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

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pluto07

Great game, but the defining moments are really messed up. Is there a way to adjust / fix the defining moments so that they are not backwards? Or just turn them off? Example: (Me) KC-3 AT CHI-7 (CPU): 7:59 remaing in 1st QTR. KC backed up on their own 27. It is 4th and 3yrds (after being 3rd and inches). Defining moment, "you are 'losing':" Punt or Go For It. (Obviously you punt, every real team punts, every CPU controlled team punts.) But choosing punt causes the Approval rating do drop for Fans, Media, Players, and Coaches. I disagree with ALL those reactions in that situation, but I'll simply address one: the coaches. A CPU team would punt, hence the programmers who designed the game know the smart coaching coice is to punt. Therefore it cannot (or should not) cause a coaching drop for a user controlled team making the same decision. This means that the defining moment outcome is either in err, or purposely programmed contrary to the way the CPU coaches act. (AKA hypocrite: acting in contradiction to one's beliefs) Any help in fixing this would be great. Thanks. PS: my GF said it best, "The only people who go for it in the 1st quarter from their own 30 are pimple-faced boy's playing Madden. I thought this game was suppose about playing smart?"

I agree with you on this. The defining moments are jacked up like crazy. The game awards blind aggression and stupidity and punishes smart and safe gameplay. It makes little sense.

No one in their right mind goes for it up a field goal deep in your own territory late in the 4th quarter on a 4th and 10. You punt the ball. Even if your D sucks, if you go for it, and likely fail, you GIVE them points. I got docked 15 for this.

I'm just glad that last few games I've played, defining moments haven't popped up. My approval has actually gone up in wins because I don't make impulsive decisions to go for it on 4th downs.

[JBH3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pluto07

I wish I were so lucky, I usually get 4 - 5 per game. My approval rarely goes above 50 even though the worst season I've ever had was 11-5. The worst is after losing a championship or superbowl and having a fans & media approval of 0 (zero). Absolutely no fans. It's just so unbelievable I would ignore it, except it can get you fired (and end your game). Penalized for making the safe call is bad enough, but being rewarded for making stupid calls is something that I simply do not understand. Since they're not fixing it this year, I'm just going to hope it's fixed for the next.

Quote: Originally Posted by Zakk Topps

I had an overall approval drop of 2 points after winning the Superbowl, simply because I refused a bunch of silly defining moments during the game. Just baffling to me. At the very least, the approval penalty should be less. Zakk.

Quote: Originally Posted by Josh_Looman

These aren't changed. The Defining Moments are tied to personality types, not general groups like 'coaches, players', etc. The purpose of that defining moment if to see if you'll go for it on 4th down to keep the drive alive early. Funny, I was watching a college game saturday night (either missouri/Illinois or Clemson/Bama) and the announcers were going crazy when a coach was going for it on 4th down at his OWN 35. He got it and everyone liked the gutsy call. Truth is stranger than fiction, huh?

Like Josh said...They're personality based.

I probably choose a personality not common to most, and I think the only HC in the game who had the same one is Lane Kiffin.

The personality I choose is "Analyst".

Through 5 games I've only had 2, AGAIN, TWO, defining moments as San Fran's HC.

Both came in a hm gm vs NE. One was the typical go for it on 4th and 1, except I was only down by 10 and was in FG range so I decided to go for the FG. That resulted in a hit to my approval, but I was willing to take it. Another one came in the 1st half where I was down by 10 again, and had the ball on the NE 27 on 4th and 2.

I went for it, was able to get into the redzone, and came w/in a FG of tying to finish the 1st half.

The defining moments made sense though. You know why...because NE opened the game up in the 2nd half, and ended up beating me 51-24.

It was 24-21 at the half.

W/ the Niners I couldn't play conservative w/ NE, but did and it backfired as I only got past the 30 once in the 2nd half.

NE opened the 2nd half w/ a kickoff return for a TD by Wes Welker, and it was ALL downhill from there.

I'll probably be a lot more aggressive in the future when it comes to defining moments.

Definitely personality plays a role. As a "Commander" personality w/ a failed ATL career I got quite a few defining moments a game. If you don't want to see as many maybe try the "Analyst" personality.