IceAgeComing
Retired Administrator
- Joined
- May 26, 2013
- Location
- Brussels, Belgium
- Profile Flag
- Scotland
- Online Cricket Games Owned
- Don Bradman Cricket 14 - PS3
- Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Steam PC
The only thing wrong with the mechanics behind career mode to me is the fixed teams. The fact that you come in, say, as a number 9 batsman in every team isn't a good thing - I've noticed that when I get to England, I'm going to kick Out either Broad or Anderson, which isn't what should happen, I should instead replace Tredwell/Panesar, or the third seamer if its a spinners paradise.
The way that I would do this is perhaps rather than have a precise number, have a general area that you prefer to bat in. Selection should be dynamic: openers shouldn't debut at higher levels at 1/2 but lower down (think Joe Root on the 2012/13 India and both New Zealand tours). It should also depend on the location of the tour and the pitch that you play on - as a spinner, your debut should be as second spinner on spinning wickets and you should have to prove that you should be sole spinner.
I'd personally add a second xi level to the bottom with randomly generated younger players, and make this the lowest level that you can drop to, and have the game move you based on performance. You can move up to the firsts and to international cricket; but it should be performance based and if you start playing shite, then you get demoted. Not based on one game mind, on longer term trends.
An example that comes to mind is Road to the Show in MLB the show. I'm not sure how 14 handles it: but in 13 you start as a starter Double A level (the third tier in Baseball, but there's no international stuff to worry about) and that's the lowest that you can slip to. You go up and down based on meeting goals (two of them are based on investing points in your stats which I don't like, but two are based on batting/pitching performance; they're generally pretty easy). The batting order is dynamic; my 1B power hitter started out at 8 and ended up at 4 which is pretty good for a power guy. Now, cricket is more dynamic and has more options (multiple bowlers and types of bowlers, the pitch plays a role etc), but having some AI when selecting teams is something that other sports games have done for years in franchise style mode, and it would make career mode a lot more immersive. It'd also add a layer if injuries became a factor - you might get a chance just because a key player is out...
Player evolution and retirements/regens would also be pretty nice as well: I can't see Jimmy Anderson playing for 20 more years... The academy gives you an option to make this easy: if you don't randomly generate, perhaps randomly select unlinked, fictional academy players?
The way that I would do this is perhaps rather than have a precise number, have a general area that you prefer to bat in. Selection should be dynamic: openers shouldn't debut at higher levels at 1/2 but lower down (think Joe Root on the 2012/13 India and both New Zealand tours). It should also depend on the location of the tour and the pitch that you play on - as a spinner, your debut should be as second spinner on spinning wickets and you should have to prove that you should be sole spinner.
I'd personally add a second xi level to the bottom with randomly generated younger players, and make this the lowest level that you can drop to, and have the game move you based on performance. You can move up to the firsts and to international cricket; but it should be performance based and if you start playing shite, then you get demoted. Not based on one game mind, on longer term trends.
An example that comes to mind is Road to the Show in MLB the show. I'm not sure how 14 handles it: but in 13 you start as a starter Double A level (the third tier in Baseball, but there's no international stuff to worry about) and that's the lowest that you can slip to. You go up and down based on meeting goals (two of them are based on investing points in your stats which I don't like, but two are based on batting/pitching performance; they're generally pretty easy). The batting order is dynamic; my 1B power hitter started out at 8 and ended up at 4 which is pretty good for a power guy. Now, cricket is more dynamic and has more options (multiple bowlers and types of bowlers, the pitch plays a role etc), but having some AI when selecting teams is something that other sports games have done for years in franchise style mode, and it would make career mode a lot more immersive. It'd also add a layer if injuries became a factor - you might get a chance just because a key player is out...
Player evolution and retirements/regens would also be pretty nice as well: I can't see Jimmy Anderson playing for 20 more years... The academy gives you an option to make this easy: if you don't randomly generate, perhaps randomly select unlinked, fictional academy players?