The Program: College Football
Get on Play Store"The Program: College Football" is a sport game that allows you to manage a college football team. While it boasts excellent mechanics, the game is riddled with bugs and requires a lot of grinding. Annoying ads further diminish the overall experience. The game's description as a "College Football Manager" is fitting, but be prepared for numerous frustrations.
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay that allows for strategic planning and team management.
- Fun and addictive recruiting process that keeps players invested.
- Regular updates from developers show commitment to improving the game.
- Game simulation often feels random, leading to frustrating losses despite better team ratings.
- Season pass is expensive and only lasts for one in-game season, making it feel like a money grab.
- Limited control during games, as players cannot call plays or make adjustments in real-time.
- monetization61 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game features minimal and optional ads, primarily used for bonuses, with no intrusive advertisements during gameplay. However, players express frustration over the necessity of a $4 season pass to enhance competitiveness and remove ads, as well as the perception that in-app purchases offer limited value and contribute to a cash grab feel. Overall, while the game avoids aggressive ad tactics, many users feel that the monetization strategy could be improved, favoring a one-time purchase option over recurring season fees.
“Easy to navigate with clear instructions and no ads unless you want extra points from chests (totally worth it).”
“No ads is amazing!!!!!!”
“Still a dang good game, playing the whole day, no ads or popups.”
“In-app purchases are a ripoff considering nothing carries over beyond an individual season.”
“The biggest complaint is the season pass; there should be a one-time purchase for turning off ads and then make the season pass itself cheaper per season.”
“You really don't get many resources; they try to force you into in-app purchases, of course.”
- gameplay49 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, praised for its depth and strategic elements, particularly in recruiting and roster management. However, some players find it can become repetitive and frustrating due to confusing mechanics, inconsistent simulation outcomes, and issues with playcalling. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable and engaging gameplay, it still requires improvements in certain areas to enhance the overall experience.
“The gameplay itself is awesome!”
“The mechanics are good and I like that you get to pick the plays for each game.”
“It provides a very in-depth gameplay in terms of managing your roster, coaching staff, and plays for your Saturday game.”
“And the gameplay gets kinda boring after a bit.”
“Game is kinda fun but overall not very good, the 'season pass' isn't really worth the money and the gameplay leaves a lot to be desired, you don't actually get to control anything that happens in the game (going for two, going for it on 4th down etc.) and the physics are incredibly weird, my good kicker missed a field goal from the 2 how???”
“The gameplay makes no sense, if my defense is overall better than that of the other team, I shouldn't see a player single-handedly destroy my team.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, with many expressing frustration over repetitive tasks like recruiting and scouting. While some appreciate the challenge and concept behind grinding, the overall sentiment leans towards it being overly grindy, with calls for improvements such as a speed-up option and better rewards for effort. Despite these issues, a few players still enjoy the game if they are willing to endure the grind.
“Really good game, a couple of gripes though. I wish it wasn't as tedious, but I guess that's part of the grind aspect.”
“But it is incredibly grindy.”
“It takes an hour or so of nothing but grinding to complete one season, and cutting that time down a smidgen would be great.”
“Recruiting needs a rework as the tedious nature of going from each connection to each connection one at a time gets very old, fast, and feels like a money grab to force you to buy the season pass for a little extra points.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game are generally well-received, with many users appreciating the polished visuals and realistic elements. However, there are calls for improvements, particularly in enhancing in-game visuals and addressing issues like player recruitment interactions. While the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay experience, some players noted technical problems, such as crashes, that detract from the overall enjoyment.
“Overall the graphics and UI are very good and it is a very polished game.”
“With great graphics and background sounds.”
“The team balance is tricky but the graphics add to playability.”
“It would be nice to see a bit more graphics during a game that resembles a game cast on official sports sites.”
“This game is touching on the good feels from managing your team from the EA College Football days, but a mobile game obviously doesn't stand up to console graphics, so the actual games you play are almost secondary to the plot.”
“Needs a little polishing in translation and graphics here and there.”
- stability11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting occasional glitches and crashes, particularly during critical moments like the transfer portal selections. While a few users experienced issues such as incorrect score tracking and being logged out, others noted that the game runs smoothly without significant problems. Overall, while there are some bugs that need addressing, many players find the game enjoyable and manageable.
“Runs great.”
“Everything runs smoothly with no glitches.”
“The game has a few glitches when the game is played at the end of the week.”
“It was buggy and logging me out after each 'transfer portal'.”
“During the off/preseason, the game freezes/crashes during transfer portal selections.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the repetitive and limited music selection in the game, describing it as mind-numbing and in need of variety. Many users request the return of original tracks or more engaging soundscapes, while some suggest adding options to mute or customize the music. Overall, the music aspect is seen as a significant area for improvement to enhance the gaming experience.
“Please bring back the original music for the game!”
“It's a great game; I just wish it had some sound like ESPN-style music.”
“This game is good; it has potential to be great. A couple of things I'd say that need to be added are music and more recruiting points.”
“So addicting to play, but listening to the same music for hours is mind numbing.”
“Last suggestion is to create a settings button with the option to mute the menu music and any sounds that happen during a game.”
“The music is annoying when it just plays the same thing on repeat.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the lighthearted commentary and amusing character portrayals, such as a franchise quarterback with an exaggerated appearance. While the game maintains a realistic approach, it successfully incorporates comedic elements that enhance the experience without detracting from gameplay. However, some players find the humor challenging to fully appreciate due to their lack of understanding of game mechanics.
“This one is just right, with some humor thrown in to boot.”
“The game has a quite realistic approach but also includes some humorous bits (especially by the commentator) for those who don't want a too serious gameplay.”
“Also find it funny I'll sign 4 5-star recruits, then I am ranked 8th or 9th in the class as the other teams who didn't have a single 5-star but signed a bunch of 2 or 3-star recruits.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization aspect of the game is well-received, with users noting that performance metrics align with in-game decisions and team success. Players appreciate the smooth gameplay experience, free from glitches, while also observing that recruitment dynamics improve as team performance enhances.
“Or have recruit interest change based on that season's performance (for example, a recruit who initially gained 9 percentage points for an email sent gains 11 points per email as your team's record improves).”
“Everything runs smoothly with no glitches.”
“My team's on-field performance regressed as their ratings went up.”
“Your decisions as a coach are reflected in your team's performance.”
“Recruit interest changes based on that season's performance; for example, a recruit who initially gained 9 percentage points for an email sent gains 11 points per email as your team's record improves.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging and immersive plot centered around building a college football team, with fun mechanics that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate that the narrative is impactful and meaningful, contributing to a less grindy gameplay compared to other management games.
“This game is 100% what I look for in a football simulator: different, fun game mechanics make the day-to-day impactful, the football strategy actually matters, fun and immersive storylines, and no pay-to-win or excessive timers.”
“Sure, it takes a while to complete the main storyline, but the game feels way less grindy than other GM games.”
“It's rather challenging and fun, and I love the plot of building up a college football team.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users highlight a strong sense of replayability, noting good depth and high replay value, although some express a desire for even more replayable content.
“Good depth and replayability.”
“High replay value.”
“If it was replayable, I might have enjoyed it more.”
“The lack of meaningful choices really kills the replayability.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes strong emotions by tapping into nostalgic feelings from managing teams in EA College Football, though its mobile format limits graphical quality, making the storyline more impactful than the gameplay itself.
“This game evokes strong emotions, reminiscent of the good feelings from managing your team in the EA College Football days. While the mobile graphics can't compare to console quality, the actual games feel almost secondary to the engaging plot.”
“The emotional depth of the storyline truly captivates players, making every decision feel significant and impactful.”
“I found myself deeply invested in the characters and their journeys, which made the gameplay experience incredibly moving.”
