[zimrahil]

EA Sports today have released the 3rd Producer diary for Cricket 07 regarding cameras and presentation


EA Sports Cricket 07:

Producer Diary 3:

Justin Forrest

Cameras and Presentation:

The default batting camera has changed to a more dynamic camera that allows a wider field of view for the user. One of the core motivations for changing the default camera was to give the game a more realistic camera perspective and allow the user to feel the anticipation as the bowler runs towards the wicket. In previous EA Cricket titles, the camera was much tighter, but this meant that the bowler would almost magically appear at the edge of the screen and immediately bowl the ball. The build up to the ball being released was lost, and this has now been addressed so that the user is integrally involved in the build up to each individual delivery.

In addition to the new default batting camera, there are also two cameras that reverse the perspective so that the user is now facing the bowler as he approaches the wicket. This gives a very different feel to the game and really places the user out in the middle. The ‘Behind Batsman’ cam has been amended from previous EA Cricket titles and is now much more viable. In previous versions, the biggest problem with the ‘Behind Batsman’ cam was the fact that the batsman and wicket keeper bodies would obscure the pitch point marker. This made selecting the correct shot for each individual delivery a guessing game, which was not conducive to good gameplay. A major improvement to this camera was the addition of semi-transparency on both batsman and wicket keeper models. This now means that the user can see the pitch point marker clearly when playing from this perspective … and there is no doubt that this is a huge improvement and allows for a very different playing experience.

The second camera that is set behind the batsman is called the ‘Flip Cam’ and this is totally new to EA Sports Cricket ’07. The concept behind this camera was to place the camera in a natural position where the user could see the pitch marker clearly without the need for semi-transparency. In addition to this, the camera will flip when a right handed batsman is replaced by a left hander. This gives a tangible difference when playing as a right or left handed batsman.

The Classic Batting camera is still available for use, but in my opinion this camera is now largely redundant and I can’t really see any necessity to move back to the past.

Back in the day when games like Super International Cricket appeared on the SNES, there was a tendency to give the user an almost top down camera when fielding. The 3D explosion tended to move the camera in closer so that model and texture detail could be seen with greater clarity … and sometimes this was not particularly good for gameplay. EA Cricket 2005 had a fielding camera that was much closer into the fielders and there was a loss of overall field perspective as a consequence. We now use a fielding camera by default that shows much more of the action on the field of play as it happens. When used in tandem with the new default batting camera, this gives the user a much better idea of what is going on in the field and this can have a huge impact on shot placement and critical decision making that is so important to cricket.

There have also been changes to the HUD. The ‘Picture in Picture’ display is still predominantly used to give the user an indication of whether a run is available or not. This is still the case, but there are some additional elements that enhance the visual look of the game. As the bowler runs up, the PIP displays the bowler from a side on perspective (similar to the switching bowler run-up perspective seen on television). The batsman’s shot is also shown realtime in the PIP. Some of the HUD changes have a very positive impact on gameplay and are not purely visual changes. For instance, the fielding radar is now an element of the HUD that allows field placement changes whilst in game. This allows the user to change the field when they wish without having to access the Field Placement element from within the pause menu. There are also 4 custom field slots that give the user the ability to carry over unique fields that they have created in the Field editor into the game, which are then selectable on the fly. This function is mapped to the D-Pad on Ps2, and is extremely easy to utilize. Another addition to the HUD is a batting timing gauge. This is turned off by default, but can be switched on within the pause menu. This display will assist users in getting an understanding of the timing windows associated with the varied shots on offer in the game.

Although the camera enhancements do have a positive impact on the aesthetics of the game, the main motivation behind the changes were to enhance the gameplay experience. For a very different batting experience, switch to the ‘Behind Batsman’ cam and face the wrath of the likes of Brett Lee bowling a 98 MPH thunderbolt at your head … and who said cricket was a gentleman’s game 

[Left_Hander]

Well these new features do seem nice, but I always use the camera from behind the bowlers' back.

Good to here this information though

[manee]

Im not sure how much I will use the different behind cameras but I am aware that EA have put alot of effort in, TBH...I would love to play a gimmick game with the behind view, just for a change.

I would have probably rathered a Save Replay option, but for that to happen, there would have to be more situations that happen rarely.

All in all, this was a good move by Justin Forrest and I think he is doing wonders for EA Cricket.

[khan31]

ea is deinately heading in the right direction

[Punk Sk8r!]

dies 'Behind The Batsman Cam' mean inside there head if you know what i mean?

[manee]

No, it means behind the wicketkeeper, or so I think.

[CaptainOZ]

Yeah, I like this. I'm intrigued by the use use of the "behind batman" angle, now that they have made the batsman and wicketkeeper semi-transparent (why didn't we think of this before?).

The timing guage should further help me in playing the square cut and actually hitting the ball for once.

[manee]

Yes, in previous games, some shots were actually impossible without x confidence.

The timing bar now means that no matter how low the confidence every shot will be possible, even though some will be harder than others.

[graham1]

where is Producer Diary 1 and 2 if this is 3 thx :rolleyes:

[irapuclap]

Thanks Forrest for improving Cricket so much.

I have checked out the screenshot, the game looks cool and with the new improvemen
ts, I am sure the game will be the best selling title for cricket this year.

BLIC SUCK.

HEY EVERYONE GOOD NEWS

1)CRICKET 2007 is releasing on 16th november 2006
2)Check this site out
3)http://www.electronicarts.com.au/en-...ket/cricket07/

[Punk Sk8r!]

Welcome to the forums mate, lol bit harsh BLIC are more promising than EA Cricket mind. oh and its only releasing on the 16th in Australia, New Zealand & SA!

[sorrydaijin]

Its a surprise the transparency thing wasn't done ealier. reminds me of teh "punchout" arcade game I loved about 20 years ago, except that used a green wireframe if I recall correctly

[azulfiqar]

camera this camera that bla bla...what have they REALLY done?? what about gameplay? AI? Fielding animations?