NCAA 08 Xbox360 - Demo's Up!!

[MMQB14]

NCAA 08, Xbox360 - demo's up!!

- 683 Mb
- USC vs. Michigan
- 2 min quarters
- varsity level

The review tidbits I have gleaned from various other ;) sites are good to great. 60 FPS seems to make a huge difference - it's like playing a different game, apparently.

Cannot wait to get off work & start downloading.

Enjoy :)

[getting awn]

Oh man!!!! here I am at work too.. This is some bull*****, I could've called in sick.. LOL Well great news any way!!!!

[Shiloh]

Thanks for the info... of course they would put this up as soon as i get to work... lol, it's all good, just give me something eles to look forward to when i get to the crib tonight!

Dammn! today is starting off great!!!!

[Avenge1]

That's cool. I wander why they made it varsity and not AA?

[MMQB14]

Paraphrased review tidbits:

- QB scrambling/roll-outs:
Actually is way toned down. Rolling out with Booty against his body and trying to throw a 50y Go route results in a underthrown ball that should get intercepted

- Secondary play has improved by factor 10. Corners and safeties play aggressive towards the ball without letting the ball just fly through their hands

- OL Line blocking actually works to the second level

- Fatigue seems to work resp. is a factor now - at least off-line

- Game feels awesome compared to 07.

- Very realistic football

[Kobra]

Paraphrased review tidbits:

- QB scrambling/roll-outs:
Actually is way toned down. Rolling out with Booty against his body and trying to throw a 50y Go route results in a underthrown ball that should get intercepted

- Secondary play has improved by factor 10. Corners and safeties play aggressive towards the ball without letting the ball just fly through their hands

- OL Line blocking actually works to the second level

- Fatigue seems to work resp. is a factor now - at least off-line

- Game feels awesome compared to 07.

- Very realistic football

That is pretty much what most of us said who played the game at the NCAA Community Day. Game plays much better than 07. Also keep in mind we played it on Heisman.

Kobra

[mcnaire2004]

Better not be lying, I am going to check here in a sec

[Trojannole II]

Is this for the 360 or PS3?

[mcnaire2004]

liar, I Just Checked The Ps3 Store, YEA I KNOW YOU SAID 360 BUT I HATE YOU ANYWAYS

[Kobra]

The guys over at Madden Mania got a huge thread going on about impressions of the game. Most if not all is positive.

http://www.maddenmania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162261

Kobra

[Farmer]

I'm at home enjoying the goodies right now...................... Me likes what I see so far.

Cant wait for next week.








-Farmer

[Thad]

Can you play 2 player?

[Farmer]

Can you play 2 player?
yes







-Farmer

[Trojannole II]

Where's The Freaking Playstation 3 Demo, You Sony Hoar's!

Oh, never mind, my 10 Year Son called me and told me he was downloading the 360 demo while I'm at work. Such a good boy!

[Thad]

How is user catching? Both offense and defense?

It sucked last year and I know user plays are big this year so how is it? Is it more like old gen or like last year?

[Farmer]

How is user catching? Both offense and defense?

It sucked last year and I know user plays are big this year so how is it? Is it more like old gen or like last year?
Kinda hard to say right now as I'm playing with the default settings and cannot change the configuration to my liking. But it seems pretty well done this year.


-Farmer

[Trojannole II]

It sucked last year and I know user plays are big this year so how is it? Is it more like old gen or like last year?

It depends on what system your on. If you have the 360, you can play the demo yourself at 60FPS and play the game in all of its glory.

If your a PS3 Owner, your ****-out-of-luck with its 30FPS crap and no demo is avaiable for you yet.

[CrHawkeye]

Reading impressions:

Seems like rolling out and throwing with slow QBs is much harder.

Seems like the new blocking AI for the running game is much improved with opening/closing of holes and cutback lanes more noticable.

DBs play much more aggressively. Assuming deep ball isn't nearly as easy.

Game plays extremely smooth.

Negatives:
Possibly too many big hits. Possibly too many fumbles.

Some people don't like some of the running animations. Some think the player models have no necks. (of course, I've seen this in videos myself)

Overall opinion is very positive, however. Everybody says it's smooth and responsive.


My thoughts:

Better DB AI, less BS scrambling from QBs, less deep ball BS... more realistic running/blocking -- how could I stay away from this thing?

Could be a whole new game again -- remember how the early years of online were so much fun?

[mcnaire2004]

Maybe they are putting up the PS3 demo now. I just got off NCAA (I'm typing this on my ps3) and it says my PSN acount has been disabled. I don't know how b/c I just play PS2 games and the ocasional ps3 ame on it. Maybe its closed for upgrade?

[E40]

I just played a game and I really like it. Its a completly different game from last year. Really has a CG feel with a NG touch. I like that they put the hot route on offense back to they way it was on CG. No more cut scence watching the QB walk up to the line. The user control is incredible we finally have some real tight football for the 360. I cant wait to see what madden is like. Im sure people will have some gripes but I cant see anything I dont like with this game.

[mcnaire2004]

Update... It finaly let me log into my PSN acount. For some reason it had me as "banned". But anyways..... I checked the PSN store and it is closed for Updates!!!! So there is hope that I'll have the Demo today.

[djwill13]

FYI, this is official. I'm dl'ing it right now. 50% done. I'll break it down and give my full breakdown in a bit. Hey..........now that I've got my video capture working, I may make a movie..........hmmmm.......

[Farmer]

I know this is just a demo of the game.
I know the difficulty is set on Varsity.

But I'm liking the game so far, still.
I like the new lobby, the trophy case, the video screen playing videos.

I like the fact that my first 2 games I really didn't know what the hell I was doing and got smashed. I fumbled away both games on offense and got picked apart on defense.

Once I started getting used to the controls, I could tell I was playing on Varsity as the game started to go into super slow mode for me. I was calling better plays on offense and defense and forced a ton of picks on defense. I started experimenting with USC's playbook and started running more plays and seeing what's what and not.

I'm gonna play some more and try to focus on the defensive audibles and such and see how to get those things working.

Another thing I like is the real time fatigue. On one of my games, it went to OT. I stuffed Mike Hart and forced a fumble, my DT picked up tha rock and I sprinted for the endzone. When I got to around the 40 I noticed one of UM's wide outs catching up to me, around the 25 I noticed my guy starting to teeter out and his running looked quite lethargic and painful................... if I hadn't dove into the endzone, I would have gotten ran down from behind by a faster player.
Same thing on offense, I hit a nice run for a 45 score, but saw my HB losing ground to DB's who took a very smart angle to track him down, once again; had I not dove...........

I'm really feeling the gang tackles this year too. Mike Hart just bullied my two LB's and still had one hanging on for dear life, and about to fall forward over the 1st down line, when my FS gives him a str8 gangsta forearm shiver and knocks him back a yard and a half. Mike pounds the ball on the ground in disgust as he watches 1st down turn into 3rd and 3.

I'm gonna play some more in a little while and come back to see what the rest of you guys think.



-Farmer

[Packersrule1]

I didnt get to play long but so far I really like how the defense plays. I gotta get used to the offense, my defense scored all my points. I played Michigan and won 14-3.

[Farmer]

I also like how at the end of the game, they show the "Pontiac Game Changing Moment/Play of the Game".


Kinda neat.


But it did suck watching UM pick off my one game tying td pass. :mad:





-Farmer

[Trojannole II]

Maybe they are putting up the PS3 demo now. I just got off NCAA (I'm typing this on my ps3) and it says my PSN acount has been disabled. I don't know how b/c I just play PS2 games and the ocasional ps3 ame on it. Maybe its closed for upgrade?

They banned you too! You see, the Playstation 3 has new mindreading Technology that Sony is using to see what you are thinking! If your thinking about getting the 360, this 'Red Flags' Sony and Bans you from invading the PS3's online store. This keeps you from passing out the PS3's Delayed Secrets.

[Avenge1]

I think the most important thing to remember ... is that it's set on varsity ... and it is a demo. You'd think some people have forgotten that if you go around different sites reading reviews. lol

[mcnaire2004]

Well, the PS3 store is back up, no demo though :(... there is suposed to be some revamping of it thursday during E3. Maybe it will be up then.

[Trojannole II]

Well, the PS3 store is back up, no demo though :(... there is suposed to be some revamping of it thursday during E3. Maybe it will be up then.

Dont hold your breath. Not really excited to experience that 30 FPS game as much as that 60FPS version on the 360.

[BluEStorm_47]

Well lucky me! I'm a 360 owner, so I downloaded it a few hours ago and I'm really liking what I'm seeing...

I've played 3 games so far:

Game 1: 28-0 (USC over Mich)
Game 2: 21-7 (Mich over USC)
Game 3: 35-0 (USC over Mich)

Not too bad of scores for only 2 min. quarters...lol, but it is varsity (keep that in mind)

From what I see, the game, at least for 360 has turned out to be really, really good. The blocking for the offense is really good this year, but all in all I think the advantage goes to the defense on the ground game this year. If you know what you're doing, you should be able to stop the run a lot more effectively than last. There were numerous times when I sent 8 guys on a blitz and a DT would chase the RB down behind the line...

The passing is going to be a lot harder this year, especially if you get down by a lot and have to come back. Cover 3, Cover 2, Cover 4 all seem to work really well against passing oriented schemes. However, in that last game that I played I ran a lot of passing plays from Ace Normal, Y-Trips, Big, etc. where I had one on one's and the defensive AI is really good, but for online it's going to come down to stick skills because every single 1 on 1 I got, I could complete it by out maneuvering the CPU.

Graphics look really nice and the animations are crystal clean, the best thing I'm noticing soooo far is that PINBALL has been toned down a lot as far as a bunch of "yeah right" graphics like the Brian Dawkins superman dives where your guy dives and trips up the ball carries "somehow", there is no more of that...it may slow down the runner a little, but he won't go down because of that.

It's going to blow 07' out of the water and I'd say a lot better than Madden 07' as well. I'm really enjoying the demo so far.

Gripes? Um...We don't get to make substitutions or see any of the Mich. or USC players stats or change any gameplay options.

Can't wait until it hits shelves!

To anyone else with a 360:

Have you guys found any of the trick plays yet? I've only found the Flea Flicker out of Ace Big (last play), but the CPU has ran one that I can't find where the QB throws like a quick pass to the WR and then he throws to a receiver cutting across. I'll have to look harder for that...

**EDIT**

One thing I forgot about was one of my favorite things! THE OPTION! How could I forget? It was my bread and butter with Missouri and Brad Smith for like 3 years...lol...

Option works really well this year and I could see some defenses having a tough time against a team like WVU...They actually corrected one of my favorite parts about the option this year. No longer will you be in a tackle animation and you keep pressing the pitch button and the QB just tucks it away. This year, if you pitch the ball.........be warned..............the QB WILL pitch the ball, even in a tackle animation. Now, there is risk reward to this though. I did this several times just to test it out and on one of the plays my QB's knee was already down on the ground and I pressed pitch and he pitched the ball into the ground, but luckily the play was already over. The other time, I pitched the ball while the QB was getting collar tackled by a DE and he pitched it like 5 yds. behind the RB...so it's definitely going to be crucial to know when to pitch and when to take your losses this year.

[mcnaire2004]

I was doing fine waiting. No problem. Then I saw the demo was up, now I went crazy. And, no ps3 demo

[Trojannole II]

I was doing fine waiting. No problem. Then I saw the demo was up, now I went crazy. And, no ps3 demo

I dont think they are going to release a demo for the PS3 honestly.

[mcnaire2004]

I dont think they are going to release a demo for the PS3 honestly.
Neither do I. I have no clue what is going on with the PS3. Half the games out run at 60fps. Then bam 30 for this? First EA talks about (it was a madden interview) how programing the ps3 they finaly figured out how to program gang tackles (Madden 07 ps3 has gang tackles), now they come up with 30 fps. And the stories of delays are false. I called 3 of my local gamestops. It'll be for sale the 17th.

[Dirty Sams]

Downloading now will give my 2 cents after first game. Man c'mon I so cant wait to play. I see DJ just finished a game. Probably been playing it all morning. Alright let you guys know what I think in few.

[TONY 4 MVP]

im at 45%...This is surely a great day..

[getting awn]

The defense is all madden 07 for the 360... 3-4 is the defense to use. I got like 7-8 sacks with USC.... Its nice... I don't like the usc offense, no shot gun but its definitely a keeper.. Well... back to the game!!!!

Edit that... I found the shotgun formations. Its pretty cool...

[TONY 4 MVP]

After my 1st game I must say I do like the game. Only thing I didnt like was the speed of the game, but its only on varsity settings so it will be better on heisman....Im still trying to get the hang of usering passes on O and D...i wish we could actually play against people though , that would be nice....

[Skinsman 68]

I dont think they are going to release a demo for the PS3 honestly.

I wish we would so we could see how they compare, but we are not going to see one. Hopefully Sony and EA are trying to throw some last second thing together to try and make the game run better even at 30 fps.

Of course, my 360 is still sitting on some pinhead's workstation in Texas waiting to be repaired so I will have to live vicariously through you guys for a while I guess:(

[Dirty Sams]

Played 2 games one with each team. 360 owners are going to be very happy game is night and day better than 07. Just one gripe so far way TOO MANY FUMBLES!!!! They changed the buttons around I kept trying to hit Y to jump the snap so that messed me up. I agree with what someone said earlier though the auto motion plays make it easy to jump the snap. All in all though much better game so far can't wait to see the finished product.

[Thad]

My 3 points: (and yes I know it's just Varsity)

1) User catching is going to be key again this year. I was able to throw it up several times (for both USC and Mich) and user catch right away from the DB (worked really well on corners too). This was with some good jump catching receivers though. I was able to do this without any passes deflected but I did drop them when the DBs hit me in the air.

2) While the DBs have better AI it is very hard to knock a ball down with the A button on a quick pass, say over the middle or on a curl. Now when the ball was thrown deep it was easy to bat away but I see a big problem with trying to stop quick passes using zone. Looks like clicking off or hit sticking them will be better this year. But when they throw a pass that you can go for the pick it seems to be a pick every time. Oh and the receivers catch just about everything.

3) I've heard about a fumble problem at MaddenMania and sure enough I fumbled the opening kickoff and the very first play after that. My friend and I had a lot of fumbles so I found myself covering up the ball most of the time instead of juking.

Has anyone seen the replay feature yet? I fumbled a ball and while my friend was choosing his play after he recovered it the cpu automaticly challenged the play and it was reversed.

Everything else seemed to be awesome. Hope this game doesn't make me flunk out this semester!:D

[mcnaire2004]

My 3 points: (and yes I know it's just Varsity)

1) User catching is going to be key again this year. I was able to throw it up several times (for both USC and Mich) and user catch right away from the DB (worked really well on corners too). This was with some good jump catching receivers though. I was able to do this without any passes deflected but I did drop them when the DBs hit me in the air.

2) While the DBs have better AI it is very hard to knock a ball down with the A button on a quick pass, say over the middle or on a curl. Now when the ball was thrown deep it was easy to bat away but I see a big problem with trying to stop quick passes using zone. Looks like clicking off or hit sticking them will be better this year. But when they throw a pass that you can go for the pick it seems to be a pick every time. Oh and the receivers catch just about everything.

3) I've heard about a fumble problem at MaddenMania and sure enough I fumbled the opening kickoff and the very first play after that. My friend and I had a lot of fumbles so I found myself covering up the ball most of the time instead of juking.

Has anyone seen the replay feature yet? I fumbled a ball and while my friend was choosing his play after he recovered it the cpu automaticly challenged the play and it was reversed.

Everything else seemed to be awesome. Hope this game doesn't make me flunk out this semester!:D

It may have not been a challenge. The rule in most conferences is that every play is reviewed. If the replay officials need time they will stop the game to look at a play more. Coaches are given one challenge if they feel the game needs to be stopped as well. But, this rule is in most conferences, with a few variations.

[SCDrJ]

SO happy about this demo, it brought me out of my VG hiatus since giving up (for the most part) on 360 M'07...

My observations/impressions so far:

1) This is on Varsity, I know, but the RBs and QB runs are toned down considerably. Much more realistic. AI overall looks better. You call PA on 3rd and long and they jump your ***.

2) REAL HOT ROUTES ARE BACK!!! You press "Y", then the receiver button, then the route, just like old PS2 Madden... This alone had me loving this so far. Also, when you press "X" to audible, it shows the plays in your list, VERY nice.

3) The new playcalling screen is a little weird, with L-R choosing the formation, then scroll down to the set, and then pick a play... Not speedy but does cut down the total # of screens.

4) Commentary is off and some of the special features aren't there to reduce the size of the demo, but I can't wait for next Tuesday!!!

J

[maddenballer05]

Is the deep ball automatic against man cover 2 like it is every other year?

If so, you can count me out.

[Thad]

It may have not been a challenge. The rule in most conferences is that every play is reviewed. If the replay officials need time they will stop the game to look at a play more. Coaches are given one challenge if they feel the game needs to be stopped as well. But, this rule is in most conferences, with a few variations.

Well that's what I meant. I said challenge instead of review. My bad.


Is the deep ball automatic against man cover 2 like it is every other year?

If so, you can count me out.

No, the safety and CB do a good job this year in double coverage. I found myself getting my legs taken out when i threw into double coverage. But single coverage was rather easy to beat, on varsity anyways.

[mcnaire2004]

Is the deep ball automatic against man cover 2 like it is every other year?

If so, you can count me out.
The deep ball was automatic against man cover 2 in every other year?

[PDawgs10]

Off topic, but mcnaire you from Chattanooga if so were Hixson, East Ridge, Im 9 min. away from Chatt.

[feardaram]

fun game. looks great.

things i noticed...

lots of fumbles. in 2 games there were 6 or 7 fumbles. maybe it was because i was trying lots of spins and stuff.

my team blocked an extra point coming right up the middle. that was cool.

does the sprint button even do anything? i honestly couldnt tell a difference when holding it down versus when i wasnt. maybe its just me or im not used to the game.

[mcnaire2004]

Off topic, but mcnaire you from Chattanooga if so were Hixson, East Ridge, Im 9 min. away from Chatt.

I used to live in hixson. East ridge is on the other side of town from hixson. I am actualy out in the Tyner part of Chatt near Bonyoaks. I am kinda right in the middle.

You should go to the Game stop tourny in hixson. It will be at the Northgate Buff wild wings. Sign ups at 6:30, starts at 7.

[PDawgs10]

going to whitewaters that day

[mcnaire2004]

going to whitewaters that day
Its today. Shouldn't you be in a car to atlanta if you are gong to make it for whitewaters? lol

[PDawgs10]

Its today. Shouldn't you be in a car to atlanta if you are gong to make it for whitewaters? lol
LMAO yes, but I thought you meant next week.

[AirGibson]

I used to live in hixson. East ridge is on the other side of town from hixson. I am actualy out in the Tyner part of Chatt near Bonyoaks. I am kinda right in the middle.

You should go to the Game stop tourny in hixson. It will be at the Northgate Buff wild wings. Sign ups at 6:30, starts at 7.
Hah...small world. Ooltewah here.