***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

[doncoryell]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

I have made a couple of changes to the slider set that I posted earlier:

-Any sliders not listed are at default

GAMEPLAY
Mode:          Simulation
Level:         All-American
Speed:         Normal
Half Length:   19 minutes
Sim Half Ln:   20 minutes
Real FT%:      On
Clutch:        Off

RULES
All Settings:  On
All Other Fouls:     MAX

PRESENTATION:
Cut Scenes:    On

GAME SLIDERS
Shooting (100 max)
Inside           43
Mid Range        56
3pt              53
Dunk Success     56
Layup Success    53
FT Success        0

Tendencies (100 max)
Close             6
Mid               0
3pt              64
Drive            90

Attributes (100 max)
O Awareness      40
D Awareness      46
Dunk             30
Ball Handling    40
O Rebounding     [color=red]80[/color]
D Rebounding     50
Block            [color=red]70[/color]
Steal            [color=red]20[/color]
Speed            40

Gameplay (100 max)
Screen Success   62
Screen Strength  55
Steal Success     0
Dunk in Traffic   0

Fitness (100 max)
Fatigue Rate     35
Recovery Rate    53
Injury Freq      50
Injury Effect    53

I wasn't getting enough blocks or offensive rebounds so the sliders were increased dramatically.

I raised the steal slider, but not the steal success slider, in order to try to create more fouls, mostly reach in. I may need to increase it further. I also increased it because the average turnovers per game was a little low.

So far, I have seen a slight increase in number of fouls and the average turnovers per game is up slightly. The number of offensive rebounds has also increased, but slightly.

[doncoryell]

Re: my new test results with PC (w/Curry as a reserve)

Hey, just checking in on everyone's progress. The winter storm hit us pretty hard...worst ever in Oklahoma. Anyway, no power, no internet, no phone. I am up at the unversity right now trying to get some study time in.

My next step on sliders is to test this [player speed vs game speed] issue out on cpuvcpu. Interesting discussion on the slider page. I have not noticed speed as a problem, but I can see how that might affect my TO issue on PS2. If this is a part-solution, it may allow me to manufacture some more fouls with the STEAL and BLOCK sliders.

Hope everyone is still having fun coaching.

Unfortunately you weren't able to pick up the game (ch2k7) last year. The problems of low number of fouls and high number of steals was the same as 2k7.

[doncoryell]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

I hope that you don't mind me asking this, but what is the ABL and is it in the ps2 version?

[OSUPiper]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

I hope that you don't mind me asking this, but what is the ABL and is it in the ps2 version?

As I understand it, the ABL is like a mini-league where you go and play/watch HS players you might be interested in recruiting. I assumed it was in PS2 (there is a multi-week amateur tourney in the off season) but I generally skip that. First, I am not at a school that would benefit. Second, I tend to let my assistants recruit for me anyway.

[OSUPiper]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

GAMEPLAY
Mode:          Simulation
Level:         All-Conference
Speed:         Normal
Half Length:   19 minutes
Sim Half Ln:   20 minutes
Real FT%:      Off
Clutch:        Off
 
RULES
All Settings:     On
All Other Fouls:  MAX
1-and-1           5 fouls
Double Bonus      8 fouls
 
PRESENTATION:
Cut Scenes:    On
 
GAME SLIDERS
Shooting (100 max)
Inside           47
Mid Range        45
3pt              50
Dunk Success     50
Layup Success    38
FT Success        5
 
Tendencies (100 max)
Close            15
Mid              37
3pt              48
Drive            64
 
Attributes (100 max)
O Awareness      55
D Awareness      37
Dunk             25
Ball Handling   100
O Rebounding     68
D Rebounding     50
Block            70
Steal            10
Speed            50
 
Gameplay (100 max)
Screen Success   60
Screen Strength  65
Steal Success     0
Dunk in Traffic   3
Help Defense     48
Help Recovery    40
Fitness (100 max)
Fatigue Rate     49
Recovery Rate    59
Injury Freq      50
Injury Effect    50

Here is my current working slider set, for what it's worth. We are ending up in the same camp on BLOCK and OFF REB as well as the obvious STEAL issue. I haven't messed with my injury sliders so don't pay attention to those differences.

I turned Real FT% OFF b/c it doesn't work (just as before). However, it used to not matter if you turned it off (it still didn't work) but now the slider seems to have an effect. I get FT%s right in line with simmed averages now. I also lowered the number of fouls to get to the bonus, so that at the end of a game, both teams are more likely to be shooting. Makes close games more interesting. I may lower these to 4 and 7 respectively, but no lower.

My Layup success is dropping b/c I have had high FG%s. This was due to my Gs shooting 60-70%. When I paid more attention I saw that this resulted from penetration drives and layups not being missed except when fouled. My guess is that the Drive tendency coupled with reduced defensive sliders causes this. Currently, this is the only big gameplay issue I have left to solve.

[seen]

Re: my new test results with PC (w/Curry as a reserve)

Hey, just checking in on everyone's progress. The winter storm hit us pretty hard...worst ever in Oklahoma. Anyway, no power, no internet, no phone. I am up at the unversity right now trying to get some study time in.

My next step on sliders is to test this [player speed vs game speed] issue out on cpuvcpu. Interesting discussion on the slider page. I have not noticed speed as a problem, but I can see how that might affect my TO issue on PS2. If this is a part-solution, it may allow me to manufacture some more fouls with the STEAL and BLOCK sliders.

Hope everyone is still having fun coaching.

There definitely is an issue with with the CPU players moving faster on regular plays. I had issues running fast breaks, and have turned the slider to cpu speed 45, which has lead to fast break pts. I might tweak with it a bit.

[BubbleFour]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

I hope that you don't mind me asking this, but what is the ABL and is it in the ps2 version?

Just from the question, I am going to strongly suggest that it is not in the PS2 version. With the 360 version of 2k8, once you finish setting up a career legacy, you are placed in the ABL mode of the game. From this mode, you have access to your team's roster and recruiting screens. However, you can not perform any recruiting tasks (other than set up a target list). The main option is the ABL section, where you can watch (essentially) high-school allstar games from one of eight geographic sections of the country. Each section has 16 teams that play eight games a piece.

The nice addition with this system is the tight integration with your customary recruiting screens. For example, you can set up a target list as usual by viewing recruits by state or by locality. They have also added a page to each recruit's info screens to include ABL stats.

In my case, I have started a legacy with Tennessee-Martin. Unfortunately, there were no 'local' players to UTM that were on any of the 128 ABL teams. UTM's local area includes Western Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois, SE Missouri, Eastern Arkansas, Northern Mississippi, and Northern Alabama.

After expanding my recruit search to 'regional' players, I was able to fill my target list with ABL players to scout. Most of these players were from Chicago (in the MW ABL region) or Kansas City (in the Cent ABL region).

Next, there are sixteen days in which to scout the players in the regular season. The goal would be to scout a player in at least three games in order to unlock the majority of attributes (including potential) for that player. After the regular season is over there is a single-elimination playoff in Las Vegas.

One of my players that I was scouting was a 3-star 7'1" C from Kansas City who was only showing interest from UMKC, with UTM at about the same level of interest should I contact him. I scouted his team three times during the regular season to unlock all attributes. As it turned out, his team ended up winning the playoffs, so I was able to scout an additional three games in the process. This unlocked a little bit more information about the recruit, like shooting tendencies.

In the end, OSU Piper was right (and I was wrong ). All of the players who I scouted (mostly 3-star players) are being courted by power conference teams. The C from Kansas City is now being contacted by Kansas State and Drake. The 2-star players saw very little playing time in the game. Now, that the season has started, I am focusing on recruiting more local players, all of whom did not participate in the ABL.

So, despite starting my legacy a couple of weeks ago, I am still behind you and your VMI legacy. It does appear that the differences between the ps2 and next-gen systems is growing, though. Now, the list includes ABL(?), game-play differences (as evidenced by distinct slider settings), and player ratings (as evidenced by the fact that teams like VMI and Army are available for career legacies). Does the ps2 version include the NIT tourney this year?

[OSUPiper]

Re: my new test results with PC (w/Curry as a reserve)

There definitely is an issue with with the CPU players moving faster on regular plays. I had issues running fast breaks, and have turned the slider to cpu speed 45, which has lead to fast break pts. I might tweak with it a bit.

That is good to know. Has it increased turnovers? Many of my TOs come on really bad passes in transition. I do not want to increase that problem.

[OSUPiper]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

...In the end, OSU Piper was right... Does the ps2 version include the NIT tourney this year?

I'm always right in the end (just kidding!).

And happily "Yes" there is an NIT in 2k8 PS2. It seems like it is correctly implemented, as I won the conference with Texas State but got bounced from the tourney and the NIT took me (IRL that situation would have given Tx State an auto bid to the NIT).

[andymac]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

BubbleFour, do you have a good slider set you are using on next gen?

[doncoryell]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

Just from the question, I am going to strongly suggest that it is not in the PS2 version. With the 360 version of 2k8, once you finish setting up a career legacy, you are placed in the ABL mode of the game. From this mode, you have access to your team's roster and recruiting screens. However, you can not perform any recruiting tasks (other than set up a target list). The main option is the ABL section, where you can watch (essentially) high-school allstar games from one of eight geographic sections of the country. Each section has 16 teams that play eight games a piece.

The nice addition with this system is the tight integration with your customary recruiting screens. For example, you can set up a target list as usual by viewing recruits by state or by locality. They have also added a page to each recruit's info screens to include ABL stats.

In my case, I have started a legacy with Tennessee-Martin. Unfortunately, there were no 'local' players to UTM that were on any of the 128 ABL teams. UTM's local area includes Western Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois, SE Missouri, Eastern Arkansas, Northern Mississippi, and Northern Alabama.

After expanding my recruit search to 'regional' players, I was able to fill my target list with ABL players to scout. Most of these players were from Chicago (in the MW ABL region) or Kansas City (in the Cent ABL region).

Next, there are sixteen days in which to scout the players in the regular season. The goal would be to scout a player in at least three games in order to unlock the majority of attributes (including potential) for that player. After the regular season is over there is a single-elimination playoff in Las Vegas.

One of my players that I was scouting was a 3-star 7'1" C from Kansas City who was only showing interest from UMKC, with UTM at about the same level of interest should I contact him. I scouted his team three times during the regular season to unlock all attributes. As it turned out, his team ended up winning the playoffs, so I was able to scout an additional three games in the process. This unlocked a little bit more information about the recruit, like shooting tendencies.

In the end, OSU Piper was right (and I was wrong ). All of the players who I scouted (mostly 3-star players) are being courted by power conference teams. The C from Kansas City is now being contacted by Kansas State and Drake. The 2-star players saw very little playing time in the game. Now, that the season has started, I am focusing on recruiting more local players, all of whom did not participate in the ABL.

So, despite starting my legacy a couple of weeks ago, I am still behind you and your VMI legacy. It does appear that the differences between the ps2 and next-gen systems is growing, though. Now, the list includes ABL(?), game-play differences (as evidenced by distinct slider settings), and player ratings (as evidenced by the fact that teams like VMI and Army are available for career legacies). Does the ps2 version include the NIT tourney this year?

Thanks for the response about the ABL.

I haven't gotten to that point, as you saw, so I don't know if the NIT postseason tournament is in the ps2 version this year. I didn't even check to see if they have the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. I did see that St.John's is playing their home games at Conesseca (sp) Arena. They actually play their home games in MSG, but the Big East problem is not just ps2 related, it's 2k related. They use MSG in the NIT preseason tournament so I don't see why they can't use it in the other places as well.

I also saw that Army was the only team eligible from the Patriot League and Dartmouth was the only team eligible from the Ivy League. VMI only has 1 senior and half of their roster are freshmen. VMI and Radford were the only eligible schools from the Big South.

[doncoryell]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

I'm always right in the end (just kidding!).

And happily "Yes" there is an NIT in 2k8 PS2. It seems like it is correctly implemented, as I won the conference with Texas State but got bounced from the tourney and the NIT took me (IRL that situation would have given Tx State an auto bid to the NIT).

That's great to know. Did you notice if the Big East tournament is at MSG? A lot of people complained about that last year.

[doncoryell]

Re: my new test results with PC (w/Curry as a reserve)

That is good to know. Has it increased turnovers? Many of my TOs come on really bad passes in transition. I do not want to increase that problem.

With my speed slider set at 40, I'm not seeing any problem with fast breaks, or lack thereof. The 40 setting came from a direct conversion from your 2k6 sliders to the new 2k7 format (all of the sliders now have a max of 100 instead of either 40 or 20).

I just got through playing a game between VMI and Army. Army committed 27 turnovers but almost half of them was by throwing to a player that was out of bounds. This was, BTW, while they were running the half-court offense. They didn't occur in transition.

[OSUPiper]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

I have not checked much conference or team specific stuff yet, but I did cycle through the arenas and I thought I saw MSG. No idea how it is used within the game.

[doncoryell]

Re: ***OS's Official College Hoops 2k8 Coach Mode Central***

I have not checked much conference or team specific stuff yet, but I did cycle through the arenas and I thought I saw MSG. No idea how it is used within the game.

In 2k7, MSG was only used for the NIT preseason tournament.

With the slight increase in reach in fouls called, I am thinking of increasing my steals slider even more. I might try it where you had it set in 2k6. You had the slider set at 15 (out of 20). That translates to 75 in 2k8. I'll check back with the results.