NCAA 09 Gameplay Issues (response from EA)

[davin]

Quote: Originally Posted by AuburnAlumni

That is true. BUT....When I'm playing Alabama...and their fastest WR has 90 speed. MY Secondary is all at least 90 or better speed. So when Nikita Stover, who has 89 speed, catches a hitch route and proceeds to outrun my entire secondary with no "closing" speed by the DB...that's not good. As I show in my vids and expressed in my posts....the combination of all of these.... Superhuman QB percentages (17-20 250 yards) + No pass rush AT ALL + "Stupid" logic by LBs (running away from ball) and DBs (just standing there) + inability to catch receivers that get behind you even if they only are as fast or a point slower than you..... Equals a completely unfair and unbalanced representation in the game. Combine that with the Punt Return teams "Stone walling" of gunners allowing for 30 yards of open green every time you return a punt and 30 yard averages of kick returns..and it's just obscene the lack of defense right now. If these can be patched, the game will be awesome because the running game is truly a work of art. But the ridiculous "juiced WRs" and zero defense is a complete turnoff.

I'm not trying to call you out or anything, I just don't know the ratings so I am asking:

What are the acceleration and agility ratings for the above players. If a guy can get to top end speed before the others even if they are technically faster, that can provide just enough of a distance to get it all the way.

[rhombic21]

Yeah Auburn, I totally agree that blitzes are also under-effective. Last year they were over-effective, but this year you really can't generate very much heat with the blitzes -- it's just that if you don't blitz the QB literally has all day to sit there. But then if you do blitz, you leave huge gaps in your coverage.

They fixed the short passing game from the offensive side, but that then got combined with the defensive AI either not getting similar upgrades, or actually taking steps backwards in several areas. Looking back at it, a lot of the defense last year was probably bolstered by AI cheats that have since been removed. For example, last year you couldn't throw slants or quick hitches against man coverage because the DB would jump the route every single time (and would often times actually be running the route for the WR). This year they fixed that, so that those shorter routes work correctly, but in doing so they seem to have exposed some huge faults in their pass defense AI that were being covered up last year with cheap AI gimmicks.

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by AuburnAlumni

That's a good point Rhombic. However, blitzes are pretty neutered as well. I think I'll do a vid of 08 next to a vid of 09 running the exact same blitz package. The blitzers in 09 have no aggression. They don't fly to the ball. They don't hit their gaps properly. Basically, even an all out blitz...a-sell-your-soul-to-kill-the-qb blitz doesn't get there until 5 seconds have gone by, by which time the Super Human QB has thrown yet another completion to his Juiced WR who has blown by a faster DB like he's a statue and gained another 27 yards.

I'm currently playing Auburn and Georgia (me) and I'm definitely noticing this about blitzes. I sent an all out blitz and counted, the QB literally set up in the pocket (despite the fact that there was a heavy blitz bearing down on the o-line) and made a throw for an eight yard gain over the middle. None of my defenders got through on the play. The d-line definitely needs a boost, especially considering I'm not getting any pressure using SEC teams notorious for having the best and most dominant defensive lines in all of college football.

[AuburnAlumni]

Quote: Originally Posted by davin

I'm not trying to call you out or anything, I just don't know the ratings so I am asking: What are the acceleration and agility ratings for the above players. If a guy can get to top end speed before the others even if they are technically faster, that can provide just enough of a distance to get it all the way.

My DBs were faster and quicker. This is yet another little "addition" for "Wide open gameplay".

If a WR catches a short route and gets behind the DB..any DB, regardless of speed, he's probably gone.

Think about it...how often have you seen a defender chase down a receiver from behind...even receivers who have very average speed?

[davin]

Quote: Originally Posted by AuburnAlumni

My DBs were faster and quicker. This is yet another little "addition" for "Wide open gameplay". If a WR catches a short route and gets behind the DB..any DB, regardless of speed, he's probably gone. Think about it...how often have you seen a defender chase down a receiver from behind...even receivers who have very average speed?

I've caught Derrick Williams from behind and have been caught from behind many times. Although I don't give up many big plays at all so I don't really see long TDs beyond when I played on Heisman and the CPU did a slip screen every so often that equaled an automatic TD.

[Adam_Thompson_EA]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheFuture15

I kind of had to:

I know you haven't been on gameplay in a while, but you have forgotten more than I know about some of the gameplay questions being asked!

[Quint75]

Quote: Originally Posted by LBzrule

Patch tha freakin rocket catch. I can't stand it already. Way too easy; way too easy.

What is the rocket catch?

[AuburnAlumni]

Reposted so that Ian can actually SEE what we are trying to talk about....

Also Ian, as has been stated by Rhomic and others, you would want to add "Make Blitzes more effective". An all out blitz shouldn't take 5 seconds to get to the QB.

Anyhoo...
Exhibit A.

A simple pass into the flats. But notice Tray Blackmon, who is closing quickly to make the hit...literally turns around and runs away..for a split second. This allows the RB to easily make the catch and possibly gain some yardage. And no...at no point was I in control of Blackmon.

EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video

Exhibit B. Alabama..on their own 1 yard line, runs an end around with Julio Jones. Mike McNeil, the AU Free Safety, is strafing across the field as Julio crosses for the sideline. But does McNeil sprint for the corner...or attack Julio and try and make the tackle? Nope. He stops....yes...stops....and literally stands upright in the middle of the field, not once..but TWICE. This allows the other Bama WR to come over, block him, and the rest is history.

EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video

[BrianFifaFan]

Quote: Originally Posted by AuburnAlumni

Think about it...how often have you seen a defender chase down a receiver from behind...even receivers who have very average speed?

Awesome point. It's almost as if the turbo button is useless, regardless of speed rating. And then you can't even get pursuit help as the D still takes bad angles (The conga line) and then you just watch helplessly. But my biggest problem is the no-pass rush. I can't even get close blitzing on a regular basis.

[josh1559]

I do have the game. Can find a way to prove it necessary I suppose.


Anyway, my main issue is the passing in-game. It seems like even if you were able to get a decent pass rush, the QB throws the ball so fast and accurate time after time that it wouldn't make a huge difference. I have the CPU AI passing accuracy to ZERO but the QB for UL-Monroe threw 20 passes against me, Auburn, in the first half. Everyone of those passes was dead on. One was interecepted, even though it was going straight for the wideout, and the other would have been a touchdown but it happened to hit a linebacker in the helmet as his back was facing the QB. Why are the sliders doing nothing? Is that a known issue or what?

And to answer the question you asked someone else in this thread, no I am not able to have fun with the game like this. I'm all for games when I can't stop the computer and they air it out, but I also want those defensive games where my D dominates, and with the game in it's current state, I don't think that'll happen.

Thanks for the communication.