Reducing "Tale of Two Halves" kind of games?

[KBLover]

I had a game with my young fantasy team that I thought was going to be a fight to the end.

Turns out that 14-9 CPU lead turned, slowly but steadily, into a 35-14 win for me...

It's like the AI forgot how to play. Sure, I made some adjustments to my calls (especially to stop Warner, he was nearly perfect, 11 for 12 with a TD, in the first half). But the run game didn't gash me in response.

I was prepared to lose out on the run and take my chances that my D-Line could hold up and at least slow them down. Well, they did and then some. Warner got his eyes poked out or something, going 8 for 22 with an INT in the second half, but yet their run game didn't hurt me despite me playing coverage. They should have hurt my LBs for solid 3-6 yard gains.

My run game started working (though that could have been fatigue and just kept on pounding it and it paid off), and it wasn't much to stop me.

Pat White played about the same. He only had like 55% completion and under 200 yards, so their pass defense stayed pretty steady. Mainly, it was the AI offense that died and stuck their defense on the field a lot.

Is there a way to get the AI to play two quality halves instead of a great one and then play like an 0-16 team in the other? Is this a fatigue thing?

[Bremser_Rules]

Quote: Originally Posted by KBLover

I had a game with my young fantasy team that I thought was going to be a fight to the end. Turns out that 14-9 CPU lead turned, slowly but steadily, into a 35-14 win for me... It's like the AI forgot how to play. Sure, I made some adjustments to my calls (especially to stop Warner, he was nearly perfect, 11 for 12 with a TD, in the first half). But the run game didn't gash me in response. I was prepared to lose out on the run and take my chances that my D-Line could hold up and at least slow them down. Well, they did and then some. Warner got his eyes poked out or something, going 8 for 22 with an INT in the second half, but yet their run game didn't hurt me despite me playing coverage. They should have hurt my LBs for solid 3-6 yard gains. My run game started working (though that could have been fatigue and just kept on pounding it and it paid off), and it wasn't much to stop me. Pat White played about the same. He only had like 55% completion and under 200 yards, so their pass defense stayed pretty steady. Mainly, it was the AI offense that died and stuck their defense on the field a lot. Is there a way to get the AI to play two quality halves instead of a great one and then play like an 0-16 team in the other? Is this a fatigue thing?

Totally seeing the same thing. And I thought I was the only one with this problem. It seems I have pretty good sliders for me and the cpu only to see the cpu play lousy the second half of games. Problem two with this is, should I adjust my sliders to improve cpu, or will that only screw up things worse? Not sure where to go with it. For the record I have adjusted the cpu skills, but in my last franchise game I crushed the Cowboys with Raiders of all teams on thursday turkey day. I have played all sorts of matchups with some realistic results and not so realistic outcomes. I like this game alot but a little frustrated I cannot quite dial in the sliders.

[KBLover]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bremser_Rules

Totally seeing the same thing. And I thought I was the only one with this problem. It seems I have pretty good sliders for me and the cpu only to see the cpu play lousy the second half of games. Problem two with this is, should I adjust my sliders to improve cpu, or will that only screw up things worse? Not sure where to go with it. For the record I have adjusted the cpu skills, but in my last franchise game I crushed the Cowboys with Raiders of all teams on thursday turkey day. I have played all sorts of matchups with some realistic results and not so realistic outcomes. I like this game alot but a little frustrated I cannot quite dial in the sliders.

Yep, I know what you're feeling.

Sometimes I feel like I should tune for the inevitable bad halves that happen. I.E. make it so when the AI has a good half, it's not total suppression while when the AI has the bad half, it's not a total cake walk.

Problem is - if I make the good halves less good, the cakewalks get stupid easy. If I make the bad halves less bad, the good halves...I might as well just hit x and then put the controller down for all the good it'll do.

I'm going to experiement with fatigue sliders. I wonder if getting a better rotation will at least even out the games, even if fatigue/subs don't impact the AI. At least, I can get an even game and if I'm doing too good, I can adjust from there and vice versa.

Then again, if the back-ups suck...

[DrUrsus]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bremser_Rules

Totally seeing the same thing. And I thought I was the only one with this problem. It seems I have pretty good sliders for me and the cpu only to see the cpu play lousy the second half of games. Problem two with this is, should I adjust my sliders to improve cpu, or will that only screw up things worse? Not sure where to go with it. For the record I have adjusted the cpu skills, but in my last franchise game I crushed the Cowboys with Raiders of all teams on thursday turkey day. I have played all sorts of matchups with some realistic results and not so realistic outcomes. I like this game alot but a little frustrated I cannot quite dial in the sliders.

I hear ya brotha.

I just had a game that was the opposite. Manning couldn't do anything in the first half (3 INTs one returned for a TD), but he lit me up in the second half. I mixed up my playcalling, but nothing worked, he was QB god the second half with NO incompletions.
This game just frustrates me to no end. Madden used to be fun last gen. Next gen just makes me depressed

EDIT: FYI, I was playing using the Cardinals and not my favorite team the Colts.

[PosiHobo]

so have you tried messing with the fatigue and auto sub slider yet???
I would think that would solve the problem but I'm not sure...