Will play editor help or hurt play?

[rr2418]

If next years game(2006) has a play editor, do you all think it will make the game easier which might turn away gamers? With all the info on the run n shoot ( great posts by COG, AIR RAID, and others) I'm sure routes will be created that will attack the cpu's weak spots. I for one am hoping for a play editor, but what do you guys think? Will it hurt or help play?

[djwill13]

EA/Tiburon simply adding Play Editor won't turn anyone away. Weather or not those plays are allowed on-line might.

you'll probably be able to do it, but they won't be allowed on line. Personally, if they programmed the defense to act the way they are supposed to (when someone is in their zone or what not) it shouldn't matter whether the play is a made up one, or one that is originally in the game.

[Bronco]

EA/Tiburon simply adding Play Editor won't turn anyone away. Weather or not those plays are allowed on-line might.

you'll probably be able to do it, but they won't be allowed on line. Personally, if they programmed the defense to act the way they are supposed to (when someone is in their zone or what not) it shouldn't matter whether the play is a made up one, or one that is originally in the game.
Concur...I use created playbooks exclusively (Madden obviously), and regardless of how poorly the defensive AI is programmed, they don't work any better or any worse.

The reason I enjoy the create a play feature so much is that it's allowed me to develope a new hobby over the past two years - creating my own offense, terminology, concept, philosophy, etc.

The other cool thing is that I can experiment with stuff I see on TV, read about, etc.

[Air Raid]

...I would like to see a play editor.....like Bronco said... I like to try things that I read about, see on T.V., or see in a real life and a play editor would obviously help out with that.....plus I don't think it would hurt gameplay unless there was an excessive amount of glitches that develop from adding a play editor.....plus, just like this year doesn't allow modified playbooks on-line, I don't think they would allow modifies plays on-line next year (if they give us the play editor).....

[Fluff E Bunny]

...I would like to see a play editor.....like Bronco said... I like to try things that I read about, see on T.V., or see in a real life and a play editor would obviously help out with that.....plus I don't think it would hurt gameplay unless there was an excessive amount of glitches that develop from adding a play editor.....plus, just like this year doesn't allow modified playbooks on-line, I don't think they would allow modifies plays on-line next year (if they give us the play editor).....

IF (big if) they get the AI fixed, then there should be no reason to NOT allow for custom playbooks and plays online. I would find that a whole lot more realistic than seeing the same tired plays over and over again. And it should be both offensive and defensive play customization...so offense isn't a gimme either.

In real football, playbooks change from game to game with new wrinkles put in to take advantage of perceived opponent weakneses. The console game should allow us to do the same.

[Air Raid]

IF (big if) they get the AI fixed, then there should be no reason to NOT allow for custom playbooks and plays online. I would find that a whole lot more realistic than seeing the same tired plays over and over again. And it should be both offensive and defensive play customization...so offense isn't a gimme either.

In real football, playbooks change from game to game with new wrinkles put in to take advantage of perceived opponent weakneses. The console game should allow us to do the same.

...I too would like to see customization carried out throughout the game, off-line and on-line, but EA/Tiburon have to do some serious work on the AI so that the glitches, offensive blocking AI, and defensive AI work better next year.....if they can get that under wraps I see no reason why a play editor would hurt the game on-line or off....plus I really can't see why they don't allow custom playbooks on-line this year....

[Fluff E Bunny]

...I too would like to see customization carried out throughout the game, off-line and on-line, but EA/Tiburon have to do some serious work on the AI so that the glitches, offensive blocking AI, and defensive AI work better next year.....if they can get that under wraps I see no reason why a play editor would hurt the game on-line or off....plus I really can't see why they don't allow custom playbooks on-line this year....

I can see ZERO reason for not allowing custom books online. It's not like they have to transfer a whole lot of data about the books like they might for custom plays, just a set of formation numbers is about all they would have to send across, and they already exist on the other person's console.

[Bronco]

I can see ZERO reason for not allowing custom books online. It's not like they have to transfer a whole lot of data about the books like they might for custom plays, just a set of formation numbers is about all they would have to send across, and they already exist on the other person's console.
Don't get me wrong - no one is in favor of a play editor more than me - but if you really want to, you can totally mess with the CPU AI...every now and then, I come across stuff that I can't use - either because it results in illegal shifts or formations, or blown coverages. In 2004, I was experimenting with stacked allignments, and the CPU just couldn't deal with it...both CBs would generally cover one and leave the other all alone.

As for custom playbooks online, you are absolutely correct - there is no logical reason not to.

[CrazyOldGuy]

Hurt or Help?

Hmmmmm......

The right play editor could definately take this game to an unbelievable level.

The right play editor would allow us to create any legal formation and play.
The right play editor would allow mulitple shifting and motion.
The right play editor would allow us to create plays for defense and special teams.
The right play editor would allow us to hand or pitch the ball to any offensive player , and allow us to snap the ball to anybody within a reasonable range of the center.
The right play editor would allow us to give our individual players assignments and possibly even rules (gap,on,off for the OL, Contain,Cover 1st release outside etc for defense) that may help us eliminate the CHEEZE of on-line play or the glitches of defense designed by people whose computer knowlegde is infinate but have no more concept of what a cover 1 or mesh route than your average 1950s housewife.

I don't play on line, but imagine if those people who were in the top 1000 or 100 or 10 were their, not just because they were great button pushers and had quick reactions, but because they had designed great defenses or great offense or dynamic special team blocks and returns??

In all the above I must say the RIGHT play editor would definately would be more than helpful it would rightly solidify the place of EA as one of the finest software companies in the world. I know I sound like a broken record, I guess we old people do, but I can't for the life of me figure out why a game created nearly 10 years ago for 486 dos based computers could do almost All of what I just mentioned, but the modern console game can't??? Heck even old Nintendo Tecmo Bowl, could figure out how to incoroporate shifting that didn't put your HB at TE, your WR at FB, your TE at HB and your FB at split end (which often happens to me when I try to change a play from one formation to another)

The wrong play editor would be a madden handy-me-down, that ea puts little effort into improving, and hopes we don't notice all of its short comings. It would make creating bubble screens and option plays almost impossible,because of the almost inane and insane fact that every receiver must take two steps forward and can never ever cut latterly or sidestep. Triple option plays can almost be forgotten because there is no way to program in the dive and pitch actions that play would require

If that's the play editor they want than it will just wind up making it a little more useful than bean bag chair. If that's the plans for '06 than let me suggest EA dust off the old play editor for 2k1 and 2k from PS1 because in many ways that play editor was more useful than the madden editor.

[Jeremy7679]

Hurt or Help?

Hmmmmm......

The right play editor could definately take this game to an unbelievable level.

The right play editor would allow us to create any legal formation and play.
The right play editor would allow mulitple shifting and motion.
The right play editor would allow us to create plays for defense and special teams.
The right play editor would allow us to hand or pitch the ball to any offensive player , and allow us to snap the ball to anybody within a reasonable range of the center.
The right play editor would allow us to give our individual players assignments and possibly even rules (gap,on,off for the OL, Contain,Cover 1st release outside etc for defense) that may help us eliminate the CHEEZE of on-line play or the glitches of defense designed by people whose computer knowlegde is infinate but have no more concept of what a cover 1 or mesh route than your average 1950s housewife.

I don't play on line, but imagine if those people who were in the top 1000 or 100 or 10 were their, not just because they were great button pushers and had quick reactions, but because they had designed great defenses or great offense or dynamic special team blocks and returns??

In all the above I must say the RIGHT play editor would definately would be more than helpful it would rightly solidify the place of EA as one of the finest software companies in the world. I know I sound like a broken record, I guess we old people do, but I can't for the life of me figure out why a game created nearly 10 years ago for 486 dos based computers could do almost All of what I just mentioned, but the modern console game can't??? Heck even old Nintendo Tecmo Bowl, could figure out how to incoroporate shifting that didn't put your HB at TE, your WR at FB, your TE at HB and your FB at split end (which often happens to me when I try to change a play from one formation to another)

The wrong play editor would be a madden handy-me-down, that ea puts little effort into improving, and hopes we don't notice all of its short comings. It would make creating bubble screens and option plays almost impossible,because of the almost inane and insane fact that every receiver must take two steps forward and can never ever cut latterly or sidestep. Triple option plays can almost be forgotten because there is no way to program in the dive and pitch actions that play would require

If that's the play editor they want than it will just wind up making it a little more useful than bean bag chair. If that's the plans for '06 than let me suggest EA dust off the old play editor for 2k1 and 2k from PS1 because in many ways that play editor was more useful than the madden editor.

Yea, with that editor you could at least use formation meshing to create some decent plays like the fly sweep or a bubble pass.

[djwill13]

i think you touched something there COG

think about it............offensive and defensive coordinator modes

design your own pb with your own created plays. imagine the possibilities if this were to happen (good possiblilities that is). you could truely run the complex defense that LSU does. you could treuly run the types of offenses that Utah and Boise State. Mix and match the power spread with flexbone tendencies. that's just crazy

this way you would truely see who is the better "coach". where it is now, it's who's the better "glitcher" or deep bomb thower. this could be a great enhancement to gameplay for both madden and ncaa if they really went whole heartedly into it

great post (as usual) COG

[Air Raid]

i think you touched something there COG

think about it............offensive and defensive coordinator modes

design your own pb with your own created plays. imagine the possibilities if this were to happen (good possiblilities that is). you could truely run the complex defense that LSU does. you could treuly run the types of offenses that Utah and Boise State. Mix and match the power spread with flexbone tendencies. that's just crazy

this way you would truely see who is the better "coach". where it is now, it's who's the better "glitcher" or deep bomb thower. this could be a great enhancement to gameplay for both madden and ncaa if they really went whole heartedly into it

great post (as usual) COG

...Interesting stuff COG & DJ.....being able to be your own OC or DC would be a very cool idea if implemented right....however, after all of the obvious problems with this years version I don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling about this happening anytime soon.....but man would it be cool!!!.....this is a much better idea than Mascot games :mad: ....just allow me to create the speed option from the 5-wide set like Utah does and I will be happy :) ...

[djwill13]

...Interesting stuff COG & DJ.....being able to be your own OC or DC would be a very cool idea if implemented right....however, after all of the obvious problems with this years version I don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling about this happening anytime soon.....but man would it be cool!!!.....this is a much better idea than Mascot games :mad: ....just allow me to create the speed option from the 5-wide set like Utah does and I will be happy :) ...
i'm with you Air Raid, the thought excites me though. i mean, how cool would it be? think of all the blitz packages we could create out of the 3-3-5. it probably won't happen, but i have another 10+ months to think it could :D

[maddenbowl62]

i just hope we would be able to make more 81 plays. maybe 200-300 plays would be good. i would like unlimited amount of plays and formations but that would probably take up a lot of memory card space.

[Jeremy7679]

The best part of having a ply editor would be the ability to create real-life offenses. Ive got playbooks from Steve Spurrier's 1995 to Tennessee's from 2001 to Tom Osborne's from 1994. I'd like to run some of that in NCAA 05, but were handcuffed by not having a play editor.

[CrazyOldGuy]

it probably won't happen, but i have another 10+ months to think it could

I've been waiting for 4 years for the play editor to return to NCAA... I don't really want to get my hopes up though.. I have a bad feeling the next year's play editor could be as useful as this years HFA... a great thought BUTTTTTTT!!

Or worse we'll read an interview from someone at EA or Tiburon Big Wig say: "Well there wasn't enough room for the play editors however we've added Mascot teams for all of D1AA and those D1 teams like Michigan that didn't have one!!"

[Air Raid]

I've been waiting for 4 years for the play editor to return to NCAA... I don't really want to get my hopes up though.. I have a bad feeling the next year's play editor could be as useful as this years HFA... a great thought BUTTTTTTT!!

Or worse we'll read an interview from someone at EA or Tiburon Big Wig say: "Well there wasn't enough room for the play editors however we've added Mascot teams for all of D1AA and those D1 teams like Michigan that didn't have one!!"

...Yeah...Mascot Games...that is GENIOUS....maybe they could at least take the time they spend on that crap and fix some of the gameplay flaws...seriously...does anyone play the mascot games???...what are they thinking??

...A WORKING play editor would be SOOOO nice... :D ....We can hope COG, we can hope!!!