The Gaming Tailgate: NCAA Football 12 Preview

[WolverineJay]

Hi everyone, I just found this site yesterday, and a ton of great stuff on here. I usually look for info on the next NCAA and Madden around draft time and the information your providing here is top of the line, thanks.

I just have couple quick questions and yes I know you're not allowed to discuss Dynasty mode (offline or online), but can you wet my appetite a little bit anyways. What would you rate the changes or improvements to presentation, gameplay, and Dynasty mode on a scale of 1 to 10? From what I am hearing so far it seems that they put a great deal of effort into presentation and good amount into gameplay so I'm just wondering if they put equal effort into Dynasty improvements without going into any detail just a number to go by to get me even more excited for NCAA 12.

Is there a responsive feel to the new tackling button and diving for passes? I just don't want there to be a lag or delay on screen from the time I push the button and see the tackle or diving catch.

Edit- Added another question.

[cdj]

Hi everyone, I just found this site yesterday, and a ton of great stuff on here. I usually look for info on the next NCAA and Madden around draft time and the information your providing here is top of the line, thanks.

I just have couple quick questions and yes I know you're not allowed to discuss Dynasty mode (offline or online), but can you wet my appetite a little bit anyways. What would you rate the changes or improvements to presentation, gameplay, and Dynasty mode on a scale of 1 to 10? From what I am hearing so far it seems that they put a great deal of effort into presentation and good amount into gameplay so I'm just wondering if they put equal effort into Dynasty improvements without going into any detail just a number to go by to get me even more excited for NCAA 12.

I will say that there are some noticeable Dynasty Mode improvements as well. Honestly, I don't want to say too much or the wrong thing that may lead people down the wrong path or get hopes too high or too low. It will be a fun ride to see community reaction once all game features and released and discussed.

Glad you found the site. Thanks for joining!

[morsdraconis]

Alright, here's one for you guys:

Does the CPU still call plays based on what play you choose (aka psychic playcalling where they know what play you choose)? For example, you come out in 4 WR Shotgun Speed Option and the CPU comes out in a 3-4 defense even though you've been doing nothing but throwing the ball out of that formation for a good 5-7 plays.

Hmm... No reply eh? Not a good sign for those of us that enjoy playing against the CPU...

[WolverineJay]

I will say that there are some noticeable Dynasty Mode improvements as well. Honestly, I don't want to say too much or the wrong thing that may lead people down the wrong path or get hopes too high or too low. It will be a fun ride to see community reaction once all game features and released and discussed.

Glad you found the site. Thanks for joining!

Yeah I'm glad I found it as well seems like you guys have a great deal of contact with EA Tiburon which can only help in the long run for the series. Thanks for the quick response. One more question, is there a responsive feel to the new tackling button and diving for passes? I just don't want there to be a lag or delay on screen from the time I push the button and see the tackle or diving catch.

[Jayrah]

Hmm... No reply eh? Not a good sign for those of us that enjoy playing against the CPU...

Always the pessimist rises!

JK

[PDuncanOSU]

I was hoping to see more flexibility with depth charts, formation subs, and packages. Maybe having strongside/weakside positions instead of left/right, or being able to specify slot recievers and outside recievers, or 3rd down backs. Could you see if there were any changes like this made in play-now, or would that be more of a custom-playbook or dynasty feature?

Does no response mean it's something that can't be answered yet? Or that it wasn't changed? Or am I just being an impatient ass?

[Jayrah]

Anyone get a chance to mess with the interception slider? Sounds like int #s were pretty high over the days. Some of that was due to zone and general Defense improvements, but did anyone try to tweak for more knockdowns? If so, is there a change in the way the db's attack the ball from an animation standpoint, or do they just simply go for the pick and drop more of them?

[Kwizzy]

I didn't feel there were too many picks at all. JB might feel differently but that's because he likes to throw into double coverage!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[JBHuskers]

I didn't feel there were too many picks at all. JB might feel differently but that's because he likes to throw into double coverage!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

I don't know what the hell happened in that game

I was playing pretty decent up until then.

[xMrHitStickx904]

I don't know if this was asked, but what kind of offensive styles did everyone use?

[JeffHCross]

...by the way we can say that Custom Playbooks are in now, but we can't talk about the specifics just yet but at least we can acknowledge the obvious

Dude -- that was yesterday. Catch up on your e-mail!

Does the CPU still call plays based on what play you choose (aka psychic playcalling where they know what play you choose)? For example, you come out in 4 WR Shotgun Speed Option and the CPU comes out in a 3-4 defense even though you've been doing nothing but throwing the ball out of that formation for a good 5-7 plays.

In terms of NCAA '12, like others have guessed, I'm not sure what we can and can't say on this.

In terms of the actual question itself, as it relates to NCAA '11, it's important to address the whole concept of 'psychic playcalling'. I won't deny it appears to exist, because I've seen the same thing you have -- call Gun Spread Flex HB Draw -- hey, look, a 3-4 defense! The problem with the psychic playcalling theory is that we only notice it when it appears psychic. I've seen plenty of times when I call Gun Spread Flex and call a pass play, and the defense comes out in a 3-4. It's not that defense is psychic, at least that doesn't explain everything, there's some larger issue at work.

[d2721]

please answer this.. are Notre Dame's new techfit jerseys in the game? thanks.

[d2721]

If yall dont mind i have a few questions:

* Is there an Saturday night football presentation package?
* Are there crowd and band chats for Notre Dame?
* Are the stats update play by play?( like the real espn presentation) Thanks i really appreciate you guys feedback.

[Deuce]

All great info guys...thanks for all your work.

One question... I haven't read much on user vs CPU games. Did you guys get any time vs the cpu? Just wondering if the cpu is improved. I assume since zone is better that cpu D will be better at least. Is there any further info you can provide? How was CPU offense?

[Paakaa10]

please answer this.. are Notre Dame's new techfit jerseys in the game? thanks.

Didn't play as Notre Dame; sorry! I know one of the Community Event guys (MPDamon) played as the Irish a bunch, but I don't think he's registered here to be able to provide any specific feedback there.

* Is there an Saturday night football presentation package?

If you could describe "Saturday night football presentation package," that would help me answer this if I can; however, if this relates to Dynasty we can't comment on anything until EA SPORTS releases information. All of our information is limited to what is seen in "Play Now" games.

* Are there crowd and band chats for Notre Dame?

Again, didn't have the chance to use Notre Dame.

* Are the stats update play by play?( like the real espn presentation) Thanks i really appreciate you guys feedback.

After every play? Not that I remember. However, a lot of our focus at the events has been on the gameplay first. I'm a presentation guy too, but I can't remember some of the specifics. Also, do note that we're playing "Work in Progress" builds at these events; while some things are set in stone and final, other things are still open to change.

All great info guys...thanks for all your work.

One question... I haven't read much on user vs CPU games. Did you guys get any time vs the cpu? Just wondering if the cpu is improved. I assume since zone is better that cpu D will be better at least. Is there any further info you can provide? How was CPU offense?

I played almost exclusively vs. CPU--save for the annual Community Event tournament--and I was playing 5 minute quarters on All-American difficulty with default sliders. I'll say that the CPU definitely puts up a better fight on defense; zone defense improvements--while I can understand why people are playing it as a "wait and see for myself" situation--are legitimate and definitely make you think harder about the plays you call when you have the ball.

CPU offense puts up a pretty good fight as well. Again, the game was a "Work in Progress" as we played it and defensive line play was perhaps a little too successful against the CPU. That said, the build of the game was being tweaked daily and we got that feedback up to the guys programming the game, so it should be a better balance when you play defense against the CPU as well once the game is finally released.

Appreciate all the questions, guys; we'll keep answering what we can.

[Deuce]

CPU offense puts up a pretty good fight as well. Again, the game was a "Work in Progress" as we played it and defensive line play was perhaps a little too successful against the CPU. That said, the build of the game was being tweaked daily and we got that feedback up to the guys programming the game, so it should be a better balance when you play defense against the CPU as well once the game is finally released.

Appreciate all the questions, guys; we'll keep answering what we can.

Thanks for the info. I kinda figured the CPU D would have to be better since the zone is much improved...after all, the CPU in NCAA 11 didn't know their zone D was broken!

[Rudy]

The CPU offense always sucks in term of running the ball on AA default for regular gamers. I usually adjust the sliders for this before I play a single game.

[d2721]

Thanks for the response.

[baseballplyrmvp]

are you guys done visiting ea or will they continue to bring you guys in, up until the game goes final?

[Paakaa10]

are you guys done visiting ea or will they continue to bring you guys in, up until the game goes final?

According to Community Manager Justin Dewiel in his blog at the NCAA Football 12 title site:

All 16 members will be invited back into the studio in May to give one final pass at the game. That means another 30 hours of hands on time for each guy.

We have not been told when this will happen--outside of the general "May" timing--or what the focus will be for that event just yet.