Slider Discussion For 08 Version for Original XBOX

[Art01]

This post is to open a slider and game difficulty settings discussion for those playing NCAA 08 for Original XBOX.

I am experimenting with sliders and game difficulty settings to accomplish the following objectives:

1. Reduce number of interceptions.

2. Possibly reduce number of fumbles.

3. Get around the poor pursuit angle problem.

4. Produce more lower scoring games with more influence from the running game.

5. Reduce number of Human Punt Return Fumbles.

I play in "Coach Mode" - meaning the QB Auto Throw is ON. I control players only when necessary - meaning that I must kick the ball and, if I want to reduce number of Human PR Fumbles, I must call for a Fair Catch when defenders are barrelling down on my PR - which is almost every time.

I play 8 minute quarters. I coach Alabama against top flight competition. I play as either the Away Team with Home Field Advantage On, or on a neutral site with HFA OFF. I have modified several Alabama players to increase their capabilities so that I can run option plays and better utilize other running plays.

I have tried Heisman, but my PR fumbles too often unless I Fair Catch - I have almost never seen the CPU PR fumble. Interceptions are at least 6-7 per game in Heisman with Int Slider set to zero. I have adjusted other sliders to increase running game effectiveness and reduce passing and to increase defense success.

I tried JV for one game, but had a blowout against Ohio State at Columbus - I won 51-0, mostly running the ball. OSU could do nothing. I will try JV again with different sliders. One good thing at JV level was less aggressive Punt coverage from CPU defense, meaning less fumbles.

Currently, I am trying Varsity and playing with sliders. Last night, I lost to Boise State 17-16. Exciting game which I cluld have won with a FG, except that my QB fumbled at the end of a run at the Boise State 20.

If anyone has updated Rosters for the actual 2008 teams (current season), I would like to get the Files. I have Action Replay. I am using named Rosters for the 2007 Season.

Comments?

Thanks,

Art

[PSU_DW2]

Art, have you tried the heisman sliders and settings that I posted on the other thread? Those give me great games. I played a game the other night where both teams had over 110 plays. And it was close too.

It was a high scoring game but fairly low scoring at times. Both teams went over 15:00 in the 2nd half without scoring.

You should try it on coach mode. It's fast but you may like it..

I'll try to upload some vids soon...

[Art01]

I have not yet tried your Heisman sliders, but I will do so soon and report my comments.

Thanks.

Art

[hellbent]

I do still prefer 06 on the XBOX, but it's nice to have the slightly more updated rosters on 08 too. fistofrage posted some EXCELLENT sliders that I used as a base for 08 the last time I played it and they work great for reducing (not eliminating) the pursuit angle problems and lack of CPU difficulty in that game:

FistofRage's Heisman Sliders(PS2)

[Art01]

Quote: Originally Posted by Art01

I have not yet tried your Heisman sliders, but I will do so soon and report my comments. Thanks. Art

Update: I have played one game with your sliders in Coach Mode. 8 minute quarters, Alabama visiting West Virginia.

Final Score: WVU 25, Alabama 10

Total Interceptions: 7 (WVU picked 4 and Bama 3)

Alabama also had 2 fumbles - 9 turnovers total.

In addition, Alabama blocked 4 FG attempts by WVU - no intervention by me.

I will play another game with your sliders. However, 7 interceptions is too many and is similar to what I encountered in Heisman mode unless I set Int to zero/zero - even then, only somewhat reduced the total number of interceptions.

I like low scoring games, but it seems this version of the game attempts to keep games on the table by causing numerous turnovers to drive momentum in both directions.

Comments?

Art

[PSU_DW2]

Quote: Originally Posted by Art01

I will play another game with your sliders. However, 7 interceptions is too many and is similar to what I encountered in Heisman mode unless I set Int to zero/zero - even then, only somewhat reduced the total number of interceptions.

I agree. One thing I may say is that I like a challenge when playing offense, so I keep the QB Accuracy rating at 55%. You may want to turn that up a few notches. Sure turning the INT slider down may help, but it honestly depends on the team. I appreciate the input. In my last 60:00 game, I only had 1 interception. But perhaps that is due to my steady accurate user skill. For coach mode, turning up QB accuracy a bit and interceptions down may help. Try turning INT down to like 20%. If that doesn't improve, then 15%, then 10%. If still no improvement try 5% or 0%. Make sure you keep it the same for user and CPU. See if those numbers start to go down before turning it to zero. Interceptions may be due to the QB accuracy rating too. Keep in mind, you are playing with good teams. Bama has a good D, and WV plays the 3-3-5, and last year were rated pretty good I think. So They are gunna get picks sitting back in the 3-3-5. There is the occasional fumbles, but I kinda like that. Last game I had 3 fumbles and lost 2 of them, but one was on an option pitch that I messed up.

Quote: Originally Posted by YankeePride

I like low scoring games, but it seems this version of the game attempts to keep games on the table by causing numerous turnovers to drive momentum in both directions.

I like low scoring games too. I play 60:00 games so it's hard to keep those low scoring, but my last game 121 total points were scored, but both teams had almost 120 plays each also in a regulation game. So proportionally, that's not as high scoring as one may think. I will say that some games are close, but not all. I have had 60:00 draws. You can give up big plays if you over commit, but you are able to overcome momentum if you pick the right pass play. When momentum is more than half full against me, I almost always roll out with a fast QB and pass. So that is one thing the CPU may not do on coach mode, so perhaps turning down interceptions or turning up QB accuracy may help you achieve your coach mode goals depending on the teams playing.

For me, it is a very challenging user game. For coach mode, it may force too many interceptions from bad CPU passes and good CPU secondary (as i have set in sliders for both user and cpu). I did notice in my last game that with the interception slider at 30%, there were times in my game where players put their arms out but fell short of the ball trying for interceptions. So there were definetly CPU interception attempts that were missed. This is why I didn't turn down the INT slider even more, because I was keeping my turnovers under control.

How did you like the line play with these sliders?

With coach mode, do you still do offensives and defensive pre-snap adjustments like o line slide protection?

I find that in general when you do slide protection against momentum, you will get flagged for holding sometimes.

That is why most of the time I don't use slide protection.

What kinds of penalties did you see in that WVU - Bama game?

[Art01]

I did not record any of the statistics from the Bama - WVU game, so I cannot report on Penalties, etc.

When I play CM, I intervene as little as possible. I rarely call audibles (usually only when the CPU goes into Hurry Up mode and I am in a totally unacceptable defense). I call for a Fair Catch on Punts only to reduce the high number of Fumbles when playing Heisman.

I did play a second game with your Heisman settings - I don't remember the exact outcome, but I do remember 10 turnovers total.

I have since played two games in Varsity mode with sliders adjusted to very high percentages as needed to raise the CPU capablity and to reduce poor pursuit angles.

I am closely observing how the game progress under the various setting combinations I am trying and I think I am beginning to understand the EA design philosophy.

My observations are:

The game is designed for arcade-style play, with the expectation that most players are "gamers" who will play in full arcade mode. So, the game design attempts to offset superior human play with more frequent turnovers which tend to cause frequent shifts in momentum.

When I play CM in Varsity, there are few turnovers. Also, I have almost eliminated the poor pursuit angle problem in Varsity by setting the RB Capability to 5% for both CPU and Human. However, the CPU also makes it easier for Momentum to remain with the Human when playing in Varsity and the CPU does not do a very good job of playcalling when in Varsity versus AA or Heisman.

The ugly tradeoff for me seems to be having a more difficult game with many turnovers if playing in either AA or Heisman versus having an easier, but more realistic game in Varsity. Again, I think the issue is that EA does not consider the issues of playing in Coach Mode to be of significance to their total market. That is why there is no CM opportunity on any of the 360 versions of either Madden or NCAA. EA claims that implementing CM or QB Autothrow for the 360 is difficult, but I consider that claim to be silly, since the CPU QB Autothrows when a Human is playing the CPU.

In any event, I am enjoying the challenge of playing 08 for Original XBOX and trying to set up a play difficulty and slider combination which will support my style of play - Running, fairly low scoring, close games, make Momentum effects more realistic, reduce turnovers to realistic totals, keep penalties in line, etc.

My next game will be in AA with high QB accuracies, high Pass Blocking, very low RB (0-5%) Capabilities, and other adjustments to promote the running game, keep poor pursuit angles in line, and minimize Interceptions. I've probably given up on Heisman in CM play - just too many turnovers.

More later....

Art

[Art01]

I have just about settled on Varsity with aggressive sliders as the best way to play my style of CM football in NCAA08 for Original XB. I have tried Hesiman with a variety of sliders and I cannot stop the high number of turnovers, particularly Interceptions. I have had better results from AA, but still have too many turnovers and games with little offense, except for big plays.

So, I am working with Varsity and sliders which feature reasonably high QB accuracy, very high blocking, and aggressive defensive settings, plus very low RB capability.

More later...

Art