The inevitable ESPN NFL 2k5 thread

[Sky]

Or you could drop that pile of crap and get an xbox!


;)


(actually I'm tempted to get a PS2 for GTA:SA, I doubt I can wait TWO MORE YEARS for the PC version)

[Rasix]

Well, finished my first season. Things went pretty well except that Leftwich threw a gaggle of interceptions.  8th ranked offense and 1st ranked defense (and yet I sent no one to the probowl... ).   Hugh Douglas ended up retiring and that bastard Donovan Darius would only sign for a single year.  My draft really sucked too. I swear, I can never draft worth a shit in these games.

Some gripes:

1) My defense, although the top in the league in scoring, rushing yards and total yards had just horrendous stats.  Not a single probowl player (even though my DT was the sack leader). No one really had a massive amount of tackles.  Would upping the quarter time help this? Or would making them better runners also assist in this?  Right now it's just impossible to get any sort of recognition for my boys with their stat light but effectiveness heavy performance.

2) Do players not get better in franchise mode?  I can't see a single improved player.  You'd think Ricky Williams (the reciever) would at least go up one point from 79 after a thousand yard plus season as a rookie.

3) I just wish so much of this game wasn't documented well.  The manual really really sucks and it seems like there's a lot of options and other crap that I just don't know what it does.

Anyhow, that aside, still having a lot of fun in this game. Great purchase.

[Dark Vengeance]

My draft really sucked too. I swear, I can never draft worth a shit in these games.

It's all about scouting prior to the draft, and getting good position in the draft using trades. It's easy to find the best player at any given position, but it's harder to set up a realistic draft board. Much like the real thing, you will be hard pressed to get quality skill position players or pass rushers after round 1, and impact players are rare after round 2.

So naturally, you want to identify areas of need first, then determine which position to draft first based on availability. Star-caliber skill positions or pass rushers are going to go fast....linemen, TEs, LBs, and Safeties tend to last longer.

1) My defense, although the top in the league in scoring, rushing yards and total yards had just horrendous stats.  Not a single probowl player (even though my DT was the sack leader). No one really had a massive amount of tackles.  Would upping the quarter time help this? Or would making them better runners also assist in this?  Right now it's just impossible to get any sort of recognition for my boys with their stat light but effectiveness heavy performance.

Check to see how long the quarters are for simulated games. IIRC, the default is 5 minutes. You want to keep the simulated quarters about 1-2 minutes less than your game if you want comparable stats. 1 if you want to keep it somewhat close, 2 if you're looking for league-leading stats without making it ridiculous.

2) Do players not get better in franchise mode?  I can't see a single improved player.  You'd think Ricky Williams (the reciever) would at least go up one point from 79 after a thousand yard plus season as a rookie.

Weekly preparation seems to dictate player development the most. I usually skip that feature completely.

3) I just wish so much of this game wasn't documented well.  The manual really really sucks and it seems like there's a lot of options and other crap that I just don't know what it does.

There is an in-game guide that gives you instructions on just about everything, plus a tutorial for the on-the-field features.

Anyhow, that aside, still having a lot of fun in this game. Great purchase.

I'd tend to agree, though right now it looks like I may have to spend $150 on a new console to be able to enjoy my $20 football game.

Bring the noise.
Cheers.............

[Sky]

I'd tend to agree, though right now it looks like I may have to spend $150 on a new console to be able to enjoy my $20 football game.

Look on the bright side, it's better than spending $2000 on a new pc to enjoy your $55 game ;)

[Glamdring]

I didn't find a single mention of the 'Game Plan' option in the instruction book.  I never even noticed it until I was playing one of the top 100 guys on XBL and saw him go into that feature.  I checked it out and it looks like it might do something but I haven't messed with it much.  I'm just glad that it allows me to set specific players to cover specific people.

There's also a 'double player' check box but it never seems to do anything.

[Sky]

Hmm, I guess playing a lot of Sega's franchise makes people assume some knowledge, I like tweaking the game plan menu, mostly to make sure my good backs are covering the good receivers. For double teams, I'm trying to get that down on the defensive shifting.

Haven't had time to play in a week now, busy real life is unfair to gaming and summat.

[Glamdring]

Okay, I just found yet another issue with this game that I need some help with.  I was forced to take the fucking Ravens in a league because they were the only halfway decent team left.  Jamal Lewis kicks ass but other than him and the defense there really isn't much else to this team.

I played the Titans earlier and did eventually win but I found a few problems with the defensive side of the game :

1) Game Plan screen - I set McAlister to cover Mason and I clicked the double team box.  I wasn't really worried about the double team too much though.  First play of the game he throws a fly to Mason and he's about 10 yards ahead of good 'ol slow as hell Chris.  TD.  I responded with an 80 yd td run with Lewis so all was good in Ravens land.

2) I adjusted to that by making sure I had a couple of safeties in zone coverage.  That's when he began to tear me apart with Eddie.  Come on... I'm a Titans fan and let me tell you, Eddie George gets knocked down by the smallest of DB's in a real game but in this game he can shed the likes of Ray Lewis like he is nothing.  I was expecting another Ray Lewis --> Eddie George KO but it didn't happen.

3) After being 'owned' for a bit by Eddie I finally adjusted and managed to keep Mason decently covered and Eddie down to 3 yards max runs.  That's when McNair started running on me for 30.  So, what did I do?  I spied with Ray Lewis of course!  Unfortunately, this didn't do a fucking thing.  I did it twice and he just sat there staring at the DLs ass's while McNair deftly swept around the end and ran 20 yards down field.  Ray Lewis did not move.  I ended up just controlling him manually.  To hell with it.

To you experienced Sega football players... does LB Adjustments/Spy QB not work properly or did I just have some bad luck there?  It's hard enough to play defense on these games when things are going in your favor much less when the shit doesn't even work as it's supposed to.

I'm sure you think I'm bitching because I lost.  Nah, Jamal ran for 276 yards and I managed to pull out a win thanks to a timely INT.

[Dark Vengeance]

Come on... I'm a Titans fan and let me tell you, Eddie George gets knocked down by the smallest of DB's in a real game but in this game he can shed the likes of Ray Lewis like he is nothing.  I was expecting another Ray Lewis --> Eddie George KO but it didn't happen.

This alone is why online rosters should be updated more frequently. Eddie George is no longer the RB for the Titans. You should have been pitting Ray Lewis against Antowain Smith, because Eddie is a Cowboy now.

Bring the noise.
Cheers..........

[Alluvian]

I never tried using any spy QB stuff myself.  If I have a QB running problem I have always just handled that myself.  That said, I suck at D.

[Glamdring]

Come on... I'm a Titans fan and let me tell you, Eddie George gets knocked down by the smallest of DB's in a real game but in this game he can shed the likes of Ray Lewis like he is nothing.  I was expecting another Ray Lewis --> Eddie George KO but it didn't happen.

This alone is why online rosters should be updated more frequently. Eddie George is no longer the RB for the Titans. You should have been pitting Ray Lewis against Antowain Smith, because Eddie is a Cowboy now.

Bring the noise.
Cheers..........

Nah, it's all about Chris Brown this year.  Antowain is here as insurance in case Brown gets hurt again or just doesn't live up to expectations.

[Sky]

I never get too fancy on D. Only if they have a go-to reciever will I line a fast guy up against him. I almost always take over the MLB to play, and I watch the backfield myself and catch most sneaks as well as shut down the lion's share of running plays. If the guy doesn't run much, I might switch to Sapp (I play the raiders) and just punish the QB for the entire game (a few roughing the QB penalties are worth it imo).

[Alluvian]

Roughing the QB is a badge of honor IMO.

[schild]

Jesus fuck, I hate sports games. That is all, carry on.

[WayAbvPar]

Jesus fuck, I hate sports games. That is all, carry on.

Were you the asthmatic skinny kid who always got picked last? =)

Sports games are THE reason I own a console. A PC does most everything better, but sports games really shine on consoles. I think part of it is the ability to play side by side with 3 other players, drink beer and talk copious amounts of shit.

[Glamdring]

Jesus fuck, I hate sports games. That is all, carry on.

 I think part of it is the ability to play side by side with 3 other players, drink beer and talk copious amounts of shit.

As best demonstrated in the movie Swingers.  'Watch this I'm going to make Gretzky's head bleed.'

[schild]

Jesus fuck, I hate sports games. That is all, carry on.

Were you the asthmatic skinny kid who always got picked last? =)

God no, I grew up playing sports. No allergies and well built for them (up until a junior year back injury, but that's besides the point). Having grown up playing them on a field OUTSIDE, I find playing a sports game on a console to be just damning to the actual sport.

I play games for escapism - not to pretend I'm an NCAA star or whatever.

[HaemishM]

For people like me (the skinny - not asthamtic - kid who always got picked last for sports but still loves the games), sports games ARE escapism. I'll never win the World Series, but I can experience the joys and tribulations of trying to run a team to my own little console version of the Series.

And ain't that what gaming is all about?

[Sky]

Sports games are THE reason I own a console. A PC does most everything better, but sports games really shine on consoles. I think part of it is the ability to play side by side with 3 other players, drink beer and talk copious amounts of shit.

Ditto. This is the only game that's getting any time on my xbox.

[Alluvian]

I much prefer the console versions of sports to the real thing.  I can't stand basketball or tennis in real life, watching or playing, but have played many great video game versions of both.  And golf games are even cool.  And I can't describe how much I despise watching or playing golf.

[Sky]

You need to load more beer on the golf cart imo.

[Rasix]

Ok, I experimented with doing a fantasy draft.  This had some mixed results.

The good:

I build a fairly good team.  Better than anything the Cards would have been able to pick up.  Oddly enough, I ended up with their 2 starting recievers (Boldin, Fitzgerald) .

I was able to load up on a lot of good, young, talent. Fitzgerald, Roethlesberger(sp), DeAngelo Hall, Tommie Harris, Michael Boulware(sp), and more.  I probably stole about 7-10 first round picks.

I landed Jamal Lewis. The man is a goddamn freight train.

Also, I was able to pick up a lot of Arizona products.  Northcutt, Bruschi, Suggs, Lance Briggs, etc.

The computer can actually draft decently.  Except for some reason they all treat Ray Lewis (and other ILB) like he's got herpes.  I could have probably got him late as the fifth round but I wanted the hometown boy instead.

The bad:

The good corners seem underwhelming.  Champ Bailey seems to get torched just as much as any crappy corner I've ever had.  The fucker has 95 speed too.

Caveat to the young talent: It appears that making a character better is only possible through doing the training prep before a game.  This really doesn't interest me.  So what good is my young talent if it's never going to blossom.  This is where Madden outshines it by a landslide.  Your studs become studs through kicking ass on the field (also through ghey minigames).

Like Madden, everyone fucking drafts their kicker at the same time.  So if you miss out on the beginning of the kicker drafting gravy boat, you're stuck with some really pathetic chumps to choose from.

The draft also creates a ton of just mediocre teams.  There's a lot of parity, but not a lot of dominance by any teams.  File this under "well duh", but it's odd being the only team that will really kill everyone (having a dominant running game plus a frightening secondary makes life tough on people).  

The really, really bad:

Apparently the fantasy draft makes the computer retarded.  They don't really know who to put on kick return duties.  I just played the Rams and they had Jonathan Odgen returning kicks.  The guy weighs as much as 2 return men himself.   They also have a hard time choosing who to start.  They'll bench obivous studs like Ray Lewis and start some other guy because he's a rookie.  So you'll have Peyton riding the pine while they take a gamble on that JP Losman kid.  OHHH K.

If this was something really super duper critical for me, I'd be pissed.  I enjoyed this feature in Madden and they actually pulled it off well.  If they could patch out some of the bugs inherent in the system, that'd be super.

So my wishlist for next year: a less assinine method of building your player skills and a fantasy draft that's a tad less problematic.

[Dark Vengeance]

Like Madden, everyone fucking drafts their kicker at the same time.  So if you miss out on the beginning of the kicker drafting gravy boat, you're stuck with some really pathetic chumps to choose from.

Field goals and punts are signs of weakness. Real men go for the 1st down, even on a 4th & 38 from their own 1 yard line.

Kickers in video football are just there for the kickoffs and extra points. Anyone who breaks this rule should be forced to make their team wear pink uniforms.

Bring the noise.
Cheers............

[Arcadian Del Sol]

Jesus fuck, I hate sports games. That is all, carry on.

Petition ESPN to make a Spelling Bee 2005.

[Arcadian Del Sol]

I landed Jamal Lewis. The man is a goddamn freight train.

Welcome back. How was the 3 year coma?

[Rasix]

I landed Jamal Lewis. The man is a goddamn freight train.

Welcome back. How was the 3 year coma?

Just fine.  It felt like a really long nap.

I drafted Lewis first because I could either pick him or Tomlinson (I always want a premier back) and I thought he'd be better with a sub par line.  I was just amazed at how many tackles a power back like him breaks in this game.   With the new "maximum tackling" or whatever it's called, he brushes off ends, linebackers and safeties like it's a little bit of dirt on his shoulder.  Perhaps I need to up the tackling a bit, dragging Junior Seau for 6 yards before flicking him away seemed a bit excessive.

[HaemishM]

Finally got my game this weekend, and played it all weekend.

Holy crap, do I suck ass or what? My tackling is awful, and backs like Rickey Williams will just climb over the top of me. Good wideouts will break long pass plays merely because I miss them when trying to come up with a tackle. I need lots of practice at this game.

I tried playing in First Person Mode, but it actually went backwards this year. Sure, it LOOKS better, but it's missing one key ingredient that last year's game had. Last year, in FPF, when the 40-second clock ticked down to 10 seconds and under, a little display would pop up in the helmet showing you the clock. No such luck this year. One of the things I praised the FPF mode last year for was limiting information, but there are some things you just have to have, and the 40-second clock is one of them. I'd be ok with them removing it if I could just see the 40-second clock SOMEWHERE on the field, but I can't. Without it, there's no way to really manage the clock.

However, the other mode is quite fun. I'm already sick of playing Steve-O from Jackass. His "Dream Team" is just the kind of munchkin shit I hate playing against in sports games, as are some of the retards that play online. I played one cockmuncher who took the Dolphins against my Colts. He ran a total of 4 different offensive plays ALL FUCKING GAME. 2 Rickey Williams runs, where he'd use my inferior tackling skills and Williams superior tackle-breaking abilities and just run up and down the field. The other plays were dump-off passes which he would use to break more tackles and run up the score. It was ugly, and only my sense of honor kept me from just dropping the game at half-time.

[Alluvian]

If you are abit weak on tackling, Charge up the power meter and run into the guy if you don't trust your diving.  Then pound the A button so he does not rip free.

[HaemishM]

RTFM, or at least in this case, watch the damn training videos. I discovered you can deliver two different types of tackles, instead of the arm tackling I've been trying. Hopefully that will improve my game, as my first league game is sometime this week.

[Alluvian]

My tackles generally have me in a superman pose with as little contact with the ground as possible.  Most fun when applied to a QB or a receiver right before they lose their grip on the ball.