Live Blog: NCAA Football 09
by 
1201: Was playing Shopmaster from MaddenWars but hopped off to start the live blog. Heading into the 4th quarter he held a 26-7 lead (my defense could not get a stop). Have a few notes already and will add them shortly. Got a couple short video clips for tonight also.
1207: Got a late start due to the 360 I sat down at having the red rings. My luck! Plus I was sick this morning but I’m feeling much better now.
1210: I’m attempting to upload a few short video clips now. We’ll see if I can get them up soon.
1211: Husky Stadium is not the best place to play a snow game. While it looks great on the field, the track surrounding the field looked terrible.
1213: Overall the gameplay is more constricted. It still has the wide open feel but the acceleration that led to so many big plays seems to have been toned down.
1215: At this point I can’t really go in and directly answer some of the questions you guys have posed. I will try and get time later to seek some of them out.
1216: Could just be a coincidence, but so far I’ve seen less turnovers even in the head-to-head. Just one INT thrown by Shopmaster and I was immediately tackled. Can’t say for sure that the INTs for TD issue from last month has been resolved, though with the overall feel of acceleration not being as extreme I suspect it is at least improved.
1217: I’ll look into Campus Legend more tonight, but my understanding was that the only significant changes were that you can stay in an activity such as practice and do the whole week’s at once rather than exiting and spending so much time with the game loading, and that the camera won’t adjust by flipping around at a change of possession which was disorienting. That was a big issue last year and was one of the first things I noticed when playing the mode in 09.
1220: Good news on roster sharing. You don’t have to be on a friends list to grab it. You can pull it from anyone just by typing in their gamertag/name. Just found this out!
1224: One thing that still irritates me is that after kicking off the play call screen defaults to special teams. Also saw one of the sideline catch animations when the player wasn’t close enough to the sideline to warrant it.
1229: Seen many more inaccurate throws than we saw back last month. There was one play I was rolling out with Jake Locker and missed the receiver by about 10 yards. Can’t speak much to the CPU throwing inaccurate passes yet, but from a user perspective it seems more frequent. I’d say that DE contain and QB Spy works better than in the past, though I haven’t really seen anyone who is an expert at exploting QB mobility.
1233: The clips I’ve uploaded still haven’t processed yet. I’m hoping to be able to link to them before I jump off.
1234: I believe with NCAA it is close to being final, there won’t be many changes made from this point on.
1238: For the short clips I’ve been able to get up check out my vimeo page. I think a couple have processed by now. It is just a RB animation, and then a big hit from three different perspectives.
1245: The game just seems to be more balanced than what I had previously played. Scores aren’t going out of control or anything. There is the potential for big plays, especially thanks to the player control, but I wouldn’t say it is easy to score. This has been with All-American difficulty setting.
1248: For the specific videos: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 I’ll try to get more later but likely won’t post them until late tonight.
1252: Head Coach live blog late this afternoon or evening. I’m going to play another game here so I can have more to discuss in the full write-up.
May 29, 2008 at 9:43 am
[quote comment="22602"][quote comment="22601"]BOWL PATCHES?
BOWL PRESENTION?
NON GENERIC BOWL ENDZONES?[/quote]
Wishful thinking at this point. But I am hoping these are in too.
[/quote]
Pretty pathetic that this is wishful thinking- especially when it’s been a staple of the series since 2002.
May 29, 2008 at 9:43 am
No Vimeo yet…its not working
May 29, 2008 at 9:44 am
I’m pretty sure team specific endzones are out.
May 29, 2008 at 9:44 am
Do stadiums all start off full and then only leave when there is a blow out? Or do smaller schools have fewer people in the stands to start the game. So far all of the screenshots I have seen show a full house – even at smaller schools.
Thanks
May 29, 2008 at 9:44 am
Well idk its just that i think the glitches from last year and pasta said the throws are little off and no refs or field goal nets and i really hope they toned the turnovers down. It seems they really improved Madden and not so much ncaa 2009.
May 29, 2008 at 9:45 am
No Vimeo yet…its not working [quote comment="22604"][quote comment="22602"][quote comment="22601"]BOWL PATCHES?
BOWL PRESENTION?
NON GENERIC BOWL ENDZONES?[/quote]
Wishful thinking at this point. But I am hoping these are in too.
[/quote]
Pretty pathetic that this is wishful thinking- especially when it’s been a staple of the series since 2002.[/quote]
Those things are fluff…Not discounting them at all because I’d like to see them too but these are not things that will ever effect my own enjoyment for the game. I’d much rather see them perfect gameplay, animations and all the meaningful things that make you want to see all the fluffy stuff
May 29, 2008 at 9:48 am
Hey Pasta could you check to see if Alabama has the numbers on the side of there helmets!?!? I just watched the new gametrailer.com video (see link below)
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/34536.html
and they are not there please check. This may have been a early build video. Thanks
May 29, 2008 at 9:48 am
[quote comment="22608"]Well idk its just that i think the glitches from last year and pasta said the throws are little off and no refs or field goal nets and i really hope they toned the turnovers down. It seems they really improved Madden and not so much ncaa 2009.[/quote]
1. All games will have glitches…Last year there were no Game Killers
2. Inaccurate throws are a beautiful thing…Thats realistic
3. FG nets and refs..Your Point is duly noted…I’d like to see them but in the grand scheme of things they are a minor issue.
4. I think Pasta said he’s only seen 1 turnover…At this point I’d say thats toned down..In fact, last year I had no problem with turnovers…But then again I speak specifically to head to head play and not gameplay vs the CPU
May 29, 2008 at 9:49 am
[quote comment="22609"]No Vimeo yet…its not working
[quote comment="22604"][quote comment="22602"][quote comment="22601"]BOWL PATCHES?
BOWL PRESENTION?
NON GENERIC BOWL ENDZONES?[/quote]
Wishful thinking at this point. But I am hoping these are in too.
[/quote]
Pretty pathetic that this is wishful thinking- especially when it’s been a staple of the series since 2002.[/quote]
Those things are fluff…Not discounting them at all because I’d like to see them too but these are not things that will ever effect my own enjoyment for the game. I’d much rather see them perfect gameplay, animations and all the meaningful things that make you want to see all the fluffy stuff[/quote]
Ummm…ever play 2004, or 2006? The game was perfect back then, and they were able to add the “fluff”. Not quite sure why people seem to have forgotten that the “fluff” was in the game back in 2002 (1st year on ps2)…..so I guess the “fluff” is just too hard to program on our powerful 360’s and ps3’s?
May 29, 2008 at 9:49 am
[quote comment="22609"]No Vimeo yet…its not working
[quote comment="22604"][quote comment="22602"][quote comment="22601"]BOWL PATCHES?
BOWL PRESENTION?
NON GENERIC BOWL ENDZONES?[/quote]
Wishful thinking at this point. But I am hoping these are in too.
[/quote]
Pretty pathetic that this is wishful thinking- especially when it’s been a staple of the series since 2002.[/quote]
Those things are fluff…Not discounting them at all because I’d like to see them too but these are not things that will ever effect my own enjoyment for the game. I’d much rather see them perfect gameplay, animations and all the meaningful things that make you want to see all the fluffy stuff[/quote]
Understand completely and I agree. However, except for maybe the bowl presentation. Unless I am mistaken about the ease of this, EA has the ingredients for the end zones and they have the graphical file for the bowl logo. To put this in shouldn’t be more than a few dozen lines of code at most.
May 29, 2008 at 9:50 am
i agree with you afro gamplay comes first. My main concern with this years game was gamplay and player models and we know they have already adressed one of those
May 29, 2008 at 9:51 am
Vids are protected
May 29, 2008 at 9:55 am
didnt realize the videos were defaulting to private. Should be working now, if not I’ll fix tonight.
May 29, 2008 at 10:03 am
… progressive lighting? (lol)?
May 29, 2008 at 10:04 am
[quote comment="22613"][quote comment="22609"]No Vimeo yet…its not working
[quote comment="22604"][quote comment="22602"][quote comment="22601"]BOWL PATCHES?
BOWL PRESENTION?
NON GENERIC BOWL ENDZONES?[/quote]
Wishful thinking at this point. But I am hoping these are in too.
[/quote]
Pretty pathetic that this is wishful thinking- especially when it’s been a staple of the series since 2002.[/quote]
Those things are fluff…Not discounting them at all because I’d like to see them too but these are not things that will ever effect my own enjoyment for the game. I’d much rather see them perfect gameplay, animations and all the meaningful things that make you want to see all the fluffy stuff[/quote]
Understand completely and I agree. However, except for maybe the bowl presentation. Unless I am mistaken about the ease of this, EA has the ingredients for the end zones and they have the graphical file for the bowl logo. To put this in shouldn’t be more than a few dozen lines of code at most.[/quote]
Couldn’t something like Bowl Presentation and Logo’s be offered via DL content???…I’m not suggesting EA hit us with more stuff we need to pay for but if its not in the core game that might be an option…Personally I don’t think ALOT of people really focus on the BOWL stuff…I know that for me…I’d love to see and experience it…But at the same time if it aint there I won’t trip…maybe its because I’ve come to expect not getting stuff like that from EA or maybe its just not that important to me…Its one or the other..But if the gameplay is solid and there is adequate presentation to enhance the gameplay (i.e. stat overlays that are in game etc)…I’ll be happy.
If they spend time on Logos and Bowl presentation but at the same time a QB can sprint straight backwards 30 yards run left then right and toss a strike…I then have a problem with what they are really focusing on…
May 29, 2008 at 10:04 am
Videos work. Enjoying the live updates. Really looking forward to the Head Coach 09 details.
May 29, 2008 at 10:07 am
Are there any copies of the PS3 version there? How do they/look/play/compare to the 360 version?
May 29, 2008 at 10:07 am
[quote comment="22618"]Couldn’t something like Bowl Presentation and Logo’s be offered via DL content???[/quote]
I’ve been saying that for years, especially when it comes to the Super Bowl. Why not release a special stadium package weeks before the game? Have fun with it!
May 29, 2008 at 10:08 am
Is there any way to find out if NCAA Football 09 has anything close to being a Senior Bowl at the end of the season? Also, could you see if Madden 09 Pro Bowl Teams will wear there team helmets. These things were in the Last Gen games, could you ask why they haven’t been used in the Current Gen Games. Ask if they can add that please.
May 29, 2008 at 10:09 am
[quote comment="22618"][quote comment="22613"][quote comment="22609"]No Vimeo yet…its not working
[quote comment="22604"][quote comment="22602"][quote comment="22601"]BOWL PATCHES?
BOWL PRESENTION?
NON GENERIC BOWL ENDZONES?[/quote]
Wishful thinking at this point. But I am hoping these are in too.
[/quote]
Pretty pathetic that this is wishful thinking- especially when it’s been a staple of the series since 2002.[/quote]
Those things are fluff…Not discounting them at all because I’d like to see them too but these are not things that will ever effect my own enjoyment for the game. I’d much rather see them perfect gameplay, animations and all the meaningful things that make you want to see all the fluffy stuff[/quote]
Understand completely and I agree. However, except for maybe the bowl presentation. Unless I am mistaken about the ease of this, EA has the ingredients for the end zones and they have the graphical file for the bowl logo. To put this in shouldn’t be more than a few dozen lines of code at most.[/quote]
Couldn’t something like Bowl Presentation and Logo’s be offered via DL content???…I’m not suggesting EA hit us with more stuff we need to pay for but if its not in the core game that might be an option…Personally I don’t think ALOT of people really focus on the BOWL stuff…I know that for me…I’d love to see and experience it…But at the same time if it aint there I won’t trip…maybe its because I’ve come to expect not getting stuff like that from EA or maybe its just not that important to me…Its one or the other..But if the gameplay is solid and there is adequate presentation to enhance the gameplay (i.e. stat overlays that are in game etc)…I’ll be happy.
If they spend time on Logos and Bowl presentation but at the same time a QB can sprint straight backwards 30 yards run left then right and toss a strike…I then have a problem with what they are really focusing on…[/quote]
Well I guess after 6 years of GETTING THAT STUFF on my ps2, I EXPECTED it on my PS3/360.
Bowls and championship games are a HUGE part of college football- couldn’t EA have focused on that instead of Mascto games?
May 29, 2008 at 10:10 am
[quote comment="22620"]Are there any copies of the PS3 version there? How do they/look/play/compare to the 360 version?[/quote]
Or just include it in the $60 game we buy? Is it honestly that hard? Must take up more memory then a blu ray disc can hold. Probably more intensive then Metal Gear Ssolid 4, and Halo 3 combined.
May 29, 2008 at 10:11 am
In real life that WR drops that pass 9 times out of 10.
1) Because it’s in the snow
2) Because he held it out and didn’t tuck it and protect the ball.
That should be an incompletion. Just little things like this make the game so much more better (or worse)
At least make an animation of the guy tucking it instead of him holding it out there and still catching the ball.
May 29, 2008 at 10:11 am
Also the running video was sort of nice. Nothing to complain about there. The player models are kind of ugly though.
May 29, 2008 at 10:23 am
Okay, I’m now fixating on the bowl logos. Any word on this yet?
May 29, 2008 at 10:25 am
Nice videos, though I see nothing that makes me say, “Wow, EA let me give you my $60 dollars versus playing NCAA 08.”
Same animations, same issues as 08, but with a white texture on the field.
May 29, 2008 at 10:28 am
[quote comment="22628"]Nice videos, though I see nothing that makes me say, “Wow, EA let me give you my $60 dollars versus playing NCAA 08.”[/quote]
Wouldn’t you consider online dynasty as a feature worth $60?
That alone sets the game apart from NCAA 08.
May 29, 2008 at 10:29 am
Is there a halftime or postgame show?
May 29, 2008 at 10:30 am
I agree with you Eric. Man i miss last gen football games they where just so fun to play.
May 29, 2008 at 10:31 am
Im a gut that likes dynasty mode and franchise mode in madden and those have been let downs. All they care about is online features.
May 29, 2008 at 10:34 am
They just feel to arcade like now and not authentic!
May 29, 2008 at 10:35 am
[quote comment="22632"]All they care about is online features.[/quote]
Apparently not, since that area has been greatly lacking. I care a lot about online. I want to play against real people. The new titles offer progress, but we should have been here sooner.
May 29, 2008 at 10:51 am
Another demonstration of how scoring has been reeled in some. I just beat Will Kinsler 27-3. I don’t think anyone was held to single digits last month.
May 29, 2008 at 10:52 am
[quote comment="22620"]Are there any copies of the PS3 version there? How do they/look/play/compare to the 360 version?[/quote]
Yes two PS3s here. Essentially it is identical to the 360 version.
May 29, 2008 at 10:52 am
when will there be a demo put out on the game for 360 and PS3
May 29, 2008 at 10:56 am
[quote comment="22637"]when will there be a demo put out on the game for 360 and PS3[/quote]
i hope to god they hhave it for ps3
May 29, 2008 at 11:01 am
How about the quick snap issue of the CPU. Has this been fixed or toned down from what Steve at OS was seeing?
Thanks for the coverage.
May 29, 2008 at 11:11 am
are there any new tutorials on how to play the different positions? ei. DB, LB, OL… etc
thanks for the blog Pasta, you’re the man.
May 29, 2008 at 11:25 am
Bryan – looking forward to your impressions of Head Coach – any idea on the timing for your blog as I’m 5 hours ahead of you guys…Thanks for all of your input and I hope you can get some of my HC questions answered.
Thanks Bryan,
Mark
May 29, 2008 at 11:34 am
Damn I was hoping they juiced up Campus Legend a little more this year and the same for Superstar in Madden.
Hopefully they dont have your Campus Legend as a god anymore
May 29, 2008 at 11:37 am
is there night games on campus legend that was one thing that really bugged me. you would have the orange bowl or the national championship game at 12:00 in the afternoon
May 29, 2008 at 11:42 am
One more thing Pasta could you find out if there is a trophy presentation at the end of bowl games or something other than what happens at the end of a regular season games? For example what they did in old gen version with the carrying the coach off the field while a lineman carries the crystal ball.
Thanks Pasta
May 29, 2008 at 11:45 am
Pasta,
I know this may have been asked before, but I just want to make sure it’s brought to your attention…
EYE BLACK and BREATHE STRIP option
Is there any way you could find out if we can apply these options to our created/edited players? Thanks Pasta
May 29, 2008 at 12:15 pm
[quote comment="22629"][quote comment="22628"]Nice videos, though I see nothing that makes me say, “Wow, EA let me give you my $60 dollars versus playing NCAA 08.”[/quote]
Wouldn’t you consider online dynasty as a feature worth $60?
That alone sets the game apart from NCAA 08.[/quote]
Nope, I don’t know 10 people that I’d want to play the online dynasty with. Plus, based on previous efforts by EA online, it will be laggy and buggy.
I’d much rather have a game that plays a better overall and more realistic game of football than be able to play a crappy game online with my friends.
I will admit that for those that play online a lot that option is probably pretty appealing. I just think that is where most of EA’s time and effort was spent, so any actual game improvments will be lacking.
May 29, 2008 at 12:21 pm
can someone explain to me what eye black is? is it just when you paint your face black?? lol
wow! if EA doesn’t put this in the game I am definitely not buying it.
May 29, 2008 at 12:27 pm
My questions is:
1. Do we officially have Formation Subs back in for PS3 and XBOX 360?
May 29, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Will you get time to play the PS3 version as well?
May 29, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Pasta have you seen any instances of Convoy Blocking? When your teammates celebrate with you going into the endzone.
SO far of all the video’s Ive seen I havent seen 1 yet other then the 1 that they made for us.
May 29, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Has the game speed of the players changed? (or is it changable)? Also, are there any new player attributes this year?
May 29, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Is the game speed changable, or did it change at all?
May 29, 2008 at 12:48 pm
What new player attributes are there?