Ask any fan of college football, and they'll tell you one of the main factors that differentiates the game from the pros is the atmosphere -- there are few sports, if any, where the home field advantage counts as much as it does here. EA Sports's NCAA Football series has modeled this influence in one form or another for years, and now they've announced the latest additions in NCAA Football 09 to make the visiting team's crowd troubles even more pronounced.
For instance, when the crowd intensifies in the game, the visiting team will have a harder time making adjustments, and "squiggly lines" will replace the on-field routes of your receivers (better have you plays well memorized). Moreover, NCAA Football 09 will also feature what EA calls "Dynamic Attendance". If you start stringing together winning streaks, not only will attendance pick up at your home games, but hardcore fans will even follow you to away games -- presumably lessening your opponent's home field advantage. Of course, if you get on a cold streak and lose too many games, your attendance will similarly drop off.
And perhaps in the coolest new touch, you'll actually be able to ice a kicker if the game comes down to a winning field goal attempt. Call a time out before your opponent makes the kick, and his attempt will be made more difficult with a lower camera angle, heartbeat audio, controller rumble, and a new "iced kicker" meter.
Sure, college football is all about atmosphere, but we can't help but wonder if some of these features will make their way into Madden NFL 09 as well -- especially considering one of the main complaints with last year's edition was the somewhat sterile, unexciting presentation. Regardless, for more on NCAA Football 09 (which ships July 15), check out our recent hands-on preview.
I agree with BigRuss... give me the NBA fans... well except NCAA fans tend to wear their schools colors more often than NBA fans.
I wonder how this is going to work online. If home field has this large of an advantage, every is going to play online.
A mascot in the NCAA mascot footage. Why, why the double standard on mascots from the NFL? I would like Jaxson De Ville get some seen game time please!
now if only they could fix the crowd to make them look more realistic as well. It gets old looking at the same five cardboard fans in every stadium.
