• NCAA Football 13 - Second Game Update

    The second NCAA Football 13 Game Update is now available on both XBL & PSN. While an early blog from NCAA Football Lead Producer Jason French detailed some of the improvements planned at that time, more game update details have been announced.

    Continue on to read the full blog from French with added game update aspects italicized. After you download the update, share your thoughts here with the community.


    Title Update Information

    Hello NCAA Football fans, I'm Jason French, lead producer for NCAA Football 13. I'm here to give you some information on the post-release updates that we are currently working on.

    Once the game was released, we started watching the forums and talking to our EA SPORTS Game Changers community to see what areas needed to be addressed. It came to our attention that there were two big issues that we were facing with the game and I commissioned a quick title update in order to get those two issues fixed as soon as possible. The first issue was a loss of functionality on the Playcall screen, which created a situation where you couldn't change the formation without pausing the game. The second issue was a random crash in our Dynasty mode while loading into a Dynasty game. Once we became aware of these issues, we got fixes in and submitted a title update to Microsoft and Sony. The first title update in order to fix these two issues will be released on July 31st.

    Our second update, which will be released by Sony and Microsoft on August 15th, will address the following issues that we have seen from our telemetry and heard about from our community:

    Gameplay

    • Zone Defense has been updated.
      1. We improved receiver leverage logic as well as predicting when a receiver will be in or out of their zone.
      2. Improved Deep Half Zone decision making about when to split between uncovered receivers. Also, allow more zone overlapping in deep half to cover more area.
      3. Deep half defenders were dropping too close to the sideline or dropping outside when no receiver was outside of their position.
    • No-Huddle QB Spy bug fixed. Defenders will no longer go into spy assignments while in man coverage.
    • Receivers weren’t looking for hot-read passes.
    • CPU QBs passing during the drop would get set passes instead of on-the-run inaccurate passes.
    • Change the logic of man defenders so they don't run into the backfield and past the receiver they are covering.
    • Route running near sideline was causing issues especially on comeback routes.
    • Fixed players not respecting global show blitz/press/back off coverage after handing off a receiver.
    • Fixed sideline streak routes so they don't get clamped in a way that the route would end after 10 or 15 yards.
    • Drive summaries should now reset after each scoring drive.

    • Fixed HB stretch play issue where TE’s would be frozen in place during certain blocking animations.
    • Fixed an issue where if a defender made an interception in the end zone and fumbled the ball before his feet touched the ground, it was being counted as a fumble and not an incomplete pass.
    • Resolved an alignment issue where DB on HB would pick up FB instead of HB when HB was put in motion
    • Removed exploit that allowed users to create slant routes to the sideline by motioning a WR and flipping the play.
    • QB Rushing up the middle from under center effectiveness has been balanced.
    • FG holders are no longer downed by contact.
    • Increased frequency of AI using ball carrier special moves.
    • AI play call tuning: No 4th and long run calls; less draws and screens.
    • Ball Hawk feature implemented for user pass defense.
    • Fixed frozen players after celebration dives.
    • Fixed wildcat Play Action exploit.
    • Fixed Defenders not reacting to the QB on read option and option plays when the users defensive adjustment vs. option is set to Aggressive.
    • Fixed shake blitz exploit.
    • Fixed exploit that allowed kicking team to recover squib kicks using low rated kickers.
    • Fixed defensive hot routes after offensive play flip.
    • Fixed issue where waiting for the defense to make their adjustments before picking a play when running ho huddle/hurry up offense caused the defense to reset their play back to the original play.
    • Fixed ‘Jump the Snap’ blitz exploit.
    • Resolved issue where defenders would not react or would be stuck in read and react behavior vs. the option.


    Dynasty

    • Once a promise becomes active, it was duplicating after each week advance.
    • Recruit Reports & Advisory options remained even after the "Allow Time Savers" setting was turned off.
    • Schools with a D+ Program Tradition could not get their grade increased through wins and championships.
    • In the off-season, post season games were not shown to have been played.
    • Fixed an issue where walk-on players were not appearing on the Online Dynasty Web Site.
    • You will now get your points back if a recruit instantly commits during a phone call.
    • Fixed an issue where swayed pitches and grades weren’t being displayed correctly.



    Custom Playbooks

    • Fixed an issue where if CPU coaches were given a custom playbook, the players were occasionally lining up close to the ball.
    • Fixed an issue where the user was unable to create an offensive playbook that consisted of 1 of every formation.
    • Fixed an issue where the user was sometimes losing functionality after the UI disappears in Custom Playbooks.
    • Increased the stability of the product by fixing various crashes.



    In addition, we will be adding a "Uniform Store" to the game. In the past, we have had a cut off of mid-April for uniform submissions from schools in order to get them onto our disc in time. Sometimes those came in after the deadline and we would have to wait until the following year in order to get those default uniforms in. The "Uniform Store" will allow us to give you updated uniforms during the season. If it's an update to a team's default uniform, you will get those uniforms at no additional charge, via download in the store if and when available.

    After these title updates are released, we will continue to monitor forums and look at our internal telemetry to see if there are additional updates we should release. The NCAA Football Development Team is committed to releasing a fun and stable product for all of its fans.
    Comments 112 Comments
    1. psusnoop's Avatar
      psusnoop -
      Quote Originally Posted by AustinWolv View Post
      Where was his teammate going anyway?

      I'd be fine if he was cover that zone I guess over there but a valid question that is for sure. I'm lost on the whole play to be honest. Makes me want to
    1. Deuce's Avatar
      Deuce -
      I'm still seeing the DB just sit there on certain option plays. Also seeing where the DB runs upfield leaving the wr wide open in the flats when in man coverage. This has all been in my ongoing dynasty. Has anyone played exhibition games and not seen these issues?
    1. PeteyKirch's Avatar
      PeteyKirch -
      I didn't even notice how bad the coverage was in that video I posted.

      I had the far WR wide open running the streak, the tight end who I hit, and my runningback in the flat with no one around for 15 yards.
    1. marcotte14's Avatar
      marcotte14 -
      Whats a shake blitz?
    1. JeffHCross's Avatar
      JeffHCross -
      Quote Originally Posted by Deuce View Post
      I'm still seeing the DB just sit there on certain option plays. Also seeing where the DB runs upfield leaving the wr wide open in the flats when in man coverage. This has all been in my ongoing dynasty. Has anyone played exhibition games and not seen these issues?
      I'm not playing Play Now games, but in the ODs I've definitely seen the "run upfield in man coverage" problem. Both pre-patch and post-patch.
    1. AustinWolv's Avatar
      AustinWolv -
      Ok, I'll admit that I have not played the game since the patch dropped last week. Been busy with other stuff. However, I saw it noted that the safety/zone play didn't improve for people in their dynasty.......and then they started a new dynasty and the safety play was immediately noticeable in that they were dropping quickly and to the "correct" areas it was said, i.e. the patch appears to have worked on new dynasty files, but not older ones. Did anyone else notice this? Or just someone imagining stuff?
      I may have to run some testing later if I get any free time.....
    1. jaymo76's Avatar
      jaymo76 -
      Quote Originally Posted by AustinWolv View Post
      Ok, I'll admit that I have not played the game since the patch dropped last week. Been busy with other stuff. However, I saw it noted that the safety/zone play didn't improve for people in their dynasty.......and then they started a new dynasty and the safety play was immediately noticeable in that they were dropping quickly and to the "correct" areas it was said, i.e. the patch appears to have worked on new dynasty files, but not older ones. Did anyone else notice this? Or just someone imagining stuff?
      I may have to run some testing later if I get any free time.....
      I don't know the answer BUT if I have to cancel my dynasty and start over... I'm done with the game. I have put in five seasons and am just not willing to start again from scratch. At this point I am too invested to begin again.
    1. gschwendt's Avatar
      gschwendt -
      There's no reason you should have to restart a dynasty in order for gameplay changes to take effect. Once you start a game, it doesn't care whether you're an OD, play now, online, offline, mascot mode or whatever.
    1. JeffHCross's Avatar
      JeffHCross -
      Quote Originally Posted by jaymo76 View Post
      I don't know the answer BUT if I have to cancel my dynasty and start over... I'm done with the game. I have put in five seasons and am just not willing to start again from scratch. At this point I am too invested to begin again.
      While I understand your viewpoint (I'd feel the same way after five seasons), also consider that you're only a month into it ... and, if we still played it as much as we used to ... you have probably 8, 9 months to go. I'd rather have solid gameplay and toss out a month if that's what it took ...

      But I agree with G that it's probably ... uhm, what's the word ... seeing what you want to see.
    1. baseballplyrmvp's Avatar
      baseballplyrmvp -
      Quote Originally Posted by gschwendt View Post
      There's no reason you should have to restart a dynasty in order for gameplay changes to take effect. Once you start a game, it doesn't care whether you're an OD, play now, online, offline, mascot mode or whatever.
      did they beef up the cpu's ability to break tackles, when you have strip ball set to aggressive? it seemed like my cpu opponent broke like 20 tackles in my od game last night.
    1. SCClassof93's Avatar
      SCClassof93 -
      I love putting my corner in press at the 2 and he back peddles to the back of the end zone before realizing its a 3 yard hook route
    1. Tarhead10's Avatar
      Tarhead10 -
      Quote Originally Posted by SCClassof93 View Post
      I love putting my corner in press at the 2 and he back peddles to the back of the end zone before realizing its a 3 yard hook route
      Yeah, or having your CB playing in zone, when the QB takes off and he just stands there and doesnt chase him....
    1. baseballplyrmvp's Avatar
      baseballplyrmvp -
      Quote Originally Posted by Tarhead10 View Post
      Yeah, or having your CB playing in zone, when the QB takes off and he just stands there and doesnt chase him....
      it seems that defenders in zone coverage dont recognize a qb scramble until after the qb has crossed the LOS. makes for an easy 4 yards, depending on how close the defenders are.
    1. Tarhead10's Avatar
      Tarhead10 -
      Quote Originally Posted by baseballplyrmvp View Post
      it seems that defenders in zone coverage dont recognize a qb scramble until after the qb has crossed the LOS. makes for an easy 4 yards, depending on how close the defenders are.
      Yes, exactly!!! They definitely are gonna have to fix this, its ridiculous...
    1. AustinWolv's Avatar
      AustinWolv -
      Quote Originally Posted by jaymo76 View Post
      I don't know the answer BUT if I have to cancel my dynasty and start over... I'm done with the game. I have put in five seasons and am just not willing to start again from scratch. At this point I am too invested to begin again.
      I only got a chance to play one game yesterday in my existing pre-patch dynasty, and it appears to be a non-issue. The safeties were not playing as dumb after the patch and appeared to be dropping better.
      Although I did introduce new sliders in that game.......

      In other words, I wouldn't sweat it.
    1. Lohusker's Avatar
      Lohusker -
      Since the patch, I have picked off at least 3 option pitches from the QB in 4 games or so. Anyone else notice a spike in this occurrence post-patch? This is vs CPU in an on-line dyn, and I wasn't controlling the DB that did it.
    1. JeffHCross's Avatar
      JeffHCross -
      There was definitely a DB in position to do it in a game vs CPU that I played, but the pitch went just behind him. It does appear that they are playing the option (at least the Speed Option) considerably more aggressively. That would directly lead to more option pitches being picked. Pre-patch, it was unlikely they'd even be in position to play the pitch, let alone pick it off.
    1. jbmorden19's Avatar
      jbmorden19 -
      Was there supposed to be a link there? Thanks.
    1. jbmorden19's Avatar
      jbmorden19 -
      I installed patch yesterday - my online dynasty is failing to cleanly update at the end of the week because of a fail in the weekly recap step - been a mess - finished a year last night and the ps3 tried to autosimulate the entire offseason after I hit circle to break out of stalled weekly advance - its really messy now.
    1. psuexv's Avatar
      psuexv -
      Quote Originally Posted by jbmorden19 View Post
      Was there supposed to be a link there? Thanks.
      The whole thing is the link