FOF2004 Playing differently?

[Bee]

I'm curious if it's just me or if others are finding they are playing the game differently than previous versions?

In the last couple versions, I always had a very "macro" approach to the game. My approach was to sim the season as quickly as possible and get to the off-season stuff. For some reason in this version I'm finding myself spending much more time checking out team scouting reports, reviewing stats, etc. Perhaps it's that I quick simmed through 40 seasons before "starting" and the players actually have a background, but I'm really finding myself getting immersed into the universe moreso than any of the previous versions. I'm actually finding myself watching the pbp of the games!

[Ben E Lou]

I'm not watching PBP, but I am DEFINITELY more immersed than in any other game ever.

[Ksyrup]

Just curious - how are you "quick-simming?" Are you just picking a team, foregoing free agency, and letting the computer do the rest? Once you've gotten through 20 or 40 years before you start playing, do you start with the team you originally chose, or do you hope that your team has performed reasonably well so that you have a choice of other jobs? Do you have the GM firing option off?

I'd like to do this, but (1) I can't stand sitting around year after year clicking through the stages and (2) I'd like to have a clean slate in 20 years, not have some other team's awful performance on my resume. Plus, I'd like to have the GM firing option on, and I'd hate to get 18 years into a 20 year quick-sim and find out I've been fired.

[Philliesfan980]

Its funny, because I was just going to start a thread similar to this one. In general, how does everyone play this game? I've already bought FOF 2004, but haven't really played the game that much yet. It seems like there's a few approaches that you can take to play this game:

1. Coach all the games - Actually control the results on the field

2. Watch the Games unfold via PBP - You are more of a GM in this role, you're letting the coaches do the work on the field. This is a good hybrid method, because it lets you get more involved with your players. (IE. Screw him, he dropped an important ball on 3rd and 5, while in the boxscore, he might have had a good game).

3. Sim the games - check the boxscores : This seems like the best option for guys who want to get done a season in 1 or 2 hours.


Just curious. I'm sure that this poll has been done before, so please don't yell!

[Bee]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
Just curious - how are you "quick-simming?" Are you just picking a team, foregoing free agency, and letting the computer do the rest? Once you've gotten through 20 or 40 years before you start playing, do you start with the team you originally chose, or do you hope that your team has performed reasonably well so that you have a choice of other jobs? Do you have the GM firing option off?

I'd like to do this, but (1) I can't stand sitting around year after year clicking through the stages and (2) I'd like to have a clean slate in 20 years, not have some other team's awful performance on my resume. Plus, I'd like to have the GM firing option on, and I'd hate to get 18 years into a 20 year quick-sim and find out I've been fired.

Basically, I did what you describe. I set up the league (I moved all the teams and renamed them to fictional names), picked a team (Kalamazoo :D), I then just click through all the stages with the computer set to do everything (and skipping free agency).

I have the fire option turned on, and I was actually fired once during the "quick simming". There's an option to ignore that now (although I had problems with it and had to reload from the previous season).

[Bee]

Originally posted by Philliesfan980
2. Watch the Games unfold via PBP - You are more of a GM in this role, you're letting the coaches do the work on the field. This is a good hybrid method, because it lets you get more involved with your players. (IE. Screw him, he dropped an important ball on 3rd and 5, while in the boxscore, he might have had a good game).


Funny you mention this because something similar just happened to me. :D I've been watching the pbp and in the 5th game of the season I just got so frustrated with watching my RB come up short on important downs, I benched him. The guy would break 20 yard runs when the game was locked up, but when I needed him he always seemed to get -1 or 0 yards. My former backup is doing much better. He might not break the 20 yard runs when I'm up 28-0, but when I need 3 yards on 3rd down he's there for me. Statistically and ratings wise, the old starter is slightly better, but the team as a whole is doing much better with the other guy in because he keeps the drives alive.

[azjoe_02]

Originally posted by Bee
Basically, I did what you describe. I set up the league (I moved all the teams and renamed them to fictional names), picked a team (Kalamazoo :D)

Bee, how did you "move" all the teams? Did you just affiliate them with a different city?

[Bee]

Originally posted by azjoe_02
Bee, how did you "move" all the teams? Did you just affiliate them with a different city?

yes

[Darkiller]

I've always been 200% immersed so no change for me there.
Again, it takes me up to a full week to play one season...and I do watch PBP of all games except Pre-Season ones.

[azjoe_02]

Originally posted by Darkiller
I've always been 200% immersed so no change for me there.
Again, it takes me up to a full week to play one season...and I do watch PBP of all games except Pre-Season ones.


Wow DK you are immersed. I like to know, how does FOF2004 stack up against your beloved FOF2?

[Darkiller]

It looks really, really good.
Definitely the best of the series since FOF2.

I haven't had the chance to "really" get into it as much as I would have liked the past week because I had too much work at the agency but I've simmed a few seasons a started to look more and more deeply into it and I'm think I'm going to have a blast this time.
The best proof for that is that for the first time in 4 years, the FOF2 game icon has disapeared from my Windows desktop ! That HAS to be a sign isn't it ?!

[Honolulu Blue]

No change for me; I'm still a game simmer. There are more things to look at now, but I haven't paid a lot of attention to them yet. The offseason is longer because there are more negotiations and those take time.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by azjoe_02
Wow DK you are immersed. I like to know, how does FOF2004 stack up against your beloved FOF2?

Bah, a week for a full season is nothing. With all the write-ups and everything, it took well over a month for me to get through the 1970 season in my Tequilas dynasty. :)

As such, I have been playing this game a little differently, simming through seasons at a quicker pace to see how the game "flows". After doing this for a while (however long my csv file takes), I'll probably settle in to my dynasty again at the slower pace and in the multiplayer league.

[Scoobz0202]

Without doing a dynasty write up I am in week 12 of my Chiefs dynasty. I bought FOF2004 the day after the release. I am immersed :)

I am thinking of creating a season where I do the Dynasty Report write ups in notepad, but not to post them since I am new to the game and suck and do not need to be made fun of :), but to just to get me more immersed with all the teams. I have been wanting to quick sim the real nfl from now for the next 10 years. BUT always wondered how that was done without really fucking up a team. Maybe I will just have to pick the 49ers to do it to :)

EDIT: Oh yeah..is there a way to use the real names but actually have ratings for them at Kick and Punt Return? Really sucks getting 1-2 yards return on every Punt..... If so, how?

[moore4807]

Darkiller!
You have always been my hero... I as a fellow FoF2'r I still purchased the newer games to show my support, but eventually went back to FoF2 - despite its shortfalls, still feeling it was the best football sim still out there.

I eagerly awaited FoF2K4, then held back -checking these threads to see what the word was on it. Now seeing you have let the FoF2 fall off your radar screen - the kingdom crumbles! (lol!) I D/L the demo and fire it up, arrrggghhhh! its first appearance is NEARLY exactly like last years Fourth Edition- the new version looks, loads, and opens, to appear the same as what I dont play now...
What exactly am I missing out on? I choose the Condors (Phi) and start w/o a draft. The team opens - - - it REALLY IS a repackaged Fourth Edition??? I'm still not feeling even the slightest bit of excitement (crusty old dodger virus setting in?) - - - I try setting a play calling matrix --- still way TOOO MANY boxes to wade thru and fill, still the same old problem.
Maybe thats my problem with the game, I dont CARE if a WR plays better at SE than FL - I liked it better when they were aligned #1-6 and the 6th WR was easily ID'd as the rookie or KR/PR. Pos 1,2,3 got the bulk of the catches, 4 & 5 filled in and my RB's were essentially the same way. I wanted to see the FB get carries w/o manually doing it. It KINDA works from the demo, havent seen the full version. From reading posts, something is different - I just know now its not the packaging or the basics of last years model...
Anybody understand how I feel? or can point out why I like the format of FoF2 so much better vs. this sim?
I dont think I'm going to buy this one, unless there's something outstanding that I'm missing...
Jim Gindin is still the best Football sim designer out there IMHO, I'm just getting crotchety about the graphics/screens he's choosing, and that isnt getting any better,

[RPI-Fan]

If you think the interface is that unbearable, the game probably isn't for you.

If you're willing to get used to the new interface and enjoy the massive amount of new changes (draft revamping being #1), you'll probably enjoy it.

[Daimyo]

When I first discovered OOTP multiplayer leagues I thought single player gaming was ruined for me. CM was the first game to really challenge that and I think FOF2k4 is now the second.

The only flaw I really see is that backloasing is incredibly exploitable. It just amazes me how tight the single player experience is right out of the box... that just isn't supposed to happen anymore, especially with small shops. If the multiplayer experience holds up anywhere near the single player experience Jim should just move on to a new sport because he'll have this one covered. :)

[moore4807]

RPI - your probably right,
But your words " get used to the new interface and enjoy the massive amount of new changes"
OK, changes in WHAT? problems that came from Fourth Edition? and that means if you didnt "enjoy" Fourth Edition (which I admittedly don't) then never mind? errr sorry, I apologize - I dont mean to bitch at you, thanks for answering me -still just kind of disappointed I'm not "getting it" I found Fourth Edition is annoying, not enjoying and STILL consider myself a sim player (thats why I was joking about Darkiller - he was much more vocal about it than me - and HE even got over "it") LOL!
Again thanks for the reply...

[Scoobz0202]

Originally posted by Scoobz0202
EDIT: Oh yeah..is there a way to use the real names but actually have ratings for them at Kick and Punt Return? Really sucks getting 1-2 yards return on every Punt..... If so, how?

[Daimyo]

I admit I hated the interface when I tried the FOF4 demo. That was the main reason I didn't bother to purchase it and I doubt I would have considered getting 2k4 if it wasn't for multiplayer.

However, after spending several hours with this game I've changed my mind. At worst I'd say I'm indifferent to it and at times I even catch myself actually enjoying it.

[RPI-Fan]

moore: Everything from FOF4 that didn't... quite... work right, is now fixed. The stats are tight like a glove, and the rookie draft is completely different. The AI seems to be greatly improved, and everything just plays a bit more realistic.

There aren't a lot of new "features" per se, but the game is loaded up with changes that just make it better.

[moore4807]

Ok
Daimyo & RPI a comment and a question and I'll call it a night...

I guess what annoys me most about the interface is the CONSTANT opening and closing of "box" screens to get info. I definitely prefer the windows tab drop down files found in FoF2, thats probably my biggest hang up visually with the game.

How much do you customize your team (ie; playcalling, run percentages, depth charts, etc. ) when you play? Does the coaching/scouts decisions affect your actions? Or do you lock the scouts out of decisions?

[Scoobz0202]

So..is there a way to get passed the no punt/kick return ratings with the real players?

[RPI-Fan]

I actually like the new interface. There's less clicking to get to whatever screens you want. Instead of one for the menu, and one for the specific screen, it's just one click right to the screen you want.

You don't ahve to close and open all the boxes; they stay open as long as the game is open.

As for scout interaction, you can play pretty much howver you want. Usually I'll let the scout recommend to open the season, and make adjustments on my own. This goes for depth chart or game plan. But you can play however you want.

[Daimyo]

I agree that the way you have to close one game plan window before you can open another one really sucks. I think Jim tried to make that tabbed, but found it crashed the game on some configurations so he removed the functionality for everyone.

Ideally Jim would make it so that multiple windows can be opened at once or that one window could be opened at a time, but you could "quick switch" which window was opened either with tabs along the top of the window or a drop box somewhere on the window.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally posted by Scoobz0202
So..is there a way to get passed the no punt/kick return ratings with the real players?

There's a thread around here that explains it in a little more detail, but here's the short version:

Download the Real Player CSV file (look in the all-inclusive sticky thread at the top of the forum). Run that file through the player file generator program in your FOF2004 directory. Everything should be fine after that, although you'll need to start a new career, I'm sure.

[Scoobz0202]

NM :)

[Scoobz0202]

dola-

Do I have to have Excell to save it in the csv format?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally posted by Scoobz0202
dola-

Do I have to have Excell to save it in the csv format?

Nope, just download the CSV file and save it someplace.

[Scoobz0202]

dola-

Microsoft Works Spreadsheet worked..I think. Got the fdt. Sorry guys for the posts.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally posted by Scoobz0202
dola-

Microsoft Works Spreadsheet worked..I think. Got the fdt. Sorry guys for the posts.

No need to be sorry about asking for help.