Developer Chat

The purpose of this chat is to answer any questions that you may have regarding Gridiron Dynasty -- recruiting, game planning, upcoming features, etc.

Are you continuing to look at and tweak the firing process? It seems like it's still too strict in DIA for BCS teams. A) In the real world, many of the coaches fired would never have been fired with the record they had and b) what good is firing a coach only to have the team go SIM? Using WIS logic in real-life Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno would all have been fired multiple times. (rc1990 - Hall of Famer - 2:02 PM)

We are continually looking at this aspect of the game and making changes when we see something needs to be changed. For example, the expectations of the school based upon success over the past several seasons are not currently considered -- the expectations should be a part of the decision and this modification is something we are working on implementing. Also, real life coaches have a sort of "grace period" with a new school to get things going which doesn't currently exist in GD --- this will likely be added in as well. As for letting teams go SIM, if a qualified coach applies to the school, he'll get hired on...but we don't want to start dropping standards just to prevent a SIM coached season.

When is WIS going to set up like the "real" new bowl system? You know the four BCS Bowls plus the one Championship Game. Thanks, Rich (richramirez - Hall of Famer - 2:03 PM)

Once we see how things work out the first time through this season, we'll look at adding it into GD.

Does WIS plan to drop the Big East from a BCS Automatic bid to the BCS Bowls, like the "real" system does now? Thanks, ~Rich (richramirez - Hall of Famer - 2:04 PM)

Ummm....the Big East is still a BCS conference with an automatic bid.

With regards to negative runs, it is currently very difficult, at best, to produce these on a consistent basis, even when beating up on a sim 84-0. I'm not asking for a lot, but seeing an occasional play get stuffed in the backfield for a 5 yard loss or 3 yard loss a couple times a game would sure be nice... (breum - Hall of Famer - 2:07 PM)

I agree that you don't see the runs for a loss as often as you should, but it isn't a simple flag in the engine to increase the frequency. All plays are simulated from start to finish based upon matchups to get the result -- with the right matchups, you can produce runs for a loss. We have increased defensive effectiveness over the life of the game and will continue to do so to get the most realistic results possible...but it is a slow process.

I think it's apparent to those who have looked at it that Defensive Backs don't make nearly as many tackles in GD as they do in real college football. Especially safeties, who usually help in run support (in real life). Is this issue due to some sort of mis-allocation of tackles in the game engine, or due to the fact that Defensive backs don’t help in run support in the game engine? The inflated AVG per carry of RB’s here make me think it is the latter. Thanks & keep up the good work. (jptrainwreck - Hall of Famer - 2:11 PM)

DBs should get more tackles and their low tackles is a result of how each running play is simulated. First the engine looks at overall offensive and defensive formation effectiveness then moves on to line matchups. Based upon these matchups, the DLs can make the play or not....if the ball carrier gets past, then the LBs get a shot....finally the DBs. If you have good DLs and LBs, the ball carrier never makes to the DBs....low tackle count. I think part of the solution would be the addition of run blitzes and pulling the DBs up more when playing the run on defense.

Any chance we could add a defense like the goaline defense? Much greater chance to stop the short yardage run but also a lot greater risk of giving up a big pass play. Thanks, ~Rich (richramirez - Hall of Famer - 2:12 PM)

I would eventually like to add more offensive and defensive formations to the game, but it is honestly a low priority right now.

for OL, among the ratings of Strength, block, and Tech, which attribute is the most important for run-blocking, and which one is for pass-blocking? Or are they all equally important. (DKC - Hall of Famer - 2:13 PM)

The blocking rating for OL is the most important attribute in both run and pass blocking.

I know athleticism is a multiplier for the other categories, but how much? Does it differ by position? Please don't answer which running back is the blocking back question for the umpteenth time, instead. (scoobybud - Hall of Famer - 2:16 PM)

Athleticism is factored into every play that a player makes as a modifier to his rating for the given situation. In some instances, it is very important and in others it doesn't quite mean as much...off the top of my head, I'd say it varies from 1/3 to 1/8 of the player rating for a given play.

will a RB tend to fumble more in a aggresive style than a conservative style? (plague - Hall of Famer - 2:18 PM)

No -- how well your offense executes (missed block means a big hit) and the matchup between the ball carrier and the defender. Oh...and the last RB in the formation is the blocking back.

Will tiebreakers to determine Conference Championships ever be changed? In my opinion, it should follow real life and be head-to-head first instead of overall record. If someone wins head-to-head but lost OOC games to 2 tough humans while the other team beat 2 SIMs, it seems odd to me the better overall record goes to the CC. (rc1990 - Hall of Famer - 2:20 PM)

Playing the current schedule, it will not be changed. I think once we move to a 5/8 type of schedule it will be changed at the same time to make the head-to-head result the first tie-breaker followed by overall record.

I saw a SimHockey link on the NHL.com website, and I was wondering what's up with GD marketing. Do you guys market to football in general, or specifically college football? I'd think that many folks who'd like SimFootball would like GridIron Dynasty. (stevegamer - Pro - 2:21 PM)

We are actually getting ready to make a marketing push (with FOX) for GD in December. Hopefully we'll see a good influx of new coaches.

Is there any possibility (short of the NCAA going to a playoff format) that WIS would create an alternate world or two that would have a DIA playoff? (natas46 - Hall of Famer - 2:22 PM)

We will not create an alternate world with a playoff system at the IA level.

Would you consider adding a feature where coaches could vote on Conference and All-American honors, based on nominations determined by the Sim? (bighoo93 - Hall of Famer - 2:23 PM)

That's an interesting idea, but I'm not sure it would work.....consider it? Sure.

When figuring the distance in recruiting for an opponent is it as the crow flys or has that changed with the new recruiting? (fastec27 - Hall of Famer - 2:24 PM)

"As the crow flies" --- we have the latitude/longitude location for each college and high school in the game and determine the distance based upon those locations.

You have mentioned some upcoming updates in prior dev chats. What is the tenative date for those to be rolled out and what do you anticipate being included in that next update? (natas46 - Hall of Famer - 2:25 PM)

Nothing has changed since last time....several months after the HD update goes out we'll get the GD update out.

I know there's supposed to be a major update coming in the next few months, but will there be any short term changes in the near future? If so, what and when? (ebbets55 - Hall of Famer - 2:26 PM)

The short term changes we are working on right now are the firing updates I mentioned earlier in the chat.

Can you give a little more insight into your view on allowing coaches access to formation IQ for their teams? It is difficult to determine the effect practice time in a formation has on performance. Practice time could/should be a bigger part of the game, but most coaches cannot quantify what it does. Many coaches set their practice time at the beginning of the year and don't look at it again. (huskerbob - Hall of Famer - 2:30 PM)

It is a little difficult to determine the practice time effect on your team right now, but it is still an important aspect of the game. Your formation IQ or effectiveness will help determine your overall success (maybe you average 4.3 yards per carry w/ 15 minutes of practice time, but could get that up to 4.9 yards per carry w/ 20 minutes of practice time) and also greatly influences penalties (lots of penalties means you need more practice time). I would like to get some sort of assistant coach report incorporated into the game that you would get after each game detailing how you did and his recommendations....perhaps I can work this into the next major release.

Thanks for taking the time to post your questions, comments and suggestions.