Bill Abner's first Head Coach Impressions

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bill_Abner

Hi Josh, thanks for clearing this up. The Rucker thing had me baffled and to be honest I'm glad it was a mistake rather than an intentional decision. That 23 was really throwing me for a loop. And yeah, I agree with the change for Dorsey. I know that if DA gets hurt, and Quinn ends up being a bust...if we have to use Ken Dorsey as the starter -- we're done. Rogers is a mystery. And ratings are a very, very subjective thing. I really doubt we use him at DE (man I hope not...) but it's a valid question as to whether he'll be the middle plug that the Browns need. I think it's more a question of desire to play than a question of talent but when you have an X factor like that I can see how it would be tough to rate him. I'll look at it later today. I just remember seeing Greg Spires at DE and he left the Browns back in 2001, I think. Isn't he in Oakland? Or did he retire? Like you said, the roster update will probably fix that stuff. And I'm not that much of a roster stickler -- I can easily cut Spires and just move on. I think I'm going to use the overheads cams -- maybe stick with Press Box. I like that 'entire field' view more than the up close angles. I have a hard time seeing the field with those cams. As weird as it sounds, the fact that the game has bad throws that aren't always deflected, dropped, or picked makes me extremely happy. My game time has been nil so far (one half of a preseason game) but I really liked the flow of the games. There is going to be a lot to digest though. Question: what is the best way to meet some of the GM goals? One of my goals was to get a backup OG to a certain knowledge level. I don't see a way to specify that player during practices. How is that done?

He should show up in the gameplan list. It'll say something like "Increase John Smith's Play Knowledge". Selecting that gameplan will basically insert him into the starting lineup and get him to learn plays quicker. It also helps to play him in your preseason games as the starter. Plays don't just learn plays in practice. Every time a play is run in the game they learn it a little more. That's the great thing about the preseason in our game. You can truly use it as a sandbox...trying out new plays, creating plays on the fly...trying out those new rookies in different roles, etc. Since the results don't impact your approval, you can just muck around for a while, trying to figure out the best fits for your team.

There is going to be a lot to digest. The designers who started playing it at work after we finished were still seeing new stuff happen years into their careers. It's a much different game than most football fans are used to. We tried to pack in every cool feature we could think of this year to immerse anyone who played it.

Thanks for being honest so far and I look forward to your impressions of the other features. (and I'm glad you like the 15 minute quarters...that was one of the risky things we were hoping people really liked!)

What do you think of the in-game play creator? Have you used it yet?

[poster]

Awesome that there will be a roster update on the twelveth. Thanks Josh! Also thanks Bill for the impressions.

After reading about some of the Madden impressions & decisions, I was thinking I just couldn't purchase the CE on Day 1 due to Madden flaws. I just can't hold out, and the reason is that this game to me is going to be worth it. Great job to the HC Team!

[DLaren]

Quote: Originally Posted by Josh_Looman

What do you think of the in-game play creator? Have you used it yet?

I'd also like to hear more on the play-creator...Thanks.

[Bill_Abner]

I am going to be doing a write up today about my first foray into career mode. I still have a few questions about some things but so far this game is a helluva lot of fun.

There's a lot of stuff to look at like draft AI, free agent signings, and other stuff but the games are a blast.

Games take about an hour with 15 minute quarters, btw.

But how's this for cool: In my preseason game vs New York I was called for 9 penalties for 75 yards.

Cribbs ran back a TD on a kickoff -- untouched.

Oh, and FYI: there are full game sliders for both Human and CPU. I dunno if they are needed yet, though. My first game was pretty darn realistic.

It's the little things that the game is doing that we usually don't see in a graphics-based game that is making me smile. It's frustrates me that Madden doesn't do a lot of the same stuff, but calling the games from the press box is giving me that Front Page Sports Football vibe in a HUGE way right now.

[WDOgF0reL1fe]

Awesome stuff Bill. Making me look smart right now for getting the CE

[thesimulator]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bill_Abner

I am going to be doing a write up today about my first foray into career mode. I still have a few questions about some things but so far this game is a helluva lot of fun. There's a lot of stuff to look at like draft AI, free agent signings, and other stuff but the games are a blast. Games take about an hour with 15 minute quarters, btw. But how's this for cool: In my preseason game vs New York I was called for 9 penalties for 75 yards. Cribbs ran back a TD on a kickoff -- untouched. Oh, and FYI: there are full game sliders for both Human and CPU. I dunno if they are needed yet, though. My first game was pretty darn realistic. It's the little things that the game is doing that we usually don't see in a graphics-based game that is making me smile. It's frustrates me that Madden doesn't do a lot of the same stuff, but calling the games from the press box is giving me that Front Page Sports Football vibe in a HUGE way right now.

Good stuff Bill, keep us posted.

[Ninjoid]

Good to hear your impressions Bill - they sound very favourable and this game sounds like all I'd hoped for.

Josh - interesting to hear your comments on the 15mins accelerated qtrs...I for one am really pleased that's in the game, makes it so much more realistic.

[kiddlex]

Bill I keep going to my cpu once an hour and refreshing your blog looking for the next impressions of HC. What a loser!! Keep the excellent info coming. Thanks BILL!!!

BTW I caught hell at work from my co-workers for being on a blog called the nut and the feisty weasel.

[Bill_Abner]

Quote: Originally Posted by kiddlex

Bill I keep going to my cpu once an hour and refreshing your blog looking for the next impressions of HC. What a loser!! Keep the excellent info coming. Thanks BILL!!! BTW I caught hell at work from my co-workers for being on a blog called the nut and the feisty weasel.

Ha. Yeah we're proud of the name.

I'm back from the youth soccer coach meeting so I'll type some stuff up post haste.

I won the pre season opener 31-24, and had an absolute blast. You guys know, or at least I hope you do, that I try to be as straight up as I can about these games, and my first full game of HC was as much fun as I have had with a football game in a long, long while.

[bcruise]

Pre-emptive strike after reading the comment on your blog Bill:

According to what we've heard here there is online play, but it's done in a supersim format - it's not a graphical representation like the single player thing. We call the plays, but we can't watch 'em. Just thought you should know before going down the online play path.