Just call it HardCore NFL 09...

[SloeyEZ]

I decided to start a new thread to see if it flies.

I'm continually finding myself in multiple threads noting that for devs, they seem to have to make a choice between "entertainment" and "realism." In most cases they seem to make the choice for entertainment and increased general access for the "average" player.

Which we all understand could mean more $$ and I, for one, don't fault EA for that.

However, since a game like HeadCoach is such a "niche" game anyway, are you really creating a wider fan base by making it "easy-access"?

My perspective is that if you made the game extreme hard core football coaching/franchise, that you would actually increase sales because the hardcore gamers that would pick up a title like this in the first case would be happier, and word of mouth would be much more positive.

Playing the middle ground here seems to just alienate both sides of the spectrum. The hardcore coaches don't appreciate the lack of realism (i.e. monotony and repetition) and the casual gamer is not going to make it through a season anyway.

I've been saying I don't envy the devs for having to make these choices because they are difficult. That is why I'm starting this thread. Maybe we can help them make the choices by stating whether we would rather see less "entertainment" and more "realism." (*Note, this doesn't mean we don't want to see awesome graphic representations of our plays on the field, because we DO! Also, take a look at this article where it seems that since we do not control our players, we should be able to have complete realism for our graphics and player movements

Quote:

THE RUNDOWN Turns out developers can make on-screen athletes who sprint like their real-world counterparts. We just wouldn't enjoy playing with them because the smoother the running animation, the less responsive the user control. "There are athletes who are really quick and can turn on a dime, but they still have to go through the same basic body movements as everyone else," says a football game developer. "Lean, turn into the movement, take a first step. Do you really want that to animate every time you press left on the stick? Or do you just want to go left? Getting players to feel responsive, but not look robotic and twitchy -- technology these days has a hard time getting that done."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...e=hruby/080716)

So, we're lucky enough to have a direct pipeline to the devs of this game. Let's take advantage of it and tell them whether we prefer they make decisions based on realism at the cost of "entertainment" or if they should continue to make the game more easily accessible to all gamers and leave out some of the day-to-day reality of being a head coach. I think most of the gamers that buy this game are the type that would rather go 0-25 like the Tampa Bay Bucs did their first two years then undefeated like the '72 Dolphins did. F*** you Patriot fans, their record should have been 15-1 since they should have been forced to forfeit the game against the Jets when they were caught cheating. But that's a different thread

[Demonolith]

I understand totally what you are saying. I think a viable solution that wouldn't alienate either side (hardcore player or casual player) would be the implementation of sliders. The options would be limitless:

-slider to incease/decrease how many points your coach generally gets
-slider for opposing team intelligence (trades, acquisitions, etc)

[BMFer]

To me, a more difficult game experience would be more entertaining.
I do not mind the 'quick' weeks during the season in HC09. Day to day might be too much and cut into the amount of seasons that would be played in a career.

0-16 is far better than 16-0.

[SloeyEZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Demonolith

I understand totally what you are saying. I think a viable solution that wouldn't alienate either side (hardcore player or casual player) would be the implementation of sliders. The options would be limitless: -slider to incease/decrease how many points your coach generally gets -slider for opposing team intelligence (trades, acquisitions, etc)

Here is my problem with sliders...I am not as good a game developer as the people who made the game. I want them to make the game not me fiddle around with a bunch of knobs until it plays at a level I like.

[jakeeyes]

I like that you 'gameplan' instead of taking a team to the practice field like in the original HC. Practice in the original HC was tedious, boring, and ineffective. 08 gives you bonuses for game planning without making the game a chore. That being said, I would like this game to have more 'levels'. We should be able to deal with the media in press conference, inspire players with half-time speeches, and have an overbearing GM that takes power from you when the going gets tough. I think player personality should play a bigger role. A self promoter should be a threat to give the other team bulletin board material, giving THEM an advantage. I think players that are emotionally weak should fall apart if they throw 2 picks in a half. There should be a personality type that thrives in big games, and one that folds.

In other words, I don't think this game has to be tedious to be fun. We can have a better sim by simply adding the 2 things that make a coach great, leadership skills and strategy!

[claystone]

I vote "Hardcore". Most of us playing this game are adults. I don't think there really are kids playing this game, and like stated above, they won't make it throught the first season.

Sliders are evil. They make you crazy. Just have the players play to their ratings and problem solved.

I want to pop in the game and take on a weak team and know i'm going to have a weak season. Yes, i love when i lose in this game.

Again, I vote "Hardcore".

[Purplepower]

Hardcore....just like my porn.

[SloeyEZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Purplepower

Hardcore....just like my porn.

lol, there are some things I just really really don't need to know