Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

[Pared]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bill_Abner

All that said, I don't have a problem with the article. It's clearly an Op-Ed piece, which is what that stage is for.

Like I mentioned earlier, it seems the straw has broken the camel's back.

If this were the sole article we've seen from OS recently regarding NCAA, perhaps it wouldn't be met with such negativity. But add the review released earlier, coupled with:

NCAA Designers Step Up to the Plate
Despite Flaws, NCAA 09 a Great Experience

You start to see a trend that whomever is pushing these articles are side-stepping the issues the forum is currently dealing with. It's almost as if, between the articles and the dev's silence on the issues (and their insistence "many are enjoying the game now"), OS' content is causing one to wonder if they are being written "in a bubble" and not aware of the general feeling throughout the forum and community. Well, at least from those posting about the game.

The Show wasn't met with this amount of negativity. Neither was NBA 2k8. Nor CHoops 2k8, NHL 08, FIFA 08... People obviously have BIG issues with the game. A good game is a good game. NCAA, however, seems to be a good game that is "broken."

And to give the insinuation that those that have these issues can't be satisfied is completely out of left field.

[Cebby]

Quote: Originally Posted by jrcain

Well written piece. I might actually buy this game tonight....even though I said I wouldn't!!!! I guess I just like a challenge. Wishbone vs ROBO QB!!!

The game's not really a huge challenge. I just beat Zona by 20 with Idaho on Heisman. It all just depends which way the interceptions fall.

[umd]

Wow. I've beed here a long time mostly because of the objectivity of this site, the staff and (most) of the posters. I've defended OS plenty of times in discussions about various biases, but obectivity has really gone down hill around here.

Adding in EA fanboy site MM as part of OS was one thing, then all these "articles" propping up EA (see those links above) despite numerous feature problems (I'm talking broken not "opinion" problems) and then the less than flattering discussion in the NCAA forum.

I'm all for EA devs being here, but let's be realistic here, things are not what they used to be if you're looking for the non-biased OS opinions of old.

I was of the opinion that OS was so successful because of the forums here and the informed, mostly mature impressions (good or bad) of any sports games. To roll out a garbage article like this dispariging the general tone of the NCAA posters in defense of EA's product is pretty sad.

[thmst30]

Quote: Originally Posted by stingmgt

Couldn't have been a better response.

[Rules]

My issue with the article is that it makes it sound like the most vocal ones are the few who complain the most. There was also a moderator who made that same statement in one of the NCAA threads.

NCAA Football is by far my favorite sports. EA's NCAA Football has been by far one of my favorite games. This year, they changed that and I am vocal concerning those changes and issues because they basically screwed up my favorite football game!

Look, I am all for opinions but you don't see me saying hardly anything bad about any other games other than this one!

EA Games I Love:

Tiger Woods 08
NHL 08
Nascar 08
Madden 09 is shaping up nicely in my book!

I have enjoyed the past NCAA games but NOT THIS YEAR! Massive step back in my book as there are way too many problems to address this year.

Now those articles being posted up on the main page of OS lately seriously makes me wonder if there is some sort of compensation by EA this year???? If not, sorry to ask that question but if there is......,,,,,, sorry to see those who I have come to respect, look the other way.

[Seahawk76]

I've done some writing for magazines in the past and the problem with this article is that it comes off as condescending to those expressing negative opinions, whether or not that was the intent of the writer. Frankly, it should never have gotten past the editor.

I follow virtually every major sports game release on these forums and what this writer described is NOT the norm. When a game is good (MLB 08: The Show, NHL 08, 2K's hoops games) the reaction from the OS community is generally very positive. But NCAA Football 09 is not one of those games and it should never have been released in its current state. EA absolutely deserves the negative reactions they've gotten on this forum.

This article appears to be attempting to gloss over and delegitimize gripes that the OS community have been making on this forum. When combined with the inflated 8.5 review score NCAA 09 got here, it does appear that the OS staff is either out of touch with its own community or is getting a little too cozy with EA. That may or may not be fair but that's the impression I'm getting.

[kiddlex]

The tone around here has changed dramatically since developers started frequenting the boards. I notice hair trigger reactions from mods that didn't used to exist such as threads being locked the second the tone changes to negativity. This wasn't the case in previous years and I would even go so far to say certain mods like country boy have completely changed their attitudes with the new direction OS' is going. I remember him in the mlb the show forums being a guy who was extremely objective and articulate while being good at questioning broken features in that game. Now as a moderator he is very quick to lock threads that discuss deficiencies in NCAA 09. I don't like seeing developers who are relatively new to the boards demanding threads be locked when the conversation turns sour.

All of that being said there is no doubt having developers on-site is a testament to the spirit of Operation Sports. Many of us at times find their insight invaluable, however, if we have to castrate our opinions as a side effect of their presence I say good riddance. Remember my gaming friends, Operation Sports is dedicated to sports gaming, not sports developers, and forums are by their very definition places for the masses to voice objective opinions for better or worse.

BTW AA you have become a voice for those of us who usually just read the posts and avoid interaction. Keep up the good work and stay objective it keeps your opinions fresh and relevant.

[867-5309]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rules

Look, I am all for opinions but you don't see me saying hardly anything bad about any other games other than this one! EA Games I Love: Tiger Woods 08 NHL 08 Nascar 08 Madden 09 is shaping up nicely in my book! I have enjoyed the past NCAA games but NOT THIS YEAR! Massive step back in my book as there are way too many problems to address this year. Now those articles being posted up on the main page of OS lately seriously makes me wonder if there is some sort of compensation by EA this year???? If not, sorry to ask that question but if there is......,,,,,, sorry to see those who I have come to respect, look the other way.

So you give a free pass to Tiger Woods 08? Was this the 360 or PS3 version?

That game was as broken as NCAA09. Game stopping bug that required a patch, after shipped to retail. Half of the courses textures looked like I mistakenly purchased the PS2 version. Photo Gameface... that really worked well online for many. Poor online play, questionable controls, when you finish a PGA tournament the money earned was for the third round results (or something like that). Can't use the downloaded courses in tour Mode and on and on and on and on.


ZOMG, You sir are on EA's payroll for liking the game. See how that works.

[fistofrage]

Because I like to use analogies.........

I have a two year old daughter, soon to be 3. We just got her potty trained after years of nurturing and hard work. Thank god thats behind me. My suggestions and hard work finally paid off(or so I thought). No matter what I did last year she just wasn't getting it.

But the signs have been there for a while that this is the time, she'll finally be out of diapers, she'll finally stop messing herself. So its my day to drop her off at daycare, running a little late, but I manage to get everything around, have my best suit on and am ready to drop her off and give my presentation to an important client. Looking forward to the next couple of months with my new contract I'm about to land. She assures me evrything is fine as she smiles from the back seat. Get her out of the car at daycare put her under my arm and start walking in to the daycare.....Poop and Pee everywhere, disaster, my suit is ruined, my day destroyed and now I'm back to square 1.

[KG]

How come the guy who wrote the article isn't defending or clarifying his points? Did I miss that part?

The fact that EA devs are on here troubleshooting issues is commendable but it's a little worrisome because there are too many issues not even related to how the game plays. A lot of us would enjoy the game a little bit more if we could get all of the hyped new features to work correctly so we could get to the game.