MM06 Dynasty Mode ... Do tell.

[DownsviewGuy]

Haven't had a chance to scoop this one up yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Well, check that, I'm looking forward to it if the dynasty mode is better than last year ... specifically the ... I'm at a loss for words ... but I'll keep rolling here ... specifically the "program standards" - "suspension" aspect. Are kids being suspended again like crazy in this year's version?

[cdj]

Just jumped into Dynasty Mode....will likely simulate games, but wanted to see the features added/changed from last year.

So far....

Recruiting seems cool and in-depth. Very similar to NCAA FB. I've never been a big fan of having to give up points to 'scout players.' Already, I don't think I allocated enough points to recruiting. I 'sent packages' to six players. Several from Nebraska, and a couple out of staters. The in-season stats for the players change, which is cool.

[cdj]

At the beginning of Dynasty Mode you can allocate points for Recruiting, Discipline, and Game Planning. I left it at the defaults.

When choosing which games/aspects to gameplan, you can have an assistant do a Playbook Analysis, Team Analysis, or Player Analysis. They each cost 25 points and I only allocated 94 points overall. Looks like I'll only use this for big games.

You can game plan for only two games in advance....your next game and the one after that.

[cdj]

In recruiting....via my PDA (this is in the game again), the alumni told me they really want to see this two-star player on my roster. Given the option to ask them for assistance, I clicked OK. I don't know what this details, but I imagine it isn't good for business.

Also, this may be a coincidence....but it seemed like no PF or C had any interest in NU. It was all PG, SG, and SF. EDIT - One PF is interested.....that's it.

After sending out packages and simming for two weeks (now 1-0), three players are still interested and three said no thanks....though the arrow indicates their interest rose. (NU does not appear on their list of schools though.)

Recruits are ranked with 1-6 stars. There are also state Mr. Basketball players this year.

[cdj]

DAMN. Power just flickered here and rest the system....have to start over. [evil]


Well, I will reallocate the points.

RECRUITING - 170 points
DISCIPLINE - 69 points
GAMEPLAN - 75 points

The OOC schedule is randomized. Only two-stars in terms of strength including game versus ranked Washington.

TRAINING TIME:
Shooting - 55
Defense - 10
Offense - 10
Conditioning - 25

This led to most players going up +1 in either 3PT or FT shooting....others also increased +1 in Ins. SCR or FG.

Also, no C or PF interested at all this time in recruiting. Interesting. On the roster are three C (2 SO, 1 SR) and 4 PF (2 FR, 2 SR). Perhaps they are scared away by playing time.



BTW....if I am being too detailed or not detailed enough, let me know.

[DownsviewGuy]

Hey, this is amazing, thanks bud.

How are the graphics? The feel?

[cdj]

Hey, this is amazing, thanks bud.

How are the graphics? The feel?


Graphics are very good.

Some things NCAA Fb could learn from this game:
1) Players cannot walk through each other. They aren't invisible in this game.
2) When players hive five/hit each other, they don't miss by a foot.
Animations are very well done.

Also, home-court advantage is well-done. IMO, it takes more of a psychological approach in this game, instead of skewing ratings insanely like NCAA FB does. (I've only played three game so far, so my perceptions should be taken lightly as of now.) The crowd gets loud at the same points as they would in real life. Only then does the controller shake....but it doesn't go at 100% like in NCAA FB. It does it just enough to get you to start thinking....perhaps thinking too much.

Here's an example....
Played Nebraska at Kansas....Jumped out to an 11-point first half lead. I thought it was going to be smooth-sailing. Well, second half KU makes a three, I miss a shot, they get a slam. Lead down to 7 or so and the crowd starts going nuts. I think I have a fast-break opportunity....but the ball gets stolen. It seems that when the crowd gets going, you really need to calm/slow things down and get a good shot off. The computer raises their level of play, but I didn't detect it to be overdone. Pretty realistic, IMO.

The game stayed pretty even the rest of the way...but late in the game, I miss a big FT, they score and win. It was one of the most enjoyable individual sports games I've ever played.

Couple of items I don't like so far:
Senior Leader - how does he calm the team down? Maybe I am blind, but nothing in the manual about it.
Dunks - seems like stopping good teams inside is tough. At KU and Texas, it wasn't bad at all. Played at Duke and they dunked all over me. Though, part of the problem may be me in not switching to the Lockdown Stick with my center fast enough to stop the offensive player down low.
Offensive Rebounds - It always seems that the computer gets a lot more offensive rebounds than I do....but in finals stats we always seem to be equal. Again, I'll blame some of this on me (for now) and not switching to an offensive player closer to the hoop and trying to get the rebound.

So far, here's how I sum this game up:
Vastly improved from MM 2005. Plays almost exactly like NBA Live 2005, but with the ratings/AI tweaked for college, it's not quite a track meet like Live. This game is more realistic than last year, but does have a few hints of arcade-like feel.....though I think a basketball game has to have that in order to be entertaining, so long as it isn't overdone.

I like this game a lot so far. Personally, I thought both MM and CH2k5 were Ok games, but that MM had the most potential to become a great game down the line. They've made some nice improvements.

[cdj]

Haven't had a chance to scoop this one up yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Well, check that, I'm looking forward to it if the dynasty mode is better than last year ... specifically the ... I'm at a loss for words ... but I'll keep rolling here ... specifically the "program standards" - "suspension" aspect. Are kids being suspended again like crazy in this year's version?

Just had this happen!

Happened to back-up G Paul Velander:
"We are starting to hear rumors that his high school grades might have been falsified. If this isn't taken care of our APR could fall below 925 and we could lose scholarships."

Right now, the default is for me to use 15 points and suspend him for 3 games. (A suspension while they clear up his record, I guess.) I'm going to bench him for 2 games....leaves me with 59 disc. pts. and NCAA Interest Meter about 1/6th full.

[cdj]

One week into recruiting...

Of 7 players I sent packages to, only 3 are interested. The 6* and 5* players all said no thanks...3 of the 4 4* players are still in.


Now several weeks into the year.....team is 5-2 with losses at Alabama State and to Cincinnati. Team seems to struggle on road while they have strong 2nd halves in wins.

Offered a schollie to 4* SF who was very interested and he accepted.


Alumni talked to a 3* PG from Iowa....and Nebraska is now his favorite. F Schliep also missed a study hall...recommendation was no punishment, but I benched him a game.

Now have verbals from 4* JUCO PG and 3* PG. Shores up that spot quickly. Alumni now offering help in signing a 5* PG. Too little too late....unless one of the three can be converted to SG.

Team is now 5-6.....five losses in a row. Ouch.

Noticed some 'nice' scheduling:
Jan. 1: Kansas
Jan. 2: at Kansas
Jan. 4: Colorado

Then:
Jan. 27: at K-State
Jan. 28: at Texas

[cdj]

Went on a recruiting spree.....sending packages to quite a few players who have yet to commit. I guess the key is to send out a ton when you first start recruiting....Team is now 6-10.

Starting PG caught cheating on exam with a cell phone.....benched him 2 games....bar still at 1/6th, maybe a bit less...44 discipline pts left. Team now 8-12 and can't get any recruits interested.


And now the NCAA chimes in:
"Unless you are able to ensure that your team adheres to NCAA guidelines, we may have to levy sanctions against your program at season's end." :(

Now, Marcus Perry has been skipping tutoring sessions. Recommendation: 2 games....I'll bench him for 4. Immediately following, the NCAA sends the same e-mail as listed above.

Finally land someone....4* SF commits.

[DownsviewGuy]

Ok, I'm buying it tonight.

[cdj]

Team is now 9-15....alumni have offered to help 'sway' two potential recruits....and I accepted their help. Two scholarships open, might as well try to fill them all. One was a C...the other a SG I believe. Neither rated terribly high.

[cdj]

Ok, I'm buying it tonight.

I think you'll like it.

The key is sliders....I want to tweak them once I start playing this more regularly. Working on rosters takes forever as well.

I tried to play online the other night but only 4-7 people were on and none ever appeared in the rooms. :(


Grades for Maric slipping....says he needs time off. Recommended 1 game....I'll give him that.

[DownsviewGuy]

You're analysis is good. You should consider creating official threads. You know, like ... official recruiting thread. official conference invite thread. The forum is clear. Good time to do it.

[cdj]

NU wraps up year with upset of #9 and Big 12 Champion Oklahoma.....record sits at 11-16, 6-10 in Big 12. 1st round loss in conf tourney....11-17 overall.


#16 seed American makes the Sweet 16 after upsetting Syracuse and Mississippi State.....

Championship Game: 3 seed #9 Florida defeats 6 seed #24 Notre Dame 77-61.

[cdj]

!!!

Just finished the entire year.....Nebraska's APR dropped to 907, below the 925 requirement. NU loses two scholarships in the upcoming year.

I'm not sure what I could have done differently to avoid that...perhaps penalize the players very extremely to keep the NCAA Interest Meter at 0? Weird.


Here's the players I have verbal agreements from:
4* PG Poe
4* SF Hendricks
4* SF Brandon
3* PG Akins
3* C Manning

Since I lost two scholarships, I have to pick which 3 I want....:(

Signed Brandon, Poe, and Hendricks.

No players left early or transferred.

Ratings for these players turned out to be:
Hendricks = 67
Poe = 62
Brandon = 65

To fill out my roster, the CPU added two players...
One a 7'0" PF (rated 45)
and a PG rated 50


Wow....after a horrible season I have lost a lot of points to allocate. Ended up giving 112 to recruiting, 60 to discipline, and 0 to gameplan.
Nebraska's recruits rated D+ and team is picked to finish dead last in the Big 12.

[cdj]

Well, that completes one year of using Dynasty. I imagine that's enough info for now....if anyone has any specific questions about the game, let me know.

[UMCanes50]

is just the initial OOC schedule random, or is it allways you going to be random (that would be way gay)

[cdj]

is just the initial OOC schedule random, or is it allways you going to be random (that would be way gay)


The two times I started Dynasty, the OOC schedule differed. It didn't seem to have any resemblance to the actual OOC schedule for Nebraska.

[jrock03]

Ok just picked up the game and i love it. Does anyone know where I can finid rosters?? Or aren't there any available yet?

[cdj]

Ok just picked up the game and i love it. Does anyone know where I can finid rosters?? Or aren't there any available yet?

Good question....I haven't heard of anywhere yet.

I've been working on them, but they take forever as each player loads individually when editing.

Glad you like it....do you play online? Online for this game is like NCAA FB.....most people press all game and shoot only 3-pointers. Very frustrating.

[jrock03]

yea i tried but I prolly won't venture online again i played duke and this guy shot a 3 with reddick every time.

[cdj]

yea i tried but I prolly won't venture online again i played duke and this guy shot a 3 with reddick every time.

Add me to your list....we'll have to play sometime.

I don't know why EA can't put more effort into developing and then testing the game via online play.

The press really bugs me. I'll move a guy to get open, but instead of bounce-passing it, the inbounder will throw it right into the arms of the defender. Very frustrating.

Also, they need to program it so a shooter's rating goes down if a defender is nearby. There are guys who shoot 60+% online on 3-pointers, despite solid defense being played. Just dumb.

Though, the game is a lot of fun versus the CPU and the Dynasty play seems very good. It's clear that EA does not test this game with human vs. human play. It's soooo close to being a damn good game......Versus a human who plays straight, it's probably a lot of fun....but I don't know that for a fact.

[jrock03]

yea well play sometime is ur screen name the same as the one listed?

[cdj]

yea well play sometime is ur screen name the same as the one listed?

Yes it is.

[jrock03]

ok ill get on and check it out to see if ur on sometime

[jrock03]

ugh is there not a create a recruit option or did I just miss it?? I planned on creating the real recruiting classes.