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

[mwjr]

Quote: Originally Posted by Matrix-Monkey

Chris, are you looking into changing the playcall adjustment system in HC's next iteration? I might be alone on this but I'd prefer if it was more like Madden, so I can make multiple shifts in a few seconds, rather than just being able to do one adjustment at a time. Which usually leaves me with enough time to shift the defense in 2-3 ways before the CPU hikes the ball. I'd like to be able to see my playart on the field presnap so I know how to adjust (since remembering every assignment/route from the tiny playcall picture is rather difficult sometimes).

Agreed, HOWEVER, I need more time than the nano-second I currently get on Madden 09.

[billfbrennan]

I know this game is incredibly in depth, but it does not have the depth on the amount of players that are in camp trying to make a team. i just looked at the patriots roster, and then compared it to the roster in the game and i found out that not only are around 20 players that are on their 80 man roster in real life are not on their roster in the game, but also these players are missing from the game completely. so i cant edit the rosters to add them, and begin with the real rosters. Just wondering why this happens (contract, name, rights, nflpa issues, game developers restrictions)??

Will this be fixed with the next roster update? (ofcourse not who is on the rosters at that time but to have these players actually in the game for roster editing for the beginning of preseason)

All of this info is taken from the pats roster on their website, and from the most recent roster update for the game. I am sure all of the teams are like this.

Also just a question because im in the middle of the season in my game and i cant quite remember, but how many players can be on the roster at the beginning of camp? 75 or 80? (in the game) Also is there a way you can control who you sign to fill up the roster? i thought i read in the book that you could, but when i enter the preseason i just end up with the guys that my gm invited to camp.

Please if any developers can answer any of these questions it would be great. Thanks

Upon further research ive found out that there are at least 350 players that are currently on nfl rosters (assuming they all max out the 80 man roster (and im pretty sure they all do) that are probably not even in Head Coach.

This is only counting missing spots from each teams roster break down (2560 roster spots (80 * 32) - x amount of players actually on rosters. this number is then subtracted by the amount of free agents available in head coach before entering into the coach mode) im sure there are more players that dont have spots on teams waiting for a call. and also all the no name injured reserve players such as barry stokes offensive lineman for the patriots, just not being in the game. so that keeps the missing players number growing and growing.

There are still around 350 players that are missing. To me this is alot of players because then they arent available during the season for free agency fill ins, and everything that real coaches go through. And not to mention players that we see at camp, and would like our teams to go and pursue to give them a chance to make the teams.. most of these players have probably played in the nfl in past years also (example: Ventrone S Pats, Kyle Eckel FB Pats)

Its no secret that this was done in madden throughout all these years because lets face it, it doesnt have any depth that the nfl has. But with head coach i would expect there to be more of a selection (even with fake names. or fake players. like all those great baseball games being able to named later by us customers)

The game still plays great and i love this game.. its very hard to stop playing.. It just bugs me that all these players fighting for spots in the nfl are just left out (again i dont really know if there are reasons for this, im sure there are. I would like to know)

I dont know, i may be looking way to far into this but i feel this is a major part of the nfl that needs to be in this game. Its basically like a giant minor league pool of players.

Alright let me know if anyone has any insight on this issue.

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by billfbrennan

I know this game is incredibly in depth, but it does not have the depth on the amount of players that are in camp trying to make a team. i just looked at the patriots roster, and then compared it to the roster in the game and i found out that not only are around 20 players that are on their 80 man roster in real life are not on their roster in the game, but also these players are missing from the game completely. so i cant edit the rosters to add them, and begin with the real rosters. Just wondering why this happens (contract, name, rights, nflpa issues, game developers restrictions)?? Will this be fixed with the next roster update? (ofcourse not who is on the rosters at that time but to have these players actually in the game for roster editing for the beginning of preseason) All of this info is taken from the pats roster on their website, and from the most recent roster update for the game. I am sure all of the teams are like this. Also just a question because im in the middle of the season in my game and i cant quite remember, but how many players can be on the roster at the beginning of camp? 75 or 80? (in the game) Also is there a way you can control who you sign to fill up the roster? i thought i read in the book that you could, but when i enter the preseason i just end up with the guys that my gm invited to camp. Please if any developers can answer any of these questions it would be great. Thanks Upon further research ive found out that there are at least 350 players that are currently on nfl rosters (assuming they all max out the 80 man roster (and im pretty sure they all do) that are probably not even in Head Coach. This is only counting missing spots from each teams roster break down (2560 roster spots (80 * 32) - x amount of players actually on rosters. this number is then subtracted by the amount of free agents available in head coach before entering into the coach mode) im sure there are more players that dont have spots on teams waiting for a call. and also all the no name injured reserve players such as barry stokes offensive lineman for the patriots, just not being in the game. so that keeps the missing players number growing and growing. There are still around 350 players that are missing. To me this is alot of players because then they arent available during the season for free agency fill ins, and everything that real coaches go through. And not to mention players that we see at camp, and would like our teams to go and pursue to give them a chance to make the teams.. most of these players have probably played in the nfl in past years also (example: Ventrone S Pats, Kyle Eckel FB Pats) Its no secret that this was done in madden throughout all these years because lets face it, it doesnt have any depth that the nfl has. But with head coach i would expect there to be more of a selection (even with fake names. or fake players. like all those great baseball games being able to named later by us customers) The game still plays great and i love this game.. its very hard to stop playing.. It just bugs me that all these players fighting for spots in the nfl are just left out (again i dont really know if there are reasons for this, im sure there are. I would like to know) I dont know, i may be looking way to far into this but i feel this is a major part of the nfl that needs to be in this game. Its basically like a giant minor league pool of players. Alright let me know if anyone has any insight on this issue.

Yeah, it was a ton of work just to be able to fit 75 players on each team.

Hopefully in the future we can expand it.

[mwjr]

Quote: Originally Posted by gdtrfb

Hear's my question....HOW the HEL@ did you manage to NOT at all playtest this game........I realize that we don't matter but WTF YOU SAW THE BRUTALLY CRAP PRODUCT BEFORE YOU.... YET YOU STILL SHIPPED THIS PILE OF C@AP.........I HOPE YOU CAN SLEEP WELL>>>>OH THATS RIGHT YOU ALLREADY GOT PAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!CCC@AP.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I

Yeah, I remember my first beer.

[billfbrennan]

Thats one of the points that i brought up. The rosters are not filled up to a full 75 when you just go to player management and look at the roster. And even if they were the free agency would be depleted.Not to mention players that have played in the nfl before and are on these teams are just gone. Kyle Eckel of the pats has been removed from madden last year and this year in head coach with a roster update.. this is a roster downgrade. Is there a limit on the amount of players that are able to be in the game at one time? and thats why these players are left out?

I'll put possible solutions on expanding the player pool in a wishlist form for next year i guess.

1. Practice Squad - each team has an 8(i believe its still 8) player practice squad that is separate from the 53 man roster. This can be incorporated into the practice, or gameplan part of each week. And those rookie free agents or veterans that dont quite make the team can be given a practice contract, and based on your scouting itll be just like training camp where you can unveil their overall and other stats. Its so you can have quick plug ins for injuries, and to not quite let go of a player in training camp that you would like to see if he can someday make the team.

2. Create a Player - This is the ultimate solution because it means anyone can create any player and just like the baseball games that have been coming out for years, the minor leaguer players can be either renamed or created to create full rosters. Its the same thing here, any players that might be missing or their with a different name can be renamed, or created.

3. More players - This is on the developers because 350 is alot of players to be missing and thats not scraping all the free agents that are waiting to be called by teams in the nfl. Just keep expanding. It would be incredible if you can add little by little in roster updates.

4. 80 man rosters - This is self explanatory because adding more roster spots one would think that there would be more players to fill these spots.

Thank you Josh and to all the devs that have been so great in answering our questions. Is there anything we can do to help this game be made separate from madden again next year? (features being brought into madden and just scrapping head coach). Anything we can do at all to increase interest of the "mr money bags" of ea to ok this game again next year, im sure most of us would love to do it because you guys have really caught something here with hardcore gamers. The game is great and i can only imagine how great it would be next year without bugs and expanded players. So if there is anything we can do let us know.

[SloeyEZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by billfbrennan

Thats one of the points that i brought up. The rosters are not filled up to a full 75 when you just go to player management and look at the roster. And even if they were the free agency would be depleted.Not to mention players that have played in the nfl before and are on these teams are just gone. Kyle Eckel of the pats has been removed from madden last year and this year in head coach with a roster update.. this is a roster downgrade. Is there a limit on the amount of players that are able to be in the game at one time? and thats why these players are left out? I'll put possible solutions on expanding the player pool in a wishlist form for next year i guess. 1. Practice Squad - each team has an 8(i believe its still 8) player practice squad that is separate from the 53 man roster. This can be incorporated into the practice, or gameplan part of each week. And those rookie free agents or veterans that dont quite make the team can be given a practice contract, and based on your scouting itll be just like training camp where you can unveil their overall and other stats. Its so you can have quick plug ins for injuries, and to not quite let go of a player in training camp that you would like to see if he can someday make the team. 2. Create a Player - This is the ultimate solution because it means anyone can create any player and just like the baseball games that have been coming out for years, the minor leaguer players can be either renamed or created to create full rosters. Its the same thing here, any players that might be missing or their with a different name can be renamed, or created. 3. More players - This is on the developers because 350 is alot of players to be missing and thats not scraping all the free agents that are waiting to be called by teams in the nfl. Just keep expanding. It would be incredible if you can add little by little in roster updates. 4. 80 man rosters - This is self explanatory because adding more roster spots one would think that there would be more players to fill these spots. Thank you Josh and to all the devs that have been so great in answering our questions. Is there anything we can do to help this game be made separate from madden again next year? (features being brought into madden and just scrapping head coach). Anything we can do at all to increase interest of the "mr money bags" of ea to ok this game again next year, im sure most of us would love to do it because you guys have really caught something here with hardcore gamers. The game is great and i can only imagine how great it would be next year without bugs and expanded players. So if there is anything we can do let us know.

bill, I started a "what we would like to see" thread if you wanna put your wish list there.

I for one would not like to see a player creator. Takes out some of the realism to me although I guess I could just not use it..yeah..ok put it in for those that want it...

nevermind......

[billfbrennan]

Quote: Originally Posted by SloeyEZ

bill, I started a "what we would like to see" thread if you wanna put your wish list there. I for one would not like to see a player creator. Takes out some of the realism to me although I guess I could just not use it..yeah..ok put it in for those that want it... nevermind......

alright ill post it there in a bit... gotta go clean the gutters.. ugh

[Lucky]

Chris,

Is it possible to give us a rundown on how the games logic is on which choice is "successful" during Defining Moments?

[claystone]

Josh:

I have a question regarding Sub in / Sub out.

1. Can my OC / DC sub players in for me when an alert hits my clipboard to sub a player in?

(I checked delagated and gave some control to my OC/DC, but they never sub players in and out for me when i dismiss the sub alert. I thought when i dismiss it, my oc/dc will handle it. They haven't been. What do i need to do to allow them to?)

Thanks

[billfbrennan]

Sorry another question i want to ask.

As for no patch announcement yet. Is this because the people that bought the madden 20th edition are basically the trial and error period for this game? And based on the bugs and response of the game the powers that be will decide to ok a patch when the real release date comes for the game to launch on its own.

It is ea so i guess sketchy is the name of the game. This isnt a knock to you developers, you guys have been great with trying to get us fixes and workarounds. Thanks