Mana Games

Hi everybody,

I've got a suggestion for the career mode and the set difficulty level: DAILY FORM FACTOR --> RANDOM DEVIATION FROM DIFFICULTY LEVEL!

I find it very annoying, that there are some players who are very easy to play for myself, while others are very tough.
I've a 11-10 H2H against Nadal. Pretty fine! But it is 33-4 against Federer. Pretty ridiculous! That when I play Professional Level 10 or low Incredible levels.
Starting from Incredible Sublevel 5 or so it's going to be much much closer against Federer too. It's ok to me, that I have players I can handle well, but they still must have a real chance. At least on their good days. Roger really should have a chance...

Another point comes into play: It's very very rare, that there is a supprisingly close match in R16, QF agains those Top 20 players who actually should be able to come close tpo beat a top player on a very good day.

So, this is what I'm talking about: We need opponents having just a daily form, which can easily be achieved with a randomly set difficulty level.

Let me explain my idea on an example:
New game setting:
Difficulty level: Remains the same thing as to date!
Max. deviation down: - 2 sublevels (each player can set these in tennis.ini or game menu; standard woulf of course be 0)
Max. deviation up: + 5 sublevels (each player can set these in tennis.ini or game menu; standard woulf of course be 0)
Deviation calculation: LINEAR (just randomize level withing range) / PROGRESSIVE (which means higher chance for smaller deviation from standard level)

The Difficulty level is the same as today. Also for calculation of training point and so on that difficulty level is what counts.
But for the calculation actual perfomance and skills of the opponent the randomly per match calculated difficulty level should be used to simulate daily form.

AFTER the match in the statistics, I'd like to be able to see what level my opponent actually did play.
Maybe one could consider to make a small (max. 1 point?) deviation even after each set. I'd like it because sometimes after losing a set players just give up and lose motivatin or sometimes they fight even stronger. This could of corse also be shown in the set statistics AFTER the mach.

Of course you could argue: "Man, set the level yourself before each match!"
That true. I could do that. But:
1. I dont exactly want to know what I will get and
2. I don't want to be able to influence it by myself (I just would not set Federer to Incredible + 6 before the US Open final by myself; I don't want to limit my chances myself. But iuf the game randomly decides, that Roger has just an incredible day - then well - I accept it and lose in a big fight

This is propably a smaller change in programming but - at least for me - it would give the would tour mode an EXTREMELY GREAT BOOST!
I hope some others like the idea too! At least no one would have a disadvantage of that, if the standard deviation is just set to 0.

Thanks for considering the idea!

Mario

I would like more little 'cutscenes' so for example at the change of courts on 3D we could see the players sitting in the benches from closer (only in offline mode maybe)

excellent idea Mario,I couldnt agree more.Wonder if it s possible to do though.

makro,
I'll try to add that in the .ini for next update... CPU Strength might be just shown as a +0.3 or -0.2 on the side of the match info board, though.

manutoo wrote:makro,
I'll try to add that in the .ini for next update... CPU Strength might be just shown as a +0.3 or -0.2 on the side of the match info board, though.

That's great news!

Will you also implement the calculation mode (linear/progressive)?
A progressive calculation setting would motivate me to set the range + even higher, so that - only sometimes - it's going to be really tough.

And will you also implement the small change +/- 0.1 after sets?
I'm really curious about the whole thing

Looking forward to the next update.

Thank you manutoo!

Hey Manu
It's been some time since I've posted, but after seeing where you said the other day that in the newest build that you did some adjustments to the #2 serve preparation, I have an idea that may be worth thinking about...
In as far as some of the major, or should I say most popular players go, they have some very distinctive serve preparations which are as important and identifiable as the serve itself; for instance, Djokovic bends more at the waist and has a very delibrate ball bouncing motion (minus the million bounces) while Roddick bounces the ball very fast before he serves.
Nadal's is quite distinctive as well (minus the million quirks and unnecessary ass-picking)
I don't know how hard these would be to implement, but it seems that you can do just about anything if it is relatively cost-effective and not too terribly time-consuming...
let me know your thoughts about this

btaylor,
it's not too easy to do preparation stuff, coz most of time, I don't have close up nor slow motion of that moment. Most replays start with the serve motion. And even if it's less technical, it stills needs time to make it looks smooth & natural enough.

makro,
I don't think the set change is necessary...

Hi Manu,

Just want to draw your attention to something. When you hit a volley to defend against a body-shot you use a backhand volley. The TE characters (both player and cpu) often uses a forhand volley here. Nothing really important but it looks weird. Shots to the body should trigger the backhand volley animation and maybe it's something that could be implemented for future versions. See the video below and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knCXnYUMPk4

Thanks,

It's a really good idea and I can even use it in my real game too. I've never heard that... Thanks

I have another interesting suggestion:
I suggest all courts have inside their folder 1 or 2 pictures from far of the court that can be shown during the match after each 2-3 games... Example after 3 games, show picture 1 (with the scoreboard) then after few games picture 2. It could add soo much variety to the game..
Examples of pictures:
ATP Valencia:



Please implement this manu I think it can be a pretty simple addition for you to do and I am sure and I can assure you everyone will love it, it can be really better than having during the match games played without stop, this can be a little pause of few seconds

Request:

Just like the ability to modd the player movements with the mtrun value, I would like to have the option to modd the stroke power levels on a global scale in order to simulate older eras of tennis. Seperate values for regular strokes and accelerations would be nice, but I don't think there is any need for dividing it up between the different strokes.

Thanks,

manutoo can you please increase the number of slots for outfits , but something really high if it is possible (like 500 or more)

Manu,

I feel like there is really no difference between the Power Baseliner style and the Puncher style as it relates to the World Tour.

Since the removal of the slight net jump bonus from Defender, Puncher, and Counter styles some time ago nothing separates Puncher from Power Baseliner except one extra acceleration. The Punchers on the World Tour are often more deadlier and effective than the Power Baseliners because of how they are built.

Power Baseliner style of play is increasingly obsolete for the tour players.
I propose that the mid-height acceleration bonus introduced recently(that was halved for Counter & Defender) be EXCLUSIVE to Power Baseliner style only in order to separate Power Baseliner from other styles of play.

The Puncher style should get back it's slight bonus with net jumps/reaches.

These two styles are way too similar and should not only be separated by one extra hit of the ball. Power Baseliner & Puncher need more exclusive abilities because these two styles are the ones that are really lacking.

sam250,
images => couldn't get free images of good quality to do that
outfits => can't change it without invalidating everybody's saved games

lreese,
I'll try to add that...

Queengis,
Puncher has a 55% bonus on net jump, while volleyer one is 100%, and Defender & PowerBasliner's is 0% . Long time ago, it was lowered from 60%, while PowBas' one has been lowered from 10%, so since then it should have been even more noticeable compared to PowBas' style.

I'll think about lowering shoulder-height acceleration speed bonus for other styles than PowBas.

Manutoo, for the images, it doesnt HAVE to be a good quality! Is it possible please for you to implement this option (the courts who doesnt have images in their folders will not show anythig in the match while those who have will every 2-3 games) I will try to find the pictures dont worry and I will include everything in my patch. Pleeeease tell me
Its possible!!