SO tired of the PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

[Simple Mathematics]

Re: SO tired of the PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Here's what I suggested a while ago: pics and better formatting here: http://www.operationsports.com/forum...-overhaul.html

(On mobile or this would be neater, sorry)

I love this stuff Adam. I would personally keep the number ratings instead of going with letters, but I would add in all of your hot/cold streak ideas. It would keep Franchise Mode so fresh and it would make things more exciting.

[actionhank]

Re: SO tired of the PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Here's what I suggested a while ago: pics and better formatting here: http://www.operationsports.com/forum...-overhaul.html

(On mobile or this would be neater, sorry)

It's an interesting take, though I do wonder how it would work in terms of game mechanics.

I think the number system has the potential to work, EA just has to A. Lose their focus (and for a lot of fans as well) on the overall number. You see it all the time when the roster previews are released, people arguing over how much higher someone's "overall" rating is compared to another player. And B. They need to make the ratings actually matter.

To touch on A, the issue is that people focus on a players overall, and forget that it's just a culmination of the numbers beneath it. The overall for two different player types might be close, but it doesn't illustrate how good they are.

This leads to B, which is where I think EA messes up. A lot of people have hinted at player separation in the past, and I think it is a big issue, because EA doesn't use low numbers often enough to make 3rd and 4th line players play like 3rd and 4th line players.
Here's a comparison I did before: Reaves vs Steen

In terms of skating, Reaves and Steen are absurdly close, yet one is an 81 in skating, and the other an 86. This shouldn't be. Not to say that Reaves is useless on skates, but he definitely is more of a straight line skater. He moves pretty well for a big checking player, but at the same time, he's not too elegant on skates.

Similarly, their defensive ratings are incredibly close, despite Steen being one of the best two-way forwards playing. He's great on defense, and again, not to disparage Reaves, much more reliable on defense. Reaves plays a hitting game, but he's not known for stealing pucks away and backchecking.

I think the most glaring one is shooting. There is not even a 10 point difference in their shooting skills. I imagine Reaves falls closer to a lot of scoring forwards. This just shows how the ratings need to be reworked to avoid the focus of Overall. Reaves has scored as many goals in 6 seasons as Steen scored in his 2011 season with the Blues.

The game could easily have a more representative on-ice product if the attributes were more realistically moved up and down to represent how players really play (Steen with higher defensive marks than Reaves, and better shooting and skating, while Reaves could have a much higher hitting and fighting rating, but lower offensive and defensive ratings).

I love this stuff Adam. I would personally keep the number ratings instead of going with letters, but I would add in all of your hot/cold streak ideas. It would keep Franchise Mode so fresh and it would make things more exciting.

Hot and cold streaks would be great. As well as having a player's performance affect their negotiating and salary offers. A player with a 30 goal season in a contract year is going to be able to demand more, even if their past numbers don't match up.

[mcavner]

Re: SO tired of the PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

They could spend years tweaking the broken development system (which is one of the reasons I stopped buying this game) to please the varied expectations of the marketplace, or they could simply open up the career and franchise modes to editing and every single time, every single gamer has an issue they can fix it themselves.

Pretty simple fix that the two best sports game (2kNBA and The Show) have always given their customers and Madden is providing this year.

Basically I won't buy games that don't give me that option - that's where I'm at and that's the solution as far as I'm concerned.

[actionhank]

Re: SO tired of the PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

They could spend years tweaking the broken development system (which is one of the reasons I stopped buying this game) to please the varied expectations of the marketplace, or they could simply open up the career and franchise modes to editing and every single time, every single gamer has an issue they can fix it themselves.

Pretty simple fix that the two best sports game (2kNBA and The Show) have always given their customers and Madden is providing this year.

Basically I won't buy games that don't give me that option - that's where I'm at and that's the solution as far as I'm concerned.

Customization and sharing is probably one of the bigger request items, that I hope they add next year. Sliders, rosters, create a players, jerseys, stadiums. Those are all things that can be done well by the fans. I don't expect EA to sit and make sure that the entire Blues roster is 100% correct. It's a tough job to begin with, and they've got tons of leagues. But a system like Eastside Hockey Manager has where you can import your own "skins" and logos into the game would make a world of difference. Then people could focus on whatever they wanted. EA could make some generic "College" type setup with generic players, teams, and conferences and allow the players to edit and "correct" them. Similarly they could add a "Russian League" and allow players to change that if they wanted.

This way, the casual fan doesn't have to worry, but the more hardcore fan can download the proper jerseys and rosters to create leagues that their NHL teams could try to draft/sign free agents from. Imagine being able to convince a player like Radulov to join your team, and having to big against other GM's in the game to get them to sign with you.

[NinthFall]

Re: SO tired of the PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Okay, so the game is out now.

I checked the ratings via some youtube video, but the potentials mainly for my team Florida Panthers looked quite bad or something that would not develop, yet again.

So anyone with EA access can you confirm that the player development is bad again?

1. For example last year faceoff ratings didn't develop.

2. Bjugstad and Trocheck never developed.