**NFL Head Coach 09 Developer Q&A Thread**

[adembroski]

My turn! (yay)

Was the possibility of spawning games to be played in Madden ever discussed? I realize this would be a massive feature, but I think it would create the Holy Grail of franchise modes for me and a lot of other people.

Are Madden and Head Coach to be released simultaneously?

[DLaren]

How proud are you guys of the AI that you've implemented into the game?

When I play College Hoops 2K8, I'm most impressed by how well the CPU runs its plays and how well they share the ball with each other. In the last-gen version of Madden'08, I like how the CPU attacks your weaknesses until you figure out a way to stop the bleeding.


What facet of your AI do you think gamers will be the most impressed by?

[BrianFifaFan]

Quote: Originally Posted by DLaren

Pastapadre reported that HC will have a stand-alone release in September if you don't want to buy the collectors edition of Madden: http://www.pastapadre.com/2544/nfl-h...dalone-release

Yeah, it was almost like EA got caught off guard by the response for this title as a stand alone. This game is more than a worthy stand alone title. Maybe it was them expecting a lot of negative backlash over HC1. I'm feeling this and I guess a lot of people did,too. The only worrisome part is that people may only want this game. That probably didn't make EA/Tiburon very happy.....

[Ninjoid]

Quote: Originally Posted by adembroski

My turn! (yay) Are Madden and Head Coach to be released simultaneously?

I can answer that bit for you...Madden and HC are released together in the Special Anniversary Package in August. HC is released as a standalone product in early September.

Hope that helps.

[Ninjoid]

Chris - making substitutions during the game - after the play has completed does your lineup return back to your starters or do you have to put them back in manually? Or is there a quick key for doing this? Do your coaches keep you informed of fatigue/injuries or is it up to the user to keep a check of this?

As you're playing your game you're informed of the latest scores from the NFL - are these results pre-determined using the sim engine or are they being played out in real-time along with your game? Presumably we'll only see scores of games that are in play at the same time as ours - ie. no late games as it's real time?

The other thing that I noticed during the play creator/editor is that when you're moving players they seem to take an age to move, as in they walk to their position - can or has this been speeded up?

Defining Moments - how and when do they appear? ie. late in game or anytime based upon the present game position?

The coaches/voices that pop up during gameplay - what's all that about, as it's been difficult to see on the videos I've seen...are they just calling the play out that has been selected or something else?

In-game penalties -how are you determining these? Randomly? I'm a big cpu v cpu player (for other EA titles, ok, yes I'm odd but I'm not alone) and have always wondered how this is done..especially as the game in HC is essentially cpu v cpu. I find that the true test of the game's logic is to have the AI play itself.

Does the crowd play any part in determining play outcomes? ie. difficulty for QBs on the road etc..do they have any influence?

Thanks
Mark

[Spin]

Will headcoach offer the same uniform fixes and alternates as in madden 09?
I'm asking because I saw a screen of the Steelers and Browns and the Browns were wearing those hideous Brown pants on the road.

[JohnDoe8865]

Quote: Originally Posted by Spin

Will headcoach offer the same uniform fixes and alternates as in madden 09? I'm asking because I saw a screen of the Steelers and Browns and the Browns were wearing those hideous Brown pants on the road.

Oh good god, you have to be kidding. Please don't have the uniform errors from Madden 08.

That did so much to kill immersion for me.

[Step2001]

Special Teams!

Special Team players? Position players who offer a little bit at their listed position, but thrive on special teams.
Does Head Coach have those specialty players who play special teams? Not every player can play nor do they really want to play special teams.
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Long Snappers? Does Head Coach make this a specialty area for each team? Or is it the same where anyone can be placed in as the long snapper & it does not make a difference either way?
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Same for holders, do players carry the special trait to being a holder? Teams usually want the #2 QB to handle the job. The Punters sometimes hold.

Is holding for a kick something of a specialty in Head Coach?

[LHaze30]

Josh,

Any talk of a multiplayer online dynasty in the near future? If the game does well this year, could it be in next years version. If so, I would suggest a 30 year dynasty but would be ecstatic with anything. Thanks for all of the info. It sounds like a great game.

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ninjoid

Spot on Josh - that's fantastic...no groan either! ha ha...thanks for all of this, appreciated. One more I've just thought of relating to injuries. A common bug on some other titles has been in relation to cpu players getting injured and being removed from the lineup - quite correct...the bug has been once they are fit the cpu forgets to put them back in the lineup - I just wanted to make sure that you guys have the bases covered with that one. Rookies - as time goes on do these new, created players have photos or are they a blank silohuette? If not, has EA thought about using facegen technology (can be found in Out of the Park Baseball) which will create a random face for each new player? Are waivers included? When you start a career is your overall rating based upon that real life coach/organisation or do you start each time with a set default number? Thanks Mark

1. Players do indeed return to the lineup after recovering.

2. We actually found a cool little way to create a portrait based on what their generic face looks like. So no more silhouettes, for players or coaches.

3. No waivers this year.

4. Depends on how you start it. Do you mean overall rating or approval? If you mean approval, it is always the same if you start as the current coach and if you start as a created coach, we default you to 50.