NCAA Football 2008 Impressions

[seanjohn21276]

I'm loving this game now. I started a dynasty with the alma mater, Virginia Tech. I like how they improved the recruiting and made it more real time than before.

[powerSURG]

^^^ Agreed! I created a prospect... ME, and man, I'm such an A**hole! lol

[akadkins]

This is great! I was about to pay a few bucks for this online - but now these kind players put it up for free. Thanks!

[seanjohn21276]

I'm wondering something. I didn't take the time to edit the rosters with real names before I started the dynasty. Also, I couldn't get my PS3 to see the file with the real names when I connected my external hard drive with the USB cable. So, does anyone know if Madden will let you edit names when you import the file of people that you can draft?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by seanjohn21276

I'm wondering something. I didn't take the time to edit the rosters with real names before I started the dynasty. Also, I couldn't get my PS3 to see the file with the real names when I connected my external hard drive with the USB cable. So, does anyone know if Madden will let you edit names when you import the file of people that you can draft?

Heh, who knows? Every other version allowed that.

I had a little hard time with the Maddenmania NCAA rosters but I figured out what I did wrong.

When you download that thing it's in a zip file. Extract that. Then go into that folder until you see a folder name BLU020349 whatever.

Copy and paste that folder into your USB drive. In your USB drive you should have made a new folder called PS3 and another folder inside that one called SAVEDATA.

Copy and paste that BLU203403 whatever folder into that area and you should be good to go.

Erase any roster file on your PS3 just to eliminate any potential confusion. It should work.

I'm thrilled to finally have REAL rosters in my NCAA football game after what? 15 years of these games?

It's about time!

[Pilam69]

Originally Posted by JTK

PS3 or 360, there's one gameplay element they've done to this game that I've decided I really dislike:

It's the loss of control the player has when it comes to "man in motion."

When I press the snap button (X on PS3) I expect to snap the ball whenever I feel like it after I've moved any men that I've wanted to or not wanted to.

It's driving me nuts on some plays to press X and the computer suddenly takes over MY team, moves some guy and then the ball snaps after several seconds.

This is shown by a "green" route on the play choosing screen. This is a play with DESIGNED motion that is part of the play, in other words, it's not optional, it is supposed to happen. Once you get used to it I think you will like it more than you think. It's much more realistic. Haven't you always wondered why you couldn't move your tight end/h-back down to become a lead blocker (you could put him in motion and then snap the ball but it never worked right)? Now you can!

To me that's an improvement, not a loss. One week after the release I am loving this game more than any other previous NCAA iteration. Just an amazing amount of depth.

Perfect, no, but showing me what the potential is for this franchise/system which gives me a huge amount of hope for next year and beyond.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Pilam69

This is shown by a "green" route on the play choosing screen. This is a play with DESIGNED motion that is part of the play, in other words, it's not optional, it is supposed to happen. Once you get used to it I think you will like it more than you think. It's much more realistic. Haven't you always wondered why you couldn't move your tight end/h-back down to become a lead blocker (you could put him in motion and then snap the ball but it never worked right)? Now you can!

I just disagree. I prefer to have full control at all times over who I want to move or not.

To me that's an improvement, not a loss. One week after the release I am loving this game more than any other previous NCAA iteration. Just an amazing amount of depth.

I like it a lot but I don't "love it" yet. I'm thinking about renting a 360 and that version and spending more than a few minutes to see if the 60fps really make me feel a lot better than I do right now.

Perfect, no, but showing me what the potential is for this franchise/system which gives me a huge amount of hope for next year and beyond.

Next year I expect something amazing with no lacking in any kind of hardware, software, or gameplay features. Next year needs to be shock and awe.

I shouldn't be halfway tempted to pick up the PS2 version for better gameplay and a few more features for less money like I am right now. Before I go the 360 route, I'll probably rent the PS2 version first and do a comparison and see which game I really like more.

[Pilam69]

You honestly think that the PS2 version would be somehow "improved" over a PS3 version of the game?

Hold on, I've got some old VHS tapes in the garage, I'll see if 5th element is better on them than blu.

Wow.

Here's a plan, if you don't like losing control then build a custom playbook without those plays or, better yet, just don't call those plays. There are over 2500 plays available, I'm sure you can find one that fits.

I'm a fanboy for NCAA, I admit it, but wow.


Edit: what "features" does the PS2 have that the PS3 didn't get?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Pilam69

You honestly think that the PS2 version would be somehow "improved" over a PS3 version of the game?

Gameplay wise? It might be. I know for a fact it isn't nearly as slow and lag like as this PS3 version is. That immediately is an improvement.

Most of the reviews I'm seeing suggest as such and have some higher score to show for it.

Hold on, I've got some old VHS tapes in the garage, I'll see if 5th element is better on them than blu.

Wow.

Thank you for your condescension, putting words in my mouth, and completely missing the point.

Here's a plan, if you don't like losing control then build a custom playbook without those plays or, better yet, just don't call those plays. There are over 2500 plays available, I'm sure you can find one that fits.

I'm a fanboy for NCAA, I admit it, but wow.

The biggest problem with this game is the slow as molasses 30fps. It ruins the timing, cadence, rhythm and *snaps fingers* instance execution I'm used to.

I'm getting used to it to a point, but I'm still not real thrilled with it.

They made a good 360 next gen football and did a suspect port of it to the PS3. That's the problem.

Edit: what "features" does the PS2 have that the PS3 didn't get?

First off, I want to show you something.

Note scores and overall averages:

PS2: http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/938465.asp

360: http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/938464.asp

Ps3: http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/938466.asp


The PS2's gameplay is tighter, faster, and doesn't have the molasses like lag feeling that the 30fps PS3 version does. For whatever reasons.

Probably because a different part of EA Sports handled the next generation versions. They made a 360 game and did a lazy port of that same game to the PS3.

Meanwhile, the PS2 (and Xbox 1) version was done by folks who have been doing those games for years and know that stuff like the back of their hands.





In the end, I'll choose the best version. If I have to give up the super pretty graphics for better gameplay, then that's what I'll do.

I like this game, but I don't love it. Normally I'm addicted to these games like crack every year.


I think it'll be disappointing if it really comes down to the Stone Age PS2 again for the whole thing, but it wouldn't halfway surprise me.

Read some of those reviews and they tell you better than I can which versions have what and don't have what else.


Being on a Blu-Ray disc doesn't automatically make the game great, so please abandon that fanboyism or let's stop the conversation right now.

EA didn't do squat here to take advantage of the BD format whatsoever. In fact, they handicapped the game vs. its 360 counterpart.

EDIT add: EA also didn't do squat to take advantage of the PS3's superior hardware. In fact, they made the 360 game run better, faster, smoother, and with higher high def resolutions like 1080i and p while the PS3 version has 720p, at best.

Believe me, I wish they had!

[Pilam69]

Um, who said putting a game on blu made it better? Talk about missing a point.

My point was that if technology passes something by then maybe it's time to move on.

If you really think that they can put a game together that plays better on an older gen system then go for it. Enjoy.

Reviews don't compare a PS2 game to a PS3 game or a 360 game, they refer to other games on that system, geez. If someone is trying to compare one to the other then they are confused to say the least.

Go get your dumbed down version of the game. There's no way they fit everything onto a CD-Rom that they fit on to a BD-Rom for the game.

Do you think they aren't going to have the same plays in the PS2 version? Or the same announcers? Or the same everything? Of course they are, just that it won't support the same amount of information that the PS3 version can/should support.

Don't try to tell me that the games are the same or that you get more out of a PS2 version. You get a game that is OPTIMIZED for a PS2 because it is in the what, 9th version of the game for that system? This is the first NCAA game for the PS3, it is Madden's stepchild, they will NEVER let it look better than Madden. So, you get last year's Madden game with NCAA players. Not quite but damn close. Madden will be (I'm betting) the next step and then next year you will see an even better NCAA (duh).

I have yet to see a lag in gameplay (except online which I blame on the servers at EA). I have noticed the announcers fall behind, that's annoying but fixable with a patch which I am sure will come.

The Lags on Menus are from loading the information out of the HD and BD and I don't know what the problem is there but I don't think it's as bad as my PS2 used to be. The simulation when you are simming the rest of the games for a dynasty runs quite a bit faster.

What words did I put in your mouth exactly? I missed that part. Calm down.

I don't know what Instance execution is but I think instant execution is what you are looking for and that's pretty unrealistic. I suppose you would prefer to be able to throw 60 yards downfield when you are getting hit and not have the throw suffer. That's not going to happen in this game either.

I threw a couple of ugly picks early while learning the new motion system but now I like it. You don't like it. I get it. That's ok. I still think you are missing a major improvement in the game but that's your choice, all of us are different.

What I hear is this. A game that has been in it's 9th or 10th iteration on PS2 and it's 3rd(?) iteration on the 360 plays and looks better.

I'm shocked, just shocked that could be the case. How could their experience in prior versions of the game have helped them?!?

You are obviously a bigger fanboy than me if you are willing to go buy/rent another version of the game just to compare them. Me, I'm a fanboy who's happy with what he's got.

Now, please chill. I'm wasn't trying to flame you or anything like that and I apologize if you took offense. Really.

[soniqstylz]

Originally Posted by powerSURG

^^^ Agreed! I created a prospect... ME, and man, I'm such an A**hole! lol

I created myself, my girlfriend, and my (future) son.

All three signed with different schools

edit for above posts: The PS2 has been out for seven years, there's no such thing as 9th or 10th iteration, but I get your point.

Just because the Blu-Ray has more disc space doesn't mean that the devs actually took advantage of it. This is EA we're talking about here, the McDonald's of gaming.

[seanjohn21276]

Originally Posted by JTK

Heh, who knows? Every other version allowed that.

I had a little hard time with the Maddenmania NCAA rosters but I figured out what I did wrong.

When you download that thing it's in a zip file. Extract that. Then go into that folder until you see a folder name BLU020349 whatever.

Copy and paste that folder into your USB drive. In your USB drive you should have made a new folder called PS3 and another folder inside that one called SAVEDATA.

Copy and paste that BLU203403 whatever folder into that area and you should be good to go.

Erase any roster file on your PS3 just to eliminate any potential confusion. It should work.

I'm thrilled to finally have REAL rosters in my NCAA football game after what? 15 years of these games?

It's about time!

Thanks for the advice. I followed it and it worked. It's cool playing with all of the real players on there.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by seanjohn21276

Thanks for the advice. I followed it and it worked. It's cool playing with all of the real players on there.

It's about time after what? 15 years of these games? The NCAA really needs to rethink that stipulation of theirs when it comes to items like these.

[seanjohn21276]

I think the reason they can't use their real names in any college game has to do with the amateur rule. Considering the NCAA is getting paid off of the games, if they put their real names in there, they would have to pay the athletes, which would violate their amateur status.

[Pilam69]

Originally Posted by seanjohn21276

I think the reason they can't use their real names in any college game has to do with the amateur rule. Considering the NCAA is getting paid off of the games, if they put their real names in there, they would have to pay the athletes, which would violate their amateur status.

But they are doing the same thing we are. You think they don't want to play as themselves? One more advantage for the PS3.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Pilam69

But they are doing the same thing we are. You think they don't want to play as themselves? One more advantage for the PS3.

Now you've completely lost me.

What advantage does the PS3 have on this roster issue whatsoever?

The NCAA doesn't allow it AT ALL. If you go to sites like MaddenWars or MaddenMania, you have these junkies that actually make the rosters for everyone by hand and hopefully get paid for their troubles.

They do it for EVERY system.

[Monkey]

Pilam69, no need to be an arse. Some games have favored better on the PS2 due to poor optimization, etc. It may be possible that the PS2 version could be better in some aspects, more refined framerate, etc.. Clearly EA hasn't had as much experience with the PS3 hardware as the PS2 hardware.

[mikem471]

Pilam69, how about you practice what you preach when it comes to calming down and chilling? Thanks.

[Pilam69]

Originally Posted by JTK

Now you've completely lost me.

What advantage does the PS3 have on this roster issue whatsoever?

The NCAA doesn't allow it AT ALL. If you go to sites like MaddenWars or MaddenMania, you have these junkies that actually make the rosters for everyone by hand and hopefully get paid for their troubles.

They do it for EVERY system.

Didn't mean to lose you. The advantage was that the PS3 does it so easily. I know they do it for every system, I wasn't too clear there. Maybe it's that easy for the 360, I wouldn't know. it's not that easy for the PS2, I know that.

By the way, Maddenmania does it for free and they clearly state that they will not charge for the rosters, which is why I recommended that site.

This is me.................chilling.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Pilam69

But they are doing the same thing we are. You think they don't want to play as themselves? One more advantage for the PS3.

Originally Posted by Pilam69

Didn't mean to lose you. The advantage was that the PS3 does it so easily. I know they do it for every system, I wasn't too clear there. Maybe it's that easy for the 360, I wouldn't know. it's not that easy for the PS2, I know that.

By the way, Maddenmania does it for free and they clearly state that they will not charge for the rosters, which is why I recommended that site.

This is me.................chilling.

Thanks for clarifying that.

At that rate, that's about the only real advantage the PS3 version of this game has, thanks to EA taking the lazy route.

Beyond that: Yes, Maddenmania is free but I think it's the right thing to do to throw those guys a couple of bucks for their efforts so I'm going to try to do it. I don't feel right about leeching off of effort like that.