosters, hijacked dynasties, and glitchy Stadium Sounds.

That's not even concerning the mental midgets on defense and the 95+ speed players who have jet packs on their backs.

There isn't a "small faction" that's unhappy right now. If I made a post saying "If you are unhappy with NCAA pre patch, post here"...I guarantee you it would be at 10 pages within 2 days.

And as I've stated repeatedly, I respect the opinions of guys like Abner and Rhombic, etc. Heck, some of my posts have been NICE compared to what Rhombic and Bill Harris have posted...and what they posted was true.

In other words...the article is wrong.