/bye NCAA 06

[pinolian]

Well my NCAA 06 is now gone. I traded it in for Madden 06 last night. The great news was that I got a good return for the game, 30 bucks at GameStop for the used game because I was trading it for Madden. The bad news is that I was really dissappointed with so many things in the game this year; it was really sad. Here is my list of why this was not enjoyable for me. Maybe EA will listen for next year's game.

Don't bother reading the rest of the post if you don't want to read some bashing. Instead look for me on Madden =)

1. The total lack of run defense in this year's game was very very sad. Even if your LB does have an awareness of 65, he shouldn't let an option QB just run by him every play. I understand EA perhaps wanted to emphasize the run and the option, but making it too easy did nothing more than make me lose interest. My kid hadn't played NCAA for 2 years. He picked up the game and hung 117 on OK with Texas. he said the option is just sick this year. The option is sick this year because LB's and safeties practically wave as QB runs by them. The option was not improved, the defense instead was just worsened.. alot.

2. The HB direct's success is a direct result of number 1. Calling the right defense will stop it, along with line audibles. But the point should not be to stop that ONE play when someone lines up in a formation that has that play available. If its 3rd and 15, for example, I want to stop the deep pass, and make the sure tackle on short passes and draws/runs. As it is now, I would have to call a MLB blitz, with a corner blitzing and my line would have to crash in order to stop the play, otherwise my LB waves as the HB runs happily by and my corners/safeties get sucked in so hard by the blocks, the HB is gone. Its just dumb and not fun. Many people say, just manually cover the HB with the MLB or a safety. Sure you can do that. Unless there is a impact HB on the other team who can plow over you with ease of course. Or maybe your MLB has 75 for speed, in that case noit even taking the right angle will help you, because the HB will be gone before you can get there. Relative position of the defender to the ball carrier, the direction he is facing, and his angle of pursuit is supposed to have some impact on what happens on a run play. Nope. Its more like ACC and Speed vs your ACC and speed. ACC is where I believe the game was tweaked against the defender

3.The great thing about 04 and 05 was that you did not have to have mad stick skills to compete effectlively. You had to know your playbook on offense and on defense you had to call the right plays to stop the offense. You could get by with average stick skills on defense, because if you called the right play, at least your man would be in position to make a defensive play. This year, its all about stick skills, and nothing about brain power.

4. The arcade like feel of the game is too much for me. "In a struggle, press the X button repeatedly to break or make the tackle." You know, I haver never played NFL street before in my life, or NFL blitz, but I would guess there is something similar in the instruction manual. Torching the defense by simply pressing triangle when triple covered is just way lame. Who decided that scoring on every drive within 4 plays was FUN? Give me a running QB with 85 + speed and a back with 85+ speed, and I can hang 55 on any CPU defense (AA) in the game no matter how bad my team is.

Impact players.

This is an idea that was great, until you put it in the user's hands as to how it can effect a game. Being unable to stop a HB in the zone whose user is pounding on the X button is very lame. However, a special animation, every now and then when a player is in the zone, works out great. Letting an impact player get in "the zone" for no apparent reason, however, is weak. I could understand if the guy had just made a nice play.. Say a pass/catch over 20 yards, maybe a streak of 3 caught/complete passes or 3 runs over 5 yards or more, or 2 or more broken tackles in one run etc. And MAYBE that is the way a guy gets in the zone in the game now, but you would never know by reading the skimpy book EA has to offer as an instruction manual. My point is that getting in the zone for no apparent reason is stupid. And if there is rhyme or reason to it, it should have been hinted at in the manual. Also, allowing the user to abuse an impact player's abilities by mashing X was imbalancing and made the game have an arcade feel.


---
RFTH

The race for the heisman is one of those ideas that sounds great on paper, but was hard to implement in the game. Because of that, it should have been left out. The problem begins with the fact that after you walk on to campus, you get the starting nod over who is already there, no matter who is there and how good they are.

From a developer's stand point, they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.. Because the idea sounds good, but in reality it sucks. In the instance above, you have 2 choices.

1. Make the user play out as many seasons as it takes to win the starting poisition. Favor him under the covers by not recruiting 5 star guys at the created player's position to help him out and make sure he will start eventually. This satisfies the football purest and those who like to earn what rewards they get in the game. This discourages the arcade, instant gratification players from this mode of play however because they may have to earn their Heisman.

2. Let the user walk on and start for any team, no matter who is on the depth chart. Make the player a bit more susceptible to injury and fumbling, and AWR will make his on the field performance suffer greatly if any games are simulated. This is what is done now. But seeing my HH meter full as a freshman in my 7th game ever makes me feel like there will be no satisfaction once I win it. It will be too easy if you play every gamne manually, and above average players will have to move on to the next part of the game unless they want to do the same dull thing next year.

In ether scenario 1 or 2, you screw someone. Maybe that means you have a bad idea?

The idea of better stuff in your room is supposed to hook you. "Lets keep playing to see what kind of stuff I can get" runs through your head. Problem is, you can achieve almost everything in one year that this mode has to offer. Not my replay value there is there?

Anyways, I saved a draft class on my memory card and waved good bye to NCAA this year. If you wonder where I have gone, I will be off honing my Madden skills or playing NCAA 2005 when I need a college fix.

-Pin

[getting awn]

1. The total lack of run defense in this year's game was very very sad. Even if your LB does have an awareness of 65, he shouldn't let an option QB just run by him every play. I understand EA perhaps wanted to emphasize the run and the option, but making it too easy did nothing more than make me lose interest. My kid hadn't played NCAA for 2 years. He picked up the game and hung 117 on OK with Texas. he said the option is just sick this year. The option is sick this year because LB's and safeties practically wave as QB runs by them. The option was not improved, the defense instead was just worsened.. alot.

I don't know.... With the eagle defense getting more and more notierity(I know its not spelled right.. Just humor me LOL) It is really a chore to run regular run play. I find that if you ply the first series with someone you should get a good feeling on their strategy and adjust. The option will always b a problem, that is their main attraction to NCAA. But I don't think the defense is that bad, except on the long balls.. I hate the long ball defense.

2. The HB direct's success is a direct result of number 1. Calling the right defense will stop it, along with line audibles. But the point should not be to stop that ONE play when someone lines up in a formation that has that play available. If its 3rd and 15, for example, I want to stop the deep pass, and make the sure tackle on short passes and draws/runs. As it is now, I would have to call a MLB blitz, with a corner blitzing and my line would have to crash in order to stop the play, otherwise my LB waves as the HB runs happily by and my corners/safeties get sucked in so hard by the blocks, the HB is gone. Its just dumb and not fun. Many people say, just manually cover the HB with the MLB or a safety. Sure you can do that. Unless there is a impact HB on the other team who can plow over you with ease of course. Or maybe your MLB has 75 for speed, in that case noit even taking the right angle will help you, because the HB will be gone before you can get there. Relative position of the defender to the ball carrier, the direction he is facing, and his angle of pursuit is supposed to have some impact on what happens on a run play. Nope. Its more like ACC and Speed vs your ACC and speed. ACC is where I believe the game was tweaked against the defender

Talk with DJ on this one. There are a couple of defenses that will shutdown the hb directs on a regular basis, without sacrificing too much coverage. I think once again, when you learn ur opponent's tendencies, you begin to make mental adjustments to compensate. Saying that I plyed BlackPow, and I didn't run one hb direct ply. So I am moving away from its use.

It is really about ply calling this year. I have learned that the game for the most part is really fun... The impact stuff can b frustrating when unrealistic. But it is still much better than 05.


But alot of things come down to preference. So I hope you enjoy Madden. I will probably pick it up a little later in the year. I just don't know which format I will ply it on yet.. LOL

[Razorbacker]

I don't know.... With the eagle defense getting more and more notierity(I know its not spelled right.. Just humor me LOL) It is really a chore to run regular run play. I find that if you ply the first series with someone you should get a good feeling on their strategy and adjust. The option will always b a problem, that is their main attraction to NCAA. But I don't think the defense is that bad, except on the long balls.. I hate the long ball defense.

Talk with DJ on this one. There are a couple of defenses that will shutdown the hb directs on a regular basis, without sacrificing too much coverage. I think once again, when you learn ur opponent's tendencies, you begin to make mental adjustments to compensate. Saying that I plyed BlackPow, and I didn't run one hb direct ply. So I am moving away from its use.

It is really about ply calling this year. I have learned that the game for the most part is really fun... The impact stuff can b frustrating when unrealistic. But it is still much better than 05.


But alot of things come down to preference. So I hope you enjoy Madden. I will probably pick it up a little later in the year. I just don't know which format I will ply it on yet.. LOL

What the hell is 'ply' and 'plyed'?????????

Is that short for play/played??

Good gosh... you use big words throughout your post and you are too lazy to type 'play'??

myb shld jst nt s ny vwls t ll. cn y ndrstnd ths? y prbbly cn.

nt flmng, jst dnt lk ll th shrtnng f wrds.

[getting awn]

What the hell is 'ply' and 'plyed'?????????

Is that short for play/played??

Good gosh... you use big words throughout your post and you are too lazy to type 'play'??

myb shld jst nt s ny vwls t ll. cn y ndrstnd ths? y prbbly cn.

nt flmng, jst dnt lk ll th shrtnng f wrds.

a lot of inteligence to write that way.. Luckily our brains can dicipher.. Good One...LOL

[Daddy Fat Saxx]

I know Ncaa has it flaws , but just play guy from vg.

If u feel this way about this game u will feel the same way about madden.

[Equalizer]

So many people want everything done for them and when they need to use common sense and tried and true football principals they fail and blame anything but themselves.

Well my NCAA 06 is now gone. I traded it in for Madden 06 last night. The great news was that I got a good return for the game, 30 bucks at GameStop for the used game because I was trading it for Madden. The bad news is that I was really dissappointed with so many things in the game this year; it was really sad. Here is my list of why this was not enjoyable for me. Maybe EA will listen for next year's game.

Don't bother reading the rest of the post if you don't want to read some bashing. Instead look for me on Madden =)

1. The total lack of run defense in this year's game was very very sad. Even if your LB does have an awareness of 65, he shouldn't let an option QB just run by him every play. I understand EA perhaps wanted to emphasize the run and the option, but making it too easy did nothing more than make me lose interest. My kid hadn't played NCAA for 2 years. He picked up the game and hung 117 on OK with Texas. he said the option is just sick this year. The option is sick this year because LB's and safeties practically wave as QB runs by them. The option was not improved, the defense instead was just worsened.. alot. Practicing D would have helped

2. The HB direct's success is a direct result of number 1. Calling the right defense will stop it, along with line audibles. But the point should not be to stop that ONE play when someone lines up in a formation that has that play available. If its 3rd and 15, for example, I want to stop the deep pass, and make the sure tackle on short passes and draws/runs. As it is now, I would have to call a MLB blitz, with a corner blitzing and my line would have to crash in order to stop the play, otherwise my LB waves as the HB runs happily by and my corners/safeties get sucked in so hard by the blocks, the HB is gone. Its just dumb and not fun. Many people say, just manually cover the HB with the MLB or a safety. Sure you can do that. Unless there is a impact HB on the other team who can plow over you with ease of course. Or maybe your MLB has 75 for speed, in that case noit even taking the right angle will help you, because the HB will be gone before you can get there. Relative position of the defender to the ball carrier, the direction he is facing, and his angle of pursuit is supposed to have some impact on what happens on a run play. Nope. Its more like ACC and Speed vs your ACC and speed. ACC is where I believe the game was tweaked against the defender
Takes a little practice to stop the HB direct but it's not that hard

3.The great thing about 04 and 05 was that you did not have to have mad stick skills to compete effectlively. You had to know your playbook on offense and on defense you had to call the right plays to stop the offense. You could get by with average stick skills on defense, because if you called the right play, at least your man would be in position to make a defensive play. This year, its all about stick skills, and nothing about brain power.
I'm 35 stick skills are just OK.. football knowledge reins king in this game, not stick

4. The arcade like feel of the game is too much for me. "In a struggle, press the X button repeatedly to break or make the tackle." You know, I haver never played NFL street before in my life, or NFL blitz, but I would guess there is something similar in the instruction manual. Torching the defense by simply pressing triangle when triple covered is just way lame. Who decided that scoring on every drive within 4 plays was FUN? Give me a running QB with 85 + speed and a back with 85+ speed, and I can hang 55 on any CPU defense (AA) in the game no matter how bad my team is.
Feels like one of the best sims to date to me

Impact players.

This is an idea that was great, until you put it in the user's hands as to how it can effect a game. Being unable to stop a HB in the zone whose user is pounding on the X button is very lame. However, a special animation, every now and then when a player is in the zone, works out great. Letting an impact player get in "the zone" for no apparent reason, however, is weak. I could understand if the guy had just made a nice play.. Say a pass/catch over 20 yards, maybe a streak of 3 caught/complete passes or 3 runs over 5 yards or more, or 2 or more broken tackles in one run etc. And MAYBE that is the way a guy gets in the zone in the game now, but you would never know by reading the skimpy book EA has to offer as an instruction manual. My point is that getting in the zone for no apparent reason is stupid. And if there is rhyme or reason to it, it should have been hinted at in the manual. Also, allowing the user to abuse an impact player's abilities by mashing X was imbalancing and made the game have an arcade feel.
Imagine real teams that have to face a Miami, a USC, or a Fla St. having to play vs. 22 impact players!!!
-Pin

[Avenge1]

I have to say - defense is not hard at all in this Ncaa 06' game. Sure, I play alot of guys who don't cheese - but even when I do run into one of "those", they are still not hard to stop.

[Irishman]

I have to say - defense is not hard at all in this Ncaa 06' game. Sure, I play alot of guys who don't cheese - but even when I do run into one of "those", they are still not hard to stop.

I stick to straight lists, and I have to agree here. I rarely give up over 100 yards rushing and I rarely give up long rushing TDs.

[IowaGnome]

I got madden...even though every year I play it for like a week and go back to college...

Madden isnt much better. I still like the college game way better.

[skillz97]

So many people want everything done for them and when they need to use common sense and tried and true football principals they fail and blame anything but themselves.

AMAN!

I've got a buddy who runs a dynasty with me, he's all about stick skills, and 6-9 wr's catching streaks all game, he'll run it up on you too, but I blame myself, and I practice and I get better......and i recruit taller db's , and I compete.

[pinolian]

Equalizer, I think you mistake my lack of tolerance for what is imo, poor implementation as a slight against you because you like this year's game. Or maybe you think that I must have poor football knowledge because you enjoy this year's game and feel pretty good because you have had success playing this arcade game.

Its more like this; as I guess I need to simplify things for you.

I don't think how fast you mash the X button has anything to do with football knowledge.

Killing the CPU in dynasty mode because you can run option plays all day long and never get stopped, even against "good" defenses is not fun to me. Playing with poor teams yields the same thing as soon as I recruit a QB who has 80+ speed. Playing on HM gives the same results.

Passing this year has been somewhat adjusted; its not as easy as 04 but easier than 05. However, user catch still makes the deep ball way too easy.

I have about an hour maybe an hour and half a night to play. I have kids, wife, job etc and I am sure many others here have the same resposibilities. But because my time is limited, searching for a "straight baller" to play online with is not something I can do. However it is a necessary evil because when I play online, I want to play NCAA football, not prevent HB direct/tackle the impact running back/chase the scrambling QB. And yes this is a flaw in the game, because if the defense was implemented properly and impact players were not super human, the items I have mentioned above would not be a problem. I can stop both of these tactics most of the time, but then the guy quits and I wind up playing against the CPU anyway. There is no fun in that for the reasons I have stated above. And when I can't stop them because I have average stick skills, even though I am calling the proper plays on defense, I feel cheated by the game as opposed to beaten by a superior player. The latter is a sting I have felt many times and don't mind, but the former is not something I am willing to tolerate.

I will say this, the games I played online where I encountered a straight baller were very enjoyable. They were too few and far between though.

Maybe now you understand better where I am coming from. And if not, so be it. We will just agree to disagree.

[Equalizer]

Because you brought it up..
I have a job, 4 kids to raise, a website to run and a home to keep in repair.

I am 35 and do not have the stick control kids do now days.

If you are talking about playing vs. the computer then I misunderstood and apologize.

If you are talking about online opponents then what I said is correct and it stands.

I could care less if you like the game or not but you are calling legit stuff that takes a little practice to beat bad.

Just takes some practice, common sense and some football knowledge.