Here are my random thoughts on the demo - played 4 games now;
Non game play:
Game graphics are definitely an improvement but not by a big margin - overall it feels more like a next gen console game rather than 08 (which seemed much more like the XBOX version)
Game sound also improved - like the theme music as its what ITV use for the RWC, I didn't hear chants, etc. - and the game does not appear to have the crowd volume changes as the game ebbs & flows as seen in other games
Commentary is still limited - perhaps will be better in the final version but not expecting much
Overall presentation is still poor compared to other XBOX sports games
Gameplay:
Perhaps I'm a Luddite - I can not play with the side on view, never have. I can't rate this game properly until we get the end-on view (oh, and all the time like 06, not switching for restarts and punt penalties like 08) - I also want the zoomed out view options to see overlaps/3 on 2, etc better
I like the new indications on rucks on winning possession - although I seem to be giving away too many penalties at the ruck.
Support play is not good - Tindall breaks the line, he's clear and there's no support - Come on this is Tindall! there would be support players.
I can't seem to get good quick ball and numbers advantage by playing a couple of forward drives
Mauls don't happen frequent enough to draw in defenders - this has been same as 08
Set-plays seem better and work more often - I usually didn't bother in 08
CPU still seems to be able to streak through your entire team at times
Who needs to see replays of conversions and penalty kicks!
Break tackles seem to happen a bit too frequently - I've seen both player and CPU break 3 tackles running through the bunch of players - perhaps this is because we're playing with international players
Line out controls - don't like the basic version but I am sure this will be different on the final version on different settings
Worst of all:
Steyn broke the line, tackled in-goal but during the touch-down sequence dropped the ball in the tackle (clearly no grounding), ball went backwards (e.g. back over try-line to in-play). My player dives on it, should be my ruck to win. But NO, try awarded!!!!!!
It was the worst error I think I've seen in all the EA Rugby games - the developers need to take this as a bug report and see what happened.
Overall
It's nothing over 08 - and as I play 08 on a top-spec. media PC hooked-up over HDMI at 1080i to a 50" plasma
Perhaps I'm not seeing the improvements others do on an XBOX
Ok,it not what we all hoped for, but we should probably all be grateful that we are getting an updated game on the XBOX 360 & PS3 with some improvements
Like it or not - rugby is a minority sport globally - esp. as far as games consoles go. I hate saying this but it's true. At least we're better off that RL/AFL/GAA fans who aren't going to see much better (or anything) for their favourite sport
Final Comment
Of course I'll buy Rugby 2011 - and RWC also (assuming I can get an NTSC version as I have a US console).
But I have every rugby game since International Rugby on the Spectrum inc. C64/Amiga/Xbox/PC/PS2, etc so not really an endorsement
BUT....
I will spend most of my Autumn playing NCAA Football 2012 - this is everything that I would want Rugby 2011 to be in terms of game quality, sound, atmosphere, game options, sub-games, online play & integration
Don't know how many of you have this (or would like college American football) but if you can give that a go
Non game play:
Game graphics are definitely an improvement but not by a big margin - overall it feels more like a next gen console game rather than 08 (which seemed much more like the XBOX version)
Game sound also improved - like the theme music as its what ITV use for the RWC, I didn't hear chants, etc. - and the game does not appear to have the crowd volume changes as the game ebbs & flows as seen in other games
Commentary is still limited - perhaps will be better in the final version but not expecting much
Overall presentation is still poor compared to other XBOX sports games
Gameplay:
Perhaps I'm a Luddite - I can not play with the side on view, never have. I can't rate this game properly until we get the end-on view (oh, and all the time like 06, not switching for restarts and punt penalties like 08) - I also want the zoomed out view options to see overlaps/3 on 2, etc better
I like the new indications on rucks on winning possession - although I seem to be giving away too many penalties at the ruck.
Support play is not good - Tindall breaks the line, he's clear and there's no support - Come on this is Tindall! there would be support players.
I can't seem to get good quick ball and numbers advantage by playing a couple of forward drives
Mauls don't happen frequent enough to draw in defenders - this has been same as 08
Set-plays seem better and work more often - I usually didn't bother in 08
CPU still seems to be able to streak through your entire team at times
Who needs to see replays of conversions and penalty kicks!
Break tackles seem to happen a bit too frequently - I've seen both player and CPU break 3 tackles running through the bunch of players - perhaps this is because we're playing with international players
Line out controls - don't like the basic version but I am sure this will be different on the final version on different settings
Worst of all:
Steyn broke the line, tackled in-goal but during the touch-down sequence dropped the ball in the tackle (clearly no grounding), ball went backwards (e.g. back over try-line to in-play). My player dives on it, should be my ruck to win. But NO, try awarded!!!!!!
It was the worst error I think I've seen in all the EA Rugby games - the developers need to take this as a bug report and see what happened.
Overall
It's nothing over 08 - and as I play 08 on a top-spec. media PC hooked-up over HDMI at 1080i to a 50" plasma
Perhaps I'm not seeing the improvements others do on an XBOX
Ok,it not what we all hoped for, but we should probably all be grateful that we are getting an updated game on the XBOX 360 & PS3 with some improvements
Like it or not - rugby is a minority sport globally - esp. as far as games consoles go. I hate saying this but it's true. At least we're better off that RL/AFL/GAA fans who aren't going to see much better (or anything) for their favourite sport
Final Comment
Of course I'll buy Rugby 2011 - and RWC also (assuming I can get an NTSC version as I have a US console).
But I have every rugby game since International Rugby on the Spectrum inc. C64/Amiga/Xbox/PC/PS2, etc so not really an endorsement
BUT....
I will spend most of my Autumn playing NCAA Football 2012 - this is everything that I would want Rugby 2011 to be in terms of game quality, sound, atmosphere, game options, sub-games, online play & integration
Don't know how many of you have this (or would like college American football) but if you can give that a go
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