Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

[Bill_Abner]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

Wow. That was a fun 7 pages.

I really don't mind being (indirectly) called an Average Joe. I really did like the Dodgeball movie.

But I thought a lot of my pre-release blogging with the retail version of the game was fairly positive, and despite a lot of the sky is falling posts and the posts from members here accusing me of flat out lying about what I was seeing, I tried to document areas that I thought needed fixing (Ghost Jukes, QB completion rate, QB simmed stats, freezing defenders, poor kick coverage, etc.) but by and large I thought I was pretty even keeled. Also, I didn't start one thread on OS about this. I was just blogging away in my free time.

There are still things about NCAA 09 I like quite a bit. I do think that a lot of the gameplay problems in this year's game are hard to ignore -- they sorta jump right out at you.

Now, a lot of people freaked out more than I anticipated when I started touching on the negatives. But not once did I *ever* tell anyone not to buy NCAA 09 or that they were a doofus for doing so--at least not here. (my published review is a shade more direct...still no doofus calling, though).

All that said, I don't have a problem with the article. It's clearly an Op-Ed piece, which is what that stage is for.

[Foddzy]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

EA, EA, rah rah rah!
EA, EA, he's our man!
EA, EA, if you can't do it, no one can!
we love the forum traffic, pos-ting devs please don't balk!
neg-a-tives we will quash!
silly sim-gamers take a walk!
EA, EA, rah rah rah!
Eeeeee A!

[ChaseB]

EA, EA, rah rah rah!
EA, EA, he's our man!
EA, EA, if you can't do it, no one can!
we love the forum traffic, pos-ting devs please don't balk!
neg-a-tives we will quash!
silly sim-gamers take a walk!
EA, EA, rah rah rah!
Eeeeee A!

Impressive.

[J.R. Locke]

Well written piece. I might actually buy this game tonight....even though I said I wouldn't!!!! I guess I just like a challenge. Wishbone vs ROBO QB!!!

[bears5122]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

ChaseB, I think people aren't necessarily upset with the parts of the article, but a perceived bias that OS may be showing toward EA.

OS was one of the only sports gaming sites that was completely neutral in their stance on games. If a game was good, it got praise. If it was bad, it got torn apart. It's why OS grew so much and why the community has so many dedicated people attached to it. While there was some EA/2K banter, it never dominated how a game was seen by the members. College Hoops 2K and NFL 2K5 have been praised here. So have recent additions of NHL and FIFA by EA. Basically, if you make a good game the community will support it. We just want the best sports gaming experience.

Which is why things have been questionable of late. First, the incredibly high score for NCAA. While I can understand a review missing from time to time, it was a bit odd that NCAA was rated much higher than a game like College Hoops 2K (that is hailed by many members here as a phenomenal game). Also that it was pretty close to the rating that The Show got (which is a vastly superior game). Now I know each reviewer has their own tastes, but I can't fathom how a game that has some of its biggest features completely broken (rosters, sliders, online dynasty) receiving such a high score. It also doesn't help that the OS review is prominently featured on the homepage at EASports.com.

The part that bugs me about the article though is the perception that this is just the norm. That negative people always come in and make a big fuss. This isn't just a negative person thing, it's not even an OS thing. EA football sales have been tanking. Madden saw a double digit percent loss of sales last year (think about that, they own the exclusive rights and more consoles were in homes). NCAA presales were reported to be way down. That's a pretty good sign that it's not just a vocal few on the forums that are upset with the recent products.

It also mentions how the negatives went away after the release. I don't think that's necessarily a good judge of what has happened. Most of the negative impression threads were closed while the positive ones were left open. I understand the need to delete duplicate topics, but that is a reason why the perception has changed a bit when taking a glance in.

I guess what I'm saying is that I really hope that the recent reviews and articles are just bad timing. From my perception it could appear that OS is acting as part of the EA markerting team. EA has a history of becoming aggressive with sports gaming forums for positive exposure. I understand OS likes the exclusives as well as having EA interact on the forums, but I would hope that wouldn't come at the expense of neutrality. The reason people come to OS is because of that neutrality, not the marketing hype.

Let's just hope all this is being perceived by the community the wrong way and that OS is running as it has over the years.

[Pared]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

All that said, I don't have a problem with the article. It's clearly an Op-Ed piece, which is what that stage is for.

Like I mentioned earlier, it seems the straw has broken the camel's back.

If this were the sole article we've seen from OS recently regarding NCAA, perhaps it wouldn't be met with such negativity. But add the review released earlier, coupled with:

NCAA Designers Step Up to the Plate
Despite Flaws, NCAA 09 a Great Experience

You start to see a trend that whomever is pushing these articles are side-stepping the issues the forum is currently dealing with. It's almost as if, between the articles and the dev's silence on the issues (and their insistence "many are enjoying the game now"), OS' content is causing one to wonder if they are being written "in a bubble" and not aware of the general feeling throughout the forum and community. Well, at least from those posting about the game.

The Show wasn't met with this amount of negativity. Neither was NBA 2k8. Nor CHoops 2k8, NHL 08, FIFA 08... People obviously have BIG issues with the game. A good game is a good game. NCAA, however, seems to be a good game that is "broken."

And to give the insinuation that those that have these issues can't be satisfied is completely out of left field.

[Cebby]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

Well written piece. I might actually buy this game tonight....even though I said I wouldn't!!!! I guess I just like a challenge. Wishbone vs ROBO QB!!!

The game's not really a huge challenge. I just beat Zona by 20 with Idaho on Heisman. It all just depends which way the interceptions fall.

[umd]

Wow. I've beed here a long time mostly because of the objectivity of this site, the staff and (most) of the posters. I've defended OS plenty of times in discussions about various biases, but obectivity has really gone down hill around here.

Adding in EA fanboy site MM as part of OS was one thing, then all these "articles" propping up EA (see those links above) despite numerous feature problems (I'm talking broken not "opinion" problems) and then the less than flattering discussion in the NCAA forum.

I'm all for EA devs being here, but let's be realistic here, things are not what they used to be if you're looking for the non-biased OS opinions of old.

I was of the opinion that OS was so successful because of the forums here and the informed, mostly mature impressions (good or bad) of any sports games. To roll out a garbage article like this dispariging the general tone of the NCAA posters in defense of EA's product is pretty sad.

[thmst30]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

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Couldn't have been a better response.

[Rules]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

My issue with the article is that it makes it sound like the most vocal ones are the few who complain the most. There was also a moderator who made that same statement in one of the NCAA threads.

NCAA Football is by far my favorite sports. EA's NCAA Football has been by far one of my favorite games. This year, they changed that and I am vocal concerning those changes and issues because they basically screwed up my favorite football game!

Look, I am all for opinions but you don't see me saying hardly anything bad about any other games other than this one!

EA Games I Love:

Tiger Woods 08
NHL 08
Nascar 08
Madden 09 is shaping up nicely in my book!

I have enjoyed the past NCAA games but NOT THIS YEAR! Massive step back in my book as there are way too many problems to address this year.

Now those articles being posted up on the main page of OS lately seriously makes me wonder if there is some sort of compensation by EA this year???? If not, sorry to ask that question but if there is......,,,,,, sorry to see those who I have come to respect, look the other way.

[Seahawk76]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

I've done some writing for magazines in the past and the problem with this article is that it comes off as condescending to those expressing negative opinions, whether or not that was the intent of the writer. Frankly, it should never have gotten past the editor.

I follow virtually every major sports game release on these forums and what this writer described is NOT the norm. When a game is good (MLB 08: The Show, NHL 08, 2K's hoops games) the reaction from the OS community is generally very positive. But NCAA Football 09 is not one of those games and it should never have been released in its current state. EA absolutely deserves the negative reactions they've gotten on this forum.

This article appears to be attempting to gloss over and delegitimize gripes that the OS community have been making on this forum. When combined with the inflated 8.5 review score NCAA 09 got here, it does appear that the OS staff is either out of touch with its own community or is getting a little too cozy with EA. That may or may not be fair but that's the impression I'm getting.

[kiddlex]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

The tone around here has changed dramatically since developers started frequenting the boards. I notice hair trigger reactions from mods that didn't used to exist such as threads being locked the second the tone changes to negativity. This wasn't the case in previous years and I would even go so far to say certain mods like country boy have completely changed their attitudes with the new direction OS' is going. I remember him in the mlb the show forums being a guy who was extremely objective and articulate while being good at questioning broken features in that game. Now as a moderator he is very quick to lock threads that discuss deficiencies in NCAA 09. I don't like seeing developers who are relatively new to the boards demanding threads be locked when the conversation turns sour.

All of that being said there is no doubt having developers on-site is a testament to the spirit of Operation Sports. Many of us at times find their insight invaluable, however, if we have to castrate our opinions as a side effect of their presence I say good riddance. Remember my gaming friends, Operation Sports is dedicated to sports gaming, not sports developers, and forums are by their very definition places for the masses to voice objective opinions for better or worse.

BTW AA you have become a voice for those of us who usually just read the posts and avoid interaction. Keep up the good work and stay objective it keeps your opinions fresh and relevant.

[867-5309]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

Look, I am all for opinions but you don't see me saying hardly anything bad about any other games other than this one!

EA Games I Love:

Tiger Woods 08
NHL 08
Nascar 08
Madden 09 is shaping up nicely in my book!

I have enjoyed the past NCAA games but NOT THIS YEAR! Massive step back in my book as there are way too many problems to address this year.

Now those articles being posted up on the main page of OS lately seriously makes me wonder if there is some sort of compensation by EA this year???? If not, sorry to ask that question but if there is......,,,,,, sorry to see those who I have come to respect, look the other way.

So you give a free pass to Tiger Woods 08? Was this the 360 or PS3 version?

That game was as broken as NCAA09. Game stopping bug that required a patch, after shipped to retail. Half of the courses textures looked like I mistakenly purchased the PS2 version. Photo Gameface... that really worked well online for many. Poor online play, questionable controls, when you finish a PGA tournament the money earned was for the third round results (or something like that). Can't use the downloaded courses in tour Mode and on and on and on and on.


ZOMG, You sir are on EA's payroll for liking the game. See how that works.

[fistofrage]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

Because I like to use analogies.........

I have a two year old daughter, soon to be 3. We just got her potty trained after years of nurturing and hard work. Thank god thats behind me. My suggestions and hard work finally paid off(or so I thought). No matter what I did last year she just wasn't getting it.

But the signs have been there for a while that this is the time, she'll finally be out of diapers, she'll finally stop messing herself. So its my day to drop her off at daycare, running a little late, but I manage to get everything around, have my best suit on and am ready to drop her off and give my presentation to an important client. Looking forward to the next couple of months with my new contract I'm about to land. She assures me evrything is fine as she smiles from the back seat. Get her out of the car at daycare put her under my arm and start walking in to the daycare.....Poop and Pee everywhere, disaster, my suit is ruined, my day destroyed and now I'm back to square 1.

[KG]

Re: Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

How come the guy who wrote the article isn't defending or clarifying his points? Did I miss that part?

The fact that EA devs are on here troubleshooting issues is commendable but it's a little worrisome because there are too many issues not even related to how the game plays. A lot of us would enjoy the game a little bit more if we could get all of the hyped new features to work correctly so we could get to the game.