A-Dub

Was surprised to not see a thread for this already. The demo came out last week and it looks gorgeous.

To me, though, the game plays too fast and, while fighters' movements have weight, the strikes don't. The weightlessness feels especially profound on the ground. The new submission minigame feels good though and makes the whole thing feel like a struggle, I just don't get to appreciate the animations when I'm focused on the game in the periphery.

Who's played it so far? What do you think?

I feel like the second draw was especially mean to NU. I far prefer the first draw for my Wildcats.

If the report on Smacktalks is anything to go by if you get free download of Summer Rae from the second DLC pack you get the move DLC pack for free, havent tried it myself yet just spreading the info.

I just tried. Did not work. Was there anything else I had to do?

I'm really interested in seeing how these ends up. Are you creating like a relegation system? It would be cool (not to mention incredibly time consuming and difficult) to pull conference champions up into the conference above them and push the cellar dwellers down a level. I think that would take a ton of customization that isn't in the game though.

Actually, I wish every sports game had a relegation feature.

Trying to decide whether I should pick this up on Black Friday or just wait for 2k15 on next gen. I played '13 a fair amount, but ended up getting rid of it on one of those 30% extra on trade-ins deals.

Sounds like EWB is mixed on it, but for me, it's probably a question of whether there are more Universe cutscenes or not. Has anyone dove deep into it yet?

I jumped back into this recently since I don't have the time to dedicate to grinding GTA Online right now.

I've been using Vanderbilt and recruiting similar to what I read here a few weeks ago. My defense is turning into a hard hitting giant brute squad and offense is built as fast as can be in the backfield, as tall as can be on the wings, and as massive as can be on the line. I always used to recruit based on overall ratings, but recruiting based on size and one or two specific ratings is actually way more fun.The fun is also helped in that I'm running pistol and wing-option.

Ah. I had more fun with the other option, but they were both pretty fun.

It should be noted that you can't get two paydays from replaying heists.

I'm sure that was known, considering it creates a restore point and all.

I'm sure it was, I'm just making it known-er.

I used retry and got my character, thankfully.

THey've gotta change the whole "cops see you in a stolen car" thing. It's just ridiculous, in a game called Grand Theft Auto, that you're penalized so hard for stealing cars.

I'm taking a break right now, might pick it up again once SNF starts. Send me a friend request at SlaughterHaus50 (on PS3) if anyone wants to go a-robbing.

Ah. I had more fun with the other option, but they were both pretty fun.

It should be noted that you can't get two paydays from replaying heists.

The A, B or C thing is later. Did you choose the helicopters or the trucks?

I've tried with this, I really have. I really want to like this game but it's just an unbearable bastard. I get carved open with the run on just about every single play, regardless of what team I use and what tactics I use and the odd time I defend the run well the CPU just throws a perfect deep pass to a mysteriously uncovered reciever instead. The CPU's 3rd down cobversion rate is astronomic, and they always gain the new set of downs by one yard more than they needed and whenever I do put points on the board the CPU always marches right down the field in 1/2 plays and gets the exact same number of points back.

There's much to like but it's too much of a dick.

Quick Q: I did the Defensive audibles tutorial, about pressing X to bring up the audibles menu and then to use L and R sticks to select a play...in game when I press X I don't get the full menu up. I get a box saying 'select play' (or some such) or O to cancel, but I don't actually get to see what audibles I'd be selecting, which seems....unfair.... are they written down anywhere? They're not in the manual. Am googling now.

EDIT - Ignore, found you tube video

Alright. I can't help you too much without knowing what you're running, but I can probably help you more than just saying "adjust the sliders."

You can start by practicing against godawful teams like UTSA and New Mexico State. If you're being carved up by the read option, use QB spy plays and then use another player to play the RB. Also, try and spread the field against the read option. Use the sideline as your 12th player and try to push the play towards the boundary. Finally, and this works for both the run and the read option, use the LB and DL shifts to get an extra step on the offense if you think you can predict where they're going to go.

It should be noted that defense is just a bitch in 14. I generally like to play a base cover 3 and then switch to man coverage on blitz plays, but zone coverage is so soft in NCAA that it's essentially useless.

Danny F'n McBride hosts a radio show on Blaine County Radio. It's called Beyond Insemination and he's basically Kenny Powers. Probably one of my favorite things about the game so far.

I really liked the demo - for the same reasons you've mentioned - but it wasn't enough to get me to buy it.

What with playing Madden, about to be playing GTA V an irresponsible amount and the PS4 on the horizon, I figure I'll wait until next year.

I on the other hand have no interest in watching anyone else play the game. I'm gonna experience it all firsthand. Hell, I haven't even looked at the tracklists for any of the radio stations yet and only listened to one of the previews on the official site (for the indie rock one, because I couldn't figure out for the life of me what the summary was meant to be for).

I don't want anything spoiled and I think this is going to be the pinnacle of the generation, but I could go for 60-90 seconds of just seeing how the game runs.

I definitely see your point and I won't be upset if I don't see gameplay until I pop the disc in. I do, however, think not looking at the tracklists takes it a little far.

I'd really like to see these "gameplay videos" you all talk about but either it's some cruel joke or Rockstar is on their "A" game running these videos off the interwebs.

I like this game I think. I'm doing a franchise but I'm only playing the Sunday night games because I get bored oflaying as the same team all the time. It is fun.

I am really bad at running though. And I am also bad at defending the run.

I also hopeless at the tactical stuff. I was playing against Denver and they kept moving around before the play and I didn't have a clue how to react to it.

As we used to say on kickoff team, "stay in your lane."

Nothing you do is going to fluster the computer - or Manning, for that matter. Know the situation, play the way you would and let Manning do all of his pre-play malarkey.

As for high stepping, I went into practice and it was the X button, then I had a breakaway TD and tried X and I only got a stiff arm animation.

Harumph.

Anyone know how to high step towards the endzone? Used to be circle, and I know it hasn't changed to back on the right stick or L1 (that's the pitch button, btw).

That happens probably 75% of the time for me. I've also been mashing the square button and won't get a dive or tackle, but that only happened a couple of times.

Jake Locker finally got hurt and my undefeated season fell to the Seahawks - goddamn Seahawks, I'm not over the Fail Mary. Pryor also was hurt for a little while which effectively put me a drive down since I couldn't do anything - would be nice to put a WR or RB as an emergency QB instead of having to use my punter.

Alas, the Titans have no business going undefeated. Even with me at the helm.

I wasted so much time trying to find the team to play with in my non-Packers franchise. I ended up taking Tennessee and using Washington's playbook.

I planned on using Terrelle Pryor and even traded for him, but Jake Locker has been playing really well for me. I knew he was a solid athlete, but he's outplaying his stats for me. I'm 3-0 with them right now, probably going to play a game or two during the Northwestern game.

Go Cats.

EDIT: I've had 4 or 5 plays in this game where Locker has stayed down and the dreaded injury banner comes out only for Locker to lead the team out of the huddle on the next play. Is this a toughness stat? Glitch?

It's a lot stupid when two or three do it at once.

Who was saying they toned down the computer DB catching? Any 49er anywhere near the play either picked it off (against Rodgers) or caused a drop. I threw about 60% as many interceptions as Rodgers threw all of last year. Eventually rage quit; I'm not proud of it.

Edit: So my CPU pass coverage slider somehow went up to 75. Not sure how that happened, but it did. 90% sure I didn't do it.

Another team beat you to it.

I'm the only user team.

The computer moves with alarming frequency.

Seems like relocation only has an on/off setting. I wish there was a "user only" option.

OK, I didn't get Madden last year, so my latest frame of reference is Madden 12.

How much better is Madden 25?

Much, much better.

I think it's about a half step better than 13, which was considerably better than 12. If you're into football and you haven't played since 12, I'd say you should get it.

Seems like you can get either a cool name OR a cool logo. The only exception I've found are the Columbus Aviators. That's pretty sharp.