Limits to Player Editing in EA Sports College Football 25 FAQ

[ODogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by jerwoods

i like to watch a game and edit with my own eyes but like the razorbacks how will t green do and yes i downgrade too

I think we could sit here all day and talk about the ethics of changing ratings. And even if it is unethical, is it anyone else's business if you're "cheating" in your own game? How would this affect others? Does it overstep boundaries when people think they are cheating?

It's really an ethical debate and who should have that power to change those players. Now personally I think people can play how they want but it seems as if this really is a flash point for how others feel differently.

[TripleCrown9]

I'm not someone that views editing ratings as "cheating", because you have to use the default roster when playing online.

I'm also not someone that automatically assumes the CFB25 team is gonna get a lot of people wrong. I've said it before, but it isn't like they sit some intern in front of a computer and say "Travis Hunter is fast in real life, put whatever number you think is fast".

I am, however, someone that thinks if a player has a breakout season or if a good player struggles, that EA will reflect that with roster updates. No matter what school it is. If the QB at Middle Tennessee State throws for 1400 yards and 12 TDs across a couple weeks in real life, EA is gonna bump up his stats.

I'm also not concerned about recruits getting repetitive and unrealistic just because they were 11 years ago. We *really* have to stop bringing up legacy issues from NCAA 14. It's been 11 YEARS. Why should we automatically assume that all of those things are still gonna be an issue?

[fballturkey]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

I think we could sit here all day and talk about the ethics of changing ratings. And even if it is unethical, is it anyone else's business if you're "cheating" in your own game? How would this affect others? Does it overstep boundaries when people think they are cheating? It's really an ethical debate and who should have that power to change those players. Now personally I think people can play how they want but it seems as if this really is a flash point for how others feel differently.

I can’t really comprehend having an ethical conundrum about a single player game.

[noarmsduck]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

I think we could sit here all day and talk about the ethics of changing ratings. And even if it is unethical, is it anyone else's business if you're "cheating" in your own game? How would this affect others? Does it overstep boundaries when people think they are cheating? It's really an ethical debate and who should have that power to change those players. Now personally I think people can play how they want but it seems as if this really is a flash point for how others feel differently.

It's a single player game. It's not like someone is editing his players for his roster and can use that roster/team to play against people online. That would definitely be ethically wrong.

People change and customize things in their own games all the time. From changing difficulty level, to different modes where you can't die, to yes editing cheat codes in a single player game.

Now the example given of switching to control another team to sabotage their pursuit of a recruit, that's not something I would do, but again that's why I can play and customize my experience the way I want, and someone who does that can do whatever they want with their own experience.

Pat McAfee Show had Roman Reigns on to talk about the hype leading up to WrestleMania and the release of WWE 2k24 just a couple months ago. Pat asked him how he felt about Boston Connor saying he wanted to beat the hell out of Roman in the game and take his title. Roman asked him "Are you buying the game?" After Connor said yes, Roman went with a little humor and said we might have a problem in a few years if the game ever becomes indistinguishable from real life, but he told him "if you buy the game you can do whatever you want."

THAT is the attitude that game devs and everyone should have towards customization. Again I understand the limits in regards to NIL players and whatnot, but as a big part of this argument centers on editing the random gen recruits, that sort of thing should be in every sports game. If people don't like it, they don't have to use that feature. But customization and editing ratings to create a custom experience is a big part of the enjoyment of a lot of players. So again, having the option there is a positive thing, and it doesn't affect the experience of those who will not use that option.

[ODogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by noarmsduck

It's a single player game. It's not like someone is editing his players for his roster and can use that roster/team to play against people online. That would definitely be ethically wrong. People change and customize things in their own games all the time. From changing difficulty level, to different modes where you can't die, to yes editing cheat codes in a single player game. Now the example given of switching to control another team to sabotage their pursuit of a recruit, that's not something I would do, but again that's why I can play and customize my experience the way I want, and someone who does that can do whatever they want with their own experience. Pat McAfee Show had Roman Reigns on to talk about the hype leading up to WrestleMania and the release of WWE 2k24 just a couple months ago. Pat asked him how he felt about Boston Connor saying he wanted to beat the hell out of Roman in the game and take his title. Roman asked him "Are you buying the game?" After Connor said yes, Roman went with a little humor and said we might have a problem in a few years if the game ever becomes indistinguishable from real life, but he told him "if you buy the game you can do whatever you want." THAT is the attitude that game devs and everyone should have towards customization. Again I understand the limits in regards to NIL players and whatnot, but as a big part of this argument centers on editing the random gen recruits, that sort of thing should be in every sports game. If people don't like it, they don't have to use that feature. But customization and editing ratings to create a custom experience is a big part of the enjoyment of a lot of players. So again, having the option there is a positive thing, and it doesn't affect the experience of those who will not use that option.

I agree 100% but I stream and sometimes people seem to get irritated that I change my games with mods, or play on easy, things like that, it's not affecting anyone else as I'm playing a single player game, as you said, but it doesn't seem to matter.

And I'm curious why this bothers folks who don't agree with it. What is the big issue I guess I don't see it.

[Dagan]

To reiterate my entire list of concerns - I just want them to come clean and make it make sense. I don't do well with a lot of contradictions, very much in the same way that I don't do well with people lying to me. In many ways, they are the same thing.

I will say that I have noticed many comments on youtube, reddit, discord, et. al. very consistently and quite more aggressive and angry, all saying the same things said on these boards.

If folks just want to chalk it up to them having a horrible business strategy of releasing full information, yeah, no shiz. That homecoming edition presale option should have been listed with all of the others however long ago. People are super upset over that one.

[stoncold32]

So from a logic perspective, WE cannot edot ratings bc they must reflect real life NIL .....but starting a dynasty and players ratings will get wholesale edits each year. Okay....

Why would lawyers be okay with random game edits but possibly sue against human edits

[Ghost Of The Year]

Quote: Originally Posted by stoncold32

So from a logic perspective, WE cannot edot ratings bc they must reflect real life NIL .....but starting a dynasty and players ratings will get wholesale edits each year. Okay.... Why would lawyers be okay with random game edits but possibly sue against human edits

Because I don't think thats it, ''they must reflect real life NIL.'' I think its because EA has a contract with college players to program ratings but I guess EA lawyers have told EA the consumer doesn't have a contract with college players to set ratings. Thats just pure supposition on my part tho. But its the only thing that makes any bit of sense in my opinion. And even that shouldn't make sense. Apparently EA lawyers are gun-shy with their newfound bedfellows, the college athlete. But who can blame them? Its textbook CYA as far as I'm concerned.