ICC3 Impressions/Discussion/Whatever

[Top_Cat]

I just bought the PSP version, will hopefully be here next week. Anyone have it and want to share thoughts? Any different to PC version at all?

 

[Dizzy #4]

Well, after more playing, it seems to hold true, the Aussie Bowling does suck, no matter who you choose (Although I do have a fair bit of success with the original 4) It seems to be more of a batter's game, Everyone but Mcgrath are capible of getting tons, I can even use Gillespie as a specialist bat at 3! (He got 1000 runs 3 years running) Lee also seems to be hitting constant halfs too...Scores of 400 are he norm.

 

[Top_Cat]

Okay, bug time; I bought the ICC3 PSP version and in a OD match, I lost a wicket on the last ball of the second innings and the game buggered up. Basically, even though I had wickets in hand, there were no more balls to be bowled in the innings so when you select who is to go in next, clicking on the next batsman has no effect and so I couldn't finish the game, had to shut down the PSP and restart because it wouldn't let me go back to the main menu either. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[Somerset]

LOL - sounds typical of an ICC game. Whats your general impression overall of the PSP version out of interest?

 

[Top_Cat]

Here's a laugh for ya. I emailed Empire Interactive's tech support and after receiving an automated message with 'useful' links to FAQ's, it said I had to re-email them with subject of 'Further Support' if my questions weren't answered. In fairness, they were quick with the following useless reply;

Have you tried to re-create the issue you encountered or have you tried again and passed the point at which this happened.

Thank you for any further information that you have.

We have not seen any other issues raised regarding this and would like to just check first that this can be re-created under the exact conditions as before.

Err yeah, I have control over when the situation when I have wickets in hand and lose one of them on the last ball of a match. *****.

Anyway, the game is quite good on PSP and well worth buying I reckon. The sound is far from perfect though and includes the following foibles;

- getting hit on the pad produces the sound of the batsman getting bowled sometimes.
- significant delay between the batsman getting bowled and the sound afterwards with the delay sometimes being 2 full seconds or more.
- Sometimes batsmen reach a significant milestone and you see them wave their bat at the crowd but no acknowledgement from the commentators or they raise their bat and the scene cuts before the commentators can say anything.

Aside from that, the sound is reasonable, commentary effects are fine. Results are within normal limits and batsmen scores aren't ridiculous but there are a few things;

- Batsmen are really vulnerable before lunch or most breaks really. There's been a wicket against my team pretty much every time within a few overs of lunch if I haven't put the batsman aggression to absolutely defensive which isn't quite kosher.
- Not many sixes as per just about every ICC release.
- Starting off really aggressive will get you out almost straight away with several airy swings beforehand. You're forced to play defensively early on even though sometimes you need quick early runs so scoring quickly in the first 10 overs of a OD match is tough without losing 4/bugger-all.

Very minor gripes;

- No more one-click to get to batsman/bowler histories/form. Don't know if this is PSP-specific.
- No player photos!
- Simming ball-by-ball is slowwwwww. Even one-click simming whole overs isn't super quick.
- Short-leg/close-in fielders apparently have ninja-like skills off the pace bowlers and will catch anything within two metres of them.
- You'll never use Hawkeye on a ball-by-ball basis so it's essentially a useless feature.

Aside from those, it's pretty good. The interface is clean, works fine and is easy with the PSP even without having a mouse. The 3D graphics remind me very much of Cricket '97, especially with how some shots are played but hey, compared to what was before, it's a vast improvement. Love the look of the straight and cover drives as well as the pull shots (on-drives are ugly Phil Jaques-type shots). Definitely don't regret buying it.

 

[Kweek]

Definitely don't regret buying it.

And that's what it's all about!

 

[Somerset]

Thanks for the review. I don't have a PSP so obviously have no intention of buying it but interesting to hear your comments with their efforts on a new version.

Again a typical ICC/Childish Things response to the problem, though at least they did reply I suppose.

I never use the highlights on ICC 3 on PC anyway so those first few annoying bits wouldn't affect me anyway, though I have noticed in general that batsman are particularly vulnerable at the start of sessions on the PC. This often coincides with several boundaries even if the agression of batsmen is low.

 

[Top_Cat]

Update to the ICC3 bug (email from Empire);

Thank you for your time regarding this.
We did previously pass the information to our QA and Developer Managers for their consideration.
Now that you have updated us regarding this we can reply with the following information that they have confirmed.
There is a bug in the game that can cause this issue to occur and unfortunately if this does happen then you will have to restart the game and loose any progress that has been made within the match. The developer is now aware of this but due to the nature of the software (PSP) no update can be made to correct this issue.
The match can be replayed and will completed if the criteria is not reproduced.
The developer apologises regarding this and it will be corrected in any further releases of the game.

So basically "Too bad, so sad, haha you've got the PSP version." Oh and "We doesn't speek Engrish" Let's see if they put this on their FAQ's. My guess? No.

This is annoying. It's a pretty significant bug when a game just stops working but it's unable to be updated to fix the bug. Anyone think I should push for them to send me a new copy or at least exchange mine?

 

[Somerset]

May as well...the chances of a wicket falling off the last ball of the innings with batsmen on full agression are as good as any time during the innings. Seems an important bug to miss though.

I'd say your best chance is to bowl the last over of an innings with your worst bowler to avoid getting a wicket and having to redo the match again.

 

[Nate]

Bummer TC.

Loving the free trial ATM. Playing as Australia in the WC, we beat Scotland and Holland, but then lost to South Africa and India, but just beat Pakistan. Next match against Sri Lanka.

Lack of sixes my main gripe at this stage.

 

[NZTailender]

Lack of sixes my main gripe at this stage.

I get quite a few each game.

 

[pinchy81]

TC, how much did the PSP version cost you?, cause im thinking of getting it Also which store cause im having a hard time finding it on the EB website

 

[Hoggy31]

Don't think it's in Aussie stores, just order from sportingifts or whatever.

 

[pinchy81]

nah i checked the game traders website closest one to me is in nsw (that has the PSP version)

 

[Top_Cat]

TC, how much did the PSP version cost you?, cause im thinking of getting it Also which store cause im having a hard time finding it on the EB website

I bought it from a UK store on EBay;

http://myworld.ebay.com.au/takethejag

Here's the game;

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-PSP-Seal...yZ127762QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

19.99 pounds translates to about AUD$46 (just checked on xe.com) which is roughly what I paid. Thought it was reasonable and figured it'd be $60+ here in Aus. Plus, they had it a while ago whereas it's yet to make an appearance in Aus. Didn't have to do anything special to work in my Aussie PSP too, just worked. The store were awesome; bought it Thu and had it by following Tue from memory.

 

[pinchy81]

Thanks mate (y)

 

[Kweek]

international is a pain in the arse, players don't play FC games anymore for there teams!

 

[sledger]

yeah i noticed that, massive pain in the arse for me, hopefully they will bring out a patch to sort that, because otherwise you have no real idea who to call up.

 

[age_master]

I saw ICC2005 at Game this morning - on special for $2.

 

[Somerset]

I saw ICC2005 at Game this morning - on special for $2.

Gee...sure beats the 14.99 pounds I paid for mine.