If Solecismic Makes TCY 2 Now...

[Franklinnoble]

...Will you buy it?

Please don't turn this into a flamewar. I'm just asking an honest question. I clicked on Jim's "New home..." thread in hopes (yet again) that there'd be some tidbit about what the new game was... (we know it's a new FOF or TCY... just not which).

And it just occurred to me. I'm pretty happy with BBCF right now. Now we have a third-party utility to generate FOF draft files from it. So, I'm actually a little undecided. Previously, I was really hoping for TCY2, but now I'm thinking I actually wouldn't buy it right away. I don't have an unlimited budget for games, and unless TCY2 really blows away BBCF, I don't see myself getting it anytime soon.

Of course, this raises the other question (again).... if Jim had announced which game he was working on, would it have made a difference? Honestly, I might not have purchased BBCF if I knew TCY2 was coming this fall...

Just food for thought...

[dawgfan]

I tried the demo of BBCF and just wasn't sold on it. I also started playing FOF4 in earnest recently and, while I think in some ways it's too granular (the vast number of gameplan screens), I'm excited by many of the advances Jim has made in his football sim basics since TCY came out. Given that and the vast amount of feedback he's been given here in the forum, I would be very enthusiastic about buying a TCY2 - nearly as much as a Front Office Baseball.

[CraigSca]

HELL YEAH. Thank you.

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

I wish he would do baseball, correctly. To answer the question a college football text sim is too tedious for me, so no.

[Bad-example]

I won't buy it unless the reviews are absolutely glowing. College sports games hold zero interest for me. Even if the reviews are good I might still skip it.

FOF, on the other hand, is an automatic purchase.

[Dutch]

A better question would be.

If Jim was working on Front Office Maximum Football 2 would you buy it?

[Easy Mac]

Yes, but I really hate the out of season recruiting thing, so if Jim were to switch to that, then no, I wouldn't buy the game.

[JeeberD]

I'll buy just about anything that Jim puts out, even though I wasn't that big a fan of the original TCY...

[dixieflatline]

TCY 2 is an auto buy for me. First day, no questions asked. Another FOF and I would wait and see the reviews. That said, my FOF playing has really decreased in the past six months. Still, I can't imagine that I wouldn't get $35+ of happiness out of TCY 2.

[timmynausea]

I'd buy it the day it came out.

[Franklinnoble]

Yes, but I really hate the out of season recruiting thing, so if Jim were to switch to that, then no, I wouldn't buy the game.

See, I actually LIKE this aspect of BBCF, and I think it would be good to make that a configurable option (although I'm sure that'd be difficult to implement).

I hate having to switch gears every week between game planning and recruiting. I guess my feeble mind just doesn't multi-task very well.

[Galaril]

BBCF has one thing over TCY 2. It is an actual project. Waiting for one of Jim's games that hasn't ever been even announced is ridiculous IMHO.

[Easy Mac]

See, I actually LIKE this aspect of BBCF, and I think it would be good to make that a configurable option (although I'm sure that'd be difficult to implement).

I hate having to switch gears every week between game planning and recruiting. I guess my feeble mind just doesn't multi-task very well.

I don't think my mind works if I don't multi-task. Right now I'm typing this and looking at prawns.

[Cuckoo]

I'm liking BBCF quite a bit, and it's getting more play time than TCY did for me. That said, I would almost certainly buy TCY2.

[sabotai]

...Will you buy it?

Yes, for 3 reasons.

1) Jim's games play a bit differently than Arlie's, I've noticed. Arlie's, for the most part, are a bit more "involved" while Jim's appeals to the dynasty builder in me. IOW, I play BBCF to just do well in the next game, and when the season is over, I do my best to make next season better. But with Jim's games, I take on more of a macromanagement role. I think it's just the difference in the design of the games. Arlie's seems to take, and for the most part, willingly on my part, more micromanagement. More "getting the hands dirty, let's see how I do in this game" while Jim's is more like "Let's see how I do this season".

Just the way I get drawn into playing their games, anyway.

2) I'm playing BBCF now....but I'm too into it. I think if TCY2 is the natural progression from TCY (meaning if TCY2 is to TCY what FOF2k5 was to FOF4 (or am I think FOF2k3, or FOF3...I don't rmemeber anymore), then it will probably be enough to drag me away from BBCF. But, that's not to say i can't play both.

3) To steal his ideas for when I finally start making my games.........what? At least I'm honest. :D (Joking, of course.)

[Anthony]

BBCF has one thing over TCY 2. It is an actual project. Waiting for one of Jim's games that hasn't ever been even announced is ridiculous IMHO.

who cares about products when we can all enjoy such riveting news like which room has just been built in his new house, or how he had to agonize over choosing Soft White or Seafoam Green for the bathroom walls.

[Dutch]

who cares about products when we can all enjoy such riveting news like which room has just been built in his new house, or how he had to agonize over choosing Soft White or Seafoam Green for the bathroom walls.

...or in your case, choosing between Foie Gras and Prosciutto.

[Eaglesfan27]

I enjoy BBCF. I'll definitely buy TCY2 or FOF whatever the day it comes out. I've had too much enjoyment from Jim's games not to buy the next one when it comes out. I think there is enough room for 2 college football games on my harddrive.

[Anthony]

I've had too much enjoyment from Jim's games not to buy the next one when it comes out.

ditto

[amdaily]

I won't buy it unless the reviews are absolutely glowing. College sports games hold zero interest for me. Even if the reviews are good I might still skip it.

FOF, on the other hand, is an automatic purchase.

Same here. Could be absolutely flawless and I won't touch it.

FOF, I would pre-order before a line of code was coded.

[astrosfan64]

Yes, for 3 reasons.

1) Jim's games play a bit differently than Arlie's, I've noticed. Arlie's, for the most part, are a bit more "involved" while Jim's appeals to the dynasty builder in me. IOW, I play BBCF to just do well in the next game, and when the season is over, I do my best to make next season better. But with Jim's games, I take on more of a macromanagement role. I think it's just the difference in the design of the games. Arlie's seems to take, and for the most part, willingly on my part, more micromanagement. More "getting the hands dirty, let's see how I do in this game" while Jim's is more like "Let's see how I do this season".



That is exactly how I feel. Excellent asessment of the two different game types.

[IwasHere]

I wish he would do baseball, correctly.
No faith in OOTP 2006?


"No Show" Jim has basically burnt all his bridges with me. I am still waiting for my FOF2004 Multi-Player emails. With BBCF handling the college game and EA's new NFL Head Coach comming in June I am going to have to see some damn good reviews here before I spend my money.

I just like knowing that next year I will be able to purchase an improved BBCF-2 and NFL Head Coach 2007. I like expansion packs.:)

[jamesUMD]

FOF or I stick with what I have. I have no interest in college (before they're good enough for the pros) sports.

[Fouts]

I buy 90% of all text sims, so the answer is yes.

[Emiliano]

I enjoy BBCF. I'll definitely buy TCY2 or FOF whatever the day it comes out. I've had too much enjoyment from Jim's games not to buy the next one when it comes out. I think there is enough room for 2 college football games on my harddrive.
Exactly my thoughts. Also, I didn't play the first TCY a lot and I'd love to see a new college game by Jim. Sure buy for me.

[Darkiller]

a Jim Gindin football product is an automatic buy for me.

[Coder]

While I'd much rather see an improved FOF (from a Multiplayer point of view), I'd easily buy the next TCY as well.

[Young Drachma]

I liked TCY, but.. I dunno. I like college football and all, so I guess it'd be appealing enough.

But I too would like to see him do baseball or something else. Just because I like other sports more than I like football and as much as FOF did for me in terms of bringing me into the game in an immersive way, I'd love to be able to have that same experience in another sport, just because of how different Jim's games are compared to the others I've played.

But..I dunno. We'd just have to see.

[Darkiller]

for some reason, and even though they are very well done, I can't get into other sports (text-sims) like Baseball and basketball.
I tried the free OOTP5 earlier this week and I just "couldn't get into it".

I found out that I'm a football fan, before being a text-sim fan. and that's why I keep playing --all the time- games like FOF2, FOF2004 and TCY.

[Joe]

no, I already have 1 college football text-sim that I don't play. thats enough for me.

[Senator]

His games are a proven success, and I will buy whatever he thinks worthy of putting out.

[vex]

HELL YEAH. Thank you.

My thoughts.

[MJ4H]

I would buy it only if it was better for multiplayer leagues than BBCF. For single player play, I really don't care for TCY because of the recruiting being in-season. I think that would work fine for multiplayer, though. My buying TCY 2 would depend entirely on how good it was for multiplayer and if there was interest in an FOFC TCY 2 league.

[Noop]

How long has it been since the release of his last game? I blame EA Sports why I want a new game every year but with text sims I guess it doesn't work that way.

[cthomer5000]

I'd honestly buy any game from him sight unseen. He's more than earned my trust and it would probably take consecutive bad releases to back me off of immediately buying a game.

[rkmsuf]

who cares about products when we can all enjoy such riveting news like which room has just been built in his new house, or how he had to agonize over choosing Soft White or Seafoam Green for the bathroom walls.


Right but should he buy a dog?

[flere-imsaho]

I'm unlikely to buy a TCY2, but not because of Jim. Right now I barely have time for FOF (and even then, just 1 MP league) and WoW. If I pick up another computer game it would probably be FM (back to the original addiction). However, with the Spring Ultimate season up-and-running, and yardwork to do, I'd say that's unlikely.

Now, if another iteration of FOF comes out, I'll buy that in a second.

[TroyF]

I'll echo the guys who have said they'll buy anything he puts out.

I'd have to buy his next five titles and not play them for a second for the $/time ratio to be poor for me. Simply no way I don't buy the game.

Now, am I looking forward to TCY2? Not really. I don't like college games that much. The constant turnover in the universe does nothing for me. I like drafting a QB, watching him develp and go into the hall of fame a heck of a lot more than I like recruiting a stud RB and watching him take off after three years and a Heisman. Personal tastes.

But it doesn't matter. He releases it, I buy it. It's that simple.

[cartman]

I'm still holding out hope that the next game will be a combination pro/college game, and start to take steps towards a CM/FM style American football universe.

[Coder]

I'm still holding out hope that the next game will be a combination pro/college game, and start to take steps towards a CM/FM style American football universe.

Stop making me salivate like that

[MalcPow]

I'm still holding out hope that the next game will be a combination pro/college game, and start to take steps towards a CM/FM style American football universe.

Someone seriously needs to kidnap Jim Misery-style and make this happen. Who's with me? :D

[RendeR]

If TCY2 has an interactive multiplayer mode akin to the pro version I'll jump at it. Playing in leagues is a blast, even if I'm not currently in any ;P

[Havok]

a Jim Gindin football product is an automatic buy for me.


I used to be like that, and Jim seems like a good guy and all. But i truly hate the way everything is a big dam secret. Why hide what your making from a huge core of loyal people who love your games? Why tag everyone along for years.... thats just always bothered me about Jim.

Hiding it in the begining is one thing, but its gotta be getting close to release time right? Most gaming company's let people know that a game is coming a year before it is released right? At least computer games do.

Anyway, i've always thought that and this just seemed like the right thread to say it on.

Im sure i'll still buy whatever Jim makes, i gotta support the small company's who make the games that i love.

[Crapshoot]

I'll echo the guys who have said they'll buy anything he puts out.

I'd have to buy his next five titles and not play them for a second for the $/time ratio to be poor for me. Simply no way I don't buy the game.

Now, am I looking forward to TCY2? Not really. I don't like college games that much. The constant turnover in the universe does nothing for me. I like drafting a QB, watching him develp and go into the hall of fame a heck of a lot more than I like recruiting a stud RB and watching him take off after three years and a Heisman. Personal tastes.

But it doesn't matter. He releases it, I buy it. It's that simple.

I'm curious - what's the methodology behind this - is it payback ? If you know you aren't going to play the game, why buy it ? Genuine question - I've seen this sentiment expressed a lot.

[Bad-example]

I'm still holding out hope that the next game will be a combination pro/college game, and start to take steps towards a CM/FM style American football universe.

I still think this would be Jim's best move. If Jim is really serious about doing other sports besides football, then combining his college and pro games into a single product would be a great way for him to go. With one product to update every year or two, he would have more time to devote to other projects. Plus, a FOF/TCY game would be pretty much guaranteed his best seller to date.

[CraigSca]

But - and I'm sure I'm in the minority with this - I can't get into FM because it's just too slow to play. FoF and TCY give you the ability to sim multiple seasons quickly to see how your GMing effects the results in a shorter timespan. If he made an all-encompassing game that did both college and pro, sim times would be a concern for me.

[John Galt]

But - and I'm sure I'm in the minority with this - I can't get into FM because it's just too slow to play. FoF and TCY give you the ability to sim multiple seasons quickly to see how your GMing effects the results in a shorter timespan. If he made an all-encompassing game that did both college and pro, sim times would be a concern for me.

You are definitely not alone on this one.

[TroyF]

I'm curious - what's the methodology behind this - is it payback ? If you know you aren't going to play the game, why buy it ? Genuine question - I've seen this sentiment expressed a lot.


Don't assume "prefer" and "play" are the same thing. I will play TCY2. As much as another FOF? Probably not.

But it will go on my laptop and I will play multiple dynasties on it. I did with TCY and I'll do it here.

I would rather have a pro game.

With all of that said, lets assume Jim put out a game I KNEW I wouldn't play. I'd probably buy it as a gift for a friend who did like it. I'm a very loyal person by nature. Jim has earned loyalty and I'd want to purchase the game to support him and his company.

[dawgfan]

Hiding it in the begining is one thing, but its gotta be getting close to release time right? Most gaming company's let people know that a game is coming a year before it is released right?
I don't think it's quite that close - sounds like he'll have a game released before the end of the year, but his last comment on the issue a few months back indicated (IIRC) that he was working on updating his football code but hadn't yet decided whether it would turn into a new FOF or a new TCY.

[GrantDawg]

Yes, but I really hate the out of season recruiting thing, so if Jim were to switch to that, then no, I wouldn't buy the game.


That's interesting, because if TCY2 had inseason recruiting like the last one, I'd not buy it.

[CraigSca]

I'd prefer out of season recruiting, merely because it makes sense to me to split up the different pieces of the sim. However, if he didn't change it, it wouldn't preclude me from buying it.

[vex]

That's interesting, because if TCY2 had inseason recruiting like the last one, I'd not buy it.

I also find that interesting, but because if recruiting was after the season, I wouldn't buy it.

[dawgfan]

I'm fascinated at how the timing of recruiting in a college football sim appears to be such a divisive issue.

Personally, I'd like my college football sim to mirror reality as much as possible, so really recruiting should happen in-season and off-season. EA's college football game introduced this (in a limited way) this year, and I'd like to see a sim expand on this. In college football, recruiting is everything and it happens year-round. Look at how many commits some schools have, and it's still 10+ months away from the next signing day.

[CraigSca]

If only TCY2 were as mod-able as Maximum Football, then we wouldn't be arguing over in-season or out-of-season recruiting.

[TroyF]

If only TCY2 were as mod-able as Maximum Football, then we wouldn't be arguing over in-season or out-of-season recruiting.


We could even set things up to where we could recruit kangaroos and koalas then. That'd be cool.

[rkmsuf]

Will there be a teleportation rating in this one?

[Cuckoo]

That's interesting, because if TCY2 had inseason recruiting like the last one, I'd not buy it.

Well, before someone posts the poll of inseason or offseason, throw me in with GrantDawg on the preference. I would still likely buy the game either way, but I vastly prefer the offseason recruiting. I typically play when my 3 year old is running around, so I need as much focus in my game as I can get. :)

[JeeberD]

http://www.fof-ihof.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_stupid.gif

[dawgfan]

Hmmm, maybe SkyDog and I are the only 'purists' regarding recruiting...

[WSUCougar]

Nope, count me in the purist crowd.

[st.cronin]

me too

[McSweeny]

Hmmm, maybe SkyDog and I are the only 'purists' regarding recruiting...

nah

i like my recruiting in season as well

and for the record, i'd buy TCY 2 in a heartbeat

[MikeVic]

I can't get into American college football much because I can't follow it as well up here. I do like FOF though. :D

[vex]

Hmmm, maybe SkyDog and I are the only 'purists' regarding recruiting...

Well I posted right above you;)

[33sherman]

I still play TCY frequently, so I would buy it on the first day. It feels 'correct' to me more than any other sports sim I've played, with only a few minor complaints. However, the big gap in Solecismic releases has defintely caused me to drift towards other things. I thought there was supposed to be a 'big' announcement 'mid-2005' about a new game.

[stevew]

I prefer the offseason recruiting. I probably wouldn't buy the game either way, though, as I really don't like college football all that much.

[timmynausea]

I'm also a purist. Year round recruiting would really be ideal.

[Eaglesfan27]

I also would like to see year round recruiting.

[ice4277]

no, I already have 1 college football text-sim that I don't play. thats enough for me.

Ditto. Also, I have a pretty limited gaming budget, and my desire to play new games has been pretty low the last year or so.

[MizzouRah]

Maybe when college football rolls around again, right now I have no interest in a college football game. Haven't even played BBCF with the new patch although it sounded good at first.

I'm a seasonal sports game player. My juices are starting to flow for ootp, but I'll wait on that one for some reviews and mods first.

[WVUFAN]

I still think this would be Jim's best move. If Jim is really serious about doing other sports besides football, then combining his college and pro games into a single product would be a great way for him to go. With one product to update every year or two, he would have more time to devote to other projects. Plus, a FOF/TCY game would be pretty much guaranteed his best seller to date.

You mean similar to the way Blitz: The League is set up, with different Divisions of play (League 1, 2 and 3, with the top team in the league moving to the next league up, and the bottom moving down).

I'll admit, I know ZERO about soccer. Is this the way they work their league?

[Bad-example]

I know little of soccer and less of Blitz: The League except for those annoying commercials. But the answer to your question, if it was a question, is no. I didn't mean Jim should combine TCY and FOF in such a way that would have teams moving between the pro and college ranks.

[Easy Mac]

I'm not trying to be an ass and saying Jim only makes these games for money, but it makes no fiscal sense for him to make a combined tcy/fof game. He automatically loses (theoretically) half his income (unless he doubles the price). It's one thing for a company with 500k in sales for each game to make an all-encompassing soccer sim, but its another for a guy with 10k sales to do the same (and i'm being generous i think). I'm not saying I don't want a football sim that does everything in 1 game, but I think as a developer, it just doesn't make any sense to do so.

[Bad-example]

I disagree. If he released a FOF/TCY combo game, it would certainly be his best seller to date. It would allow him more time to make a baseball or curling game, so profits from that must also be considered. Basically, by making the two games into one he would maximize his sales for his next release and clear the decks for new projects.

Ultimately, when we buy a Solecismic product, we are paying Jim for the time he spent making that game. If merging FOF and TCY gives Jim more development time in the long run, then that added earning potential needs to be factored in.

[larrymcg421]

I'd buy TCY2 no matter when they did recruiting, although I definitely prefer in-season. The recruiting aspect is a bit tedious, but I actually like that. I don't want a game to completely baby me. The extra effort makes the reward of reaching your goal much more satisfying.

The main problem with TCY was the Training Camp section, which was too tedious. Thankfully, Jim fixed that with a great patch.

[Coder]

I'm not trying to be an ass and saying Jim only makes these games for money, but it makes no fiscal sense for him to make a combined tcy/fof game. He automatically loses (theoretically) half his income (unless he doubles the price). It's one thing for a company with 500k in sales for each game to make an all-encompassing soccer sim, but its another for a guy with 10k sales to do the same (and i'm being generous i think). I'm not saying I don't want a football sim that does everything in 1 game, but I think as a developer, it just doesn't make any sense to do so.


If Jim has the "time" to release a new version of a game every two years, combining the two makes just as much sense as making them separate.. I think a combination of the two will sell more copies on an individual basis than simply a "pro"-version or a "college"-version..

Basically, even when releasing them as separate, he won't release them simultaneously, thereby negating the eventual fiscal advantages of having two separate games.

Not sure if what I'm trying to say makes sense..

[vex]

Just think...Multiplayer...all the college and pro teams...all human owners...

[Coder]

Just think...Multiplayer...all the college and pro teams...all human owners...

Personally I'm not that much interested in actually having humans running the College-teams, but I'm much more interested in being able to recruit that hot national champion head coach for my pro-team, only to draft his star quarterback etc.

[st.cronin]

Just think...Multiplayer...all the college and pro teams...all human owners...

YES PLEASE

I think I would pay 150 dollars for a game like that. And that would be a bargain.

[A-Husker-4-Life]

Yes Please...

[Anthony]

YES PLEASE

I think I would pay 150 dollars for a game like that. And that would be a bargain.

i would give a kidney.



ok, i wouldn't, but i wanted to top your $150.

[st.cronin]

i would give a kidney.



ok, i wouldn't, but i wanted to top your $150.

I probably wouldn't actually pay that much, either. I might give up a ball, though.

[Logan]

i would give a kidney.



ok, i wouldn't, but i wanted to top your $150.

It would be more impressive if that was the only kidney you have left.

That's dedication.

[Crim]

I don't think my mind works if I don't multi-task. Right now I'm typing this and looking at prawns.

Just need to chime in and note that this is the funniest thing I've read all day.

And to answer the ? of the thread, YES, I'd immediately buy TCY2. I prefer in-season recruiting, but it's not a deal-breaker for me either way.

And regarding the question of "payback", or buying a game that one might not play, out of some sort of loyalty, that's why I bought 2k4... I was playing a lot of TCY, and saw on the boards as Jim released a patch... c maybe, and there was an uproar throughout FOFC about how it screwed up their, umm, I can't remember, their contracts for free agent non drafted transitional bench warming veteran holdouts or some such. Anyhoo, it seemed like Jim responded a day or so later with patch d to resolve most (all?) the concerns his customers had voiced. That sort of commitment to service prompted me to buy a game that I didn't feel like I'd really have time to play much unless it grabbed ahold of me immediately.

Jeez, three seperate points in one post, I suppose I'm doomed to always have a pathetic post count... :D


Crim

[cthomer5000]

If it is TCY2, you have to think it's also multiplayer - which would be a huge draw.

And count me among the recruiting purists.

[Flasch186]

if this were better than maximum football you wouldnt need to have college and pro...youd simply combine them into a 140 team league and recruit free agents. Id spend 5$ on that game and let you pet my dog.

[Samdari]

I'd buy TCY2 on day of release. FOF6, I'd only buy if (when, really) IHOF moved to it. I have "played out" FOF single player, so much that even the genuine improvements of 2k4 did not make the game feel "new" enough to have any staying power for me. I fear the same would be true for any new incarnation of FOF.

I agree with Corey that multiplayer TCY would be a huge draw, but I'd buy it even without.

[Noop]

I hope TCY lets us recruit Juniors ala College Hoops.

[Swaggs]

I hope TCY lets us recruit Juniors ala College Hoops.

That would be a cool addition. Especially if TCY2 makes recruiting last all year long, rather than just in season.

I'd also like to see "recruiting momentum" implemented somehow. Like, if a stud RB commits, then lineman would become more likely to follow him. Or, if a big-time QB commits, WRs would want to hurry up and get on board.

[cthomer5000]

Also, can a brotha get some spring practice?

[vex]

I hope TCY lets us recruit Juniors ala College Hoops.

And JUCOs.