NCAA Football 09 hands-on time this week

by pastapadre
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 12:07 pm

Later this week I will be in NYC for an event surrounding the unveiling of the NCAA Football 09 cover athlete. Also attending is Chris Jacobs from NCAA Strategies and David Wales from PSU. While there we will have an extensive amount of hands-on time with the game which should occur on Wednesday and Thursday. I’ll be coming back on Friday evening and then holding a live blog during the NFL Draft on Saturday.

We are expecting the latest build and we have been given free reign to discuss anything about it. Originally I had imagined a restricted build similar to what we used to get at E3 but apparently it will be the full thing. That means we’ll be able to dig into aspects such as online dynasty menus, campus legend changes, ect.

Keep in mind that this will still be an early build and I wouldn’t expect everything to be fully implemented and certainly the gameplay won’t be tweaked and balanced the way that it will by release time. While there should be a sufficient amount of time with the game it will still be somewhat limiting (please don’t expect extensive reports on Dynasty mode for example). The good thing about the timing is that our feedback will be directly considered and potentially acted upon. So given the circumstances look for the reports to be more informational than opinionated with full details of the feedback that has been given.

If you have any questions or areas you’d like to hear impressions or information on feel free to leave them in the comments. I can’t promise that I’ll get to all of them but I’ll definitely take them into consideration.

NCAA screenshot update: EA is releasing a new alternate uniform screen every weekday. The first one is Kansas which can now be seen here.

Tags:

jacob

in ncaa 09 can you choose for the fans to be in a black out white out gold rush and all of that or is it just normal?

sam hall

hey pasta is 360 better or ps3 btw is wvu gold unis

Vikingsfanatic

Hey, pasta can you see if they have the new minnesota gophers uniforms?

JAMES

WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE TOP 25 TEAMS ARE AND WHAT IS #24 FOR UGA RATING......KNOWSHON

sam hall

wvu gold unis definatly should b on ther

sam hall

hey pasta is 360 or ps3 better btw will wvu have there gold unis

Eski

[quote comment="18484"][quote comment="18459"]Can you see if Michigan State's snack bars are located appropriately within the stadium.[/quote]

Laugh. Out. Loud.[/quote]

I figured with some of the non-sense in regards to FG nets, referees and shirtless fans I might as well add to the minusha.....

ncthompson11

hey pasta i found this at operationsports.com and it looks like matt ryan is the cover for ps3

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/...

pastapadre

So I'm in NY after a red-eye flight (got in a few hours ago). Don't think I'll be able to talk about the game until maybe Friday. I'll drop a note once I know for sure.

Tyler

Will you be able to control the whole team on Campus Legend or just your player?

Shane

Will stadium pulse be back?

FCS

[quote comment="18493"]I posted on my Cat-Griz blog about the apparent lack of FCS teams in next-gen 09. It's amazing to me that it would take so long for EA to get them into the game. I remember reading an interview the past with 2K in regards to the College Hoops 2K series (in which they say it really doesn't take too much time to design a jersey/roster set per school and a skilled one-man team could bang out 8-10 schools in a day in terms of jerseys alone).

So here's crossing my fingers they are holding this back for some big surprise for whatever reason...(they're not).[/quote]
Yea you know and I know that they are not. They just don't care about FCS. As I've said before they probably refuse to believe that the App. St.-Michigan game ever happened. To EA the FCS is full of nothing but horrendous fraudulent teams that could get routed by mediocre high school teams. They show absolutely no care, not respect at all for FCS. Thats the ONLY reason I haven't bought NCAA on next-gen and never will if they don't bring back FCS and show some deserved love.

Phil

I posted on my Cat-Griz blog about the apparent lack of FCS teams in next-gen 09. It's amazing to me that it would take so long for EA to get them into the game. I remember reading an interview the past with 2K in regards to the College Hoops 2K series (in which they say it really doesn't take too much time to design a jersey/roster set per school and a skilled one-man team could bang out 8-10 schools in a day in terms of jerseys alone).

So here's crossing my fingers they are holding this back for some big surprise for whatever reason...(they're not).

Moostache (Dan)

Pasta -

Do what you always do sir....give your honest impressions and feedback. For years I have always read your impressions from releases and community day events and always enjoyed them for what they were - an opinion based on a small data sample. I do not harbor any delusions that you could answer every question here - especially ones that deal with features that may be disabled in the build you do get to see - but whatever you do get to see, I will be looking forward to your recap!

Have a great trip!

how 'bout them Cowboys

Great questions! I would love to know more about:

Create a play and team
Playable camera angles
and... I think its been mentioned b4 but I am very curious what exactly "wide open gameplay" means

OsamabinMadden

[quote comment="18459"]Can you see if Michigan State's snack bars are located appropriately within the stadium.[/quote]

Laugh. Out. Loud.

Eski

Can you see if Michigan State's snack bars are located appropriately within the stadium.

Dave Wales

You're going down Pasta if we get to go 1 on 1 !111!1!!11!1 ;)

Taron

Hey pasta, see if you can get a glimpse at the OL/DL and LBs interaction and if there are actual passing pockets. Maybe the OL can open a few holes every once in a while. If user controlled DTs actually can fill holes and not get blown off the ball every play(regardless of their "strength"). Also check the passing windows and make sure DBs and LBs don't jump out the 9th row in the bleachers and picke a pass off. Maybe the awareness of the WRs might mean something and they will adjust to balls in the air, and why does a 5'10" DB pick off a pass from a 6'4" WR is a good-great jump rating. I mean I can't even throw a freakin fade route. Lastly, ball placement by QBs. Thanks in advance

Ho Brown

FORMATION SUBS?

kpm77

[quote comment="18343"]will you please check create a team, Campus Legend upgrades, create a player upgrades thanks,
Cody[/quote]

Within the create-a-team topic... importing logos for create a team? Would love to be able to get a legit logo on the helmets, end zones, 50 yd. line of my created team.

Probably a reach but at least one guy would be happy.

uncblue02

CAN U PLEASE FIND OUT ABOUT ONLINE PLAY. Noone ever talks about that like the ea nation they had on reg xbox or if any changes have been made. THANK YOU

MDB

Please find out if create-a-team will be in there...I am guessing it's not, and if not, it's something that I know a lot of people who really get into the creative aspects of it will miss once again. Any suggestions to this end would be greatly appreciated....thanks!

Seneca

Could you find out what new attributes are in the game and how does it affect gameplay ie: running back getting stronger in the later quarters or quick release qb's? Will the weather channel be back and if so how will it impact the game will weather matter when it comes to running and throwing the ball?

Makkah R

I'm a bit late with the comments... but could you check and see if the recently instated NCAA rules changes are in effect. Examples are the 40 second play clock, facemasks = 15 yards, illegal procedure on the kickoffs go to the 40, etc.

Fredro

PLEASE SEE IF THE RUNNING HAS IMPROVED...QB'S WITH 85 SPEED SHOULD NOT BE CAUGHT BY A DL WITH 70 SPEED...AND THE RUNNING STYLE SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE FLUID MUCH LIKE LAST GEN INSTEAD OF RUNNING LIKE THEIR ON SKATES...RUNNING STYLE WOULD BE A GOOD UPDATE

Manny

I'd just like to know if you can export online dynasty draft classes into Madden. and if the endless interception and fumble problem was fixed.

GTruth

Can you check out the catching and see if the receivers catch the ball away from thier body? Also see if you can throw deep without the safety all ways knocking it down? And see if power backs are still unstoppable?

FCS

[quote comment="18357"][quote comment="18342"]Pasta can you please see if they have added the D1-AA schools in the game because i heard they were putting them in for next gen gaming[/quote]

I agree will there be D1-AA (FCS) teams in the game...cuz it is in the game. just sayin'[/quote]
Not sure what your talking about, but they released the feature list a while ago and 1-AA is NOT in the game. Plus in an interview a while back some guy who works on this game said they might get to 1-AA eventually when they have the development time. I personally think thats lazy ass bullshit. However we all know 1-AA got the shaft for the third straight year. So to both of you who heard its going to be in the game, your thinking about the Wii version, and the ONLY reason why they are in the Wii version is because it is based off of the PS2 version of the game which has some 1-AA teams. PS3/360 are based on a completely different engine and they will not have 1-AA teams again.

Vikingsfanatic

After viewing the alternate jesey screen it apperas they fixed the sleeves for 09

KDZ

please please if you can.....check to see how the fluid the catching and defending response is on Off. and Def. this year, you can press the button, but they may not jump or react to the ball. i have a ps3 and not sure if its because of the 30 fps or what, but could you please see if its the same as 08 catching. thanks!!

Di5P4tCh

[quote comment="18338"]Pasta - who cares about alt unis, correct end zone logos for bowl games, etc. Again, this isn't Barbie Dress-up for Males.

Check the gameplay and find if the crap from past years has been fixed (endless interceptions run back for TDs, money plays, lack of lob passes, etc).

If the game itself isn't FIXED all the little pretty uniforms with fancy see-through visors isn't going to matter.[/quote]
thank god someone understands gameplay. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU CAN LOB PASS THIS YEAR!!! the passing game in last year was horrible

Mcfadden

Any news on FCS (Div1-AA) teams would be appreciated, also info on differnt camera angles, I would love to play from the old "Press box" angle.

Looks like everyone else was the basic covered.

Jake Palmer

For those of us who don't use Xbox Live or are too lazy to hook PS3 into internet.... can we still transfer the rosters the old ways via memory cards?

Thanks

Zack Kramp

Saving depth chart into roster?
Custom formation subs / packages?
Enhanced gang tackling?
ESPN integration (announcers / visuals)?
Continued realistic interceptions (dont dumb down for noobs)?
Online dynasty details?

Jake Palmer

I want to know if the rosters can still be transerred via memory cards.

Rudy

I'm glad you are going. Looking forward to your comments. My biggest issues are CPU QB AI (will they avoid INTS and throw downfield), how is the DL pass rush (can you actually rush around the end) and will the weight of the players be better (they had too little weight and not enough momentum). Multiple camera angles is also important to me.
Thanks Pasta.

soonerhomie12

sorry I messed up on the link. It's an alternate jersy screen!

soonerhomie12

www.easports.com/ncaa09/alternatejersyscreenshot

rap

Pasta, I would like to hear more about the "wide open" gameplay and what that means that was talked about earlier. Also I would like to know how effective the new running mechanics work.

I can't remember if NCAA ever had in game saves but can you find out if they are considering?

Thanks!

GO BLUE!

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