Loving the game - my thoughts.
First off congratulations on getting the game out the door!
I've played about 30 games since release day (now playing through Season 1 of Career mode) and have have enjoying it greatly. I understand Cricket is a difficult sport to replicate into video games, but I believe you've mostly cracked it? just a little tweaking required ;-) I've been writing this for a few days, I haven't read all the posts on here and understand the 1st patch is on the way - so apologies if things I mention have been covered/fixed already.
Problems:
1. During a test (when still being played) the main scorecard overview says 'Match drawn' at the top.
2. Career mode: when skipping to players part, you shouldn't have to choose skip after every over if you've been bowling? have options to skip AI bowling automatically.
3. The graphic displaying a batters shots after a 50 etc, disappears before you can get a proper look at it.
4. Running between wickets - grounding the bat, etc? well known issue I guess
5. When playing career mode in a four day game there is no acknowledgment of the days changing.
6. When coming into bat in career mode you have no idea who is bowling apart from looking at the scoreboard - but the bowler type is unknown. You should see your player walk out to the pitch - show stats, get an idea of how your team is going, find out about the bowler (but be able to skip this if wanted). When I come in now I quickly pause, check the scoreboard to figure out what's going on?
7. Career bowling: start of the over at the bottom of the screen it displays the teams playing and venue - would rather see which batters are there and whose facing (i.e. so I can bowl differently to someone who's 'in' or someone that's 'set') like the rest of the over.
8. AI fielders slide over the ropes too often while attempting to stop a boundary? needs tweaking.
Suggestions:
1. Alter in-game stats page to have more detail. i.e. strike rate, four & sixes hit. Bowlers to have maidens, economy rate and extras listed. Cricket (and most sports - but Cricket especially I believe) games benefit from having tons of stats! All of these stats are obviously being recorded - they just need displaying during the game.
2. Can we have a mini-map option? It's too hard to pick the fielders out from the crowd/surroundings. While this is 'immersive' not having the mini-map makes it too difficult to know where all the fielders are - in the real world the batter would be see them easier and have a better idea where the gaps are. This would also aid in running between wickets which can be hit and miss at times re fielders in unexpected spots!
3. Test Match - when a new day starts there was no commentary to reflect this? a good morning, welcome to day 'X' of the match etc would be nice
4. During Practice match batting - bowling team shouldn't go through the review process. Also when reviewing the pitch of the ball etc, you should be able to skip once the player can see wether it's out or not? it takes too long to go through the animations.
5. Looking a little further forward - I'd love to see DLC for extra stadiums (especially NZ & AUS ones to host next years world cup) and other features you dream up. I would be prepared to pay $10? for a 'Stadium Pack' or similar??
Questions:
1. What does the XP and levels do if anything apart from online rankings?
2. Does the batting get easier in career mode as the player builds his stats? The jump from Rookie to Pro for the batting is significant - but if we know our players improve as the seasons progress that would be helpful? maybe just a fraction more time to adjust to either front foot or back foot would be great!
Thanks again to Big Ant for the best Cricket game in a very long time!
Steve.
