I need to create a 6.3a.

[Solecismic]

Hi, everyone.

I need to create a 6.3a. I think the RB catch issue is bothersome, and I'd like default rosters with proper experience (it figures I'd forget something obvious like the need to subtract one from what the NFL reports in-season - I've only been doing this for 11 seasons now, you'd think I'd learn - I was so proud of the ratings, too, really spent a lot of time tweaking them).

This isn't an opportunity to add new features. The game is three years old, and I have to focus on the future. If I keep adding stuff, then you won't be absolutely blown away by a new version down the road. I'd like to pretend (please don't blow it for me) that simply providing a free maintenance update for a three-year-old product actually does blow people away.

I've gotten some questions about the "Vista-izing" changes. As in "why in the hell would you do that?" Well, the problem is that people buying the game run into problems having to allow administrative privileges in the installation folders. And Windows doesn't provide a nice error message that would make that an easy fix.

This makes life tougher for multi-player leagues, I know. The AppData folder is hard to find. There's already a learning curve for commissioners. One of the major features on the list for a next version, if there is one, is going through all of the commissioner actions and seeing what I can do to streamline and automate, eliminate the need for batch files, add an interface for direct import and export through FTP, data dumps for custom stat packages, etc. But maybe you'll find it easier to recruit new people, as this should make the game more appealing to new customers with Vista.

Or maybe not. I've been on Vista for six months now, and I hate it with the passion of 1,000 suns. Almost as much as I hate Dell and the godawful McAfee adware they put on my new computer.

Ben has been very helpful in setting up this item. If you think something needs to be in 6.3a. Bug fixes, not new features, make sure they're either posted here or sent to customer support. Be very specific about anything to do with end-of-half decisions. Sometimes I can't work with a report because I don't know the number of time outs left or the score or the settings for two-minute offense or the wind speed (field goal decisions). Yes, I know the whole hurry-up could use more work, but that's a decent-sized item for the next version as well (the ability to time plays down to a few seconds while deciding on the next play, primarily).

Anyway, this was a huge patch - probably the most work I've ever done on one. I hate that it isn't perfect, but I think it breathes a lot more realism into the game. I'm headed out of town next week. When I return, I'm going to see what's here, put together the patch, and move on to what's next for Solecismic Software (as usual, a state secret not even president Obama knows - for his own protection).

Thanks for your help. Enjoy.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

I'd like to pretend (please don't blow it for me) that simply providing a free maintenance update for a three-year-old product actually does blow people away.

It doesn't get said enough. Despite whatever bumps there may be in the installation, we shouldn't overlook the fact that you attempted to address a *lot* in a free patch to a product that's over three years old. Many game companies would charge full price for what's in 6.3--in many ways 6.3 feels like getting a new game.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Ben has been very helpful in setting up this item. If you think something needs to be in 6.3a. Bug fixes, not new features, make sure they're either posted here or sent to customer support. Be very specific about anything to do with end-of-half decisions. Sometimes I can't work with a report because I don't know the number of time outs left or the score or the settings for two-minute offense or the wind speed (field goal decisions). Yes, I know the whole hurry-up could use more work, but that's a decent-sized item for the next version as well (the ability to time plays down to a few seconds while deciding on the next play, primarily).

Oh, and to all: "this item" refers to the bug thread. I split this post out from it. Post bugs/issues in the bug thread. And as Jim says, please give as much information as possible.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

It doesn't get said enough. Despite whatever bumps there may be in the installation, we shouldn't overlook the fact that you attempted to address a *lot* in a free patch to a product that's over three years old. Many game companies would charge full price for what's in 6.3--in many ways 6.3 feels like getting a new game.

Quoted for Truth.

I've been with companies that have charged for a full version release with less changes.

[GeneralMakaveli]

Edit: The test runs where in 6.2 and the AI controlled every thing.

I guess this is the ONLY chance I will ever get to vent and maybe have some of my ideas implemented. This are not additions, they are things I think need to be changed to bring the game around to a real football experience.

Now before I make my rant let me be clear, I LOVE this game. I play it way more then I should. I only play SP because MP becomes to tedious and I get bored. I was so exited you released 6.3 and I'm very happy you did it. Thank you.

1. Stop letting the A.I. draft the same positions in the first round within 3 year. I hate it so much when the worst team drafts a QB #1 over all one year then draft ANOTHER QB #1 or #2 the very next season. There has to be an easy way to fix this. IMO do not let the AI draft a QB,RB or TE with in 3 years after drafting one. Only the first round tho. If they want to take one in the 2nd that is cool they probably need it then. This would make me SO happy.

2. RBs playing EVERY game. In a quick sim just to have some data with 100 injury (Default) 24/32 teams had there #1 running back play EVERY game. Two of the other 32 starting RBs played 15/16 games. So I did another sim with 200 injury (double) 15/32 teams had there RBs play every game. Another 5 played 15/16 games. So what does this all mean? In the 2008 NFL season 7/32 starting RBs played every game and 3 of the other started 15/16. SO what I propose is you up the RBs minor injures a lot. It kinda sucks you they can play every single game. Make them miss more games. I think this is one of the biggest "bugs" in the game.

3. Returning - It should be one attribute. There is no need to have it be 2. Any one who is a great KR can more then likely be successful as a PR. Also can you make it so the return skill has nothing to do with a players over all? I hate when I look at my WR who is 100 in everything but KR/PR and he isn't a 100. Its just kinda annoying.

So yeah those are IMO the biggest bugs in the game.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by GeneralMakaveli

1. Stop letting the A.I. draft the same positions in the first round within 3 year. I hate it so much when the worst team drafts a QB #1 over all one year then draft ANOTHER QB #1 or #2 the very next season. There has to be an easy way to fix this. IMO do not let the AI draft a QB,RB or TE with in 3 years after drafting one. Only the first round tho. If they want to take one in the 2nd that is cool they probably need it then. This would make me SO happy.

I thought the Detroit Lions fixed this bug when they fired Matt Millen Now Oakland is going to have a bit tougher time squashing that bug I am afraid.

[GeneralMakaveli]

Originally Posted by Alan T

I thought the Detroit Lions fixed this bug when they fired Matt Millen Now Oakland is going to have a bit tougher time squashing that bug I am afraid.

Sadly I'm a lions fan and had to live through the 4 WRs. I really do think this needs to be fixed. I saw 1 team draft 3 QBs in the first round 3 straight years. Not a single one was a bust. They all had great Potential but rotted. That team sucked for a LONG time after that.

[Firefly]

Thanks Jim! I love the patch... even if it's still a bit buggy. We really need an equalizer for defenses.


edit:

Sorry, I meant to say "needed". As in, thanks for doing it!

[millhousebc]

I agree with Firefly, love the patch even with the problems. Don't know if this can be fixed, but it would be nice for all teams to be working on the same trade value chart. When I offer 2-1st rounders and another pick and get turned down, I am fine with. Until I see the AI team turn around and trade the pick for less than what I offered. Nothing major, just a little frustrated.

[Dutch]

All great news!

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

Oh, and to all: "this item" refers to the bug thread. I split this post out from it. Post bugs/issues in the bug thread. And as Jim says, please give as much information as possible.

Originally Posted by Firefly

We really need an equalizer for defenses.

Originally Posted by millhousebc

I agree with Firefly, love the patch even with the problems. Don't know if this can be fixed, but it would be nice for all teams to be working on the same trade value chart. When I offer 2-1st rounders and another pick and get turned down, I am fine with. Until I see the AI team turn around and trade the pick for less than what I offered. Nothing major, just a little frustrated.

[da commish]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

It doesn't get said enough. Despite whatever bumps there may be in the installation, we shouldn't overlook the fact that you attempted to address a *lot* in a free patch to a product that's over three years old. Many game companies would charge full price for what's in 6.3--in many ways 6.3 feels like getting a new game.

Agreed 100%.

[beargrowlz]

Best value in gaming on the market without a doubt.


Cheers,
-Bear

[natcret]

Jim, thank you for listening

[Kobeck]

Originally Posted by GeneralMakaveli

Any one who is a great KR can more then likely be successful as a PR.

As a Titan fan I can tell you PR is totally different than KR.




Onto my real reason for posting.


Jim,

Long time players gripe and complain about the things that bug them, and fair enough. But I want to say thanks for making the best American Pro Football simulator there is. Its not perfect, but FOFC has no real competition. You at least touch on every major aspect of NFL. Some are handled better than others, but you have everything except commentators simulated to some degree. I am a gronard and I love the detail so I say keep it comming. I do not play single player to any degree, I should cause my multi player team suffers the most, but when I have played there are always interesting decisions too be made and I usually find the results plausable.

If in fact I have your attention I would love too see more attention paid to the franchise level economics in the game. I read the book The League and since then I have found the owners to be nearly as entertaining as the games.


good job and that's my $0.02

[Firefly]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

heh sorry, a bad grammatical error changed the meaning of my post. Fixed it!

[Raiders Army]

Thanks again Jim. I held off installing 6.3 because I had a strong feeling that there would be a 6.3a or 6.31 version coming out. Your past history of rapidly fixing bugs in new FREE versions is great and it continues now.

[A-Husker-4-Life]

WOW, thanks Jim for all your dedication with your products. These games will stand the test of time especially TCY.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

Thanks again Jim. I held off installing 6.3 because I had a strong feeling that there would be a 6.3a or 6.31 version coming out. Your past history of rapidly fixing bugs in new FREE versions is great and it continues now.

This isn't to pick on you, but it's worth pointing out to everyone out there that every person who chooses to do this increases the odds that there will *not* be a 6.3a or version 6.31 or whatever. And every person moving forward who chooses not to play until 6.3a comes out increases the odds that after 6.3a we'll have a game that still has bugs and issues that won't get fixed. The more people we have very shortly after a release finding issues and reporting them, the better chance we have of catching everything.

ALL: Don't rely on others to catch stuff and/or report stuff.

[Young Drachma]

I barely play anymore -- as in, probably not in the past year -- but I still appreciate the updates. It's a huge thing and certainly not taken for granted.

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

This isn't to pick on you, but it's worth pointing out to everyone out there that every person who chooses to do this increases the odds that there will *not* be a 6.3a or version 6.31 or whatever. And every person moving forward who chooses not to play until 6.3a comes out increases the odds that after 6.3a we'll have a game that still has bugs and issues that won't get fixed. The more people we have very shortly after a release finding issues and reporting them, the better chance we have of catching everything.

ALL: Don't rely on others to catch stuff and/or report stuff.

Great point. In my defense, it seems as if the rest of you are so thorough that my contributions would amount to "Yeah, that too!"

Regardless, I had held off the installation because I didn't want to continue my SP dynasty. It didn't even occur to me that I could decide to not play my dynasty until 6.3a. What a dummy.

[jdavidbakr]

Would this be a good place to ask that the Pass Coverage screen titles match the text in the list? Right now it's a bit annoying to see "Slight Running Situations" in the list but the window title when you click on it says "Slight Rushing Situations," etc, for all running/rushing situations. For some reason that really slows me down when I'm game planning as my brain doesn't equate those two words, even though they are so similar.

[stevew]

I was wondering if the first round draft pick contracts were a design decision? I fully recognize that Jim is most likely factoring in "real money" vs voidable years, escalators, etc. Obviously FOF doesn't do those things.

But still, 1.1 in 2010 should get more than 5/40. I think, anyways.

[WebEwbank]

Jim, your commitment remains unparalleled. I have not installed 6.3 yet simply because I am working 26 hours per day, but I will make time...

[Dandelion]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

I need to create a 6.3a. I think the RB catch issue is bothersome, and I'd like default rosters with proper experience (it figures I'd forget something obvious like the need to subtract one from what the NFL reports in-season - I've only been doing this for 11 seasons now, you'd think I'd learn - I was so proud of the ratings, too, really spent a lot of time tweaking them).
...
I'm headed out of town next week. When I return, I'm going to see what's here, put together the patch, and move on to what's next for Solecismic Software (as usual, a state secret not even president Obama knows - for his own protection).

Is there an ETA for that patch yet?

[miked]

As an aside, this really isn't a broken feature or bug, but why can't the ability to play remotely be put in? I can do this with tons of games, but not this one and it probably uses 1/10 the resources as some of the others.