Awaiting some clarification on some of the responses

1. What is the process for a QB deciding who to throw to? Is it dependent on a receiver getting open or a random selection for side?

A: After the side and areal strength calculations, the final receiver is randomly chosen from available "candidates"

2. when does the relax rule kick in. is it only once the lead becomes past 70 points or is it an exponential growth from once one team takes the lead?

A: It kicks in before 70 and is exponential (the higher the lead the bigger the effect of relax rule)

3. Given that there are plans to balance to the pass/rush games, what form will this take? Will it affect the play clocks at all?

A: We're tweaking the general calculations of running backs and defensive team (in case of a rush) with a bit of tweaking of passing game as well (so there will be less enormous gains via the passing play). This upgrade will not take the clock into account.


4. How does formation affect Defensive orders, considering you've stated that LBs will cover WRs if there are no CBs Present?

A: First, the formation itself is very important for "area" calculations (safety on the left will "add" more to the left area than to the right for example - same with other positions). Then, when it comes to play calculation, the "preferred" candidates for the "pick" in defensive formations are those closest to the action. For example, if the pass goes down the left flank (from attacking point of view), then the right LB's are also involved in defensive duties. Along with CB's (if any available). Hope that answers this question.


5. Consistency – is it a set amount for a whole game, or recalculated play by play, quarter by quarter?

A: Whole game. Player with low consistency either plays the whole game better, worse or, of course, unaffected by this stat.

6. How is the game rating calculated? as a total or by parts?
Total;
Total value of relevant skills and their weighting + BPOS = x
Then -> (x-Team Chem.%) = y
Then -> (y – Consistency %) = player game rating

Parts;
Does a player lose for example 15% to all of their skills (consistency of 5) and up to 30% from team chemistry, then these amended skills + BPOS = game rating

A: Most important stats for the position, BPOS, team chem. and consistency makes general game rating. Later in the game afftected by stamina.


7. How relevant are all skills to each player. Excluding positional specific skills (passing, kicking & punting) do all the other skills play a part in a players rating i.e can everyone use agility? Or does each position have only two or so primary skills and two or so secondary?

A: This one is hard to answer really. While QB will never use kicking, he still uses RB skills when deciding to run. But I guess the answer would be that, no, players on specific positions do not need all skills to be high.

8. Could you describe what each of the skills mean in terms of game play?

A:The skills are calculated differently for each "action". It would be hard to just list the skills and say this one is used for this and this one for that. We do believe that they are used "logically" - like expected in football match. Maybe a different type of hint here. Why the balance of skills is important (not only 1 good skill and others rubish) - a lot of actions have calculations based on main skill and a game rating of the players involved, which is, as stated already, calculated from more than 1 "position relevant" skill. One direct example would be the last calculation in receiving the pass. Receiver's rating and catching skill. BUT, don't forget there is also a "distance" involved here, so the longer the pass, the harder for receiver to make "a catch".

9. can we expect to see safeties in the game soon?

A:Yes they are planned, but we don't want to give any dates on this.

1. Are calculations for player performance determined by their actual skill points in certain skills or by an algebraic equation of all important skills together?

If you mean the game rating, then this is calculated by taking into account most important skills for position. But as mentioned a couple of times, in determining the "way a particular action/event" is going, the single skills are used as well in additional calculations. Hope that makes sense.

>> I.e. Assuming all else is equal, will a TE with 12 catching catch the ball as well as a TE with 12 catching and 12 blocking?

If all else is equal, then yes. But Im'm not sure I understand this question perfectly.

2. exactly what does stamina effect?
Does it reduce all skills (eg passing etc) or just the other physical skills speed, strength and agilty. Or does it only work on reducing the players' energy?

It reduces the overall player's performance. So his overall rating for his position.

3. At the start of the season, all teams in their divisions are listed in alphabetical order, each respectively 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. and not all tied for 1st. You also state that, "For every position above the last a team gets 1% more attendance." Does this mean that the teams who have names closer to the beginning of the alphabet(i.e. the team in 1st) will have better attendance for the first league game then the team who is an 8th due to their team name?

If my memory serves me correctly then the engine is taking into account the last "stored" league position - so in this case, the position the team was after the last match day of the previous season, not the "alphabetic position".

4. DO TE'S block on run plays? If so do more TE's add a Bonus? Or does it add a Bonus if you run to a side with the TE?

TE's do help the offensive line and are added to the calculation. And, yes, they do add more bonus if they are actually on the side of the rush.

5. If an OLB is covering a TE/WR in the absence of a CB is it still his LB BPOS that is used or does the engine consider him a CB?

In any case, the initial calculation takes into account player's game rating for his position. But any following calculation takes into account specific skills which the player may lack even if his game rating is high.

6. will a NT ever get a sack?
In other words the DE and the OLB have the biggest probability of hitting the Qb .....How would other players on the defense fare?

I think you are quite correct on this one yourself As far as I remember, the DE are the most likely to be chosen for this task, following by LB... But, this part of the game is being "overhauled" for the upcoming upgrade to the engine.

7. how is home field advantage calculated? It has previously been stated that it is set at 5% but also that stadium size has an effect

As far as I remember, the home advantage can never be over 10%, 5% being a "basic" and the other 5 added through attendance.