Rugby 2005

[zimrahil]

Here's an interview posted 31st March - a Q&A session with Andrew Wilson the games producer.

Community members get their chance to ask the EA SPORTS? Rugby 2005 Producer what they want to know about the game.
As EA SPORTS? Rugby 2005 debuts in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa we asked the EAPlay.com community what they wanted to ask Andrew about the game before they handed over their hard earned cash. EAPlay.com members had the opportunity to write down their questions in the message boards, before we sent them off to the producer. Here?s what Andrew had to say:

EAPlay.com Members: What are the outstanding features in Rugby 2005 and why should someone buy this game if they already own Rugby 2004?

Andrew Wilson: It?s tough to know where to start; it really is such a different game in so many ways. While I?m very tempted to highlight the visuals due to the incredible improvements, I don?t want to give the gameplay improvements any less than they deserve. We really have made an attempt to keep the player immersed in the game. The speed of passing and flow of the game really provides a greater representation of the state of Rugby today.

EAPlay.com Members: Describe the Multiplayer features within the game.

Andrew Wilson: There are a great deal of modes that will keep you and your mates entertained. Up to 4 people can play in all different combinations including, of course, 2 player versus. This mode is a blast to play and we?ve found ourselves whiling away many a night asserting the Brumbies dominance!

EAPlay.com Members: How advanced is the A.I.? For example, will England?s tactic always be getting Johnny Wilkinson to kick field goals, or will they mix it up a bit?

Andrew Wilson: We have instituted team tactics this year and it will effect how a given team plays. We have tried to emulate not only the team styles but you will see individual attributes as well. You are much better off using Jonny to take a drop goal than Umaga but if it?s a crash ball up the centre, that?s a different story.

EAPlay.com Members: Is it easy to learn the game via the training mode?

Andrew Wilson: The training mode will really help you get a handle on the game. There are several training areas that work together to give an introduction to the game. By using Rugby 101, The Practice Pitch and the Introductory Tutorial, it will give you a great introduction to the game (as well as the sport of Rugby itself).

EAPlay.com Members: How did you choose the soundtrack and does it blend in well with the game?

Andrew Wilson: The music for Rugby 2005 is a great mix. We tried to get a good numbers of tracks that would blend together well and appeal to the Rugby fan. You?ll see a couple of Australian artists that are a welcome addition to the title this year. For a preview, you feel free to check out the rugby home page at www.rugby05.com and give the tracks a listen.

EAPlay.com Members: Can you edit players in Rugby 2005?

Andrew Wilson: Rugby 2005 is happy to have create-a-player as a part of the game. You can go in a create yourself or a famous player and have them take to the pitch with your team of choice.

EAPlay.com Members: How long have you and the Rugby 2005 team been worked on this game and what are they working on next?

Andrew Wilson: We have been working on Rugby 2005 for over a year now. Next up for the crew is Cricket 2005, which we are looking very forward to, and of course Rugby 2006!

EAPlay.com Members: What are your thoughts on next-gen hardware and how will this benefit future versions of Rugby?

Andrew Wilson: We are very excited about the possibilities that next-gen hardware will bring to Rugby. We are faced with a tough situation due to the number of players that we have put on the field in Rugby ? more than any other sport ? and next-gen hardware will wipe out this divide. Throw into the equation all that we will be able to do with the stadiums, audio, player likenesses (not to mention the gameplay) and I think it will truly be an incredible experience.

EAPlay.com Members: Would you challenge the EA NZ gamer of the year to a match of Rugby 2005?

Andrew Wilson: I?d love to! Being Australian perhaps we should propose the winner of the match also determines the holder of the Bledisloe cup?

EAPlay.com Members: Can you ask EA to include controllable mascots in Rugby 2006, because c?mon, that would just be cool!

Andrew Wilson: We?d love to have them in there, perhaps a Sevens mode with a team of just mascots? Hmmmm...

The original article can be found here

 

[Skater]

Well for once an interview with Andrew Wilson is pretty accurate! Let's hope that Cricket 2005 has a similar trait!

 

[Stephen Bailey]

What a load of **** he didn't answer any of my questions! It looks like the interview was cut and paste from the pre-release press statement.

Thats what someone on the EAPlay forums posted.

Have to say I thought I recognised the interview. Seem to like cutting and pasting interview's/press releases don't they.

 

[Will p]

Game is pretty good guys!! Tackling is awesome, finally they got about 10 different tackle styles! The sidesteps are massivley improved, now you can hand off and shoulder charge and set moves are much easier to operate. The only thing the game lacks is atmosphere when you score a try, sometimes i dont even notice...PS dont skip the begining when you play New Zealand, they do a brilliant Haka, lol watch the captains eyebrows!

 

[Stephen Bailey]

Game is pretty good guys!! Tackling is awesome, finally they got about 10 different tackle styles! The sidesteps are massivley improved, now you can hand off and shoulder charge and set moves are much easier to operate. The only thing the game lacks is atmosphere when you score a try, sometimes i dont even notice...PS dont skip the begining when you play New Zealand, they do a brilliant Haka, lol watch the captains eyebrows!

Someone sounds pleased! How are you finding it Will, easy, hard or just right?

 

[Skater]

Reply

I find that the difficulty level is just right, it is challenging enough, but not too hard.

 

[Will p]

Hmmm difficulty...i think they got it right, normal is what they say, not hard, not easy!! Hard is very challenging i like it! As me and Stevie said there is a big gap in theis defence between the centres, in hard mode the gap is closed off very quickly. However its more challenging then 2004 whih was so damn easy lol i could beat Aus with Nambia by over 50 points in a 10 minute game!

 

[SteveG]

Firstly, let me say that I didn't go out and buy this game. I received it as a gift.

I wanted to say that because I bought Rugby 2004 and Cricket 2004 around the same time and they were both utter crap. I have sworn since that I will not buy a Cricket or Rugby game from EA.

Well, what a huge surprise I got when I started playing Rugby 2005.

The models are not Madden quality but a hell of an improvement over 2004. The animation is fluid and responsive, although I find selecting the right defensive player a little difficult causing me to be penalised for offside a little too much. I am getting used to it slowly so its probably just me.

Attacking football is great. The side-step swerve, shoulder charge and palm-off are all done well and the limited acceleration adds more realism.

My only major gripe is the lack of career options YET AGAIN!!! I'm wondering whether HB Studios lack a programmer who can code a career option as it doesn't appear in any game they produce.

But, that is my only major complaint. With a career option the game would have become a classic...and I am a very hard to please gamer when it came to trusting EA again.

Well done!!!

 

[Skater]

It's nice to see a member who has played Rugby 2005 and enjoyed it and was surprised to see the improvement over Rugby 2004 like me.

I've got this game for Xbox and my views are about the same as SteveG's, but I didn't feel that there was a career mode missing, as I rarely play those in my games anyway.

 

[Will p]

I think the World League is good enough for career! Lol i recently found out that Richmond were the Harlequins so now i will be doing a World League.


And also its my 999th post......

 

[SteveG]

I've been playing the World League as the Brumbies and are doing pretty well.

As far as a "Career Mode" goes, I'm just disapointed that it isn't a bit more like Madden in its accumulation of stats and records for each team and each player.

My only other criticism is the commentary suffers a little from 'Cricket 2004-itess' at times...it does always match the game situation...but still a big improvement.

Also, does anyone else find that you can only make one substitution (not for injury, just a general sub) then that option is greyed out? Or is it just me.

 

[Hero]

Steve what do you think that if Cricket 2005 benefited with same kind of improvemetnts over Cricket2004 as Rugby2005 made over Rugby2004.How much improved game new Ea cricket game will be?

 

[Will p]

well hopefully the improvment should be the same sorta step up...fingers crossed!