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

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ninjoid

Heroic effort in answering my questions Josh - the answers that you've given to all of our questions just make me more pumped for the game, and I'm sure the rest of the guys feel the same. Spelling and grammar seemed spot on to me to! ;-) Pity about the cpu v cpu games, but I'm glad you like the idea and that it could make a future version of the game (fingers crossed). I really think it would add even more depth to the game (not that it's deep enough already of course!)...viewing a game will give you an idea of other team's tendencies along with being able to view games you're not involved in. For example when you're playing on a Sunday you wouldn't really be able to watch those games irl as you're busy coaching but the ability to 'watch' those games later would I think be beneficial, just like a scouting tape. Again, with the playoffs, that would be awesome as irl you would watch these games in realtime (unless you're really upset following a poor season and have locked yourself away) on tv. Alternatively you could be picked up by a network and provide guest analysis to their broadcast - hypothetically of course! Loving the fact that the CPU will actually sporn plays from the community and learn from you - that is great stuff. A few further questions for you if I may :- 1. Regarding the graphics, is there any difference between the 360 & PS3 version? ie. framerate etc? 2. You may not be able to answer this one Josh but I'll pose it anyway. From what I've read coming back from last week's community event it's look like HC09 won't be getting a PAL release. I can sort of understand this with this being a 'market tester' for want of a better word for future version. Given the success of management sims in Europe/Australia etc I think EA should really consider making the title region free therefore allowing people to import the title - that way there would be more sales. I'm in the fortunate position that I own a PS3 so that console is region free and I can import titles to the UK. However, there are a lot of 360 owners who won't have the same opportunity as the PS3 owners. I'm not sure as to what is involved into making the 360 title region free but I'm sure it would benefit everyone if this was the case. More sales for EA, more happy Europeans and Aussies!! and more chance for a future version. 3. On the play now option do we have the ability to play 1P v 2P (so I can play my son) or with the menus/play calling screens is this not possible? 4. Hot & Cold streaks during the season - variable player form based possibly upon a consistency rating? Is this in? Thanks again for your time Josh, I know I and all the rest of the guys appreciate the interaction. If it can help to make the game better in any way then everyone benefits. I'm so looking forward to the PS3 version landing in August with my Madden Special Edition (via snail mail across the Atlantic). Great stuff. Mark

1. Not that I've noticed. There might be slight differences between the two, but they are pretty similar.

2. As far as I know, there are no plans to release a PAL version. I'm not really involved in those decisions, though. I just help design the game.

3. It's just single player.

4. Great idea but this didn't make it in this year. We toyed with the idea of consistency ratings but decided to go the route of system based ratings instead.

Thank you for the kind words. We're making this game for you guys and I would expect someone in my position to be honest and helpful if I were in your shoes.

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blazelore

Are there waivers and/or practice squads??

Not this year. We actually wanted to do both of those features but chose to do Cut Days instead.

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by JRod

Have the interception and fumble issues been solved from the previous Madden game? I know you said the engine (or game) has been built from the ground up.

Yes, we worked pretty hard to address a number of gameplay issues, including CPU running backs being effective when running the ball (LT is a beast!), interceptions/INTS returned for TDs, kickoff return effectiveness and fumbles. We tried to tune the game to get it to the point where it was as realistic as it could be.

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by cjjonesz

Will there be a Wii version?

I have no idea if we'll do one down the road. We will not be making a Wii version for the '09 product that releases in August/September.

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Step2001

Josh How many College players will available in the draft? I ask because of the ability to sign undrafted rookies. ---------------------------- Down the road do you see adding compensataion draft picks? ---------------------------- Are we still going to see the CPU teams drafting heavy at certain positions even though they are set at the position? ---------------------------- Trading in the draft, is this based on the "Value Chart"? Thus ruling out of a CPU trade accepting a 30+ year old player for a #1 pick, heck a pick in the first 3 rounds! ---------------------------- How realistic is the Salary Cap? ---------------------------- Will coaches up and leave a meeting when there suggestions are not acted upon? Last time I looked, it's the Head Coach who arse is on the line. ----- Will QB coaches insist on you starting your 3rd string QB over your Pro Bowl QB? ---------------------------- Are there mass player sub packages for Offense and Defense? ---------------------------- Can we resign coaches (extend their contracts) during the season? ---------------------------- After an injury, lets say a QB. If you sign one off the street will his overall be at it's lowest point based on not knowing the offense? ---- Any player should not be signed off the street and be able to come in and start for a team. (unfamiliar with the playbook, conditioning etc. etc.) ----------------------------------- How does the Injury system work? Do we have a training staff? Do we get a update on injuries after the game or on Monday? Will some injuries during the game be labeled as "Will get an M.R.I. on Monday"? Will a player heal enough during the week to have a chance to play? Will the training staff chime in with their opinion on whether or not the player should play? ----------------------------------- After a successful season will assistant coaches get better job opportunity offers from other teams? When a coach leaves, will he take coaches off your staff? When an assistant leaves, what is the interview process like with adding a new coach? Will some coaches be loyal and stay? Can we offer them more cash or increased job responsibilities? Will the G.M. leave for a better opportunity with another team? Will he raid your coaching staff? Can scouts get hired away at season end? Is negotiating a deal with a coach as difficult as dealing with a player? Will the coaches look at the schemes and talent to see if they fit your team before signing? ----------------------------------- What are the practice sessions like? DO we only get to run 20 plays in a session a day during week? Will all players study film? Is this something we as coaches have to tell them to do? Obviously this should increase the players readiness for the upcoming game. ----------------------------------- Are practice squads something your looking to add in the coming years? -----------------------------------

How many College players will available in the draft? I ask because of the ability to sign undrafted rookies.

Answer: I think we have around 300 per class.


Down the road do you see adding compensataion draft picks?

Answer: It's something we talked about this year. I wouldn't rule it out for future versions.


Are we still going to see the CPU teams drafting heavy at certain positions even though they are set at the position?

Answer: As I mentioned before, all of our logic was built from the ground up. No logic was carried over from Head Coach 1 or Madden. Teams will draft players based on need or best available philosophies and they'll check their roadmap when they are going to make a pick. If they don't like anyone near their draft spot, they'll look to trade down.


Trading in the draft, is this based on the "Value Chart"?
Thus ruling out of a CPU trade accepting a 30+ year old player for a #1 pick, heck a pick in the first 3 rounds!

Answer: Yes, we use the value chart that real NFL teams do.


How realistic is the Salary Cap?

Answer: We tried to make it as realistic as possible. Teams will always have a little more money when you start the game than they do in real life since we don't keep track of cap penalties the team has accrued over the past few real seasons. But it's tough. We had a tester that was upset when he tried to trade McNabb away and had a huge cap penalty that forced him to start cutting other players to sign free agents. He survived but said it was much harder than it had been for him in sports games before.


Will coaches up and leave a meeting when there suggestions are not acted upon?
Last time I looked, it's the Head Coach who arse is on the line.
-----
Will QB coaches insist on you starting your 3rd string QB over your Pro Bowl QB?

Answer: There are no meetings in this game. Just like there are no phones or phonebooks.

And no, they won't suggest that.


Are there mass player sub packages for Offense and Defense?

Answer: Yes.


Can we resign coaches (extend their contracts) during the season?

Answer: Nope, you can decide their fate at the end of every season.


----------------------------
After an injury, lets say a QB. If you sign one off the street will his overall be at it's lowest point based on not knowing the offense?
----
Any player should not be signed off the street and be able to come in and start for a team. (unfamiliar with the playbook, conditioning etc. etc.)
-----------------------------------

Answer: Players off the street will struggle coming on to your team if they don't know the playbook. There is a chance they'll make mistakes during the game and they won't play as well as they would if they knew the play.



How does the Injury system work?
Do we have a training staff? Do we get a update on injuries after the game or on Monday?
Will some injuries during the game be labeled as "Will get an M.R.I. on Monday"?
Will a player heal enough during the week to have a chance to play? Will the training staff chime in with their opinion on whether or not the player should play?
-----------------------------------

Answer:

• The injury system is called the Wear and Tear injury system. It tracks where a player is hit when he makes contact and based on the severity of the hit, the player's injury rating, their current health at that body part and the player's toughness rating, it deducts health from that body part. The lower the body part health gets, the better the chance an injury can happen. Injuries are body part specific, too. If Kurt Warner's health is really low because of the concussions he's suffered, his next injury will be a head injury and there's a good chance it will be a sever concussion. Whew!
• You have a trainer that you can upgrade skills for, hire or fire.
• If the injury means that the player will come back within the game, you'll know. Otherwise it will be pending further tests.
• Yes, a player will heal during the week. You'll also be given the opportunity to hold a guy out of practice to heal up. The trainer will suggest holding out a player if he is really banged up.

One other cool thing about the trainer is his skill in determining how long a player will be injured for. If you have a terrible trainer, he may miss the boat on how long a player will be out and he'll tell you it will be something like 6-12 months. A good trainer will tell you it will be exactly 7 months.

That's another good one. Players can take a long time to heal in our game, so you will have players who are rehabbing into the offseason and even into the next training camp. Whew again!


After a successful season will assistant coaches get better job opportunity offers from other teams?

Answer: Yes. Based on their overall skill level and their personality type, they can bolt from the team to see if there are other opportunties out there even if you want them to stay.


When a coach leaves, will he take coaches off your staff?

Answer: Not this year. Great idea, though.

When an assistant leaves, what is the interview process like with adding a new coach?

Answer: It's similar to FA Bidding. The best coach comes up in the clipboard first and any team interested in him starts bidding. The difference with coaches, trainers and GMs is that money is not the gameplay mechanic. It's control. If you are hiring Mike Martz, in order to get him to join your team, you may need to agree to replace your playbook, let him choose the system or even cut a player he doesn't like. And don't worry...he won't ask to cut Peyton Manning or LT. He'll want to cut Trent Green or plays like that.

Will some coaches be loyal and stay? Can we offer them more cash or increased job responsibilities?

Answer: Yes. Some coaches have a loyalty trait that convinces them to stay with you no matter what.

Will the G.M. leave for a better opportunity with another team? Will he raid your coaching staff?

Answer: Yes and No.

Can scouts get hired away at season end?

Answer: We only have GMs. We didn't add scouts this year.

Is negotiating a deal with a coach as difficult as dealing with a player? Will the coaches look at the schemes and talent to see if they fit your team before signing?

Answer: Yes. They gauge their interest in your team and then it's up to you to make sure your team is the one they have the most interest in. While other teams are giving up control to raise thier interest. It's pretty exciting.


What are the practice sessions like? DO we only get to run 20 plays in a session a day during week?

Will all players study film? Is this something we as coaches have to tell them to do?
Obviously this should increase the players readiness for the upcoming game.

Answer: Practice sessions are built around gameplans. You choose a gameplan and then we show you how much the team learned and who got banged up. You're always able to go into play creator and practice on the field as long as you'd like.

Players learn plays by practicing your gameplan choices. You can also focus the practice around rookies in training camp or choose to work on one play in TC per practice.


Are practice squads something your looking to add in the coming years?

Answer: I can't promise anything but the fact that it almost went into this year's game is a good sign.

Whew! that was a marathon!

[Josh_Looman]

Guys, just like I'm doing in the other thread, we'd like to get any questions about play creator (in-game and out) or gameplay.

One of our lead programmers, Chris Staymates, will answer your questions about anything in-game or play creator related.

[x1Blumpkin1x]

Thanks for all of the info, and such quick responses too. It is like a whole new EA where the community matters and not the "we know what's best" attitude. I'm loving it.

Just a few questions:

1) Are the draft classes static? With 21,000 potential draftees it doesn't sound as such. I just want to make sure that season 2 of a newly started franchise won't have the same draft class as the first franchise I played.

2) You mentioned teams maybe not being interested in you if you are fired. Does that mean you could potentially sit out a season?

3) Will there be solid documentation about the game and some of the mechanics? I only thought of this since I am currently (well should be but I'm typing this instead) writing documentation for software I wrote (very small company, we have to do everything). You mentioned something above about the best coach showing up first in the clipboard, how would I know that if I hadn't read your post? Is the in-game help that informative?

[Chris_Staymates]

Hey everyone, I'm taking a break from the 1s and 0s to try and give you all some more insight into the game play related features in NFL Head Coach 09.

Just about everything is fair game from the Play Creator to Coach Skills. So, fire away!

[JRod]

Appreciate answering all the questions we've fired at you?

After the game is released and the team's had some time to recover, will you be back here answering some questions?

[eaglesfan27]

Quote: Originally Posted by Josh_Looman

Yes. We wanted to make a tight experience that lasted 15 years where we gave you 100 things to do instead of letting you play 30 years with only a few things to do.

I'm a bit confused by this reply. Why couldn't those same 100 things be done over 30 years?

I'm really hoping there is some way to change this as this seems like a major design flaw. Why should I care about someone I draft in year 10-15 of the franchise, if I'll never be able to see them through to the end of their career.