tonyvolsfan05
Lovely Jennifer Tilly
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Guys here is the latest news on both games from
Madden 08 & NCAA Football 08 - Maddenmania.com
it's a great site i might add i have been a member since 2001
Madden 08 and NCAA 08 are both drawing nearer each day and there has been a ton of info released over the past couple of weeks. I'm going to use my usual space to just review what we know about both games as of this writing.
The first major change to each game is the new gameplay engine EA has devised for both NCAA and Madden. The engine features branching, dynamic, interruptible animations which means you will never no longer be stuck in an animation while a defender comes in to assist (meaning gang-tackles). In many Madden previews we have learned that up to 4 players can be involved in tackles this year with the new engine. Since both games have been reported to be using the same engine, you can surely bet we will probably definitely be getting a new experience with both Madden and NCAA on the field.
Speaking of on the field, Madden looks to have gone back to the basics this year. With the new engine, the Madden team has been able to add a lot of missing features which we have been clamoring for since we knew there was going to be a next-gen Madden. One of those is midair collisions, which means your receivers had better have eyes in the back of their head because defenders are going to be headhunting this year. However, the big-time receivers are going to play more like them and when you see guys getting hit in traffic you'll also see the big playmakers doing just that and making defenders look silly as you make an impressive catch. Hurdles have made it back in the game as well, as has the new hit stick (featured in BOTH games). You can hurdle players if you like, especially if they are trying to tackle low and they whiff. However, if you screw up your timing or if they go high, your player is going to be on the receiving end of a vicious hit.
And as for the battle in the trenches? Expect NCAA AND Madden to be vastly improved. EA has enlisted an engineer that played offensive line in College and Pro football to revamp the play in the trenches in their games. What we get is actual double teams, stretch blocking and linemen blocking on the second level. This means you're going to get a much more realistic running game (and passing game for that matter). Also this year, you won't be running in place behind a lineman anymore as one of two things will occur. If you are a bigger back, the pile will be pushed forward and if you are a smaller back you will hesitate before bouncing outside. This is an automatic and context sensitive movement but it is better than being stuck at the line of scrimmage for sure.
And fatigue is back in the game (should we really ever have had to say that?) and looks to be a bigger factor than ever. If your used to 73 degrees and sunshine but you are playing in 23 degrees and ice or vice versa, you would normally not be able to play at your top level. That was what the Madden developers were thinking when implementing the new fatigue system. Of course, the normal players tiring from running around everywhere will be apparent too. Michael Vick scramblers beware, you're not gonna be able to do it as much this year without winding poor Mr. Vick and sending him to the sideline for a few plays. And the biggest part of the whole new fatigue system is that you won't see 11 players walking back to the huddle the same way every play. Expect them to be huffing and puffing while stumbling back to the huddle if they are tired. And running hail mary after hail mary? Fuhgetaboutit, as your wideouts might declare a strike if they are forced to run that far downfield and then back again to the huddle.
The AI is improved (like we hear every year!) but the focus is on making star players play like star players and inconsistent players play like inconsistent players. Star Corners will shut down half of a football field and EA says you should fear star cornerbacks this year because they are going to make your life tough at times. In fact, the defensive coverages are being rewritten to try to eliminate money plays such as deep balls and corner routes. Matchups should play a huge role in the game, as taller receivers should have an advantage on small DBs. The chess match should be in full session this season if EA has their say, which I think is a good thing. Oh and as far as Madden, expect owner mode, defensive hot routes and classic rosters to remake their appearance again this season.
As far as NCAA and its dynasty mode, we already have a few details of the huge revamp EA is planning for the feature. With the leadership control feature, your program will progress more as you develop more and better leaders in your program. Also, a new attribute is inherited into your career and that's coach integrity. This year you are going to make promises to players while in recruiting and if you deliver on those promises your players are going to be happy, your coach integrity will rise and you will see your program getting better and better recruits. However, promise playing time to that 5-star Halfback but opt to use your senior instead and you can surely bet that you won't have a 5-star halfback on campus the next year. EA has said this is only the beginning of the changes within recruiting. And don't forget about the new prospect search feature, which will allow you to search for all DEs in Georgia that run a 4.6 40. This just looks to be a small sampling of the future of dynasty mode this year.
One other thing to look for in NCAA is the sim to finish feature, which will allow you to simulate a drive, quarter, half or game while playing to speed up things. This is personally one of my biggest wants for NCAA for a long time, as I have always wanted to mercifully end beat downs (going either way for me) so I could get on with more exciting stuff. And those of you wanting your teams stadium in the game? There will be 90 university stadiums in the game with 115 total (adding bowl games) to hopefully improve the experience that is NCAA football. You will also be able to replay every play of your games at anytime (as long as you keep the quarter lengths short) and then make videos with them, which should be an interesting feature for dynasty folks...especially if you can export the movies into a format that is usable on the web.
There are still plenty of things that have not been fully hit upon as of yet, but expect more and more NCAA and Madden info to be released in the coming weeks and you can expect MaddenMania to be on top of things so stay tuned!
Madden 08 & NCAA Football 08 - Maddenmania.com
it's a great site i might add i have been a member since 2001
Madden 08 and NCAA 08 are both drawing nearer each day and there has been a ton of info released over the past couple of weeks. I'm going to use my usual space to just review what we know about both games as of this writing.
The first major change to each game is the new gameplay engine EA has devised for both NCAA and Madden. The engine features branching, dynamic, interruptible animations which means you will never no longer be stuck in an animation while a defender comes in to assist (meaning gang-tackles). In many Madden previews we have learned that up to 4 players can be involved in tackles this year with the new engine. Since both games have been reported to be using the same engine, you can surely bet we will probably definitely be getting a new experience with both Madden and NCAA on the field.
Speaking of on the field, Madden looks to have gone back to the basics this year. With the new engine, the Madden team has been able to add a lot of missing features which we have been clamoring for since we knew there was going to be a next-gen Madden. One of those is midair collisions, which means your receivers had better have eyes in the back of their head because defenders are going to be headhunting this year. However, the big-time receivers are going to play more like them and when you see guys getting hit in traffic you'll also see the big playmakers doing just that and making defenders look silly as you make an impressive catch. Hurdles have made it back in the game as well, as has the new hit stick (featured in BOTH games). You can hurdle players if you like, especially if they are trying to tackle low and they whiff. However, if you screw up your timing or if they go high, your player is going to be on the receiving end of a vicious hit.
And as for the battle in the trenches? Expect NCAA AND Madden to be vastly improved. EA has enlisted an engineer that played offensive line in College and Pro football to revamp the play in the trenches in their games. What we get is actual double teams, stretch blocking and linemen blocking on the second level. This means you're going to get a much more realistic running game (and passing game for that matter). Also this year, you won't be running in place behind a lineman anymore as one of two things will occur. If you are a bigger back, the pile will be pushed forward and if you are a smaller back you will hesitate before bouncing outside. This is an automatic and context sensitive movement but it is better than being stuck at the line of scrimmage for sure.
And fatigue is back in the game (should we really ever have had to say that?) and looks to be a bigger factor than ever. If your used to 73 degrees and sunshine but you are playing in 23 degrees and ice or vice versa, you would normally not be able to play at your top level. That was what the Madden developers were thinking when implementing the new fatigue system. Of course, the normal players tiring from running around everywhere will be apparent too. Michael Vick scramblers beware, you're not gonna be able to do it as much this year without winding poor Mr. Vick and sending him to the sideline for a few plays. And the biggest part of the whole new fatigue system is that you won't see 11 players walking back to the huddle the same way every play. Expect them to be huffing and puffing while stumbling back to the huddle if they are tired. And running hail mary after hail mary? Fuhgetaboutit, as your wideouts might declare a strike if they are forced to run that far downfield and then back again to the huddle.
The AI is improved (like we hear every year!) but the focus is on making star players play like star players and inconsistent players play like inconsistent players. Star Corners will shut down half of a football field and EA says you should fear star cornerbacks this year because they are going to make your life tough at times. In fact, the defensive coverages are being rewritten to try to eliminate money plays such as deep balls and corner routes. Matchups should play a huge role in the game, as taller receivers should have an advantage on small DBs. The chess match should be in full session this season if EA has their say, which I think is a good thing. Oh and as far as Madden, expect owner mode, defensive hot routes and classic rosters to remake their appearance again this season.
As far as NCAA and its dynasty mode, we already have a few details of the huge revamp EA is planning for the feature. With the leadership control feature, your program will progress more as you develop more and better leaders in your program. Also, a new attribute is inherited into your career and that's coach integrity. This year you are going to make promises to players while in recruiting and if you deliver on those promises your players are going to be happy, your coach integrity will rise and you will see your program getting better and better recruits. However, promise playing time to that 5-star Halfback but opt to use your senior instead and you can surely bet that you won't have a 5-star halfback on campus the next year. EA has said this is only the beginning of the changes within recruiting. And don't forget about the new prospect search feature, which will allow you to search for all DEs in Georgia that run a 4.6 40. This just looks to be a small sampling of the future of dynasty mode this year.
One other thing to look for in NCAA is the sim to finish feature, which will allow you to simulate a drive, quarter, half or game while playing to speed up things. This is personally one of my biggest wants for NCAA for a long time, as I have always wanted to mercifully end beat downs (going either way for me) so I could get on with more exciting stuff. And those of you wanting your teams stadium in the game? There will be 90 university stadiums in the game with 115 total (adding bowl games) to hopefully improve the experience that is NCAA football. You will also be able to replay every play of your games at anytime (as long as you keep the quarter lengths short) and then make videos with them, which should be an interesting feature for dynasty folks...especially if you can export the movies into a format that is usable on the web.
There are still plenty of things that have not been fully hit upon as of yet, but expect more and more NCAA and Madden info to be released in the coming weeks and you can expect MaddenMania to be on top of things so stay tuned!