Total College Basketball Demo

[Gary Gorski]

come on DT - I just want one more turn then I'll get back to work :)

[DaddyTorgo]

haha. you deserve it. Which makes me wonder. As a developer, do you find that you can ever have any fun playing your own game? Or since you know all the nuts-and-bolts does it just seem too transparent?

[Gary Gorski]

The follow up to that season wasn't quite as good. Alabama State finished 11-7 in the conference (good for 2nd in the conf - 19-12 overall) and managed to win the SWAC tournament again only pulling a 15 seed this time and getting shellacked by the 2 seed Texas 70-36. Judd and Armstrong failed to show up once again scoring 10 points combined in the blowout.

Stat wise Judd bumped his scoring to 8.9 PPG but APG fell to 2.9 (BTW, its always nice to have a PG shoot 60% from the FT line). The good news is that he boosted his GPA to 2.4 so looks like he's doing well in basket weaving 201 this semester.

Armstrong finished his senior campaign with very similar numbers and again led the team in scoring with 14.7 PPG.

Just to assure you that a low prestige team who scores a couple decent recruits is still a bad team - in addition to the beatdown last season from Temple and this one from Texas in the NCAAs they also managed a 27 point loss at Western Illinois and a 39 point loss in mid december at Oklahoma.

Ok, putting it to bed now and getting back to work. :)

[Gary Gorski]

haha. you deserve it. Which makes me wonder. As a developer, do you find that you can ever have any fun playing your own game? Or since you know all the nuts-and-bolts does it just seem too transparent?

To be honest I spent so much time playing with the two versions of TPB in testing and such that I never really sat down and had careers in them post-release...that said, I cannot WAIT to release this one and start my coaching career. I had a great beta team this time around and they took care of the playing and between reading their dynasties on the beta board and seeing the amazing mods being made like the home courts I can't wait to start playing it for real myself :)

[jbmagic]

will low prestige teams have a chance to improve and compete? will they have a chance to be an elite team in the future?

[DaddyTorgo]

will low prestige teams have a chance to improve and compete? will they have a chance to be an elite team in the future?yeah. prestige adjusts based on tournament showings, conference finish...stuff like that

[Gary Gorski]

will low prestige teams have a chance to improve and compete? will they have a chance to be an elite team in the future?

If by the future you mean in 5 years then no - if you're talking 30 years and on then yes. There was one test (mind you one out of who knows how many we have run so far) that Central Michigan ended up getting some good fortune early on and then just became dominant in the MAC. I think it was 15-20 years in and they were one of the elite teams in the league with prestige around 88 or 89 or something like that. Still not a Duke or UNC but not bad for a MAC team.

[DaddyTorgo]

#1 overall (SG from NY) and #8 overall (SF from CT) to BC. Niiiiice.

[dunkem]

Sounds good Gary. I have also enjoyed playing the game and recruiting. I did freak out a little with the top 100 recruits DT snagged though, but seeing the logic behind it and potential academic difficulties, makes sense.

I really enjoy playing all the games and "coaching". 2D display is excellent and stats seem pretty good. It's difficult to pull away from FBCB, but TCB does give so much more depth with personality traits and offensive/defensive proficiencies. If recruiting can be sped up or summarized better in a screen or so, I could easily see myself playing TCB more than FBCB. Good job Gary!

[rexallllsc]

Is this game still set to be released this month?

[Gary Gorski]

I can say with 100% certainty that it will be released this month :)

In fact the wait is almost over ;)

[MJ4H]

If you say that one more time without releasing it I'm going to

Well it doesn't really matter what I'm going to do because we probably live thousands of miles apart, but let me assure you my dog will be an unhappy participant in the event and my neighbor will never again play croquet.

[Galaril]

I can say with 100% certainty that it will be released this month :)

In fact the wait is almost over ;)


This month! There 3 weeks left in this month. Hope it isn't that long of a wait.

[dunkem]

Well, looks like the wait is over! Available tomorrow night according the greydog page.

"Grey Dog is happy to announce Total College Basketball will be made available for digital download beginning January 13th at 7:00 PM CST."

Mentioned something about a preview on operationsports too. Does go a bit overboard though:

"This game not only appears to be the deepest text-based college basketball game, but could be the deepest text-based sports game I’ve ever seen."

FM has this honor hands down whether you like european football or not. TCB does have some personality elements and depth which possibly make it the deepest college basketball game though.

[Galaril]

Yeah, I see.That is great to hear thanks Gary.

[MizzouRah]

Well, looks like the wait is over! Available tomorrow night according the greydog page.

"Grey Dog is happy to announce Total College Basketball will be made available for digital download beginning January 13th at 7:00 PM CST."

Mentioned something about a preview on operationsports too. Does go a bit overboard though:

"This game not only appears to be the deepest text-based college basketball game, but could be the deepest text-based sports game I’ve ever seen."

FM has this honor hands down whether you like european football or not. TCB does have some personality elements and depth which possibly make it the deepest college basketball game though.
I don't think he's played FM.

[DaddyTorgo]

rarrrrr. i have to work hellish hours all weekend. i won't have a chance to touch the game (even if i DL it) until Monday afternoon likely. Killing me. absolutely KILLING me.

[Icy]

Awesome news, can't wait.

[WSUCougar]

Bueno! Great work, Gary.

[dunkem]

Like I said, i do think TCB is quite deep unique in gameplay, recruiting, and various proficiencies. It may possibly be the best basketball text sim on the market (gotta see multiple season results first to compare to FBCB). Just thought it was a bold statement even if he hasn't played FM. I didn't intend to offend the writer if that's the case.

[MizzouRah]

Like I said, i do think TCB is quite deep unique in gameplay, recruiting, and various proficiencies. It may possibly be the best basketball text sim on the market (gotta see multiple season results first to compare to FBCB). Just thought it was a bold statement even if he hasn't played FM. I didn't intend to offend the writer if that's the case.
It's no big deal. :) To each his own. FBCB didn't do much for me even though a few seasons seemed really simple and accurate... just didn't immerse me.

[Glengoyne]

I'm liking this, BUT recruiting might be too much for me. There seems like a lot to the process, and I'm not sure I'm doing things properly, because I don't feel like I'm getting enough feedback on the recruiting process. Sure I look at an individual player, and he say's I'm in the running, but how am I supposed to remember which of the guys I've contacted fall into which categories. I feel like I need to be taking notes or using a spreadsheet to keep track of this info. As a result I feel lost in the recruiting process. So much so that it's keeping me from playing. The recruiting seems like work, and I'm not motivated enough to knuckle down and do it.

Other than that aspect of recruiting....This game looks good. So I'll give it a tentative "thumbs up", but I'm not sure it is my cup of tea.

[Gary Gorski]

I'm liking this, BUT recruiting might be too much for me. There seems like a lot to the process, and I'm not sure I'm doing things properly, because I don't feel like I'm getting enough feedback on the recruiting process. Sure I look at an individual player, and he say's I'm in the running, but how am I supposed to remember which of the guys I've contacted fall into which categories.

Well a fairly quick way of seeing a large group of players at once is to use the grid on the main recruiting page. Just select the parameters you want to see (or click the grey box next to the National label to see them all) and then use the drop down box above the grid to change to some different views. One of them is interest level so you can sort them all by how much interest they have in your school and go from there as a starting point.

I also recommend using your watch list to track players - for example if you recruit a player and get some negative feedback from him a few times then take him off your watch list. You can always filter the recruits on the main screen by who is on your watch list so that can help ease things as well.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Congrats, Gary. I love TPB, and while I haven't tried the TCB demo, I will do so soon. I'll probably purchase the game in a couple of weeks when I can afford it. It sounds fantastic.

[Gary Gorski]

Thanks Pumpy - I can say that if you loved TPB and are a college hoops fan that you will definitely enjoy TCB

[jbmagic]

who going to get the game when they release it today?

[dl5175]

who going to get the game when they release it today?


Me

[Icy]

who going to get the game when they release it today?
I would like to buy it exactly in the minute it is released. Too bad we are in different timezones and 7PM CST will be my 2AM so i'll buy it when i wake up in the morning.

[Recoil]

who going to get the game when they release it today?

I'm buying it as soon as my girlfriend leaves my house tonight. Very much looking forward to this game. Thanks to Gary for what looks to be one hell of a game.

[Icy]

I'm buying it as soon as my girlfriend leaves my house tonight. Very much looking forward to this game. Thanks to Gary for what looks to be one hell of a game.
LOL i can imagine this night at your home.... aren't you tired darling? shouldn't you go home before is too dark outside? i think i'll go to bed early tonight, i'm so tired...

[sovereignstar]

Pretty sure I'll be purchasing the game tonight. Like what I've seen thus far and what I've heard so far. The TCB Tech Support forum is pretty dead too and that is fairly big in my book.

[DaddyTorgo]

i'll be purchasing tonight. realized that 7 CST is 8pm EST and I'll still have exactly 5 hours before I need to be asleep. That ought to be more than enough time to see how one of my recruiting classes pans out...either BC, Bama State or my "i want to be a frontrunner" UNC dynasty.

[Icy]

i'll be purchasing tonight. realized that 7 CST is 8pm EST and I'll still have exactly 5 hours before I need to be asleep. That ought to be more than enough time to see how one of my recruiting classes pans out...either BC, Bama State or my "i want to be a frontrunner" UNC dynasty.
Do you really go to bed at 8PM?

[Recoil]

LOL i can imagine this night at your home.... aren't you tired darling? shouldn't you go home before is too dark outside? i think i'll go to bed early tonight, i'm so tired...

Is it wrong that I'm already scheming ways to get her to go home early? I mean, I spent all last night with her. Gotta give me a break.

[WSUCougar]

Do you really go to bed at 8PM?
I don't think those words mean what you think it means.

[sovereignstar]

Do you really go to bed at 8PM?

Sounds like he needs to go to bed 5 hours AFTER 8pm. :)

[hoosiergoody]

ya'll better stay off the servers so I can get my copy right away! :D

Wifey/rugrats will be gone until Sunday afternoon, so aside from church, I will be hoopin' it up!

Can't wait to see the "rest of the story" on this!

Can we prepay? anything to make the download quicker... :cool:

[Icy]

I don't think those words mean what you think it means.
Ups for some reason i read that he was going to be asleep 5 minutes past 8pm not 5 hours.

[DaddyTorgo]

Ups for some reason i read that he was going to be asleep 5 minutes past 8pm not 5 hours.I think you mean "Oops" my man. And yes, I have to be asleep by 1am EST, because I will have to be up at like 5:30am EST. I've gotten myself to the point where I only need 4 hours of sleep to function through a day of work fortunately.

[Icy]

I think you mean "Oops" my man. And yes, I have to be asleep by 1am EST, because I will have to be up at like 5:30am EST. I've gotten myself to the point where I only need 4 hours of sleep to function through a day of work fortunately.
Oops! is in English, Ups! is in Spanish :D

[DaddyTorgo]

fair enough. i didn't know that. learn something new everyday

[DaddyTorgo]

dola bump

retail version is up guys

[Gary Gorski]

Yeah now all of you that couldn't wait to hand me your money or ditch your g/f's, wives and/or both - get over there!!!!

Thanks to everyone for their continued support of us at GDS :)

[DaddyTorgo]

gary. little error that i noticed on the website. on the TCB downloads page the text talks about patches/demos/etc. for WrestlingSpirit. Lil oops http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif. Soon as I get the next 70% of the update you have my $

[Gary Gorski]

I'll have the webmaster check it out DT - thanks

[DaddyTorgo]

I'll have the webmaster check it out DT - thanksdisregard. i just looked at it and it's fine. apparently they caught it when they just updated the page.

[Easy Mac]

huge freaking file, this will take a while to download, 26 minutes for me on Comcast cable.

Will mirror here (http://www.sportssimshaven.com) before the night is out, if that's ok with the GreyDog folks.

[Arles]

Thanks, EasyMac, we would be thrilled for any additional mirrors. Let us know when it's uploaded.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Argghggrrrr. I need money.

[Easy Mac]

Thanks, EasyMac, we would be thrilled for any additional mirrors. Let us know when it's uploaded.
No prob. I'm still uploading it. Unfortunately, Jim's FTP manager doesn't have a bar that notes progress (and yes, I note the irony of using Jim's FTP program to upload a Grey Dog game). Hopefully it will be done relatively soon.

[BigDPW]

Hope you get the mirror up soon... My D/L from greydog has lowed to 16 kb/sec...

[Easy Mac]

well, the FTP program is telling me its not responding, but its a 157 mb file, so by not responding, I believe it is really just insanely busy uploading. I'm sure posting on messageboards and streaming music isn't helping.

[BigDPW]

any luck yet?

[Easy Mac]

bounces from about 8 to 50 k/sec. have no idea how far along i am

[Easy Mac]

dola,

still working on the upload, but for the time being I have made a torrent for it, if Arles doesn't mind (its not cracked, just the install). I linked to my blog entry so I don't get banned here for linking to a possibly illegal site. So if you have a torrent program, hopefully this will help. Just download utorrent (google it), click on the link in on my blog, the link at the site (TCBInstall.torrent or whatever), and then tell it to open the utorrent program (if firefox, the download box will open, click the open button, browse to the utorrent download, generally wherever your downloads are saved). Should start right off. If not, post in this thread.

http://www.sportssimshaven.com/?p=72

[Easy Mac]

Mirror
http://www.sportssimshaven.com/downloads/TCBInstall.exe

[astrosfan64]

One of you old school FOFC guys make a new thread for Total College Basketball now that is is released. I think the release merits a new thread.

[Easy Mac]

you mean like this

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=46283

[astrosfan64]

you mean like this

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=46283

umm yeah