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I lead a rich fantasy life.
Feb. 10th, 2014 11:14 amWhile I wait to hear if I have a driver's license again, I've been playing a lot of Madden NFL 11. Specifically, I've been playing in Superstar mode. In this game you are a single player. You create your persona, choosing stats, appearance, build, position, and even your college. You then go through the grind of the NFL Draft.. workouts, IQ tests, speed tests, all leading up to getting drafted. After the draft, you run throw training camp to hone your skills and try to move up the depth chart.
The main screen is your home. You start out in a cramped apartment. You have a computer (for checking information like standings, your contract details, scouting your opponents, and to see if you can get a better agent, etc.), a calender (shows events and is how you move forward in the game), your cell phone (where you get email), the NFL Rookie Handbook (game settings), a city map (for finding important places like your agent's office and the tattoo parlor) and a mirror to fine-tune your gameday appearance.
Practices are vital in this game. It's only in practice that you gain points to improve your stats. But football is a team activity, so if your team has a bad practice because your QB throws interceptions, it affects your point total. A second kind of practice is game planning. Three sessions before each game where three particular plays are run five times. You gain points for successfully running these plays, which improve their chances of working in the actual game.
In the game itself, the two most important things are Ego and Influence. Ego can be positive or negative, and changes the rates you get influence. Influence is a measure of how much you are effecting the flow of the game. Run for a three yard gain? +1. Break a tackle with a highlight move and go 70 yards for a touchdown? +40. Fumble the ball, and the defense takes it back for touchdown? Just go hide on the bench and hope no one throws things at you.
Which brings us to Roles. A great player inspires his teammates to play better, and a great player can make his opponents look like amateurs. In the game, you can earn specific roles by reaching milestones in terms of stats or accomplishments. I currently have the "Bruiser" and "Blocking Back" roles. The former means that I'm a tough, physical runner who doesn't evade tacklers but runs through them. Hey Diddle Diddle, Straight Up The Middle! The second means that I've become uncommonly good at pass protection for a running back. In games, as Ego rises over time and Influence rises and falls, I can choose one of those roles when prompted (several times each quarter, usually). At first, you can only change your own stats (Carrying for the Bruiser, as an example) but if you have a good game and have a decent Ego score, you can begin changing things for players on both teams. The Bruiser allows me to raise the run blocking ability of my own line, and lower the tacking ability of defenders. Being a Blocking Back allows me to raise the pass blocking of myself and the fullback, as well as lowering the awareness rating of the defensive line.
So, here ate my current stats as of the end of my first season with the New York Jets:
( At Halfback, from the University of Wisconsin, #38, Douglas Berry!!! )
Drafted in the 3rd round by the Jets, came into camp as a projected 3rd string back. By the end of the preseason I was 2nd string, and moved into the starter's role after Week. Rushed for 1,564 yards and 8 touchdowns. My best game was against the Steelers. Against a defense decimated by injuries, I went off, rushing for over 300 yards with touchdowns of 62, 68, and 72 yards. Much to may amazement, I was named the AFC and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Jets won the AFC East and made it to the Conference Championship where we were pureed by the Colts.
As the new season dawns, I've moved into a really nice loft. Which leads me to a question.. where would my loft be? The Jets' training facility is in Florham Park, NJ. They play at MetLife in East Rutherford. So where would a young superstar like me lease a loft that's reasonable equidistant between the two?
I'm only leasing, becuae next year is a contract year for me. I fully expect to have a mansion on Long Island after that!
The main screen is your home. You start out in a cramped apartment. You have a computer (for checking information like standings, your contract details, scouting your opponents, and to see if you can get a better agent, etc.), a calender (shows events and is how you move forward in the game), your cell phone (where you get email), the NFL Rookie Handbook (game settings), a city map (for finding important places like your agent's office and the tattoo parlor) and a mirror to fine-tune your gameday appearance.
Practices are vital in this game. It's only in practice that you gain points to improve your stats. But football is a team activity, so if your team has a bad practice because your QB throws interceptions, it affects your point total. A second kind of practice is game planning. Three sessions before each game where three particular plays are run five times. You gain points for successfully running these plays, which improve their chances of working in the actual game.
In the game itself, the two most important things are Ego and Influence. Ego can be positive or negative, and changes the rates you get influence. Influence is a measure of how much you are effecting the flow of the game. Run for a three yard gain? +1. Break a tackle with a highlight move and go 70 yards for a touchdown? +40. Fumble the ball, and the defense takes it back for touchdown? Just go hide on the bench and hope no one throws things at you.
Which brings us to Roles. A great player inspires his teammates to play better, and a great player can make his opponents look like amateurs. In the game, you can earn specific roles by reaching milestones in terms of stats or accomplishments. I currently have the "Bruiser" and "Blocking Back" roles. The former means that I'm a tough, physical runner who doesn't evade tacklers but runs through them. Hey Diddle Diddle, Straight Up The Middle! The second means that I've become uncommonly good at pass protection for a running back. In games, as Ego rises over time and Influence rises and falls, I can choose one of those roles when prompted (several times each quarter, usually). At first, you can only change your own stats (Carrying for the Bruiser, as an example) but if you have a good game and have a decent Ego score, you can begin changing things for players on both teams. The Bruiser allows me to raise the run blocking ability of my own line, and lower the tacking ability of defenders. Being a Blocking Back allows me to raise the pass blocking of myself and the fullback, as well as lowering the awareness rating of the defensive line.
So, here ate my current stats as of the end of my first season with the New York Jets:
( At Halfback, from the University of Wisconsin, #38, Douglas Berry!!! )
Drafted in the 3rd round by the Jets, came into camp as a projected 3rd string back. By the end of the preseason I was 2nd string, and moved into the starter's role after Week. Rushed for 1,564 yards and 8 touchdowns. My best game was against the Steelers. Against a defense decimated by injuries, I went off, rushing for over 300 yards with touchdowns of 62, 68, and 72 yards. Much to may amazement, I was named the AFC and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Jets won the AFC East and made it to the Conference Championship where we were pureed by the Colts.
As the new season dawns, I've moved into a really nice loft. Which leads me to a question.. where would my loft be? The Jets' training facility is in Florham Park, NJ. They play at MetLife in East Rutherford. So where would a young superstar like me lease a loft that's reasonable equidistant between the two?
I'm only leasing, becuae next year is a contract year for me. I fully expect to have a mansion on Long Island after that!
