Random topics for today
June 14, 2008 by pastapadre
- A recent Madden 09 producer blog with Anthony White covered in great detail the authenticity to the team offensive playbooks this year. Included are several videos and screenshots displaying various formations. It appears that the Seahawks do have shotgun formations now, which the lack of back at the community event was one of the complaints I noted. You can check out the blog here.
- GameTrailers has added a handful of Madden 09 gameplay videos over the last few days. You can find them here. Keep in mind that these are not from the latest build of the game as evidenced by the overabundance of camera flashes which we know to have been adjusted recently.
- I’ve previously discussed the frustrations of how reviews are done (ignoring online play) and the way they are viewed by the gaming companies (Metacritic as the ultimate gauge). Yet that is how the industry works right now, so having someone who dislikes Nascar review Nascar 09 is disappointing as was the case with IGN. Ultimately someone who docked a score because they admittedly don’t enjoy how a particular sport translates to a video game is going to hurt the developers who worked on the game. If there are legit issues with a game that merits a low score that is one thing, but with comments such as not being able to recognize most the “characters” (I prefer calling them drivers since they’re real people) and mentioning a “photorealistic” and “digitized” Jeff Gordon (its actually the real Jeff Gordon) it is difficult to take any analysis seriously. I think you also see a little bit of this with the reviews for Prizefighter though the examples haven’t been quite as blatant as it has mainly been in the insistence to compare it to Fight Night.
- Look for details on a Nascar 09 related contest using the Paint Booth feature to be posted tomorrow.
- Last night’s episode of Battlestar Galactica was one of the best episodes of TV I’ve ever seen. The wait is going to be tough given that the show won’t finish up until early 2009, but that episode easily could’ve been the series finale and I would’ve been completely satisfied.
I want to know that even though teams use different playbooks why are all the plays the same. I mean you may find some subtle changes but not too much. Hey pasta do you think the Call your Shot feature will also be on the other systems as well.
Pasta I have a question about MLB 2K8…How come when the roster updates come out, I think there have been four total now, no player pictures are added? Are they just being lazy, or do they not care what the customer wants? It’s frustrating to me, a lot of people don’t care, but I can’t stand it. Any information would be awesome, thanks in advance.
I’m not a big NASCAR fan myself, but I was playing NASCAR 09 on 360 last night, online and offline, and I really liked it. I too was amazed that someone would write a review for IGN and say they don’t follow NASCAR. You’d think they’d have somebody else on staff who follows it a litlle.
Prizefighter’s reviews were spot on. The controls kill the game….my only way to explain this to people would be skate. Vs Tony Hawk….You will never play a skateboarding game again(and like it) unless it uses the right thumb stick. Same goes for these two boxing titles, you will never play another boxer(and like it) unless it uses the right thumb stick. The story is pretty cool and unique, the training offers more exercises than FN Rd. 3 but overall doesn’t pack the same punch in gameplay. Its too bad, I really had hoped this game would be a solid boxing game.
The ncaa 09 demo is for all systems…right? Because thats what all the other websites say. I don’t know who to believe. C,mon help me out.
PS3, and 360….
I’m glad you noticed that review of NASCAR 09. I was also very disappointed in how the opening comments referred to the reviewer not following or knowing much about the sport. Someone with a knowledge of the sport and the franchise in general should have been reviewing it.
I agree that reviewers do a very poor job in some aspects (online play, for example) but I wish they’d put more work into addressing community concerns. IE: Did the game improve from one year to the next? Were community concerns/wishes addressed?
That review of NASCAR 09 was not beneficial for anyone. Fans of the sport probably quit reading after the first two paragraphs, casual readers will write off the game quickly based on the review, semi-interested fans learned nothing about the issues that were in 08, and it gives the impression the studio put out a dud, despite every other review (to date) considering it a pretty solid, if not good game.
Like Anthony, I’m not a NASCAR fan, but I am finding it fun to play. It’s not without issues, but I feel the IGN reviewer did not do it justice - almost as if he had wrote off the game before even placing it into the console.
Right, thats what is most upsetting about it, that it is being hurt because the reviewer doesn’t care for the sport. A review should be done from the perspective of someone who has the potential for interest in the game. I mean anyone somewhat considering a Nascar game understands what they would be getting, its not like someone is expecting Burnout. So penalizing it because you think driving in circles is boring is outrageous.
IGN no longer does anything special, it’s all press releases, and boring reviews.
If anyone is going to purchase a game based on reviews they should look for more than one resource.
I like IGN but if there is a game that I am not certain is my cup of tea I always check other sites. Assassin’s Creed is a great example. Some sites scored it in the 9’s and others in the mid-to-low 7’s. I bought it and enjoyed the crap out of it.
I don’t follow NASCAR but I have enjoyed NASCAR games on the consoles. I agree that reviewers should note any improvements in visuals and controls not to mention I don’t recall seeing anything about the depth in regards to customization.
I also believe that if NASCAR games can be upgraded every year, and typically is sold to hardcore NASCAR fans, why EA cannot bring back NCAA Baseball for the 360 and PS3. My feeling is that NCAA Baseball would do great on the 360 since the system is starving for baseball alternatives….
After all the game film they watched for Madden 09, NCAA Footbal 09, NFL Head Caoch 09, why did they not include the single kick returner for kickoff return formation? This is the formation that 100% of the NFL and NCAA teams use.
lwilkins- actually I believe Ian Cummings has stated there will be a return play with a single guy back…or at least they were going to try to get it in. I made note of it while at the community event and in my impressions because I feel it is necessary also.
There is a single returner you can see it in the new gameplay video.
That is very good news. Thanks!
What about NCAA Football, will the teams use the single kick return formation?
No it won’t be in NCAA. Not as much of a problem there just cause there isn’t the opening cinematic that disrupts the ability to get a specific guy in place for it. But they definitely should get that in next year.
I know I would be the wrong person to write a review for a Mario game or one of those goofy Japanese RPGs. It seems like every Mario game that comes out gets a 9.5 for some unexplainable reason. So i guess to people who like those games… they are good. But I’m sure I’d be hard pressed to give them a 4. My point? The reviewer certainly makes a huge difference.
Has there been complaints to IGN about the review? What did they score the game? (I can’t get to IGN here at work.)
I will say this about the ‘09 demo. My major complaint about the NASCAR series is the lack of difficulty mode (I have ‘05). They have finally addressed this. I have never qualified higher than 43rd in my game… and, unless I cause a lot of major crashes right at the beginning of the race (before they outdistance me on the 1st lap)… I never finish any higher than 43rd either. In the demo I qualified for the pole and actuallly won the race! If I bought the game I could actually even move the difficulty slider UP a notch.
it sucks how most of the major game sites have agendas. They don’t really ever play games. Games that have slow boring beggings but then become awesome never get rated high and never get purchased. Then you see games that start off good but then fizzle out get rated high and everyone wastes their money. That money goes to the coporation and they continue to make bad games.
I remember the old reviews. Where it seemed like the reviewer played every part of the game. Now it just seems like they go thru for 20 minutes and then make up their minds.