Some random topics and poll for today

by pastapadre
Posted May 13th, 2008 at 8:15 am

Here are some random things I wanted to throw out there but wouldn’t have made for much of a full posting on their own. Feel free to leave your comments in response to any of these. I’ve also added a poll if you continue on asking which of the three football games you are anticipating the most.

There were more areas of confusion coming out of the media event held by EA last week than just the Fantasy Football which was cleared up through my producer interview. Apparently some media outlets have reported that Madden 09 will have in-game saves. Operation Sports sought out confirmation and found out that it will not.

EA Gameshow has made a major change by turning off the power-ups. I was never a huge fan of the power-ups from the start although once I understood them it added a fun element to the game. I would probably enjoy rounds more where it was just knowledge and speed that determined the winner rather than taking advantage of power-ups which in some cases could simply come down to luck. Not to mention there was only one that was worth using negating the whole idea behind creating strategies (6X Chicken). It also made for a difficult first time experience. Thinking you are doing well but then seeing you got blown out because you didn’t know about power-ups or didn’t use the right ones would be frustrating and confusing. The plan is to bring power-ups back in the future but in a way that is more balanced and easy to understand.

Who else is more impressed with the feature set for NCAA Football 09 than the one for Madden 09 at this point? Granted there are many more features to come for Madden and it has received a huge lift in presentation. But the features that are known thus far definitely seem stronger for NCAA. While Madden’s Online Leagues sound as though they’ll turn out well it is nothing compared to the interest behind the Online Dynasty. Add in other significant additions such as Home Field Advantage, roster sharing, and customizable music. Compare that to the BackTrack/Rewind and the Virtual Trainer (of which they should probably be seen in action before judging) that are aimed at making Madden more accessible. The screenshots/videos for EA Sports World being added to Madden is exciting but that was in NCAA last year. I highly suspect though as more becomes known about Madden this feeling may shift. They’re not going to hold back in the anniversary year.

The transition to the full NCAA Football 09 website (which should launch in the near future) has caused some issues and prevented them from posting up the daily alternate screenshots. If you have missed any over the last few days (Clemson, Colorado) because of that they are included in the screenshot gallery.

I’ve been more excited in general with gaming over the past days than I have in a long time. First came GTA IV but that was even topped by Boom Blox. Lego Indiana Jones is coming in a few weeks. Now news that Viva Pinata 2 is on the way. The original VP along with Crackdown are my two favorite games of this generation.

{democracy:23}

Tags:

Eski

I swore I read that you can save mid-game in Madden and / or NCAA Football in the list of features….
http://www.maddenwars.com/ Dan (Moostache)

NCAA 2008 was >>> Madden 2008.

NCAA 2009 sure looks like it will continue the trend. I think the one thing holding back NCAA in the past from being an outstanding game instead of just a very good one was the online element. As long as the folks at Tiburon hired the right people to debug their netcode and get things running smoothly, Online Dynasty will blow away Madden, even with the 12-player limit.

A 12-man, 60-season SEC battle-royale to PROVE who is the best player AND recruiter and program builder is simply waaaaaay more enticing to me and a single season 32-team league. I have been doing those via league daddy for years – and unless EA has almost totally automated the stat tracking for their Madden Leagues, I bet there will still be Madden Leagues on League Daddy again in 2009…

I like what I have seen for both games, but I believe the NCAA team is taking it to the Madden team and truthfully have been doing so for a few years running now…
http://www.maddenwars.com/ Dan (Moostache)

NCAA 2008 was >>> Madden 2008.

NCAA 2009 sure looks like it will continue the trend. I think the one thing holding back NCAA in the past from being an outstanding game instead of just a very good one was the online element. As long as the folks at Tiburon hired the right people to debug their netcode and get things running smoothly, Online Dynasty will blow away Madden, even with the 12-player limit.

A 12-man, 60-season SEC battle-royale to PROVE who is the best player AND recruiter and program builder is simply waaaaaay more enticing to me and a single season 32-team league. I have been doing those via league daddy for years – and unless EA has almost totally automated the stat tracking for their Madden Leagues, I bet there will still be Madden Leagues on League Daddy again in 2009…

I like what I have seen for both games, but I believe the NCAA team is taking it to the Madden team and truthfully have been doing so for a few years running now…
http://www.maddenwars.com Dan (Moostache)

NCAA 2008 was >>> Madden 2008.

NCAA 2009 sure looks like it will continue the trend. I think the one thing holding back NCAA in the past from being an outstanding game instead of just a very good one was the online element. As long as the folks at Tiburon hired the right people to debug their netcode and get things running smoothly, Online Dynasty will blow away Madden, even with the 12-player limit.

A 12-man, 60-season SEC battle-royale to PROVE who is the best player AND recruiter and program builder is simply waaaaaay more enticing to me and a single season 32-team league. I have been doing those via league daddy for years – and unless EA has almost totally automated the stat tracking for their Madden Leagues, I bet there will still be Madden Leagues on League Daddy again in 2009…

I like what I have seen for both games, but I believe the NCAA team is taking it to the Madden team and truthfully have been doing so for a few years running now…
EA Fan boy Too

Boom Blox is a puzzle video game by Electronic Arts for the Wii and mobile devices. The objective of the game is to knock a structure made of blox over so that all of the blox fall flat. The game was developed with the guidance of film director Steven Spielberg.[4]

Boom Blox is bigger than GTA 4 Pasta? SMH
EA Fan boy Too

Boom Blox is a puzzle video game by Electronic Arts for the Wii and mobile devices. The objective of the game is to knock a structure made of blox over so that all of the blox fall flat. The game was developed with the guidance of film director Steven Spielberg.[4]

Boom Blox is bigger than GTA 4 Pasta? SMH
EA Fan boy Too

Boom Blox is a puzzle video game by Electronic Arts for the Wii and mobile devices. The objective of the game is to knock a structure made of blox over so that all of the blox fall flat. The game was developed with the guidance of film director Steven Spielberg.[4]

Boom Blox is bigger than GTA 4 Pasta? SMH
Eric

[quote comment="21094"]I swore I read that you can save mid-game in Madden and / or NCAA Football in the list of features….[/quote]

You did. EA came out today and said “We tried and really understand that people would like to have in-game saves, but it just wasn’t something that we could get done this year. We were too busy working on clever marketing and bullet points for the back of the box as well as counting that assloads of money we make by releasing a half-assed game every year.”

I only made part of that up….
Eric

[quote comment="21094"]I swore I read that you can save mid-game in Madden and / or NCAA Football in the list of features….[/quote]

You did. EA came out today and said “We tried and really understand that people would like to have in-game saves, but it just wasn’t something that we could get done this year. We were too busy working on clever marketing and bullet points for the back of the box as well as counting that assloads of money we make by releasing a half-assed game every year.”

I only made part of that up….
Eric

[quote comment="21094"]I swore I read that you can save mid-game in Madden and / or NCAA Football in the list of features….[/quote]

You did. EA came out today and said “We tried and really understand that people would like to have in-game saves, but it just wasn’t something that we could get done this year. We were too busy working on clever marketing and bullet points for the back of the box as well as counting that assloads of money we make by releasing a half-assed game every year.”

I only made part of that up….
http://operationsports.com/ Chase

Yea just to make sure there’s no confusion EA had basically said in-game saves would be in at the event. Also I believe one of the major outlets (maybe GameSpot?) wrote that in-game saves were in, but it was more confusion than press error. EA basically said they would have it in at the end or were thinking it would be in but it just wasn’t in the build being showcased last week.
http://operationsports.com/ Chase

Yea just to make sure there’s no confusion EA had basically said in-game saves would be in at the event. Also I believe one of the major outlets (maybe GameSpot?) wrote that in-game saves were in, but it was more confusion than press error. EA basically said they would have it in at the end or were thinking it would be in but it just wasn’t in the build being showcased last week.
http://operationsports.com Chase

Yea just to make sure there’s no confusion EA had basically said in-game saves would be in at the event. Also I believe one of the major outlets (maybe GameSpot?) wrote that in-game saves were in, but it was more confusion than press error. EA basically said they would have it in at the end or were thinking it would be in but it just wasn’t in the build being showcased last week.
Beau

[quote comment="21093"][quote comment="21073"]Also, the lack of In-game saves is total crap. I’m so disappointed in EA’s effort, but I ranted in the link on OS, so I’ll leave it at that.[/quote]

In-game saves are in Madden this year….[/quote]

wow. way to go. did you even read Pasta’s blog/post?
Beau

[quote comment="21093"][quote comment="21073"]Also, the lack of In-game saves is total crap. I’m so disappointed in EA’s effort, but I ranted in the link on OS, so I’ll leave it at that.[/quote]

In-game saves are in Madden this year….[/quote]

wow. way to go. did you even read Pasta’s blog/post?
Beau

[quote comment="21093"][quote comment="21073"]Also, the lack of In-game saves is total crap. I’m so disappointed in EA’s effort, but I ranted in the link on OS, so I’ll leave it at that.[/quote]

In-game saves are in Madden this year….[/quote]

wow. way to go. did you even read Pasta’s blog/post?
boisedude

I am keeping NCAA 2008 and buying Madden 09 this year. I have yet to keep a Madden game for more than a week since the new gen has arrived. If Madden blows I will drop it and pick up NCAA, but in the past I have bought NCAA first and Madden has never been as good so far. I think Madden for me will be good for a change because I am thirsty for the NFL and I have been quinching that thirst with 2k5 for a while. That game just seems so old school now and I really hope Madden is good. One of the main reasons I dropped Madden was the presentation. I just got bored during the game (radio announcer?) and the season CPU stats were garbage. NCAA has allways had the better presentation so we’ll see.
boisedude

I am keeping NCAA 2008 and buying Madden 09 this year. I have yet to keep a Madden game for more than a week since the new gen has arrived. If Madden blows I will drop it and pick up NCAA, but in the past I have bought NCAA first and Madden has never been as good so far. I think Madden for me will be good for a change because I am thirsty for the NFL and I have been quinching that thirst with 2k5 for a while. That game just seems so old school now and I really hope Madden is good. One of the main reasons I dropped Madden was the presentation. I just got bored during the game (radio announcer?) and the season CPU stats were garbage. NCAA has allways had the better presentation so we’ll see.
boisedude

I am keeping NCAA 2008 and buying Madden 09 this year. I have yet to keep a Madden game for more than a week since the new gen has arrived. If Madden blows I will drop it and pick up NCAA, but in the past I have bought NCAA first and Madden has never been as good so far. I think Madden for me will be good for a change because I am thirsty for the NFL and I have been quinching that thirst with 2k5 for a while. That game just seems so old school now and I really hope Madden is good. One of the main reasons I dropped Madden was the presentation. I just got bored during the game (radio announcer?) and the season CPU stats were garbage. NCAA has allways had the better presentation so we’ll see.
Griffa02

aside from the pore runnig agility and no names in ncaa 08 it was a lot better then madden but they fixed its only problems its only getting better from here cant wait to play with west virginia and other spread offensive running teams immagine being able to switch a juke to a spin with noel devine!!
Griffa02

aside from the pore runnig agility and no names in ncaa 08 it was a lot better then madden but they fixed its only problems its only getting better from here cant wait to play with west virginia and other spread offensive running teams immagine being able to switch a juke to a spin with noel devine!!
Griffa02

aside from the pore runnig agility and no names in ncaa 08 it was a lot better then madden but they fixed its only problems its only getting better from here cant wait to play with west virginia and other spread offensive running teams immagine being able to switch a juke to a spin with noel devine!!
Darren

Viva Pinata 2!!! FUCK YEAH! Also Banjo looks sweeet too.
Darren

Viva Pinata 2!!! FUCK YEAH! Also Banjo looks sweeet too.
Darren

Viva Pinata 2!!! FUCK YEAH! Also Banjo looks sweeet too.
Eaven

it sux that i cant get the ncaa football 09 rosters because i have a hard drive and dont want to spend money on a memory card and a xbox transport kit. also i dont have xbox live. WHY CANT THEY JUST PUT THE ROSTERS ON THE GAME?
Eaven

it sux that i cant get the ncaa football 09 rosters because i have a hard drive and dont want to spend money on a memory card and a xbox transport kit. also i dont have xbox live. WHY CANT THEY JUST PUT THE ROSTERS ON THE GAME?
Eaven

it sux that i cant get the ncaa football 09 rosters because i have a hard drive and dont want to spend money on a memory card and a xbox transport kit. also i dont have xbox live. WHY CANT THEY JUST PUT THE ROSTERS ON THE GAME?
Gotham7 (Eric there was two Er

I am really excited for Head coach but I’m a minority in this. I am excited to run the Giants my way and to implement the systems I want in my offense.

Pasta any idea if you can create a team in head coach?
Gotham7 (Eric there was two Er

I am really excited for Head coach but I’m a minority in this. I am excited to run the Giants my way and to implement the systems I want in my offense.

Pasta any idea if you can create a team in head coach?
Gotham7 (Eric there was two Eric’s)

I am really excited for Head coach but I’m a minority in this. I am excited to run the Giants my way and to implement the systems I want in my offense.

Pasta any idea if you can create a team in head coach?
tpcatsawgrass17

[quote comment="21116"]it sux that i cant get the ncaa football 09 rosters because i have a hard drive and dont want to spend money on a memory card and a xbox transport kit. also i dont have xbox live. WHY CANT THEY JUST PUT THE ROSTERS ON THE GAME?[/quote]
Because it is against ncaa policy and rules.
tpcatsawgrass17

[quote comment="21116"]it sux that i cant get the ncaa football 09 rosters because i have a hard drive and dont want to spend money on a memory card and a xbox transport kit. also i dont have xbox live. WHY CANT THEY JUST PUT THE ROSTERS ON THE GAME?[/quote]
Because it is against ncaa policy and rules.
tpcatsawgrass17

[quote comment="21116"]it sux that i cant get the ncaa football 09 rosters because i have a hard drive and dont want to spend money on a memory card and a xbox transport kit. also i dont have xbox live. WHY CANT THEY JUST PUT THE ROSTERS ON THE GAME?[/quote]
Because it is against ncaa policy and rules.
Super Glock

Are you kidding me pasta, are you smoking crack. Boom Blox over GTA 4!!!
Super Glock

Are you kidding me pasta, are you smoking crack. Boom Blox over GTA 4!!!
Super Glock

Are you kidding me pasta, are you smoking crack. Boom Blox over GTA 4!!!
Marvis

http://www.maddenwars.com has a great interview with the guy that implemented the online dynasty for NCAA. I think the Madden team should have made this guy work with them.
Marvis

http://www.maddenwars.com has a great interview with the guy that implemented the online dynasty for NCAA. I think the Madden team should have made this guy work with them.
Marvis

http://www.maddenwars.com has a great interview with the guy that implemented the online dynasty for NCAA. I think the Madden team should have made this guy work with them.
orrfinbudy

To me Backbreaker is the most anticipated football game.
orrfinbudy

To me Backbreaker is the most anticipated football game.
orrfinbudy

To me Backbreaker is the most anticipated football game.
MotorbreathX

I’m sorry but I haven’t seen this written anywhere I’ve looked for sure, can you have just 2 guys in an online franchise? I know Madden you have to have all 32 players which is ridiculous, but NCAA seems ahead of the game on this. Any word? Thanks, guys.
MotorbreathX

I’m sorry but I haven’t seen this written anywhere I’ve looked for sure, can you have just 2 guys in an online franchise? I know Madden you have to have all 32 players which is ridiculous, but NCAA seems ahead of the game on this. Any word? Thanks, guys.
MotorbreathX

I’m sorry but I haven’t seen this written anywhere I’ve looked for sure, can you have just 2 guys in an online franchise? I know Madden you have to have all 32 players which is ridiculous, but NCAA seems ahead of the game on this. Any word? Thanks, guys.
HoodIII

You can have how many ever players you want up to 12. It also give the commissioner the option of removing or adding players.
HoodIII

You can have how many ever players you want up to 12. It also give the commissioner the option of removing or adding players.
HoodIII

You can have how many ever players you want up to 12. It also give the commissioner the option of removing or adding players.
John

Pasta, what about Backbreaker??? I am more excited about that then Madden or NCAA combined. It is going to revolutionize the way we play sports video games and it could potentially be one of the best football games to date.