NCAA Tidbits from EA’s Rod Moye

Xbox Live® and its rather vocal community have been clamoring for an EA game to grace the Xbox® online service since the inception of Xbox Live . NCAA® Football 2005will be the first title from EA to grant them their wish. To mark the occasion, we tracked down EA Associate Producer Rod Moye to discuss all things virtual college football.

Moye, whose passion for the game could be heard even in the timber of his voice, was more than happy to chat us up about NCAA Football 2005 and all that it has to offer. First—and most obvious—was the inclusion of Xbox Live functionality in this year’s game. Rod informs us that it was only with the recent public announcement of EA joining the ranks of Xbox Live that the plans to implement the Xbox online service into NCAA Football 2005 were finalized. I can only imagine the last minute rush to include and fine-tune the Xbox Live features. Here’s to EA for not going the easy route and waiting until Madden.

That first option is lovely.

There have been more than a few rumors and message board posts questioning whether having to log on to both Xbox Live and EA servers would have an adverse effect on the Xbox Live features we’ve come to love and expect. There’s no need to fear, though, says Moye. Features like QuickMatch, OptiMatch™, and cross-game invites are still available.

Moreover, the game’s online experience also extends to its Web site. Moye explains that you will be able to go online (via your Xbox Live gamertag and a password given be EA) and log in to EA’s Web site. Once there, you can check out all of your career online statistics. Not only is it fun to sit and bask in the monitor glow as you peruse your various achievements, but it might also bring to the fore a few strategy alterations you may have not thought of otherwise. For example, a careful examination of my own stats revealed a needed change in my pass-to-rush ratio.

Moye also illuminates a problem unique to online play with NCAA Football 2005. While the difference between the worst pro team and the best may be significant, the disparity between a top-tier college team and a terrible one is flat-out drastic. Normally, that would preclude those that hale from less talented institutions (football wise) from playing their native school online. Well, that’s no fun is it? To remedy the situation, EA is introducing a feature called Even Teams. This tasty little add-on allows for the skills levels of teams to even out when played against human opponents online. The skills of the opposing gamers will be the deciding factors, not the rating of the teams. Finally, my boys at Harvard have a chance!

This won’t be lopsided online.

Moye also gave us a little nugget of info for fans who like to follow just one school: team-specific leaderboards. These will allow you to check how well you are playing your team against other alumni (or just fans) that play the same school online. Want to see how you handle Nebraska against your fellow Cornhusker players? No problem.

I can create crazier fans than these.

There is also a trophy room, which can be viewed in the game as well as on the Web site. The trophy room features two different kinds of awards: trophies and medals. Trophies are awarded for stat-based achievements (1000 yards rushing, number of sacks, etc.). Medals are handed out based on criteria that EA will specify. While not necessarily in the game, these could include things like not quitting out for 20 games in a row, hours played, or winning a certain number of tournaments, who knows. But, anyway you cut it, having your own personal trophy room is something to look forward to.

Thanks to Rod Moye for chatting with us and shedding light on what we can expect from NCAA Football 2005.

By Alex McLain