PDS

[dwinston]

Thinking about purchasing the game but have a couple of questions...

Somewhere on this forum I read that the defense play development is limited - true? or did I just misread that.

I see a lot of CFL uniforms, plays, etc - anyone doing NFL? Also has anyone developed NFL player attributes for the game?

Is it possible to make the new beta version of the PDS manual available to look at - I am realing looking for a game that excels in play development and would like to look at the manual before purchasing...

Thanks much

[bassman58]

Most of the NFL uniforms have been done or will be done very soon. Check out the Graphics Related section and go to www.FBMax.com for the downloads.

[Marauders]

Somewhere on this forum I read that the defense play development is limited - true? or did I just misread that.

 
I am not sure what you mean by limited.  The defense can be set up in man, zone, or combined coverage.  The defender can line up and key a specific back or receiver or the defenders can be set to match-up man coverage against receivers and backs by criterion like speed.
 
The limit in the current public release that you may have read about is likely a reference to the inability to change or set up zone coverage areas in releases 2 and 3.  David has stated that he is working on that, so that should not be a problem in the future.
 
At this time, there are some tweaks that will likely need to be made in the new man match-up coverage, as it is new to release 3, but the defense play creation ability is pretty flexible and should be even more so in the future.
 
Of course, that means that some really poor defenses will be able to be created as well, but that is the nature of the beast.
 
- Marauders
 

[Deft]

Defensive coverage was much more limited before the new PDS 2.0.  I think the effectivity of the defense needs to be tweaked, but it is pretty solid.

[Hubbard]

I'm not sure I totally agree with that. I still do not believe you can design a defense to stop deep passes.
I think this is due to the inability of the DB's to perform the coverage you assign them. In M2M they always run behind the receiver no matter how fast or agile they are. The DB's that are assigned zone coverage on top let the receivers get by routinely.
Bump and Run is not functioning yet.
I still play the game and enjoy it, but I am more excited about the potential and what the future holds.

[David Winter]

Bump and Run is not functioning yet. 

It is working according to the private testers. A lot of time was spent ensuring that the bump and run works. If anything they claimed it was too effective (the offensive player would actually fall down).

If you're finding that the defenders are not holding the offensive player up at the line for a split second or two, then I suspect the defender is likely starting his coverage too far off the LOS. The defender has a small window of opportunity to bump a player at the line. If he's too far away from the receiver to start with, the receiver is going to be able to get around the defender before the defender can slow him up. And a bump is just that. Do not expect the receiver to be held up for more than 1 second. It usually just enough to throw off the timing on a timed pass, but it's not going to be all that effective for a regular read pass.

[jrodsly]

PDS: Purchasing Deaf Sticks?

[Marauders]

Somewhere on this forum I read that the defense play development is limited - true? or did I just misread that.

The limit in the current public release that you may have read about is likely a reference to the inability to change or set up zone coverage areas in releases 2 and 3. David has stated that he is working on that, so that should not be a problem in the future.

This limit is no longer there.

The new beta release has user created zones.

[dwinston]

Any chance of posting the PDS manual?

[Marauders]

Any chance of posting the PDS manual?

 
Obviously, that is the call of Matrix Games and Wintervalley Software, as it is a copyrighted document.
 
What else did you want to know that may be in there?

[dwinston]

Just want to get a sense of how flexible the system is - particularly in contrast with Pro Football '98...

[Deft]

I haven't play Pro Football 98 in a few years but I would say play design is similar.  Delays, varieties of blocking assignments, motion, custom formations, timed or progression passing, custom zones, and selective man to mans  are just some of the options.  Defensive line assignments are limited, fake passes, and handoffs to wide receivers aren't implemented but will probably get added at a later date.