... a cryogenic chamber in which houses the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.  Ironically, the chamber's timeclock is set to open in less than 30 seconds, and Green Goblin must make some quick decisions.  He decides to...

I read at OpSports there is a brand new Weekly Prep video up at IGN.

I think it went up very recently.

However...  I can not access that site from my work computer.

If anyone watches that video...  can you let me know what you think please.

Appreciate it.

LD

OK.

So... ask and you shall receive I guess.  I found some defense.  

IGN has 5 new videos up.  One of the ones on the bottom is SF vs GB.

Another is the Titans vs the Chiefs.

There is some defense in those.  

/goes off whistling and skipping down the road, happy again.



LD

Also, a new preview is up along with the videos here

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox/775/ESPN-NFL-2005/p1


Thanks Eco.

Videos are nothing short of fantastic.

However (i know, there is always a however with me), anytime they want to show some DEFENSE being played on some of these gameplay videos, that would be fine.  Anytime.  Just go ahead and show us some defense.  Whenever.  I'll be waiting.  Patiently.  For some defense.  

You know, the stuff that prevents a 12 yard end-around or a 15 yard pass up the middle.  That would be defense.  Anytime.....


LD   :wink:

Yep, I thought the same thing when watching those QB Evade movies.  

In concept.... Phenominal, Wonderful, and Excellent.

Maybe we'll get lucky and the success will honestly be based on QB statistics (ratings) vs. Defensive Player ratings.  Wouldn't that be something!

As you can tell, even though I am one of the biggest ESPN Football fans on the planet, I can get pretty pissed off at the game too when it screws things up.  I hope they did this right, cause it looks damn sweet to me.

LD

Up for a game this week Lockdown?  Let me know.

Eco :

Unfortunately I don't play this game online anymore.  I simply can not stop the run when playing against other people, no matter what I do.  And it does nothing but make me mad.

However, if I can stop the run in 2k5, I will play you whenever you want.  That would be a blast.  Especially cause I know you like the Titans, who I have a personal vendetta against since I am a Dolphins and Steelers fan.

Look forward to it... just not with 2k4.  

Thanks for the offer though, it is appreciated.    

LD

Don't know if anyone really gives a darn, but I heard that if you buy this game from Target, you get a free Cold CD with like 4 songs on it.  Don't quote me on this, but I did hear it somewhere.  

Cold is the group that did the main theme song ("With My Mind", or something like that) from the game.

They aren't a bad group, albeit they sound alot like most other groups of this type around right now (at least to me).

Just an FYI.  

LD

Thanks Loren.  I am actually looking at it a bit different in that I am extremely excited to be able to train specifically for a particular game each week.  Example... If I know I've got to cover Randy Moss in my next game, I am going to focus on anything that improves my secondary coverage to try and slow him down, etc...  

HOWEVER -  Although I don't think I would ever want to turn this mode off like you said, I definately would like the option of handing the duties over to an "assistant coach" that could do a capable job of doing all the work on his own (read: AI Management).  I know for a fact there will be weeks I won't want to go through the tedious work of doing a day-to-day schedule.  So on that point, I understand where you are coming from.

Thanks for the link.

LD

Here's a question for someone.  (probably Eco, as I think he may be one of the few people that has actually played the game at any length) :


Has anyone experienced (or heard) if the weekly planning really works as intended?  I understand that this is Sega's way of countering the stuff Madden has done with Franchise Mode.  I understand Sega is coming at it from a different angle, focusing more on Coaching and less on General Managing.  I also read that player attributes can swing 6 points either way based on the coaching you do throughout the week.  All this is excellent (in theory).

So my question is:     Does it work?

Not to be skeptical, but this seems to be a pretty big thing to add to a game.  From my understanding, this is a pretty deep model.  And, as with all deep models, it can be easy to mess something up, no?

If anyone has messed around with this mode, or can point me to somewhere on the net where they may talk about this, that would be great.

Loren, you haven't by chance gotten a chance to mess with this mode, have you?


LD

So I just watched the (newer) little preview of this movie, and you know the first thing that came to my mind?

"I just hope it doesn't totally suck."

That's it.  I guess the chance of being let down is just so high, that I am really scared it's not going to be that good.

Anyone hear anything regarding the general "feeling" the major fans are sending out regarding this movie?

Hopefully they feel great about it.  That is usually a good sign.

Thanks.

LD

[maybe]

OK.  Since you're asking for opinions:

Madden -  Sales will go up.  Live on xbox.  This is a no-brainer.  I am predicting record sales for Madden this year.

ESPN - Sales will probably be close to last year.  Maybe, maybe, a few more due to the extensive features offered this season, and the increased hype the game is receiving right now.


Net result -  EASports will spank Sega/VC worse than usual.


I am as sure of this as I am that ESPN trumps Madden in nearly every conceivable way possible.   :wink:

(C'mon Loren, you know I had to get one shot in....   )


Edit to add:  I have read on GS that the low price is now confirmed.  I hadn't seen that before.  If it stays this way, Sega/VC may sell more copies than I predicted above simply due to people not seeing it as "I can only buy 1 football game this year" thing.  I would think a low price point would allow more people who normally choose one game to buy both.  Of course, I could be wrong about this also.  Oh hell, I don't know.  I still think Madden will sell alot more.

Regarding Chaz's post:

I think he is pretty much right on with his assessment.  I remember going to Gamestop months ago (at LEAST 3), and seeing signs everywhere to pre-order Madden.  I was simply amazed.  The guy told me they had an enormous amount of pre-orders, and this was 3 months ago!!!!   Were previews even OUT yet three months ago?  I am pretty sure they weren't.

This tells me, it really doesn't matter what EA does or does not do.  Visual Concepts is just flat screwed.  Devil was correct when he said this will be the best Sega/VC game to ever get its ass kicked by Madden.  That about sums it up.

Help me think of any other franchise in our hobby that absolutely dominates no matter what, like Madden Football.  Is there any?  Does Final Fantasy dominate RPG's this bad?  I don't play them, so I wouldn't know.  But honestly, it is amazing the hold Madden has on Football Videogames.  It's almost bizarre.

Anyway, the age-old "Sega or EA" question is really only worth discussing to the person that really has an open mind.

Here is the funny thing though, and I have said this before.  There are quite a few people on the GG/CG forums whose opinions I generally respect a great deal with regards to video games.  Some of them think EA games are better, period.  I, for the life of me, can not even remotely fathom how they think this.  I can't.  ESPN Football is so far ahead of Madden in so many, many, many ways, I just can't fathom it.  

Is it the couple A.I. glitches that get people?  It must be.  I mean, what else could it be?  

See, this is why I stay out of these threads usually.  I just get so dumbfounded the more I think about it, it just makes me mad.  

EA or Sega ....  honestly, the question itself is a giant slap in the face to Sega.  That's how superior their game is to Madden.

No offense to the orginal poster.  This isn't directed at you.  It is directed at the fact that I am completely awestruck that ANYONE can even contemplate these two games being in the same league.

I have heard and read many of the arguments.  I don't agree with any of them.  None.  It just boggles my mind.  That is why I have decided I must be a fanboy.  Because (in my mind) the scales are tipped so far on the side of ESPN, it's not even worth discussing.

/takes off ranting shoes
/steps off soapbox


I should NOT read these type of threads.  Really, I shouldn't.

As always, I should state these opinions are mine (and maybe Eco's) alone.  I just can't hold back sometimes.

LD


edit to add:

Most of you that know me already know this... but I sooooo love video football games, that every year,  EVERY YEAR, I rent Madden for a short period of time and play the crap out it.  Every single year.  By the time my 3 to 5 days are expired on my rental, I can't get it back to Blockbuster fast enough.  To me, it is THAT atrocious.  So, for those of you that think I don't play Madden at all, you are wrong.  To those of you that think I may not give it enough time... you are most likely right.   :wink:

Probably right!

Big Fat Bartolo can just sit on the mound and throw fireballs... literally!

I hope at least it's FUN to play on live.  That's all I really care about from a game like this.

If it's totally fun, I am so in.

LD

Does anyone here know anything about this game?

It is coming out soon, no?

Just curious.  Even if you just post links, that would be fine too.

Thanks.

LD

Well, this game has un-officially saved me from myself.

Let me explain.  As a couple of you know, I have been so engrossed in the phenomenon that is City of Heroes, I have absolutely stopped playing everything else... and I mean absolutely.

Well, my brother goes and picks up FSW the other day and gives me a call.  "Hey MMORPG Nerd, go get Full Spectrum Warrior so we can play through the missions together on XBLive."  he says.  "Trust me, it's extremely good, and we will have a blast playing it together." he says.

So, as I am starting to get alittle bored with CoH after playing it nearly to death, I figure maybe I can SQUEEZE in some time for another game every now and then.  And, since my brother highly recommended it, why not?

My early report is that FSW has saved me from MMORPG Nerdness!  FSW is so good, so very good, that I (at least right now) have no desire to go back and play CoH until I finish this campaign with my bro.  It is positively engrossing and fun.  And, to be perfectly honest, I thought it looked boring from watching the videos.  I can see how some people may feel it is boring actually, but to me, it is nearly perfect so far.  (only 3 missions in).

And here I thought I would be playing nothing but CoH until ESPN Football 2k5 was released.  I am happy my thoughts were wrong.

Great, great game!

LD

Hey, thanks Naednek!

I appreciate it.  And, every answer you gave was what I had kinda' thought, but wasn't sure.

Helps alot.

LD

Cool Ron -

I have some questions.

1.  Squads.  I heard there were two.  Do you pick from different soldiers, ala Ghost Recon, or are there only the 2 groups of guys?

2.  Can you choose which members form which squads, or are they set for you with no changes allowed?

3.  Once you "unlock" a mission, can you go back and play that same mission again and again, or is it strictly by the storyline?

4.  Can you choose weapon configurations before each mission, or does each soldier have his "set" weapons package?

5.  I heard the controls are very intuitive, do you find that to be the case?

Thanks.

LD

I know this request is common in nearly all games of this type, but if someone could comment on the controls and their ease of use, that would be great.  Some games like this are easy to control, others are a nightmare.  I am hoping this has the former.

Gracias.

LD

I love that Devil always lets us in to the tormented internal workings of the gaming mentality.

He does?

I thought he just typed stuff to feel like he was part of the community.

I mean, how hard is it to type "IN!" all the time anyway?


LD  

So does anyone want to give their impressions of the new planes?

Driver maybe?

I am especially interested in the primary and secondary weaponry they come with.

Any mini-reviews would be appreciated.

LD

I might be getting this.  I will most likely rent first, because EA football games can be tough for me to adapt to.

I will certainly at least try it though.

Oh, and it will be xbox for me, if at all.

LD

[NO, you are not.]

Ron -

To answer your question "Am I all alone in this?"


NO, you are not.


In my opinion, IGN is a joke.  And a big one at that.

(No offense to the people that like the site, but their reviews are laughable to me)

LD

Great!

So Devil is going to set up and coordinate the tournaments then?

That's what I got out of his message?  Didn't you?   :lol:

You are the MAN !

- LD


 

I had heard about this, but didn't know too much about it (re:VF)

For some reason, given the complexity of an entire football game and the strategies involved, this just really impresses me.

Assuming, of course, that it actually works.

LD

That was me.

Thought I was logged in.

Duh.


LD

Count me in for this weekend.

And the good news is, if I play, Devil won't come in last.  I will gloriously take that dubious honor.

Hopefully I'll see you all this weekend.

LD

Nice - I might jump in on this one!

M3  

Yeah............. right!

LOL

Sure you will!


ROFLOL

This news is most likely complete garbage, however, if it were true...

It would do nothing but hurt the genre of console football games in a big way.  Let's face it, whichever camp you fall into, EA, Sega, MS, or 989, the world of console football games continues to evolve in a dramatic fashion due to Company A pushing Company B and C to continually make better and better games.  This would all but crush sales (I would think) of any company other than EA.  Because, unless like Devil mentioned, people would download user created rosters, who would really buy other games?  Which would most likely cause other companies to simply not create football games, which would in turn cause EA to coast, as they are infamous for, let's face it.  When they are pushed however, they at least attempt to respond with a renewed vision to "one-up" their competition.  Where would that push come from if there were no competition to speak of?

Some may argue there really is no competition now anyway, as Madden sales seem to dwarf the competition.  But I would disagree.  I think EA is extremely aware of what Sega has done at the very least, and has pushed them to improve on Madden.

However, and  I MUST get this in, as I wouldn't be living up to my fanboy reputation if I didn't, Madden can't touch ESPN Football with a 10 foot pole in my book with regards to their football franchise.  And THAT would be the biggest downer if this news were to turn out to be true.

LD


edit to add:  How the hell are you up to 65 posts already anyway!  

Eco -

Thanks for the post.  The positive impressions of NFL 2K5 are very very very welcome, indeed !!!!

Btw - I am claiming the Dolphins for our pseudo-league!  I thought I should claim them early as I can see the flocks and flocks of people rushing to them now that A.J. Feely is the starting QB.  (please insert as much sarcasm as is humanly possible into that last sentence to even get a glimpse of how I feel about this upcoming season).

Brothers in Arms huh?  Sounds Great!

LD

Don't worry Loren, I have strongly suggested that he go back on his medication.  He is much easier to deal with when he's sedated.

 

Count me IN, IN, IN for any type of Hearts game online.

Maybe if Devil is any better at Hearts than he is at sports games, we could even team up and win some money.  Hey, now THERE'S an idea.  Playing for real money.  Boy, would that increase the XBLive Crowd!!!

 


LD

Duh!

Yeah, what Devil Said...  Sports games !!!


Thanks

That's what I want to know about.

Has there been ANY accurate / more-than-conjecture posts on this "News" anywhere, or is it still a guessing game?

Let me just say this, for the record:  IF they decided to strike a "partnership" with Nintendo, and I have got to start playing my SegaSports games on some convoluted, piece of crap, ridiculously-layed-out-for-sports-games controller, I will be beyond pissed off.

But that's just me.

Any news on this at all?  If not, that is what I would like to know about ASAP.

Gracias!



LD

Graham -

IF I am not going out that night, I am a lock for this.  Crimson Skies with CG'ers is the best.

Anytime works for me if I'm available.

Tag:  Lockdown


LD

You guys are the best!

This forum room is great!

I am happy!

And look, an emoticon just for 'You Know Who' :   :twisted:   (how quaint)

-----------

With both SegaSports and EASports being on Xbox Live this year, this room should be rockin' in no time!

Gracias Moderators!


LD

I think this too is a great idea !

I love the idea of a Sports / Tournament Room !

In and of itself, it doesn't need to be broken down any further than that.

I mean, how hard is it to type "xbox" in the topic:

NFL 2005 Football Tourney (Xbox)


And since we have colors now (thank you very much), it is even easier.

My guess is that this particular Room would see lots of action in spurts, as new sports games come out that is.

Great Idea guys !

Multiplayer Forum is good.  

Thanks.

What do the mods/members think regardiing the setting up and/or organizing of leagues, and the forum this should be posted in?

Perfect example:  ESPN Football 2005 will be coming out in about 18 weeks.  Considering that timeframe, the "new" CG forums should be a buzz with many more members than there are now.  And my feeling is we could probably get a pretty good turnout for a full league.

Should the organization of this type of thing occur on the General or the Microsoft Forum?  

Thoughts?


Hey LOOK   :shock:   Now how did that sig get there!?!?  How odd...

I want it to go on record I had a chance to take Devil's nick and did not.  This crucial piece of defense material will be important later when I get my first warning for harassing him!

 


Now, on topic:  I will wait and get this game after I hear the reports from you all.  I have a feeling it will be really good, but I want to hear it from the "trusted few" before I commit.


LD