Just bought espn 2k5
 

Wow this doesn't even compare to madden... I couldn't pass it up, it was only 16 bucks. I can't wait for August 12.

We've been discussing it over in the "Madden" forum. I'm curious to know if you've played ESPN before? How does it not compare to Madden? I think this year, both sides will have real good arguments for and against each game. So far some Gamer mags have given ESPN higher ratings and some have gone for Madden. Either way, they are not seperated by much in the ratings.

Yeah I've played espn before. I don't know, it't just something about the gameplay that doesn't seem as smooth as madden. The tackles, however, are very good in this.

I've been playing 2k5 for about two weeks now. I think the more time that passes, the more I like it. I still think its a quailty game, but I'm still getting Madden.

i was a big time madden junkie for many years. but then my friends introduced me to the ESPN series when it was Sega... granted madden has the market cornered on the "intangibles" of the football video game (roster manipulations, salary caps, etc), but i really like playing ESPN's games more nowadays. it just seems like it's using old school hand eye coordination and gameplay. when i go back to madden,the game feels a little slower and the experience is more strategy-based.

I finally got my own copy last night(and my x-box) and I so far its still every bit as good as when I was playing it at work. Since I didn't do franchise before, I started it last night and the weekly prep work takes a lot of thinking and luck, but it offers some good ideas for helping certain players step up their game. And the graphics r still unbelievable and saw my favorite tackle thus far when arrington grabbed quincy carter, then spun around, and lifted him up a bit before slamming him into the ground. Pure magic and all for 17 bucks.

i was doing videogame development for a while, and i have NO idea how they got to do those gang tackles...they totally arent scripted, takes every guy there into account (no cutting thru players), so real.

ESPN has passed EA in football AND hockey. I do not play the basketball or baseball games. Last year I was able to get free copies of both EA and ESPN for hockey and football, after a week the EA games were on the shelf collecting dust.

I test for EA Sports and in all honesty I think both (ESPN and Madden) are worth the purchase this year. I have played much more ESPN than Madden since I've had ESPN longer, but in their own right, both games have great features and replay-ability. If you can, check out both titles.

On a side note, look for the 2006 and 2k6 titles to be beyond imaginable improvements. Competition has a way of helping these game producers become more 'innovative'

I am a madden man--is ESPN good?

kingerock, I'm also interested to see how ESPN's reduced price effects competition.

[QUOTE=kingerock]I test for EA Sports and in all honesty I think both (ESPN and Madden) are worth the purchase this year. I have played much more ESPN than Madden since I've had ESPN longer, but in their own right, both games have great features and replay-ability. If you can, check out both titles.

On a side note, look for the 2006 and 2k6 titles to be beyond imaginable improvements. Competition has a way of helping these game producers become more 'innovative'[/QUOTE]

My thoughts exactly. ESPN is now pushing Madden and vice-versa. Its great to have two great games on the market.

the animations are excellent in this years espn game, the problem with them is that they arent smooth in the game.

Take something simple, run down the field straight, then turn left or right. The player stops going forward to change the direction you are running. It really sucks. It makes it hard to run at an angle. I have linemen catch my recieivers just because of this weird way that they piece together the animations.

Comparing 2k5 to madden 04 it definitly has better off field presentation. But for running a team and franchise madden is just hands down better. Hopefully Madden improved their presentation. I know they added stuff to the super bowl, hopefully other stuff got added as well. But either way, those things are only cool for the first few tiems you play. How often do you watch sports center and the halftime show? mabye the first three times then never again? Thats why madden has always been a better game, because they understand whats more importatn to the long term game play.

[QUOTE=SKINSnCANES]

Take something simple, run down the field straight, then turn left or right. The player stops going forward to change the direction you are running. It really sucks. It makes it hard to run at an angle. I have linemen catch my recieivers just because of this weird way that they piece together the animations.

[/QUOTE]

exactly right

[QUOTE=SKINSnCANES]the animations are excellent in this years espn game, the problem with them is that they arent smooth in the game.

Take something simple, run down the field straight, then turn left or right. The player stops going forward to change the direction you are running. It really sucks. It makes it hard to run at an angle. I have linemen catch my recieivers just because of this weird way that they piece together the animations.

Comparing 2k5 to madden 04 it definitly has better off field presentation. But for running a team and franchise madden is just hands down better. Hopefully Madden improved their presentation. I know they added stuff to the super bowl, hopefully other stuff got added as well. But either way, those things are only cool for the first few tiems you play. How often do you watch sports center and the halftime show? mabye the first three times then never again? Thats why madden has always been a better game, because they understand whats more importatn to the long term game play.[/QUOTE]

I don't know, I think its cool seeing the highlights of other games, finding out injuries, and trades on sportscenter after each game. It is kinda true about the halftime show except when there r a couple plays u wanna see again. I haven't had any problems at running at an angle except after first catching the ball or right after a handoff, but a couple seconds after those types of plays I'm able to make them run at an angle without making a cut.

I might rent madden for a week or 2, but weighing my options of other games that I want, the fact that I've already got a really good football game in ESPN 2K5 for $35 bucks cheaper, and seeing as to how nothing I've seen or read about madden knocks my socks off, I'll see my normal $50 towards madden going to something else this year.

[QUOTE=skinsfanthru&thru]
I might rent madden for a week or 2, but weighing my options of other games that I want, the fact that I've already got a really good football game in ESPN 2K5 for $35 bucks cheaper, and seeing as to how nothing I've seen or read about madden knocks my socks off, I'll see my normal $50 towards madden going to something else this year.[/QUOTE]

My thoughts exactly. My gaming budget is small and if I can get ESPN titles for $20 and they are decent games-I'm all over it. I'm sure Madden is gonna be good as usual, but I barely have enough time and money for one football game, let alone two.

well for me I have no worries about any other game. Budget is definitly small, and its all going to madden. If there are a bunch of games coming out then you arent going to go through a lot of season anyways, which is what I want to do. I play madden as if it was an rpg, and I go through a ton of seasons. And since you will probably just mess around with it, and play mostly head to head games, then it wont make much of a difference to you.

One big thing madden has going for it, is the fact that the skins are ranked really really well. And they are ranked like shit in 2k5

[QUOTE=SKINSnCANES]well for me I have no worries about any other game. Budget is definitly small, and its all going to madden. If there are a bunch of games coming out then you arent going to go through a lot of season anyways, which is what I want to do. I play madden as if it was an rpg, and I go through a ton of seasons. And since you will probably just mess around with it, and play mostly head to head games, then it wont make much of a difference to you.

One big thing madden has going for it, is the fact that the skins are ranked really really well. And they are ranked like shit in 2k5[/QUOTE]

I kinda like the ratings cuz it makes it more of a challenge and last year I played franchises in madden until year 8 or so a few times and then I'd start it all over with another mixed assortment of players. I'm just the type of gamer who has various gaming stretches where I could want to play rpgs for a week or 2 and then turn around and play football for a few weeks and then turn around and want to play 1st person shooters. it just comes and goes and so I like to have a somewhat rounded gaming library that's reasonably budgeted, lol.

[QUOTE=SKINSnCANES]well for me I have no worries about any other game. Budget is definitly small, and its all going to madden. If there are a bunch of games coming out then you arent going to go through a lot of season anyways, which is what I want to do. I play madden as if it was an rpg, and I go through a ton of seasons. And since you will probably just mess around with it, and play mostly head to head games, then it wont make much of a difference to you.

One big thing madden has going for it, is the fact that the skins are ranked really really well. And they are ranked like shit in 2k5[/QUOTE]

i just can't bear being the redskins without BEING them. the roster has to be the real roster for me else i'll always feel im cheating. thats why i can only go through one season at a time, or mirror real roster changes.

i'm more interested in how it looks/feels/plays on the field and right now ESPN has me enthralled with all the super realistic animations (away from the ball too) and real physics tackles. hope Madden '05 finally breaks out of the super familiar (and relatively few) scripted animations we've been seeing since '00, but from the looks of the videos it totally hasn't... lighting/textures have improved alot though.

I bought 2k5 on Saturday. First off let me say that 2K5 CANNOT TOUCH MADDEN!

But, I do admit that it's fun and it will keep me entertained for the next 9 days until Madden comes out. Gibbs playbook is awesome. It has all types of counters, play-action pass, play-action roll outs......alot of the stuff that Gibbs likes to do. Also the single-back formation has about 7 pages with different packages. Rock Cartwright is sometimes lined up as H-back, which I found odd. Gardner up the middle on a crossing route is my bread and butter, and Coles catches everything thrown to him.

Portis is a MONSTER. On my first game he rushed for 221 yards on 16 carries. Once he gets out in the open....he's gone. Betts runs pretty well also. The defense is good....even though the secondary is suspect. Marcus Washington is everywhere, and Griffin gets good penetration up the middle. Sean Taylor is pretty good too.

Overall, I give it a 8.5. I still prefer Madden simply because the game play is ALOT smoother and the franchise mode is 10 times better. You have so many more options on Madden. I do like Sportscenter and the post game highlights. It's a fun game and I was impressed, but I'm still waiting for Madden and I'll probably give away 2k5 once I do get Madden.

[QUOTE=Redskins_P]

Portis is a MONSTER. QUOTE]

Portis is a monster on the default settings, but up the difficulty to "all-pro" and you will have to earn your rushing yards. Still, he holds his own on that level.

[QUOTE=redrock-skins][QUOTE=Redskins_P]

Portis is a MONSTER. [/QUOTE]

Portis is a monster on the default settings, but up the difficulty to "all-pro" and you will have to earn your rushing yards. Still, he holds his own on that level.[/QUOTE]

true that. try ALL-Pro only when you learn how to make your own audilbles on the fly and learn how to follow blockers. Pro is way too easy but fun for watching all the animations for shedding tackles.

the one thing I'm not liking is the fact u can't turn off the injuries. if I'm just not able to find where I can turn that off could someone help me out with that cuz I'm tired of the most expensive players gettin hurt and having no cap to address the weakness. and with some players missing u'd think the cap would have shown that.

[QUOTE=skinsfanthru&thru]the one thing I'm not liking is the fact u can't turn off the injuries. if I'm just not able to find where I can turn that off could someone help me out with that cuz I'm tired of the most expensive players gettin hurt and having no cap to address the weakness. and with some players missing u'd think the cap would have shown that.[/QUOTE]



Thats how it works in real life though. heh.

I havent checked if you can turn on injuries, im sure that you can though.

[QUOTE=kingerock]I test for EA Sports and in all honesty I think both (ESPN and Madden) are worth the purchase this year. I have played much more ESPN than Madden since I've had ESPN longer, but in their own right, both games have great features and replay-ability. If you can, check out both titles.

On a side note, look for the 2006 and 2k6 titles to be beyond imaginable improvements. Competition has a way of helping these game producers become more 'innovative'[/QUOTE]

Just wondering, how did do you get that gig??

[QUOTE=Riggo44]Just wondering, how did do you get that gig??[/QUOTE]
Yeah, and how can I get in on that action!

:thumb:

you just sign up for betas for ea etc, or go pro (which involves lots of boring test case writing)... I've tested every major MMORPG since asheron's call came out... also, knowing people in the gaming community/geeks helps you find spare copies... that's how i tested star craft and unreal 2003 while they were still in alpha/beta... I don't know that many sports gamers though :(