Adam Thompson (NCAA Designer) Q&A Thread

[OMT]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheGamingChef

Hey Adam, Not sure if this question has been asked but there are some of us who would like the option to play a 4, 8, or 16 game playoff instead of bowls at the end of the season. To me, this system doesn't seem to difficult to implement. Just use the BCS rankings, set up a bracket, and off you go. A few extra lines of commentary would help too. My question is, have you considered this before? Is it an NCAA rule/decree thing as to why it hasn't been implemented? Thanks for your time.

We haven't tried to do it, so I can't say that the NCAA would tell us not to do it. I believe it was in a long time ago, right?

We've considered everything. We do "brainstorm" sessions this time of year where we all sit in a room and say "it be cool if...." or "what about doing...." We even have a bell that you ring if someone says "Well, we can't do that because....." Everything goes, and no idea is to be discouraged.

Honestly, I have never seen an idea posted on a message board that we never thought of! But keep posting them... it helps us when deciding what features the hardcore guys want.

[OMT]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mikey16

I have two questions for you OMT... 1. Have you ever thought about let us edit players by the different uniform that the teams have? Mainly because most players change what they based on their uniform 2. I would like to know is there any a playoff system will ever be put back in the game...I remember when a playoff system was in one of the NCAA's in the late 90s

1. Huh?

2. See the response to the poster above you.

[OMT]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gamecock

Aye. For whatever reason, towels to me make a player look much faster. Especially players with dreadlocks. Steve Johnson anyone?

I hope that was a joke, cause I got a laugh out of it! The cat just ran from the room!

If you had said mullets instead of dreads, I might have woken the wife!

[Psyblast]

Quote: Originally Posted by OMT

1. Huh? 2. See the response to the poster above you.

In regards to #1, I believe he's referring to the fact that many players wear different colored sleeves/armbands/etc depending on the color of their jersey.

Example: Most Michigan players wear white long sleeves on the road in the cold, but at home the sleeves would be blue.

[OMT]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyros

Mind revealing what is all on that list?

Sure... I'll dig it up and post it on Monday if I remember. It IS quarter after one right now lol.

[Solidice]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scott

I'd prefer to see players doing a walkthrough instead of team entrances, but thats just me

come on, you know they'll show the mascots crip-walking in front of a Coke Zero machine for the pre-game show.


**oh man, i shouldn't have suggested that**

for a serious question, what about live mascots? like Texas Tech's Masked Rider, or Colorado, etc.. or would that be more trouble than its worth(having to create a 4 legged animal and animate it would take time i assume)

[Cyros]

Quote: Originally Posted by OMT

Sure... I'll dig it up and post it on Monday if I remember. It IS quarter after one right now lol.

Ahhh, the joy of CST.

[Mikey16]

Quote: Originally Posted by OMT

1. Huh? 2. See the response to the poster above you.

I was tryna said what if you allowed us to edit players equipment (like sleeves, bands, etc.) by the different uniforms that the team wears...hope that clears it up for ya

[OMT]

Quote: Originally Posted by Teddy_Long

adam, i appreciate the response. so it's really possible to do the towels? that seems to be pretty hard job there.

It can be hard, but it is also very rewarding to see something you came up with in the game! But it isn't a thing where I go into code and change "Towels = 0" to "Towels = 1." Even adding a small thing requires a ridiculous amount of work! I still shake my head when I get estimates on features I have designed.

I always get a kick when posters on message boards will say "It would be so easy to...." Geez, I've even seen people post "It would take just a couple minutes to...." when we designed that exact same feature and it game back as a 500 hour task

[stewaat]

Quote: Originally Posted by OMT

How hard is it? I don't know. But it would take time. So it would be weighed against all features we want. Heh... very rough? That is actually a pretty good mock up! That looks like something I would put in a design doc. I'm using Microsoft Visio lately to do stuff like that. You explain all the things you'd want and include something like that, and if the feature is green lighted, a UI artist would go in and mock up what it would actually look like in game based on the rough chart you made. Then you'd make tweaks and finally approve it, and they'd get it in game. Good job there!

Thanks for the reply. I know I'm beating a dead horse but presentation prior to the game is something I view as important. I get the feeling that many would be appreciative of introductions pre-game.

It just adds life to the game and gives a little background for the players.

Let's say you're in week 7 of year 3 and you're facing a Texas squad you know nothing about. Seeing their key players and hearing a little bit about them would key you in to who you need to stop...who's hot and whatnot. (You COULD look at stats but seeing players and hearing a few words about them is much better IMO)

I just believe it would be a nice touch. Also I'm assuming the resources that would be allocated to this task would be far less than team specific entrances.

With this idea you would have to make a template and then have it consistent for all teams. I'm speaking out of my *** but this is my best guess!