NCAA Football 13 Demo Roundtable

[TreyIM2]

I definitely like the demo, which I didn't think I would do, especially with expectations of Madden's RTP and the fact I really wasn't tryin to get NCAA this yr, anyway. I find myself returning to the demo daily, actually. Lol.

I can definitely agree that the updates are a bit too frequent in the demo but I usually skip them. LOVE the ESPN ticker. It just gives more to the look of the game.


The PS3 visuals don't look as great as they could, as usual, in the demos for this games. It's just a demo, tho, right? Heh...

I dig the passing, mucho, and some of the new catch animations a great! I actually forgot to use the new lob on a pass and an LB trailing my TE a bit in zone coverage LAID OUT so beautifully to pick off my errant pass toward the sidelines and landed on his back. I couldn't help but applaud how it looked, even tho I turned the ball over. Lol.

I likee a lot and hope I don't go back on my word of NOT buying the retail version.

[ghettogeeksta]

I agree with your assessment. You forgot to mention the horrific open field/outside blocking. Blockers still can't compute a defender at a 45 degree angle which is why nano blitzing is still in the game and defensive ends can't get and pressure on the quarterback. With that being said this game is not the bad, the new catch animations are really a nice addition.

[Jadakiss88]

@Annarborborn I think most complaints come from the fact that it actually looks like NCAA 12 and alot of people are used to more updates in graphics than in just gameplay. Also, I played the HELL out of 12' and I used a Heisman Slider set that I picked up from OS and I promise you it feels exactly the same as if I used that same slider set in 13'. I understand it's a demo but demo's are in a sense the first impression for alot of us since games are expensive now a days and EA drops a Madden and NCAA yearly.

Some people do get a little nit picky because 1) they don't understand what true sim football is because they don't have that experience on the field 2) they feel that it should be picked apart since 12' was hampered with some many issues that went unfixed, but as the consumer (some like me yearly consumers) you have that right to voice your opinion ridiculous or not.

I had already figured that in short routes (especially comeback, hooks, and hitches) would quickly become cheese routes with the new DB-WR interaction the EA implemented. Hopefully, it's tuned down a little. And maybe it's just me knowing my offense and already being comfortable with QB - WR/TE/RB timing but I was throwing passes well before the receiver looked my way and even at times throwing it to the wrong shoulder and the receiver would make the catch. They should have put in a chance to choose difficulty so people could have explored the demo a little deeper.

[huntt26]

Love the studio updates and bottom line - hopefully they can tweak them for next year's game

Having an ability to sort or group bottom line scores like they do in real life - with a 'top stories' section and the games organized by conference. Some stats would be nice in the ticker as well.

[Annarborborn]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jadakiss88

@Annarborborn I think most complaints come from the fact that it actually looks like NCAA 12 and alot of people are used to more updates in graphics than in just gameplay. Also, I played the HELL out of 12' and I used a Heisman Slider set that I picked up from OS and I promise you it feels exactly the same as if I used that same slider set in 13'. I understand it's a demo but demo's are in a sense the first impression for alot of us since games are expensive now a days and EA drops a Madden and NCAA yearly. Some people do get a little nit picky because 1) they don't understand what true sim football is because they don't have that experience on the field 2) they feel that it should be picked apart since 12' was hampered with some many issues that went unfixed, but as the consumer (some like me yearly consumers) you have that right to voice your opinion ridiculous or not. I had already figured that in short routes (especially comeback, hooks, and hitches) would quickly become cheese routes with the new DB-WR interaction the EA implemented. Hopefully, it's tuned down a little. And maybe it's just me knowing my offense and already being comfortable with QB - WR/TE/RB timing but I was throwing passes well before the receiver looked my way and even at times throwing it to the wrong shoulder and the receiver would make the catch. They should have put in a chance to choose difficulty so people could have explored the demo a little deeper.

The game of football does not change that much from one year to another. If that bothers them, then do not buy the damn game. This is a sport based on real actions, not Halo.

You do not have to have experience on the field, just watch a game or break down tape. The game is supposed fun. And if someone is worried about how the game looks or face mask colors but do not recognized how different the passing game has drastically changed, then they will never be satisfied. I am not looking for perfection, I am looking for a replica of the real game. If the game changed that much from one year to another, I would be concerned honestly.

[ghettogeeksta]

I agree with your assessment. You forgot to mention the horrific open field/outside blocking. Blockers still can't compute a defender at a 45 degree angle which is why nano blitzing is still in the game and defensive ends can't get and pressure on the quarterback. With that being said this game is not the bad, the new catch animations are really a nice addition.

[TuffJuff]

I love the studio updates. I found myself actually caring about the texas-texas tech game and was disappointed when texas came back to win.

[SOBAY310]

Does anybody else have the bottom line cut off the bottom of the screen? I can only see half of it. I have a 56'' 1080p DLP that's a few years old, so perhaps my screen isn't centered completely. I hope there is an option within the game to adjust the the display area (move it up, down, left, right) like you see on some games.

[Jadakiss88]

Quote: Originally Posted by Annarborborn

The game of football does not change that much from one year to another. If that bothers them, then do not buy the damn game. This is a sport based on real actions, not Halo. You do not have to have experience on the field, just watch a game or break down tape. The game is supposed fun. And if someone is worried about how the game looks or face mask colors but do not recognized how different the passing game has drastically changed, then they will never be satisfied. I am not looking for perfection, I am looking for a replica of the real game. If the game changed that much from one year to another, I would be concerned honestly.

[quote=Annarborborn;2043754999]

You do not have to have experience on the field, just watch a game or break down tape.





And with thinking like that that's where the issue lies. You have to have some kind of field experience to break down tape. And I'm not saying as a player because there are a tons of DC, OC, and HC's that have never played a down of football in their life. With that being said there is no way people that know nothing about football except for what they see face value should be able to beat someone who can BREAK DOWN a defense, someone who actually takes time to sit down and explore the in and outs, strengths and weaknesses of their gameplan, roster, and play calling due to casual users using exploits in the game. If you don't play online and only tailor the game to your strengths and weaknesses you won't understand that much though.

With that being said, updated graphics can make a huge difference in video games. I could careless about pass trajectories and catch animations I know my offense well enough that all I care about is making the right play at the right time and the player making the catch. Trajectories and Catch animations are the ooohhhh's and aaahhhh's I care more about being able to play a SIM game of football where I can actually go head up against players that want to battle out with football minds and not use holes in the gameplay to win the game.

Even though they have corrected somethings EA still has along way to go, seeing that this is the ONLY football sim available to gamers. It will never be perfect but "If it's in the game it's in the game" I rarely if ever see an amateur coach completely dominate a experienced head coach with a winning strategy unless that same team just beats themselves.

[Colonel Reb]

Quote: Originally Posted by SOBAY310

Does anybody else have the bottom line cut off the bottom of the screen? I can only see half of it. I have a 56'' 1080p DLP that's a few years old, so perhaps my screen isn't centered completely. I hope there is an option within the game to adjust the the display area (move it up, down, left, right) like you see on some games.

First time commenting on these pages. I'm trying to quote SOBAY310 above if it doesn't show up.

I've seen a few other people in various places say the ticker gets cut off for them as well on certain TVs. There was at least one fix out there but I'm not sure what it was off the top of my head. Sorry that's not much help, I know...

On that note, you don't have the bottom line at all if you're not in widescreen mode. It's not that it gets cut off, it doesn't even exist. I wish someone--especially someone at EA, but even the media covering it would be nice-- would address this issue. I've never played a game where there were features lost simply for not playing in widescreen. I hate to let something as silly as a ticker make my decision as to whether or not I'm going to buy the game but I also don't like giving up something that is apparently great based on everything I read just because I don't have the right kind of TV EA thinks I should have.

As for the demo itself, I generally enjoyed it. Most of the games have been offense-heavy, but I did have a 14-14 game that went to overtime between Alabama and LSU, which was 7-7 very late in regulation. It's certainly not perfect. The offensive line blocking really needed to be addressed after EA took away the "suction" blocking which made it nearly impossible to get sacks, because last year it went the complete opposite direction, and unfortunately this issue seems to only have been improved moderately, if at all. I am afraid the focus on passing will lead to it being too easy, as EA tends to overdo fixes, but so far it hasn't gotten out of hand for me. When I figure out how to really utilize the new passing changes it might get worse, I don't know. I enjoyed it but I'm still a bit undecided on whether it's worth it keeping my preorder. With the issues EA games have had recently I'm thinking of canceling it and waiting to see what people say and then decide if I want to pick it up a few weeks after release.