According to GPB website article from January 2010, “Quickhit Update Interview”, by Robert Workman, at that time, Quickhit football already had one thousand online users and over a million games had been played.
Technical Specs
This MMOG flash based game is good for both PC and Mac platforms and does not take any massive downloads. It can be played in 2D or 3D with a Broadband connection. Created by Jeff Anderson it was designed by developers some of whom, according to a 2009 web article in G. P. Sports, actually worked on some of the Madden games, thereby providing a realistic football game playing experience.
The graphics are a throwback to the overhead view of football games where the viewer looks down from above on the action.
The game’s AI really is the best part of the game as it makes the player really work for their win. Plus, just like in real games, surprise outcomes for plays are common such as dropped passes, interceptions and fumbles.
As for the graphics of the game, they are mostly very good. About eighty percent of the plays feel very believable and the action and the movements of the players are at times surprisingly real. Each play is unique and the players do seem to have a life of their own.
The game is free courtesy of commercials. There are commercials as one waits for the computer to create the game, as well as between quarters and the half. Advertisers range from Visa, to Yoplait to Schwinn Bikes. And, there is a banner at the top of the screen constantly showing ads for other sports games and role playing games and such, such as Dungeons and Dragons and World of Warcraft.
Quickhit Versus Madden
For those used to Madden-type games the stadiums for all games are the same, just the colors in the stands and the logos change. Plus the weather is the same for all games.
It is unlike the new Madden Facebook game which, according to Seth Schissel in his article in the Television section of the New York Times on September 10, 2010, “is just another Mafia Wars or Farmville clone dressed up as a football game” where there is no skill involved.
Unlike the Madden games, one does not assume the role of an individual player, so there are no elaborate controls, to control players. It is strictly mouse based.
Instead the emphasis in this game is on coaching the overall team. It tests ones coaching ability as players match skills with an online player or against the computer. One applies strategy to choose one of many possible plays, to target the weaknesses of the other teams to outcoach opponents and win the game.
Yet, it is not (at least for the time being) as flashy and polished as a Madden game.
Playing the Game
To start, one chooses a screen name, and the NFL team one wishes to be. One can read the descriptions of the teams to find their strengths and weaknesses or just pick a favorite team. The computer then generates a roster for of thirty-nine players. The players come with names but the names can be changed to the names of a favorite players, friends or family so that a friend or family member can score the touchdown that wins the game.
There are up to one hundred and eighty four plays from which to choose, from simple offensive and defensive plays to stunt plays like wildcat plays and special teams plays.
One can compete against the computer in three various modes such as against championship coaches like Tom Landry, Dick Vermeil and Marty Schottenheimer.
Or one can also match skills against others online. Before playing them one can see their level, check out their win-loss record, see their best players and the strength of their running and passing game.
When playing against the computer, the quarters are two minutes long and in the multiplayer games they are two and a half minutes long. The play clock is in the upper left of the screen.
Once the game starts one can use the window on the right of the screen to see the play by play, and of course chat or trash talk with opponents. On the left side of the screen, one can use the drop down menus to help organize plays into run plays, pass plays, special teams’ plays, most successful plays and find plays that target individual players.
And at the bottom of the screen there is the game time, the depth chart of each team, score and time outs.
Before the snap, offense and defense chooses ones play from the plays at the bottom of the screen and the offense clicks to hike the ball, always keeping ones eye on the playclock so as not to get a delay of game penalty.
As one plays, one gains fantasy points. As the fantasy points grow, one earns Coaching Points and Quick Cash which can be spent on getting new plays for the playbook, signing a rookie or a veteran player. Of course the veterans cost more. Each player comes complete with strengths and weaknesses. So one can buy a player with strengths that augment those one’s team currently has.
The game also has features where one can friend other players, talk football on the Quickhit forum and see the leaderboards. Plus it is possible to join a league and even play in tournaments.
Although the game is free to play, one can sign up for a membership from anywhere between six and fifty dollars. This membership allows you to earn bonus points every month to use to buy better players and plays.
This game is at its best for anyone who has always wondered what it would be like or thought they could use their football knowledge to coach a team to victory. It is truly a game for the student of the game.
Quickhit Versus the NFL
According to Game Hunters website posting “A New Competitor for Madden?” on May 12, 2009, originally the Quickhit teams were not going to be NFL teams because at that time, John Madden’s EA had an exclusive contract with NFL to use their logs, players, music, etc.
Then in June 2010, the NFL gave browser based Quickhit a license. So, now, one can play as their favorite NFL team and coach teams with real NFL players such as Warren Moon, Randy Moss, Hardy Nickerson and Ed “too tall” Jones. And this year they added Donavan McNabb and Chris Johnson.
Plus they were able to get former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher as the voice of the color commentator during the games.
Some Issues
The game is still in its Beta stage so glitches can occur that can cause the game to quit in the middle of the game. When that occurs, one’s team is charged with a quit, which cannot come off the record.
Occasionally when playing against the computer, the clock will jump and lose precious seconds.
The sound of the game is decent but the sound itself is somewhat repetitive.
Just like in real football, there is a play by play announcer and a color commentator. Occasionally they step on each other and say things which do not make sense for the situation. Plus what they say does tend to be a bit repetitive.
One can also spend one’s Coaching Points or Quick Cash points to boost the effectiveness of either a single player or the whole team on individual plays. It seems to work sporadically. Just because one does boost a player’s effectiveness on a play does not necessarily mean that player will be more successful.
“You cannot audible, or rearrange your depth chart and you cannot pick which receiver you are going to throw to”, says David Hinkle in his article in Joystiq “Quickhit Football Review: The Craft of Coaching” published on September 14, 2010. But he still gives the game four stars for ease of use, emphasis on the coaching aspect and says it is great for those who don’t want to or can’t play games with a game controller.
The one exception to the fact that each play looks unique is during field goals where the movement of the defense is almost always exact. Plus, when a quarterback rolls out, that is not at all realistic.
However, those and other fixes are promised on the next update of the game which is about to be released.
References:
- www.quickhit.com
- Gameplaybook.com
- GPSports.com
- Gamehunters.com
Laurie McLaughlin - My life has been an evolution of dreams - As a teenager, growing up in Cleveland, Ohio I decided what I wanted to do more than anything ...
