Bowl Bound College Football Demo is out!

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Noop

Agreed. I like to rotate alot of players on offense and defense(provided that a.players improve during the season b.the more they play the better they should play as the season wears on.) This is why my entire defense rotates regardless of the fact even if we have freshmen who are 1.0-1.5 in current but 4.0-5.0 in future. I figured I should be playing next years starters and key backups this years just so we have depth and experience. I hope Arlie looks into that because what he has right now is a solid foundation for something truely great. Oh and one more thing I have only my LB's blitz which is 33 each with 1 going to my SS why is it that we are getting killed on the short pass. If they all blitz at the same percentage it should make it harder for them to know who is blitz'n that play. I am sure I will have more later when I open it up again.

You could probably make an argument for that being fine if the opposing QB is picking up a "hot read" based on a something the Defense is showing pre-snap. I doubt it would be programmed in such a finite way, but pretty cool nonetheless to think a QB with good recognition, could pick that up and get off a pass to the open area, if your Defense did not get to him quick enough.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Frankly, I think that was a small bone thrown to the I-want-to-recruit-during-the-season crowd to give us something recruiting-related in-season. However, I agree that it is useless to do without any true action to be taken. As it stands now, I just wait until the end of the season and look at their stats and recruiting ratings then

Well, I did not mean to sound so harsh as to call it useless. I was more interested in finding out if I was missing anything.

To clear that point up, Arlie, if you are reading this, congratulations, the game looks great, I am looking forward to buying it. It is a tremendous accomplishment (although not quite on the "You landing Farrah" scale).

As for viewing recruits in season, if he wants to keep recruiting separate from the games, perhaps during the season one could send scouts to get more detailed information about certain recruits chosen by the user? I know, probably a next version kind of feature, but it would keep recruiting offseason and yet give some purpose to the check recruits screen in season.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

edit: wait, there are the two sets of logos. Interesting that when I try to open the logos in the "black" folder that the backgrounds show as black, while they are white/neutral in my thumbnail view. not sure what the deal is there.

exactly...when i go to edit them, they have the black background, then when i save as a gif the background stays black.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by George W Bush

So... when you change a player's name, its doesn't change the guys name in the scouting report? Says Matt Leinart at the top, but it says Po in the player card. ?

i didn't edit the player's name - "Matt Leinart" was photoshopped onto that screen shot for illustrative purposes. i want to create the player faces and the logos for that banner on the bottom, and edit the helmets on the upper right hand side. all those combined is a big project - i'll let someone else have the fun of coming up with a real player name database.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by Icy

pstats.dat 1.1

Ok, i had some free time today and i have edited the pstats file again,

This was already (thanks to Grantdawg who created the first file)
- Real Team nicknames
- Real conference names

This is new (thanks to Scott Vibert and some other players for the info):
- Added all the real Stadium names.
- Added all the real Award names (please check if they are ok).
- Added all the real Bowl names and Bowl Stadiums.
- Fixed the following bugs:
UTEP name is UTEP now instead of Texas-El Paso
RICE name is RICE now instead of TexasRice
UTEP Rivarly is now with NMSU instead of Hawaii

Please download, unzip and overwrite your pstats.dat and check for errors/suggestions and i'll keep updating it.

http://www.prodeportes.com/bb/pstats1.1.zip

Outstanding, thank you Icy.

Oh, and one more thing. Is it just my computer or does the game not load when you try to start it up through the Windows "Start" button menu?

[JeeberD]

Dola-

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

The Texas-El Paso thing was because I didn't think I could add "University" to the front because the name would be too long. I'll change it to UTEP. The Rice one was because I'm an idiot.

And thank you too, GD...

[wheels]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

One thing that feels like it is missing to me: some sort of "team summary" screen with your team's key stats, schedule, current ranking, etc. like the screen on FOF and TCY.

Obviously, for a quick summary, there is the team summary area at the bottom of the screen that is always visible. There also is an expectations screen available under the roster menu item during the camp stage, and a Team Info screen available also under the roster menu item once the season starts.

I think this is the info you're looking for: it contains the expectations for the year, full schedule and results to date, team strengths and weaknesses, roster breakdown, team overview and a team almanac.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Samdari

As for viewing recruits in season, if he wants to keep recruiting separate from the games, perhaps during the season one could send scouts to get more detailed information about certain recruits chosen by the user? I know, probably a next version kind of feature, but it would keep recruiting offseason and yet give some purpose to the check recruits screen in season.

My thought on this, if you want to make it realistic AND easy (and fitting into the "resource management" idea of this sort of game) would be to have the following:

1. One-time setting of an in-season target list of no more than 2 players per position (2 QB's, 2 RB's, 2 FB's, 4 WR's, etc.), and make that list static--only set it once at the beginning of the season.

2. Each week, all you'd do would be to set a "coaching staff emphasis" slider. After all, your coaches and assistant coaches ARE your scouts and recruiters. If you're playing Louisiana Somethingoranother, let it simulate your coaches spending more time that week watching film of recruits, visiting players, etc. You wouldn't have to do anything on a week-to-week basis, though, besides setting a 0-10 "recruit focus percentage" slider, with 0 being "our coaches should focus everything on the game this week" and 10 (which you'd only use during your off weeks) being "focus 100% on recruiting this week.

Then, once the recruiting stage rolls around, the more recruit focus you used during the season, the more accurate your scouting of players would be, and the more likely you'd be to be able to land them, and you'd also get a *slight* bonus in accuracy/recruiting for the guys you named to your watch list at the beginning of the year.

Such a system would also set up another decision-making process: "Do I schedule 11 games this year, and have an extra week to focus solely on recruiting, or do I schedule 12 games this year, and develop my players a little more?" As the game stands now (with as few injuries as there are), I can't come up with a reason not to schedule 12 games.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by wheels

Obviously, for a quick summary, there is the team summary area at the bottom of the screen that is always visible. There also is an expectations screen available under the roster menu item during the camp stage, and a Team Info screen available also under the roster menu item once the season starts.

I think this is the info you're looking for: it contains the expectations for the year, full schedule and results to date, team strengths and weaknesses, roster breakdown, team overview and a team almanac.

No, that's not the information I'm looking for. There's only one player per position group listed at the bottom of the screen. I'm looking for something that I can easily look at to see how all of the key guys are doing, and how we're doing overall, and that I can easily copy to a dynasty thread, like this:

Cut-and-Paste of HTML Output:

Passing	Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	TD	Int
Derek Kirk	405	255	3255	8.03	14	11
Jamie Ingram	51	29	299	5.86	2	4
Team	456	284	3554	7.79	16	15

Rushing	Pos	Att	Yards	Yd/Att	TD
Norman Pike	RB	214	922	4.30	7
Gabe Gardner	RB	170	698	4.10	5
Derek Kirk	QB	65	341	5.24	0
Barry Compton	FB	61	242	3.96	4
Team	---	534	2350	4.40	16

Receiving	Pos	Target	Catch	Yards	Yd/Ctch	YAC	TD
Kyle England	SE	96	58	990	17.0	193	2
Barry Compton	FB	74	53	464	8.7	238	4
Kris Gordon	TE	73	51	461	9.0	61	6
Larry Schultz	SE	57	32	518	16.1	72	1
Brad Littleton	FL	44	27	389	14.4	66	0
Mario Claybrooks	FL	35	18	310	17.2	43	2
Xavier Shirey	FL	32	16	160	10.0	15	0
Team	---	455	284	3554	12.5	798	16

Defense	Pos	Tackle	Assist	Sack	Hurr	Ints	Dfnsd
Bruce Falkenberg	MLB	84	31	1.0	4	0	8
Russell McDonald	RCB	79	19	0.0	0	4	18
Mel Fletcher	SLB	77	35	4.0	2	4	7
Preston Armijo	SS	71	20	0.0	0	0	7
Stan Chandler	LCB	62	25	0.0	0	4	13
Bo Shields	WLB	61	21	1.0	2	1	2
Carl Caraba	FS	48	21	0.0	0	2	11
Donovan Rawls	RDT	43	16	0.5	8	0	0
Leo Herndon	RDT	39	18	5.5	6	0	1
Travis Walsh	LDE	34	17	5.5	12	0	0
Amos Fulcher	SS	29	10	0.0	0	5	2
Ted Guthrie	LDT	29	10	2.5	1	0	0
Alfred Wilcox	LCB	26	15	0.5	2	0	2
Burt Kletch	RDE	23	7	6.0	11	0	0
Russell Kapp	RDE	20	9	1.0	4	0	0
Team	---	815	289	30.0	55	22	71

Atlanta Team Rank Rushes 534 2 Rushing Yards 2350 3 Yards Per Carry 4.40 8 Pass Attempts 456 31 Completions 284 28 Passing Yards 3554 15 Yards Per Attempt 7.79 5 3rd Down Conversions 47.7 7 Points Per Game 20.1 10 Turnovers 19 8 (T) Turnover Margin +6 4 (T)

Opponents Team Rank Rushes 454 20 Rushing Yards 1878 15 Yards Per Carry 4.13 12 (T) Pass Attempts 499 7 (T) Completions 276 1 Passing Yards 3111 1 Yards Per Attempt 6.23 6 3rd Down Conversions 43.4 21 Points Per Game 16.6 6 (T) Turnovers 25 16 (T) Turnover Margin -6 26 (T)

In-game screen shot:

[Flasch186]

Originally Posted by dangarion

It would be nice if when you are sorting stats that it showed the players actual position. Looks like all the stat pages only say the player name, it should also list the position.

TOTALLY agree.

[DanGarion]

It would be nice if when you are sorting stats that it showed the players actual position. Looks like all the stat pages only say the player name, it should also list the position.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

I'd rather see the #1 forced to the sideline at times (based on Endurance and Durability ratings). In reality, it is an extremely rare back who would stay in the game for every single carry, or defensive linemen who would stay in for every single snap.

Well, the way I would prefer this be implemented is the injury probability increase exponentially over 20 carries (or so). Rather than "force" a hard playing limit on the user, allow the user and interesting decision on how high to set playing time, with higher time being a definite risk. IMO, the more interesting decisions the better, although interesting is, of course, in the eye of the beholder.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

TOTALLY agree.

Wow you agreed so much you knew what I was thinking before I posted it!

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Well, the way I would prefer this be implemented is the injury probability increase exponentially over 20 carries (or so). Rather than "force" a hard playing limit on the user, allow the user and interesting decision on how high to set playing time, with higher time being a definite risk. IMO, the more interesting decisions the better, although interesting is, of course, in the eye of the beholder.

That's not a bad idea either, provided that factoring in durability and endurance would increase or decrease the threshold for number of carries before injury probability started to increase.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

That's not a bad idea either, provided that factoring in durability and endurance would increase or decrease the threshold for number of carries before injury probability started to increase.

I think the decisions would be less interesting if the injury risk for a certain PT level were the same for every player. But, for a "macro-level" player, figuring this out and setting it would probably feel like micromanagement. Thus the interesing in the eye of the beholder comment.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Airhog

still no luck. I rebooted, and uninstalled, then I did it again, and installed, then I rebooted a final time, and same error msg...

Try going through the steps here and let me know in the GDS forum how it goes:
http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum...8617#post58617

[Arles]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

That's what most people would want, correct? I suspect that the logic is working the way that it is intended to work right now, but that isn't good. If I set my QB to 100%, that doesn't mean I want him on the field in the fourth quarter when we're up 42-0. As best as I can tell, the percentages seem to be working for AI teams (or maybe the AI teams are not using 100%?), just not the human team.
[/size][/font]

The AI uses an algorithm for subbing players to keep them fresh (it's like they set the %s tailored to their team strengths). One thing I will definately be adding is blowout logic for Human and CPU teams. To be honest, I was doing some endurance validation and didn't want that in until I made sure that the endurance checked out. So, I think it's time to add it in now.

[Arles]

I saw a questions about the organization of states in relation to regions. The grouping we used for that is the same most recruiting sites use - including rivals.

[GreenMonster]

I really want to load it up but don't want to start until I can buy the game. I know if I start with the next 2 days off I will blow through the trial season in no time. With no rooting interest other than fantasy football for Thanksgiving, I am itching to hand my $35 bucks to Farrah's Black Friday Fund...

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Samdari

My question is this - during the season, part of the checklist is to check up on recruits performance and interest. Is there really any point in doing this? I don't see any way to make contact with them, or even make a shortlist (which is a MUST have). If at the end of the season, we start with the same information regarding the players ratings, performance (and it would be nice if those were not deterministically tied together) and interest, then the ability to check them during the season feels useless to me.

The interest level of recruits changes every 4 weeks based on your team's performance the recruit's own performance (ie, he has a great season, he may shoot higher) in the fall. You can see the recruit stats update every 4 weeks or so as well. So, if an in-state recruit is after both you and your instate rival and you win that rivalry game, you may notice his interest in your increase.

There is no action you can make to recruit the player during the fall, but you can monitor interest levels (oval on the far right) and watch the stats for recruits you may have interest in throughout the season.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

You could probably make an argument for that being fine if the opposing QB is picking up a "hot read" based on a something the Defense is showing pre-snap. I doubt it would be programmed in such a finite way, but pretty cool nonetheless to think a QB with good recognition, could pick that up and get off a pass to the open area, if your Defense did not get to him quick enough.

Again, this isn't a direct answer here but I did want to mention that it is important to look at a QB's "instincts" rating. If he runs the options, that will dictate his decision making in pitches and if he's a drop-back passer, it will help him choose the open guy (if one exists). Instincts are also important for LBs and DBs in being in the correct position or making picks. So, if a QB has good instincts, chancing are blitzing him won't be as effective (providing the play has a "dump-off" route).

[Anthony]

any helpful tips on editing the upper right hand helmets without getting a background to show up?

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

any helpful tips on editing the upper right hand helmets without getting a background to show up?

You may want to try making it a transparent gif instead of a jpg. That's what we do in the "helmets" folder. That way you don't have to match the matte color for each image.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Arles

There is no action you can make to recruit the player during the fall, but you can monitor interest levels (oval on the far right) and watch the stats for recruits you may have interest in throughout the season.

That's all well and good, but if all I can do is watch, its not that interesting, especially if I have to remember (physically impossible) or write them down (something I have no interest in, and that a gamer should never have to do IMO) for it to mean anything. If there is no way to at least add them to a short list, or somehow mark the ones I find appealing in game, I (and I imagine other old folks with failing memories) will not be seeing them change week to week. It is like seeing an entirely new set of names/ratings/interest levels every week.

I must reiterate, don't let my nitpicking get in the way of the more important message of congratulations. I don't want to seem like I am bitching about a game I have not paid for yet. I like what I see so far, and had a question about that feature.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

any helpful tips on editing the upper right hand helmets without getting a background to show up?

Not sure if you saw this from the last page or not, HA...

Originally Posted by wheels

The helmet in the upper right is best used as a transparent gif with a black matte. If you go to edit the helmet, you need to resave it with transparency in your photo editing software.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Not sure if you saw this from the last page or not, HA...

indeed, missed it. d'oh.

gonna start working on the images tonite.

[Flasch186]

the DL of the Real stuff says the redirection limit has been exceeded. Is anyone else hosting this?

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

the DL of the Real stuff says the redirection limit has been exceeded. Is anyone else hosting this?

I don't have it, but if someone can send it to me, I can host it.

[Flasch186]

tis workin' now

[John Galt]

Problems I've seen so far:

1) Sometimes XP's turn into FG's and the opponent gets 3 points (9 total for the TD). This happens when playing the game. I've seen it 3 times in 5 games.

2) I've seen a QB of mine run the ball and have the play result be listed as an interception returned for 0 yards. I still kept possession.

3) If you select a defensive formation other than the original one set for the team, the play "suggest" still suggests the old formation plays all the time. I made my team 4-3 before the year, but every play suggestion is a 3-4 play (if not a nickel or dime situation).

4) Play calling AI seems strange to me. I often get the message that the defense was expecting a play even when I'm running a play very unusual for the situation. Most often I call a run on 3rd and really long, the defense plays run defense, and I lose yards on the play.

5) Admittedly this is based on small sample sizes, but I've yet to be able to run the ball effectively when playing the games. This has even been the case when playing really bad teams (with really bad defenses) and a top quality RB. I'm very lucky to average 3 yd per carry.

6) There really should be an option to have your assistants manage study hall time. It isn't as bad as TCY time management, but I have no interest in managing study hall allocations.

7) When simming a whole season, I see too much parity. Admittedly, this is also based on small sample sizes. The last season I simmed had 1 undefeated team after the bowls, no 1 loss teams, only 4 two loss teams, and 3 teams in the top 25 with 5 loses. That feels wrong to me, but I also admit I don't have the normal win distributions in college football data to back me up.

The game has potential, IMO, but it is still a definite wait-and-see for me.

[sovereignstar]

coolroy sure doesn't know much about transparent images.

[Leonidas]

I'm also seeing the defense only offer me nickel and dime packages for play calling. Sorry, but 2nd and 7 I should be able to go with a standard package. Was also wondering if there's a way to let the AI run the game and only selectively butt in to change plays, like FOF does? It gets tiresome having to hit suggest every play. I'd like to just sit back and watch and pick my plays to call.

[Northwood_DK]

Download and install worked fine but when I try to start the game I get an infobox telling me to update Internet Explorer to version 5.5 or higher.

Only problem is my current version is 6.0? (Full name: 6.0.2900.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519).

When I then try to start the game I get a run-time error 70

Can anyone help?

[SnDvls]

Arkansas State ball, Q1, 1-10-ARK35 (15:00) 0-0
Javon Whitehead kicks 55 from Arkansas State 35 to Arizona State 10. Alton Manning to Arizona
State 30 for a 20 yard return.

Arizona State ball, Q1, 1-10-ASU30 (14:41) 0-0
Offense: Short Pass, Set: Shotgun, Play: SG-HB-screen (short pass)
Defense: Stop Pass, Set: Nickel, Play: Nickel-pass-Man-B10 (target pass)
QB A. Divito completes a 6 yard screen to RB P. Robb (OLB Q. Gildon, OLB D. Darden).

Roughing the Passer against DE Aubrayo Newsome on Arkansas State. The Penalty is for 15 yards,
and an automatic first down.
The Offense will accept the penalty. It is now First and 10 at the Arkansas State 49.

Arizona State ball, Q1, 2-10-ARK49 (14:00) 0-0
Offense: Outside Run, Set: Trips, Play: TR-HB-pitch-RE (outside run)
Defense: Stop Pass, Set: Nickel, Play: Nickel-pass-MZ (target pass)
RB P. Robb runs right end for 9 yards (FS G. Rose, CB K. Lassiter).

Arizona State ball, Q1, 3-1-ARK40 (13:27) 0-0
Offense: Medium Pass, Set: Trips, Play: TR-FL-slant-SE-post (med pass)
Defense: Stop Run, Set: Dime, Play: Dime-run-MZ-B8 (target run)
QB A. Divito completes a 40 yard cross to WR M. Ditka ****Touchdown!*****

I don't have an account on GreyDog, but if you notice the roughing the passer results in a first down, but it says it's second down in the next line???? I scored a TD anyhow, but it could have become a factor.

[SnDvls]

dola-

I should point out I've seen several of these. I had a 1st and 5 gained 4 yards on the run and now it's 1st and 10.

Another is there never was a 3rd down. It went 2nd and 24 to 4th and 17 with a punt and the other team started on 3rd down.

[Flasch186]

...annnnnnndddddd

Shelved. Ill wait til the glitches are worked out before I fall in love with a school.

[Icy]

Real DB updated to 1.2

This was already (thanks to Grantdawg who created the first file)
- Real Team nicknames
- Real conference names

This is new (thanks to Scott Vibert and some other players for the info):
- Added all the real Stadium names.
- Added all the real Award names (please check if they are correct).
- Added all the real Bowl names and Bowl Stadiums.
- Fixed the following bugs:
UTEP name is UTEP now instead of Texas-El Paso
RICE name is RICE now instead of TexasRice
UTEP Rivarly is now with NMSU instead of Hawaii
Auburn stadium name set to Jordan Hare
Arkansas stadium name set to Razorbacks
Fixed some rivalries as suggested.
Fixed Penn State nickname that was still listed as the Cougars

Please download, unzip and overwrite your pstats.dat and check for errors/suggestions and i'll keep updating it.

http://www.prodeportes.com/bb/pstats1.2.zip

[MJ4H]

Arkansas' stadium is Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Don't know if you want that full name or not, but for what it is worth, that's it.

[Icy]

Real logos pack

Here is my first logo pack, it works with the real names database that i also publised (else some logos wouldn't appear as the teams nicknames are not the same).

The logos are yahoo style, but resized and with the background set to transparent.

Screenshoot (notice the logos at the right top and left bottom):

http://www.prodeportes.com/bb/logosdemo.jpg

Download the file and unzip into the \graphics\helmets folder overwritting your current ones. If you want to keep the current ones too, just backup them before overwrite them with this new ones.

Enjoy it!

http://www.prodeportes.com/bb/icylogopack.zip

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Icy

Real logos pack

Here is my first logo pack, it works with the real names database that i also publised (else some logos wouldn't appear as the teams nicknames are not the same).

The logos are yahoo style, but resized and with the background set to transparent.

Screenshoot (notice the logos at the right top and left bottom):

http://www.prodeportes.com/bb/logosdemo.jpg

Download the file and unzip into the \graphics\helmets folder overwritting your current ones. If you want to keep the current ones too, just backup them before overwrite them with this new ones.

Enjoy it!

http://www.prodeportes.com/bb/icylogopack.zip

You da man!

[MJ4H]

It appears the arkansas and arkansas state logos are reversed. Yes I used your team name file too.

[Icy]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

It appears the arkansas and arkansas state logos are reversed. Yes I used your team name file too.

Could be, you only need to rename them to the correct nickname, anyway i'm goign to fix it now.

[MJ4H]

Here is a pic so you can see what I mean

[Schmidty]

I am probably going to get slammed for asking, but is there any type of ETA for the full game? I can wait as long as I have to, but I'm just curious.

If this was asked already in the thread, I'm sorry.

[Icy]

The nicknames were switched in the DB, i have reuploaded the pstats1.2.zip

[Icy]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

I am probably going to get slammed for asking, but is there any type of ETA for the full game? I can wait as long as I have to, but I'm just curious.

If this was asked already in the thread, I'm sorry.

No ETA, some bugs need to be fixed, the multiplayer and more html reports added, then more bug fixes, then release. Hoppefully soon.

[Emiliano]

Awesome job! Thanks man.

[rexallllsc]

Is there a <- -> Back-Forward set of buttons? I found myself getting stuck a bit last nite going through a few screens.

[Arles]

If you get lost, you can always click the "View stage details" button on the lower left and go back to the weekly checklist. You can also "check" off task you've completed and the checks will stay even if you switch screens and come back.

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by Icy

No ETA, some bugs need to be fixed, the multiplayer and more html reports added, then more bug fixes, then release. Hoppefully soon.

Argh. Hollywood Mogul is coming out in December (I believe) and now this!

At least I didn't get an Xbox 360 yesterday and have the money to buy both!