THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

[Dyowman]

After extensive playing time, and long hours of searching forums of a true explanation of what changes to the CPU's gameplay when increasing difficulty levels, I have decided to do my own game research. The way I came up with these numbers are:

1. start with a team on a certain level
2. pause the game and switch your control to the other team.
3. before returning to the game, go to the subs menu and record ratings changes for CPU on that particular level. (CPU rating will still be shown until you unpause the game. 99 max-25 min)
4. change the skill level and repeat steps 1-3

I dont know if this has been figured out yet, but i coulndt find this explanation anywhere. The CPU ratings changes are:

ROOKIE PRO ALLSTAR SUPERSTAR HOF

DUNK -9 -2 0 +5 +10

SEC -10 -3 +10 +20 +30

HNDL -10 -2 +5 +8 +12

BLK -3 -2 0 +5 +10

STL -12 -9 -7 -2 +3

ORB -10 -2 +3 +3 +6

DRB -6 -2 +5 +5 +10

OAWR -10 -3 +15 +25 +30

DAWR -30 -3 +15 +25 +30

SPD -10 -2 0 +3 +6

STR -5 -2 +5 +8 +12

VERT -10 -2 0 +3 +6

SOD -10 -2 0 +5 +10

SIT -10 -2 0 +5 +10

QUI -10 -2 0 +3 +6

HUSTLE -10 -2 0 +3 +6

HND -10 -3 +10 +20 +30

DEF -10 -2 +5 +8 +12

STNDK -10 -2 0 +5 +10

These are the only attributes that are affected by the difficulty change. But please note that FLOOR GENERALS and DEFENSIVE ANCHORS and any other sig skill will increase or decease these raings plus others for the CPU. Add these numbers to the original rating and this is the base rating for each skill on your desired skill level vs CPU. I hope this helps with anyone's questions concerning desired skill level. Personally, I think that the +20 and +30 for any skill at any level is a bit much, but I still find myself always going straight to HOF when I play. THOUGHTS?

[qpc123]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

Been done:
http://www.operationsports.com/forum...fficients.html

[Coach2K]

I don't think it matters much. What matters most in upper difficulty levels is how well you play. Play well and that will negate those numbers to a large degree. Play poorly and then you really feel it.

[sreckless]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

I don't think it matters much. What matters most in upper difficulty levels is how well you play. Play well and that will negate those numbers to a large degree. Play poorly and then you really feel it.

Yeah.

When I look at that and see the +30 in security, hands, and awareness, mostly what those adjustments are doing is taking away miscues.

Basically, raising those tells the computer not to intentionally make itself screw up.

[Dyowman]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

Yeah.

When I look at that and see the +30 in security, hands, and awareness, mostly what those adjustments are doing is taking away miscues.

Basically, raising those tells the computer not to intentionally make itself screw up.

Your right, but it makes everything so perfect that its impossible to guard. There is no way you could focus your defense on star players because with these improvements everyone plays like a star. You can't sag off anybody. Basically forces you to play man on man all game and hope the CPU misses the shot, whick rarely happens. Takes the strategy aspect away from the game.

[Dyowman]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

Even when they miss, CPU offensive rebounding is so ridiculous.

[Rockie_Fresh88]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

Big gap between pro and allstar. Why not a difficulty with everything 0?

[kmiree16]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

I don't think it matters much. What matters most in upper difficulty levels is how well you play. Play well and that will negate those numbers to a large degree. Play poorly and then you really feel it.

It's wrong in principle. What logic is there behind a guy suddenly becoming a better dunker or passer because the difficulty is higher? It also takes away from the individuality of players. The margin between an average player and superstar becomes smaller and smaller with each difficulty increase. That's not authenticity. What makes teams good isn't always just talent level, but also execution. That's what should improve on higher difficulties. The CPU should actually have to make adjustments and play smarter instead of just receiving arbitrary ratings boosts to cover up their lack of intelligence.

[Coach2K]

It's wrong in principle. What logic is there behind a guy suddenly becoming a better dunker or passer because the difficulty is higher? It also takes away from the individuality of players. The margin between an average player and superstar becomes smaller and smaller with each difficulty increase. That's not authenticity. What makes teams good isn't always just talent level, but also execution. That's what should improve on higher difficulties. The CPU should actually have to make adjustments and play smarter instead of just receiving arbitrary ratings boosts to cover up their lack of intelligence.

You are right about the playing smarter part but we are the ones who have to play smarter. The CPU already does so at higher levels.

The difference between levels is decision making and execution.

[Rockie_Fresh88]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

You are right about the playing smarter part but we are the ones who have to play smarter. The CPU already does so at higher levels.

The difference between levels is decision making and execution.

Sounds like y'all looking for two different things . You want a big challenge the other prefers competitive but authentic game .

[sirjam]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

You are right about the playing smarter part but we are the ones who have to play smarter. The CPU already does so at higher levels.

The difference between levels is decision making and execution.

there is a lot more differences than that.

[kmiree16]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

You are right about the playing smarter part but we are the ones who have to play smarter. The CPU already does so at higher levels.

The difference between levels is decision making and execution.

In theory that's how it should be. But the user playing smarter in terms of knowing how to combat CPU HOF cheese as opposed to playing smarter in a basketball respect is the issue. I think a lot of people who complain about the CPU on higher difficulties don't have a ton of trouble winning, or are just mad because they lost a game or two. It's the way the difficulty is translated.

What's the point of me defending a guy well, in the correct way if he's just going to knock down a contested jumper in my face at the shot clock buzzer? Or when he misses, my teammates don't box out and allow 1 guy to jump through the 3 of them to get an offensive rebound? That's what I mean. I agree that the user should up their own level of play when playing higher levels of difficulty, but 2K has to do a better job of creating that difficulty.

[Coach2K]

I know I've discussed this at length in other threads like my hof challenge thread but I use to think of the higher levels in the same way as you guys but I don't anymore.

It's not easy of course and I'm still improving but if someone does a few things, improves their shot selection, stays in front of their man, challenges shots and limits turnovers, they can win.

The reason I keep challenging people is because I know a lot of you CAN do it AND get good games AND have fun.

No doubt you guys have seen Chris Smoove and while he plays my player he has a ton of fun yet he plays on hof level all of the time.

If the only responses to threads like these were from those who haven't had success yet, then there is no voice encouraging people and letting them know they can indeed do it regardless of the number of people who might come through and say otherwise.

So while there is truth to some degree in what the original poster said along with some of the other comments, I still say don't worry about the numbers and focus on improving your own play.

To do that, there is no better coach than hall of fame mode because when you make a mistake it punishes you for it. Start looking at what led to the punishment rather than the punishment itself.

Because its so ruthless at exposing our mistakes we don't like it.

But when we eliminate the mistakes that weren't exposed on the lower levels, then the opposite happens and the CPU starts making mistakes, missing shots and can't get rebounds like it did before.

Once that starts happening, and it clicks with you, then you start making posts like I do.

[kmiree16]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

It's not really about winning and losing, at least with me personally. I don't really have trouble winning games on HOF. It's just how things play out. The things that happen within the game that lead to the outcome are what people get frustrated with, not necessarily just the end result itself. It's like winning a boxing match in the 8th round, but throughout the entire fight, your opponent was constantly grabbing you, taking low blows and you come to find out in the end that he was using illegal stimulants and removed the stuffing from his gloves.

As for MyCareer, I don't like how unreliable our teammates are. Sure, I can go out and drop 50 point triple doubles every game and lead us to wins, but that's not satisfying to me. That's not a realistic level to play at over extended periods. The sometimes inadequate AI is really exposed in MyCareer when playing off the ball, since you have to rely on your AI controlled teammates to make decisions which lots of times leads to frustration. This isn't really represented in Smoove's videos because he is a PG and dominates the ball a ton.

[alabamarob]

Re: THE REAL DIFFICULTY BREAKDOWN!!!

I use HOF CPU for training purposes and that is it. The HOF cpu will punish every mistake you make. They will make every pass, make every open shot, and challenge every shot. It will also show you how to counter almost every move in the game, both offensively and defensively. HOF cpu will make playing a human opponent extremely easy.

However, if you are looking for a realistic game or a realistic recreation of what you see in the NBA HOF cpu is not going to give you that. The increase in shot of dribble, ball security, and shot in traffic makes the game extremly unrealistic. The screenshots from Coach K using the Pacers and them giving up and scoring 100 to 110 points almost every game speaks for itself. I agree with most of what Coach K says about hof cpu, but this mode is not one for realism or a recreation of the NBA.

I know I've discussed this at length in other threads like my hof challenge thread but I use to think of the higher levels in the same way as you guys but I don't anymore.

It's not easy of course and I'm still improving but if someone does a few things, improves their shot selection, stays in front of their man, challenges shots and limits turnovers, they can win.

The reason I keep challenging people is because I know a lot of you CAN do it AND get good games AND have fun.

No doubt you guys have seen Chris Smoove and while he plays my player he has a ton of fun yet he plays on hof level all of the time.

If the only responses to threads like these were from those who haven't had success yet, then there is no voice encouraging people and letting them know they can indeed do it regardless of the number of people who might come through and say otherwise.

So while there is truth to some degree in what the original poster said along with some of the other comments, I still say don't worry about the numbers and focus on improving your own play.

To do that, there is no better coach than hall of fame mode because when you make a mistake it punishes you for it. Start looking at what led to the punishment rather than the punishment itself.

Because its so ruthless at exposing our mistakes we don't like it.

But when we eliminate the mistakes that weren't exposed on the lower levels, then the opposite happens and the CPU starts making mistakes, missing shots and can't get rebounds like it did before.

Once that starts happening, and it clicks with you, then you start making posts like I do.