Here goes

[TravisL]

Hi Arlie,

First off, I was absolutely not a fan of football but I do love football games which is getting me interested in the sport.

Anyway, I've never played the college version I found it too complex and not very user friendly. Will this be more user friendly and a little more newb-friendly? I am a big fan of the games here at GDS and would really like to get into this one. :)

Secondly, due to legal reasons I'm sure you won't actually have real teams and what not based on "actual leagues" but will it have the same setup? Options to divide teams into conferences. Also, will the management be at team level or league level or both?

I'm sorry if these are stupid questions, I'm new to the football genre but the pro-football games are peaking my interest in the game. And being there isn't an alternative forum to post in in regards to the pro game, I figured I should post here. I apologise if it was innappropriate.

[Jason Warholic]

Hi Arlie,

First off, I was absolutely not a fan of football but I do love football games which is getting me interested in the sport.

Anyway, I've never played the college version I found it too complex and not very user friendly. Will this be more user friendly and a little more newb-friendly? I am a big fan of the games here at GDS and would really like to get into this one. :)

Hi, Travis.

Just curious if you had any specifics about how Bowl Bound College Football was not "newb-friendly" or user friendly? Anything you would have liked to see added to the game to make it clearer, easier to understand? I think your input would be especially valuable given that you're not a hard-core football fan.

[GridironGamer]

Please do not dull the new game down for the masses, please.

[Jason Warholic]

We certainly won't dumb down the game. I think that when developing the game and designing the interface, we need to keep in mind that there will be people rather unfamiliar with all the rules of the game, contracts, salary caps, etc., so we need to make sure we explain the info adequately and the interface makes that info easy to find.

[Cooleyvol]

The interface from BBCF works great, IMO. Clicks could be reduced in the recruiting phase, which would translate to the draft and free agency, I would think.

[TravisL]

Well I have to goto work now and I'll be more specific when I get back but:

I downloaded the college demo and I saw it as being so cluddered and a mass drain on my memory. I don't even have much, so that's my own doing lol.

I found it be un-organized, as everything was shuffled into one screen to choose. I'm not saying to dull it down for the masses, just make it a little more friendly to us newbs such as deeper explaination of how the game works in the help files, or even infact a deep tutorial option in the game which will guide you a bit while you play? To help you get familiar with "what-does-what" and "what-goes-where" sorta thing.

Just a few thoughts. I'm not saying to alter the layout based on one person, that would be foolish and a commerical disaster. Just thinking it would help to add a "newb help section" or the tutorial option for newb buyers. :)

Sure you don't want to explain how to play football, just how to use the game. :)

[Cooleyvol]

If you just downloaded the game, it might seem 'cluttered', but don't you think becoming proficient at a game is required before making that statement?

[TravisL]

No I do not. I am simply giving my opinion as a new player, which clearly doesn't require any proficiency.

[mauboy]

You can make it as simple or as detailed as you want with this game.. Tinker your depth charts each week and click suggest for gameplanning and you're on your way.

Click sim season and recruit, rinse repeat.. easy enough.

Change everything in the game plan each week according to your opponents.. I don't even do this every week!

The game is easy or hard, depends on how you want to do it. You can go either way and the game will still be fun.

[Cooleyvol]

No I do not. I am simply giving my opinion as a new player, which clearly doesn't require any proficiency.

Calm down there, Sparky.

[TravisL]

I am calm, I was just being specific. Now let's please keep my topic on track and to the developers.

[Cooleyvol]

I'd say this will be just as 'newb friendly', to put it in your terms as BBCF will be.

What game is easy to use immediately after viewing it for the first time? None.

[thony]

I'd say this will be just as 'newb friendly', to put it in your terms as BBCF will be.

What game is easy to use immediately after viewing it for the first time? None.

It depends on the genre. There are a lot of games that are easy to use immediately upon starting it up. Examples are: Zuma, Warcraft I, and Tetris.

I believe what Travis really wants are a few more information features incorporated into the game. These can take the form of Tutorials, a sample game year (Travis and others can just watch everything unfold with easy to understand explanations), tutorial videos, or a very detailed help file (with explanations on tactical options, depth charts, sub matrixes, and etc.).

I think "dumbing down the game" is not an option. I prefer my sports management games very detailed and with a lot of depth. And I'm sure most of the BBCF players are into details too. Maybe Arlie can find a way to incorporate "newbie friendly" features and yet make the game deeper.

[jlemmen43]

I agree, the layout is fine as it is...you just have to take some time to figure it out, but its all there. I do wish there was a more detailed manual because many of the questions for the college game submitted by beginners could be answered if the game manual/help file was more detailed.

Although, it does seem like Arlie and others are very quick to respond to anything you may be wondering about. So really if I think about it, the in-depth manual is right here on the message boards. Regardless, I've been very impressed with the support for new users and veterans alike.

[thony]

I agree, the layout is fine as it is...you just have to take some time to figure it out, but its all there. I do wish there was a more detailed manual because many of the questions for the college game submitted by beginners could be answered if the game manual/help file was more detailed.

Although, it does seem like Arlie and others are very quick to respond to anything you may be wondering about. So really if I think about it, the in-depth manual is right here on the message boards. Regardless, I've been very impressed with the support for new users and veterans alike.

No argument that GDS provides one of the best service and support in the gaming industry. However, the lack of a more indepth manual and help files does raise the questions as to whether it was deliberate....Hehehehe, Arlie and the rest of the GDS team are engaged in a conspiracy to force people to come to the boards and make new friends by deliberately making the game hard to get into for the newbies and casual gamers. :D

[TravisL]

Alright guys, I'll say this one more time. :) I do not want the layout changed, just tutorials and extensive information added to appeal to a wider customer base. In my experience in the sales industry, it's extremely benificial to include tutorial files for games, movies, technology, etc and it will boost sales. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wanted to play this but found it too confusing, I'm just trying to give us "newbs and football simulator-retarded users" a little step ladder to get to where you guys are at.

Not alot of people can understand this like most of you do and may need a little extra help. That's all I'm saying. :)

[jlemmen43]

No argument that GDS provides one of the best service and support in the gaming industry. However, the lack of a more indepth manual and help files does raise the questions as to whether it was deliberate....Hehehehe, Arlie and the rest of the GDS team are engaged in a conspiracy to force people to come to the boards and make new friends by deliberately making the game hard to get into for the newbies and casual gamers. :D

Conspiracy??? I like it. Great point Thony - look how much intelligent discussion and servantile zest comes out of this very helpful discussion board. It's like an underground movement, lol.

[ACCBiggz]

What game is easy to use immediately after viewing it for the first time? None.

Hungry, Hungry Hippos.

[TravisL]

The Sims, any NFL/MLB/NBA game to name a few...(in response to the rather annoying Cooleyvol.)

[Cooleyvol]

Dude, we're talking about text simulations, not PS2 games.

[TravisL]

Text simulations would be a more difficult concept to name as it's not a popular game division, therefor lack of games so your reasoning is invalid.

[waltwa]

I am a 30 year coaching vet. I think Bowl Bound is the best sports sim on the market (football and Baseball). I think there is a great deal of complexity in Bowl bound but what i think you have to do is start about 2-3 seasons and play thru the first year. After you have done that and have read comments on the forum i think the game is very user friendly. I started 2 seasons and now most things about the game seem to be pretty clear.

[AgustusM]

I think in general college games are always more "overwhelming" then their pro counterpoints simply because of the number of teams and players to keep track of.

most "serious" football fans can name the starting QB for every NFL team, but only the super hard core guys can do the same for every D1 college team.

also player management with weekly recruiting is more overwhelming way of acquiring new talent then a once a year draft and FA period.

all in all I think for someone who is new to text gaming - pro is the way to go.

[udlb58]

I just want to add my 2 cents. BBCF was my first, and is the only, text based sim. I find it to be very user friendly. While the help file is very good, I wished it had a little more in it at first, but once I became more active on this board, many of my questions were answered and I have come to understand many of the aspects a lot more. I would never claim to be a text sim junkie but I love BBCF and I think it is the best sport simulation I have played.

[Cooleyvol]

Ibut only the super hard core guys can do the same for every D1 college team....

No is that hard core..............not even me.