A couple things. One, I believe this game is near the point of no return. Users are getting increasingly frustrated with poor game mechanics and a collective helplessness in the face of sim exploits. Two, there is no game economy which might sustain or reward the user base - or, for that matter, drive money to the devs through microtransactions.
I believe the entire play model needs to be abandoned in favor of a user-driven model which would reward individual user creativity and give the coach a feeling of control. If coaches could create and set individual pathing for plays based on a simple interface, I think at the very least Bort and Co. would buy themselves some time before another wave of frustrated users abandon this game. I also see a possibility of reward for hard work: a creation of a marketplace where user-designed plays can be sold for flex openly, which would both increase flex purchases (good for the devs) and allow more casual players to maintain competitiveness through purchase (good for the game as it would retain the non-hardcore players).
I'll throw something together for a GUI mockup later on, but I envision a running player at the top of the window with space to put data points below:
....................................Start Position........Initial Direction (0-359)...Duration (sec)...Evade...Push...Block
WR.Aristotle.Brooks............12..........................330.............................1.0................X.......................
.........................................................................30............................1.0................X.................
...........................................................................0............................5.0................X.................
This would describe a wideout taking a quick left, then right, then proceeding with a fly route while trying to get by a cornerback. As more data points are entered - and perhaps three might be standard but up to two more could be bought with flex - the running toon at the top reflects the change in data entry. The GUI would also have an option to see all 11 working in concert.
I believe the entire play model needs to be abandoned in favor of a user-driven model which would reward individual user creativity and give the coach a feeling of control. If coaches could create and set individual pathing for plays based on a simple interface, I think at the very least Bort and Co. would buy themselves some time before another wave of frustrated users abandon this game. I also see a possibility of reward for hard work: a creation of a marketplace where user-designed plays can be sold for flex openly, which would both increase flex purchases (good for the devs) and allow more casual players to maintain competitiveness through purchase (good for the game as it would retain the non-hardcore players).
I'll throw something together for a GUI mockup later on, but I envision a running player at the top of the window with space to put data points below:
....................................Start Position........Initial Direction (0-359)...Duration (sec)...Evade...Push...Block
WR.Aristotle.Brooks............12..........................330.............................1.0................X.......................
.........................................................................30............................1.0................X.................
...........................................................................0............................5.0................X.................
This would describe a wideout taking a quick left, then right, then proceeding with a fly route while trying to get by a cornerback. As more data points are entered - and perhaps three might be standard but up to two more could be bought with flex - the running toon at the top reflects the change in data entry. The GUI would also have an option to see all 11 working in concert.
Edited by 12thKnight on Jun 1, 2014 07:37:28
Edited by 12thKnight on Jun 1, 2014 07:37:04
Edited by 12thKnight on Jun 1, 2014 07:35:48
Edited by 12thKnight on Jun 1, 2014 07:35:24
Edited by 12thKnight on Jun 1, 2014 07:34:28
and NGTH list...
