• 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. JeffHCross's Avatar
      JeffHCross -
      Correct, Gus. The patch dropped earlier than originally expected.
    1. SmoothPancakes's Avatar
      SmoothPancakes -
      Quote Originally Posted by psuexv View Post
      Jay mentioned t but I'll add to it. The no huddle thing sucks. I just payed a game and running no huddle late in the game and every pay the QB gets to the line and gestures that he's making adjustments even though I didn't yet. The really annoying thing is I couldn't hike the ball for awhile and I couldn't figure out why. Apparently though I noticed my WRs were doing the animation like they can't hear the play call..... I was at home
      Yeah, that was the very first thing I noticed while playing around 7 yesterday morning. So annoying.
    1. CLW's Avatar
      CLW -
      Quote Originally Posted by psuexv View Post
      Jay mentioned t but I'll add to it. The no huddle thing sucks. I just payed a game and running no huddle late in the game and every pay the QB gets to the line and gestures that he's making adjustments even though I didn't yet. The really annoying thing is I couldn't hike the ball for awhile and I couldn't figure out why. Apparently though I noticed my WRs were doing the animation like they can't hear the play call..... I was at home
      Quote Originally Posted by JBHuskers View Post
      Happened to me too.

      Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
      LOL yeah the crowd @ is so....... loud I am now unable to run a no huddle 2 minute offense and its actually quicker to huddle with a fast tempo than to no huddle now.
    1. gigemaggs99's Avatar
      gigemaggs99 -
      I guess if things get out of hand like they did last year....I'm just asking but is it possible to delete the patches somehow? I thought the game played fine out of the box, as it was release day. Same with last year, but I had to do the updates last year as I wanted to play online and in Online Dynasties.

      This year if all I want to do is play in offline dynasties is there a way to remove the patches and make it like it was when we bought it?

      I'm not saying I'm ready to go this far yet, but if things get messed up like they were in 2012 I'm fine with playing it without the patches.

      Thanks for any tips.
    1. kindella2's Avatar
      kindella2 -
      Glad the patch is out. Blocking logic although not mentioned seems to be improved. Not sure if i could pinpoint any other noted improvements but i was only able to get 1 game in.

      Honestly it does not bother me that the uniform store didnt have any unis in it. Im just glad that they are actually updating them and then uploading them (at a cost though) at all.
    1. psusnoop's Avatar
      psusnoop -
      Quote Originally Posted by JBHuskers View Post
      Do I have to find a cheerleader smiley now?

      Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
      now that would be funny. I could think of more instances to use it that is for sure!
    1. ryby6969's Avatar
      ryby6969 -
      Seems as though pulling linemen get to the corner much quicker and are better at judging who to block. It almost seems like they get a speed burst while pulling.
    1. Lohusker's Avatar
      Lohusker -
      Blocking all around seems much better (hoping this doesn't make KR too easy, already took one all the way.

      Sound volume appears fixed on PS3 (though it still plays the defense entering the field song for the visiting defense rather than home).

      Can definitely see the change in CPU RBs (also agree with whoever said HUM jukes appear more effective).
    1. jaymo76's Avatar
      jaymo76 -
      I have been trying to play this game all week but I have just been too busy. I had read a number of posts at a number of sites stating blocking seems better. I wonder if this is fact or placebo? EA takes a lot of pride in telling us what they do... fixing a broken part of this game and not telling us is not in their nature.
    1. beartide06's Avatar
      beartide06 -
      Quote Originally Posted by jaymo76 View Post
      I have been trying to play this game all week but I have just been too busy. I had read a number of posts at a number of sites stating blocking seems better. I wonder if this is fact or placebo? EA takes a lot of pride in telling us what they do... fixing a broken part of this game and not telling us is not in their nature.
      Well, DT's can now be drafted at the end of dynasty, and that wasn't in the "fixed" list they submitted. So...
    1. PeteyKirch's Avatar
      PeteyKirch -
      I don't know if it was a fluke, but I changed some of my slider settings around, and this still happened.



      I had CPU Pass Block at 80, User Pass Rush at 30 on All American.

      Don't know if it was just a lucky game, but it seemed at times my defensive line was unblockable.
    1. jaymo76's Avatar
      jaymo76 -
      Say what you will but I don't really see much of a difference at all in how the game played BEFORE versus AFTER the patch. Zone D is still pretty soft; OL still don't pick up their blocks, etc. Oh I'm sure there are some changes; I'm just saying that to me they are not that noticeable.
    1. JeffHCross's Avatar
      JeffHCross -
      Jaymo. I've played two games now, one CPU and one User/User ... and they've felt pretty much the same as pre-patch. Blocking has been slightly more reliable for me, but only ever so.
    1. PeteyKirch's Avatar
      PeteyKirch -


      I understand blown coverage happens in real life, but I'm still trying to figure this one out.
    1. psusnoop's Avatar
      psusnoop -
      Haha that FS reacted to his player in his zone and jumped him. At least that is what it appears to be. That is not so good
    1. cdj's Avatar
      cdj -
      Quote Originally Posted by gigemaggs99 View Post
      I guess if things get out of hand like they did last year....I'm just asking but is it possible to delete the patches somehow? I thought the game played fine out of the box, as it was release day. Same with last year, but I had to do the updates last year as I wanted to play online and in Online Dynasties.

      This year if all I want to do is play in offline dynasties is there a way to remove the patches and make it like it was when we bought it?

      I'm not saying I'm ready to go this far yet, but if things get messed up like they were in 2012 I'm fine with playing it without the patches.

      Thanks for any tips.
      There is a folder on the PS3 XMB where you can delete (Game Data Utility?) the NCAA 13 file that will remove patches & tuning files. If you want/need to go that route, let us know and someone can give you more exact steps.
    1. AustinWolv's Avatar
      AustinWolv -
      Quote Originally Posted by psusnoop View Post
      Haha that FS reacted to his player in his zone and jumped him. At least that is what it appears to be. That is not so good
      Where was his teammate going anyway?
    1. beartide06's Avatar
      beartide06 -
      I don't feel a noticeable difference either. I'm still having zone issues with the safeties. It doesn't appear to be "fixed" in my opinion. Yesterday, I had three guys get wide open when going deep. The safeties "jumped" a route or player, but there was nobody there to jump. 3 guys getting wide open, deep, should never happen.
    1. gigemaggs99's Avatar
      gigemaggs99 -
      Quote Originally Posted by cdj View Post
      There is a folder on the PS3 XMB where you can delete (Game Data Utility?) the NCAA 13 file that will remove patches & tuning files. If you want/need to go that route, let us know and someone can give you more exact steps.
      Ok, thank you sir, I was just wanting to know if it's an option. I'll keep the patches for now.

      I'm interested in getting the updated A&M uniforms, I'm sure they will require all of the patches. I just hope the uniforms show up. I played my buddy online, me BYU and I picked their 1984 baby blue uniforms, when we played it showed the default BYU blue unis. Kinda disappointed.