Sell me on 2007

[pedersenkirk]

Hi guys,

I've been playing FOF since its original iteration and currently have 2004 and am considering 2007. I also have Madden 08 on a pre-order and will be picking it up once it comes out.

I enjoy the management parts of the game far more than actually playing it, so my question is: is 2007 worth it? Is there enough improvement in the game to justify buying it?

Thanks.

[Sgran]

I never played FOF 2004, but I was heavily into Madden. There are problems with the FOF2007 AI in terms of CPU teams not acting rationally as the years go by. In fact, it becomes very similar (if not as egregious) to the problems you see playing Madden 10, 15 years into the future. In Madden, team ownership is static and teams fail to use up their salary cap. In FOF 2007 some teams let too many players go in the offseason, and do some quirky things like not taking a huge trade for a star QB who's stuck behind a veteran, and then letting him go in the offseason. The CPU is a very stubborn negotiator in single player games.
BUT FOF 2007 is a great, great, great multi-player game and the online leagues bring out the best in the game. It's just a matter of getting into leagues that aren't going to collapse (incompetency by GMs I can handle).

[Subby]

IF U LIK MADEN U WILL FUKIN LUV THIS GAME!!!!!!!1!

[wishbone]

The biggest difference for me between 2004 and 2007 is the level of competition. I only play single player but in 2004 I was winning 10+ super bowls in each 20 year period. Getting a great QB was pretty easy and once you had him you started winning. Cap management was easy and the players were relatively predictable.

In 2007, I've won 2 super bowls in 20+ years on one franchise, got stuck in years of mediocrity in another and player performance and development are much less predictable. For me, it is much more satisfying to win and more frustrating when I lose.

[pedersenkirk]

The biggest difference for me between 2004 and 2007 is the level of competition. I only play single player but in 2004 I was winning 10+ super bowls in each 20 year period. Getting a great QB was pretty easy and once you had him you started winning. Cap management was easy and the players were relatively predictable.

In 2007, I've won 2 super bowls in 20+ years on one franchise, got stuck in years of mediocrity in another and player performance and development are much less predictable. For me, it is much more satisfying to win and more frustrating when I lose.

That's one thing I'm interested in. I want cap management to be tough, almost painfully tough. I've never felt stretched by the cap in my dealings with 2004. It's almost too easy to get a good QB in that game as well, although I do find trading up in the draft difficult.

[wishbone]

I wouldn't say that cap management is painful, but it is more difficult than 2004. Finding a QB has been challenging in that it's better to have a guy that "fits" than a guy with high bars. You also have to judge the QB by performance more than anything else which makes the "QB of the future" very difficult to determine. I have found myself focusing more on specific player skills/traits instead of just picking big bar guys.

[pedersenkirk]

I wouldn't say that cap management is painful, but it is more difficult than 2004. Finding a QB has been challenging in that it's better to have a guy that "fits" than a guy with high bars. You also have to judge the QB by performance more than anything else which makes the "QB of the future" very difficult to determine. I have found myself focusing more on specific player skills/traits instead of just picking big bar guys.

Well, long story short, I decided to break down and buy it. I've simmed two seasons thus far with the Texans, and it's defintely tough. I'm having fun with it though.

[perez24]

The biggest thing for me is that the FA market isn't nearly as populated with 50+ rated players (maybe kickers/punters but they don't last either) as in past versions. I like the expanded career records too, e.g. I think I may have had statistically one of the greatest punt and kick returners but I couldn't look at those sorts of records.

I also think that if you don't interview draftees there's a greater possibility of ending up with a bust in 1st or 2nd rounds, but, again maybe that's just because I don't use some of the utilities out there for reasons of sloth rather than "trying to keep it fair."