Seeking ESPN NFL Fanboys

[bluefire712]

I've heard a lot of critism about NFL Fever 2004 which is truly unwarranted and biased. The game has improved significantly from last years edition and is most definitely innovating virtual football. Some people claim XSN is a "gimmick." It's not, it's a full feature which significantly improves gameplay and longetivity. People also say Microsoft didn't "allow" Sega to put online leagues and tournaments because Microsoft had its own football game. Another lie. They've publicly stated that any company could incorporate any type of online/Live capabilities like. Sega's was just too lazy to add it to the Xbox version. That's not Microsoft's fault. I've also found an interesting articles about ESPN's "near-perfect" gameplay:

http://www.gonegold.com/nightcall/2003/09/05.shtml#link

Sega is a lazy, crappy company and why anyone would try to defend them (not necessarily their game) is beyond me.

[micranes]

Now I have not played Madden or Microsofts NFL games, But I have logged a lot of time on ESPN NFL so far. I just got it Saturday, but I am completely addicted. I have played 4 online games, numerous quick games, 2 games of first person football (actually won one of those), and an entire season minus the playoffs. My personal opinion is that this is a great, great, great game!!! Through all of the time I have spent so I can not remember one glitch in the single person mode. And if there was any it was definitly not game affecting. My biggest complaint would be in LIVE play. All is great except for the dolphins. I think their running back needs to be tweeked down abit. I just could not stop him. But maybe that has to do with my skill level. Anyway every one I played on line with loved the game and all reviews I have read have been very positive, including the people who do it for a living. I find it hard to believe that this one guy could have had all of those problems and is playing the same game I have been playing. Maybe he was playing Madden.;) I guess thats it. Just thought you should know.

[bluefire712]

Then there's the question of end-game A.I. Last year, since there basically wasn't any, I decided that the only reasonable answer was that with development funds dwindling, football-playing circus donkeys were given the assignment. The backbreaker for me was seeing the CPU let the clock run out on a tie game when they were at my five yard line with timeouts left. No field goal. This kind of incredible error was common last year. As I've said before, it turned a potential Game of the Year candidate into a drink coaster.

Surely this year, though, that game killing problem would be corrected, right?

Think again, my friends. Now I haven't seen that specific situation happen again this year (yet), although I've seen reports of it. However, what I have seen is enough to convince me that something is still seriously, seriously wrong.

Starting off was an overtime game where Green Bay decided not to try a game-winning field goal on fourth down from the opponent's thirty-one yard line. Instead, they punted. Now they weren't facing a howling gale or anything--it was calm. Punting from the thirty-one yard line. Ouch. I have never seen a professional team punt from the thirty-one yard line. If anyone ever has, I promise it was into the teeth of an epic wind, not on a calm day.

Claiming this is the best football game this year is just simply not possible with the AI such as above. How could this be the best football game? I am really interested to see some answers, but none of the Sega fanboys have appeared yet. Coicidence? :watchout: Or are they scared?

[Laxeph]

Everyonr has there own oppinions. I personally don't like Fever because a) the motions are crappy and b) the face masks are inaccurate. Also just becuase M$ stated that all companies were able to make leagues doesn't make this necisarily true. Have you ever heard of lying. It's all an opinion thing and in my opinion this topic is really queer.

[bluefire712]

Originally posted by Laxeph
Everyonr has there own oppinions. I personally don't like Fever because a) the motions are crappy and b) the face masks are inaccurate. Also just becuase M$ stated that all companies were able to make leagues doesn't make this necisarily true. Have you ever heard of lying. It's all an opinion thing and in my opinion this topic is really queer.

It doesn't really matter about Fever seeing as the AI at least knows when to let the timer run down, throw for a touchdown, and kick for a field goal. Which apparently Sega couldn't perfect those basic actions which are the heart of the sport.

Other companies could have built leagues. Who's going to stop them? Microsoft is not going to "build" their league/tournament network for them, thats the developers and publishers responsibility. It took a lot of time to prevent cheating and implement XSN, they're not just going to give over all their work, but if Sega created their own thing so be it.

Well, it isn't really an opinion. I just cannot comprehend why anyone would stand behind Sega and/or Visual Concepts when their AI doesn't act even the most basically, appropriately.

[borka105]

I will state the facts according to me:


I loved fever last year... probably put way too many hours into it (played over 200 games online). At the same time, I had bought nfl2k3 and thought it was complete cr*p. I thought the game was slow, the passing was horrible, and there were no breakaway plays.

What fever gave me is that action packed style off football that I craved for. So going into this year, I was thinking that again Fever would be that action type of football game and ESPN would be the slow paced sim. type of game.......


AND YOU KNOW WHAT............................. I WAS WRONG!


As the reviews started rolling in, I again became interested in both... Infact, to the point where I made my mind made up to get both. Since I get my Microsoft tiles from a family member (takes a bit longer for him to get them), I decided to buy ESPN and wait for my copy of Fever.

So I read the 15 page instruction manual (a big change from the 40+ page last year) and started a game... Right off the bat, I noticed a difference. Not only was the game pick up and play (which I loved about fever), but everything ran so butter smooth.

The running game which felt so choppy and the passing game which was impossible, now were fun. Then, when you add in the animations and the espn presentation, my jaw literaly dropped.

I am at the point, where I've probably put in 15 hours of gameplay since the game came out. Plus add in another 1 or 2 hours fooling around in the crib (I love the jukebox) and I've already gotten my moneys worth in less than a week.


Without a doubt in my mind, this is not only the finest football games I've ever played, but the finest sports game I've ever played.


It's obvious that you haven't invested any time into ESPN, so go and rent it and I can almost guarantee that you will be hooked from the moment you put that disk into your xbox.


-borka105

[CrazyCougar]

No sega fanboy here, I was always a Madden fan and like Madden and ESPN equally. As for Fever , all I can say is ROFLMAO. No ESPN players repsonded to this thread because they are too busy playing the best damn football game on the market.

Fever has yet to prove anything to me from 3 titles. I rented it the week it came out and played it for about 2 hours. It went backt o Blockbuster the next morning. My final deciding factor is when my opponent punted the ball, which proceeded to land out of bounds (outside the white sideline), the ball bounced from there back into play and rolled to the 26 yard line where my opponent downed it. I then started my drive from the 26 and NOT the 50!!! What the hell is that crap...yeah thats realistic. I understand there will be small glitches here and there in evry game BUT that is huge and totally unacceptable.

ESPN has everything someone wants and more. Presentation, gameplay (on All Pro, default Pro is too easy), graphics, and extras.

Online play is stellar as all the "cheats" folks could use to gain an advantage last year are gone. No more trigger squeezing to pan out and in before a snap, no more calling timeout during a field goal when the kick meter started, no more pausing and leaving it sit. You cant quit without the approval of your opponent. If you pull the plug you'll get a drop. Its things like that which make ESPN ahead of Fever.

Graphics are sweet and smooth. The players feel like they are running on the ground and not on air like in Fever. Tackling is solid, guys wrap up and if they dont a ball carrier can break out of it.

The game is fast paced and feels just perfect as the way the real NFL is. Advanced passing is not that far off of read and Lead and Sega was the first to do something with a passing game extra. So while read and lead is kewl, it isnt that innovative. Of course, all the big boys will probably have their own version of read and lead next year I am sure.

I could go on, but its nt necessary, and I have said enough reasons why Fever is lackluster in other threads.

[CarGuy]

HAHA! Have you ever heard of friends, sure i love the Franchise mode but 90% of the time im playing against friends. I've had no problems with the AI. I rented all these games but decided on ESPN. It's an amazing game. No fanboy here, i was a Madden fan since 2001. End of story

[AlBoogy]

Bluefire, the game blows. Simple as that. Animations are horrible, speed of the game stinks (linemen chasing down corners lol yeah right) throwing the ball is ridiculous. My question to you is do you have both games? I do, so it seems to be that I am the last person you should be calling biased. Simply put, the only reason fever is fun is because its online and the stats it takes. Thats all. So you keep playing your "hey didnt I just see that tackle last play?" game and have fun. Denial is an ugly thing.

[bluefire712]

Originally posted by AlBoogy
Denial is an ugly thing.

That's interesting, because in four, very lengthy posts no one has really stated that it was even an "abnormal" problem. I think I'll stick with the game that knows when to punt or go with a field goal or touchdown. That's just as basic as you can get. If you can't get that down, tackling animations are the least of my concern, and should be for anyone.

[Laxeph]

Well.... it's good to see that I have some backers... Oh, and if anyone thinks that they can handle me in some ESPN via live, bring it!

[CrazyCougar]

Originally posted by bluefire712


That's interesting, because in four, very lengthy posts no one has really stated that it was even an "abnormal" problem. ...

Hmm and a ball punted out of bounds at the fifty (doesnt even land on the white sideline) and bounces back into the field of play only to be a live ball isn't "abnormal"??? Thats just plain wrong period. Better check yer rule book as thats a bigger screw up then an AI not kicking a field goal or goin for it.

[Casper]

Originally posted by Laxeph
Well.... it's good to see that I have some backers... Oh, and if anyone thinks that they can handle me in some ESPN via live, bring it!

You got 3 tags there , add mine and you're on - Tuesday @ 7pm est sound good? Drop me a PM - and I got my Fish :D

[AlBoogy]

Originally posted by CrazyCougar-XBA


Hmm and a ball punted out of bounds at the fifty (doesnt even land on the white sideline) and bounces back into the field of play only to be a live ball isn't "abnormal"??? Thats just plain wrong period. Better check yer rule book as thats a bigger screw up then an AI not kicking a field goal or goin for it.

Exactly. Or what about if youre backed up near your own end zone and want to punt. The punter stands in the middle of the endzone instead of near the end line. I had 2 blocked that way. And you have yet to answer my question, did you purchase ESPN football?

[Chaotic]

Originally posted by Laxeph
Well.... it's good to see that I have some backers... Oh, and if anyone thinks that they can handle me in some ESPN via live, bring it!


:o


Let's play ;) I'll ownz j00z :D

[Chaotic]

Originally posted by Casper-XBA


You got 3 tags there , add mine and you're on - Tuesday @ 7pm est sound good? Drop me a PM - and I got my Fish :D

your next fool, stop trying to avoid my invitations to play me in espn :o

[DZNUTZ]

1st off.....you peasants can fight in the street over whos the best espn playa...and when its decided..step up to the royal court and face the KING.

I 0wNz Evreeeeeeeee-1



second...blue...LMAO..you've been playing madden since 01!
i've been playing it for the past 10+yrs...and ish like temco bowl before that.

if u think fever is the best game out there...good for you thats your opinion....but you know what they say bout opinions.


the critics and the mass population have spoken...its all bout ESPN baby.

now Excuse me while i go kick my FRIENDS asses on ESPN LIVE.

[Robflare]

Both games are actually great this year. I have both, and if you put in a decent amount of time on both titles, you will see that they both have their pros and cons. Ultimately, if Fever and ESPN were combined, we would have one incredibly awesome game, but that's not going to happen. This is like fighting over whose hotter, Pam Anderson or Jennifer Lopez!!! Give it up and enjoy the game, brag about it, but don't bash the others.

[Chaotic]

Originally posted by DZNUTZ
1st off.....you peasants can fight in the street over whos the best espn playa...and when its decided..step up to the royal court and face the KING.

I 0wNz Evreeeeeeeee-1



second...blue...LMAO..you've been playing madden since 01!
i've been playing it for the past 10+yrs...and ish like temco bowl before that.

if u think fever is the best game out there...good for you thats your opinion....but you know what they say bout opinions.


the critics and the mass population have spoken...its all bout ESPN baby.

now Excuse me while i go kick my FRIENDS asses on ESPN LIVE. .


:rofl: :rolleyes: you mean the queen don't you :huh:

[Speedy C]

For all of you who have said ESPN is the best, you are smart ballers. There is no football game that even comes close to the way that sega made this game! Oh by the way..........GO LIONS.














"Measure my determination by the screams of my prey." :o

[Seawolf1]

Who wrote the paragraph you pasted and in what capacity? Was it from some review somewhere or just another "I'm jealous of ESPN's popularity" thread?
Why come in here and ask for support for Fever by bashing ESPN? that's not how you build support my friend.
In reference to this so called glitch that is mentioned in that paragragh, I havent seen any glitches even remotely close to that, but if there is then so what? is it a game killer even if it is present? hardly.
If Microsoft would do to Fever what Sega did to 2K4 then I would be more than happy to switch over to Fever, but until that happens I and many others will play and support the one that does appeal to us. If Fever wants to compete with ESPN and Maddan then Microsoft game studios needs to step it up a few notches next year.
Its a shame that EA has such a powerfull marketing push for Maddan, because a lot of people are going to miss out on a great football game by going with Maddan instead of ESPN merely because of maddan's advertising.

Being excited and having fun with ESPN doesnt mean anyone is bashing Fever, actually its the Fever idiots who come in with a chip on thier shoulders trying to start something. If fever was all that great then you would be playing instead of worrying about defending Fever's honor in here.

Originally posted by bluefire712


That's interesting, because in four, very lengthy posts no one has really stated that it was even an "abnormal" problem. I think I'll stick with the game that knows when to punt or go with a field goal or touchdown. That's just as basic as you can get. If you can't get that down, tackling animations are the least of my concern, and should be for anyone.

[AlBoogy]

Where is our thread starter at? As soon as it got hot and the "fanboys" came out he ran. Defend your average game!

[Heavens Gate]

ESPN is the best sports game PERIOD. I take football very seriously and owned all the newest games. I thought fever was great until I bought ESPN. No game comes close to this bad boy. I traded the rest in. Why have the rest when you have the best??? It just screams quality in every direction and people heard it's voice.