Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

[rp71284]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChaseB

Do you see that for all EA games, or just the football ones at OS? Obviously we aren't going to artificially be harder on EA just so no one thinks this is an issue because then you're not doing your duty as a writer, but I'm just curious in general.

I know this isn't directed to me, but this year, I don't think there has been one negative article regarding NCAA/Madden. If they had a negative view, there was always a "look on the bright side" view as well. Besides football, Fifa & NHL usually get good praise, and they usually earn it. NBA Live gets ripped no matter what site we're talking about.

Another thing that happens too often is previews are always positive. I know you're just an editor, but EA should take a look at the SOCOM blog to see how you get feedback, instead of issuing wordy press releases and flaunting new features to game sites. They're not even in the private beta stage, and they've been taking criticism daily. They even gave in to some of the requests of people commenting on the blog.

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by rp71284

I know this isn't directed to me, but this year, I don't think there has been one negative article regarding NCAA/Madden. If they had a negative view, there was always a "look on the bright side" view as well. Besides football, Fifa & NHL usually get good praise, and they usually earn it. NBA Live gets ripped no matter what site we're talking about. Another thing that happens too often is previews are always positive. I know you're just an editor, but EA should take a look at the SOCOM blog to see how you get feedback, instead of issuing wordy press releases and flaunting new features to game sites. They're not even in the private beta stage, and they've been taking criticism daily. They even gave in to some of the requests of people commenting on the blog.

OK, good to know.

[jfsolo]

Quote: Originally Posted by GoVols1985

Yeah, I get what you're saying, and it does suck that you guys can't play the kind of game you like to play. I just wish that when I say I am enjoying the game, realistic or not, somebody wouldn't immdiately say something like "well you obviously don't know anything about football" and "you should go play NFL Blitz then." you see what I'm saying? Just because I want something differant from a video game than other people, it's like I don't love football as much as them.

I'd like to see a few of these posts made by long time members of the community attacking any other members for enjoying the game, because I haven't been seeing that.

I've seen a few newcomers and hit and run posters doing some of that, but the overwhelming number of disgruntled regulars have been spending all their time cataloging the numerous flaws in the game and imploring the developers to do something about it.

You may not enjoy it, but incessant complaining is not the same thing as attacking you. If any conflict between posters who can tolerate the flaws, and those who can't has arisen, it been when been those who are satisfied with the game have entered threads making comments such as, "you guys just don't know how to play defense". This is the only time that I have seen regular posters engage in any back and forth with people who enjoy the game.

Where are all the positivity threads like "The little things"? Why aren't people creating those threads to discuss what they like about the game? Are they concerned that someone is going to troll the thread and attack them for liking the game.

Many posters are really upset at EA Tiburon for the programming choices they made with this game, and have been expressing that anger quite clearly, but I haven't seen them calling into question the "fanhood" of other posters.

Many are questioning the objectivity of the writing staff, and of the site, but that's another post entirely.

[Dudd]

Quote: Originally Posted by 867-5309

Also for the people posting the likes of the Bill's (Abner and Harris) you have to realize that they do not speak for the majority of gamers. They make some of the hardcore blush. Sure fix the problems, they are there in spades but love it or hate it, they are games. Games are supposed to be fun. Call me silly but running 40yard tests hour upon hour does not seem like a person is having fun. These guys are not speaking for the masses and in fact, Harris loses points for the silly the game is **** comments. It is far from that. I have owned every Madden/NCAA since their inception and follow Pro and College football as much as the next guy. Stop insinuating that just because a person is having fun with the game is football moron. Some people can detatch between video games and reality. Sure they might want things fixed and notice the problems but they also try to find good in games. I have read both Bill's over the years and I rarely ever see where they try to do that.

How often do you read these guys stuff? I've been reading Bill Harris's blog since his gone gold days, and he is by far the best best reviewer of sports games out there. Just because someone is thorough and documents the problems with the game doesn't make them insane and impossible to please. He's posted glowing reviews of NHL 08, MLB the Show, just to name a few. Hell, he even liked last years game, even though I think he said he spent most of his time simming the actual games and focusing on recruiting. Even when I disagree with him on games, I can see where he's coming from. Just like the article, it seems like you want to paint everyone who has problems with the game as some sort of masochistic bogeyman who can never be pleased, which is a load of crap and just obscures the fact that there are clearly real problems with this game.

[ehh]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

I look back and the NCAA series has always been heralded here at OS. NCAA 2004... 2005... I look at those games and don't recall them having all these issues... sure, they weren't perfect, but did almost all of the major new additions have problems, as well as the gameplay?

Exactly, and the reason why these games weren't roasted like '09 (outside of '05) is because outside of the dropped passes glitch there were weren't any "broken" items in the games. Sure, the momentum meter and impact player may have been blown out of proportion and too effective but that's the way EA intended for it to work, it wasn't broken.

As for the article, it is a complete slap in the face to the posters who come in here and put in a lot of effort to help make the game better and provide EA with what the problems are, basically making their jobs easier, yet are labeled as whiners and nitpickers in the article.

Quote:

the fact that people who dislike something are more vocal than people who actually care about it. Because if you were on the boards during all the impressions, or should I say complaints, then it became a little trying. Several die hards proclaimed the game was busted and that they wouldn’t be purchasing this year -- mind you this was still before the game was even officially released. Glitch after glitch began to surface, and as more and more people received their games, the question was how could this be going bad again after things looked so bright and promising? It shouldn’t come as a surprise though, reactions like these tend to happen when you mostly focus on the negatives. And with the masses getting the product and reporting on just the bad functions, overlooking any possibility of fun or happiness with the game, the forums became a bit of a downer to read.

Those paragraphs are the biggest crock of BS I have ever read. Just look back over the history of releases on OS, when a game is good or great the masses will agree here. The base of OS vets only focus on the negative when they rightfully should, when it is overpowering the positives.

Do you really think guys like AA don't care about the game and want the game to be bad? Do you think he was waiting for July 15 so he could open his copy of NCAA and jot down every possible bug he could find and only focus on the negatives? The guy was more pumped than anyone on the damn boards before it came out. The second EA drops a great football game guys like him will praise the ever living hell out of it.

To think that gamers are focusing on negatives and not trying to enjoy the game when the basic foundation of the game is broken is such a load of BS. What if OS was the same as NCAA? The "submit reply" button worked once every five times you clicked it, the quote button simply never worked, when you voted in polls it didn't calculate the results properly, etc. Would you say, "Well, you can get in a post every once in a while so have fun with what ya got!"

So to quote the article one more time, yes, myself and several other people will continue to trust "Average Joe" in the forum when it comes to impressions, what else are we suppose to do especially after seeing blatantly biased articles like this on the front page of OS?

[867-5309]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dudd

How often do you read these guys stuff? I've been reading Bill Harris's blog since his gone gold days, and he is by far the best best reviewer of sports games out there. Just because someone is thorough and documents the problems with the game doesn't make them insane and impossible to please. He's posted glowing reviews of NHL 08, MLB the Show, just to name a few. Even when I disagree with him on games, I can see where he's coming from. Just like the article, it seems like you want to paint everyone who has problems with the game as some sort of masochistic bogeyman who can never be pleased, which is a load of crap and just obscures the fact that there are clearly real problems with this game.

As long has they have been posting about the NCAA series on the internet.

See I have been around awhile - I used to go by the name bdoughty, which saying that will get me banned, oh well.

Speaking of the bogyman... Like Jason in Friday the 13th, I always pop up again.

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dudd

How often do you read these guys stuff? I've been reading Bill Harris's blog since his gone gold days, and he is by far the best best reviewer of sports games out there. Just because someone is thorough and documents the problems with the game doesn't make them insane and impossible to please. He's posted glowing reviews of NHL 08, MLB the Show, just to name a few. Hell, he even liked last years game, even though I think he said he spent most of his time simming the actual games and focusing on recruiting. Even when I disagree with him on games, I can see where he's coming from. Just like the article, it seems like you want to paint everyone who has problems with the game as some sort of masochistic bogeyman who can never be pleased, which is a load of crap and just obscures the fact that there are clearly real problems with this game.

Yea whenever I've been playing a game when Harris is I tend to agree with what he said. FYI, I think his big criticism of the Show this year was that the RttS was kind of messed up when you were a RP. Basically you would pitch almost every day when some sort of roster issue occurred.

Quote: Originally Posted by 867-5309

As long has they have been posting about the NCAA series on the internet. See I have been around awhile - I used to go by the name bdoughty, which saying that will get me banned, oh well. Speaking of the bogyman... Like Jason in Friday the 13th, I always pop up again.

Is the fact that you use a Tommy Tutone song as a user name a bannable offense?

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by ehh

So to quote the article one more time, yes, myself and several other people will continue to trust "Average Joe" in the forum when it comes to impressions, what else are we suppose to do especially after seeing blatantly biased articles like this on the front page of OS?

Like I said when I put forth my review philosophy a few posts ago, I agree with going this route in many cases -- hence why I think writing a review as simply a buy or don't buy is outdated thinking.

People will always be skeptical and untrustworthy of certain things and so it's better to talk with the people you trust, whether that be a reviewer or the people you know on the forums.