NCAA 2004 Is Here! (1 Viewer)

[Brandon_S]

Well guys, NCAA 2004 has finally arrived! I know last year, I spent more time with NCAA 2003 than any other game. And after an hour with the new version, it looks to be even better! Right now I am inputing the roster for my Kentucky Wildcats, but I hope to get a good deal of play in tonight before I hit the hay. If any of you were thinking about getting this game, go on and pick it up. You won't be disappointed!

BTW I got the Xbox version of the game.

 

[Paul_Fisher]

Mine's coming today! Woohoooo!

 

[Randall Z]

I'll be purchasing this today!

Go Rutgers!

 

[Scott_W]

Mine better come in today as well! I'm grabbing the PS2 copy to play online and in a couple leagues. Unfortunately, I don't even think the XBox version will look much better because of EA's lack of effort in porting games to the XBox.

 

[Doug Schiller]

But Madden 2003 looked much better on the Xbox than the PS2 (especially in 480p).
I'm waiting for reviews.
I want to play online with the PS2, but I also want the improved gfx on the Xbox.
At least with the Xbox, we can import rosters using the Action Replay device.

Doug

 

[Daniel Becker]

It's likely no one will want to believe me but EA's football engine actually looks the best on the Gamecube. It's the truth if you've seen all 3 console versions. The Cube version clearly excels in the field texture department. I played all 3 versions last year and I can tell they're using the same engine this year. Look at picture of all 3 versions and look at the field textures. The Cube has the best ones. Most other areas of the game graphics are equal on all 3 consoles.



Dan.B

 

[Brandon_S]

To tell you the truth, for me it would have been nice to have online play in the Xbox version, but I will spend most of my time with the Dynasty mode. Having the Xbox storage capacity for multiple dynasties along with the better graphics makes it the choice for me.

I would also probably get slaughtered if I used UK online against people! :b

 

[James St]

I'll wait for some reviews as well but definitely plan on getting it. I'm torn on whether to get the PS2 or Xbox version. KOTOR will keep me busy until I decide.

 

[Scott_W]

Hmm, I never thought Madden looked that match better on an XBox to overshadow online play. Its football, you really don't have much time to admire the graphics .

You can import rosters very easily on the PS2 as well.

Without the online play, I'd still be torn though, as the PS2 controller with the four shoulder buttons is the better controller for football, imho. The S-controller is great for other stuff, but any game that makes me hit the black/white button leaves me a bit cold.

You can most likely fit two dynasty saves and one roster per PS2 memory card, which is pretty solid for most. I don't have enough time to play online, and play more then two dynasties .

 

[Doug Schiller]

I had both versions and the improvement is more than pretty graphics.
The uniforms and player models (skin) looked much better.
Also, the PS2 seemed to cut frames to keep a decent frame rate.
And in HDTV, there just isn't a comparison.

It looks like I'll be getting NCAA2k4 for the Xbox and Madden for the PS2.

I'll be leaning towards Dynasty play than online for college. Plus, my Gators are going to suck so I'll get my butt kicked!

DS

 

[Damien]

Remember hearing about how this game went gold like almost a whole month ago?? Well the xbox version I(Emphasis on I) bought has a bug in the SOUND department in dolby digital. The fight songs SKIP, which ruins the atmosphere which means this version goes back to EB right away, and I'll just get the PS2 version. It almost seems like EA wants this to happen, how can you call yourself a tester and not see shit like this for what, the third year in a row. Not suprisingly, another EA game Fifa 2003 did that for gamecube when I had it, so now I know it is something wrong with there 5.1 mixer, which I am going to tell you now the mix isn't anything to jump up and down about anyway, they put the new crowd sounds in the center channel which = stupid if you ask me. Gameplay this version looks perfect, do go out and BUY IT for a system, but if you have surround and an xbox BEWARE.

 

[Scott_W]

The Gators aren't ranked that badly. Here are the top teams:

Team All QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST

Miami 99 89 96 94 97 88 95 95 92
Ohio State 99 89 97 96 99 96 90 90 99
Oklahoma 99 87 90 86 97 95 96 96 95
Texas 99 86 94 96 91 90 91 86 99
Kansas State 98 94 96 87 89 88 89 86 94
USC 98 82 88 94 91 83 81 87 95
Virginia Tech 98 88 98 85 90 91 90 87 99
Florida State 94 89 82 85 90 88 92 84 94
Georgia 94 90 87 91 85 90 85 87 98
Notre Dame 94 89 91 87 85 89 87 89 99
Oregon State 94 89 93 87 86 89 88 86 95
Pittsburgh 94 89 94 89 88 83 86 85 99
Tennessee 94 90 93 85 92 87 89 87 91
Iowa 93 82 93 83 88 90 87 85 99
Maryland 93 86 93 86 82 86 86 89 94
Arkansas 91 84 91 83 90 81 90 89 87
Auburn 91 86 94 85 89 87 94 83 80
Florida 91 84 88 89 97 85 81 87 94
LSU 91 86 87 88 95 88 83 85 91
North Carolina State 91 95 92 85 89 78 86 88 87
UCLA 91 79 90 88 87 91 87 87 90
Washington State 91 79 88 85 92 91 83 85 95
Alabama 90 88 88 80 91 91 89 85 84
Colorado State 90 89 83 83 87 80 90 85 98
Fresno State 90 85 86 88 88 79 85 85 95
Michigan 90 89 92 85 95 87 83 87 79
Nebraska 90 88 94 76 92 81 87 86 91
Ole Miss 90 95 86 86 85 80 82 83 96
Texas A&M 90 88 91 85 85 78 83 87 95
Washington 90 94 90 87 90 78 87 82 88
Wisconsin 90 86 93 88 85 82 83 86 87
Penn State 88 89 87 87 86 78 90 81 91
Purdue 88 86 85 84 84 86 86 88 80
Virginia 88 92 90 85 86 88 86 79 86
West Virginia 88 88 94 81 89 76 87 85 88
Arizona State 85 94 86 81 85 83 80 87 82
Oklahoma State 85 89 89 87 79 76 79 85 95
Oregon 85 86 86 83 93 82 86 81 87
Boston College 84 81 91 83 85 86 83 80 87
Clemson 84 84 83 84 80 82 85 82 95
Georgia Tech 84 84 86 76 91 85 89 77 83
Hawaii 84 88 79 82 86 84 77 84 90
Louisville 84 83 83 83 80 77 85 87 88
Marshall 84 82 88 93 90 80 78 80 80
Mississippi State 84 83 85 81 78 72 85 85 99
Missouri 84 93 87 81 89 80 81 79 82

To bad if the XBox version does have a bug, seems like such an obvious one.

 

[RossTerry]

woo hoo, texas is ranked high

 

[James St]

I'll be using the Gators whether they suck or not.

 

[Doug Schiller]

They will probably be much better in the game than in real life because we can coach and not Zuck, err I mean Zook.

At least my Gators will have a chance in Miami with me at the helm .

On the DD5.1 issue, hard to beleive a bug like that would get through their testers. The DD5.1 is just fine in my copy of NCAA2k3.

Doug

 

[Brandon_S]

Damien,

I have the EXACT same problem with my Xbox copy. It sounds like some replacements are in order. Are you sure that all copies of the Xbox game have this problem though? It could be isolated to a certian batch of games. I may wait a few days and exchange it for another copy to see if the bug is still there.

 

[Rob_Pierce]

Right now I am inputing the roster for my Kentucky Wildcats

Brandon, as a UK alumnus, I have to ask if Coach Brook's new offensive and defensive schemes are in the playbook instead of the pass-happy offense of last year--what do you think? And, I heard that the game includes a ton of chants--is C-A-T-S on there? I finally got UK to a national powerhouse in NCAA 2003, I don't know if I'm up to it again in 2004.

Here's a tip for EA--make 2003's dynasty useable in 2004. I would easily buy the game if I could just use my current dynasty in the new game, but too many hours have been spent to start again. Any thoughts?

 

[Brandon_S]

Rob,

I will check that stuff out tonight. Alot of the defenses did look different from last year, but I only got to play one game (against U of L). Working full time and taking summer classes just doesn't leave enough time for gaming :frowning:. You will be happy to know that this year the UK mascot did make it into the game however.

 

[Damien]

I have the EXACT same problem with my Xbox copy. It sounds like some replacements are in order. Are you sure that all copies of the Xbox game have this problem though? It could be isolated to a certian batch of games. I may wait a few days and exchange it for another copy to see if the bug is still there.

Only time will tell. But knowning how devious EA is with there xbox ports, I wouldn't doubt this applies for all copies.

Since I remember all the BS about the unresponsive swat ball issues last year I didn't even hesitate for a second, I just exchanged it for the PS2 version. And to me the sound is crisper with the optical on PS2 with 2-ch stereo, and there is a master volume slider not on the xbox version. And really the graphical differences aren't even noticable. All of this could be due to two things:
- The xbox is too complex to code for them.
- They are intentionally doing this to increase PS2 sales.
This personally makes me mad since now I have to go out and buy another PS2 memory card. I hope I'm not taking the thread into a pessimistic direction, I apologize if anyone thinks that.

If all goes well with the PS2 version I'm going to sit down and see how good this game really is.

 

[Todd H]

I'll be picking up the Gamecube version. Look at my Georgia Bulldawgs! Not bad at all!