OT- NCAA Football 2011 Demo Released

Submitted by Space Bat on June 14th, 2010 at 9:28 AM

The demo for NCAA 2011 dropped this morning for 360 and PS3. Thought I'd share while downloading. There are 8 playable teams in the demo, to give a feel for all the different types of offenses. Match-ups are: Miami vs OSU, Oklahoma vs Texas, Clemson vs Mizzou, and Florida vs Florida State. I think I'm going to play with the U first. Demo includes four two minute quarters. I'll post my impressions after I play. Also, they are allowing everyone to unlock the Nike Pro-Combat uniforms for all the teams included by playing as them and winning in the demo, the uniforms will then be unlocked for you when you play the retail version coming July 13th. Here's to a month of playing the hell out of the demo.

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Comments

Space Bat

June 14th, 2010 at 9:35 AM ^

I'm not sure, I only have xbox. Demo is quite large though, 1.66 GB. I wish they would have put Michigan vs Uconn, but i guess Miami will have to do for spread offense, I really want to see how they improved the zone read. 

Joined: 04/10/2010

MGoPoints: 2562

U of M in TX

June 14th, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^

I've had this on pre-order since someone here posted the $20 off online coupon code.  This is the first time I've looked forward to NCAA Football in quite a while.

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 469

briangoblue

June 14th, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^

I wasn't expecting to be able to use Michigan in the demo, but 8 teams with a full four quarter mini-game is above and beyond. I have a PS3, so with my extra time waiting I can soak my thumbs in salve to get them ready for a binge! 

Joined: 08/03/2009

MGoPoints: 5160

Space Bat

June 14th, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^

Wow! I just played Miami vs OSU, and this game is leaps and bounds ahead of ncaa 10. First, the presentation is awsome, OSU running out of the tunnel, herbie focusing on Jacory Harris, with him giving the "U" symbol while warming up was really cool.The locomotion gameplay is amazing. Everything is so much more fluid than it was in 10. Players run and tackle much more realistically, and the ratings are tuned perfectly. Players ratings are based on acceleration more so than speed. For example, Travis Benjamin has 91 speed, but 97 acceleration, which I definitely noticed when I took back the opening kick off with him, weaving through traffic and then exploding into the open field. Defense is harder in this game, if you overpursue, you will get burned. Boom Herron took it 60 yards to the house on me when I overpursued on a Toss. He cut it back inside and was gone. Overall, this demo far exceeded my expectations, and I still have 3 more matchups to play. I really really want to play with Michigan now, as I was running the zone read with Jacory Harris to perfection. The blocking is light years ahead of last years game, giving the zone read some real bite. I was also getting some great yards out of the bubble screen, since wr's actually block in this game. It is going to be deadly with Michigan's slot recievers.

Joined: 04/10/2010

MGoPoints: 2562

Quail2theVict0r

June 14th, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^

So after playing my first game, here's my take on it:

-The graphics are pretty good. At some point there is a lot going on which makes the video a little choppy, but there is a significant upgrade in graphics compared to the last few games IMO.

-The stadiums look fricken awesome. Much better than before. The people in the seats don't look as paper-like as before and the detail in the stadium is amazing (kind of curious to see the new additions on UM stadium).

- The gameplay is much faster. The players, which used to seem sluggish, seem very realistic (speed wise) in game. Players who are supposed to be fast, actually are.

- I don't like the way they laid out the defensive play book. I don't know as many of the ins-and-outs of the defensive plays to know where to find certain things. I liked the way you used to be able to pick "man", "zone" and so on. Now you have to pick "4-3", "3-3-5" and so on.

-The ESPN logos and such add a nice touch to the game that wasn't there before. It does make it seem a little more like I'm actually watching a game rather than playing one.

Overall I'd say based on this first glance that the game has made significant strides towords changing and making it more madden-like.

Joined: 12/01/2008

MGoPoints: 15168

MikeUM85

June 15th, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^

The playbook has all the same options as before. You just have to go to Advanced playbook. On PS3 I think it's R3 (pushing down the right stick).  Also, if you hold down L2 (iirc) in advanced, you can bluff plays and scroll screens of plays at a time, not just one at a time. Takes some getting used to but I don't think it's any less capable than prior versions.

Joined: 06/09/2010

MGoPoints: 190

The Shredder

June 14th, 2010 at 11:18 AM ^

I went with the Gators and I have said on this board many times that I refuse to buy this until they start giving a shit. My last game was NCAA 08 and I played 09 and 10. To me 10 was worse than 09. I'm not gonna get into too much since I plan on writing a small review of the demo on my blog but I will say they have finally "gave a shit". Players are not skating on ice anymore, players tackle waaaaay better. As said before the ESPN pres is amazing and should have been there years ago. From what I understand the "Pro tak" from Madden was suppose to be in the game but I didn't notice it really at all. Maybe after another game or two I will. Anyone else?

Joined: 07/01/2009

MGoPoints: 4495

icefins26

June 14th, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^

I haven't played it yet but I plan to after work tonight.  However, I did take a look at the new spread videos on the EA website and it looks like Michigan will actually be fun to play with in 2011.  Last year, it was like pulling teeth trying to run the spread - brutal blocking, slow QB's, etc.  The video really shows some nice zone blocking and linemen actually get up field to the second level.  I also like the new bubble screens.  WR's actually loop behind the line of scrimmage and move upfield while making the catch.

On an unrelated note, I dig the new linemen knee braces.

Joined: 02/01/2009

MGoPoints: 13029

natesezgoblue

June 14th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^

ive bought this game the last 10 or so years.  this might be the first one i dont get.  yes there are stadium entrances and more crowd detail.  but after youve seen the same thing 45 times its gets pretty lame.  you can tell by the gameplay that "looking better" was the focus this year.

the zone read this year is kinda cool but i wasnt really that impressed.  i will say that the running control was 10x better though.  the player running is wierd parts of it like the players were skating on ice.  it was easier to stuff the run.

passing was harder to make completions and tougher to read the D. which is a plus but the defense has better recovery than last year which also kinda lame.  

2 things i really hated were the playbooks and the camera angles.  the playbooks not for the plays but for the simple fact you could only see 3 plays at once.  Hopefully the angles will be adjustable.  I hate when you drop back and you cant see your WR's on the opposite flat.

Joined: 05/24/2010

MGoPoints: 4767

B Edwards 17

June 14th, 2010 at 1:51 PM ^

If you hold down the LT button (360, L1 on PS3) you go into "bluff" mode for playcalling, and then you can scroll three plays at a time, and choose a play by a specific button (instead of scrolling one play at a time and hitting A to select it).

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 128

mgovictors23

June 14th, 2010 at 2:10 PM ^

I got the demo for the 360 and have to say I'm very impressed with the game. I love the tweaks they made for the spread offense like the wide receivers actually blocking on screens. I also like the ESPN presentation and the team running out of the tunnel as well. Just can't wait until July when I can play as Michigan. My offense is about to be so awesome.

Joined: 05/03/2009

MGoPoints: 99

MGoBender

June 14th, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^

I haven't picked up NCAA since the '07 edition.

I'm strongly contemplating this one.  If it weren't for my upcoming year of hell (one year grad program, 19 credit hours this fall), it would be a no-doubter.

Now I have to decide if a month and a half of play plus scarcely played (1-2 hours every week or so) during the fall is worth the price tag.  Opinions?

Joined: 03/26/2010

MGoPoints: 14990

desmondcharles

June 14th, 2010 at 7:55 PM ^

Make Michigan players with their true speed. There's no way that Tate is only 3 points slower than Denard. There's no way a DL can run D-Rob down from behind. I hope we have most of our WR's speed in the 90-96 range. What do you guys think D-Rob/Tate's speed with be?

Joined: 12/28/2008

MGoPoints: 123

FreetheFabFive

June 14th, 2010 at 9:10 PM ^

I just got done playing two games on the demo.  The ESPN presentation is awesome!  When that familiar Saturday ESPN College Football theme hit, I was pumped.  For the game play, I did notice that there were blown coverages, and it was easier to pass in which is nice.  Usually EA football game passing plays only work when you PA fake, or throw the out route over and over again.  Playing with Clemson, I got ran down from behind after breaking a 60+ yard run.  It was nice because in years past if you broke open a run, the D never cared enough to run you down, or just weren't fast enough.  Now you just can't take a stroll into the endzone everytime you break one. 

I'm still undecided on if I'm going to buy it or not.  I have to play the demo more to get a feel for it.  The recent sports games trend has been small gameplay improvements, but the same core gameplay of years past.  NHL 10's core gameplay is pretty much the same as NHL 09 except with small improvements.  UFC 10's core gameplay is pretty much the same as UFC 09 except with small improvements.  Both are great games, but I felt with both games these "improvements" could have been added in a patch for $10 instead of making a yearly release and making people spend $60 on them each time.  I need to play the demo more to see if the improvements are worth my $60 for another year.

Joined: 12/23/2009

MGoPoints: 68

Michael

June 14th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^

The blocking so much better this year. What is everyone's impression of the pass rush? I usually played as Graham on passing downs and for some reason I can't get to the QB very easily in the demo.

Of course, I'm sure the fact that I'm not using Graham has something to do with that...

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1541

Beavis

June 15th, 2010 at 9:21 AM ^

I played it last night.  I'd give it a 7.5/10.

Good: Much better than last year, new player controls had me going "wow" on a few plays (i.e., receiver catches the ball along the sideline, gets his toes in, holds his pose, then my saftey comes over and whacks the hell out of him). 

Bad: I can't escape the question of "is this any better than a NCAA version of Madden 2010?".  I think it is better, but only slightly. 

It doesn't help that we only get 8 minutes of football per game, and 8 teams to choose from (I think 8 teams instead of 2 was generous though).  I really can't wait to play as Denard in this game - I was ripping OSU with Jacory Harris. 

Joined: 07/28/2009

MGoPoints: 5993