FOF: Questions

[MidnightPyro]

I've been looking into buying another football sim, as Total Pro Football was a bit on the disappointing side, and FOF has always been something I've been looking into. However, I have questions from avid players of the game

a.) I've heard that FOF runs more like a football "spreadsheet", and has absolutly no climate or "fun value" associated with it. Can anyone clarify this?

b.) I've also heard that FOF has a bland interface that is sometimes hard to navigate. True or not?

c.) How does FOF compare to TPF?

[WSUCougar]

Most pine trees are edible.

[MidnightPyro]

Excuse me as I try and figure out the relevance of that last comment...

[McSweeny]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Most pine trees are edible.

this is true, but watch out for splinters

[MidnightPyro]

Alright, considering I apparantly asked the wrong question...
Do you feel as though FOF runs like a spreadsheet and lacks of climate, or does it have the appropriate atmosphere in your opinnion?

[FBPro]

I've had every version of FOF and it is fun to play, it is accurate, deep and "for me" has the emmersion factors enough to keep me coming back for more. The interface is useable, though not "state of the art". There is alot of info in this game and every version has a better and better presentation IMO. If you are looking for "pretty" you're in the wrong place, if you want a solid, fun, deep football sim you've found it. At the same time I like TPF, but probably would choose FOF since I'm more familiar with it.

[chinaski]

Originally Posted by MidnightPyro

Do you feel as though FOF runs like a spreadsheet and lacks of climate

Yes, very much so. But, its the best spreadsheet youll ever play.

[Passacaglia]

It seems like this is one of the few things that the demo can answer for you. Check it out and see what it looks like, if you're concerned with the interface.

[revrew]

I'll take a stab at this.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to actually be a GM in the NFL? To get your shot? FOF is that shot. It is not a pretty computer game with bells and whistles and cheerleaders waving every time you win. But break down the info, negotiate the contracts, set ticket prices--make it a winner or a moneymaker, that's your call--FOF is the way to go. Could being a businessman ever be fun? It is with FOF.

TPF is lots prettier. The interface is easier, and it has several visual elements that make FOF look like a nutritional label. But does it simulate real life as well? No. Is it as bug free and solid at AI? No. Is it backed up by several years of game development, with a game engine now in it's fourth "New and Improved" version? No. One day, TPF version 5.2 would be better than FOF. But not yet.

If you don't love football and don't want to roll up your sleeves, you might want to skip FOF. But I wouldn't recommend it. I've found it highly immersive (I go to bed thinking about whether to franchise or free agent a favorite player, whether to stick with the veteran or hope for a draft pick) and realistic enough and flexible enough to wow me. I WOULD, however, recommend looking at some of the visual utilities that FOF fans have created, especially if you want to bring in NFL logos and such, something FOF doesn't have the license for.

[yabanci]

Originally Posted by MidnightPyro

Alright, considering I apparantly asked the wrong question...
Do you feel as though FOF runs like a spreadsheet and lacks of climate, or does it have the appropriate atmosphere in your opinnion?

To me, it depends on the time of year. In the winter I like my FOF to be warm and snuggly, yet during the spring and summer I like a light and breezy FOF. I must admit though, I am a romantic and sometimes I like that rainy night FOF. As for whether it runs like I spreadsheet, I'm not sure because I don't have Excel.

.

[wig]

FOF is like a pizza buffet with a cherry-apple desert pizza.

TPF is like a sweater that has green and blue letters on it.

[Gallifrey]

FOF is really for the serious about football gamer. Or not really a gamer, but for those who would like to work in the business of football, but can't outside of a great sim.

The other games gear totally or mostly towards "gamers". Most who know nothing about football outside of TD dances and tatoos.

It really depends on what you are really looking for. There is no other football game for me, as I grow bored with the others the second I see dumb AI, or worse, where the programmers really need more classroom time on football rules.

[Franklinnoble]

I haven't tried TPF, but I've owned every version of FOF and TCY since FOF2. I haven't regretted a single purchase.

FOF2k4 was a great leap forward for the franchise, and I think game designer Jim Gindin is gradually working towards a more customizeable and re-playable football simulator. It's already possible to re-create historical leagues and drafts, for example (if the league size and configuration were customizeable, I'd probably wet myself).

New features like the HTML export add depth to the game, and there are a ton of great 3rd party utilities, draft files, and roster files. I think buying the game is a safe investment, and definately worth the price of admission.

[Hurst2112]

I've been looking into buying another football sim, as Total Pro Football was a bit on the disappointing side, and FOF has always been something I've been looking into. However, I have questions from avid players of the game

a.) I've heard that FOF runs more like a football "spreadsheet", and has absolutly no climate or "fun value" associated with it. Can anyone clarify this?

b.) I've also heard that FOF has a bland interface that is sometimes hard to navigate. True or not?

c.) How does FOF compare to TPF?

What was under the bridge in the "3 Billy Goats Gruff"?

TROLL!!!

You're banished from the land!!!

[BigJohn&TheLions]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Most pine trees are edible.

...but pine cones are NOT for hazing!

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by BigJohn&TheLions

...but pine cones are NOT for hazing!

PINE CONES????????








{Shudder}

[MizzouRah]

Browse my solo career and judge for yourself. FOF2k4 is one hell of a game, and it's money well spent. Does it have flaws? Yep, but this is THE best sim on the market. If you want graphics, buy Madden 2k4.

http://tvfl.cobaltice.net

Ya, ya, I'm promoting my site.


Todd

[Crim]

Originally Posted by BigJohn&TheLions

...but pine cones are NOT for hazing!

I take issue with this, you bigot. My pine cones can be whatever they want to be... a goldfish, a rooster, a butterfly ballot, whatever. They are limited only by their ambition and drive to succeed.

Well, maybe not a goldfish, but you get the idea.



Crim

[rpommier]

Originally Posted by MidnightPyro

I've been looking into buying another football sim, as Total Pro Football was a bit on the disappointing side, and FOF has always been something I've been looking into. However, I have questions from avid players of the game

a.) I've heard that FOF runs more like a football "spreadsheet", and has absolutly no climate or "fun value" associated with it. Can anyone clarify this?

b.) I've also heard that FOF has a bland interface that is sometimes hard to navigate. True or not?

c.) How does FOF compare to TPF?

Having been faced with the same quandry I'll detail my experience...

I was hooked on TPF for the 3 days of the demo, I think the demo version was 1.29. The biggest factor in my decision to purchase FOF2004 over TPF was the stability. Plain and simple, FOF works, which is really important in this type of game. You don't get RB not getting enough carries, players vanishing and other weird things. Granted TPF may be a bit more stable now, but no way should it have been released in that condition. That also made me stick with FOF2K4, if .400 could release a game in that condition, I had no confidence they would ever patch it sufficiently.

Now for you questions...

a) Yes it does have a spreadsheet feel initially, personally I quickly got over it. I too was hung up on the presentation of TPF (mighty good too). But after awhile it wears off and your left with the reality that these are text sims, and after awhile the pretty presentation just becomes something else to wade through while managing your team.

b) Download the demo and check the interface out... Like I said, I was dazzled by TPF also. After 2wks of FOF under my belt FOF has the better "useable" interface. It's not pretty but it's more functional than TPF, it's also alot more responsive.

c) I'm going to rate FOF better than TPF simply because it's a more mature product. TPF has the version 1 growing pains, where as FOF is really on version 5, so there's no comparison.

So in the end the question is, "Am I willing to stand by .400 while they iron out the bugs in TPF?" The answer was no for me, both products are the same price, one is a mature product and performs very well, FOF. While the other is a first release with some warts that are still being worked out.

Here are some things that TPF does better than FOF:
- More meaningful scout information
- Better contract building
- Better trading module, as far as offering conditional draft picks
- Mock draft is really nice

Here some things that make FOF stand out:
- The alamanac is nice
- Plenty of player awards
- More in depth ratings for players
- Player interaction is better, there's mentorship ratings for some players,
these older players help your young player develop faster.
- Easier to track all players in your universe, I could never find my players once they were retired in TPF

Hope some of that helps. During the demo of TPF I played 8 or 10 seasons, so I got pretty familiar with it. I have to say I am enjoying FOF way more than I thought I would. After 2 weeks I am in 2033, 30 seasons and am having a blast.

Roderick

[RedKingGold]

The chili makes my ass burn