one thing that could improve the game ten fold
from a ruck
for ps2 pad
L1 and R1 is pass to left ball player R1 to right ball player
L2 and R2 pass to props on left or right side of ruck
L1 + L2 to wide running forward left and r1 +r2 to right wide running forward
but using any of these buttons signals recievers to run
pushing the button too early will result in a forward pass
pushing too late will result in flat footed runners
timing the button at the right time will result in forwards hittin the ball at pace and make more yardage
I really like this idea. I think more control from dummy half is a must and these ideas really are excellent ones.
As with the player injury idea by
nospam49, I like that also. I think if a player gets injured no matter to what extent it is, some sort of notification should come up on screen. This could also work with fatigue as well. So say it's 25 minutes into the game and Jason Stevens has been playing the whole thing...a message comes up in the corner of the screen saying "Jason Stevens fatigue level: 80%" or something to that effect. Fatigue will effect his game which will be represented visually with slower running and heavy breathing...perhaps even cutscenes of Stevens with his hands on his hips. Once interchanged for an injury or fatigue, their injury/fatigue meter should begin to increase which you will be able to see in the interchange screen. If a player cops a minor injury, once rested he begins to slowly become available for later on in the game (i.e. sideline report "Nigel Vagana has suffered a minor knee injury, but doctors say he will return to the field some time in the second half.")
With commentary and names being read out, rather than the computer matching created player names with the database of recorded names, you should be able to have your name as it will be written on screen and a seperate recorded name. For example, in Legends of Wrestling, you could type in your name and then go through the commentary database, selecting a first name and a surname for the announcer to speak. (e.g. I create David Simmons, but the name spelt 'Simmons' isn't in the database, so I search the recorded names database and find 'Simmonds.' His name appears on screen as David Simmons, but if he touches the ball in game, his name is spoken as Simmonds.)
Another idea that I think is a must is the creation of your own gameplan in franchise mode so that you have complete control over everything your team does. For example, say I come in to coach Cronulla, at the season opening I have the option to set up the way my team plays. First, my defensive pattern may be set to slide defence, up and in/umbrella defence, centre rush defence with three-quarters holding back, etc. I then choose my attack, playing second rowers as extra centres in the more modern style of play, or play in the classic style with all the forwards attacking close to the ruck with a complete back-line. I might elect Brett Kimmorley and Adam Dykes to play on opposite sides of the field, or to work together...or I might elect for David Peachey to play as an extra ball player. This way the game plan can be completely customised so that I can play the game in the way that I want it to be.
On top of this, i'd like to see a feature where you can see the opposing teams line-up for the next match so that I may target some players. For example, I might come up against Souths and notice that Roy Bell and Shannon Hegarty are both playing on the same side of the field. From seeing this I might choose to play Vince Mellars and Paul Mellor (two huge three-quarters) opposite from them in order to exploit the size differences. Or, I may come against the Warriors and have Todd Byrne and Vinnie Anderson on the same side (two relatively slow outside backs) and then bring in Nathan Merrit and Nigel Vagana to exploit their lack of speed. This way, strategy becomes a major part of the game which will add an extra dimension and set it apart from their competition in the EA Sports Rugby games.
Another major thing I'd like to see as visual component is TV style presentation of each game. So, for example, we could open with shots of both team's logo with a voice over about who is playing. Then a shot of the outside of the stadium and the inside, landmarks at each stadium (such as the league's club at Campbelltown, the powerlines at Cronulla, etc) while the team lists appear on screen with Andrew Voss running over the line-ups before both teams run out onto the field with shots of some of the players jumping about, side-stepping, etc before the attacking team kicks off. With this feature involved, each game would appear to be much like a real-life game, lending atmosphere and a sense of occasion for grand finals/state of origins if fireworks were included.
Hopefully these suggestions get passed on to SIDHE. Congrats on the work you guys have done so far and best of luck with the rest of the development process.