EA Conference Call With Sean Bailey, Lead Designer - Gamplay

[bad_philanthropy]

I was disappointed in the answer about the pass rush. It's pretty cheap to manufacture wide open gameplay by neutering the d-line in the game.

[rudyjuly2]

I'm not against the cpu keeping the same tendencies. Certain teams have a style and should play that way - even 10 years down the road. Just make sure they recruit the personel properly to execute them all the time. Until they add coaching changes, I don't have a problem with this.

I don't like the lack of adaptive AI. Also, while I appreciate the down and distance calls on defense - they shouldn't come out in goalline on 3rd and 20 if you come out in goalline - but this should be a consideration.

The OL vs. DL really needs a total overhaul next year. 2K4 did it a lot better. Not a gamekiller but the inability to slip by an OL without wrestling him isn't good.

Lastly, I don't like the speed calculation. I'm all for seeing a bigger difference in the fast players but using a non linear calculation isn't necessary nor is it realistic. Just make your speed ratings matter and be more accurate (along with acceleration and the way the players move including momentum). A 4.2 40 should be 99, 4.3 40 should be 95, 4.4 = 90, etc. I want accuracy, not a gimic to separate certain players although if the results work I can accept it.

[LPU]

I'm all for the new Speed calculations. Sounds like a great idea to me. It'll really let the absolute speed guys be just that. I like that they'll be set apart.

[lhsballa11]

Pretty disappointing really, there was about 80% things we DON'T get to have this year and only about 20% things that they got right.

I love the NCAA series more than any video game series in history, but they fail to show drastic improvements from year to year. I really hope the final product is worth 59.99 this year.

[JBucc]

That wasn't encouraging. I think this game will have the same problem for offline players as past years in that it will get old quickly after a couple seasons of dynasty. I think I'll probably rent this game and wait for Madden and Head Coach this year. Madden for the gameplay, Head Coach for the crazy depth in the offseason. NCAA rented for draft classes.

Also in the demo smart routes is RB, did they change it to the right stick in the final game?

[countryboy]

sounds like the AI is going to be identical to last year. So for those who could live with it, should be happy with this year's game. Those who lost interest because of the AI will most likely loste nterest very quickly is this year's game.

[VWarrior]

I'm with the rest of you guys about the lack of adaptive A.I. It puts more emphasis on the 'A' than the 'I'.

I guess i'm an outlier with my concern about effectives of man coverage. I've seen first hand in the demo and well as through impressions and videos how money the passing game can be. If I have a great secondary and LBs who are good in pass coverage, then I want to see their man coverage good at defending the pass.

I'm all for more noticeable distinction in the speed of players, but like someone else pointed out, I hope their ratings are realistic relative to their 40 times. It remains to be seen how this new curve effects speed development.

[stewaat]

So they purposely made the game easy? That's EXACTLY what it sounds like. Great.

[rspencer86]

Quote: Originally Posted by muggins

These make me sad NO ADAPTIVE DEFENSIVE AI This is pretty sad. CPU DEFENSE PLAY CALLING The CPU pretty much calls plays based on down and distance, not really based on formation. This is an area EA wants to work on in the future. Are you kidding me? CPU PLAY CALLING In terms of playbooks, the team will execute the same playbook tendancies regardless of how the team personnel changes over time. Disappointing.

Wow, those are very disappointing, especially the lack of an adaptive defensive AI. It's 2008, and the game's AI can't make adjustments if we run the same play over and over and over? How far have we really come?

I'm sure the game will be fun, but things like these are going to continue to hold back the series from achieving true greatness until they are addressed.

[BoomerSooner11]

Quote: Originally Posted by LPU

I'm all for the new Speed calculations. Sounds like a great idea to me. It'll really let the absolute speed guys be just that. I like that they'll be set apart.

This is about the only good news out of this, everything else you guys have posted is about he same way I feel.