bingo. i think the only way i'll get over 20 is if the game absolutely blows me away and is PERFECT.

consider that even in FM I rarely get past 10 years into the game and I play that ALL THE TIME.

and i don't expect this to be that deep, but if it's even 1/2 as deep i'll get 20 years in, 1/3 as deep i'll get 30...1/4 as deep I MIGHT get 40, if it can pull me away from FM.

basically, this doesn't worry me at all

10 new screen shots released on Operation Sports today. Very good looking shot of the draft, and I'm encouraged by the options that the screen shot suggests in organizing rosters and depth charts. However, one shot showed a TE that was about to be drafted being rated between 85-98. I hope there is a chance that the TE doesn't meet that potential.


Edit: The shot showing the QB strategies was very interesting.

Thanks, going to check on that now.

Been doing some searching about the game. Here are all of the new player "attributes":

New QB attributes: Accuracy short, accuracy medium, accuracy long, playaction pass, throw on run (accuracy.)


New HB attributes: None


New FB attributes: None


New WR attributes: Route accuracy, route cuts, press avoidance.


New TE attributes: Route accuracy, route cuts, press avoidance.


New OL attributes: None


New DL attributes: Play recognition


New LB attributes: Play recognition, coverage zone, coverage man


New DB attributes: Coverage man, coverage zone, play recognition, press.


New K/P attributes: None



There is quite a bit of talk that these attributes will be added to Madden as well.

Agreed, If they get this right. But, I'm thinking they are going to have one annoying bug that will ruin it for me.

And they'll patch it three times and it will still be there. Yeah, me too.

Man, I just read the IGN interview with Strauser again. I can't help but get excited for this damn game. It sounds like everything I ever wanted.

I wish they would make the thing on the XBOX 360. No multiplayer which totally sucks ass. :(

I just re-read it today. Despite the fact that I might end up kicking myself, I'll be buying this on release date. I'm going to go with the PC version as it should be the best looking, and hopefully there might be some patch or mod potential there if needed.

Yeah, I'm thinking that this is an almost "must buy" for me now. Although I'll probably wait at least a day or two till someone like pumpy or ef27 give it a run through. I also have a very bad feeling that there will be one minor thing that ends up killing it for me, as well.

Why all the worry that something will be wrong with the game?


EA did a great job with FOF after Jim went back to solo work.:rolleyes:

But I think I will still pick this up.

What are you talking about?

I bought FOF2002 from EA and could never build a New stadium in Denver or Pittsburgh beacause all EA did was update the rosters for the 2002 version. Since both these Stadiums were to be completed in 2002 they never get built, and the owner of the teams can never do any kind of Stadium Renovations. I emailed EA about this problem and was sent a reply that they would not be releasing a patch to correct it. I bet it would of taken 5 minutes to fix this problem on their end.

Better? I was being sarcastic about EA. It was a shame they released 2002. I feel bad for the people that bought it.

Much Better. :)

Nothing to do with the game, but I'm taking vacation the last two weeks of June. Due to our impending house purchase, I won't be going anywhere for the vacation. So, I'm sure I'll be putting this game under the microscope very soon after it comes out.

This might sound strange, but I hadn't even really considered buying this thing on release day until I saw my name in this post.

/Note to self. Use power of Pumpy persuasion to use him as a beta tester for all games. End transmission.

Power of Pumpy Persuasion
Power of Pumpy Persuasion
Power of Pumpy Persuasion

Oh, my goodness, I think it might actually work. :eek:

The power of Pumpy compels you...
The power of Pumpy compels you...
The power of Pumpy compels you...

Secret Transmission only to be heard by Pumpy's Unconscious...

I think I found out some new info on EA's boards. This guy from Madden Nation has a blog going on, apparently he is a beta-tester or something... He wrote some impressions about the career mode, interesting stuff. Sorry if this was already posted.

Interesting stuff. Thanks!

WOW, this game has now moved into the Pre-Order stage for me.

The only bad thing is simming a year is going to take forever.

For me too, as soon as it will available on the store from which I usually order. EA is really the devil, I guess :D.

Dude, you seemingly buy every sports game on release day. Or at least it seems like it anyways.

I'm pre-ordering as well. In an interview, the producer said it will take 20-30 hours to play through a season if you take care of all of your head coach responsibities manually. I don't mind that at all.

I now have an unsightly bulge.

dola: except that last line. Only trade same seasons picks? That's not good.

I agree, but if the trade AI is reasonably good with only same season trades, I can see that as an acceptable compromise for this version.

Dola -

I can't wait to start drawing up my own plays and see if I can move up in the draft a bit to get an impact player.

Minor detail.

A new interview today on Operation Sports with the Assistant Producer of the game. Here are the highlights to me:

- Every coach will have his own specific playbook.

- We can develop our own formations, plays, play groups, and game plans.

- Owners will have different personalities and will demand different things and have different goals that they expect their head coach to meet.

- Assistant Coaches can be hired away by other teams, particularly if your team does well.

- You don't see any player ratings by default. You need to scout players repeatedly to narrow down their range in a variety of ratings. Your scouting director will give you a more detailed report on guys that were scouted once the combine ends.

- (I know we've heard a bit of this before): Vastly improved AI in regards to drafting, trading, and signing FA's. Each GM will have his own philosophy about players and this will affect each team's FA moves, drafting, and trading and provide variation in what each team pursues!

- No green bar in FA signings. Now you have to talk to agents and make them an offer and they will give you feedback once the deal is made. Lowball a guy, and he might stop negotiating with your club!

- Simulated stats are being "tuned" right now to be as realistic as possible.

- Record keeping for both players and coaches in a season and career.


A bad point - No Printing, not even on the PC version. :(

Vastly improved AI? Improved over what? Isn't this a first version?

I'm confused...

In comparision to Madden. At least I assumed that is what the question was referring to.


Edit: Actually, re-reading that part of the interview, the question and response don't say improved. They say "strong." I added improved (in my own mind) over Madden when reading it quickly. Sorry for the confusion.

My guess is over Madden.

So...you could say Maximum Football has "vastly improved graphics!" because you are comparing it to ..ummm...WordPerfect? :D

Improved AI over Madden...now that will not be to hard to do.

I hope EA has guys working on this who understand American football.
I am sure, well kind of maybe sure, that they have a few programmers who understand football like the type the NFL plays.

OK, I am dancing around an issue...but I am sure you can read into all that ramble.

They are made by the same company in the same building using much of the same code. Is it really that big a leap to say it will be improved over the other in a certain area?

The issue with these things is often not that the devs / designers don't KNOW what is realistic - it's that for various reasons they can't do what they want.

Ie.. If any of us were REALLY coaching an NFL team, we'd probably fall flat on our arse. But that's no fun in a game. So even if they have hard hard hardcore nfl fans / knowledge in house -they'll have to neuter it somewhat to provide a reasonable play experience for the masses.

I was making a joke by taking it to an extreme.

Are they actually using some of the same code? As someone not very impressed by Madden's management AI, that would be a big negative to me.

I'll definitely be waiting to see reviews. I'm not nearly as optomistic this game will be good, although I like what they are trying to do and if it's not horrible I might pick it up just to support the concept.

Hence, the "improved AI."

no worries for me, I'm not sure I ever printed a single page out of FOF since I first played back in 1998-99.

anybody know the PC req. for this game? Don't know if they are out yet. I hope the graphics aren't pickey as I only have a laptop with (ugh) shared video.

and hence, my comparison to a graphic improvement over WordPerfect. :D

But that isn't funny. A better line would be "that is like saying Football Mogul has better AI than Maximum Football."

One of the interviews I read said that 75% of the code is new, and that only some of the graphics code was remaining. Now, I'm not sure if I necessarily believe that, but if it is true it is encouraging.

I will now be preordering the PC version as I no longer own a PS2 and no release THIS year for the PSP.

oooh this game just looks better and better.

so i'm sure it'll end up dissapointing me

Can I ask....if you have a PC that can play this game, why in the world would you get it for a console?

I can't think of any reason. I'll be preordering for the PC.

Good Point!