We all love the game of rugby. Rugby 08 has been the only rugby videogame around for 4 years. No doubt we enjoyed it! I had lots of fun playing it. But let's face a couple of things: some of the stats shipped with the game were ridicolously wrong (just to quote one, Kankowsky I think it was who had like 89 in speed and like 7 in rucking: how could you play with him in the back row?). If it wasn't for the modders community the game would have become boring after a little while for a lot of gamers who had had quite enough of the same animations from 2005 on.
I'll tell you what. I were starving for the game in 2007 and bought it immediately without even watching the packaging. I must admit that I was fairly disappointed: no new set-pieces, no new rucks (a part from a few tweaks), no new animations, stats horrendously wrong, heaps of bugs and senseless rules, worst possible AI with no chance to concede a try unless you actually took defending players out of the AI's way (and still VERY difficult for them to score). Same game from 2005 and 2006. But well, alright, you had the World Cup in there (though the Lions tour mode of 2006 were demoted), things such as enheanced defence that put big hits inside the 22m ecc, and the passion was so high that I could forgive them, and actually defended the game with a couple of friends that sustained the obvious: same as 2005-2006 games.
Now it has been four years and what do we get? No new set-pieces (or at least I haven't heard nor seen them), no new animations, a few bugs will probably still be there (trailer 0:34 during the 2° tackle busted the ball carrier holds the ball with a swinging hand, I've always thought it should have been held with the other hand, close to the body - uncorrected; 0:38 the player is tackled 2cm short of the line and doesn't stretch to score - uncorrected; then the headless chickens -as somebody's called them- running in aimless bouches - uncorrected; and god knows how many other, because if they haven't corrected these so glaring ones, at the point that they have happily showed them in the new trailer, I guess the rest will still be there), not to mention less licenses, less mods etc. Well, that's just about enough, I think.
I am not saying that the game won't be enjoyable and fun; I am saying that I feel like my passion, my faith and my support has been betrayed. And I must add: ONCE MORE.
I won't say anything about RC, because I feel sorry for HB. I can understand all the budget issues and things. I really feel sorry for them because I supported them and bought all their rugby games, but as I said: that's enough for me.
Clearly, for new players that haven't played Rugby 2005, 2006, 2008, this will be a good game; but I have been looking at the same animations and bugs for too many years, now.
Last thing, and I know it may sound mean, but as far as graphic is concerned Rugby08+mods shall be even better than RWC2011: more game modes, the faces looked quite amazing (haven't seen clear faces screenshots for RWC2011, though), kits looked sharp etc. And as far as I know, modders won't work on RWC2011 because it is not on PC, but I may be wrong here.
Anyway, this is just the blowoff of a disappointed ex-supporter.
Really sorry.
