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Scubba Steve's Finals Charge 2004 Update patch

Mario

Juniors
Messages
862
Haven't seen anybody else post this, but came across the Finals Charge 2004 Update patch from Scubba Steve recently.

http://www.geocities.com/scubbasteve89/


It comes in 2 parts with the following features

1. Updated team line-ups as at Round 23, 2004 (Telstra Premiership, and representative sides), updated in-game and game menus, updated field features.

2. 2004 kits (Telstra Premiership, and representative sides) and new Eels, Sharks and Scubba Steve Rugby Leaguers logo.

This page shows compatibility with the other main patches

http://www.geocities.com/scubbasteve89/fcup/compat.html


I haven't seen it in action yet, so can't speak for the quality or robustness, but might be worth a look for those who like their patches.
 

Paullyboy

Coach
Messages
10,471
Cheers mario, I havent had a chance to give it a whirl yet coz my computer is buggering up at the moment but I look forward to trying it - good to see you promoting these things too
 

Jonotallica

Juniors
Messages
359
I was very impressed with this when I first read the features on the site.

Firstly, I must say that the hi res jerseys are fantastic.

Everything else.. well I respect the effort that was put into it, but some of the changes don't improve the game imo. Like the new green and yellow scoreboard (which imo is too bright) and the new menu screens are a good idea, except they weren't done all the well. The cut and pasting in photoshop etc.

Also the new wind meter was again a good idea except again, I didn't like the colour scheme.

I was very dissappointed with the gameplay/roster stuff. Maybe I got my standards are too high I don't know..

But I had a game with Cowboys against the Dogs (on Legend diff), and for a patch claiming to be up to date to the 23rd round of this season it's shithouse. After about 40 offloads in the first set of six in defense against the Dogs they went the length of the field in the set, and scored on the 5th tackle after I'd completed about 50 odd tackles. I might be exaggerating about the tackle count but it seemed that way. Cowboys this season (up to round 23) are one of the best defensive sides, but it's impossible to defend against the Bulldogs with NQ in this patch. Because obviously the team stats haven't been changed, or haven't been changed accurately. That combined with the insane amount of offloads, and it just doesn't feel like footy. This patch is called "finals charge 2004", but how are you supposed to charge into the finals with NQ (who should make the 8 ) when they are as bad as Souths in this patch?

The rosters themselves were well done, credit where credit is due. The origin and other rep sides, and NRL sides (I didnt check ESL) had every player you can think of added in, includes a vast variety of premier league players.

I uninstalled this patch though. It has some positives (the jerseys are great) and some negatives but unfortunately the negatives really bugged me, and the gameplay reminded me just how much this game sux on higher difficulties without gameplay and stat tweaks.

I've tried to be as honest as possible here, take that into consideration before someone calls me an ungrateful ass.

If your not as fussy about gameplay like I am, you should definately check out this patch though. Even if you not sure if you will like it, it's well worth checking out, for the jerseys alone.
 

Jonotallica

Juniors
Messages
359
No no, they are new ones, but they werent made by scuba steve they were made by this guy - http://www.geocities.com/misterartvandalay/

Because of the bandwidth limitations of geocities the hi res jerseys had to be omitted from the patch which is already in 2 parts (1 dbs and menus, 2 logos and strips) but the new jerseys are included in second part of the patch they are just shrunk down to 256x256 to keep the zip size small. So if you want the hi res, you need to install them one at a time from Mr vandalays site.

Oh yeah, and despite the lack of replies/comments about the patch here, it's actually been getting hits like crazy every since I tried around 11:30 yesterday morning. Because of the REALLY small limit geocities puts on their cites, it doesn't take much to go over the limit and when it comes back online, you literally only have a window of a minute or two before the site goes offline again.
 

inertia666

Juniors
Messages
888
the hi-res jerseys look identical to me albeit with different logos.

actually some of them look resampled from the original logos and don't have the same shine as timmos jerseys.
 

Timmo

Juniors
Messages
301
These jerseys arent too bad. But yeah, in all modesty, mine have a better "shine". I'm sure this fella spent ages on those jerseys.
 

Timmo

Juniors
Messages
301
Ok, I've just downloaded the patch. I'm with Jonotallica, this patch isn't worth it. Nice effort and I'm sure a lot of time went into it, but it's pretty bodgy. No offense.
 

Timmo

Juniors
Messages
301
It is the overall look which I wasn't impressed with. Not just the colour scheme.
I can't really tell someone how to improve their design skills, it's something they develop themself. also, the dude who did it was a pretty young bloke. I remember when I was that age I was making dodgy skins for cars for Need 4 Speed 3. I'm just rambling here. I should sleep. :|
 

scubbasteve89

Juniors
Messages
25
Hey guys

To start off with, thanks for your feedback on the update. Negative or positive, it was good to find out what you gamers want in an update.

I would just like to stress that the "menus" were only added in because I 'fiddled' a couple of months ago. Im only 15, with absolutely NO graphics experience, and I was using a free version of PSP 5 off a PC User!!! I myself didnt think the menus were to great, but for my standards and qualafications, they were excellent! LOL.

As for the jerseys, which were promised in high-resolution, are brilliant and are the best ones ive ever run in my game (no Timmo they were NOT stolen from yours!).

And now to defend myself with the "NRL 2004 Round 23" team statistics. Lets remember Rugby League is a game. The team stats (attack, defence, willingness to attack) were decided on the FOR & AGAINST of each side as at Round 23. If you wish to see the formulae I used, email me. I ran various tests with this method, and not once did I get the top eight perfect (in the game). Once again, remember, it is a game, and in the original released by SIDHE/HES, I played three NRL comps on different levels of difficulty, and the Penrith Panthers didnt make the eight ONCE.

I personally thought that the side lineups were excellent. I had almost every player in each clubs side that had played at least one game for their respective clubs.

So, I am sorry if the update wasn't your 'cup of tea', and we at Scubba Steve's Rugby League will improve!
 

Mario

Juniors
Messages
862
Its a good effort, Steve, especially given you are only 15. Great you are taking the comments on board and will look to address some of the issues raised.

Thanks for supporting the game.
 

Jonotallica

Juniors
Messages
359
I didn't realise that you had adjusted the team stat. For my patch I used the same method you did by using for and against as a way to rank each side. I made a post about it somewhere here. Anywhoo, if you did this, then I was probably harsh on my criticism of it. But I guess it comes down to what you assigned as 8, 7 and 6 (as in the cutoffs 450-500 points for = 9 400-450 = 8 etc etc). There are lots of ways to do it, but I'm not going to tell you what you should do it, since it's your patch and your choice. I'll just say that it didn't feel like they had been changed when I played, but to be fair I only played with 2 teams. I didn't realise you took the time to rank the team stats, so I apologise for implying that you didn't.

I guess my biggest problem with it was the offload stat on legend difficulty. I have mine from 1-3, 1 for players that don't offload at ll, 2 for players that occasionally offload, and 3 for players that are very good offloaders. (This was suggested as feedback by one of the members here, and I tested it, and it was great so I added it into my patch.) And believe it or not there are STILL quite a few offloads in the game. I guess I have gotten used to having a more realistic amount of offloads and passes in a set of six. I'm not suggesting you copy my offload stats, but maybe you could experiment a bit with reducing them and see if there is a setting that your happy with.

I guess what I'm saying is that I appreciated the work that went into your patch, and imo what it needs is "gameplay tweaks". Whether or not they are subtle tweaks, or vastly different (increasing pace of the game, or increasing defense for eg) it will give your patch a more individual flavour, and hopefully resolve some of the little problems that the gameplay has at the same time.

Just an idea.. but I must say that it's good to see you taking negative feedback so well.
 

scubbasteve89

Juniors
Messages
25
once again thanks for your feedback.....

i didnt change any individual player stats, but i did update player hair and etc.

just a quick word to tell you guys that even though the update comes in two patches, u can choose what features you want.

to do this, instead of installing straight into the game, install to your desktop (for example) and choose the folders you wish to add (for example, if you liked the updated teams but not anything else, copy the "db" folder to your game)

just reminding you...i am only 15 and Jme (http://www.geocities.com/misterartvandalay/) 16, are only school aged kids.

and i just thought id add a couple of things (not that im responding critically to your criticism) but for a start a cowboys v bulldogs game is not the best game to test our update on, as of course, the Bulldogs (who, I should remind you were ranked 1st at the time) would beat the cowboys every time these clubs play (not even thinking about an upset).

and another point, if your complaining about the REALISM of the game.... instead of spending all your time on a computer, get out and actually play the bloody game. for me personally, there is nothing more REALISTIC than actually PLAYING 80 minutes of footy!

no box of electrical and high-tec gear could substitute the thrill, excitement, and FUN of actually the great game of Rugby League that I truley love!!!!!!

thanks once again for your thoughts.

Steve Harling
WEBMASTER
Scubba Steve's Rugby League
 

Jonotallica

Juniors
Messages
359
scubbasteve89 said:
instead of installing straight into the game, install to your desktop (for example) and choose the folders you wish to add (for example, if you liked the updated teams but not anything else, copy the "db" folder to your game)
Yeah I did that with your onfield VB sponsor, though I did resize it. But it's a handy addition. :thumn

and i just thought id add a couple of things (not that im responding critically to your criticism) but for a start a cowboys v bulldogs game is not the best game to test our update on, as of course, the Bulldogs (who, I should remind you were ranked 1st at the time) would beat the cowboys every time these clubs play (not even thinking about an upset).
Fair enough, but what this season has shown is that anyone can win on any given day. Watching the golden point game on Saturday night (Souths vs Broncos) which was 2nd or 3rd team vs 15th team proves this. While it may be harder to beat a team like the Dogs with a team like the Raiders, Knights or Cowboys (all about the same wins wise) it should still be possible. In my patch.. it's possible to win with Souths for example, you just have to try harder. You don't make as many metres in attack, and you get few opportunities, but if you seize every opportunity and defend your guts out it's possible to win.
and another point, if your complaining about the REALISM of the game.... instead of spending all your time on a computer, get out and actually play the bloody game. for me personally, there is nothing more REALISTIC than actually PLAYING 80 minutes of footy!
I don't see what that has to do with anything. We are talking about computer game simulations, it doesn't matter if you come off the bench for your local club, or if your the starting halfback it doesn't make this game any better. The idea is to replicate the game it's simulating. Whether it's Madden, or FIFA, or NHL or Rugby League, it doesn't have to be "realistic", but to be enjoyable it has replicate the general feel of the game, but also add some arcadish elements like exhaggerated big hits, or flashy dunks, or exhaggerated curve on the soccer ball etc etc When I'm talking about general feel, I'm talking about the battle for field position (like a chess game), trying to force errors, getting off your line in defense etc etc.

If you don't think it's possible to do that in this game, I encourage you to download the patch that Timmo and myself made and test it out. Everyone I know (in real life) has said it improves the game ten fold.. Play a 30 or 40 minute game on Legend, and tell me that didn't feel like rugby league. I'm trying not to brag here, but with tweaks similar to mine, I think that this game could seriously surprise you. When I first bought it I thought it was ok, right now (after lots of patching) I think it's easily the best league game I ve ever played. The core components (graphics engine, animations, etc) are very well done.

About playing the game itself (in real life), yes it's good. I played a full season in lower grades last year, but in training this year I broke my ankle badly, and rather then worry about getting it healed and rehabing it, I decided to focus on other things this year. I play in the second row, and I'm actually 6 foot 3. You all probably had me pegged as 5 foot 6 with a retainer and calculator in my pocket. :lol: Even if I was training twice a week though, and playing games on weekends, I'd still want to play this game, and I'd still want the game to be as close to the real thing as possible.

You play for what.. 80 minutes (if your lucky) once a week? No way is that enough rugby league for me. ;-)

no box of electrical and high-tec gear could substitute the thrill, excitement, and FUN of actually the great game of Rugby League that I truley love!!!!!!
When ya got a carton of beer, a roudy group of mates, a video out adapter on your vid card, and a big screen tv.. it goes pretty close. :)
 

scubbasteve89

Juniors
Messages
25
the VB was done by Jaime as a very last minute addition. lucky we did it!!!!

yes, i have tried your patch and its very good. but then you look at me and jaime, who are 15 and 16, with absolutely NO programming or graphical experience (other than trial and error, and our own teaching).

I'd have to admit yours and timmos patch is the best ive ever played (excluding international edition, which is excellent, but would be improved if better logos and kits were added). id also have to say that the reason for the creation of Scubba Steve's Rugby League (SSRL) in the first place was because of my "fiddling" with the game! when i realsied what i could do...i thought why not put it up for other people?

for us two, this patch was alot of work and we were proud of it. to be honest, we didnt think about changing individual player stats....frankly...i dont have enough time (between school, sport, work and more work!). i cant even keep up my site during these last weeks of school term.

and i do agree with your tv-out idea, my mate has one, and even though were a bit young for the beers, its still fun, and as you said, too much league is never enough!!!!!!

and i was probably in a bit of a sour mood when i wrote that realisitc thing.... but i still believe that nothing beats playing the game. but of course...its the dreadfull time of off season...so the Rugby League will be in full swing, along with Cricket 2004 and Rugby 2004!!!!!!!

and as for the Finals Charge update...well its clearly outdone the Half Season Update....with nearly 40 downloads!!!!

this will be my last comment in this forum. thanks to all once again for your tips and ideas. you all have been very helpful. id like to especially than 'mario' for putting this patch in the forum in the first place.

be on the lookout for the new patch that will be announced in the coming months on SSRL. This patch will be one you've never seen before.......
 

Jonotallica

Juniors
Messages
359
be on the lookout for the new patch that will be announced in the coming months on SSRL. This patch will be one you've never seen before.......
This patch was a good first effort. I look foward to trying out your next one.

Oh yeah and Steve.. Go Sharks. :)
 
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