The Blog for the Sports Gamer

This is what I am using in my OSU Dynasty. Your mileage may vary because you have to keep in mind that in year 2, OSU is an A+/A+ team…pretty much loaded with high 80s and mid 90s rated players. Will these work with an average team? No idea. If you need to change anything to make it a bit easier, the first thing I’d lower is WR catching or raise your D AWR. Keep QB Acc at 100. They will still miss open guys, even at that high a number.

Offense (human first)
QB: 75/100
PB: 100/0
WR: 30/100
RB: 65/60
Block: 60/65

Defense:
AWR: 0/0
KND: 100/50
INT: 0/0
BB: 50/50
TKL: 70/45

Special Teams:
Do what you can.

I think ST play in this game is total crap. Punts are never fair caught, kick coverage is slow (you will NEVER see a tackle inside the 20 on a kick) and field goals are too easy (I’d lower accuracy for both human and CPU). You can try fiddling with the punt strength, but the coverage sucks no matter what you do.

I also play on 7 minute quarters and get around 115 plays, which is on the light side, but I get games in quicker too.

Penalties are also kinda weak. Lower clipping. Otherwise you’ll see a clip on a HB Dive which is just five levels of dumb. Raise holding, facemask, O/D PI. I have them around 80. I may go higher w/ facemask. I have yet to see that called in over 20 games. I’d keep false start and offsides at 50.

So there you have it. I’m going to finish my Legend test that I am doing (fun feature, just not my thing) and try a Dynasty with a bad team to see how the sliders translate, then finally write my review.

Oh, before I forget: Thanks to Leebo for the CPU Pass Block at 0 idea. That was a huge, huge discovery that helps the CPU throw underneath and to the backs more often, lowering the INT rate as a result. I still have a hard time getting to the QB on Heisman with that setting, even with my fearsome foursome.

I need to eat. I need comfort food.

The Bucks just lost the title game to USC 31-23. An epic game, really. They scored on a fumble recovery off a botched speed option. (Nice call coach..)

I scored off an INT return. It really was a defensive game in many respects. Boeckman (OSU QB) started off 3/9 for 40 yards in the 1st half and ended 15/28 for 193. I got a bit hot in the 4th, finally. Chris Wells was shut down for the first time this year, getting 20 carries for 49 yards.

The USC QB (rated 96 OVR): 23/35 261 2 TD 1 INT
The HB: 21 carries 65 yards

Here’s how tense it got. I scored with 2 mins to play to make it 28-23. I had USC in 3rd and 8; I had called my last time out. My All Century CB, Mr. Jenkins, got beat in 1-1 coverage for like the first time…ever and gave up the 1st down, and really the game. They moved the ball and kicked a FG because Pete Carroll’s an ass. I couldn’t believe it was Jenkins that got beat on a slant.

Anyway, a super game. Well, you still get your regular “WTF” moment. On USC’s first TD, the WR ran his route — a crossing pattern in the back of the end zone. He went so far deep he bumped into the GOAL POST. He came back in and caught it for six. Laughing, I go to Challenge the call and it won’t let me. Play stands. TD USC. That kinda sucked.

Anyway, I promise to post the sliders for this game after I eat. Ashley is ticked that I have waited this long to fix lunch.

1. Let’s talk TV. Right now there are only a few “summer” shows I’m watching. I disconnected HBO because $14.95 a month is too much to pay for one show, so I’ll wait for the season of Entourage on DVD. Other shows I’m watching regularly are Rescue Me and Burn Notice. That’s about it. I did start to watch Damages, but I’m not sure if I will continue. The other show I’m giving a shot is Mad Men on AMC, written by a former Sopranos scribe. I love the idea of the show: ad execs in the early 60s…lots of sexual harassment, lots of smoking, ad guys trying to get a Lucky Strike campaign on TV going…but it sure seems like they have to make sure they are telling us it was a different time. I wonder, did that many people really smoke? Were all guys handsy with secretaries? It just seems like the “reality” this show provides is too much like the stereotypes I’ve read. However all that being said, teh show has potential. If anything the BBC like opening of the show is pretty cool.

When it comes to ‘reality’ gameshows, most suck. I do watch Are you Smarter than a 5th grader with the kids and I’ve been watching the two new music shows as well. I think I’m going to stop watching the Singing Bee, mainly becuase it’s terrible. Their “sort all the words in order as they are displayed on screen” to make the song line is just stupid; it reminds me of a scary version of the Electric Company. What’s worse is that even the “band” that has the teleprompter is singing the wrong words. In a contest where accuracy is extremely important, this just feels like it’s a $1.98 game show. On the other hand we have “Don’t Forget The Lyrics” which uses a “5th Grader” like prize tree and the contestant sings the song and has to come up with a missing line. They do stall for time almost too often but I do enjoy watching the show.

Bloggers have mentioned Psych and I keep meaning to watch that but I keep forgetting … one of these days I will!

Well today’s the big day, I hit 36. Not really big, funny how I don’t feel old but then I realize I’ve been playing videogames now for 28 years, and I’ve been out of high school for 18 years. Yikes. Of course sharing a birthday with Eli 6.0 makes me Dan 36.0. Now that’s sad, right Bill Harris?

Anyway, nice comments by Glen, and I especially appreciate that he made Bill be the fat guy despite my rotound appearance.

I’m getting ready to head over to Gamestop to pick up Mario Charged. Yay!

Traditionally July and August are very busy months here at the Blog and I wanted to thank you for making this one of the busiest months on record here.

I was talking to Dan about this the other day and here’s the way I view the blog. Bill is like Roger Ebert (before he started to open his trap about gaming as an artform,) he’s been at the game for quite some time and is very well respected for his opinions on games.

Dan is like Richard Roper. He’s been at it just about as long and is just as well respected for his opinions.

I’m like a guy that was just posting comments about their reviews at Rotten Tomatoes and somehow or another lucked into working with the two of them.

I love being a part of the site and I’m just glad that you enjoy it as much as you do.

Thanks again.

Circuit City just launched a Gamers Savings Club, which for $19.99 a year (or free when you buy a console), you’ll get 10% off any regularly priced new or pre-ordered video game (including console, handheld and PC), video game accessories and strategy guides. So just to recap, in order to make up your $20 fee back you’ll have to spend at least $200 in a year on that stuff at Circuit City. Or in Dan language, one week of game buying and then I’ll make money. What does suck though is that it’s in-store only…but hey, it may make me buy a whole lot of MS and Wii points there!!!

Of course what is hysterical about this is that although you can’t get the discount online, you can buy the card online! Idiots.

Mario Strikers Charged tomorrow! Actual internet play on the Wii! Wee!

The recent Game Informer had a feature article about Marathon and I was very excited for the release of the game. While I know that it was a Mac only game for a while, and then ported to the PC, all of the Mac owners in the mid-90s were constantly blabbing about that game and I never played it.

So on Wednesday I will get to play it for the first time. Looking forward to it.

While Bill has been playing NCAA to death, and let me say I don’t envy him, I’ve been playing All Pro Football. Of course I don’t want to give away my entire review (gotta earn the money ya know), I will say I really like how they handled stuff with player “icons” rather than ratings. Seriously , I could see people (Bill) going on about how Johnny Unitas got a 94 but Joe Montana got a 95 and what made Montana get a 95 and maybe he’s really a 98. Thankfully with APF we just have icons going over the player’s feature set. I personally enjoy the way the game is laid out. Some may complain that there isn’t a league draft but I actually prefer this. Believe me if any league draft is like fantasy football, this is so much better. I love comparing my team to my opponent’s, especially online. The animations are stellar. The play by play, while not perfect, is light years ahead of “AARP says try this play”. My play time ratio of APF to NCAA is about 4:1 right now (I play APF more). I do have to review both, but if I didn’t I’d still be playing with APF. At least with APF it’s not like I have to spend days getting the “all powerful slider combo.” Instead I just play the damn game (heh) and like it.

So the Orioles are playing the Sox this week and I get to go to Thursday’s day game. Tomorrow night’s game should be pretty good — Bedard vs. Beckett. Even if I’m the only one there on Thursday, I will make sure the “O” in the Star Spangled Banner is yelled by me. Yes, everyone will look at me, but I’m going to reverse the tide of Sox fans coming to Camden and give it right back to them. Heh.

It’s funny how sports games work. I can only assume that the reason we see bizarre new quirks every year is due to the speed of which the games must be produced because well, we all know that a college football game that ships in JULY just makes more sense than one that is released, oh I dunno, anytime after that.

Take the INT issue.

I have it at least under control. It’s still not “right” but it’s at the point where I can live with it. I usually see 1 to 3 a game on 7 min quarters. I just finished the second year of my OSU Dynasty and looked at the post season team stats. Interceptions are simply woven into the fabric of the game. How many teams had at least 20 picks?

39.

How many teams had at least 20 team picks in 2006 (real world)? That would be 11. Most teams in the real world get around 10-12 a year. About 1 per game. (Unless you are Ole Miss who had THREE. Seriously how do you only get 3 picks in a season?) In NCAA 08 if you have 10 picks in a year you are laughed at by Mark May and the Ghost of Trev Alberts.

I’m past the point of griping about stats in NCAA. Something is wrong every year from the year that the CPU QBs had stats that would make a Texas Tech QB blush..and now this — a reversal that sees QBs throwing picks like they are Vinny Testaverde when he was color blind.

I’ve played the hell out of this game; I like it. I don’t love it, but I can see where if EA Sports decided here and now to stop adding features no one wants, and instead took its core game and FIXED it and tightened the screws…sorry….I slipped into dreamland again.

I don’t have time right now to go into detail other than to say that the Great NCAA Interception Experiment is coming to an end. I have it down now to the point that if by All Century CB doesn’t make a pick (or two) then I’d go without one.

#2 OSU 7-0 @ #11 Iowa 7-0

OSU wins 23-21 ; the Iowa QB 20/27 212 yards 1 TD 2 INT — Jenkins grabbed another flag route (just STOP throwing it at him!) and I hate to even count the other pick — I nailed the QB as he threw it and it flaoted in the air like a Dick Cheney captive quail. I may even have QB accuracy TOO high at this point.

This game still has its share of issues (4th quarter playcalling AI being a big one), but my major hurdle is pretty much cleared. I still need to try that SMU test.

More later.

If one guy is going to rant today, I might as well add to it.

Surprisingly, I’m not going to rant about the Brewers though. Their bullpen looks like it’s just about cashed it in. Hopefully they’ll turn it around though. I’ve started to take a much more realistic look at their team and realize that they’re good enough to compete for the division if they’re on the game… when they’re not… oh, boy… I still enjoy watching the games though. Every time Braun gets to the plate, I stop what I’m doing and watch. That kid is something special.

Ah, about my rant. It’s about politics, but not as you would expect.

Here’s a link to get you started.

My thought to Congress is this. GET OVER YOURSELVES!!!

Jesus, you bitch and moan because you think the president is trying to police the world but you have to piss away valuable time, while you’re in session, policing all of the professional sports leagues in the country. For Christ’s sake, why do these morons feel the need to waste our money doing this crap?

Steroids in MLB. Gambling refs in the NBA. What’s next? Talking to the NFL commish about how many players in the NFL have gone to a dog fight? (This one I believe will probably happen as well.)

Both parties are just so awful at running this country, I’m not even shocked when nothing gets done.

This just in Congress, that awful approval rating that you have in all the polls isn’t just because of the party that’s in control, it’s because you’re all inept…. and some of the people are starting to figure that out.

Good god, I wish we could start all over again sometimes. Grrrr.

Well, I just finished watching the HOF induction ceremony. Damn there are a lot of living Orioles in the HOF….Ripken was great and I just kinda wish it was 1983 again, at least for baseball. My goodness those uniforms of yesteryear sure are…um…eyecatching.

In the meantime, the Orioles are losing. Hey you can’t win every game, right?

1. Don’t forget that Cal’s induction ceremony will be televised live on ESPN Classic.

2. The circular round up is kinda lame this week. The good news is that Super Mario Strikers is shipping for the Wii and should be in stores (not shipping) Tuesday. The even better news is that Circuit City is running a special that if you buy two Xbox accessories priced at $19.99 or higher, they’ll take $20 off. So basically, buy that 13 month Live subscription and get 1600 MS points for free. Or get 3200 points for $20. One word of warning though: the online store doesn’t show the 1600 points card as qualifying for the discount. Go figure.

3. My daughter’s 3 year old HP laptop has shit the bed so I’m looking for a real cheap notebook that has current technology (ie Celeron M ok, Pentium II is not). Best I can find is $499 from Best Buy and it’s a pretty good system. Can some of the geeks out there tell me why I should buy (for me not for her) a Quad core over a dual core? Is the price/performance worth it?

4. HDDVD: WTF? BB and CC re both showing $34.99 for the HDDVD version of 300, while the BD version is $29.99. I hear there’s more content on HDDVD but still $34.99? Target does have it for $29.99 so maybe I’ll go there. Of course I should just rent it which probably makes the most sense.

5. CC has a 4GB memory stick for $69.99. Pretty good deal I think.

6. Mitt Romney is advertising up here, and his new ad is so Republican, I’m going to vomit. It has a kid on the beach and Mitt’s voiceover implies that this kid will be tainted by violent videogames. When will these idiots realize it’s the parents that have the control. If I want to play an M or AO rated game, I should be able to play it. I will not let my kids play an M or AO rated game. I do let them play T games, my 7 year old loves Call of Duty and I do not think he’ll go out and shoot people. He does like playing Army and I believe that when I was 7 we did stuff like that too. I actually think he’s become more creative and knows the difference between video game and reality. I’m so glad that Mr. Romney will tell me what is right for my family. Thank you so much, dickwad. Next thing you know he’ll be regulating gay marriage while he has 23 wives. And oh btw, we’ve had enough guys running for President from Massachusetts. I think we’re all set there.

7. Phew. I know I was ranting again. Sorry.

A lof of thoughts bubblin in my noggin about this today, but I’ll try and be brief. I did some tinkering this morning — because our new dog is an early riser and he and Ashley invaded the bedroom at 7AM today.

I played the KSU game and tried a different slider theory and it backfired and the KSU QB tossed 6 picks. Ha. So it was back to Heisman level with the old theory (High CPU catch, accuracy, low human AWR and INT and high Knockdown).

It was a weird game against Penn State this morning. Totally exciting — 32-28 OSU win. The game saw PSU make a goal line stand when I had 3rd and goal from the inch line (two failed QB sneaks…wow). I followed that up by tackling the HB in the end zone for a safety. Late in the game I scored a TD to take the 32-28 lead but the PSU QB got red hot, marched them right down the field and I finally started to tighten up when they had first and goal at the 5. On 4th and goal PSU tried an out pattern and the WR caught the ball at the 1 foot line…and stepped out of bounds. Game over. Pretty exciting stuff for 9 AM on a Sunday.

OK, the test stuff:

Blog reader Loren Halek posted a theory about playing with great teams — that possibly being the reason for the turnovers. I had tried to play with lesser teams in ex. mode but I think he may be onto something. I want to start a test dynasty, playing with a team like say…SMU.

Here’s the PSU QB line: (again, this is on heisman)
20/32 347 yards 1 TD 2 INT

75 of those yards was thanks to a missed tackle by my SS (ok..it was me on a really bad big hit attempt)

BOTH INTs were made by my All World CB (Jenkins). Jenkins should have left for the pros after last season; he’s a *99* OVR player with a 97 AWR. Throw it near #2, and it’s gonna get picked. He’s the Florida State version of Deion, only he likes to tackle. On several plays in the game, passes hit my other players right in the hands and they failed to make the pick, this is why I want to try playing a Dynasty game with a lesser team. Jenkins has like 6 picks on the year and we have played 4 games. I’m all for making the great players great, but …damn. EA just went overboard a bit.

I think this also goes back to the ease of which you can keep players in the program. Jenkins, according to his ratings, was a surefire top 3 pick. A house rule may be in order. The OSU defense is just…loaded.

I noticed other things during the game — the PSU QB had a streak where he couldn’t hit the broad side of Licking County. Balls over everyone’s head, balls in the dirt, etc. I wonder what impact playing at Ohio Stadium has on this stuff? Granted, he still went 20/32 for 347, but he made his share of bad passes, too, and that’s on Heisman with CPU Accuracy at 80.

Finally, I think part of the INT problem is that the AI does a terrible job when throwing to out/fade/corner patterns. That’s where a lot of my picks happen; both of Jenkins’ picks were on corner routes where the ball wasn’t thrown high enough. I can still live with 2 picks from a guy rated 99 OVR but I’m still seeking that game where the AI fails to throw an interception. (SMU! SMU!)

Part of this is simply the way in which EA designd the game. I should add — I throw at least 1 pick a game too. Players who look open are suddenly not when I throw it. PSU also has their 99 OVR corner and I learned on the 4th play of the game…best not throw over there.

Boeckman’s line: 20/27 191 2 TD 2 INT

NCAA 08 is, without a doubt, the most demanding game I have ever played when it comes to finding open receivers. This is both a blessing and a curse, and no one can say that the DB AI is shit in this game. If a guy ain’t open..and I mean open…don’t throw to him. I am being forced to break a 10 year habit. It’s not easy.

Oh, speaking of house rules…the new recruiting model is wearing on me. Good idea in theory, a MAJOR time sink in practice. So, I’m going to start acting like the head coach and not the head coach and every position coach and the recruiting coordinator. I have set the CPU Phone Calls to ON, but I’m working the recruiting board and I’m the guy who offers the schollies. I’m also making 5 personal calls per week, no more.

This will save me a ton of time and hopefully make recruiting at least a little bit more difficult. As is, it’s laughably easy.

Today is my 12:00 hoop game at the gym and I doubt I’ll be able to play anymore until tonight. I’m going to start the SMU test just to see if their vaunted secondary can look like the 1980 Raiders.

Quick hits before bed:

1. Glen and I played a PS3 online game, at first around 8PM Eastern, we had a lot of lag and then as I was about to score Glen mentioned his kid was crying or his balls hurt or something, and then we lost connection. We then played a new game around midnight and it was lag free and very enjoyable. I even won a challenge on a ball spot and I enjoyed having Glen suck it on the 2 yards. Yes, it was dumb but enjoyable. Glen knocked me from the ranks of the undefeated, however it was an unranked game so I’m still in the top 300. Of course there are only 300 people that have the game on PS3 so there. As Glen said, you know APF didn’t push for the PS3 because they don’t even have wallpaper for the game on the XMB. Still a good 17-14 loss for me. One issue we saw was that I got called for offensive clipping but we couldn’t spot the foul on replay. We also noticed I had two #65 players on the field. This game is just so much fun….but with so little depth, it’s hard to accept a full priced game.

2. My eye is dialated now and I can barely see out of it, which is why Glen won. . Hey at least my excuses are real. LOL.