I aint very optimistic about optimistic about this game after what they did with ck2k4.
May be ck2k5 would be nothing else but what they had promised to give in ck2k4.
Have a look at this comparison posted by someone on code masters forums.
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EA Sports
2004: "After a fantastic showing for EA SPORTS Cricket 2002, Electronic Arts are ready to relive all the excitement with EA SPORTS Cricket 2004.
Undertaking an 18-month development cycle will provide the opportunity to pack the game full of additional features and options. Developing such an environment and atmosphere that will keep EA SPORTS Cricket 2004 at the forefront of sports games quality.
Along with all of the international teams and bonus squads, EA SPORTS Cricket 2004 will include domestic teams and competitions from England and Australia."
2005: in addition to the international teams and bonus squads, you can now play with domestic teams and compete in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa."
2004: "Test matches as well as One-day Internationals will also be included for this game. In addition to the tournaments that you have come to know and love from EA SPORTS Cricket, Season modes will also be a highlight of this game.
With new Motion Capture and a new Development Platform, not to mention the inclusion of form and injury, the game play will be more true to life than ever before.
For the Cricketing fanatic there will be no end to the detail. A large variety of statistical graphs will be available including run rate, wagon wheel graphs, as well as a huge amount of stats on every player that will track over the course of a tournament. The game will revolve around a full TV style presentation including a full action replay mode, third umpire, animated ducks, TV style overlays, field position editor and much more. The field position editor will allow for auto or manual fielding."
2005: "Cricket will revolve around a TV style presentation including a full action replay mode, third umpire, animated ducks, TV style overlays, field position editor and much more. The field position editor will allow for auto or manual fielding."
2004: "Over 60 stadia have been modeled from all over the world, including England (Lords), Calcutta, Melbourne, Auckland, Cape Town, Barbados and Lahore. The detail in the stadia is amazing. Lighting and shadows of the highest grade coupled with real time weather all add to the authenticity of the playing experience."
2005: "Over 35 dynamically lit stadiums will be modeled from all over the world, including Lords in England, Calcutta, Melbourne, Auckland, Cape Town, Barbados and Lahore..."
Key features
Over 50 teams and over 1000 players
Domestic teams and players.
2004: "Full licenses from the ACB, ECB, NZ Cricket and the South African Cricket team."
2005: "Full licenses from the Cricket Australia, ECB, NZ Cricket, the South African Cricket team."
2004: "61 accurately modelled stadia, including various pitch types and conditions, detailed real time weather effects, and night modes for Day/Night matches"
2005: "Over 35 accurately modeled stadiums, including various pitch types and conditions, detailed real time weather effects, and night modes for Day/Night matches."
Astonishingly high detail in the players' faces and bodies, including varied player sizes.
2004: "All new Motion Capture allowing improved player animations including form and injuries."
2005: "All new detail in players’ faces and bodies, including varied player sizes all modeled using the EA SPORTS skeleton. Over 1000 new Motion Captured moves allowing amazing player animations across all areas of the product."
2004: "Commentary by the legendary Richie Benaud, Jim Maxwell."
2005: "Enjoy updated commentary by the legendary Richie Benaud and Jim Maxwell."
2004: "Huge depth of gameplay including domestic teams and tournaments."
2004: "Simple and intuitive controls improving on the best features from previous cricket games."
2005: "An all new HUD will ensure that all controls are more intuitive than ever before."
2004: "Huge 3D stadium sound effects based on real crowd sounds from all over the world. Crowd effects change to reflect peaks and troughs in the game."
2005: "Huge 3D stadium sound effects based on real crowd sounds from all over the world. Crowd effects change to reflect peaks and troughs in the game. Pitches reflect the real conditions around the world and will wear over the course of a test match."
2004: "Pitches reflect the real conditions around the world and will wear over the course of a test match"
2004: "TV style gameplay including TV overlays and a detailed replay feature allowing the player to view the action from an infinite number of camera angles. "
2005: "TV style gameplay including TV overlays and a detailed replay feature allowing the player to view the action from an infinite number of camera angles."
2004: "Highlight Save Feature – PC "{was this in the game?? }
2004: "Full Player Editor allows players to change/create features of players throughout the game."
2005: "A brand new create a player allows gamers to create and edit players as they would will other blockbuster sports games such as FIFA."
2004: "Flexible play allows the player to be fully involved in the selection of batsmen and bowlers, the placing of fielders. Chose manual fielding, or simply let the intelligent AI position your fielders for you."
2005: "Flexible gameplay allows the player to be fully involved in the selection of batsmen, bowlers and the placing of fielders. Chose manual fielding, or simply let the intelligent AI position your fielders for you."
2004: "4 Player, (consoles), with 2 player co-operative play"
2005: "4 Player, (consoles), with 2 player co-operative play."
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Screenies
http://www.planetcricket.net/files/cricket20052.jpg
http://www.planetcricket.net/files/cricket20051.jpg
http://www.planetcricket.net/files/cricket20053.jpg
http://www.planetcricket.net/files/cricket20054.jpg
http://www.planetcricket.net/files/cricket20055.jpg
http://www.planetcricket.net/files/cricket20056.jpg
Get 70 new screenshots from
http://www.planetcricket.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=5
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From Planet Cricket forums
Andrew Wilson answers some of forum members questions
Asked by Barmyarmy:
Are you going to be fixing any of the bugs from Cricket2002 that were still in Cricket2004?
Definitely. One of the first things that we do when we start a new game is go through bugs from the previous game and look to ways of fixing them.
Asked by Stevie:
Are you bringing the game out earlier as a result of the fierce competition with Codemasters?
No. Our development plan is locked to when we felt was the best time to release a game.
Asked by thecricketfan:
What changes have been made in terms of game play compared to the last EA cricket game?
This list is too long to list in this context. However, some key points to note are:
- - Completely new technology has allowed us to deliver a much smoother fluid gameplay experience. We have seen what can be done with this technology by what we achieved with Rugby 2005 this year. Cricket will benefit from the same improvements. Have such a solid technology base means that we can focus far more on perfecting the game play.
- - Utilization of EAC’s motion capture facility has meant that we have amazing data to work with. All of EA’s games are motion-captured here. While this, on the surface, appears to be just visual, capturing over 1000 new moves has meant that we can realistically animate real world cricket game play.
- - The all new bowling HUD and bowling stamina means that the gamer is rewarded for good bowler management and varying line and length according to the pitch and the facing batsman
- - With the new animations, we have been able to deliver even more batting moves, so that batting feels more realistic than ever
- - Fielding is always a challenge for cricket games. We have worked a great deal on refining the system and ensuring that each fielder responds as he should….and the wicket keeper will field the ball.
Asked by fanirama:
What kind of game engine is powering it and what kind of improvements will we see visually over Cricket 2004.
As with Rugby, we have used the FIFA technology. Not enough can be said about this technology. Working with makes building video games such a joy. As you will be seeing with the screenshots and the movie that will soon be released, Cricket 2005 looks stunning.
Asked by themuel:
Will swing actually be in this game for fast bowlers?
It sure is. The other thing with bowling is that if you bowl consistently good and varied line and length, special deliveries are made available to the bowler. These are different depending on each individual bowler. If the batsman starts to strike back and hits a couple of boundaries, these are taken away until you build up good consistency again.
General:
Will there be any online play?
Not this year.
Asked by Hero:
As Codemasters are implementing new features to make improve their bowling to make it as much fun as possible, what steps have HB taken to enhance the enjoyment of bowling?
Please see above.
Asked by m_vaughan:
Is it going to be released on PCCD or PCDVD?
PCCD
Asked by denver82:
for the second most popular sport in the world are we going to see such a limited (and delayed in the UK) release like last year?
No
Asked by ritwik:
Will we be able to add and edit players, teams and tournaments ?
there is a full player editor offered…the same as FIFA.
Asked by zimrahil:
Does the CPU pace their innings intelligently for a change, like keeping wickets intact for a final assault when chasing a large total in a one-day match, or if CPU only requires 10 of the last 5 overs with 4 wickets left, will it bat sensibly and cautiously to ensure the win and not just slog at every ball. I.e is the match situation now taken into account ?
Yes. This is something that we have worked hard on this year. Writing situation specific AI is a challenge, but something that we believe we have made significant advances on.
Asked by Ste:
what modes can we expect in this years release ?
We have 11 modes in total, but each of these will have a number of sub modes. We have everything from Tests, One dayers, The Ashes, International Tours, Domestic Seasons, C&G Trophy, Frizzell Championship, Pura Milk Cup, ING, the list goes on… The depth of game-play will keep cricket fans playing for a long time.
http://www.planetcricket.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9997
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hyeah:
Also, I heard the rumor Cricket2005 is going to be releaed before the earlier expected schedule to compete with BLIC release. Does it mean unresolved bugs as usual???? 
