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

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by x1Blumpkin1x

They have to put sliders in. That was a killer in the first version. As DLaren said, everyone has their interpretation of what is the way to play.

Sliders are in the game. They are the same sliders madden has.

[Step2001]

I know the roster update will be on August 12th & Sept 3rd.

Will the teams 2009 draft picks be able to be updated?
--------------------

Dallas has Miami's 6th rd pick in 2009 (the Jason Ferguson trade) - Donny said the Dev. team missed this one. As the trade was compeleted back on March 1st!
-------------------
Miami trades DE, Jason Taylor to the Redskins for a 2nd rd pick in 2009 & Washington's 6th rd. pick in 2010!

[Boregard]

Chris or Josh,

Chris said that in HC you cannot "audible to flip" plays. Does this carry over to Madden, meaning that the "audible flip play" is not available in Madden for created plays???

If you can flip the created plays in Madden, was it tested in Madden to make sure it/they are bug free?

Would you guys consider putting the "legacy gen" (PS2) Hot Routes and D playmaker controls into HC?
I think that the adjustments you can make with those controls fall into a gray area. The defensive adjustments are really based on "keys" that would be very difficult to install as part of the coaching "gameplan/strategy", but the system in HC 09 is somewhat clunky. The offensive adjustments are somewhat similar, as far as being keys, but more over you would relate that to the coach saying "watch for the CB to play tight on T.O., if he does, burn him deep" or whatever in the headset as he calls the plays into the QB.

[zippity]

With the news of the Madden Demo coming out August 1st, is there any plans for a NFL Head Coach Demo? I could care less about a Madden Demo but I can't wait to get my hands on NFLHC!!!!

[Chris_Staymates]

Quote: Originally Posted by Boregard

Chris or Josh, Chris said that in HC you cannot "audible to flip" plays. Does this carry over to Madden, meaning that the "audible flip play" is not available in Madden for created plays??? If you can flip the created plays in Madden, was it tested in Madden to make sure it/they are bug free? Would you guys consider putting the "legacy gen" (PS2) Hot Routes and D playmaker controls into HC? I think that the adjustments you can make with those controls fall into a gray area. The defensive adjustments are really based on "keys" that would be very difficult to install as part of the coaching "gameplan/strategy", but the system in HC 09 is somewhat clunky. The offensive adjustments are somewhat similar, as far as being keys, but more over you would relate that to the coach saying "watch for the CB to play tight on T.O., if he does, burn him deep" or whatever in the headset as he calls the plays into the QB.

Yes, I believe it carries over into Madden.

I really like your ideas for the adjustments, we played with some ideas along those lines...a la...Final Fantasy XII's gambit system. Problem was that none of our prototypes were any less, ahem, clunky.

We started toying with the idea (too late in the cycle though) of incorporating these "pre-snap" adjustments into Play Creator and we had a couple promising ideas. Hopefully in the next NFL Head Coach we will be able to expand on them.

[Chris_Staymates]

Quote: Originally Posted by MZ3692

Thanks for the answer, that's awesome. I take it that other coaches and players can become worse as well due to poor careers?

Yes, though, coaches won't lose any skills or abilities they have already purchased with skill points.

The acquisition of skill points is based on career/team performance. So, a coach who does not win is likely to appear to become worse as the league passes him by.

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Step2001

I know the roster update will be on August 12th & Sept 3rd. Will the teams 2009 draft picks be able to be updated? -------------------- Dallas has Miami's 6th rd pick in 2009 (the Jason Ferguson trade) - Donny said the Dev. team missed this one. As the trade was compeleted back on March 1st! ------------------- Miami trades DE, Jason Taylor to the Redskins for a 2nd rd pick in 2009 & Washington's 6th rd. pick in 2010!

The only thing we can update (as far as I'm aware of) is the roster and the depth chart. I'll look into this.

[Sven Draconian]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chris_Staymates

Yes, though, coaches won't lose any skills or abilities they have already purchased with skill points. The acquisition of skill points is based on career/team performance. So, a coach who does not win is likely to appear to become worse as the league passes him by.

So everything is in a state of constant improvement? Meaning, the "average" each year is higher then the previous year and so forth?

[ahunter5]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sven Draconian

So everything is in a state of constant improvement? Meaning, the "average" each year is higher then the previous year and so forth?

One could argue that this is the way the NFL actually works. Also, as coaches retire, new coaches will start out with low ratings.

[ahunter5]

Quote: Originally Posted by Josh_Looman

The only thing we can update (as far as I'm aware of) is the roster and the depth chart. I'll look into this.

This is kind of a big deal. If the Dolphins lose Taylor and don't get the picks for 2009, there's no benefit to downloading the update. The same concern goes for the Giants/Shockey trade. Not a criticism here, but if a game is based almost entirely on the sidelines and front office, the draft picks are as important as the player.

I'm fine with the game not having small nuances in it. For example, Newsday is reporting that the 2nd round pick that the Saints have promised the Giants may not be available. If Jonathan Vilma plays 85% of the defensive snaps, the Jets get that 2nd round pick. If that happens, the pick to the Giants is upgraded to a 1st rounder, and the late round pick is removed from the deal. I would NEVER expect something like this to make into a video game. Too unrealistic. However, I would hope a roster update could alter 09 draft picks. Not a dealbreaker by any means, but it would be nice to see.

Just my $.02