Pro Cycling Manager thread (13 discussion from page 2) - Page 2

DaddyTorgo · 06-21-2013, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

New game is released today. Curious if anyone has taken it for a spin yet.

I have. I pre-ordered and managed to take a couple stages for a spin last night.

The UI is MUCH more user-friendly for new/casual fans. You can group the riders on your team into "groups" in the squad screen ("A" team and "B" team, or "A climbers" "B climbers" "A Sprinters" "B Sprinters" for example).

It remains to be seen how well it worked, but I always hated setting up training schedules to try to get my guys to peak at the right time (in fact I never bothered), so I'm excited that the game does that for you now.

In-race looks beautiful still. One issue (that will get sorted) is riders disappearing (and reappearing) when you go 8x. Other than that - the changes to attacking behavior seem to work well, at least to my eyes so far.

Played Alp d'Huez, the cancelled Giro climb, and a couple sprint stages. Attacked too early on both climbs and had nothing left to counter the other big guns so finished 4th both times. Peleton splits really really nicely though. On Alp d'Huez I was isolated in a group with Samuel Sanchez (me), Contador, Froome, and Joaquim Rodriguez by the time we reached the first summit. By the time we'd hit the second climb of it there were like...15 different groups - people were strung out across the mountain like mad, which IMO is realistic.

Sprints seem to still work fine. I almost blew one by waiting until too late to have Cav start his sprint, but won on the line by a wheel. I always seem to wait until almost too late. Also had a better, less nervy sprint finish where I didn't wait till too late.

I'm sure there's bugs, and I'm sure some of the guys on pcmdaily.com will tear it apart this weekend and find some, but ATM it plays pretty well out of the box for the first couple runs-through.

I may work from home today so I can take a little gaming break here or there and get in a few more stages.

bhlloy · 06-26-2013, 12:08 AM

Seems there are some pretty gamebreaking bugs with career although 3D race AI seems improved, is that a fair shake DT (or anyone else who has picked it up)?

DaddyTorgo · 06-26-2013, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Seems there are some pretty gamebreaking bugs with career although 3D race AI seems improved, is that a fair shake DT (or anyone else who has picked it up)?

3d race AI is much better - especially mountains. Still potentially some tweaking to be done to peleton pulling back breakaways, but mountain AI is night and day better. Sprint AI seems good too.

"Gamebreaking" bugs in Career mode - the major one was to do with being unable to sign riders, which has already been patched. There's people complaining about this and that, but that was really the major one I think. Well that and some (justified) suggestions about improving the new scheduling system (why won't it let you filter what races are objectives for your guys by what you're registered for? that seems common sense), and a bit of rider happiness being bugged, but those will get sorted out.

I've started a custom team career game and while I know I will restart once the PCM Expansion pack comes out and the bugs are quashed, I'm having fun with it right now. No serious "gamebreaking" bugs for me, because I know I won't ever get to the point of needing to resign these guys or keep them happy - just enjoying the races and using it to "scout" guys for my real career and to refine my techniques (I'm pretty damn good in sprints these days - although it obviously helps to have Tony Martin leading my sprint train

).

If you're price-sensitive then maybe wait for the patches and a potential price-drop on Steam (although that doesn't happen often IIRC). Otherwise I mean...it's playable now and I'm confident that it'll get patched to be even more playable (even if Cyanide's history suggests it won't be patched to "perfect.")

Critch · 06-29-2013, 05:34 PM

New patch yesterday (I think). 3d race AI still feels a bit strange with breakaways, on some breakaways no other team will chase it down, it's all down to you. The gap will get bigger and bigger with nobody making any attempt to catch. One stage I didnt bother chasing and the breakaway ended up winning with an 8+ minute gap.

The career side still seems to have a lot of balance issues too.

So for me it's still a patch or two away from being worth spending time with.

whomario · 07-02-2013, 10:25 AM

just watched a let´s play type video that has me itching to get this ... the new way to plan the season for each player is terrific. No more stupid click fest, just tell the game the races where to peak and voila.

Think i´m gonna finish my current (2017) season and then upgrade, could coincide well with the steam sale

whomario · 07-12-2013, 12:40 PM

game is down 25%, aparently through all the summer sale. Now the question is if you´ll hope for a better offer or take it now

(personally i caved and bought the game just now, the fact that the mountain AI seems highly improved and you can use old variants for races, and many get converted as we speak, convinced me)

DaddyTorgo · 07-12-2013, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whomario

game is down 25%, aparently through all the summer sale. Now the question is if you´ll hope for a better offer or take it now

(personally i caved and bought the game just now, the fact that the mountain AI seems highly improved and you can use old variants for races, and many get converted as we speak, convinced me)

Nice deal. Might have to remember that for next year...

bhlloy · 07-12-2013, 01:40 PM

I'm still waiting for the pcmdaily db to start a serious career, and hopefully another patch that fixes a couple of annoyances, but no doubt the actual races are much more fun and realistic

DaddyTorgo · 07-12-2013, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhlloy

I'm still waiting for the pcmdaily db to start a serious career, and hopefully another patch that fixes a couple of annoyances, but no doubt the actual races are much more fun and realistic

Yeah - just messing around in a career myself to get a feel for the different actual races and my tactics.

Ryan S · 07-12-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whomario

game is down 25%, aparently through all the summer sale. Now the question is if you´ll hope for a better offer or take it now

PCM2012 hit 50% off in a flash sale last summer, so it might yet go lower.

Mota · 07-12-2013, 05:40 PM

So ... is it worth it to grab 2012 for $9.99 or is 2013 worth the extra money?

bhlloy · 07-12-2013, 06:14 PM

2012 might actually be the better pure sim game right now (couple of bugs in 2013 still plus a few features were removed/changed) but if you want to actually manage the races themselves instead of just simming 2013 seems to blow it out of the water.

So yeah, I'd say 2013 is worth the money. Not sure how much value you are just going to get out of it by treating it like a text sim.

whomario · 07-13-2013, 03:26 AM

If past versions are an indication though, by end of July or early August PCM 13 will be as good in the management aspect. It´s generally been a 3-patch game with the 3rd one focussing on the career aspect, AFAIK.

I´d just wait for the end of the sale if there´s a flash sale, then you can still make that choice.

Alan T · 07-16-2013, 08:16 PM

Is there any kind of demo? I keep trying to decide if I would like this or not.

DaddyTorgo · 07-16-2013, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan T

Is there any kind of demo? I keep trying to decide if I would like this or not.

Unfortunately not - never have been any. Are previous versions on sale at all anywhere - that could be a cheap way to figure out if you'd like it.

Alternatively are there videos out there on youtube that are "Let's Play" style? Or you can come over and try it at my place?

Ryan S · 07-21-2013, 09:15 AM

Don't upgrade to Windows 8.1 until a patch is released, as it won't start up at all (this applies to PCM 2012 and 2013).

It sounds like they don't plan to fix this until the final release of Windows 8.1 is ready, so a fix could be a few months down the line.

DaddyTorgo · 07-21-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan S

Don't upgrade to Windows 8.1 until a patch is released, as it won't start up at all (this applies to PCM 2012 and 2013).

It sounds like they don't plan to fix this until the final release of Windows 8.1 is ready, so a fix could be a few months down the line.

FUSTERCLUCK!!!

Mota · 07-21-2013, 03:42 PM

Disapointed that there were no deals on Steam beyond the 25% through this sale.

bhlloy · 07-25-2013, 06:02 PM

Patch out tomorrow morning. Hopefully PCMDaily DB shortly after and I can finally start a career

Alan T · 07-25-2013, 07:19 PM

One thing I am not clear on.. with this game is it a career or just one season? Looking at past versions it seems to suggest one season, but the newer version indicates a multiple season career.

I'm still torn on deciding if I want to pull the trigger on this or not.

bhlloy · 07-25-2013, 07:26 PM

Very much a career game Alan

07-02-2013, 10:25 AM	#55
whomario Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2007	just watched a let´s play type video that has me itching to get this ... the new way to plan the season for each player is terrific. No more stupid click fest, just tell the game the races where to peak and voila. Think i´m gonna finish my current (2017) season and then upgrade, could coincide well with the steam sale __________________ “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”

07-12-2013, 12:40 PM	#56
whomario Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2007	game is down 25%, aparently through all the summer sale. Now the question is if you´ll hope for a better offer or take it now (personally i caved and bought the game just now, the fact that the mountain AI seems highly improved and you can use old variants for races, and many get converted as we speak, convinced me) __________________ “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”

07-13-2013, 03:26 AM	#63
whomario Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2007	If past versions are an indication though, by end of July or early August PCM 13 will be as good in the management aspect. It´s generally been a 3-patch game with the 3rd one focussing on the career aspect, AFAIK. I´d just wait for the end of the sale if there´s a flash sale, then you can still make that choice. __________________ “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”

07-16-2013, 08:16 PM	#64
Alan T Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mass.	Is there any kind of demo? I keep trying to decide if I would like this or not. __________________ Couch to ??k - From the couch to a Marathon in roughly 18 months.

07-25-2013, 07:19 PM	#70
Alan T Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mass.	One thing I am not clear on.. with this game is it a career or just one season? Looking at past versions it seems to suggest one season, but the newer version indicates a multiple season career. I'm still torn on deciding if I want to pull the trigger on this or not. __________________ Couch to ??k - From the couch to a Marathon in roughly 18 months.

06-26-2013, 12:08 AM	#52
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	Seems there are some pretty gamebreaking bugs with career although 3D race AI seems improved, is that a fair shake DT (or anyone else who has picked it up)?

06-29-2013, 05:34 PM	#54
Critch lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Herndon, VA	New patch yesterday (I think). 3d race AI still feels a bit strange with breakaways, on some breakaways no other team will chase it down, it's all down to you. The gap will get bigger and bigger with nobody making any attempt to catch. One stage I didnt bother chasing and the breakaway ended up winning with an 8+ minute gap. The career side still seems to have a lot of balance issues too. So for me it's still a patch or two away from being worth spending time with.

07-12-2013, 01:40 PM	#58
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	I'm still waiting for the pcmdaily db to start a serious career, and hopefully another patch that fixes a couple of annoyances, but no doubt the actual races are much more fun and realistic

07-12-2013, 05:40 PM	#61
Mota College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jan 2001	So ... is it worth it to grab 2012 for $9.99 or is 2013 worth the extra money?

07-12-2013, 06:14 PM	#62
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	2012 might actually be the better pure sim game right now (couple of bugs in 2013 still plus a few features were removed/changed) but if you want to actually manage the races themselves instead of just simming 2013 seems to blow it out of the water. So yeah, I'd say 2013 is worth the money. Not sure how much value you are just going to get out of it by treating it like a text sim.

07-21-2013, 09:15 AM	#66
Ryan S Quarterback Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: London, England	Don't upgrade to Windows 8.1 until a patch is released, as it won't start up at all (this applies to PCM 2012 and 2013). It sounds like they don't plan to fix this until the final release of Windows 8.1 is ready, so a fix could be a few months down the line.

07-21-2013, 03:42 PM	#68
Mota College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jan 2001	Disapointed that there were no deals on Steam beyond the 25% through this sale.

07-25-2013, 06:02 PM	#69
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	Patch out tomorrow morning. Hopefully PCMDaily DB shortly after and I can finally start a career

07-25-2013, 07:26 PM	#71
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	Very much a career game Alan

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